Club Car

I know this blog is done with but I thought I'd post this website. It digs deep into the Stan Rogers song we listened to in class about how accurate his lyrics really are historically. It's kind of interesting. Take a look
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~jacktar/barretts.html

Well, since I've already blogged on both Anne of Green Gables movies, I thought for the book review I would write about the first five books in the Anne series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. In Anne of Green Gables, the orphan Anne Shirley is adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert and charms the hearts of Avonlea, including the handsome Gilbert Blythe. In Anne of Avonlea Anne teaches school and gets entangled in numerous adventures. Anne then goes to Redmond College in Anne of the Island and almost marries her night in shining armor Royal Gardner but finds she actually does love Gilbert. Anne moves to another city to teach, living with three other women and learning to charm the stuck up Pringles who rule the town. Lastly, Anne marries Gilbert and moves to the coast where Gilbert takes over as the town doctor. While Gilbert is healing bodies, Anne heals the heart of a fellow neighbor.

To be honest I was quite surprised that the following books in the series were actually good. It seems like a similar plot in each book: Anne meets new people who originally don't like her, but she changes their lives, and therefore transforms enemies into friends. However, Montgomery is able to come up with a myriad of original situations that are new and engrossing.
I think these books are treasures because Anne lives the life people crave, including Montgomery herself. Canada is proud to identify with Anne because the country desires to be the ideal quiet and domestic state that everyone would or should want to live in that peacefully overcomes obstacles. If you want noise, go to the United States, but if you seek quiet adventure, come to Canada, particularly Prince Edward Island.

Black Robe" is set in 1632 in the newly settled colony of Quebec. A young Jesuit priest, Father Lafourge, is assigned to leave the settlement with a band of Algonquins to travel to the Huron mission 1500 miles up-stream. Accompanying the priest is young French colonist named Daniel. As soon as the journey begins the Algonquins become suspicious of Father Lafourge's peculiar brand of spirirtuality and suspect him to be a demon. The wilderness soon begins to test the priest's beliefs, especially when he stumbles across Daniel (who had expressed interest in the priesthood) "rolling in the grass" with a young Algonquin girl. At one point the tribe becomes so suspicious of the father that they take him to a witch doctor who comfirms that the priest is, indeed a demon. Upon this affirmation, the tribe abandons the two Frenchmen with only a pheasant and a canoe. Daniel paddles after the Algonquin and persuades the leader to come back with his family and take the priest to the mission. The film finds new life after this decision as the tribe is ambushed by a rival tribe and the viewer witnesses warlike Indian customs. At the end, Father Lafourge finds his way (all alone) to the Huron mission where disease has preceded him. The Hurons, riddled by plague, convert to Christianity hoping that conversion will save them from death. The film precludes by informing the reader that the Christian Huron were massacred 15 years later by their enemy, the Iroqouis.The film was very informative to the viewer about French-Indian relations during colonial Quebec. Unlike the English, the French took a proactive role in trying to convert the native tribes. The film also showed the beauty and power of the Canadian wilderness. This may have been a move that was purposely used to show the reader how such a looming landscape could mold a people. The film was tinged with some late-20th century thought such as Daniel arguing with the priest that the Algonquin religion made just as much sense as Christianity. That might have been a stretch for someone with a 17th century education.

Where the Grass Joined Hands, discusses Canada's geographical relationship to the United States, and its westward expansion. First Dr. Isern talked about Paul Sharp and his test of the Webb Thesis through bi national comparison and his argument; triumph of national will over environment. Then he discussed the bill of 1867 to take over the Canadian West. This idea was sparked because of the Minnesota and Manitoba trade route that extended through the Red River Valley. When nations border one another a great deal of importance is placed on where that boundary lies. The main idea behind the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, the London Convention in 1818, the Oregon Treaty in 1846, the Joint Boundary Commission in 1872-76, and finally resurvey in 1910-12 was all about splitting the difference over the 49th parallel. If surveyors from either side of the line were a great distance apart they would walk it off half way and that is where the line was drawn. Then once this was done, sod cairns were erected to mark this position. After establishing a boundary the next thing is to establish a set of guidelines for each side to abide by. Canada and the US had wartime agreements between their respected harvesters. This posed as more of a problem for the US because there really was nothing to gain by selling to Canada which is why they were seeking a protected market. Some factors that hurt that were things like the exchange rate. Canadians were getting a much better price in the states with the exchange then they were at home. Then, Dr. Isern talked about the issue of water rights. There were plans on the Missouri River, as well as a plan in 1957 by the Corps of Engineers Garrison Diversion for Irrigation. Some objections to the passing of water across the border were a fear that inter-basin transfer would damage crops and the soil, which did not seem to be the case. It was very interesting to see Canada’s points on the Irrigation ideas.

I recently read two articles in the magazine the Walrus. The nature of the magazine is similiar to that of Newsweek or Time magazine. It covers current events, global issues, and human interest stories in Canada. The first article I read was in the May 2007 edition, and it was titled: "City Limits". It was about remembering the famous author Jane Jacobs who passed away last year. One point she made in her life was that even though Quebec is not recognized as an indendent state, it already seperate in many ways from greater Canada. The article also critiques seven of her most famous books. The writer of the article wants the reader to remember Jacobs not for her radical ideas, but as a citizen of Canada who was greatly influenced by her country's problems. The second article I read was titled: "Alienated Cosmopolitans" in the March 2007 edition. It discusses how we are members of the world community, a memeber of the human race, but we identify ourselves as peoplr by where we are from. it was an interesting look into the idea of the pshychological ties we have to "Our Place". It used the Miss Universe as an example, but I thoughyt that it was a little ridiculous to use that example. I also think the article should have discussed organizations like the UN. I don't know if we'll ever feel like a true world community.

I just finished reading two articles in the Walrus magazine. The nature of the magazine is close to the same as US News and World Report. The magazine covers global news, local human interest stories, and world wide events. The first article I read was in the March 2007 edition and it was titled: "Life on Nut Island". Its about about an elite tactcal crime fighting unit that fell apart due to internal corruption. The article reminded me of the TV program, The Shield. It was called the Nut Island Unit, and it was made by the Ontario Provincial Police. It was interesting to hear about how they were basically operating on their own, and they only naswered to eachother. To me that is a recipe for corruption and npolice brutality. When the corruption came to light it turned into finger pointing and scapegoating. I think it sucks that police corruption exists everywhere. The second article I read was in the May 2007 edition titiled: "An American Type of Sadness". This was the first article I read that takes a stance against American attitude. The article tries to tie the urge for materialism with american novels since WWII. The article discusses many books that I have never heard of like The Discomfort Zone and the Diviners. I think the article makes a good point, but I don't think materialism started after WWII.

I recently read two article in the Walrus magazine. The nature of the magazine is sililiar to that of Time or Newsweek. It covers world problems, diplomatic issues, and Canadian human interest stories the first article I read was titled: "Schoolboy Chic" in the March 2007 edition. Its about a designer who puts a little rock and roll into classic mens' suits. Its not really about anything but putting a little different spin on suit design. It didn't make sense to me that ther wasn't any pictures or illustration. Why would a fashion article not have pictures? The way the suits are described would not make them very suitable for the workplace. Its more like a trendy way to dress up for a night out in town. It was interesting to hear about new trend in Canadian popular culture. The second article I read was in the May 2007 edition titiled: "An Upstream Battle". It was about one of Canada's oldest lacrosse clubs. The New Westminister Lacrosse Club was founded in 1889. I had never heard anything about Canadian Lacrosse until today, but it seems to have a lot of popularity in sporadic parts of Canada. Some people think that Lacrosse is from the Natives, while others claim it comes from Ireland. The article infers that is an evolution of the combined two. I enjoyed the article, it gave some good insight into the origins of organized lacrosse.