In the past, I have made television sound like the devil.  Now, I am not a huge television fan, but that doesn't mean I indulge once in a while.  If I get access to more than four channels I can get sucked in and - BAM - I am lost for a long time.  This morning, I was reading up on the TiVo recording system and I found a website called TeVil which lists why television is evil. 

It makes some fairly decent points - but I still can't let go.  Does that mean I am addicted?

TeVil: Television is Evil

I don't watch much television. In fact, I don't even own a television. When I moved out of my parent's house four years ago, I decided that I didn't want a television. My original intent was to spend my spare time practicing guitar since I was trying to learn how to play. Then I got into reading, writing, developing software on my own, recording music, and other things I would have never had the chance to do if I spent most of my spare time watching television. In all of my four years without television, I've never missed having one. Sure, I missed alot of shows but I don't think I really missed much. Below are some of the basic reasons I don't particularly like television. I'll be elaborating on some of these points as I get time to fill them in.

• Most TV Shows Suck.
  This is especially true of most so-called situation comedies. The reason they have to add that stupid laugh track is so you know what part is supposed to be funny. If you'll notice, the funniest shows don't have laugh tracks. Cases in point: Beavis and Butthead, the Simpsons, King of the Hill, Ally McBeal, and The Howard Stern Show (both of them).
• Television's primary purpose is to advertise.
• TV is mind numbing.
  In order to reach its maximum potential audience (to whom the sponsors can sell more product), television shows have to be dumbed down to the point of having little or no intellectual value or relevance.
• TV presents a false reality.
  This in and of itself is not so bad BUT when fantasy is presented as TRUTH and without counteropinion, I have a problem.
• TV is censored.
  Only a handful of corporations (I believe Noam Chomsky's number is 13) control what you can see on television.
• TV is addictive.
• TV is racist.
• TV is sexist.
• TV is homophobic.
• TV is violent.

Well, I have done it.  After growing some face hair for a week and a bit, I took the dive and shaved me a gotee.  I look so...ummm, what do I look like.  Send me some opinions.  This is a big change for me.  I hate shaving, but I also hate having facial hair.  But, apparently, I am hot!

Need I say more?

I woke up today to some sad news.

As I do every morning, I pour out the coffee, munch on some toast and read the news.  I had to put aside everything because I read the phrase: Pat Morita passes away.  Of course, I said: "Not Mr. Miyagi!  He can't die!"  But I was sad and my heart goes out to his family.

So, why should I care about the passing of a Hollywood actor?  What is so important about Mr. Morita?  For me, he is a symbol of the Gen X generation.  In the late 1970's and the early 1980's, his role as "Arnold" in Happy Days was the beginning of my exposure to his work.

The Fonz: Arnold, go and cook up a couple of burgers for us.
Matsuo 'Arnold' Takahashi: But I just cleaned the grill!
The Fonz: Well, good! Then maybe they'll taste better!

He was funny to watch and held his own against the likes of The Fonz and the rest of the kids that normally hung around the diner because they had nothing better to do.  Yet, it wasn't until the The Karate Kid when people in my generation saw him for the talent he really was.  Who will ever be able to forget Mr. Miyagi and his classic phrases?  Mr. Miyagi is a role which burned Mr. Morita's popularity into our impressionable 1980's brains.  Love him or hate him, we all knew who Mr. Miyagi was and what his philosophy was.

Oh, yes, and how we made fun of him.  A year never went by when someone I knew (or myself) uttered the phrases: "Wax on, wax off."  or "Not up down - side side!"  No matter how important or meaningful some of Miyagi's lessons were we still poked fun.  But - we never forgot those lessons.

Miyagi: Karate come from China, sixteenth century, called te, "hand." Hundred year later, Miyagi ancestor bring to Okinawa, call *kara*-te, "empty hand."
Daniel: I thought it came from Buddhist temples and stuff like that.
Miyagi: You too much TV.

Pat Morita made this character his own.  He knew that the little old man could show the younger generation a thing or two about life.  He could take our selfish, scattered lives and turn them into something meaningful.  And, really, who wouldn't have wanted to make out with Elizabeth Shue at that age?  I would have given my soul to have had that chance in 1984.

But, the appeal of Mr. Myiagi will not leave our lives easily.  He was like everyone's favourite grandfather - the ever watching and mindful old man with the ability to guide the younger generation into making good decisions, to follow their dreams and become more than gangly teenagers.  Or, at the very least, to learn how to use the most important muscle we have.

Miyagi: Your friend, all karate student, eh?
Daniel: Friend? Oh, yeah, those guys.
Miyagi: Problem: attitude.
Daniel: No the problem is, I'm getting my ass kicked every other day, that's the problem.
Miyagi: Hai, because boys have bad attitude. Karate for defense only.
Daniel: That's not what these guys are taught.
Miyagi: Hai - can see. No such thing a bad student, only bad teacher. Teacher say, student do.
Daniel: Oh, great, that solves everything for me. I'll just go down to the school and straighten it out with the teacher, no problem.
Miyagi: Now use head for something other than target.

I raise a glass to Pat Morita.  He was hard on Daniel-san just as we know there are times when someone older and wiser than us need to crank on us once in a while.  They've all been there.  Our parents, grandparents, friends and family.  I wish we would listen just a little closer to them. 

I thank you for your work and making Mr. Miyagi a man we all can see a little of ourselves in.

I have been working on some new poetry and will post it later this year.  I have also been finalizing a series of collections that I have been working on for most of this last year. 

So, why mention poetry (aside from obvious reasons most neglect) is that I have been checking out some podcasts regarding poetry.  I don't know how many people who read this site know about podcasts, but here are the ones I have been checking out.

• Asinine Poetry
  http://www.podcast.net/show/56513
• Slam Idol
  http://www.podcast.net/show/21277
• PoetryPod
  http://www.podcast.net/show/8780

If you want to know more about podcasting, just let me know and I will "hook you up".

Please Wear A Poppy

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
 
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun, "Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned in on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man - as you will, too."

He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.

"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

"Till at last, at last, the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"

A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!

And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!

by Don Crawford

Tags: rememberanceday

Here is the first snippet of the Governor General's speech for Rememberance Day 2005.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean Speech on the Occasion of the Installation Ceremony of the Seventh Book of Remembrance

Ottawa, Friday, November 11, 2005

We have gathered today in the Hall of Honour in memory of fallen Canadians.

The Seventh Book of Remembrance lists the names of members of the Canadian Forces who have died while on duty since October 1, 1947.

It will join six other similar volumes, Books of Remembrance commemorating the women and men who fought and died while serving their country.

I am deeply moved by the story of the Books of Remembrance. Originally, it was intended that the names of all Canadians who fell in the First World War would be engraved on the walls of a chamber on the second floor of the Peace Tower, in the Memorial Chamber.

Unfortunately, there is not enough room on these walls for the more than 66,000 names of fallen Canadian soldiers.

Not enough space.

The entire speech is here.

More on the Books of Rememberance can be found on the Veteran's Affairs web site.

Reply to Flanders Fields

Oh! sleep in peace where poppies grow;
The torch your falling hands let go
Was caught by us, again held high,
A beacon light in Flanders sky
That dims the stars to those below.
You are our dead, you held the foe,
And ere the poppies cease to blow,
We'll prove our faith in you who lie
In Flanders Fields.
Oh! rest in peace, we quickly go
To you who bravely died, and know
In other fields was heard the cry,
For freedom's cause, of you who lie,
So still asleep where poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

As in rumbling sound, to and fro,
The lightning flashes, sky aglow,
The mighty hosts appear, and high
Above the din of battle cry,
Scarce heard amidst the guns below,
Are fearless hearts who fight the foe,
And guard the place where poppies grow.
Oh! sleep in peace, all you who lie
In Flanders Fields.

And still the poppies gently blow,
Between the crosses, row on row.
The larks, still bravely soaring high,
Are singing now their lullaby
To you who sleep where poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John Mitchell