creative planning

I mentioned earlier how I wanted to do more creative things this year, such as making use of the sketch book/folio that I received for Christmas. Well truth is, I'm more of a doodler than a sketcher and I've been struggling to get started.

So rather than just unleash my self on the page, I have resorted to a much more non-creative, type-A competitive approach fitting my current position as a law student (note: not student-at-law as I can't be called that until I'm out of law school, GOD this profession is weird).

I have a plan.

Step One - Buy A Book - check!
I picked up this book at the local used bookstore. Here's hoping it serves me as well as it did someone's grandfather who now appears to have passed away although his name and inscription will live on.

Step Two - Find time to read book

Still working on this one....

Step Three - Sketch

Step Four - Stop sketching out of frustration of not creating masterpieces right away

Step Five - Months later, feel guilty for not making use of sketch book and try sketching again

Step Six - Sketch a few things, decide it's not for me and move on to a new creative pursuit.

So that's the plan. I'll post some updates along the way, and hopefully, this time, it won't go according to plan.

talk about being on message

It seems the US Presidential Candidates are using the same speaking notes, regardless of party:



(with apologies to Mr. Bowie)

i'll be back

Hi everyone, just a quick note to let you know that I'll be offline and not posting for a few days, probably until at least the weekend if not early next week. I'm on a tight deadline to write a factum for our moot and everything is going into that at the moment.

throwing rocks at houses

As winter has firmly settled in here on the prairie, it's time for curling to start again. The little law school on the prairie curling team was actually reformed last term but with the strike at the university the season ended abruptly before I had a chance to even blog about it once.

Three of us from "Lord Denning Rocks" last year are back, with a few new players in tow. We actually have six players this year. Obviously our success last year created a surge in popularity and the number of people wanting to be on our team.

Anyways, we hit the ice yesterday after months of inactivity and slid to our first defeat at 3-6. For a few missed shots it could have been closer. We're still in the "C" league and for some reason, some people think "C" stands for competitive. These curlers with their own equipment and pre-game stretches should all be bumped up to the "B" or "A" league which are supposed to be the competitive ones. The ones with the matching jackets got a withering look of disapproval(tm).

Anyways, we had a lot of fun, and it's nice to hang out without talking about school.

pay day

Well, my very first foray into international finance has finally come to an end. Natik, the cattle/sheep farmer in Azerbaijan has repaid his $800 loan. For the full details of the international bank of glen, click here.

As with the loan to the fuel seller in Afghanistan, the $25 I loaned is repaid into my account where I can reloan it to another business.

Kiva works great. My original $50 investment continues to get reloaned each time it is paid back, so it will now be the equivalent of $100 having gone to help people in developing countries!

If you haven't yet, check Kiva out, and consider getting involved.

[title of post]

In an earlier post, I featured the song "Die, Vampire Die" from the musical [title of show]. The show is a musical about two guys trying to write a musical. The cast is four friends all involved in trying to put the musical together. It is fun, a little crazy and although it has run off-broadway they are using viral marketing to try to get a broadway run.

As part of their viral marketing, they have created the [title of show] show, a toscast available on itunes, a cast album, a blog, etc.

The [title of show] show has a cute with chris like tone and feel. Although the play is not currently running the [title of show] show continues, documenting their road to broadway on the "tossability" board. The enthusiasm and humour is infectious.

Here's one of the early episodes:

climb every mountain

Well I'm starting a new blog roulette feature here at granted null that will highlight blogs I stumble upon using the "Next Blog" feature up at the top left hand corner of the page. I click on "Next Blog" until I find one that captures my attention and makes me stop. Whichever blog that it is, will be linked to in one of these posts.

The first in this series is Tom & Atticus Hike The Winter Whites For MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center.

The description of the blog is:

When winter started on December 22, 2007, we began our quest to hike New Hampshire's 48 4,000-foot peaks twice in one winter. This year we're using our Winter Quest to raise money for MSPCA-Angell, a wonderful not-for-profit that helps thousands of animals each year. All money raised through our hikes go directly to Angell Animal Medical Center.

i am the hasselhoff

The little sister has a fascination with David Hasselhoff that can't be explained. Currently she is running a contest called "Being David Hasselhoff". The contest calls for creative expressions of being David Hasselhoff. I should warn you that the photos submitted so far can only be described as disturbing.

Although I don't understand the allure of the hoff, I have tried in the following to caputre the essence of being "the Hasselhoff". I must begin by offering my apologies to Scandal and Patti Smyth for reinterpreting their 80s hit "I am the Warrior". I have rewritten the song "I am the Hasselfhoff".

As a reminder, here is the original song:



Now play it again, but this time reading along (or singing along, you know you want to) with these new lyrics:

I run, run...run so slow
It's a skill...that you don’t know
Running on...my hunky thighs
I bet you're not so exercised

Well, it’s my love..that you need
A wild need like a growing weed
Break out of East Germany
And follow my career’s meteor rise
I am your man.....a star in your eyes

Chorus:
Shootin' on the sets of Baywatch, splash, splash, I am the Hasselhoff
Well I am the Hasselhoff, and heart to heart you'll win…if you survive the Hasselhoff....the Hasselhoff

You talk, talk, you talk to me
Your eyes touch me physically
Stay with me, we'll take the night
As passion takes another bite, oh

Who's the singer...with the fame?
You hear the fans...call my name
I keep them warm...in Germany
You can’t ever tame my animal style…
I won't be caged...I’m the call of the wild....

Repeat Chorus

I am the Hasselhoff

(Guitar Break – picture the Hoff’s dance moves here)

Shootin' on the sets of Baywatch (shootin' on the sets of baywatch)
The Hasselhoff.....
I am the Hasselhoff, and heart to heart you’ll win
heart to heart you’ll win...if you survive
The Hasselhoff...the Hasselhoff

shootin' on the sets of Baywatch, splash, splash, I am the Hasselhoff
yes I am the Hasselhoff and Germany is mine
(shootin' on the sets of baywatch)
The Hasselhoff...I am the Hasselhoff

taking on the tyranny of tim's

Over the holidays I went home to suburban Ontario to visit family and friends. This is where I grew up. In my hometown, I believe we have the most donut stores per capita, and you can barely turn around without seeing a Tim Horton's. I remember back when I was working there in municipal government, I had to pick up Tim Horton's for a meeting. It practically turned into an emergency situation, and a rethink of municipal planning, when I actually had to drive out of my way to find a Tim Horton's.

Honestly, I don't like Tim's. They have good donuts, but I find their coffee metallic and completely unappealing. Their hot chocolate isn't much better. I know this is a personal taste thing, but I really can't stand it. I'm a Starbucks boy. What drives me crazy is the notion that I am completely uncanadian as a result. Tim's has a lock on all things Canadiana.

Well I am pleased to report, that over the holidays, I successfully and publicly challenged the tyranny of tim's over all things Canadian. I was off to see my nephew's hockey game, dad and sister in tow. My father wanted to stop for coffee on the way, and I refused to go to Tim's. I found a Starbucks and we went there. I was not going to be the cliched Canadian standing in the hockey arena with my tim's double-double thinking wistfully of immigrant fathers who secretly watched their sons play hockey. Nope, not this boy.

I noticed a photographer was routinely taking pictures of our little group. After 10 years in PR I have a pretty good nose for reporters and photographers. I shot him that, if you're taking photos of us, you better come talk to us about consent look. He came over, and got the details. The photo just appeared in the paper. It's the quintessential Canadian story, the grandfather at the arena watching his grandson, thinking that boy is going to play in the big leaves. BUT WAIT! What's that in his hand, it's Starbucks! Yes, the tyranny of tim's lock on hockey has been busted in the mainstream media. Starbucks, you owe me. I'll take payment in free coffee!

taking tort law forward

I've frequently written about "tort law" here on the blog. The video "tort law back" is one of the most popular on the site. However, in the news the past couple of days has been a recent tort law decision here on the prairie that seems to be taking tort law a step forward.

Here's the story. There's another version here. Go read them, then come back.

I'm really intrigued and puzzled by this decision, hence blogging about it. I'll give initial comments today but I'm hoping to track the judgment down once it's finalized and learn a bit more before doing a full analysis.

One main source of confusion is which tort did she base her action on. In the CTV story it almost seems that she may have launched a tort in battery. This makes a little more sense, but I would have thought that the fact that she voluntarily took the drugs would nullify any battery tory.

In the StarPhoenix, it indicates she sued in negilgence. For a primer on negilgence, you can go back and watch the snail in a bottle video. Once again I surprised she was successful. Putting aside issues of consent and voluntary assumption of risk, I still don't know whether the elements of negligence are there.

In a nutshell, for negligence, you need to establish a duty of care, then show that the duty of care was breached. You do that by showing there is a standard of care (level of behaviour) and the defendant breached it. Even if you get past the first hurdle of somehow establishing that a drug dealer has a duty of care to their clients, how do you determine the standard of care for a drug dealer?

Is there a professional standard for drug dealers? Are they required to limit the number of drugs they sell to one person, i.e. not enough to OD? Must they be upfront about the contents or effects of the drug? Should they be providing warnings with each sale? There is no reasonable standard of care for a drug dealer in dealing with their client.

Anyways, I should be able to better figure this out once I track down a judgment.

As for the big precedent setting nature of this case, I just don't know. It's only a superior court decision, not appellate and is certainly not binding anywhere else in Canada. Also, the win is a bit of a technicality, as the defence was struck so really there was no trial and no argument from the defence side, which I think would make it less persuasive when being used by other courts. I guess time will only tell.

However, I do find it fascinating, which I guess just makes me a bit of a law geek.

message recieved???

Well who ever ended up telling him, Mr. Dion finally appears to have gotten the message that there's some problems with the handling of his recent appointment of a NDP MLA as a Liberal candidate here in Saskatchewan. I provided Mr. Dion with my advice down below. I don't know who else is advising him, but thank god he finally took their advice and came out talking, (although not swinging).

• CBC News: Dion Defends Beatty Appointment

guilty pleasure #16: cover me

I'm a bg fan of singers covering other people's songs. It's always interesting to hear a new take on an old, or in the following cases, not so old songs. It seems like this is a big trend in England with both cd:UK and BBC Radio One Live Lounge regularly having singers in to sing other artists' songs.

Here are two of my favourite British singers, Daniel Bedingfield and Will Young doing cover versions on cd:UK a popular music program:

in my elder years

I recently blogged about my "old man hat", but I'm beginning to worry that maybe it's more than just the hat that's old.

It appears I may be older than my years. This realization has been coming to me slowly and it's not because of the prospect of getting older as a birthday begins to approach. It's more a process of paying attention to commercials.

It has been a couple of years since I left that coveted 18-34 marketing age group. However, it appears in leaving that group, I have switched to the 55+ group and missed the intervening 21 years. How can I tell? Commercials and advertisements.

Marketers generally are smart. They have researched their audience, know who they are, and identify the best ways to reach them. Over the last several months I have begun to notice that in the various shows that I watch or magazines I read, all the commercials or advertisements are for products targeted at those 55 and over. Hmm, do I have the taste of a sixty-year old man? Or worse yet, a seventy-year old woman?

At first I thought little of it, but as I began to notice more and more ads and commercials, I've begun to worry. What happened to my young, hip, cutting-edge self? You would think that being surrounded by twenty-somethings it would rub-off on me, but is it just rubbing me the wrong way? Is my new found taste for all things old, a reaction to being surrounded by youth?

Who knows? But in the meantime if you need to know about the benefits of viagra, centrum or freedom living devices, I'm your man!

step on over to the other side

I'm a little behind on the Sarah Hampson bashing although her "Merry Ex-mas" piece had me all riled up and throwing around the withering look of disapproval(tm). However, you'll be glad to know the little sister has taken up the challenge and you can read her take on Ms. Hampson's most recent piece here.

However, the withering look of disapproval has been cast at politicians lately. Today, its back to old Stephane Dion. I guess when most people in your own party don't support you, you start looking to supporters in other parties. I've blogged before about the suicide, errr mutual support pact between Dion and Elizabeth May. Mr. Dion, much like Ms. Hampson has gone and done it again.

Mr. Dion appointed a sitting NDP MLA to run in the March 17 by-election for a federal seat here in Saskatchewan. Yes, one of those MLA's who was just re-elected two months' ago. Yes, she's quitting provincial politics two-months later and is aiming for the big show.

According to press reports, it appears Ms. Beatty got used to being in cabinet, and doesn't like the view from the opposition benches in Regina. So she's swapping/shopping for a view from the opposition benches in Ottawa in hopes she'll be back on the government side quicker than the at least four years she'll have to wait here. Hmmm, a guess a promise of a cabinet post was made, however really, who are we kidding, if you're a liberal and elected in the west, you're pretty much guaranteed a cabinet post

You think considering that they started talking about this six months ago (yes before the Sask election) she would have come up with a better message, but I'll give her points for being honest about the reason, although she certainly was not honest with the electorate about her intentions.

As for the Liberals, when will they learn. Yes I understand Stephan Dion has made a commitment to get more women in his caucus, but are there no liberal women? If there are, I certainly can't imagine them sticking around (i.e. Belinda) with Mr. Dion seeming to only find women he likes in other parties. Maybe Lizzie and Joan can sit together once they're both elected (tee hee, that's funny, Elizabeth May elected, tee hee).

Also, once again, knowing this was in the works for months, don't you think the Liberals could have planned their communications a little better? "Stephane Dion has made it a priority to elect more women; Stephane Dion thinks this is a great candidate." Are you thinking Stephane Dion now talks about himself in the third persion? (Glen thinks that would be swell!) Fear not no, Mr. Dion, who was so committed to this candidate and trashing the democratic nomination process, was not available for comment and a liberal senator (and former national campaign chair) was trotted out to do all the talking. It's time to whip out PR101 again.

First off, if Mr. Dion was so committed, make him available. Have him stand up, accept and explain his decisions. Don't trot someone else out to do it for him. The Conservatives are trashing him as a weak leader, and when he makes a "bold" leadership decision, trot him out to show and defend it. Don't send out a senator who use quotes like "bite the bullet" when describing the decision.

If you are committed to this decision, be proud. Don't say you "bit the bullet". Have Stephan Dion say "I made a commitment to change the representation of women in our party, and when required I'll make unpopular decisions to keep that commitment. That's what a leader does."

"Yes, Ms. Beatty is a New Democrat MLA, but she is a smart, talented aboriginal woman whose voice and ideas need to be heard in Parliament. I'm pleased she feels like the Liberal Party is the best party to hear her voice and help address the needs of aboriginal people and all Canadians. Her joining with us reflects her commitment to helping her constituents and reflects the change I have brought to the Liberal Party."

That's just one suggestion of what could be said. I'm sure there's others. But all of them are better than saying "Ow, we bit the bullet." So for that, and just cherry picking generally, Senator David Smith and Stephane Dion get the withering look of disapproval(tm). And Ms. Beatty gets one of her own, for being less than forthright with her constituents.

make me over

Since the blog is over a year old, I thought it was time for a makeover so I've changed the look of the blog. Depending on how school goes over the next while I may try playing around with the format to go for a more custom look, but for now a new template will have to do for a fresh look.

I've also added "things I blog about" which is a list of the labels from my blog entries. You can know read the blog by subject by clicking on any of the labels.

blog roll

I've updated the blogs i read section over there to your right. I've added two blogs written by north of 60 friends. Both are law school survivors and you may have noticed them popping up in the comments section here on my blog recently. I've been enjoying reading their blogs and have added links.

I've also renamed the link to the "little sister's" blog to reflect a long-ago name change to her blog. It can now be read by clicking on "reflections in the snow-covered hills". It appears this is some Fleetwood Mac reference that slipped past me, however my Fleetwood Mac knowledge pretty much starts and stops with the songs sung by Christine McVie.

Happy reading!

two thousand and great?

It's a new year, but long-term readers of the blog will know that I'm not a big new years fan. Particularly with being back in school, I'm far more likely to consider September the new year.

However, with all the media coverage of the new year, resolutions, the year in review, and the year looking ahead, it's practically impossible not to be thinking about a new year, and what you hope to do differently.

As I don't handle failure well, I tend to stay away from resolutions. In spite of this I have been thinking about what I would like to do more of this upcoming year. After a particularly grueling school term, I feel the need to do more creative things. It can't all be about school and work.

This blog is one thing I hope to do more of. In 2007, there were 191 posts to the blog, an average of one every other day, however it was definitely concentrated in the first part of the year. There were long stretches of no blogging and I noticed the absence of a creative outlet, even if it's just a blog post.

Hopefully this year I will do more photography, writing and make use of the sketch book kit and folio I got for Christmas. It's not only about doing more though, it is also about putting your creativity out there. That's the hardest bit. Last weekend I was in Ottawa visiting a north of 60 friend who moved south the same time I left for law school. This was something we talked about a bit over the weekend, in particular in relation to a musical cabaret we saw called "Life on the Wicked Stage".

The show included songs from a number of broadway and off-broadway shows. Some well-known, others a discovery. One woman in the show was a standout, not only for her great vocals, but also for the fact that she could have been Seriously Frivolous' twin. It was uncanny, right down to the smile and laugh. The only thing missing was the high kick of happiness(tm)!

Anyways, one of the songs was from a show called [title of show] (that's the actual title). It's a musical about writing a musical. The songs goes directly to what I've been writing about. It's called "Die Vampires Die" and is about those people and demons that prevent you from creating and putting yourself out there. It's smart and funny but some of the language may not be appropriate if you're playing it aloud at work: