Global Warming - Fact or Fiction?

Lately, there has been much written in the media about global warming. However, it's not the usual "we're all going to hell in a hand basket" doom and gloom. Quite the opposite; reporters are calling global warming, and the subsequent Kyoto Protocol, a "colossal taxpayer-funded hoax". What has brought about this change of view?

Dr. Tim Ball, a former professor at the University of Winnipeg, states that there is a 300 year cycle of temperature that is related to the solar cycles. He has written the United States government to question a public report about the warming of the Arctic. "Friends of Earth" have warned the naysayers about melting glaciers threatening Mount Everest.

Professor Ball (not to be confused with Professor Balls of Pink Panther notoriety) maintains that while parts of the Arctic are indeed warming, other parts are cooling. The same goes for Antarctica, which counts an even higher rate of cooling. As for the melting of the arctic's glaciers? Apparently only 10 per cent of glaciers are even monitored, and of this 10 per cent, 50 per cent are advancing rather than retreating. Therein lies the question: What if global warming isn't happening at all?

Frankly, I viewed this article with surprise, then disbelief. As I began to report on the dismissive nature of the headlines, I was suddenly aware that this announcement was a bit too timely. Isn't the United States supposed to review the Kyoto Protocol this December, and decide, once and for all, if the US will sign the treaty? How convenient to have the media decry global warming, and thus, save millions of dollars in eco-overhaul. Planned news leaks or factual reporting?

You be the judge, but no harm in continuing to return, recycle, and reuse.

Lezah's blog hijacked by Christine.

Visit our site at http://www.swanktrendz.com

Vancouver, Home of Some Culture-Changing Concepts

Over the last 35 years, Vancouver has spawned some culture-changing concepts that have garnered world-wide attention.

1.  The Peter Principle:  ever thought your boss had no idea what he was doing?  Maybe you were right!

Dr. Laurence J. Peter was a Vancouver native and former UBC professor who, in 1969, published a book about a concept that was said to be 'the most penetrating social and psychological discovery of the century.'  The concept was dubbed 'the Peter Principle', and stated that, "in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence."  Basically, employees tend to be promoted based on merit, until eventually they are promoted to a position that is either beyond their ability level or their skill set - or both (an example here would be a good worker who is promoted off the floor into a management position; basically he/she is promoted out of a positon in which he/she excels and into a position for which he/she has no background/eudcation/expe rience - a recipe for failure).  Peter went on to write two more books on the topic before his death.

2.  Greenpeace:  although the individuals involved began discussing the ideas and ideals that would form the basis of the organization in the late '60s, it wasn't until 1971 that Greenpeace officially started in the Kits area of Vancouver.  A group protesting nuclear testing on Amchitka Island off the coast of earthquake-prone Alaska was formed to be a voice of reason and to raise public awareness.  Today, Greenpeace spearheads a variety of environmental campaigns around the world.  Now based in Amsterdam, Greenpeace boasts 2.8 million supporters in 41 countries around the world. Probably more importantly, Greenpeace provided the blueprint for other animal rights organizations, who have gone on to raise public awareness of environmental issues worldwide, thereby creating an awareness of and predicting the rise of issues surrounding pollution and diseases such as CVJ.

3.  Cyberspace:  although this term was not invented by Vancouver science fiction writer William Gibson, it was his 1984 novel Necromancer that popularized the term and brought it forward onto the world stage. Gibson's Cyberspace is a virtual world, a new world that is all about pure information, that is wholly created and sustained by computers.  Probably more important than the concept, which is not yet reality, was the timeliness of the ideas behind the novel in conjunction with the burgeoning world of computers in our post 1984 world.  Gibson helped computers and their lexicon become part of the public consciousness as he introduced words like cyberpunk, netsurfing and the matrix to everyone's vocabulary.

4.  Generation X:  again, another Vancouverite who did not invent the phrase he's famous for, but rather, popularized it, Douglas Copeland's novel Generation X:  Tales for an Accelerated Culture (1991) delves into the world of demographics and labelled a whole generation of disenfranchised, over-educated, under-achieving people living in the shadow of the Baby Boomers.  This generational cohort, born in the '60s and '70s (population 19 million US) has long lived in the shadow of their Ozymandius-like elders, the Baby Boomers (population 72 million US) and have rebelled at the 'merry-go-round of status, money and social climbing that so often frames modern existence', claims Coupland.  Like the speaker in Shelley's Ozymandius, who describes a broken statue of the former king, on which is enscribed

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'

Nothing beside remains.  Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away

Coupland decries the excesses of the generation before us. And maybe ol' Ozy is a modern-day metaphor for the soon-to-be-bankrupted social security program?

Coupland's latest book, Eleanor Rigby, comes out within the next month and deaths with the theme of loneliness.   

Glam it Up for the Holidays

Two must-haves for the holidays are big, dangly, flashy earrings, and velvet pants.  Yes, you heard me right!

First the velvet pants.  Let's do a bit of a compare and contrast for a moment, shall we?  Take, say, some black pants of a shiny material - whatever you desire, it's just got to be shiny.  Okay, are we there yet?  Now, take a pair of velvet pants.  Try both on.  Guess what?  You look skinnier in the velvet - by about 5-10 lbs.  And why is that?  Simple science:  velvet absorbs light, while shiny materials reflect light.  What that means to your butt and thighs is this:  every crease, crevice and dimple (and some that aren't even there) shows up when you wear shiny materials, while the light-absorbing velvet smooths out and camoflauges said problem areas.  I rest my case.

Next, the earrings.  So, still don't trust me about the whole shiny pants/velvet pants thing?  Still convinced you've got to wear that pair of shiny pants (or skirt, or dress, or...) - well, you're going to need something that will draw the eye up and away from your problem area (the flashy part of the earring does this) while at the same time elongating your neck and making you appear taller (the dangly part of the earring does this).

 So, once again:  velvet pants and flashy, dangly earrings.  Note to self:  add to Santa list...

The Incredibles

Oh, for a simpler time!

 If you're pining for a time when men were men, women were women, and everyone knew who the bad guys were, then maybe The Incredibles is the movie for you.  It gives you all that - and a lot more.

The plot deals with the classic mid-century story line where GOOD has to save the world from EVIL - with the aid of super-powers.  In this case, it is an entire family that has been bestowed upon with these powers, and although the family members are incredible in their respective abilities, they are surprisingly like you and me.  The father, who possesses super-human strength, is stuck working in a dead-end job he hates, just to make ends meet.  His untapped potential is reflected outwards, as from a mirror.  The stay-at-home mother stretches herself in all directions to meet the needs of her family - not surprisingly, she used to be Elasta-girl before she married.  The teenage daughter, Violet, disappears - not unlike many other teenage shrinking violets I know.  Their hyperactive, ADHD son Flash is - you guessed it, the fastest kid around.  Finally, their baby's gift is not revealed until the end of the movie, but it is so absolutely true of all babies that this character really could not have had any other gift.

So other than the characterization, which was great, and the plot, which was a wonderful blast-from-the-past with '60s style spy elements to it (complete with requisite volcano) a la James Bond and other films of that ilk, the thing I really, really loved was - the sets.  For an animated film, it had absolutely the best backgrounds and sets going.  Everything was absolutely of the time. Perfect.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.

So, in a nutshell:  I loved it, and I hope you go see it.  I think you'll love it, too.  

The Da Vinci Code

When I was at a conference a couple of weeks ago, the big conversation starter was, "Have you read The Da Vinci Code?"

Last week, the Globe and Mail had The Da Vinci Code down as having been on the betsellers' list for 85 weeks; it was currently at #1, and had been for many weeks previously.  Debuting at #9 the same week, interestingly enough, was The Da Vinci Code:  Special Illustrated Edition.  Imagine that!  Just in time for Christmas - what an incredible coincidence.

Of course, this is not the first book that has been published as a result of the phenomenal popularity of The Da Vinci Code.  Books and pamphlets espousing the Catholic perspective in relation to The Da Vinci Code have been out for a while.  I read recently that Brigham Young University has held a lecture on the Mormon viewpoint in relation to the book, which ended up selling out within ten minutes. The book has been garnering so much attention that the remains of a priest buried in a small French village recently had to be re-located in order to save the graveyard from the treasure hunters who are smarming in from all over.

Well, at least it's good to know that there are still people out there who read...

Men's wear

What to get Dad for Christmas?  Hmmm, what about.... I know, a tie!Moderate-width ties are the way to go at the moment, and have been for the last ten years.  Doesn't look like things are going to change any time soon, so should be a safe best for those on your gift list who don't exactly fall under the 'fashion forward' heading.

For the guy who does, however, a couple of things to keep in mind:  spread collars are hot again, as are larger tie knots on thicker, textured silk ties.

And what I really, really love on guys right now are pin-striped pants - but not a semi-formal or business suit pant pin-strip.  This one is more of a Carnaby Street inspired semi-casual trouser.  It's time we moved away from the khakis and chinos that have become, let's face it, de rigeur, and looked for something else -and this is it.  Trust me

What to Buy the Cellphone That Has Everything?

One of the hottest sellers at Louis Vuitton these days is the cellphone case.  In a variety of sizes and offering a broad range of straps, the cases range in price from $280 to $355 (www.vuitton.com).  Not planning on spending that much on a gift for your cellphone?  You're in luck:  even cuter than the Vuitton cases, in my opinion, is the Canadian-based 'Poire' line which offers 'pouches' by Japanese designers for the Asian market (from $12.95, at various retailers).

Happy Birthday, Kitty!

29 and holding?  Not this cat!

Hello Kitty, that venerable fashion icon from Japan, turned 30 this month.  From dresses to handbags, crop circles to jewellery, Hello Kitty is everywhere. Paris Hilton wore Hello Kitty in New York-based Heatherette's 2003 spring/summer show, and Bralizian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch featured Hello Kitty in his 2004 winter collection.  Ten thousand products a year, multi-millions of dollars in sales:  Kitty, you're not getting older, you're getting better!

Mix and Match

The hottest new trend in dining room decor is the eclectic style.  Previously, dining rooms had been the last bastion of matching furniture.  It's long been considered very ' down market' to have, say, matching living room furniture - too Walmart.

Different frame styles, benches, a variety of colours and cover-ups from leather to silk - anything goes.  More intimate and relaxed, this newest style invites people to linger at the table and enjoy - just in time for the holidays!

Orange You Glad It's Not Pea-Green?

When those pinks and greens of ten years or so ago gave way to the calming spa colours popular in interior design today, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.  So, for the last few years it's been a lot of _mocha, or grey-brown - colours that slide somewhere on the scale between beige and light brown.

It's no surprise, then, that the hot accent colour of the year was a rich, chocolate brown.  This colour even transcended the world of interior design and ended up on the fashion pages this season, sometimes by itself and sometimes paired, surprisingly, with light pink.

However, more unexpected is the return of a colour not seen since the '70s:  orange.  Orange is popping up everywhere, both in fashion and interior design, and has truly become the 'shocking' new colour of the season.

Here's a new band I just discovered who is noteworthy for a number of reasons:

1.  Their name comes from the group of people who goes in during the aftermath of an airplane crash for the purpose of body retrieval.  Morbid?  Just a bit...

2.  Their CDs cannot be had through conventional means if you live in North America.  By that, I mean they are not in record stores - you can only get them on iTunes, which is not available in Canada.  Not in Canada, you say?  Pity...

3.  Their music (what little I've heard, anyway - I'll admit that I haven't been able to connect with much, but I love, love, love their song 'Bottlerocket') is pure enthusiasm and love of and for the music.  Think late '60s/early '70s pop/rock meets early/mid '80s old school rap and hip-hop, with a little new millenium sound mixed in.  Yes, I know, what I'm describing sounds like a complete mishmash of sounds and style, but you'll have to trust me on this one.

So, FYI:  they're from Brighton and they're currently touring England, so keep your eye-blinkers open - I think we'll be seeing more of this crew...

Reinvent the classics. That is what has been said about the reintroduction of tweed jackets to the runways. It seems every fifteen years, tweed jackets, blazers etc. make a reoccurrence.

This fall, Raphael Lopez showed his autumn/winter collection in London and he included forties-styled tweed jackets with narrow waists. The tweed of late is a bold take on the classic tweed. Tweed infused with fuschia pink, neon orange and green is making its way to the forefront. Pair this with a beautiful Pashmina cashmere scarf and Voila - what is old is new again.

Christine Hijacked Lezah's blog

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I noticed something the other day. Scanning my living area, I counted twelve pictures on my walls from one artist. I knew I had a lot of her art, but I never actually took the time to count them. Who is this artist? Sue Coleman.

Sue Coleman lives in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island in Canada. Her watercolours are beautiful and, after several years on my walls, still meaningful. My favourites are her paintings of animals and her interpretation of the Northwest Coast First Nations symbols that represent them. Her art is affordable, and she will sign her art upon request. She is the Thomas Kinkade of Canada, in that her marketing makes her art accessible. Unfortunately, that marketing may also have people shying away from her work, assuming it is too accessible to make it valuable. However, I am a firm believer that artists should earn a living whilst alive, and I have no problem supporting Sue’s retirement fund. I also recognize this woman’s immense talent, and do not understand why her name isn’t bandied about more in the art world.

Sue was the winner of the "Silver Teal Award" (1994) presented by Ducks Unlimited in British Columbia, and was the artist in residence aboard "World Explorer Cruise Lines" Alaskan Cruises. She has also been a featured artist in publications such as US Art, and Art Impressions Magazines. She has earned international recognition, yet still commands a price that is lower than some unknown local artists. Is this Sue’s undoing, or is this what will make her stand out? View her art http://www.suecoleman.ca/inde... and be the judge. For now, I will consider adding to my collection.

French-based cosmetics giant Sephora has just opened their first Canadian store in Toronto.  Throughout the store are a plethora of food-inspired beauty items, including cinnamon-smelling shampoos, marshmallow fragrances and Sugar Cookie Lip Balm.  Also carried by the store is LA's Urban Decay brand, which offers body powders in a variety of edible flavours.  Continuing the trend, the Body Shop is now hawking 'Butters' as opposed to lotions. Great smelling cosmetics - if only someone could figure out how to make Buckley's cold medicine taste good, then we'd really be on to something!  

What do these two have in common? Well, not a lot, but I fell in love with both during the same movie.

It was in the early ‘80s and I was at a theatre watching the cult classic, The Hunger (starring David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, and Susan Sarandon). In one of the earlier scenes, Catherine and David’s characters return from a night club and Catherine has on a drop-dead, swank, never-out-of-style outfit with black ankle boots. Her beauty and apparel was breathtaking. During this scene, you can hear the strains of Bauhaus’ “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” and I was double whacked. Great boots, great song - gotta find both. I managed to get the music through an import store (you had to pay top dollar back then - none of this free music!) Unfortunately, I have never seen the boots like she had on - but I always have my eyes open, always searching.

Since then, ankle boots have never faded completely out of mainstream fashion. The current ankle boots sport decorative additions like zippers, metallic buckles, laces galore, and cute kitten heels. You can wear these boots with a skirt, dress pants or jeans. Imagine rich suede ankle boots with a sleek pair of slacks or a tweed suit. Trés chic.

I’ve come across many ankle boots that are just as sexy, just as gorgeous as Deneuve’s, but still not quite as “Catherine”. In hindsight, if I had Catherine’s legs/figure/beauty I could have worn plastic bags over my feet, tied them at the ankle and looked great. But for now I will just continue my search.

Lezah’s blog hijacked by Christine

I started looking at some images of Bowie after his recent release “30th Anniversary of Aladinsane” and I started thinking perhaps our fair Dave has a gruesome, vile portrait of himself tucked away somewhere in his attic.

As you know, Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray was a self-centred man who wanted to stay young and beautiful, so he commissioned a painting of himself. The painting subsequently took on the debauchery, cruelty, and other negative character traits that Dorian exhibited. The painting became uglier and more distorted whilst Dorian remained beautiful and young. The painting reflected Dorian’s inner “ugliness”.

Which brings me back to David (Jones) Bowie. How on earth does this man look so good? I need feedback - has he had limb replacements? Vocal chord replacements? Hair plugs? Botox? Facelifts/ eyelid lifts...? Why is this man not aging?! Has anyone seen a covered portrait in his attic?

Well, whatever he’s doing, he’s doing it well, and we would all like to know what his eating, exercising regime is. Come on David, spill...

Christine Highjacked Lezah’s Blog http://www.swanktrendz.com

Recent electoral events in the USA have apparently renewed interest in Canadian citizenship. If Dubya institutes military conscription, we expect this interest to increase. We welcome this. Canada's birthrate is declining, and in order to maintain the population, we need immigrants.

Although sites have been set up to showcase Canadian citizenship as tongue in cheek humour (see www.marryanamerican.ca), many people seem to be taking it seriously, which makes me think that interest is indeed rising. My newspaper tells me the same, noting that they are getting many emails from gay people living in the USA telling of their intentions to move to Canada. Gay marriages are legal throughout most of Canada, except not in the province of Alberta, which is our version of Texas.

The gays are beginning to feel ostracized again, since so many states voted to outlaw any sort of recognition of same-sex unions. They're a small percentage of the population, but becoming increasingly influential through education, earning power, and cultural sensitivity. As such, we see them as a bellwether constituency: what's being discussed on Castro Street will eventually filter out to the rest of the country. They've already identified Canada as their destination of choice. We expect others to follow.

Conscription is a different story. In the last large-scale US military adventure in Vietnam, the number of young men drafted into the US forces rose from 100,000 in 1964 to 400,000 in 1966. In 1968, there were more than 500,000 US ground troops in Vietnam. The draftees were the disposable infantry grunts on the ground, and ended up as more than half of those killed or forever 'missing in action.' Most of them were poor, working-class youth.

Wars are useful tools for authoritarian governments. They distract the voters from other issues, and allow such governments to extend their own powers greatly. A compliant media that echoes the official line is an authoritarian government's best friend. From this side of the border, we watch, usually more than a little surprised, as we see how quickly disinformation is created and spread. Surprised, too, by the occasional virulent reaction it produces in those consuming it. For example? How about The Dixie Chicks getting banned far and wide for what they said?

Canada is not the Utopia that Michael Moore makes it out to be. We have our share of problems here -stupid media among them-and we try to deal with this as best we can. In fact, that's what we do best: we muddle through these things, and somehow keep going.

So if anyone reading this is actually considering leaving the USA, fearing the political climate, or fearing the implications of military conscription threatening your kids, I wish that you would do one thing before you leave. Please consider the poor black single mother living on zilch income in some gruesome housing project. She does not have the option of leaving, and it's her kids who are going to become next year's car-bomb fodder. At the very least, make a donation. And if you want to become a Really Good Canadian citizen, bring her with you.

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The other weekend I was away at a conference, and I wanted to tell you about two great speakers we had.  The first was a young man by the name of Mark Keilberger.  Mark's younger brother Craig, at twelve years of age, started an organization called Free The Children (www.freethechildren.org) which brings issues of the abuses of child labour to people's attention.

Mark told us Craig's story:  Craig was a twelve year old, living in Toronto, when he noticed a story on the front page of the local paper outlining the tragically short life of a young Pakistani boy named Iqbal.  At the age of six, Iqbal had been sold by his parents and ended up working in a local rug factory, where he was shackled to a bench and forced to work long hours each day.  He was denied both an education as well as adequate nutrition. At twelve, Iqbal escaped and was rescued by an organization.  They brought him around the world to tell his story.  Eventually, Iqbal returned to his hometown to be reunited with his parents, and instead ended up being shot to death by his former employers.

Craig was only twelve years old when he read this story, but he decided to do something about it.  He began speaking to the media and was soon campaigning all over the world for the rights of child labourers. Together with his brother Mark, Craig runs “Free The Children” which now has chapters in over twenty countries around the world.

The second speaker we had was an older gentleman by the name of Robbie Waisman.  Robbie was a child when World War II broke out, and it was not long before his entire family had been rounded up by the Nazis.  Robbie survived, in part, because his brother smuggled him into a munitions factory as a worker, since all children were being killed.  He saw both his brother and father die in the camp; Robbie's dream to reunite with the rest of his family is what kept him alive.  Unfortunately, everyone in his family perished, with the exception of his sister.

Robbie was released from the Buchenwald concentration camp by the American forces in 1945, and as a young man immigrated to Canada, where he married and had a family.  He never talked to anyone at all about his time in the concentration camp - until a teacher in Alberta started telling students that the Holocaust was a myth, a fake, all media propaganda.

It was at that time that Robbie decided he must speak out.  He formed the “Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre” and now speaks all over North America about his story.

Two men: one young, one old, both making a difference for the betterment of humanity.

Lezah    

Recently, I was reading about an up-and-coming local designer who said he got his big break at New York's International Contemporary Furniture Fair.  I was curious, so I thought I'd look it up and see what it was all about - and all I can say is, WOW!

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair is happening May 14-17, 2005, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre in New York City.  They are expecting over 500 exhibitors from over 27 countries, and more than 18 000 people are expected through the doors during the course of the fair. Industry professionals, students and the general public all come out to view the cutting-edge modern exhibits and features; everything from furniture to lighting, floor coverings, kitchen and bath accessories to outdoor furniture will be on display.  A definite must see for those with a minimalist mindset!

Another exhibit that looks interesting is the 11th Annual International Exposiiton of Sculptural Objects and Functional Art (SOFA).  This show is offered in two different venues at two different times of year:  the Chicago show recently wrapped up (it ran Nov. 5-7) while the New York show is slated for June 1-5, 2005.  SOFA offers a lecture series as well as exhibits from 90 different international galleries and dealers at this unique art event.  Everything exhibited at SOFA is for sale, and last year the New York show saw a serious surge in sales in the ceramics sector.

 So, if you're looking for art, furniture or design ideas, these two shows both look to be excellent events.  

"Although the Velvet Underground didn't sell many albums, everyone who bought one went on to form a band."Brian Eno

The Velvet Underground, first popularized in their role as house band at Andy Warhols' studio The Factory, was a band so ahead of their time that they caused a huge rupture in the timeline of rock and roll.  They brought an adult voice to rock music, singing about previously taboo topics like drug addiction and sexual deviancy.  Incisive and uncompromising, the Velvet Underground changed rock in a fundamental way.

Their focus switched from the avant garde to a more commercial sound after John Cale left, but the band still remains one of the most imitated bands in the history of rock.

Pyjama bottoms seem to have made the transition from intimate wear to outerwear - and this is NOT a good thing!

Pyjama bottoms might be comfy, but let's face it - they look horrible.  And when you start to consider that here is someone out on the street at mid-day wearing pyjamas - your mind starts to run wild:  is this the same outfit this person wore to bed last night?  Or maybe she just never changes her clothes at all - maybe she's been wearing these things for days straight - or worse yet, weeks!  But I don't want to go there - the thought is just too disgusting.

So, guilty parties out there: instead of wearing your pyjamas to the mall, or to school, or wherever - consider putting on something else instead. It might not be quite as comfortable, but you'll look a heck of a lot better. http://www.swanktrendz.com

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Females young and old are dieting and exercising like crazy, trying to whittle their waists down to fit into that most coveted fashion item - the size zero outfit.

Now, how is it that during these 'Super-sized' times, that smaller sizes than ever before are needed?  When every newspaper you open has headlines blaring about an overweight America or exposing that we are living in a time when more people, young and old, are experiencing weight-related health issues?

Well, sorry to burst your bubbles, ladies, but the old grey mare just ain't what she used to be.  Huh?  Sorry, getting a little esoteric there.  Anyway, what I am trying to say is this:  that which used to be a size zero is no longer.  Times have changed, and so have sizes.

Still not clear?  Okay, here it is, on a platter:  pre-war, there were only three sizes - small, medium and large.  Afterwards, in the optimism and boom that swept the country, the numbered sizes we all know and love were developed.  However, those sizes took on lives of their own:  I had an aunt who would love an outfit, try it on, found it looked great and fit wonderfully - and then reject it because 'it didn't fit' (read:  it was a bigger size than she was willing to admit she wore).

 The other problem was that as North America became more culturally diverse, the current sizes no longer accurately reflected the bodies of the population as a whole.  So, in the last few years, unbeknownst  to you and me, sizes were changed.  I know people who now wear a size 8 who are 20 lbs heavier than they were 10 years ago, which is when they used to wear - you guessed it - size 8.

So, these new sizes might make a lot of people happy, and they might even help sell more clothes - but obviously, while the trend in restaurants is towards supersizing, the trend in clothing sizes has gone in the opposite direction.

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Baby names are subject to change just like anything else. When I was in Grade 11, one of the PE classes at my school had 17 (yes, that's right - 17!) Kevins in it.  Great for team sports - it was the Kevins against everyone else.  Makes cheering for your team so much more personal.  Likewise, schools at that time were full of Karens and Sharons, Debbies and Brendas.

In the '80s it was the 'ny' names:  Britney, Whitney, Courtney, Stephanie, Tiffany - need I go on?

Today, we are re-visiting the past.  Nurseries and pre-schools are full of Ethans and Owens, Hannahs and Emilys.

However, the latest trend in baby names are so good you could eat them: parents are now calling their babies things like Apple, Peaches and Sage.  We will have to wait and see if these food-related names will merge with the retro names - it's about time we had another Meatloaf around.

http://www.swanktrendz.conmThe" title="http://www.swanktrendz.conmThe" target="_blank"http://www.swanktrendz.conmTh... post-war years brought us the Contemporary style of architecture and furniture, which is once again wildly popular.  The hot silhouette in fashion this season is that of the late '50s and early '60s: pencil skirts and slim fitting coats.  Even accessories are vintage - fur and fur trimmed pieces are big again, as are gloves.

So it stands to reason that martinis, that classic drink of the '50s, are popular again.

The latest trend, however, is to eat food that reflects the whole post-war opulence and optimist lifestyle:  fondues and all things Swiss are big again, and classic continental dishes like Chateaubriand are making a huge comeback.  So ditch Thai and forget fusion:  next time you're out, go continental - and don't forget to order your martini shaken, not stirred.

About fifteen years ago, the concept of 'raves' started - clubs that would pop-up in a warehouse or other unexpected located, draw a huge crowd, and then shut down and be rolled up and away almost as soon as the last stragglers were heading out the door.  People would hear about these instant clubs through word-of-mouth, the event would happen, and the organizers would close shop, only to open in another location in a week or so.

Well, those rave attenders of yore are now in their late 20s and 30s, and they can get the same type of excitement today by going shopping.  Say again? Yes, that's right - shopping.

In many ways, these 'instant shop' events are similar to raves - shops open in unmarked locations such as warehouses, and word is still passed along, not advertised in the paper like conventional stores, but through email.  People are given passwords in order to gain entry - and they come in droves.  
It all started in New York, when Russ Miller opened a travelling store called Vacant (www.govacant.com), which has since expanded to all the major US cities. Miller offers wares from new, hip designers - and now everyone is copying the concept. Major retailers in the US, as well as other established lines and independent designers, are following this trend in Asia and Europe as well. Shopping, commando-style.    

What could be more sexy than a pair of black knee-high stiletto boots?  Absolutely nothing, that's what!   A good pair of these boots are a practical must-have for winter, and are soooo versatile - dress them down with a pair of jeans, or up with a skirt.  No closet is complete without a pair.

And what is bad?  Equestrian-inspired boots.  And why is that?  Because equestrian-inspired boots can never be anything more than a pale imitation of the originals.  If you want a really good riding boot, you can seriously do no better than the Vogel Company of New York, who will custom-make you the most exquisite and long-wearing pair of riding boots you could ever get your hands on. If you can see your way clear to shell out what amounts to a little more than the monthly equivalent of my mortgage payment, then you've got yourself a truly great pair of boots.  So, Vogels = yes, but anything less than that is just not up to snuff.  Equestrian-inspired boots (as opposed to 'real' riding boots) are just never tall enough, and make even the tallest and most willowy of us look short and stumpy.

Finally, a word on Uggs, those odd, mukluk-looking boots from Australia, first popularized by the Australian surfer set and worn by stars like Kate Hudson.  Oh, and the word?  It's NO!      

I believe it was Andy Warhol who said business is the most creative form of art.  Kate Spade is a designer who is the epitome of that idea:  in 1992 her label, which was operating on a shoe string, had just started and was producing a line of six handbags; today, the line does $70+ million a year in business and has expanded to include products as diverse as glasses and stationery - and there is even a Kate Spade Barbie doll on the market.

Kate Spade designs are simple yet stylish.  Sold internationally now, her snappy, sophisticated line has become an inexpensive classic.  Embraced by both fashion cognoscenti and the rest of us, the Kate Spade line has become a readily recognized image.  Quality is a key component: her first line of of now legendary small, square, short handled bags was double stitched to ensure they would last, even though it made them much more difficult and expensive to manufacture.  Not your usual throw-away item, the Kate Spade line typifies the modern classic. http://www.swanktrendz.com

Designers this season have revived the classic Pea jacket just in time for the cold weather.  Now, pea jackets actually date back to the days of Chaucer (his clerk wore one) but they first gained international recognition in the 17th century when Dutch fisherman adopted this utilitarian yet infinitely stylish jacket as their own, only to be copied by the US Navy, who adopted the Pea Jacket around 1720 and still use it today. An example of a classic design piece, the Pea jacket was used by Coco Chanel as a crossover piece from men's to women's wear.

The hip-length, double- breasted, dark-blue wool  jacket with slash pockets that we all know and love has been updated this season by designers such as Miu Miu, John Bartlett, and Prada who have played with colour and fabric while still retaining the attitude and essence of the original.

Timeless, functional, and elegant, the unisex Pea jacket is a classic that has definitely stood the test of time.

This is a definition of politics taken from my dictionary - Politics: methods or manoeuvres for gaining or keeping power, often suggesting scheming or dishonesty.

Not quite forty years ago, a member of my family was the victim of some politcal scheming and manoeuvering.  His job was to write for the government - he was a speech writer for the provincial Premier, he prepared press releases - basic P. R. stuff.  A big part of his job was networking with people, trying to drum up business for the province, and get businesses to move their operations here.  To do this he had to write letters to various people, and it was common practice for the Premier's name to be attached to these letters.

It turns out that one of the people my relative was corresponding with was someone who was allied with a political party that was in power in a foreign nation.  It turns out that our government did not support this party.  Anyway, information about the letter was leaked, and the Premier's endorsement (his signature) was seen as an embarrassment.

Consequently, my relative was made a scapegoat - there was a trial, he was incarcerated (he was convicted of forging the Premier's signature on this letter, although it was common practise for the writers to sign for the Premier), and during his time in jail he suffered a heart attack (which probably shortened his life twenty years).  Once he came out of jail, it wasn't long before he died.

Fast forward twenty years:  the Marcoses of the Phillippines (I'm talking Imelda of the shoe collection fame, and her husband Ferdinand, the President) were being ousted in a very public way.  Now, the sad thing is - this was the group that the government was trying to get into power twenty years before; the group my relative's contact was opposing.  So, basically my relative died because he contacted someone who opposed the Marcoses, and there we were, years later, villifying the Marcoses - the very people our government had previously supported and helped put into power!  Now explain that to me?

I came across another very current example of this kind of 'now we like them, now we don't' mentality.  For more, go to http://www.bushflash.com/than...

Planting in community areas has always been a problem for gardeners and landscape architects: high traffic, people trampling through planted areas, drought, disease - all of them take their toll.  Gardeners are always on the lookout for plants that will not only stand the test of time, but will also stand up against an ever-increasing wave of humanity - and yet still look good.  In the last thirty or so years, we've gone through a variety of ground cover solutions, from the cedar and cottoneaster of the 70's and '80s to the shrub roses and hostas of the nineties.  After a while, however, everything just looks tired, and their hardiness, in itself, can present a problem:  if not well maintained, many of these plants take on a life of their own and threaten to take over.

Lately I've been noticing lots of ornamental grasses around.  While not a flowering plant, ornamental grasses solve a lot of the problems previously mentioned: although they don't flower, they come in a variety of colours and textures, thereby adding more colour to the garden; they grow to a limited size; and they provide year round coverage. Because they offer a mix of different textures, ornamental grasses add yet another dimension to the garden experience. Shops are now springing up all over that specialize in a wide variety of ornamental grasses, and more and more people are adding them to their home gardens today.  One thing I really like about them is the whole watering thing: because many of these grasses originate in hot and dry climates, they require less water and are more drought resistant than a lot of other plant options out there.  Environmentally friendly plants - what a concept!  I'm surprised no one thought of that sooner...

Poor ol' anonymous jaybaz [MS] WebLog http://blogs.msdn.com/jaybaz_... ... wrote an attack on Bush; although his article wasn't thorough enough, it did come from his heart. I was surprised at the venom directed towards Jaybaz's views. A sampling...

* After Sept 11 we haven't been attacked like that again. Increase suffering world-wide?? That is not even close to true, getting rid of Suddam (sic) lessened suffering world wide. He no longer practices his genocide and torturous ways.

*What followed should have been a few samples of these facts but instead you offer three opinions. How do you quantify this? Is it just by the number of people killed? if so the Sudan warlords have us beat, at best we're #2 but that's no reason not to strive to be the best. Your next step again failed to give concrete examples of how we enacted our insidious plan to increase suffering. I guess Afghani girls going to back to school is suffering of a sort. And somebody needs to step up to the plate and start oppressing those Kurds, they ain't gonna torture themselves you know. Finally you state that groups like al-Qaida won't respond to negotiation, well one of your demands is the eradication of the Zionists (Israel) that doesn't leave a whole lot of room for negotiation. I seem to remember another group in history who wanted to negotiate on that point as well but there isn't too much criticism to the Allies response.

*This is typical Liberalist American self loathing. But will you ever leave this country and its liberties and opportunities? No, you won't, you'll run the same line of bullshit that all the other ineffectual beaugoise (sic) bohemians like Sean Penn or Eddie Vedder run. Instead of following through with your threats to leave America you realize nobody is buying your "black helicopter/cia/we brought 9-11 on ourselves" crap and then go onto say that you "are fighting for change from the inside". So you voted Democrat and gave 600 bucks to AI, hardly gutsy statements. Take a page from Maraget Hassan's book, put your money where your ivory tower philophies (sic) are and go put yourself in harm's way to help these people that America is so callously terrorising (sic). Until then you're just another coffee house blogger with a superiority complex throwing out Chomsky references trying to get in some Berkley chick's pants. (Note: I didn't know you needed Chomsky to get laid at Berkley.)

*Jay, you're a dumbass. Your money would be more wisely spent if you were to give it to the French than to give it to Amnesty International, an organization which prior to 2000 chose to accuse Israel of war crimes while ignoring countries like Iran and Iraq.

*If you want to help people out, go sponsor 20 little poverty stricken palestine (sic) children with your $600 instead of donating it to an organization that hates America. You'll have more of an impact on peoples lives than if you were to fuel more anti-american bullshit.

*Where the hell was Amnesty when Clinton bombed Yugoslavia to kingdom-come? How is invading Iraq any different than stopping attrocities (sic) in Yugoslavia? The difference is that one president orchestrating it was a liberal and the other was a conservative.

*Go cry your tears elsewhere.

So, it appears that over 50% of Americans still feel "Might makes Right"; electing Bush is a clear validation of this notion.

Christine hijacking Lezah's Blog

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I noticed the other evening that practically every second channel was showing one of two shows:  either Law and Order, or CSI.  Between reruns and new episodes of the different spinoffs of each show (aside from the original Law and Order, there is also L & O Special Victims Unit, and L & O Criminal Intent; likewise, the original Las Vegas-based CSI has spawned both CSI Miami and CSI New York), it's difficult to find anything else to watch, simply for lack of choice.  These two shows are dominating the airwaves, and have spawned a multitude of imitations, including Cold Case, Without a Trace, Medical Investigation, and the new House.

CSI is currently the most popular drama on American television. It's edgy yet safe, offers special effects heretofore unknown to television, showcases big name actors and catchy, well-known songs, and has almost single-handedly saved the big networks from the cable TV invasion. The impact of this show is resonating in both the living room and the courtroom:  juries today are more knowledgeable about crime detection procedures, more familiar with the science involved in solving crimes, and more demanding of prosecutors in criminal trials, both expecting and demanding certain information before coming to a decision.

CSI and L & O are both a type of show called 'procedurals'.  Procedurals have been around since the days of 'Dragnet' - they offer crime stories which are wrapped up within the hour and are plot driven as opposed to character based (which also allows the producers of these to easily replace actors).  Their popularity has affected other networks shows:  comedies are now at an all-time low, while reality TV shows are incredibly popular.  However, networks realize that there is limited syndication or re-run potential with reality TV, which makes one wonder how long networks will continue to pump money into shows of this type.

Now, all this talk of science brings my old Physics class back to mind, specifically Newton's 3rd Law of Motion which (in case you've forgotten) goes something like this:  "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."  Now certainly this law has long been proven true in the world of science, but it is recognized as also being true in the worlds of music, and fashion - and television.  A case in point:  although L & O and CSI remain wildly popular, there is a new breed of show running up on their outside flank, shows which look to soon overtake the forerunners. These shows are singular and not of the type to breed spin-offs.  They are character driven and have complicated plots which demand a commitment from the viewers - if you miss an episode, it's not that easy to jump right back into the story.  These shows are complicated and ambitious, and the 18-49 demographic is loving them. Shows like 24, Desperate Housewives and Lost are now stealing viewers from L & O and CSI.  So, time will tell, but it looks like the pendulum is swinging once again.      

A fall trend noticed recently is the return of fur. Whether fake or real, fur is once more 'acceptable' to wear.

Designers from Comme des Garcons to Gucci are showing fur collars; companies are springing up that offer to re-design grandma's old coat and bring it forward to the new millenium.  Smaller items like stoles, scarves and even key chains are now sporting fur accents.

In a world of Brazilian and every other kind of waxing, even blouses and dresses are sprouting rabbit and faux fur in places that women usually wouldn't want to admit having hair. But, to each his own, as they say...  

Well, Australia is experiencing a popularity boom once again. In the US, Martha Stewart magazine sales fell more than 20% last year, and of course Martha herself is now in jail - but Australia's Donna Hay is here to pick up the slack. Donna Hay is who the buzz is all about now:  beautifully photographed cookbooks (what, you say?) that turn food into art.  The Australian food magazine 'Delicious' is absolutely stunning. Blundstone boots come from Australia, and they're very hot.  VH1 is using handpainted  Australian Uggs for a celebrity auction this month for the Save the Music Foundation.  Even Olivia Newton-John, Australia's main export from the '70s, is back - she's appearing in concert in Dayton, Ohio, at the Schuster Performing Arts Centre.  So, grab a Foster's and throw another shrimp on the barbie-Australia's back!   

And how can you get this programing?  Well, unless you live on a college campus, you're out of luck.  It's available only via closed-circuit television and is beamed into dorm rooms, and student common rooms.  Currently there are no plans to extend off campus.  

When I was flipping through a magazine recently, I came across the functional art of Maria Medina.  Maria is a native of Portugal who is currently based in the artist enclave of Nelson, BC.  She is a sculptor and metalsmith who does some exquisite work.  Maria specializes in cast aluminum, bronze and steel fabrication, and likes incorporating glass into the metal.  She likes the mix of metal and glass because one reflects light while the other allows light to travel through it. Especially popular is her line of Zen inspired door knockers.  A simple yet striking design, they come in either a rectangular or circular shape - and make an unforgettable first impression.  Also very lovely is her glass inlaid metal bench. Maria's work can be viewed at a number of stores in the Vancouver/Whistler area.

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Just in time for New York City's Museum of Modern Art's 75th birthday - the whole place gets a makeover! On November 20th, the all new MoMA will be opened to the public.  Expanded an additional 50% in size, it has also been renovated into a fresh, new, interlocking arrangement, where small and large spaces give a more intimate feel to the gallery.  Art is illuminated from within, and placed in such a way as to return the shock value to certain paintings.  Milky glass walls are complemented by a flood of natural light for a serene and elegant feel that is wonderfully understated, allowing the public to look at works like Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' with freshened perceptions.  Not to miss.  

And who, or what, exactly, is this exhibit about?  Well, that's another thing that's unusual. Although it is currently being held in the Art Gallery, this is not an exhibit about art or about any particular style, artist or group of artists.  Rather, the exhibit deals with the future of design and the future of the earth; some thought-provoking facts about the sustainability of the earth are explored, and technology like the Segway and environmentally friendly cars are on display. The exhibit is interactive, but it is not without its problems: the solar room in particular was lacking any type of adequate light source for one to be able to appreciate the room - but then, maybe that was the point?

I think, for me, that the venue was part of the problem.  If the exhibit had been staged in a museum rather than an Art Gallery, I may have walked in with a different frame of mind; however, my perception was Art Gallery=Art, and as a result, I was somewhat frustrated with the lack of 'art' and the overuse (in my humble opinion) of text.  Walking around the two-floor exhibit became a kind of surreal, 'Alice in Wonderland' experience, and after a while I felt like I was traveling from page to page in a high school Social Studies text book.  While the 'Images' room was visually appealing, overall I found the exhibit (or its message) to be somewhat sanctimonious. Call me a philistine, but I came away with the feeling that 'Massive Change' was a massive disappointment.

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Ballet BC's production of 'The Faerie Queen', which premiered in 2000, is opening this year's dance season at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. Easily the best production the company has ever done, “The Faerie Queen” also remains their most successful work. John Alleyne, artistic director of Ballet BC, wrote 'A Faerie Queen', which is based on Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. It is definitely Alleyne's masterpiece.

Alleyne's muse in the past could easily have been dancer Emily Molnar, who originally danced the role of Puck. So many of Alleyne's pieces have seemed custom-made for her.  Unfortunately, Molnar is no longer with the company, and now the role of Puck is being danced by Simone Orlando. Whereas Molnar had a huge presence on the stage, both literally and figuratively, Orlando is of a much daintier build and has chosen to dance the role accordingly.  While a completely different interpretation, it still works well.  Edmond Kilpatrick was magnificent in the role of Oberon; he too, has great strength and presence.

Equally stunning was the set and lighting. The set had an almost Japanese-like quality at times, very sparse with cherry blossoms and beautifully curving trees that framed the dancers. This was wonderfully complemented by the lighting, which helped to add wonderful qualities of light and colour that enhanced the set and dancers and helped further the story.  The colours used maintained a magical feel, and never strayed outside of an opalescent palate of pearly white, light pink and pale greyish-blue.

A wonderful surprise this year was the ten piece orchestra.  Previously danced to a tape, the adaptation of Purcell's score (done very well by Vancouverites Michael Bushnell and Owen Underhill) was a welcome addition and was conducted by Derrick Inouye.

Visit our link at http://www.swanktrendz.com      

Author Billie Letters comments on her character Forney Hull from the novel 'Home is Where the Heart Is" (p. 363).

Think about it. We live in a society where people are idolized for their ability to land a role in a movie or television show, or for being part of a certain social set (Paris Hilton comes to mind here).  Others are famous simply for being famous; George Hamilton, a household name, has a 365 day a year tan, but beyond that I know of nothing he has actually accomplished in his life.

Conversely, we have individuals in our midst who are extremely intelligent, of creative, or both - but are shunned, or thought to be 'different' or worse.  In 1985, in Ontario, Canada, a young man by the name of Guy Paul Morin was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the sex slaying of a schoolgirl.  Morin was convicted largely on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of the arresting officers, who found Morin 'strange' and suspicious.

This “hinky” feeling they got was, in part, because Morin played in a local symphony orchestra.  Not your average folk - gotta be guilty!  Fortunately, wiser heads prevailed and DNA evidence was used to prove conclusively that Morin was innocent.  He was acquitted in 1995.

Where does this attitude come from?  Why is it that movies celebrating idiocy, like 'Dumb and Dumber', are box office hits?  The 'stoner' culture of the '70s (remember Cheech and Chong?), the SoCal surfer-dude speak, and many other highlights of cultural imbecility elevate a small and frankly stupid subculture to the mainstream - and worse, popularize it so it becomes cool to emulate the “lifestyle”.

Perhaps it is because it is easier to dumb down than it is to smarten up. Appealing to the lower common denominator appears to be the trend, and frankly, it's not a good one.

"'Who would have thought that bad management could be so popular?"

The Office', co-written by Steve Merchant and Ricky Gervais, and starring Ricky Gervais, became the first non-US based show to be nominated for the Golden Globe awards - and ended up taking home two (best comedy show and best actor).  The first series has also gone on to be the BBC's best-ever selling DVD.

Wickedly funny, 'The Office' exploits the humour of awkwardness. Filmed in a mock-documentary style, the show explores the inner workings of a fictional English paper supply company.  Ricky Gervais (once manager of the group Suede) plays boss David Brent, a bloated, smug and self-involved buffoon, who still manages, despite his bigotry and sexist attitude, to be somewhat affable - but just barely.  An inept manager with a large, but easily bruised, ego Brent desperately craves the attention and admiration of his staff.  A serious professional he is not.

Sharply observant, the fly-on-the-wall style of filming allows viewers to explore the mundane, dreary world of the office, complete with petty rivalries, untapped worker potential and the possibility of budding romance. Cutting between 'talking head' moments and slices of office life, the viewer is able to see the differences in the characters when they are 'caught on tape' versus when they are playing to the camera.  Brilliantly strong characters emerge, causing the viewer to care about each character, regardless of how obnoxious or irrational they appear at times.  In this show, everyone is real - there are no one-dimensional characters.

Truly British humour at its best.

The show wrapped at the end of season two, but 'The Office' special is due out at Christmas, showing a slice of office life three years after the fact. Intended as a 'where are they now?' follow-up to the documentary, it promises to be great.

I can't wait...       

In Vancouver (Canada) over the last few years, the trend has been for radio stations to switch formats to repetitive, nostalgia-based, advertisement-driven schlock.  Last year the top 40 station, Jack FM, experienced an unprecedented jump from 9th to 2nd place in one ratings sweep; this is a trend that has been experienced all over North America over the last two years.

The problem is, most of this music was not good the first time around, so why subject everyone to it again?  Chuck Molgat of the music magazine “Exclaim” believes that, "Most radio listeners are more passionate about their driver's side airbags than about music."  So really, what people want amounts to little more than white noise for the commute home, and if their music can transport them back to that less complicated time when they were in high school, all the better.

However, John Parikhal, a well known international media, marketing and consumer trends consultant, "says the nostalgia ride will stall as quickly as a Pontiac Fiero if it doesn't evolve."  Mind-numbingly dull, the music on these stations is custom-made for the passive listener - but what about the rest of us?
Well, it looks like our luck has turned.

On Christmas night, 2003, Clear Channel 103.1 in Los Angeles switched to an independent format.  This move was quickly followed by other stations in Seattle and San Francisco. The format change has created an upsurge of listeners in the all important 18-24 demographic.  With a 'pirate radio' feel, 103.1 has helped place Los Angeles on the top of the re-burgeoning radio market which has experienced a steady decline nation-wide over the last ten years.

A sampling of 103.1's playlist demonstrates eclectic tastes: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Vines, Anti-Flag, Franz Ferdinand and other new groups, mixed in with goth music, Elvis Costello and Johnny Cash. This musical diversity is offered in combination with commercial free Mondays.  In June, Rolling Stone magazine named 103.1 'America's coolest commercial station' in the country. No wonder.

And not a moment too soon.    

If you own a television, there's no way on earth that you could be unaware of the proliferation of Reality TV shows on today.  Even if you don't own a TV; reviews, 'news' and predictions of outcomes of these shows are all over the print media.  I've never watched any 'Survivor' episodes, but because I read I am more familiar than I want to be with the premise of the show and the people on the show.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out a shift in our whole concept of values and entertainment.  More than a hundred years ago now, one of the most popular forms of entertainment were the Horatio Alger books, wherein a young man worked hard and through his hard work, achieved the American Dream.

Fast-forward to 2004:  just last night I was flicking channels and came across a show called 'Nanny 911'.  Now, as a big Mary Poppins fan, I thought this might be worth a look, so I watched the show and, frankly, was horrified.  There was a family - seemed like a nice enough couple, but they had a holy terror of a boy and a little girl not a lot better. Anyway, through the course of the show, the Nanny came into their house and lives and showed the parents how to correct their children’s behaviour, deal with tantrums, get the kids to help out around the house, and thereby start repairing the trainwreck that this family had become.  At the end, the parents were rewarded with a vacation - a cruise.

Then it struck me.  Here was a couple who, although they meant well, had, through a total lack of common sense and self awareness, been well on the road to destroying their marriage and setting their children up for serious problems later in life.  And for this, they win a cruise.

Now, how fair is that?

Wake up, America.  Give your collective heads a shake, because if this is the progress the nation has made over the last one hundred years - Heaven help us.

The first televised US presidential debate happened in 1960.  Moderator Howard K. Smith appeared with Senator John F. Kennedy and vice-president Richard Nixon in a joint radio-television debate.  Since that time there has been a huge shift in the presentation, the format and the hosting of politically-based television programs. In his book 'Glued to the Set', cultural historian Steven Stark notes that there has been a shift from 'real' to tabloid-type television news programs, and hosts have gone from reporting news to being commentators or entertainers of sorts.

A case in point: shows like 'America's Most Wanted' (called 'New News', by Stark) are replacing discussion programs such as 'Face the Nation'.  In today's culture the trend is for 'New News' to replace conventional sources of information such as newspapers and network news by merit of being more 'important' and 'reliable,' according to many Americans.

Another new form of political  television is comedy shows. The Comedy Channel offers the often brilliant and always satirical "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. The other night, Stewart started off the program with this message to his viewers: "Honestly, here's the show tonight:  Bush said this. Kerry said that. Lewis Black is angry.  Blah, blah, blah... (long pause.) All right. It's your life.  If you want to sit and watch this - whatever."  And he throws up his hands.  Classic!  And such a poignant statement on news, viewers and the relevance of television today.

With the US election votes being tallied, this speaks to a very important point: Bush and Kerry are racing neck and neck to the wire.  The undecided vote seems to be falling in the all important 18-34 year old demographic category. However, this demographic is probably the first 'full' generation of TV babies to go to the polls, the first group of people who were first babysat by, then entertained by, and often educated in school by, television. And although television is capable of entertaining, what is it like as a motivator?  Will these people get out to the polls?  Will they be well and truly informed?  Will they make the right choice?

Time can only tell...  

Long recognized by critics as one of the most significant bands of the '80s, The Smiths are now being hailed as major influences by many of the new bands playing today.

Conceptually pure, this Manchester band formed in late '82 and between '83 and '87 produced 20 singles and 7 albums.  They are said to be the most prolific songwriters the UK has ever produced. Their standards never slipped, and their sudden break-up surprised many.

The Smiths' name, so simple yet so evocative, was a reaction to the long and complicated band names common at the time.  Their music was intense - witty, poetical lyrics in guitar dominated dance music featuring a heavy bass line and keening vocals. Accessible while still being thought-provoking, The Smiths held strong views and were often the subject of scandal and controversy over their lyrics.  They were the beginning of the guitar rock that dominated the '90s.

 Lead singer Morrissey was (and still is!) a literate, articulate man.  A colourful character who idolized Oscar Wilde, he became a favourite for magazine interviews, since he held nothing back.  He wore his anti-hero persona proudly.

From legendary beginnings The Smiths have produced songs that have persisted in time.  The members of The Smiths are still around - a lawsuit between members of the band over royalties brought them into the limelight again recently.  Morrissey was back touring solo again this year, while Johnny Marr and The Healers toured last year.

A fitting epitaph for The Smiths can be found in their song 'Frankly Mr. Shankley':

I want to leave you, you will not miss me/

I want to go down in musical history.

And they have.