Halloween

Sunday Signage > $50 Boat

The Rock

I really enjoyed my "unplugged" day yesterday. Gotta do that more often.

No Post Tomorrow

You can almost hear them, the 1% laughing their pompous asses off about all those hippies in the street. Well, come Saturday morning, maybe they won’t be laughing quite so loudly. Tomorrow, Friday October 28^th is global Shut Down The System day. At midnight tonight, thousands of people around the world will be voluntarily disengaging for 24 hours as a show of solidarity with the #Occupy protesters in Zuccatti Park and all the other sites. Participants will call in sick to work, turn off their TV, phone and internet, buy nothing that is not absolutely necessary (food, medicine, etc.) and do NOTHING that generates money into The System. The best way to get the fat cats’ attention is to kick ‘em where it hurts, right in their gilded pocketbooks. This quiet, peaceful form of individual protest will undoubtedly result in lost revenue for corporations and big banks everywhere. And speaking of banks, have you considered moving your money? This past spring, we took all of our dough, every last copper penny of it, out of the big bank in Nanaimo and put it into our local member-owned credit union. I gotta say it’s the best banking situation I’ve ever had.

A recent Time magazine poll indicates that 54% of all Americans have a favourable view of the #Occupy movement. I suspect the numbers are similar or even higher here in Canada. And everyone saw how many people hit the streets in Europe so it’s clear they are on side. #Occupy, in all its forms and permutations, represents the beginnings of a very real opportunity for the people of this beleaguered planet, everyman, to actually change the arc of history. Let's roll!

So, there’ll be no post here tomorrow. I’ll be shutting down my computer (and everything else) and spending the day with my wife doing absolutely nada to support the corporate system. We plan to read, take a walk, maybe a nap, have a candlelight dinner and generally enjoy our day together. We’re going to a concert in the evening. Our pal Tim Harrison is playing at Agi Hall but Ticketmaster isn’t in the mix. The funds will pass straight from our wallet to his which is how it ought to be.

Finally, as the holiday season approaches, you might want to think about buying local. Get at few CDs directly from the musicians. Buy art. Shop exclusively at mom and pop shops and avoid corporate trinkets. Pick up some gift cards from a favourite neighbourhood restaurant. We all have lots of giving options that don't feed the greed. I encourage you to use them and pay in cash if you can. Every time you swipe that plastic, the bad guys get their 3%.

LINKS

Shut Down The System Day

YouTube

Resources and Press

Adbusters

Money As Debt

Occupied in North America

Occupy Wall Street slideshow

Hmmmmmm

Spotted in Folklife Village

Fresh Air

The Hummer had Texas plates so I bet the dog was thinking "Man, this place doesn't smell anything like home!"

A Work Of Art Masquerading As A Bench

The photo really doesn't do it justice. This yellow cedar Japanese-style bench is absolutely gorgeous and a comfortable place to park your bum as well. Handmade on Gabriola by Ted Johnson who came from Liverpool over a quarter of a century ago.

Sunday Signage > Gallery

Liz

Liz is known to all as a friend of all things furred and feathered. She volunteers for several local organizations, most notably Gabriola Rescue of Wildlife Society.

Rehearsal

Most homes in this part of the world have skylights which create nice photo possibilities all day every day.

Saburo

Playing some jazz for the launch of Lulu's Local at Village Foods

2675

October Orange

Sunday Signage > Come Again

Seen inside the fence at Feedlot Studios

Home

1598

More Art Less Ammo

Spotted near The Legends. Locals will know what this is all about

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends. So much to be grateful for this year, including plenty of delicious local produce.

Sunday Signage > 20

The studio tour continues. Stop #20 is on Island View Drive

Studio Tour

The big idea this weekend (besides Thanksgiving dinner) is the annual Studio Tour sponsored by the Gabriola Arts Council and featuring open house for the island's artists. Heavy off-island traffic today bodes well for sales. This is the biggest weekend of the year for our painters, sculptors, artisans, etc. so everyone wishes them well. It's all about boosting the local economy and ensuring that our community of artists gets to continue doing what they all do so well.

Reno

Housing starts are down and the real estate market is sluggish but lots of folks, including us, are doing renovations this fall.

ABC Wednesday > L is for Luxury

Global ABC

Dragons

In the community garden at The Commons

Sharmaine

Sunday Signage > Club House

Mossy Buddha