Published at January 31, 2006
in pre-wp.
(photo courtesy of Mrs. Jackson, Smithfield MS)
[posted from main site]
Last week, I spent two great days talking about comics with the grade 8 students at Smithfield Middle School. It was all part of Family Literacy Day and it was a great chance to show the students exactly how comics are made and the work it takes to carry an idea out from my head and onto the pages of a book.
The students were eager to listen (or just eager to be out of class) and they had some great questions, the best of which was: “Are you married?” I think by that point, they were just trying to stretch out their ‘out of class’ time, but I was happy to help. I’ve been there. Who can blame them for thinking that listening to me talk about writing for comics was better than math class?
One of the highlights of each of the five (!) presentations was the installment of Max Finder Mystery Theatre, where selected students joined me up at the front to read a Max Finder Mystery. After some mild encouragement, the kids eagerly grabbed their scripts and soon we were immersed in some serious co-operative sleuthing. The photo above captures all the exciting action. I’ll be posting more photos of the talk in the near future.
I’d like to thank all the students at Smithfield MS for welcoming me into their school and I’d also like to thank Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Smith for their hospitality over the two days. It was a great way to spend Family Literacy Day.
If you’d like me to visit your school and talk to your students about writing comics and graphic novels, you can contact me at: liamodonnell_(at)_gmail_(dot)_com.
tagged: [comics] [appearances] [writing]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at January 25, 2006
in pre-wp.
Although it’s billed as being Family Literacy Day, there are reading events happening all week across the country for kids of all ages.
As I posted earlier, I am lucky enough to be visiting Smithfield Middle School tomorrow and Friday to talk to the students about writing comics. There are a bunch of other great events too and you can find them listed here. If you’re looking for a fun day out with the family that will get them reading then check out your local library and find out what they’re doing this week.
Alternatively, you can drop by the Lee house in Calgary, who recently won the FLD’s national contest to have Robert Munsch drop by their house to hang out (and read a few stories one would think.)
Let me tell you, if ever the day comes where I’m prize in a nationwide contest, then my goal as a writer will be accomplished. Seriously though, congratulations to the Lee family. I’m sure they’ll have a great time with Robert – just don’t let him eat all the cookies.
tagged: [family_literacy_day] [writing] [literacy]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at January 24, 2006
in pre-wp.
My head hurts from one too many celebratory drinks and my legs ache from too much pedalling around trying to ‘pull the vote’ yesterday, but we finally did it: NDP candidate Peggy Nash is now NDP Member of Parliment. With Olivia Chow taking her riding too, Toronto is no longer the Liberal fortress it once was.
This morning, I also woke to the sobering reality that Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are now in power. Thankfully it’s only a minority government, so we’ll see how far right they try to go and how far our stronger NDP standing lets them.
So, until the next election, that is all the political postings around here – well, unless Harper does something totally crazy like repeal the same-sex marriage laws, re-open the right to choose debate or start selling all our water to the highest bidder – but that would never happen, right?
tagged: [ndp] [canadian] [election]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at January 23, 2006
in pre-wp.
Remember if you want to support the Kanadian Kapitalist Klowns this election, don’t vote. Because, in the words of their leader the Klownenfurher:
“When you don’t vote, you vote for me and you support the corporations and we’ll conquer the world so you can buy anything you want at anytime.“
His video message to voters on election day may be from the 2004 election, but it rings true today:
“It’s a Monday! Don’t vote. Go to work. Be good. Then maybe go shopping and watch a little TV.”
Watch the rest of his inspiring message, courtesy of the newkings.ca.
And if you must vote today, polls are open from 9:30 am until 9:30 pm and you can find your polling station at elections.ca.
Update: Due to annoying site design, I can’t link directly to the “Don’t Vote” video. To see it follow the Video link on thenewkings.ca main page, then scroll down and follow the link marked “When you don’t vote, you vote Klownenfuhrer” Frustrating, but worth it, sort of.
tagged: [vote] [for] [ndp]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at January 22, 2006
in pre-wp.
Friday, January 27th is Family Literacy Day across Canada and I’m happy to announce that I’ll be spending two days promoting literacy at Smithfield Middle School here in Toronto. I’ll be there on Thursday January 26th and Friday January 27th, speaking to 10 grade 8 classes about writing for comics and showing them how a comic gets made from start to finish. Thanks to Smithfield MS for inviting me into their school. I’m looking forward to the big day.
[posted from main site]
tagged: [writing] [promotion] [author_visits]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at January 17, 2006
in pre-wp.
“Don’t let anybody tell you if we just went back to the free enterprise system. The old system of ‘Every man for himself,’ as the elephant said when he was dancing among the chickens. Let’s go back to standing on our feet.”
- Tommy Douglas on the erosion of Medicare in 1979 [launches .mp3 file]
This morning I woke up to CBC radio interviewing Jack Layton and it got me fired up again. Jack mentioned that on his ipod he’s got some old speeches from Tommy Douglas that Olivia downloaded for him. In Sam Bulte’s books, I guess that makes Olivia a ‘pro-user zeolot’, but that’s another matter.
I went looking for these old speeches and, although the NDP site has a podcast page and promises of old Tommy Douglas speeches, I couldn’t find any (if I’m missing the page, please someone give me the link.)
After a quick google search, I found Ravi Joshi’s blog ravijo.net. Joshi is the podcasting brains behind NDP candidate Phil Allt’s website and his latest post contains a great mp3 of Tommy Douglas speaking about the erosion of public healthcare.
The speech is from 1979 but it’s as relevant today as it was back then. The audio file is only a few minutes long and it is worth listening to if not for its message on healthcare, but to hear the passion in Tommy’s voice (he is the Greatest Canadian, after all.) I don’t hear this honesty in any of the Conservative or Liberal candidates. Admittedly, it’s hard to convey passion in the 5 second soundbites mainstream media allows its viewers and listeners.
Get beyond the soundbites of this election, grab a coffee and 5 minutes and listen to the message of Tommy in 1979. It’s as important today as it was back then.
Also worth listening to: Charlie Angus on why strategic voting sucks [launches .mp3 file]
Remember: Jack will be talking to Peter Mansbridge during the National tonight. Visit cbc.ca/national/ to find out when it’s on in you timezone.
tagged: [ndp] [Layton] [Tommy_Douglas]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at January 16, 2006
in pre-wp.
“Duct tape works.”
– Ralph Klein, when asked about high poll numbers for Conservatives.
The Conservatives are enjoying high numbers in recent polls, but as this CBC article points out, it’s more for what they’re not saying this time around.
Remember all those scary, right-wing, homophobic Conservative candidates from 2004? They’re still around, they’re just not talking to the media.
From the CBC:
Rob Anders, the MP for Calgary West who once called Nelson Mandela a terrorist, has not been attending all-candidates forums in the riding and does not talk to the media. [Cheryl] Gallant is being similarly careful, communicating largely through press release and door-to-door campaigning. And Paula Henderson, a volunteer for Nova Scotia candidate Rakesh Khosla, told a Halifax newspaper that nobody would be commenting on Khosla’s participation in a meeting involving clergy members who are against same-sex marriage. “We’ve been told by Ottawa that we don’t talk about that,” Henderson said. “That’s a dropped subject.”
You’ll remember Cheryl Gallant as the one who compared abortion to al-Qaeda’s recent televised beheading of American Nicholas Berg.
Rob Anders calling Nelson Mandela a terrorist is only one of the terrifying things to come from his mouth.
It should be no surprise to that progressive Canadians have rallied together urging voters to Think Twice on Jan 23rd.
We all know that strategic voting sucks, but Jack has a strategy for all those fed up with the Liberals and terrified by the Conservatives:
“Lend us your vote while the party you have supported in the past cleans itself up.”
– Jack Layton
Sounds like a plan to me.
Update: Check out the NDP’s new TV ad to see former Liberals voting for Jack.
tagged: [ndp] [elections] [canada]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at January 14, 2006
in pre-wp.
This morning saw Melanie and I heading down to the CNE to rall- it-up for Jack and the rest of the NDP gang. It was an early morning, but definitely worth it.
Together with a bunch of other good folks we all hopped on buses from Peggy’s campaign HQ and made the quick trip to the CNE, where the place was soon jumping to the pickin’, grinnin’ and winnin’ bluegrass twangin’ of Roses in the Snow (pickin’/grinnin’/winnin’ is theirs, not mine, but I like it.) The fact that the music of choice was bluegrass was perfect for Mel (a bluegrass freak, btw) and definitely got everyone’s feet tapping.
After a brief introduction from BNL’s Steven Page, Jack came on and gave a great speech and we all cheered and rallied – hey that’s what we were there for. I’d go into details, but you probably know them by now. If you don’t head over to ndp.ca and get reading.
One of the highlights of the day was bumping into Alex Felipe, a freelance photographer with a kickin’ flickr gallery. Turns out that Alex and I worked together at Indigo books back when we should have known better and before they started checking the bags of their staff, but that’s another story.
Alex took the great photo up there (is that a leader of a party or what?) and he has got a whole set of photos from the rally and a bunch of other cool images in his gallery over at flickr. Thanks Alex for letting me grab it. So, go check his photos out and remember, on Jan 23rd vote NDP – the kids will thank you for it.
(many apologies to the letter ‘g’ for being ruthlessly and repeatedly dropped in an attempt to jazz up this post.)
Update: Chandrasutra provides a much better write-up of the rally and apparently this up and coming news source had something to say about it too.
tagged: [Layton] [ndp] [rokx0rz]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
Published at January 12, 2006
in pre-wp.
Things didn’t go well for Sam Bulte at last night’s Parkdale-High Park ‘Meet the Candidates” session, organised by the Bloor West Village Resident’s Association.
The question of her copyright conflict was raised three times and each time she continued to see no problem with accepting money from record company and movie industry representatives while playing a key role in the Liberal government’s current committee on the definition of copyright. Follow the Bulte/copyright technorati trail to get all the info on this latest Liberal conflict of interest scandal.
It’s no secret that I’m backing Peggy Nash in this election and from the applause she received last night, I’m not alone.
(Photo: Accordion Guy)
As you can see from the photo, the meeting was packed with residents from across the area and a few top-notch bloggers like: Accordion Guy, False Positives and Chandrasutra.
If you want the full scoop of the night, check out Accordion Guy’s report and his update and False Positives take on the situation. Also not to be missed is the video of Sam Bulte getting testy at the “pro-user zeolots”.
tagged: [bulte] [copyright] [ndp]
No tag for this post.
posts that might have something to do with what I just said:
- darn bots can't compute - try the search up top for more posts
recent comments