As Israel prepares to celebrate its 60th birthday only one thing is certain… people have mixed feelings about it. While Zionists are likely to rejoice that the nation remains solid through this anniversary there are others who look at the nation with a browner lense. The establishment of this nation in a manner much akin to the American principle of Manifest Destiny leaves millions of Palestinians still displaced and struggling for survival on the claims of Zionists that the land was no good until they cultivated it anyway. Israel has some deep soul searching to do as it works toward a centennial in terms of developing a national identity that lives up to its lofty ideals of freedom, peace, and equality, as its first 60 years have been ones of warmongering and intolerance. In fairness, it’s not easy being Israel. Push aside the fact that many Arabs view them has hostile invaders occupying land that does not belong to them and the Israelis still would not be welcome. They are a small bastion of infidels in a Muslim land that does not look kindly on outsiders, but they have not made it easy on themselves either. It is my sincere hope, and I would guess the shared hope of many people around the world, that the Israeli government will take this landmark celebration as a moment to reflect on their legacy to this world. There have been many great Israelis and the nation has offered advancements and achievements to the world, but it has also left a legacy of brutal warfare based on unwavering demands and a refusal to compromise. While it can be argued that one does not compromise with ones enemies, if you make enemies of all your neighbors, you create a lonely neighborhood. Perhaps it is time for the people of Israel to lay down arms and offer some small concessions in the interest of peace.

Hello again all. I’ve finally recuperated (for the most part) from my surgery and am feeling well enough to contribute to this site again. That being said, before we delve back into more of the exciting usual in current and local events, I have some things to say about the things that are printed here. There has been a bit of a todo about my most recent event review and I’d like to take a moment to point out a few basic facts. The first is, if I review your event, whether it’s good or bad, it’s publicity and you should be grateful someone is giving you attention. Bad publicity is better than no publicity. Secondly, I rarely ever skewer a person or event outright without offering constructive criticism. If you feel I have judged your event too harshly, think on my actual criticisms and address them as unfair or perhaps even things you are working on. Lastly, I’d like to say that I am not just some dolt who attends random events others put on. I have organized many events of my own, some more successful than others. I understand a lot of work and personal investment goes into planning and executing a successful event. My critique of your event is not a personal statement about your worth as a person. You could be perfectly delightful, but I wouldn’t know. To those who’ve read my reviews of their events and responded politely, whether in private or publicly here, I applaud your good showmanship.

I would like to apologize in advance if there is longer than normal before my next “real” posting. Following a tonsillectomy today, I am suffering from severe discomfort despite taking some serious prescription painkillers that make it difficult to sit still and conscious for very long. I promise to return to you ASAP and will try to capitalize on this time to get some work done on getting our music blog established (in very small chunks) while I remain unable to work.

Last night I attended a new Toronto monthly event called “The Devil Made Me Do It” at Z’Orchid or whatever they are calling it these days on Dundas St west of Bathurst. I arrived at around 10:30 and stayed for about 2 hours, so I make no claim to having observed the whole evening. Upon entry to the venue, I approached the bar immediately as is my custom, and the friendly bartender asked my trusty companion and I if we’d be needing a beverage. She informed us of the drink special ($2 for a mixed drink is outstanding) and we were delighted to toast our rum and cokes with glee. When we arrived, “Detonation Boulevard” by Sisters of Mercy was playing and my high hopes for this supposedly Death Rock night were in effect. This was closely followed by the Cure and while I do not really consider either band Death Rock, per se, they still fall neatly into the “Goth/Darkwave” categories expressed on the flyer.

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In an interesting twist, Ted Turner is in the news being both ridiculous AND sensible at the same time. How does one go about achieving such a feat? I have yet to determine the winning strategy, but in this case it goes something like this: First we’ll make a preposterous prediction about the future of the world based on skewed scientific data and then follow it up with insightful argument about current events. It appears Mr Turner’s lense for the here and now is more finely tuned. If you can wade through the drivel about cannibalism and its link to global warming, what I’d really like to highlight here is the interesting perspective on the Iraqi “insurgents". I am using the word insurgents in quotations here because of what it implies. Dictionary.com defines an insurgent as, “a person who rises in forcible opposition to lawful authority". I take issue with this because of the term “lawful authority". This would imply that the government in power is recognized as a national leadership power. Can we really consider a replacement government created by an invading force “lawful authority"? By whose power is this authority deemed lawful? NATO? The UN? The United States government? Since when can an external force move in and supplant local authorities and not call it invasion and occupation?

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