Cookie recently had a fear reaction, and we’re working on desensitization. I thought I would share our experience with changing fearful behaviour. Diego Not long after we adopted Diego, we learned he had an extreme fear reaction to anything involving his ears. Neither Allan nor I can remember exactly how
Continue readingAuthor: laura k
wmtc: rotd: love and labor in alliance
Revolutionary thought of the day: Wherever capitalism appears, in pursuit of its mission of exploitation, there will be socialism, fertilized by misery, watered by tears, and vitalized by agitation. It will also be found unfurling its class-struggle banner, and proclaiming its mission of emancipation. Love and labor in alliance, working
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: make screen time count with library e-resources for kids and teens
At Your Library: Make Screen Time Count with Library E-Resources for Kids and Teens You know I’m always going on about the great e-resources you can access through your library. “E-resources” means e-books, digital magazines, streaming music and movies, plus ways to learn new skills, expand your small business, and so
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: columns published since re-opening, parts 2 and 3
Ancestry Library: Your Library Can Help You Discover Your Roots As the lockdown began, I posted some “At Your Library” columns that were suddenly irrelevant, among them a column about Ancestry Library, then only available from a library branch — and the branches were all closed. Shortly after that, Ancestry
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: columns published since re-opening, part 1: library takeout
Since the lockdown ended, I’ve been writing my column in the free local newspaper again. These columns seem very specific and not of wide interest, but since I started collecting the columns on this blog, I want the record to be complete. At Your Library: Your Library Is Coming Back… One
Continue readingwmtc: a piece of new york is gone: pete hamill, rest in peace
A piece of New York City died this week. Pete Hamill, a legendary New York journalist and possibly the last of a breed, died yesterday at age 85. Obituaries describe him as a “tabloid poet” or “tabloid hero”. If he hadn’t existed, perhaps Raymond Chandler would have invented him. It
Continue readingwmtc: 11 (more) things on my mind about the protests in the u.s.
In April, I wrote a post called “11 things on my mind about the anti-police-violence and anti-racism protests“. For reasons unknown to me, it’s one of the most widely-read posts I’ve written in a long time. So here’s an updated list. 1. When governments respond to protests with violence and
Continue readingwmtc: rotd: "systemic racism" is redundant
Revolutionary thought of the day: “Institutional racism” and “structural racism” and “systemic racism” are redundant. Racism itself is institutional, structural, and systemic. Ibram X. Kendi, How to be Antiracist
Continue readingwmtc: listening to joni: #15: turbulent indigo
Turbulent Indigo, 1994 Front Cover Turbulent Indigo is a rich album, one that demands repeated listening. Every time I hear it, I discover new sounds and meanings, and I find that it has slyly become one of my most beloved of Joni’s work. The name of the album is itself
Continue readingwmtc: john lewis and c.t. vivian, rest in power
What a sad and moving coincidence, that two great freedom fighters died on the same day. I chose these photos as a reminder that doing the right thing may involve breaking the law. Canadians, who over-value a superficially peaceful society, frequently need reminding. As a remembrance of these two men,
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: political graphic nonfiction: this place: 150 years retold
This Place: 150 Years Retold, foreward by Alicia Elliott. In keeping with my posts about political graphic nonfiction, here is a quote from This Place. The book is an anthology of 10 stories by 10 or 11 writers and illustrators. Each writer prefaces their story with context, including something about
Continue readingwmtc: in which i reflect on the joys of summer in north vancouver island, especially during the pandemic
In 2015, Allan and I moved into an apartment, for the first time since leaving New York City in late 2005. We had rented a series of houses for 10 years. Now the market had changed and it was clear there were no houses for rent in our price range
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #32
I emailed this to my colleagues and our administrators; I should share it with wmtc readers, too. Along with many library workers, I am worried that our most vulnerable neighbours are being left behind. * * * * I just heard a heartbreaking lament from one of our regular customers,
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: idiot wind, a memoir by peter kaldheim
One of the many wonderful things about working in a library is having access to such a wide variety of books. This has greatly broadened my choice of reading material. In the past, I kept a list, mostly based on book reviews, and read almost exclusively from my List. I
Continue readingwmtc: pupdate: prison break, cookie style
I’ve been putting off the recall training. We have equipment, and we have advice, but we don’t have a plan — because we haven’t made it a priority. Honking big flashing neon note to self: make it a priority. This morning I when called in both dogs from the backyard,
Continue readingwmtc: essential reading on anti-racism: "we can’t tinker around the edges. we need to dismantle systems."
During the current focus on systemic racism, this is likely the best essay I’ve read. It’s written in a US context, but it applies to Canada, both for Indigenous people and black Canadians. I hope you’ll read it and share it. * * * * * What the Courage to
Continue readingwmtc: katy bowman’s nutritious movement: will it change my life? i’m working on it
One of my principal goals for 2019 was to improve my level of fitness. I had been only sporadically active for 10 years — beginning with starting graduate school while working two jobs, then segueing into becoming president of my local union — and it had definitely negatively impacted my
Continue readingwmtc: listening to joni: #14: night ride home
Night Ride Home, 1991 Although I mostly enjoyed Joni’s previous album, Chalk Mark In a Rainstorm, I still harboured a nagging doubt and vague dislike. Both Chalk Mark (1988) and Dog Eat Dog (1985) didn’t feel like Joni to me. I don’t mean that they didn’t repeat some formula or sound. I
Continue readingwmtc: 11 things on my mind about the anti-police-violence and anti-racism protests
1. Most violence is not being committed by protesters. What percentage of protesters are violent? Filter for police provocateurs, filter for white nationalists, filter for random thieves hiding under cover of mayhem. All of those exist at mass protests and have been proven to exist countless times. What percentage of
Continue readingwmtc: kareem abdul-jabbar: you start to wonder if it should be all black people who wear body cams, not the cops
One of the best things I’ve read about the protests rocking in the US and elsewhere is an op-ed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in the Los Angeles Times. In case you don’t know him, Abdul-Jabbar is a basketball legend. His NBA stats are off the charts (Wikipedia). He’s also a writer and
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