Friday, September 4, 2009, Vol. 4, No, 41 — 192
"True North is for opinion leaders"
Mission Statement Archives Contact the Editor Subscribe!
Friday, September 4, 2009
True North Perspective
Vol. 4, No. 41 (192)
Let's say that news throughout human time has been free. Take that time when Ugh Wayne went over to the cave of Mugh Payne with news that the chief of his group had broken a leg while chasing his laughing wife around the fire. That news was given freely and received as such with much knowing smiles and smirks to say nothing of grunts of approval or disapproval.
Jumping ahead about 100,000 years those who paused at the parish pump and learned the news about neighbours Jack and Jill who had gone up the hill to fetch a pail of water. She who delivered the news reported that Jack had fallen down and broken his crown while Jill came tumbling after. Someone at the parish pump said why on earth had they gone up the hill to fetch a pail of water when they could more easily have gotten it down here. Someone else said, I think they had more than water in mind when they went up that hill. And so the analyses would continue until one by one they had to break away to satisfy the reason that had prompted them to come to the pump in the first place
Today you can go to your municipal council and listen to the debates without charge. You can do the same at provincial or state legislatures. The news there would be free too. The same is true in all countries; I would guess even in Iran or Iraq, or Afghanistan, Bahrain or Canada.
But you don't because you don't have the time.
It's true that you can buy a radio, television, or computer (at least) and select news and analyses there. But you don't have the time nor is there the focus that satisfies. For that you buy cable television.
The fact is that news has never been free. Ugh Wayne had to run half a day over rough terrain to carry his news to Mugh and the gang. She who brought the news about Jack and Jill had to leave her work in the garden at the foot of the hill to get to the parish-pump. Today, reporters (as we used to call them before they became journalists) have to spend hours each day at the gatherings of elected representatives to listen and to analyze before hitting keyboards and talking into microphones with or without cameras.
To bring you news and analyses takes hard work and time, and to succeed, to sustain the process, costs money.
True North Perspective is unique. There is no other publication in the whole worldwide web that comes close to what we are. All others operate on million dollar budgets. The Real News, for example, was launched on a $5 million budget and continues to operate with a seven-digit dollar base. More power to it but it doesn't have the breadth and depth of True North Perspective. None of them do.
It takes one hundred hours a week to produce True North Perspective. It's a high-end read that readers must like because they keep coming back and in growing numbers in up to as many as 88 countries. We think we've got the right formula but we need money to sustain it. By the way, the hundred hours a week is put in by the tiny core that does the creative mechanics of getting it out. It doesn't include the uncounted hours of work put in by our volunteer regular columnists. They should be getting paid too.
So think of True North Perspective as your cable-of-choice web site. Give until just before it hurts to provide us with a fighting chance to give you the “cable” web site you deserve. We've just begun to flower. Your donation no matter how small will nourish our growth in your favour.
Please take time to send whatever you can afford to:
Carl Dow, True North Perspective, Station E, P.O. Box 4814, Ottawa ON Canada K1S 5H9.
Meanwhile, take it easy but take it.
Looking forward
Carl Dow
Editor and Publisher
True North Perspective
______
Every country in the world has its own folklore — folk stories in music, lyrics and dance. Much of these diverse cultural expressions are shared, despite the differences in language and history, from the British Isles, through western and eastern Europe and into the Ural Mountains, the dividing line between Europe and Asia. But these cultural characteristics are in plain view in Australia, Asia, Africa, and central and south America. Here for your viewing and listening pleasure is ballet-stylized music and dancing choreographed by Russia's Igor Moiseyev. There is little difference between Russian and Ukrainian culture. Aside from the opening you'll be able to browse more of both at your leisure. We also bring you more of the same from cultures throughout the world. — Carl Dow.
I'm delighted to report that readers are responding to our plea for financial support. So far it's a trickle, but trickles are known to grow and, eventually, to become nourishing rivers. Give us the flow and we'll take the current as it serves to provide you with the True North Perspective you deserve. Don't be shy. Shake your purse or your wallet or last winter's coat for a stray dollar you may have forgotten. If you find one send it to us. You won't miss it. We need it. We ask our readers to voluntarily donate $80 a year. But we'll be happy to receive whatever you can spare. So please give until just before it hurts. No subscription will be cancelled because of non-payment. For those who can't afford anything, we simply ask you to introduce True North Perspective to others. Please take time to send whatever you can afford to:
Carl Dow, True North Perspective, Station E, P.O. Box 4814, Ottawa ON Canada K1S 5H9.
The short story, The Old Man's Last Sauna, a groundbreaking love story, in the Friday, April 24 edition of True North Perspective, concludes the collection titled The Old Man's Last Sauna, written by Carl Dow. On Friday, April 17, you'll find O Ernie! ... What Have They Done To You! The series began Friday, February 20, with Deo Volente (God Willing). The second, The Quintessence of Mr. Flynn, Friday, February 27. The third, Sharing Lies, Friday, March 6. The fourth, Flying High, Friday, March 13. The fifth, The Richest Bitch in the Country or Ginny I Hardly Knows Ya, Friday, March 20. On Friday, March 27, One Lift Too Many, followed by The Model A Ford, Friday, April 3. The out-of-body chiller, Room For One Only, Friday, April 10. The series closed Friday, April 24, with the collection's namesake The Old Man's Last Sauna, a groundbreaking love story. All stories may also be found in the True North Perspective Archives.
 |
Ottawa author Randy Ray and his co-author Mark Kearney of London, Ont. have published their ninth Canadian book, The Big Book of Canadian Trivia, which is now available in stores and on the authors' Web site at: TriviaGuys.com.
The latest Ray-Kearney effort is best described as a "greatest hits" book that contains the best Canadiana from their previous eight books, plus a considerable amount of new material.
In one big book readers will find all the trivia and facts about Canada they need to know: there are stories of important Canadian artifacts and history including what became of Canada's World War II spy camp.
All regions and provinces are covered, as well as important Canadian figures like John Molson, Elizabeth Arden and Russ Jackson.
If that isn't enough there will also be pieces explaining whatever happened to such Canadian icons as the last spike, labour leader Bob White, hockey tough guy Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, the first skidoo, swimmer Marilyn Bell and the first Tim Hortons donut shop.
Some items are "classics." Others are little known facts. Approximately 25% of the material has never before appeared in print.
This fascinating Big Book brings together for the first time in one package the most notable facts and trivia from the archives of the trivia guys' collection.
The Big Book of Canadian Trivia is published by The Dundurn Group of Toronto.
______
Prolific best-selling Ottawa author and publicist Randy Ray has developed a website to promote his publicity services, which he offers to authors, publishers and companies. Mr. Ray has helped many clients get their message out across Canada on CTV, CBC Radio, CH-TV, A-Channel and Global TV, and in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Sun, Halifax Herald and many Ottawa-area weekly newspapers. Mr. Ray's web site is: www.randyray.ca. He can be contacted at: (613) 731-3873 or rocket@intranet.ca.
______
Link not working? Story not loading? Can't click on the links? Got another computer problem? Never fear! Carl is here!
If you have any problems with accessing the newsletter or problems with your computer, send an email to Carl Hall chall2k5@gmail.com , and he will be more than happy to assist you.
______
Archives
______
Carl Dow, Editor and Publisher
Geoffrey Dow, Managing Editor
Yvette Pigeon, Associate Editor
Dennis Carr, Sustainable Development Editor
Benoit Jolicoeur, Art Director
Ian Covey, Director of Photography
Carl Hall, Technical Analyst and Web Editor
Randy Ray, Manager, Business and Publicity
Contributing Editors
Anita Chan, Australia
Canada
Alex Binkley, Ottawa
Dennis Carr, Vancouver
Rosaleen Dickson, Ottawa
Tom Dow, Sudbury
Bob Kay, Montréal
Randy Ray, Ottawa
David Ward, Ottawa
Harold Wright, Ottawa
______