Category Archives: Politics

NDP delusions: a leader stays on, and what we need instead

Posted on October 26, 2015 by barczablog

Justin Trudeau is a very lucky man. Oh I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve his win. I am ecstatic about the election last Monday, and as mentioned previously, had a Liberal sign on my lawn. But our democracy needs a … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 3 Comments

Questions for Lisa Campbell, Cannabis Activist

Posted on October 2, 2015 by barczablog

Lisa Campbell has been the Outreach Director for Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy since 2013. As the former Trip! Project Coordinator and having worked as the manager of a needle exchange, Lisa has worked with a diversity of young … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Politics, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

You may say I’m a dreamer

Posted on September 22, 2015 by barczablog

It may be election time, but it isn’t a time of vision as far as I can see. The two big contenders to replace Harper –the Liberals & NDP—are offering a few key policy choices on child-care, marijuana, restoring the … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | Leave a comment

Ten Questions for Dr Gábor Maté

Posted on September 5, 2015 by barczablog

Doctor Gábor Maté is someone I’ve admired from afar for a long time, without really knowing more than a few superficial details.  He’s known for the sort of beliefs that go beyond mere image management, an advocate and activist who … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Politics, Psychology and perception | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Mussolini vs The Mermaid: what little girls –and boys—dream

Posted on July 27, 2015 by barczablog

Thursday night is the preview performance of DIVE: Odes for Lighea, Nik Beeson’s new opera at The Array Space. DIVE is based on Giuseppe di Lampedusa’s short story The Professor and the Siren. That’s “siren” as in mermaid. I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | 1 Comment

Trudeau against the puritans

Posted on July 26, 2015 by barczablog

I hate attack ads. I previously wrote about this detestable tool before.  In vaudeville, when a performer didn’t get applause they would pull them offstage with a hook. Attack ads are like rhetorical hooks, grabbing at people to trip them, but without … Continue reading →

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Ten Questions for Hugh Ritchie

Posted on July 10, 2014 by barczablog

I first met Hugh Ritchie at Ryerson this winter, where we worked together on an adaptation of Dickens’ Martin Chuzzlewit. At one point in the show he was all pastoral Americana, singing a down-home “Little Brown Jug”, even though he … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Music and musicology, Politics, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Canada Day

Posted on July 1, 2014 by barczablog

It’s Canada Day, a day to celebrate and give thanks.   A big part of gratitude is recognition.  If we’re to be grateful for what we have, our eyes have to be open (and excuse me if i am repeating myself… … Continue reading →

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From the Closet

Posted on June 29, 2014 by barczablog

We were planning to watch the HBO production Behind The Candelabra (2013), the film about Liberace’s love affair that stars Michael Douglas & Matt Damon.  It’s not just a coincidence that it’s Pride Weekend.  I was so captivated by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Politics, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Missing book

Posted on June 18, 2014 by barczablog

No this isn’t a book review. I can’t get my hands on Thomas Piketty’s 700 page book Capital in the 21st Century. Forgive me if I am paranoid about this. Since when was a best-seller impossible to obtain? But try … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments