In a day filled with an ongoing terrorist crisis, the deaths of American shoppers (shootings in toy stores, trampling Wal-Mart employees to death), and God knows what else, a little brightness is in order.

So I might as well talk about a kitten.

Eli has grown. So has Benji. Eli’s growth is only natural because he’s a kitten. Benji’s is unnatural because he’s been eating all of Eli’s food behind my back for two weeks and has turned into Jabba The Hut. Casey could care less about any of it. So I moved Eli’s food on to a shelf that only he can reach, which has sent Benji into a depression that is broken only by his new found hobby – attempting to lick Eli to death.

Strangely, Eli likes showers. One of his favourite things to do, besides sleeping behind my computer, is to stand in the shower once I’m out of it. I have no idea why. He is also quite fond of his own shadow, his reflection, and the movement of just about anything on a computer screen.

Video:

Even Better!

I should be rehearsing right now. But I’m not. I’m lazy like that. I haven’t picked up an acoustic guitar and played anything from the last tour since, well, the end of the last tour. Not that I’ve forgotten anything, just that I have to leave in a few weeks and I really should be putting some time in brushing up.

Of course, I said the exact same thing prior to the last tour. In truth, I jammed it all into about five days worth of lackadaisical strumming while Benji howled at the top of his lungs every time I started to sing, which, as freaking awesome as he is, is rather annoying. When I took the stage that first night in Victoria it was a roll of the dice. When you perform completely by yourself there’s always the chance that you’re going to blow something and that it will snowball into a complete disaster.

To be honest, sometimes that’s fun.

But never you fear, those of you attending the upcoming shows, I’ll get around it.

What’s Up With Razors?

I was thinking about something the other night. What’s up with razor blades? Why are they always locked behind glass? It’s such a pain in the ass to try and track someone down to get them, and then you have to stand there and look at the boxes because there are a million different razors and all of them have different blades and you can’t remember if you have the Mach 3 or the Mach 3.5 or the Super Mach or the Robo-Mach – it’s fucking annoying. A law should be passed that requires all razor blades to conform to a single system, because if you happen to forget what sort of blades you have, chances are you’re just going to buy a whole new razor only to get home to find out that you now have the exact same one and that you should have just bought blades – had you known which blades to buy.

Disposables are not an option – too much wasted plastic. Electric razors are all right; I used one for years actually. But eventually they stop working and, at the time, you’re just so pissed off about it that you go back to traditional razors, which, of course, finds you a few weeks later at a pharmacy or super market searching for blades that are locked up as if they were made of solid gold.

It kind of pisses me off.

Benji Update

Almost four weeks after his surgery, Benji is doing fine. He’s back to his old self in many ways, though much of the time he still only uses three legs. Of course, I won’t know how successful the operation was until he gets x-rays, which happens after six weeks.

Besides that, both of the dogs are now on a vet prescribed diet because they are both experiencing intestinal problems. After a run of antibiotics, Casey seems to be doing better, but Benji hasn’t really improved. They are, of course, completely pissed off at me because they’re not getting their usual food. In fact, they’re staging a bit of a hunger strike at the moment, which the vet said might happen. Being that I can’t say no to them 98% of the time, I’m going to have to do my best to deny them those things to which they’ve grown accustomed – like veal chews.

Regarding ‘The Band’

The band that’s being put together for the spring tour will consist of all new backing players. Actually, I haven’t even met them yet, as they’re all located in Toronto, which is where I will be doing rehearsals for the tour prior to it beginning.

One of the great things about being a solo artist is that you have the ability to hire excellent players and not have to put up with band politics. Ultimately, it’s the perfect situation because you get to work with people that are extremely talented at what they do, unbelievably quick studies, and extremely professional. Between you and me, I could care less how old they are or what they look like. If they can lay it down, that’s all that matters.

Disclaimer: The quality of this video recording is crap. In no way is it intended to promote or condone the use of drugs. The mention of drug use in this video was for comedic purposes only. No one involved in the making of this video was under the influence of drugs during its creation.

Yes, it is 4:30 in the morning. And yes, I am awake.

Last night, after eating the same steak that I have been religiously ordering for the past 15 years, I found myself laying in bed next to Benji, watching Glenda Jackson [1] rip up the screen in Elizabeth R (it’s hard to believe that it premiered the year I was born), and finding myself getting somewhat droopy-eyed.

Being that Benji was due for his third dose of Codine at 1 AM, I set my alarm so that I could wake up and give it to him. And then, as was the case last night, the drama began.

Since he was a puppy, Casey has always tended to sleep right next to my head. In fact, he now takes immense exception to anyone, or anything, that attempts to occupy that area. Being that Benji has to be monitored, and I don’t want him sleeping in his crate or on his bed on the floor (as his disgust with me for allowing this to befall him is abundantly apparent), I have, for the past two nights, slept with him against my chest. Unfortunately, as far as Casey is concerned, that just won’t do. Thus, Casey delights in moving from place to place above and below the covers to convey his anger at being robbed of his ritual berth.

Having fallen asleep, Casey must have strong-armed his way back into his usual position, because when it came time to give Benji his medication he was in his bed on the floor. Of course, that’s caused me overwhelming concern because it means that Benji must have, at some point, jumped off the bed. Given the very tenuous state of his leg, and the fact that the next seven weeks are crucial with regards to the rod in his leg properly fusing to the bone, you can see why jumping off of a bed, even one that is very close to the floor, as mine is, might produce some panic.

Anyway, after discovering him on the floor, he was brought back to bed, which triggered a second round of Casey moving around the bed in a very deliberate fashion attempting to convey his dislike of the entire affair.

Therefore, there are now two dogs, that weigh less than 20 lbs between them, comfortably sleeping in a queen sized bed while I am sitting here writing this.

I’m tired. Not a lot of sleep last night. I spent it in one of those semi-states of sleep, the sort where you’re aware that you have to be mindful of something that requires that you remain somewhat conscious but are still trying to sleep at the same time.

It’s clear and sunny here again today, as it has been this past week. In fact, it’s been uncommonly beautiful for this time of year, even given the chill the wind provides here on the West Coast that has the annoying ability to cut through everything that you’re wearing and go straight to your bones. We share that phenomenon with the UK, where it’s routine business as well.

I’m rambling, and I’m aware of it. I’m rambling because I’m having one of those mornings that I’m finding it difficult to concentrate. I’m having one of those mornings because, as has been the case over the last month, the list of things to touch upon grows so quickly every day that it seems almost impossible to retain it all and then translate it into something cogent.

Just off the top of my head there’s…

The recent revelation that the Canadian Armed Forces have stopped the transfer of prisoners to Afghan authorities because of a report of abuse on the 5th of November of last year despite the fact that last May, after a scandal broke regarding the Canadian transfer of prisoners to Afghan authorities that were known for their use of torture, the government claimed that it was taking steps to immediately rectify the situation.

The recently released Manley Report, which, although critical of numerous aspects of the mission in Afghanistan, has basically provided the government with what can only be viewed as a blank cheque with regards to Canadian combat operations in that country. Of course, the report is non-binding, but its ramifications on a political level are extremely convenient. Canada, of course, is only one of three nations involved in direct combat operations in Afghanistan, and of the three represents the smallest contingent. That being the case, our losses, compared to those of the United States and the UK, are wholly disproportionate. The debate, however, remains transfixed on our continued support of the mission’s objectives, to help stabilize the nation and provide it security, even though other members of ISAF, with considerably larger forces in country, continue to refuse to have their contingents involved in direct combat operations. There is also the concern that even though our efforts are aimed at ensuring democratic stability in Afghanistan, that its implementation is, in effect, the representation of Western regional aspirations, and therefore not dissimilar to Soviet regional aspirations in the 70’s when the USSR was responsible for aiding in the supplanting of a pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. Thus, the real test of Afghan democracy will come when the nation has been secured and Western exploitative practices begin in earnest.

That is certainly not to say that the Taliban should be allowed to run rampant and plunge the nation into complete chaos, only that precluding the possibility of negotiations for the purposes of resolution is counter productive. Ultimately, there are always going to be those that support some, if not all, of the Taliban’s agenda, which raises a very important question: must those that do be wholly eliminated before progress can be made? And if they are not, what assurances do we have that there will not be a resurgence in the future that could seriously threaten the stability of the country, even after it possesses a well trained and equipped military? Given that, is it not fair to say that Western military involvement, on even the smallest of levels, will be required in Afghanistan for years to come?

Of course, all of that doesn’t even touch on the realities of the Pakistani frontier and the support covertly supplied those in opposition to the current Afghan government by elements within the Pakistani military establishment itself.

The possibility that Kenya could explode at any moment despite last minute attempts at political reconciliation aimed at stemming violence. As it stands now, the country is already in the early stages of a humanitarian crisis and also on the cusp of what could quickly turn into a genocidal event.

The recent disparity of global markets.

The continuing unrest in Pakistan.

The case of Canadian Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr, who has been held at the facility since 2002. Khadr was captured at the age of 15 and, as the French Foreign Ministry recently pointed out…

“…all children associated with an armed conflict should be treated accordingly. As a minor at the time of the events, Mr. Khadr must be given special treatment — a point on which there is a universal consensus.”

The Canadian government has refused to intercede in Khadr’s case.

Gaza. While many have taken to illegally entering Egypt so that they can attempt to get food, fuel, and other sundries, Israel’s position remains steadfast, that being that the blockade is a move against the continued rocket attacks emanating from Gaza into Israel. The majority of the United Nations Security Council has labeled the blockade a violation of international humanitarian law and a collective punishment against the entire population, but the United States refuses to support that position without the inclusion of language that supports Israel’s concerns regarding the actions of Palestinian militants. Caught in the middle are, as usual, the 1.5 million residents of Gaza itself.

The firing of Linda Keen, President of The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, hours before she was to appear before a House committee in Ottawa. Keen was fired, according to Federal Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn, due to the government’s ‘lack of confidence in her leadership’. This, of course, happened after the Commission’s attempt to have the Chalk River facility closed due to safety concerns and government’s decision to ignore the Commission.

The realities of the sanctions against Iran.

The ruinous economic reality of America’s imperialist adventures.

The frightening resurgence of Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz.

Media attacks on Heath Ledger following his death.

The Jose Padilla affair.

The continued humanitarian crisis unfolding in Somalia.

The Sudanese government’s decision to make Musa Hilal, a man accused of coordinating the Janjiweed militias in Darfur, an advisor to Federal Affairs Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat.

And So Forth

In truth, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Iraq is, of course, absent – primarily recent events in Baquba - as is the ever-evolving telecommunications scandal in the US and the Sibel Edmonds affair, the unrest in Zimbabwe, and events in Chiapas.

Last, but certainly not least, there are also those voices that tend to make excellent arguments on a routine basis, such as Robert Fisk, Stephen Zunes, and (for your viewing pleasure), the always brilliant Chalmers Johnson…

Benji is home, doped out of his mind, and generally out of sorts. Given the massive cast on his leg, and the severity of the procedure, that’s to be expected.

It’s been some three years since the last time this was done. To be honest, I’d forgotten how labour intensive it’s going to be over the next six weeks. Given the nature of his surgery, he requires almost constant supervision to make sure that he doesn’t do anything that might jeopardize the pin that is fusing to his bones.

The surgeon said the procedure went well, so the recovery process is now the crucial part. If all goes smoothly, he’ll be back to his usual mischievous self some time near the middle or end of March.

Well, dear readers, bad news in Benji-land.

During our visit to the vet today, x-rays confirmed that his kneecap is popping in and out. In fact, the vet could do it by hand with absolutely no problem. That being the case, and given his age, it’s better to have the procedure done as soon as possible to ensure that arthritis doesn’t set in and cause him problems in the future.

So this will be the second time in his life that he’s had to undergo this operation, which involves fusing a metal rod to bone. For the time being, or at least until the surgery can be scheduled, which should happen pretty quickly, he will have to suffer through popping his kneecap in and out on a routine basis (I’ve been given Metacam to give him in the interim). Given that I have concrete floors, I can only imagine how painful it must be for him to get up and down off of things such as the bed and couch. Most of the time I watch him and pick him up, but in the middle of the night he’s known to roam, so there’s no stopping him then. Of course, after the surgery he won’t be able to walk, so he’ll be easier to monitor.

Vacation plans canceled, two months of post-op dog care to come. I know that to some of you find it strange that I write about my dogs. The truth is, they’re basically my children, or at least that’s how I view them. There isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for them, and no price that I wouldn’t pay to ensure their health and wellbeing. After everything they’ve been through with me, I owe them that much at least.

When Benji was just a puppy he had to undergo rather serious surgery because he suffers from a condition known as luxating patella. The surgery required that a metal rod be fused to one of the bones in his leg, which meant that his recovery was a long and painful affair.

Today, while I was taking out the trash, he and Casey were darting around a corner ahead of me and I heard him scream. Running to see what had happened, I discovered him, ears pinned to the side of his head, hoping in circles on three legs whimpering. Since then he has been able to put a little pressure on it, but every time he attempts to do something it ends with the same results. Unfortunately, I fear that he might be looking at getting the same procedure done on this leg, which was something my vet told me might be a possibility the last time it happened.

Despite his size, Benji’s a tough little dog. He coped with the last surgery rather well, his overwhelmingly bright and playful personality rarely dampened by it. Tomorrow I’ll take him in and get some x-rays, but I fear that he could be looking at not walking for close to another month for the second time in his life.

As you can see, he is having a hard time situating himself because of his back, left leg.

Two weeks. That’s all I have left before I get to see my boys again. It might sound somewhat lame coming from a 36 year old man, but I miss those guys.

I was supposed to turn around a week after arriving home and start a string of dates in the US. I decided to have them moved to the new-year, so look for announcements in the future. They’re going to coincide with South By Southwest, so I’ll start on the west coast, play down to Los Angeles, go to Texas, then pop up to Chicago and begin there again and move east. For those of you wondering what the tentative cities are – and by that I mean tentative - right now it looks like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, LA, Austin, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Rochester, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and DC. Of course, that could change. There could be more, there could be less. Like this current tour, I will be performing acoustically without a band, so keep that in mind as well.

One of my reasons for wanting to move the shows is that I felt it didn’t give American fans much advanced warning, which is something I think important given that if you live in San Diego, for example, it’s better to know in advance when I’m playing in Los Angeles so that, if you’re going to go, you have time to arrange it. The same applies to those living in locations close to those cities I’ll be playing on the east coast.

There is also the matter of just wanting to defuse for a little while and work on some new material that I’ve been penning. I haven’t ruled out doing a short acoustic EP of songs that have fallen between the cracks over the last year, such as If I Was A Tidal Wave and Keira Anne. There may very well be live versions of a few songs from the Massey Hall show that could appear on it as well, but I have yet to go through the recording, so will need time to do that as well.

The EP, if I do it, will most likely be available exclusively through the website and iTunes only. If I get enough demand from fans to make hard copies, I might look at a limited run, but that will depend on interest.

Anyway, happy Halloween to everyone.

Daniel Ellsberg was a United States Marine. He worked for the Rand Corporation, was a noted Hawk, worked for the Pentagon under John McNaughton, served in Vietnam as a military observer for the Pentagon, and was an ardent supporter of the Vietnam war.

That is, until he realized that the war that was being advertised was not the one being waged.

When he return to the United States he left the Pentagon, returned to Rand, and was a contributing author of the 7,000 page, 47 volume study entitled - United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense.

Being that Ellsberg was a contributing author, he was able to get Rand to pull some strings and allow him to obtain a copy of the top secret study, one which Congress did not even know existed. In it’s 7,000 pages, which Ellsberg read twice, he discovered the horrible truth about what he had once not only supported, but promoted. The study revealed the sham that was the Gulf of Tonkin incident, among numerous other transgressions and secrets unknown to both Congress and the American public. They were also not limited to a single administration, but ran through numerous ones.

And so this proud United States Marine, a man that had served his country in one capacity or another for most of his adult life, embarked on one of the most patriotic acts in American history.

During the night he would smuggle parts of the study out of Rand, where it was kept in his office in a locked safe, and began the arduous task of photocopying all 7,000 pages with the help of a former Rand employee and friend, Tony Russo.

The act itself was, in truth, highly illegal. Then again, when such knowledge is kept from the public, how does one define illegality and patriotism?

Ultimately, after exhausting innumerable avenues, excerpts from the study were printed by the New York Times. On the 28th of June, 1971, he surrendered himself to authorities in Boston and was charged with espionage, theft, and conspiracy. But despite the fact that he was, in truth, facing a lifetime in prison for leaking the study, the case against him was dismissed after it was learned that The Plumbers had broken into the office of his psychiatrist and stolen his files in hopes of finding information to use against him. Charles Colson, a White House Council, would later plead no contest to obstruction of justice with regards to their theft.

In the years since, Daniel Ellsberg, once an ardent Hawk, has been a dedicated activist. And in a piece posted today at Antiwar.com entitled Libby And Vanunu, he continues to make incredibly intelligent challenges to the abuse of power, be it in the United States or elsewhere.

An excerpt…

“There is no question that the information Vanunu revealed to the press in 1986 – primarily, that Israel, which has never signed the Nonproliferation Treaty nor opened its nuclear operations to any international inspection, had been for some time a nuclear weapons state, with an arsenal larger than that of Britain and perhaps larger than that of France – was regarded as secret in Israel and his revelation was illegal. On the other hand, no other nuclear weapons state had kept this status secret from its own people and the world: again, with the exception of South Africa, which revealed its earlier secret arsenal at the same time it disbanded it, along with apartheid. Moreover, by 1986 this program (aside from the scale Vanunu revealed, which was a surprise even to CIA) was a secret almost exclusively from those Israelis and others (including, officially, the American government) that chose to believe Israel’s ambiguous and deliberately deceptive denials.

In any case, it was information that Vanunu’s fellow citizens deserved urgently to have had long before, in time to reach an informed, democratic judgment and influence on their country’s policy. In my opinion, Mordechai Vanunu did what he should have with the information he acquired. I hope that I would have done the same in his position. His readiness to accept the personal risk that his truth-telling actually entailed – that he would suffer a long prison sentence (and the longest time in solitary confinement known to Amnesty International, which defined it as a human rights violation) – is deserving of worldwide admiration, and, I hope, emulation. His continued restriction and persecution after serving his sentence, his new return to prison for six months on a pretense of preserving 25-year-old secrets that he has yet to reveal (and which the restrictions do not protect), are illegal and outrageous.”

Today in Iraq, 231 Iraqis lost their lives and 311 more were wounded. With regards to the effects of President Bush’s ‘surge’, the BBC provides some insight…

The US costs for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq this year are up by one third, and could bring the total overall costs for both wars to in excess of 1.4 trillion dollars (slightly more than the United States owes China).

Two short films shot by Kay. One of my niece Lilah, and one of the infamous ‘snapping turtle!’…