Trial & Tribulations of Freelance Writing: Vol. 1

Sometimes, the story going on behind the story is almost as interesting, even though it has nothing to do with the story itself.

I started writing late last year after I’d been home looking after my son for a year or so. I’d come to the conclusion that my prior career, maintaining websites for other people, was not going to bring me any lasting happiness, so I started writing to see if it would go anywhere. It’s definitely more interesting than managing code for others, but I think the most interesting aspect of my current position is the constant juggling act between writing and stay-at-home fatherhood, especially since my youngest is still too young to go to school.

Right now, I’ve got two big things going on in my life; I’m getting ready for music festival season (I write a lot about music) and I’m trying to potty train the little guy. While I’m trying to line up as many interviews as possible with musicians playing the big Toronto-area events this summer (North By North East, Toronto Jazz Festival), I’m trying to get my mini me to clue in that his time in diapers is rapidly coming to an end. Fortunately for me, he’s starting to clue in, and this week we’re have our first measurable success.

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MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.
 
Blu is a fairly bizarro artist I just discovered today. I thought I’d share some of his work amazing with you.

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I’m really disappointed, perhaps because I used to really admire Ben Stein for his intelligence. I used to dream that one day I could have my ass handed to me on Win Ben Stein’s Money, even after Jimmie Kimmel left the show. But then I found out about his new movie, Expelled, which looks at the alleged persecution against scientists who believe in Intelligent Design.

 
I can’t believe that someone I used to think was so bright is so dim when it comes to the scientific method. Word up, Stein - if the scientific method made room for conjecture that had absolutely no physical evidence, it wouldn’t be very scientific, would it?

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Nationwide Protest to Raise a Ruckus for Radio Two

Recently, CBC Radio Two has proposed some changes to its schedule. What used to be the go-to resource for classic and contemporary art music is slated to become a more diverse source of everything from “jazz, folk, world, R & B, singer-songwriter and roots” music, with the classical content being relegated to a five hour slot from 10am to 3pm. While the CBC says this is a celebration of our cultural diversity, a large number of the station’s loyal fans are furious, and they’ve organizing a national day of protest to make sure the state-sponsored radio network hears what they have to say.

While one might expect such a group to be spearheaded by residents of a retirement home, it’s actually being led by Peter McGillivray, a Toronto man in his early thirties, who set up a Facebook group called “Save Classical Music at the CBC.” In a few short weeks, the group has attracted over 13,000 members online, and fueled by this success they’ve decided to take their protest to the next level: the real world

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Photo by BlogTO flickr pooler funinthegym

Separating fact from fiction is one of the core responsibilities of any news organization, and today being April Fools Day the tip lines seem to be clogged with bogus leads.

I thought I’d share one particularly elaborate hoax which almost made it online at blogTO. The story reports the development of a huge amount of condos right in the middle of the biggest patch of greenspace in Toronto, High Park.

Toronto landmark lost for ever
Toronto Star (4/1/08) Peter Cole, City Hall Reporter

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So, I basically look like I haven’t done much if you use this blog to keep score of my personal life. Fortunately for me, that’s not the case. I’ve actually been quite busy trying to sell our house and setting up a new site.

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It’s a fairly common scenario: young folks reproduce, and then they start to wonder how having a little one crawling around at their feet will affect their carbon footprint. My wife and I went through this when our youngest popped out seven and a half years ago. At that time, it took a boatload of research for us to figure out where we could track down things that mattered to our newfound sense of environmentalism, like cloth diapers, green cleaning products and organic foods. If only there had been an online website with a local focus that told us everything we needed to know.

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First up - happy birthday, Meg!

Next, I’ll make a half-hearted apology for keeping a relatively low profile lately. I’ve been too busy to blog. Oh well, I’m sure you’ve been getting by.

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I had a great chat today with Ron Hawkins, perhaps best known for his work with the band Lowest of the Low. We got to talk about lots of things like his new solo LP Chemical Sounds, the recent amicable split of LOTL, his upcoming tour of Australia, and how becoming a father totally changes your perception of cheesiness.

Look for a complete article next week as part of my column at blogTO: http://www.blogto.com/author/steve

Word of caution: I got so much good stuff, it just might take two articles to fit it all in.

Thank you very for your time, Ron. I really appreciate it.

I just did a profile of Hamilton-based electronic musician cisc over at blogTO: http://www.blogto.com/music/2008/01/cisc_set_to_play_enpeg_showcase/

Definitely worth checking out if you’re into the blips & bleeps & clicks & clacks.