30 in 30

30 in 30. done.

Balloon Drop - Ottawa Festivals

A crowd gathers in the center of the tent for the mass balloon drop.

From the media kit:
"Established in 1996, Ottawa Festivals is a not for profit member-based organization
that leads Ottawa's multi-million dollar event industry in Canada's Capital Region. It
works to make local festivals, special events, and fairs world-class and to promote
Ottawa as an exciting tourist destination while making a significant impact on the
local economy and greatly enhancing the region’s image."

Eric Rocks

Comedian John Dore, shows CTV's Eric Longley some love by streaking across the stage topless as Longley walks to the podium. This event, held at City Hall in the 'Magic Mirrror' tent, was to launch the begining of the festival season in Ottawa.

Door prizes were given out and a mass balloon drop from the ceiling of the tent contained prize tickets as well.

Adrienne Clarkson with Denise Chong

Denise Chong in conversation with The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson at the Ottawa International Writers Festival - 28 April 2009.

"Born in Hong-Kong in 1939, Adrienne Clarkson came to Canada as a refugee with her family during the Second World War. An accomplished journalist and broadcaster, she received numerous prestigious awards during her distinguished career. Clarkson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1992, and in 1999 became the twenty-sixth Governor General of Canada. Her memoir, Heart Matters, shares Clarkson’s unique story of aspiration, triumph and turmoil. Sharing honest reflections on the heartaches that accompanied her journey, Clarkson shares her story with remarkable candidness. In her new biography of Norman Bethune, she makes fascinating sense of a complicated man by showing how every stage in his life prepared him for what followed."

Adrienne Clarkson on Norman Bethune

Clarkson makes a point about the artwork that was used on the cover of her book about Norman Bethune and discusses the original photo that it was derived from.

The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson

EXTRAORDINARY CANADIANS
With Margaret MacMillan, Nino Ricci, Adrienne Clarkson and MG Vassanji
Hosted by John Ralston Saul

Penguin Canada's Extraordinary Canadians series continues with biographies of some of Canadian history's greatest figures, written by some of Canada's greatest writers.

This spring, join series editor John Ralston Saul for an evening in the company of biographers Margaret Macmillan, Nino Ricci, Adrienne Clarkson and MG Vassanji, and their subjects: Stephen Leacock, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Norman Bethune and Mordecai Richler.

Jesus & Jonathan Goldstein

I couldn't resist getting JC and Jonathan in the same frame...

From the Ottawa International Writers Festival website:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BIBLE!
One on One with Jonathan Goldstein of CBC Radio's WireTap.

Yes, it's the greatest story ever told, but let's face it: It always could have used a little punching up. In Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!, Jonathan Goldstein brings human depth, humour, and snappier dialogue to millennia-old biblical stories. Goldstein's version of the Bible answers the questions you need to know: Wouldn't a person get bored living inside a whale? How did Joseph explain Mary's pregnancy to the guys at work? How could anyone be as dense as Samson? "

The spring edition of the writers fest is still on and has some great events continuing this week. Check out the schedule here:
www.writersfestival.org/events.html

Jonathan Goldstein - WireTap

From the Ottawa International Writers Festival website:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BIBLE!
One on One with Jonathan Goldstein of CBC Radio's WireTap.

Yes, it's the greatest story ever told, but let's face it: It always could have used a little punching up. In Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!, Jonathan Goldstein brings human depth, humour, and snappier dialogue to millennia-old biblical stories. Goldstein's version of the Bible answers the questions you need to know: Wouldn't a person get bored living inside a whale? How did Joseph explain Mary's pregnancy to the guys at work? How could anyone be as dense as Samson? "

The spring edition of the writers fest is still on and has some great events continuing this week. Check out the schedule here:
www.writersfestival.org/events.html

Needs a Caption

Michael Ignatieff

Interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Leader of the Official Opposition in Canada, Michael Ignatieff appeared at the Ottawa International Writers Festival to launch his book True Patriot Love to a sold out audience, 24 April 2009. He was interviewed on stage by CBC Radio's Adrian Harewood, and he also took off his jacket to get a lesson in masonry from Francis Healy, the mason who is currently repairing the stone walls of the building, Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts and Humanities. Francis Healy gave Ignatieff a trowel and some grout to fill a gap in a stone joint.

Clifton Joseph

Clifton Joseph on stage at the Mercury Lounge, Ottawa.

John Sobol

John Sobol on stage at the Mercury Lounge, Ottawa.

Robert Priest

Robert Priest on stage at the Mercury Lounge, Ottawa.

Clifton Joseph, John Sobol & Robert Priest

Clifton Joseph


John Sobol


Robert Priest

The A B Series presents a performance poetry triple bill with
CLIFTON JOSEPH, ROBERT PRIEST & JOHN SOBOL

Hosted by Max Middle

Doors open: 6:30pm
Performances start: 7:30pm

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

The Mercury Lounge
56 ByWard Market Square
Ottawa, Ont.

Chemical War Head

Drummers

Drum Beat

Coffin

Friends

Clutching

Weather-Proof

Cymbals

Chanting

Just Kids

First They Came...

"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."
- Martin Niemoller.

Tamil Protest Panorama

Tamil Protest Panorama - 7 photos stitched together automatically using PSE.

"Save Innocent Tamils"

Protest Button

Easy Access

Despite the large meandering crowd, the protest was very well organized. I didn't expect to get up to the Peace Tower steps without squeezing by tons of people until I spotted a sizable aisle that was kept clear by volunteers on the west side from the flame all the way to the stairs. Bingo!

Before the Protest

Buses line Wellington Street in advance of the noon rally on Parliament Hill. Many protestors prepared for the rainy day by wearing just about anything plastic.

Standing in Unity

At the Tamil - Sri Lankan protest on Parliament Hill 21 April 2009. Certainly one of the largest and loudest rallies I've seen in a long time at the Hill.

Pulitzer Prizes

The 2009 Pulitzer Prizes were announced today.

Tamil Protest in Ottawa

Certainly one of the more tenacious group of protesters I've seen on Parliament Hill.

Most times a group meets at noon on any given day, they rally, chants are heard, flags and banners are waved, they march down Wellington Street, and either go home or protest at a local embassy.

These people have been here for two solid weeks so far. Protesting day and night. Not only will you be handed information sheets about the situation but will also be given a CD ROM, too. Protesting has gone high tech. It'll be interesting how this plays out. At least the 10 day hunger strike is over according to news sources.

Stephanie Bolster

Poet Stephanie Bolster graciously accepted my request for a quick portrait. Here she stands outside the doors of the Manx Pub today. She read from a manuscript that she is currently working on.

Anne Michaels

Anne Michaels signing copies of her latest novel, "The Vault" in Ottawa at St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts & Humanities. The crowd turnout was quite large which was pleasing to see.

Wayson Choy

Author Wayson Choy in Ottawa reads from his latest book, Not Yet, a Memoir One Man's Insight into Living, and Almost Dying, as a special guest of Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts & Humanities - 14 April 2009.

Derek Weiler, 1968-2009

Hey John,

Thanks for the comment, that made me laugh.

Between you and me, we've been joking about (the book) "A Pocket Can Have Treasure in
It" in the office since the book came out....

Best,
Derek
-------------------
Derek Weiler
Editor, Quill & Quire

http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/2009/04/13/derek-weiler-1968-2009/

The Twins at Easter

Candide

"we must cultivate our garden"
- Candide

The Party's Over

I find it funny the things we keep, and the things we throw away. Is it the same with you?

To request the above photograph:
Send an email (Subject: The Party's Over) to john @ johnwmacdonald.com with your name and address.

If you are the first person to respond after this posting, you will receive this photograph in the mail. The photo is printed on 8 1/2" x 11" (luster).

Validation

Print Sale - Tools!

So, I finally finished my basement. Half of it anyway. I started the renovation last summer in anticipation of the twins and I am now just putting the final touch-ups to a few spots here and there. To help finance this badly needed renovation (and to be able to buy more baby diapers) I am having a special print sale.

Up for offer is a complete set (a dozen individual photos + one composite photo) of 13"x19" photographs of each tool which I used to complete the basement renovation. Some tools I used include a hammer, vise, combination square, nails, and pliers, etc. etc.

What you are getting is a signed, one-time only, ultra-ultra-limited numbered edition (in this 13"x19" size) of one of two (2) editions. One set will be mine, one will be yours, should you purchase it. All the photos in the series can be seen on my flick.com Tool set. Pictured below is the photo composite of the dozen tools in this series. This comp print is also in a limited and numbered edition of ten (10) in the 13"x19" size.


N.B. Just to be clear, the actual tools are *not* for sale -- just the photos of the tools... I can take cash, personal cheque, electronic bank transfer, or paypal.com. Easy!

To sum up: If you wish to purchase the whole limited edition of 12 individual photos plus one comp photo, the total cost (including shipping) will be a low $500.00 CDN. The limited edition of 10 numbered photos are priced at $100.00 CDN each. Please get in touch with me to make and confirm your purchase. john (@) johnwmacdonald.com FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! The 13"x19" is the size of the paper, and not neccessarily the size of the image on the print itself. Prints are done on 5 Star Ultra Premium Presentation Paper - Matte. No frames, nor mats are included in this price. Just the prints.

Should you wish to aquire an individual print in an alternate size, please see my FAQ for pricing info. Questions, comments? Let me know. Thanks for your support!

The Crusher

Old Yeller

Young Americans