An obligations-based mindset is crucial in addressing the injustices faced by all people, specifically Indigenous and Aboriginal communities. The docuseries First Contact highlights the impact of injustices faced by the Indigenous community and the choices we all have to make moving forward. Kevin, featured in the docuseries reflects on these issues, “Even though I'm not responsible for this, do I want to make a contribution to the solution?” (First Contact 17:49). The legacy of residential schools, as detailed by the UBC Indigenous Foundation's article, has resulted in profound multi-generational psychological trauma and socioeconomic challenges (“The Residential School System”). These challenges can only be overcome by people who choose to face collective obligations to the future while accepting the truth of the past, no matter how uncomfortable.

The residential school programs are not only an Indigenous issue but a humanitarian crisis revealing a system of colonialism that continues to run rampant today, first Nations are not alone in reconciliation; all of humanity has been affected (McSorley). This finding is underscored by the observations of Professor John Smith, who worked with prison guards at Guantanamo Bay. He states, "I think the guards of Guantánamo are an overlooked group of victims.” His observations vivify how the trauma of colonial and oppressive systems affects everyone involved, including the perpetrators (Randerson). Acknowledging these injustices compels action the moment an individual adopts the obligations-based approach. The time of nescience and ignorance is over.

An obligations-based philosophy drives the call to action, supporting personal and collective empowerment and reformation leading the way to acknowledge the true cost of our rights. As people move through the disillusionment of a decadent past and realise the uncomfortable truth, some adopt personal accountability and are endowed with obligations, “This responsibility is highlighted to me and continuously defined by people's need for help” (Cameo 4:31). James Favel, a member of the North End Bear Clan Patrol, emphasises the need to help those facing barriers to education and employment (First Contact 26:17). James has come to terms with what he knows in a meaningful way; however, some are just beginning that journey of discovery, such as Ross. He sees, first hand, the value of traditional knowledge and practices used to feed a community, stating, “They've got skills we don't have” (First Contact 40:47). These perspectives encourage respect and learning, fostering a more equitable and responsible society.

Embracing obligations is a rite-of-passage needed in-order to truly claim rights. This approach catalyses many activities such as environmental stewardship. Dhar Jamail has undergone his rite through personal reformation and developed a philosophy influenced by Stan Rushworth. His philosophy emphasises our obligations to the planet and future generations (Atwood). Most people have yet to undergo a true personal reformation in part because, we as a culture lack true rites-of-passage. In many instances, it can take multiple generations before this will meaningfully occur. A survey by the Environics Institute reveals that 48% of non-Aboriginal Canadians acknowledge the link between historical injustices and current Indigenous issues. The uncomfortable truth of reconciliation highlights the need for active engagement in sustainable practices and cultural reform (CBC News). Although 48% of non-Aboriginal Canadians have acknowledged this, that number shows, 52% have yet to begin the journey of personal accountability and reformation, granting them the rite to claim there rights. Thankfully this personal journey does have an antagonist: an uncomfortable cognitive dissonance, as explored by Moira Lawler. It can lead to increased self-awareness and positive change (Lawler). By focusing on our obligations to the environment as a whole, we will promote sustainability and ensure a healthier planet and culture for future generations.

Adopting an obligations-based mindset is essential for addressing historic injustices, fostering communal support, and promoting the holistic stewardship of society, our human cultures, and the earth. This approach not only addresses the injustices faced by Indigenous and Aboriginal communities but also culminates in a communal support that promotes sustainability across the board. Catalysing the need for this evolution is the narrow colonial mindset. This mindset prompts disconnectedness and the negation of obligation in place of licence, entitlement and duty. This is highlighted by the shared trauma of both the inmates and guards at Guantanamo Bay, illustrating that we are all affected by systemic injustices and have a role in addressing them. As stated on Cameo Radio’s episode Serial Justice, “What could you do to address it and, might you be guilty of something for having not?” (Cameo 6:26). As we move forward, let us embrace our obligations to past, present, and future generations, and to the planet we all share, fostering a society built on justice, respect, and sustainability. By shifting our focus from individual rights to rites-of-passage and our personal and collective obligations, we can contribute to building a more prosperous, just, equitable, and responsible world for all.

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Works Cited

Atwood, Margaret. “The End of Ice.” Lion’s Roar, 13 Dec. 2023, www.lionsroar.com/the-end-of-ice/. Accessed 1 June 2024.

CBC News. “48% of Non-Aboriginal Canadians Blame Residential Schools for Current Problems Aboriginal People Face.” CBC, 8 June 2016, www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/national-survey-indigenous-attitudes-1.3620705. Accessed 1 June 2024.

First Contact. “TVO Today | Current Affairs, Journalism, Documentaries, and Podcasts.” Tvo.org, 2024, www.tvo.org/programs/first-contact. Accessed 1 June 2024.

Lawler, Moira. “What Is Cognitive Dissonance?” Everyday Health, 18 Apr. 2024, www.everydayhealth.com/neurology/cognitive-dissonance/what-does-cognitive-dissonance-mean-theory-definition/. Accessed 1 June 2024.

McSorley, Cameron. “Glimpsing the Truth of Reconciliation.” The Real Life Network, 2 June 2024, www.thereallifenetwork.com/p/glimpsing-the-truth-of-reconciliation. Accessed 2 June 2024.

Randerson, James. “Guantánamo Guards Suffer Psychological Trauma.” The Guardian, 25 Feb. 2008, www.theguardian.com/science/2008/feb/25/guantanamo.guards. Accessed 1 June 2024.

“The Residential School System.” Arts.ubc.ca, 2020, indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_residential_school_system/. Accessed 1 June 2024.

Cameo Radio. “38 Serial Justice.” The Real Life Network, 31 May 2024, www.thereallifenetwork.com/p/38-serial-justice. Accessed 1 June 2024.

More choices? Message me:

Recently I have been featured in the 100 Mile Free Press along with the other three candidates, here are the links:

Enhancing community infrastructure top priority for Cameron McSorley

Dave Wishnowski who wants to champion youth voices

Marty Norgren who looks to bring pragmatism to 100 Mile House council

Lori Fry seeks to make the community more inclusive and accessible

I have a story to tell and I have a lot of questions from people to answer. to facilitate this ongoing discussion and process I have created this article ( June 6 2024 ) which I will keep up to date - check back weekly to watch this process evolve.

(June 7)
If you intend to vote and wish to do so by mail, the chief election officer will make a mail ballot package available for you.

Email: Sheena Ellis @

selias@100milehouse.com

Or pop over to the district office at

385 Birch Ave.

Your voice matters and your vote counts!

—

I've been asking a lot of people what matters to you in your town? The biggest response is from the youth. Overwhelmingly I am told “there's nothing to do”

Just about unanimously everybody else says the water quality is so poor it resembles a light brine. “I'm tired of replacing my fixtures and hot water tank"

Tonight I get to go to the all candidates forum at Creekside Senior Center, it should be an eye-opening and informative glimpse into the concerns and hopes of the 100 Mile House citizens.

Let's just be totally clear about the options here. Dave and I are focused on all generations..

June 8th

Here's a recording from last night's all candidates for him we're only 25 people showed up. It would appear that voter apathy is it an all-time high either that or people don't even know.

I was shocked by some of the lack of responses by the other candidates.

Here is the full recording, I know it's a bit long hold tight and I'll get you some of the highlights!

I went down to the park today, great presentation by strong start and a whole bunch of organizations in town focused around the youngest members of our community. After leaving the park we encountered teenagers on bikes who complain that they don't have a bike park even though our Mayor & Council assure us that they have built one. Somewhere? Where is it? Too far away is the answer... Kids need a drivers license and two vehicles to actually make use of it … How are the trails we asked them? The kids say that “it's useless and they want nothing to do with it” one commented “you can't even ride on it”.

Also there is a skate park which is going to be torn down because it was built so poorly so long ago that it’s a hazard to anyone who uses it. Who are the people that put this catastrophe together? One thing is for sure, nobody asked the people that would USE it if it was a good idea! Maybe that should be a top priority? Maybe that shouldn't even be a question? Asking people who need services about how those services should operate?

“If your Town doesn’t have an accessible Bike Park or Skatepark your town becomes one”

100 Mile House is probably the largest bike and skate park in the Province! Even a town of only 526 households like Kaslo has a skatepark…

Oh look no designated Park so here are the bikes in the towns bike park …

Carrying on through the heart of 100 Mile House down Birch avenue we found that about half of the main retail stores are closed on Saturday (and Sunday) which meant 100 Mile House very much appeared to be not open for business when we went shopping! There's way more of a story behind that which I'm sure I'll get to you soon enough. Want a hint? Kingsgate excavating!

One of the things that came up at the all candidates forum was the question of “why don't they follow their bylaws?” What a vague question! Who are “they”? The district themselves? There's a bylaw in town that no campers or boats or trailers are allowed on your property. It's not enforced because frankly if people didn't have campers and boats and trailers they wouldn't be able to do anything in this area. There's nothing to do in this town on a Saturday. No wonder this town is dying. And that's not my opinion, one of the oldest counselors in the district has said to me in the past, “if anybody knew how close this town was to death…”

100 Mile is not experiencing “growing pains” it's experiencing a death shutter. We don't need fossilized crypt-keepers running the board of directors for the District. We need people who are going to make this town (THIS REGION) come back to life we need to recognize that the state of 100 Mile House is almost a Provincial emergency. Not to mention the corruption! That's a whole other story and I'm sure you'll hear the rest of it..

Here is a clip from the CBC Daybreak episode where they interviewed the four candidates.

Jun 12

Early poles are open for voting and the Free press has released their article.

Also, CBC featured interviews with all of the candidates this morning on Daybreak with Shelley Joyce you can listen to that episode here (approximately the last 20 minutes of the show)

Read that article HERE.

At the moment I am headed down to the municipal office to see how voting is going. Wow 70 people!

June 13

Yesterday things got pretty busy with the advanced voting happening. Lot of questions - lot of interest and a lot of people walking around in town. Had some interesting messages from people who are rather concerned in the community. You see 100 Mile House is not open for business and there are a lot of people who want to know why. People who have run business in this town for 25 years no longer see it as viable although the businesses they own still are. The district also just shut down the local campsite for the summer which seems odd to me? Who needs tourism anyway! Why bother having a nice little campsite by the creek?…

Another issue of concern was the recent 6% tax increase for the municipality

You can read that article here.

By expanding the recreational boundary and the tax base of 100 miles residence can enjoy more amenities and more functional town. There are a myriad of ways to increase revenue for the town without burdening the homeowners. The closure of businesses in the area and the vacant storefronts on the main drag are a sign of the times, what a drag they are. Also the closure of the campsite in town signals a further degradation to the local economy. I firmly believe that this town requires more advantageous resolutions to be proposed to counsel to deal with the dwindling economy and the increasing taxes. Issues of existed for more than 30 years in this community without any solutions being proposed. The resignation of Ralph from City Council signals a greater change that is coming. The old ideas it didn't work lead the saying ‘we've tried that”. I would say you haven't tried anything else or at least haven't found the effective measure required to address these issues. We need to increase the economic capacity of the area while being responsible to the needs of the community. Once these issues are addressed in a meaningful way we will see 100 Mile start opening up for business once again however, we might need to see a total generational change of leadership in the community before that happens. I Cameron McSorley, represent that generational change, the change of attitude and direction that this town needs to pull out of the downward spiral it has been in for so long.

June 16

Today Sunday, what an interesting last few days it has been. I conducted some polling in one of the most contentious Facebook Community groups possible here in 100 Mile House. Rant and Rave with approximately 7,200 members is a great place to get feedback on all sorts of issues positive and negative. I asked the community at Large what their priorities were and they answered! One of the things that I expected to happen in fact did. The end cam now movement spoke up about as loudly as they possibly could. I only had three people trying to deliver some pretty brutal sucker punches but it wasn't that bad? Most of the community stood up with great questions awesome conversation and very productive input. One thing always remains true, if you stand up and are seen and try to do something in the world you will be attacked for it there's no doubt about that but, the attack wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's always the same little group of hecklers, no need to worry. I find that problems are often self eliminating and that turned out to be the case. After that problem disappeared attention seemed to go back to the matters at hand being Community development initiatives, healthcare resources and the overarching identity of 100 Mile House and the South Cariboo. Quite a few people have said I should run for mayor, and that might not be a bad idea.

I've had the thought that I should go door to door and indeed that is a good way to talk to people although it's also annoying when somebody comes to your front door wanting to talk about their political campaign that they want your support in.. well I wondered if that might be the right approach I had people come to my door and tell me that they were pledging their support and not just them but entire communities of people seem to be interested in a campaign of change. Expanding the recreational boundary and the tax boundary would change the face of the area. Overwhelmingly people seem to be in support of this unless of course they have something to gain by maintaining the little nepotistic cabal that has strangled this area for 35 years. I don't know who they all are but I'm pretty sure they support the end cam now movement..

Some of them are professionals, some of them are well to do real estate agents who own large portions of town. Aside from that people who live normal lives and are interested in the community that they live in seem to be pouring their support forward. It's certainly an interesting journey.

Here's a quick look into where that pole is at in rant and rave.

It's a bit of a long shot - punny - it's interesting to see where people are at. And one thing to consider is these people don't all live in town. But they utilize Town enough that they have an opinion and they will either rant or rave about their experience.

It's my intention to run an analysis on this information and find out how many of these people live in town where they are coming from what kind of demographics we're looking at and get a little bit of a better assessment of what this area holds as opinion.

Although I am very interested in people's opinions I'm also very much interested in data-driven approaches. We need to be able to answer the concerns and demands of citizens along with their needs in a realistic manner. Some people say we need a pool and other people say 50 million is too much I stand against pool! Who says we need a 50 million dollar pool? I intend to answer these questions with realistic solutions.

Here is an excerpt from Thomas Sowell’s book, Basic Economics, Forth Edition - a common sense guide to economics..

This information is quite relative to the 100 Mile housing market.. we are seeing housing prices driven up, beyond what might be sustainable levels due to the “cash-out” of City Dwellers moving to the area. One of the other candidates is square in the middle of that unsustainable market increase and proposing that it will stabilize the tax base..

Maybe it's just my opinion after researching economics but, I don't think that an unsustainable solution will stabilize the tax base…

When an individual’s belief system is conflicted by an event, cognitive dissonance either buries the truth of the deeds in ignorance, “a natural drive for consistency,” or conjures “anxiety and distress” in an attempt to find peace (Lawler). In the article "Colonialism and the Epistemology of Ignorance," Boaventura de Sousa Santos highlights the “accustomed demands” that are placed on an individual to perform a duty. This compels a “cognitive investment that, although more sophisticated, is driven by the same desire to dominate” (Santos). These demands and cognitive investments tend to conflict with most moral and ethical belief systems, causing distress. Professor John Smith highlights the downside of this through his work with prison guards who served at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility: "I think the guards of Guantánamo are an overlooked group of victims," saying one patient was “profoundly guilty about his participation” (Randerson). Consequently, it is up to the individual to be aware of their actions and to refuse to further the aims of any colonial agenda or mechanism through personal or cultural pursuits, no matter how alluring or compelling the reasons may seem.

Nations around the world face the difficult path of decolonization through reconciliation. Canada, forged through colonialism, claims it is ready to listen and engage in reconciliation. A leading methodology of colonialism is to eradicate Indigenous culture as quickly as possible. Ry Moran sets the pace for decolonization, saying that we all need to “help the country slow down and become self-reflecting” (The Secret Path, 01:33:30). This slowing to recognize colonialism could be very uncomfortable as the national identity becomes conflicted by its own actions. The discomfort of cognitive dissonance is necessary, according to Matt Johnson, PhD, who says, “it can have a positive effect, if it leads to increased self-awareness” (Lawler). Canada utilised residential schools and a “policy of aboriginal assimilation,” meaning “Indigenous Peoples in Canada have no rights unless they assimilate and become Canadian.” Canada has renounced this policy, although there has been little change (Christian Aboriginal). Ultimately, Canada is an institution of colonial rule, a government guilty of crime while puppeting hollow promises. This only draws more attention to the need for decolonization.

Socially, the stories, knowledge, and action towards reconciliation have grown, with more people coming to understand the truth of what has and is still happening. Ry Moran in The Secret Path spoke up for Pearl, sister of the late “Charlie” Wenjack, who said, “she had hoped somehow some shred of justice could come to be in this country where his death perhaps might not be in vain" (The Secret Path, 01:14:41). It is the work of many people to raise awareness and help others uncover the truth. Rosyln Chambers, a British Columbia lawyer, spoke to The Prince George Citizen, saying, “The same principles that put residential schools in place are almost identical to what’s happening within the child-welfare system today” (McKenzie). Some people realise how lucky they are never having witnessed atrocities; meanwhile, others continue to experience them in their new modern form. For the most part, conversation and social awareness is bringing about the change we need as a culture.

Individually, nationally, and socially, we are all connected. The First Nations have been saying this to Canada since it was created, in an attempt to bring about reconciliation. Once people slow down and discover the bigger picture, they may come to know that colonialism will not produce the stable, unchanging worldview they so desire. Adjusting one’s reliance on the conventional paradigm of stability is crucial albeit uncomfortable, knowing that the world is dynamic and always changing allows for the growth that happens just beyond the comfort zone. Everything that lives must change. It is up to the individual to reform their perspectives, and then their institutions, for the betterment of all humanity.

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Works Cited

Santos, Boaventura de Sousa. "Colonialism and the Epistemology of Ignorance: A Lesson from Afghanistan." Critical Legal Thinking, 30 Aug. 2021, https://criticallegalthinking.com/2021/08/30/colonialism-and-the-epistemology-of-ignorance-a-lesson-from-afghanistan/. Accessed 15 Nov. 2023

Randerson, James. “Guantánamo Guards Suffer Psychological Trauma.” The Guardian, 25 Feb. 2008, https://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/feb/25/guantanamo.guards. Accessed 15 Nov. 2023

Lawler, Moira. “What Is Cognitive Dissonance?” Everyday Health, 21 Sept. 2022, https://www.everydayhealth.com/neurology/cognitive-dissonance/what-does-cognitive-dissonance-mean-theory-definition/. Accessed 15 Nov. 2023.

The Secret Path. CBC Arts, 6 Nov. 2016, https://www.cbc.ca/arts/the-road-to-reconciliation-panel-transcript-1.3839077. Accessed 15 Nov. 2023

Christian Aboriginal Infrastructure Developments. “Assimilation Policies in Canada.” CAID, https://caid.ca/assimilation_policy.html. Accessed 16 Nov. 2023.

McKenzie, Anna. “The Child-Welfare System is Residential Schools Part Two, Says Lawyer.” Prince George Citizen, The Discourse, 27 Aug. 2021, https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/highlights/the-child-welfare-system-is-residential-schools-part-two-says-lawyer-4260894. Accessed 15 Nov. 2023

Welcome back to Cameo Radio. This short introduces a new lens with which to focus on some glaring societal issues and potential solution-based thinking.

Today's episode features the CBC podcast "Serial" which serves to introduce the topic of Justice reform and accountability leading future exploration and insight.If you have not had a chance to listen to Serial on CBC, I suggest you take the time to do so, it’s worth the while. Serial Season 1 focuses on the 1999 murder of high school senior Hae Min Lee and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed. I'll share how "Serial" revisits the investigation, by peeling back layers of this complex case inevitably helping to bring an innocent man to the acquittal he rightfully deserved. Serial brings awareness in a manner similar to how my podcast has helped to unveil my personal and professional challenges after also having come in contact within the justice system. 

Sarah Koenig, the host of Serial, navigates the murky details of Adnan's legal proceedings, discovering evidence that never made it to trial, key witness testimony, was omitted.Sarah pieces together the story after a long duration of time. Highlighting discussions with legal experts, and individuals that were involved in 1999. The similarities in process between Adnan’s case and many others draw parallels and similarities to mine. Just as Adnon's case contained evidence that would have proved his innocence and spared him twenty years of grief, so does mine. The omission of material fact by a potentially biassed detective gave way for a prosecutor's theoretical model of guilt. Overtime and once examined this theoretical model had no validity at all. There should never be a question of validity regarding Theory over facts In a criminal proceeding. The mere potential of theoretical scenarios leading to convictions raises some rather pressing concerns - consider this: anyone tried has to be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt not just within a balance of probabilities - in this - theories could never be considered substance in a legal matter - only fact considered. 

"Serial" has spurred public discourse around the reliability and fairness of the criminal justice system. Reflecting on this issue I find myself working more in advocacy and towards restorative justice through cultural and systemic reform, education and meaningful engagement with people - this avenue has emerged as a very real responsibility. The podcast Serial along with my own experiences serve as a stark reminder that systemic shortcomings, prejudice, stereotyping and racial profiling could happen to anyone resulting in inaccurate, unfair and erroneous problems that do not meet the mandate of justice.. 

“In a time of such overwhelming ignorance of this critical information, the fact that I dounderstand it, places me in a position of moral obligation to speak this information to others, in an attempt to help them to understand it, and live it, as well.” - Mark Passio (Thesis on Natural Law)

In exploring racial profiling "Serial" uncovers the links between Adnan’s Pakistani background and Muslim faith. This background was used to corroborate the prosecutors theoretical reality, leading to Adnan’s conviction despite his actual innocence (Adnan Syed, Subject). The themes of stereotyping and prosecution through theoretical models - remain highly relevant today as a shortcoming of the justice system.As if Adnan’s case was not enough of a glimpse into a major problem just look-up American Japanese 1942 (Wikipedia Contributors). Realising the history and the fact that unchecked these issues persist today - I invite you to consider how quickly your imaginary rights could disappear when you need them the most.… No ..? -  that can’t happen to me? … If you find yourself thinking or feeling the rejection of this concept - I again invite you to consider the possibility that it’s true..Feature Content -

When comparing the concept of justice and the expectation the public holds of it, against the detailed accounts of individuals and the reality of its activities, a stark contrast becomes very apparent.if this contrast doesn't scare the hell out of you - you must not be aware of it?People just like you count on the justice system yet are nescience or worse ignorant and have no idea about it or seldom ask, how effectively is it functioning? Is it meeting its mark? Are the outcomes of Justice in today's system addressing crime effectively or is it simply carrying out an old narrative of victim versus offender while showing few signs of positive impact? Will it be there for me when I need it - or will I find out once it’s too late?

In the aftermath of my own experience with the justice system - which is nowhere near over, I find myself coming to terms with a very real responsibility. This responsibility is highlighted to me and continuously defined by people's need for help - their experiences and the lack of accountability by the justice system for the egregious impacts it has had on their lives. Adnan’s Syed, now 42, has been released and his conviction overturned. (Adnan Syed, Subject.)  Regardless, he has spent more than two decades behind bars. 

In working with people I have come to understand their detailed accounts, stories and experiences. The subtle and also aggressive nuance of their interactions with the justice system - the unwarranted invasion into their lives and the harm it has caused. The similarities become obvious as do the solutions. My exploration continues to reveal answers and solutions that I must demand be studied and considered by those who are accountable to the proper tenants of justice of which we all are.The sharing of experience and willingness to listen are very important - this natural process should always inform development, legislation and social progress. Although people's process can and should inform development they often are often lost. The system today has generated a lot of undeserved trauma for people, this trauma in turn reduces the functional capacity of people making it exceptionally difficult for individuals to do anything constructive with their accounts let alone clearly articulate to those who wish to know - or little-loan to help. 

In summarising the ongoing discussion, it remains apparent that people who are able to make change or motivate change must, on behalf of those who cannot. Change is spurred through the personal accounts of individuals - such as those shared on serial. It is my hope in listening to this that you ask yourself where have you seen an unaddressed problem? Where have you discovered a little Gap or shortcoming that could be easily solved, what could you do to address it and might you be guilty of something for having not? For remaining ignorant or worse - complicit.The answers to these questions often take the form of stories and actions that increase awareness and positively influence the world we all live in, so why not?. Tune in for future episodes where we will continue to explore issues and topics that drive public understanding and societal change.  

“People often say, 'change happens in the heart' or 'change happens in the mind,' which is true, but lastly it happens in the guts. If you have the "guts" to do something, you have developed the courage to do something. We must develop all three, heart, mind, and guts; we must care enough to know, and then finally convert that knowledge into action. Because taking action is the most important step towards creating change in the physical realm.” - Michael Gleeson (Thesis on Natural Law)

Work Cited 

“Adnan Syed, Subject of Serial Podcast, Is Released and Conviction Overturned.” CBC, 20 Sept. 2022, www.cbc.ca/news/world/adnan-syed-conviction-overturned-1.6588055. Accessed 23 May 2024.

Wikipedia Contributors. “Internment of Japanese Americans.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 May 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_Japanese_Americans. Accessed 25 May 2024.

“Thesis on Natural Law by Mike Gleeson - Englis.” Studocu, Studocu, 2018, www.studocu.com/es-mx/document/universidad-del-norte-mexico/literatura-mexicana/thesis-on-natural-law-by-mike-gleeson-englis/28867120. Accessed 25 May 2024.

Bonus Tracks for subscribers!

Three old skits from the Not So Real Life then,

Make It Sparkle By BasePharm followed by,

Bring It On Home By Cody G. and finally,

Chris Whitley - Phone Call From LeavenwortH - performed by Jake Doherty

Impact and Role of Modern Media

The transformative power of digital platforms in journalism cannot be overstated. As Maryanne Wolf argues in her research, the move from print to digital has profound implications on our cognitive abilities—specifically, it alters our capacity for deep reading, critical thinking, and empathy as articulated by CBC Sunday Magazine's article “Too Long, Didn’t Read”. These faculties are not merely academic concerns but are essential for an informed, engaged, and empathetic citizenry. Wolf’s findings underscore the importance of media that not only informs but enriches public discourse.

Simultaneously, the PBSoffbook video“The Impact of Twitter on Journalism” provides a glimpse into the evolving nature of journalism as a participatory and continuous exchange. Platforms like Twitter have redefined news delivery, turning it from a static product into a lively, ongoing conversation. This shift demands that newspapers like 'X' innovate continually to stay relevant.

Expert Opinions and Recommendations

Dr. John H. Thompson, a media studies professor at the University of Chicago, notes that "the newspaper that will survive into the 21st century is not just one that provides news but creates a community of informed, interactive participants." This aligns with the journalistic shift observed by media analyst Linda Greene, who states, "the future of journalism will pivot on its ability to engage directly with the public, offering platforms for both news consumption and interactive discourse." Finally, according to digital transformation expert Mark Roberge, "Newspapers like 'X' must leverage technology not only to spread information but to foster a two-way interaction that respects and enhances privacy and personal engagement."

Understanding the Audience

The readers of 'X' are not passive consumers; they are active participants seeking depth, interaction, and integrity in their news. The digital age has brought about an audience that is more diverse, demanding, and digitally savvy than ever before. 'X' caters to this audience with a blend of investigative journalism, interactive features, and multimedia content that respects the reader’s desire for depth and factual integrity.

Conclusion

'X' stands at the forefront of redefining what it means to be a newspaper in the 21st century. By integrating the principles of traditional journalism with the innovations of digital media, it offers a new model for the industry—one that is interactive, integrative, and impactful. As it continues to evolve, 'X' not only informs its readers but empowers them, embodying the characteristics necessary to lead in this new era of journalism.

Thus, 'X' does not merely adapt to the changes; it leads them, making it a paragon of modern journalism and indeed, the newspaper of the 21st century. The responsibility now lies in maintaining this trajectory—fostering a platform that upholds the virtues of deep reading, critical thinking, and empathy amidst the rapid digital transformation.

By

Cameron McSorley, Cameo Radio.

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Works cited:

“Too Long, Didn’t Read — How Reading Online Is Hurting Our Brains.” CBC, 23 Aug. 2019, www.cbc.ca/radio/sunday/the-sunday-edition-december-2-2018-1.4927251/too-long-didn-t-read-how-reading-online-is-hurting-our-brains-1.4927296. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

PBSoffbook. “The Impact of Twitter on Journalism | off Book | PBS Digital Studios.” YouTube, YouTube Video, 16 Nov. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl9xI-kAE8A. Accessed 24 Apr. 202

4.

Yes that's right I'm actually doing a grade 12 course.

Here's my student bio:

Dear reader,After being a brat in school, skipping too much and being generally bored, I finally made it to grade twelve. I had missed a lot of school. I never had to take French because in grade 7 I said, "If you're taking strings out of school and I'm not going to learn music anymore, there's no way that I'm going to willingly sit through French." Enough was enough. Fast forward to the end of grade 12 after taking grades 10, 11 and 12 in a self-paced Pathfinders programming in one year. My English 12 teacher decided, "There's no way you retained anything." And so she refused to mark my final exam. She was promptly told to, "Eat my shorts." I was subsequently and expediently withdrawn.
I ended up in the oil patch, I was a pretty good welder so I turned into a journeyman. My coworkers kept telling me that I was too smart and I should go back to school but, I looked at school like some kind of psy-op.Long story short, after running my own welding company, three landscaping businesses, and an Architectural and mechanical drafting and design business, I am now the president of Groundwork Community Service Cooperative. I am currently a podcast host and suffering from some pretty wicked PTSD after a false arrest where apparently they thought I was some kind of international cyber hacking terrorist and was threatening Ministry buildings, boy were they wrong! Anyway now I've got a supreme court suit going against the attorney general and the RCMP and the King of England along with a bunch of other legal things… aren't they just fun! My ambition is to see if I can blow through this thing and get the pieces of paper so that I can go through law school to get the pieces of paper so that I can just do what I'm doing anyway(seems I've got a knack). I think that I will have to add it all into my CV at some point because, this really is a path. I need these pieces of paper so that I can show people that I know what I'm talking about before I do it. 
I figure I'll probably learn something along the way and that'd not be not too bad by me. Not too pretty bad at all.
My name is Cam and I'm 40 years old. I've decided I'm going to be 20 again. My partner has decided she's going to be the hip 20 year old girl running the coffee shop. Apparently I'm going to become some fancy hot shot lawyer that builds a Canadian charitable foundation for restorative justice and systemic reform because.. we got us some major issues here people. I mean hey we live in the best place in the world, as far as I'm concerned, but we could be doing a bit better and everybody knows it.So without further ado, I'm not going to be a brat anymore. I'm not going to skip school anymore, because I'm actually interested now. Because I see some of these things as necessities in my life path, which I didn't understand at all until I was probably about 26 or 27 years old. Maybe I am smart enough now to actually go back to school. This is my test run, this is my test to myself and the world to see if I, "I got this!"
I hope you enjoy your studies, peace out… yo

Cameron

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Cameo Radio

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Brief description:Five micro-cultivators banding together to market their strains in one unique variety package that highlights the farmers and their farms, and the innovative ways they are producing cannabis in a conscientious way
Episode summary:Introducing the public to the product, and teasing out future episodes showcasing the Master Growers involved

Brief summary: Cannabis.Countdown is the creative drive behind this concept, having nurtured the idea since legalization to gather together a variety of strains to sample and explore, with the goal being to solve current legal and marketing restrictions that inhibit brands from properly distinguishing themselves

Papajoe’s Cannabis

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The Five Stars

#1 – Papa Joes Organics (Nana Butter), Sooke BlueWith an ocean backyard in Sooke, B.C., Papa Joes Organics grows cannabis using advanced greenhouse technologies and sustainable cultivation methods to nourish each plant from seed to flower without any pesticides or chemicals.  Life-long Master Grower Papa Joe skillfully grows, mills and processes craft cannabis all under one roof in a natural setting.  

#2 – Black Fin Extracts (Organic Watermelon), Cowichan Valley BlackLocated in the heart of the Cowichan Valley, Black Fin Extracts is dedicated to ensuring that craft cannabis is fueled by craft cultivators and that BC's best known bud stays processed in the beautiful province of B.C.  

#3 – Backwoods BC Bud (Juicy Fruit), Prince George PinkIn the wild and woodsy centre of our Province, Tara Kirkpatrick (President of B.C. Craft Farmers Co-Op) has been a farmer for over twenty years, gravitating organically from vegetables to cannabis on her 160-acre family farm in Prince George, using all natural processes. 

#4 – Living Cannabis (Lemon Sugar Kush), Armstrong YellowAt the tip of the sunny Okanagan, Living Cannabis uses a holistic, regenerative approach to cultivate plants in organically-managed living soil.  Full of beneficial microbes, fungi, worms and everything else you find in a thriving ecosystem is integrated with a five-species cover crop to support and nourish the plants from seed to flower.  

#5 – Black Kettle Farms (Triangle Kush), Langley GreenAs an artisan micro cultivator in the luscious green Fraser Valley, Master Grower “Surfer Mike” Holub uses decades of unparalleled expertise to grow high-end craft cannabis at award-winning family-run Black Kettle Farms in Langley.

Meta - which grew from the work of Mike Zucchini’s (or Zuckerberg or whatever his name is) and the social platform Facebook. Originally called Facemash, it was a rip off of the platform Hot or Not. The intention of Facemash was to compare two pictures of College Girls and drum roll … you guessed it decide which was “Hot” and which was “Not”. Yes, men often prioritize attractiveness in a potential partner, while women often prioritize intelligence in a potential partner. When women really figure this Facemash thing, and I think in part they are beginning to - men are going to realize they’re in a world of trouble for allowing such absurdity.

Facemash of course grew into the slightly less obtuse Facebook brand, but this algorithm of “black or white” eventually spread worldwide. Based from the beginning on toxic algorithms - this is decently explored in the movie The Social Dilemma which if you haven’t seen is a recommended watch.  All but the most highly curated and socially gardened Facebook comment threads are just absurdly divisive and overflowing with people’s pride, envy, greed, wrath etc.

Facebook gobbled up almost every other social platform as soon as each reached critical mass and it became self-evident in 2022 (with the launch of Meta) that “The Metaverse” has presented itself to the masses as their new (and completely Absurd) overlord dictator state. I’ve heard people refer to it as a total clown show reality. We see the people in the Metaverse where we live crying over the “News Censorship” calamity which occurred most recently here in our hotly contested little spot on Earth.

The Dominion of Canada’s Online News Act has recently received Royal Ascent. In Parliamentary System that means after going through Parliament it goes over to Senate for their ‘whatevering’ and then becomes Law. Over on Facebook in the Metaverse, people are hopping mad that “the Canadian Government is censoring Newsfeeds!!” Unfortunately, most Canadians are not equipped with the faculties required to even read the Act - let alone understand it. Which points to the BIGGER failure that is the Dominion of Canada itself. How could Law be so complicated and convoluted that average people are not able to read it, let alone understand it!

The Online News Act has the little old Dominion of Canada attempting to regain some control over the media distribution landscape on the northern portion of Turtle Island.

The Online News Act purports to:

• ensures fair revenue sharing between digital platforms and news outlets

• provides for collective bargaining by news outlets

• promotes voluntary commercial agreements between digital platforms and news outlets, with minimal government intervention

• as a last resort, establishes a mandatory arbitration framework when digital platforms and news outlets cannot reach commercial agreements

• defines the role and tools of the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as the regulator

As the Dominion of Canada enacts the Online News Act - Meta has fired back by restricting the sharing of any and all “News” in the Geographic State of Canada. This battle is raging so hard that even non-news Satire and Comedy distributors have been caught in the crossfire! When you visit a Facebook News page from a Canadian IP, there is nothing to see - and don’t worry Meta algorithms are perfect, just look at how smart the algorithm is : it has blocked Chicken Soup and if you search for chicken soup from a Canadian IP you get this non-sense:

Let’s have some fun! We can play a little game that uses the Facebook (hot or not) algorithm

Question : Who do you trust more?

The Dominion of the Crown of England (the Corporation of Canada) brought to you by this guy

The Facemash Algorithm Machine (the Corporation of Meta) brought to you by this guy

While some men might prioritize physical appearances in choosing a partner as proved by FaceMash, women often prioritize intelligence and status. Both of the idiot above have managed to use women’s good graces (and/or forgiveness) to make status gains but neither of them have created anything that contributes to a future for generations to come. As far as I can tell, these two will likely both rot in the hellscape they have manifested as overlords and I can only imagine what could happen if the aggressive mob of angry women figures all of this out before some intelligent men with morals do. These two could well wind up castrated to boot, it’s not hard to predict just how far an angry mob of girls will go.

The physical world makes this life projection we are experiencing seem so big and perhaps overwhelming at times. Take some comfort in the fact that that indeed it is not that overwhelming in actuality. Leo Tolstoy, Russian author, regarded as one of the greatest writers in history once said: “Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.”

Can we continue to wash away all that is not gold from this hogwash battle so we can all just make better collective decisions?

The Metaverse is the user end of the largest human energy feedlot (energy vampire) on Planet Earth (for those who recall the Rules of Wizardry it is a social consciousness) with 2.95 billion active users, the Metaverse is the largest on Earth. In comparison, the United Nations has 193 Member States which is purported to be 99% of the world’s population - but how much of the people’s social consciousness does it occupy?

The UN was ostensibly established with the goal to unite the world in the wake of the carnage of the World Wars. Never again would the world be at war! But the UN never managed to end war at all, in fact the COVID-19 emergency response was the largest effort by the UN to date to expand it’s reach among the masses -  and unfortunately it used psychological warfare to do so. So, the UN has in fact become the thing it was attempting to abolish. A warmonger.

Based on how messed up everyone’s minds and lives have become since 2020 - the UN is a testament to a failed effort to meaningfully “unite” humanity and avert species or maybe even planetary oblivion.

Sure, the United Nations may have managed to engage the masses in an emergency response of biblical proportions, but what has the UN meaningfully achieved by doing so? It’s sure messed up a lot of people.

As far as the research of the Village Voice has been able to ascertain, the only meaningful ‘higher order’ people’s movement to come out of the original circuitry of the UN Declarations (after the devastation which was the entire 20th Century) is the World Service Authority and its World Citizenship Registry which was created in 1953 and to date consists of around 800,000 members. That is only 0.001% of the world's population who are actively registered for World Service as World Citizens.

Comparatively, 36% of the world population is actively registered in the Metaverse. That means, 36% of the world's population has given over to the Absurdity of the corporate Metaverse while less than a single percent of the world population actually understands the truth of Law and will of The People well enough to register on the scale of awareness.

The Absurdity of the situation of this corporate slave ‘Control Grid’ on Earth has deteriorated to such a degree that the World Service Authority has actually issued a Travel Advisory warning of the extreme conditions on Earth. We’re in a media war here in BC for sure.

Luckily for humanity, the truth is revealed to those with Eyes to See and Ears to Hear. And what of those who then proclaim it and remind us? Other people kill those people. Nevertheless, war remains a social construct, a trapping of the mind and the truth is there is “No War in Heaven” and “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21, KJV).

Heaven is a state of mind.

And so, the truth is, freedom is a state of mind and liberty is the accompanying external state made manifest by people of such mental clarity. After all, it’s only a ride and you can get off at any time … but the ride wants to keep you on it - and the toxic social consciousness fields (Meta the Dominion of Canada among others) will do anything and everything to keep you hooked in, to feed on your guttural buy-in.

Check out the principles of Transurfing for some practical guidance. Remain vigilant for the path and the way is unique to the individual and definitely not for the faint of heart.

Many of us end up isolated, yet more and more we find others and we come to know we are not alone! Our Creed seems to be growing, albeit much more slowly than the Metaverse, yet I look forward to the day when our Credo’s infiltrate the Metaverse and we can extract those seeking by their own will. Seems the movie The Matrix wasn’t too far off! I used to have visions of bright teams of youth extracting each other from this Metaverse thing, this Prison Planet and now I’ve seen it beginning to happen in Real Life.

A Real people’s alternative to the Western Roman System has been in development for over 40 years, a manifest United State of Free Spirits is on the horizon with its accompanying state of Liberty made possible by novel technology which is the Autonomous Data and Management System (ADAM). The technology has entered Dev-Build V.1 (post Beta). This synchronously occurred at the same time as the media calamity between Facebook and the Dominion of Canada engulfed us here in the South Cariboo!

With my knowledge of ADAM’s potential I’ve often wondered if teddy bears will replace the people who currently sit in chairs, paper pushing in our redundant and over inflated bureaucracies? What will people do instead? Will they find their “is-ness”, will they simply become lost souls or will they be exterminated by the powers that be? What is your is-ness? What would you do in a community, how would you serve simply because it brings you joy - because you are you!

Despite the 0.0001% of World Citizens being woefully outnumbered statistically by the 36% of the population who has fallen into the Meta state, history proves it is always the smallest groups which effect the greatest meaningful change. Join our private signal chat to stay tuned about the real live status of ADAM in Dev-Build V.1 - Which is safe guarded and protected as its culture and algorithms are developed. Currently new guests are no longer able to register. But please introduce yourself in the chat so you can get ready!

The reality for us and other team members is quite stark, should ADAM go public too soon the new platform could be overrun with people who are still at war and have allegiances in states such as “Meta” or the “Dominion” as described above.

We have lovingly referred to this external threat as “dumb aggressiveness” … essentially those who are trapped in thought - perhaps even engrossed in the divisive algorithms of Meta. That’s one third of the world with a Meta orientation.

Hang-on to your hats while the world continues to flip! And I do mean, literally, it’s Earth Change. Do we really need a full on extinction level event perhaps - to rid the planet of the toxic mind virus?

Brings a whole new meaning to “see you on the flip side” …

And with that let’s review the profound musings of the fictional character Professor Barnhardt in the script The Day the Earth Stood Still  

“That's where we are. You say we're on the brink of destruction and you're right. But it's only on the brink that people find the will to change. Only at the precipice do we evolve. This is our moment don’t take it from us we are close to an answer”.

For those with eyes to see and ears to hear. A unique collective awareness brings you into a college of minds (it’s the Campus Model) by way of a new Covenant.

Stay tuned for more musings!

-Honeywine

Did you notice the strange weather? Did you see any holes in the ionosphere? we sure did..

Hope you had a good weekend!

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A month later on our trip back to Mother Hulda’s Garden, we were busy harvesting peas, squash and potatoes - the carrots were also coming along well! The children spent some time thinning the carrots so that they can grow “bigger and bigger!”

Mother Hulda herself is a character of folklore. In German she’s called Frau Holle, and Mother Hulda is of course the Anglicized version of her name.

Mother Hulda is a winter character known for shaking her feather blanket at the time of year in which we see the snow start to fall. Yet it begged the question, what would such a wise, beautiful crone do in the summer? She would garden, of course! And that is what is happening at Mother Hulda’s Garden.

Check out our friend’s substack to glean more wisdom about all things homesteading, from Germanic traditions and European folklore to the harsh realities of small scale food production. We have already learned so much from Heimveg and the food, work and writings coming from Mother Hulda’s Garden.

We hope you feel inspired by our Garden Party adventures at Heimveg and live locally join us in our signal chat!

If you live in the South Cariboo get in touch we hope you will visit one of our many amazing local farms.

If you live really anywhere else, all you need to start a Garden Party movement of your own is :
1. Grab a friend!
2. Call one of your local small scale farms and find out how you can help!

We are so greatful for our friends and farms!

Economic impacts of covid what did the government in Canada do to help the economy recover and how did it help small businesses? I guess that Emergency Canadian Business Account ended up hurting more than it helped when it got called back and no one could pay it. We're set up to lose 250,000 small businesses in Canada because of it. Why don't people have enough money to maintain the economy? Maybe they're too busy trying to survive with just the basics. Has our illustrious crime-minister Justin Trudeau (truda-lo-da-doodle-doo) done anything to supplement that? Yes he has! With the Canada Worker Benefit. You see, some people have jobs but they don't make enough money to survive. Minimum wage has been jacked up continuously but it's not enough. If minimum wage went any higher it would break all the existing businesses so it needs to be supplemented. What are some of the impacts of this economic downturn and the poor purchasing power of the dollar? Well when you couple that with monetary incentives for women to leave with the kids and bankrupt a guy in the process the question starts to become who's working hard enough to actually purchase existing businesses in the country and how are they going to be able to when met with some of these other difficulties? What's going to happen to the retail world in small towns and in large cities when there are no more small businesses?Have a listen to this CFM report number 19 to hear the breakdown and the solution is simple! We start off with a real basic solution that meets everyone's basic needs: it's called eating! And if you don't eat you die! How can we maintain the food and what are we doing to help? Our organization Groundwork which is 8 not for profit social Enterprise has created a monetary incentivization program for volunteers who carpool to farms. Is this something that you could use in your region? We would love to share the model and if it's something that you like and want to know more about please let us know! All proceeds and donations received for the real life Network have been going back into making these sorts of things possible and getting a word out to help these sorts of initiatives and projects grow and expand!Thanks for watching and if you have any feedback please I always love to hear from people.

Don’t forget to check out the latest Village Voice post HERE

Consider donating today! We will put it towards the ongoing efforts of the local farms. contact us to find out more @ south.cariboo.campus@gmail.com

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Here is one case: a former Mayor and a former Senior Administrative Officer going as far as to make the absurd attempt to sue the Town for defamation after they were dismissed. Did they forget they were public servants. 

The rub on that of course: if you’re in a PUBLIC Office, you’ve sworn an Oath to that Office, so you’re subject to PUBLIC Scrutiny. There is no “defamation”, only scrutiny - which means investigations - which at least in the many cases in the Northwest Territories - never seem to happen!  

Here are all of the Articles related to 100 Mile’s outgoing Chief Administrative Officer:

Aug 26 2009: Fort Smith's finances to undergo forensic audit
Sept 1 2009: Accountant questions Fort Smith's forensic audit
Sept 2 2009: Fort Smith councillor slams council in apology
Sept 21 2009: Fort Smith settles with ex-administrator

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Hey, welcome back to another CFM report we're writings always on the wall and I'll …

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And none of those issues are even conversations resolved yet! Why all the family backlash? Likely because of the lawsuit filed on the King of England. There’s more for me to continue to facilitate and mange … Super Fun! It’s like “Covid debates” on steroids! yay

I had my full panic attack at around 9:00pm and it was 10:30pm by the time that subsided - I hadn’t eaten (and felt ill at the thought of eating) I sat at my computer and was absolutely blank. My partner who was at the shop working suggested I have a bath to try to relax.

I got a bath going and got in at 11 and just as I was starting to relax all of my devices simultaneously recieved an AMBER ALERT at 11:13pm.

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Episode summary: What is going rogue?

Rules, oaths , codes. 

Elementary, Highschool, University/College, Work, Shopping, Marriage, Mortgage, Nuclear Family… Nuclear Family Fallout!! the dominant culture. Rinse, Repeat.

The promise of “the dream” and everyone is there to help you live your best life right? Police officers, doctors, teachers, lawyers, judges, mayors, church leaders. They’ve all taken Oaths and have sworn to abide by their word, take Doctors and the Hippocratic Oath “Do No Harm”. That’s what they do right?

Going Rogue - what is it what does it lead to? Realizing the “Ugly Truth” Challenges into the Disillusionment of “the dream” and what happens when people do not follow any code?

How to”dream a new dream” … can we restore the world for a sleeping mass who have not yet seen that their reality is in fact just a shared dream?

Questions : Who's responsible for potholes, the contractor hired to fix them or the Ministry of Transportation which is Legislated?

Was social dynamics lead to guaranteed outcomes? Healthy, secure societies - committed to ensuring “the dream” is based in Truth (positive polarity) rather than Fiction (negative polarity) can function.

But truth isn’t FLUFFY. EXAMPLES : Men's worker camps - Traumatized people pushing themselves into isolation typically living rural leading to healing ( leads to reintegration to society) or Hillbilly syndrome ( insulated echo circle)

Social - systemic & personal

Mid point show - Cue the Bag Pipes - “Going Brogue”

Accountability vs. the comfort zone - Sweeping it under the rug, burying the issues vs open conflict and resolution

What people face for it What happened (context of guests and stories)Open conflict

Buried conflict - What happens to remedy - The Village & Woman's Strike (feminine - negative - receptive polarity). SAYING NO MORE. Meaning it.

Men (masculine - positive - directive polarity) hard choice.

What are the social challenges. The sleeping mass of shoppers? Don't want to know. How can society can adapt and grow to address such a MASSIVE cultural challenge?

The individual choice, the self-determination and responsibility of maintaining internal freedom - the freedom to Act as opposed to React to make choices. Coming to learn that a Rite is a passage of learning, can be functionally facilitated by community through Ritual as opposed to having to learn the hard lessons over and over and over... That is a healthy, functional culture. A Rite is my responsibility and through it I will learn what is YES and what is NO and not comply when I know it is “wrong” or a NO.

You might lose your job but no one was hurt - Nuremberg defense, obfuscation, denial, removal of personal choice.

I was just following orders, I'm just doing my job - might get promoted but lose any standard of ethics or morality

The metaphysical Woman's (feminine/negative/chaos) “Strike” for the Reformation of the Tribe / Village by Men (masculine/positive/order).

Put the Patriarch … “the World as we know it” in the Dog House - Is there an alternative, what is to be built? Where do we start? What currently exists / has existed. What worked well, what didn’t.

What could exist our is beyond developed - What we can easily concieve. Eight forms of Capital!

Hybrid models - bridges for our consciousness … to help bring the New World to the sleeping masses in a way of understanding.

Gardening + landscaping = permaculture

Architecture+ ecology = arcology 

Just how far could Hybrid Models take us in a short period of time? Where is it going from our experiences here at the Real Life Network… Now that is Actual News -It’s SOMETHING NEW. Than’s for being part of the New Renaissance - the truth is in you. And it’s always been there!

Since opening the doors last September, it is safe to say, raw talent has been uncovered and a spirit of expression through movement has been brought to life by the people who attended the Academy in 22-23 season. 

People of all ages performed on stage in the first annual year end show. 

Living in a small town means you need to work with every resource you have to survive and thrive and that applies to the activities and smaller communities one is part of too! 

When talent came to town in the form of TWO highly trained, highly accomplished dance instructors everyone is hoping they stick around and put down roots. The community hopes to give them a foundation to thrive upon. How does that happen? Well, for me as an individual it was making sure the youngest member of the Dance Academy community showed up and adhered to the principles of the Academy so that it can grow and flourish along side her. 

We showed up, each week to train and practice and engage with the Academy and the results were impressive! Three shows - three packed houses and obvious dedication to the craft by the dancers. 

Beautiful photos captured by Cinder and Ash Photography can be viewed by parents/guardians here.

One of the most beautiful expressions was the grown up ballet class performance (aren’t we meant to just be grown up children at heart, especially in Art!!) These women were dedicated through the season - many of them first time ballet students. Their performance moved me to tears with the power of their story.

I also have to give a hats off to the proprietors of the studio for going above and beyond in open conflict resolution, that really was supportive for me as an individual parent in overcoming some of the social stigma surrounding my writing for the Village Voice and other cooperative and creative endeavors in our town. I have faced the difficult reality of being ostracized throughout 2022/23. I was most heinously labeled “the dangerous lady on Dogwood” when I began publishing The Village Voice in Print, I was later labeled “a scammer” when I was part of the developer team launching Groundwork Community Service Cooperative in 2022 and worst - when we opened the Community Enrichment Space called Rolling Hills I was accused of “funneling all the cash from Rolling Hills personally” when in reality what I had done was give a $15,000 loan to the collective in order to get the space open! I also publicly issued an apology to Raven in 2022 when I couldn’t get her to come to the table of resolution to help understand the issue.

In the early conceptualizations of both the The Real Life Network and Groundwork Community Service Cooperative - I really noticed the general lack of conflict resolution skills and processess in existence in the wider society (the ability to hold a “both / and” mindset through development processes). This is a very specific challenge in the georgraphical region and community which we are operating here in what has colloquially been known as the South Cariboo (traditional map for interest).

Despite significant levels of un-resolved conflict between individuals we eventually established a Collective gathered a team and opened a Community Enrichment Space dedicated to the collective. The collective’s space inevitably closed due to breaches of contract and theft of the collectives professional documents (theft over $5,000). The testimonials of the workers spoke volumes:

At any rate, the proprietors of the dance studio took the time to phone me to make sure I was aware there were people in their close circle who were still in unresolved conflict - and that opened the door for mediation (which only one party was willing to engage in, but did ensure the conflict was opened up and not burried). As such, it could be put aside - just for the duration of the event. So - after some awkward negotiation and conversation all was well despite the ongoing open conflict. The really neat thing was, we were in the process of publishing our Community Conflict De-escalation and Resolution Guide at the time… What divine timing!

Handy Book July 2023(2)

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The highlight of the entire season for me was the finale performance - all of the performers on stage improvised to the end song. A beautiful symbol in an age full of division, extremes, separateness and an unwillingness to abstain from keyboard warrior-ism and instead resolve conflicts (boooooo to the dystopian Facebook algorithms).

To overcome differences, in support of a healthy holistic society and robust culture is the imperative of a functional society and a big cheers to J&J for achieving just that!

Congratulations to all the students and teachers of Raising the Barre Academy. You have indeed raised the bar in this small town … just like that!

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don’t forget to comment - I love your suggestions , might just run yours next..

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