Shawn L. Bird

Original poetry, commentary, and fiction. All copyrights reserved.

One day March 8, 2012

Filed under: Friendship,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 4:00 pm

A few posts ago I mentioned the talented Catherine Novak and how she’d adapted my poem, “My Tribute,”  into a song back in high school.  I sang in a gospel musical group called Koinonia with Catherine , and she composed a song that we loved to perform.  It was bouncy and rocking and our audiences always loved it as well.  It’s another one that only exists in our memories, but this is what I recall of Cathy’s Song.  The lyrics are great, too.

One day a long time ago

When I had lost my soul

I knew I needed someone who would come and make me whole.

I looked around me and I saw Him standing there

He said that He would help me

my burdens He would bear;

and He said, I’ve got the time

If you will only follow me.

Come to my house, I will teach you to be free.

And you’ll become a part of one great family

and I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.”

We talked a long, long while, I told him of my fears

He comforted my soul, He wiped away my tears.

He said that he love me and save me from my sin

and if we just knock but once, you know He’ll let us in.

and He said,

I’ve got the time

If you will only follow me.

Come to my house, I will teach you to be free.

And you’ll become a part of one great family

and I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.”

And now I live my life in  h a r m o n y with G o d ….

and He said,

I’ve got the time

If you will only follow me.

Come to my house, I will teach you to be free.

And you’ll become a part of one great family

and I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.”

I wish there was a recording for you to hear this, because it is really quite a wonderful song.  It’s good as a poem, too, though.  ;-P

Thanks Cath, for some great musical memories!

 

and portraying the Order of the Phoenix… March 7, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:48 am

British Columbia’s Bill 22 shares a number of disturbing similarities with some of the Educational Decrees made by Dolores Umbridge, Hogwart’s Inquisitor.  The proclamations in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix were so absurd that they added a grim humour to the book.  Massive disregard for the skills of the staff and the intelligence of students led to militant rebellion.  This is natural: free people must oppose tyranny.  The Ministry of Magic thought they were being reasonable and improving education.  The students and staff knew otherwise.  They knew the government was completely out of touch when they claimed to know what was best for the students.  When we see how fact is following fiction here in BC, we see what lies ahead of us.  Voldemort will be defeated.

A link to the BC Legislature’s Bill 22 “The Education Improvement Act”  (Yes, really, that’s what they call it!)

A link to the Educational Decrees in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I really wish I was making this up.

 

Why are teachers so upset? March 6, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:33 pm
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Teachers are upset because we were under the impression that Canada was a democracy, and we are very confused about why more people aren’t very, very concerned about a legislature that doesn’t understand that it is not above the law.  Laws are made to protect citizens.  International law exists to protect people in countries with poor legal systems.  Time and time again the BC government’s actions have been ruled illegal, both here, and in international courts, and they continue to violate the rights of citizens to fair labour practice.

Here is an article by Joe Bakon, a university law professor, explaining why every citizen needs to be very concerned about what’s happening in BC.

 

 

Seven Deadly Sins March 5, 2012

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 7:30 pm
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I am the best man you will ever find
Give me everything you have
I’ll wait here on this couch
hating that idiot who is the reason I’m not rich
Come here, baby. You know you want me.
I’m the sexiest man you know.
despite my size 60 jogging pants

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In case you’ve forgotten, they are Pride, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Lust, Vanity, Gluttony

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As shared with the Poetry Garden http://gooseberrygoespoetic.blogspot.com/  If you’re here from the Gooseberry Garden, please leave a link to your own poem in the comments below.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Bunny magic! March 3, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:15 am
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Oh my word! Have you seen these brilliant bunny animations? They present very amusing 30 second summaries of movies (or series!) with bunnies ‘acting’ the roles. Check out their interpretation of Harry Potter.  They also have a Harry Potter part two.  What an excellent demonstration of how you can summarize succinctly!  Mind you, if you don’t know the movies, it will be particularly confusing!

 

True Crime March 2, 2012

Filed under: Commentary,OUTLANDERishness — Shawn L. Bird @ 6:43 pm
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“I greatly preferred dangerous criminals to be incompetent.”

Diana Gabaldon in The Fiery Cross.

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Me, too!

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It may make you feel a little better about the incompetent crooks in government to read about some truly incompetent criminals who are now behind bars at the Stupid Criminals Hall of Shame.  With criminals, incompetence is good for the public.

 

the 180 day birthday party March 1, 2012

Filed under: Commentary,Teaching — Shawn L. Bird @ 5:46 pm
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Well. Teachers in BC are apparently going out on strike Monday.

Why? It is all about Bill 22 that strips the rights of teachers to negotiate contracts that protect learning conditions. Check out the bill- the provincial government will appoint a mediator who will only look at things the gov’t approves, and the gov’t doesn’t have to follow the mediator’s recommendations (just in case s/he doesn’t tow the party line and actually uses common sense). Does the gov’t not know what a mediator does? It’s a neutral third party, acceptable to both sides, who looks at ALL the issues, and finds an equitable situation for both sides of the dispute.  What they are imposing is a mediator in name only.  It’s a de facto puppet.

Do you want an American style, prescriptive system where teachers are not allowed to personalize their class room to the best needs of the students in the class?  Are you okay with your child in a room with 39 other kids, half of whom have learning issues, (behavioural, medical, genetic, etc) without adequate support workers?    How would you feel if someone could show up at your place of work, decide you’re not suitable, and fire you on the spot, without giving you an explanation of what ‘suitable’ means, or allowing recourse to appeal?  Yes, I know that happens sometimes in private business.  Minimum wage places do it all the time.  Is  it right?  Do you like it?  Is it fair?  Is it professional?  Is it what you think public education should be like?

Here is a brilliant blog post from Cheryl, a teacher in Port Coquitlam, explaining the things that have been happening in schools and what we’re fighting for.

I love my job, but it’s getting harder and harder to do it well because of the supports that are disappearing.  One of my colleagues was frustrated enough to leave last year.  She has taught in elementary and high school.  She is doing an MBA program. After semester of study, she was accepted into an internship, and as an intern she is making more than she made as a teacher  at the top of her pay scale. i.e. with a degree and a decade of experience.  I repeat: as an intern!  We don’t do this job for the money, we do it because we love being with kids, and helping them learn.  It’s not an easy job.  Like Cheryl quotes in her blog, it’s like planning a birthday party for 30 (or in my case 100) kids every day.  The gov’t needs to value our professionalism and our skill.  They need to work with us to maintain one of the best educational systems in the world, not continuing to undermine it.

It’s scary in our profession right now,, and what the gov’t is trying to do is going to make it a whole lot scarier.  We’re under attack.  How much do your kids matter to you?

 

marking books February 29, 2012

Filed under: Grace Awakening,Writing — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:19 am
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It could be argued that it is antithetical for an e-book author to have promotional book marks.  After all, e-books have electronic book marks, and a brightly colour cardstock is really not of any use with an e-reader.  Nonetheless, I love my promo book marks!  The omnibus of both books  will be a print copy when it  (eventually!) comes out, so can we call that the tie in?

I think they’re quite cool.  What do you think?

In other Grace Awakening news:  Awakening Dreams is FINALLY up on Kobo!!  YAY

 

standing up to bullies February 28, 2012

Filed under: Pondering,Teaching — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:57 am
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All around my school are posters advertising February 29th as the day students are to wear Pink Shirts as a way to take a stand against bullying.

We teach our kids that they need to stand up for themselves and for their friends when they are under attack.  We teach our kids that it is wrong to try to force ideas and opinions without reasoned discourse.  We teach our kids to show respect to those who are different from themselves, whether they agree with them or not.  We teach our kids how to negotiate a fair solution when they have a disagreement with their peers.

In light of this week’s anti-bullying message, watching the BC Provinicial government’s bullying tactics toward teachers is rather ironic.  This week they are trying to force teachers to accept an imposed contract, refusing to either negotiate or to have neutral mediator negotiate on their behalf.

It’s a  lesson in irony.

Teachers believe in equity.  We stand up to bullies.  We have to, in order to be role models for our students.  When we stand with our friends against bullying behavior, bullies back down.  Right?

My pink shirt this Wednesday, February 29th is going to have several layers of meaning, as I do what I can to stand up for those who are bullying me and my colleagues.

 

grey boots February 27, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:29 am
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As promised in the “Narrative of the Grey Boot Quest,” here are my awesome, amazing, brilliant, gorgeous, comfortable, and dazzling grey boots.  My Fluevog Logans are posing with OJ the standard poodle, who has boots, but they aren’t nearly as cool as these.  He’s so jealous he can’t even look at them.

 

When I put the boots on for the first time and saw this stamped inside, I knew they were fated to be a writer’s boots.  Well, fated to be THIS writer’s boots.  “Words said in faith change lives.”  How true that is.  Saying words in faith can change your own life, let alone how the words impact those hearing them.  These boots are empowering.  I feel like I can change the world when I lace them up. (and up.  and up.  and up.  These are not the footwear for days when you’re running late for work!).

It may be shallow to get so much delight out of footwear, and I know that this particular passion causes heads to shake, but it is truly a simple joy to wear art, and if you’re going to wear art, your feet are as good a location as any!  People find satisfaction in different ways.  I don’t understand people who drink or smoke away their money, with nothing to show for their hard earned efforts except cancerous growths or nasty odours.  Shoes are a very benign addiction in the greater scheme of things!  One can also luck out, and inherit.  My mother shares this addiction, and a shoe size.  I am still wearing some shoes that I wore in high school, several decades later, so I don’t feel very guilty.  I wear my artistic addictions with pride.  😀