North/South Viewpoints: 3 Little Questions - Alternative Priorities!

A family friend who is an experienced ESL Teacher has recently returned from Taiwan.

We met for tea today, at my office, and the wide-ranging conversation turned to the topic of Graft in construction permits,  worldwide, vis-a-vis Safety Concerns, which to me, are paramount.

"I wonder", I mused, "Why it is that it appears as thought graft in inspections of building sites is rampant in the southern hemisphere?"

"Friendship!" my friend replied right away!  "Pure and simple!  Friendship comes first."

He went on to say there are 3 questions that are asked in such places.  The first is:

1. How do people feel about this (meaning whatever the topic/situation may be)?
2. Is it a reasonable plan?
3. Is it legal?

But then, in the northern hemisphere, the 3 questions are reversed in order of concern:

1. Is it legal?
2. Is it a reasonable plan?
3. How do people feel about this issue?

An interesting point of perceptions, I venture to say, and Question No. 2 could probably use some of Marshall Rosenberg's NVC tips (see ESL Post of  Saturday, August 21, 2010) for conflict resolution!

Meanwhile, Have a Happy & Safe Hallowe'en! S.B.

October's Occasional Outbursts! (From The Skies)

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again, Another Day!

Or, "How Green Was My Valley"

The choice is yours.  Well, of course, not your choice as to weather it rains, or not, (unless you are truly spiritually evolved!) but, definitely your choice as to how your attitude towards the rain is!

Do you love lush, green lawns and parks?  Gardens with variety of not just colour, but also fragrance?  Then, be thankful for this rain of the day.

If you prefer desert climes, then see your travel agent.  (I know, I know, ...online bookings can be best - but beware the here-now-gone-in-3-more-clicks enticements!)  Try getting to know the difference between Price & Value.  Book your trip to a dry destination with a voice and, even better, a qualified person with whom you are having eye contact! 

Happy Vacation!

Open Your Diary/Calendar, and Plan Your Attendance: English-Ease!

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2010 Festival Tickets Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online, by phone or in person. Find out how! Read More >>	Special Events This fall, we present events withStevie Cameron, Stuart McLean,Sara Gruen and Gary Shteyngart as well as our annual Literati Gala. Read More >>
Teachers School group tickets are now available online. Clickhere for school event details. To see events with best ticket availability, go here.Read More >>	Poetry & Short Story Contest We invite you to submit your finest prose and poetry to the twelfth annual Writers Festival Poetry & Short Story Contest.Read More >>
Audio Archives No one reads quite like Andrea Levy. Sit back and enjoy her on stage interview with Bill Richardson. Read More >>	Literati Gala Join a host of 2010 Festival authors for an unforgettable evening of festivity, food and literary laughs. Read More >>

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Van Writers Fest

VIWF

CBC News - Books - Canada Reads aims to find book of decadehttp://t.co/i132sya6 hours ago 

A good road trip is excellent fodder for stories and these authors have turned their wayfaring into writing. Event 42:http://t.co/zjAoGkU7 hours ago 

Join the conversation

© 2010 Vancouver International Writers Festival. All Rights Reserved.

September Song

The Word On The Street is done for another Season, another Year.

Well Done, organizers, and, the Weatherman!  ( Or shouldn't that be
"Weatherperson"?!)  The rain held off, the auditory barriers were barely
successful, and readers of all persuasions were present on the promenade.

Now...., time to prepare for the upcoming Vancouver International  Writers and Readers Festival
( http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/) Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival.
 " A World of Words".


The 23rd annual festival runs, primarily at Granville Island (Thank you, Ron Basford), from October 19th through to the 24th, 2010.

Sing in the sunshine, splash through poetic puddles, dress in layers, and
prepare for a rich feast of Literary Learning.
Listen up, and bring a notebook, or better yet, your Merriam-Webster app.
If this is your first festival, get to what calls to you and don't try to see everything all at once. Go lightly, and Listen, listen, listen.
You and your notebook can carry the new words home with you to explore at your leisure,
and to welcome them into their new home; your vocabulary!

Is Everyone Speaking Too Quickly For You?

Slow Cooking.

Slow Food.

What about Slow Speech?

When you are learning English as a second language ( ESL ), it can be really frustrating to have to hear English speakers who omit consonants, never take a breath between words or phrases, and who just simply speak too quickly!

Here is a useful link for an affordable way to hear English spoken on a variety of interesting topics:

 The Vancouver Institute

The Vancouver Institute provides Fall and Spring Saturday Lectures for the Public.  Check out the topics planned for this season!

And, a word to the wise......bring a book to read while you are waiting.  Leave home early and get to the lecture theatre well in advance of the starting time.  Relax with your book, and when the room fills up around you, don't gloat!  Just enjoy the Featured Speaker, and learn new vocabulary and phrases from an excellent source.

A Word To The Wise on Word On The Street.

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VANCOUVER BOOK & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 | 11-5 MAGAZINE FESTIVAL 2010 LIBRARY SQUARE & CBC PLAZA JOIN US ONLINE We now have aBLOG! Stop by for photos, videos, and extra goodies about the Vancouver festival! We are also now onFlickr and have a WOTS Vancouver Group. Please add your photos to our Flickr photo pool!     BOOK BAG TREASURE HUNT Purchase an official WOTS book bag for $20 and collect free merchandise at the participating exhibitors displaying the book bag symbol. These amazing "self-filling" book bags are available only at the festival information booths on site and there are only 250 to be sold, so early queuing is essential. VOLUNTEER AT WOTS VANCOUVER Help out before, during, behind-the-scenes or out-in-front. Send an email to ourVolunteer Coordinator, Sharon Bradley, and tell her a little bit about yourself (and your talents!) 2010 FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCED From music on the Mainstage, to poetry, prose, and visual exhibits, the 2010 Word On The Street Vancouver has something for everyone. We're proud to announce all our programming in theWHAT'S ON section of our website! We've got magazine demos in the Magazine Mews, informative panels at Writing Talks, and tons of kids programming. We're also excited to have use of the new, revamped CBC Plaza on Hamilton Street. Stay tuned for special CBC programming on the Plaza. Watch for the printed program guide available in your local bookstore, library, and café in September. For more frequent updates, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and our blog. LOTS MORE GOOD STUFF ON SITE KIDS ONLY SCAVENGER HUNTPurchase a DVBIA Kids Only Scavenger Hunt card at one of the Info Tents on site ($1). Then, answer the 10 questions on it. When you're done (or have answered as many as you can), take the completed card to the Info Tent on Hamilton Street to collect a cool prize! EXHIBITOR MARKETPLACE Exhibitors can be found at tents and tables all over the festival site. There are tents on Homer Street, Hamilton Street and inside the library (including The Word Under the Street). View a full list of exhibitors on our website. SILENT AUCTION Step up to the Silent Auction. Drop by the library promenade during festival hours and place your bid on a stellar assortment of valuable items and services. There are bargains to be had on books, restaurant meals, gift baskets and more, and your participation assist in keeping the Festival FREE for everyone. ____________________________________ The Word On The Street - Vancouver Book & Magazine Festival 901 - 207 West Hastings Street | Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7 wotsvan@thewordonthestreet.ca | www.thewordonthestreet.ca/vancouver

The folks at WOTS have alot to say when you ask "WOTS Up?!"  If you've not been to a Word On The Street Festival in previous years, get yourself out to this one!  Try it!  You'll Like It!  See you there, God, and the Weather willing. (Just Kidding, as there are plenty of tented and undercover (literally) events to liven up your literary juices. S.B.

Sleep By Any Other Name:In For a "Spell" of Bad Weather?

Sleep                   Shut-eye
                                                    Weary
                           Tired    
Bagged                                                   Exhausted   
    
Too tired to care?  Time for rejuvenation.  Rest, regenerate, and rise.


Vancouver weather, in our coastal climate, and so close to the Mountains, enjoys World Class status. - Weather from every part of the world, every day. (Hint: to reduce grumbling, hang the clothes in your closet by colour, not "season", and dress for your day by the best Weather Report.)    What's this got to do with sleep?


High pressure ridges, and low pressure systems, humidity, aridity, sunshine, and rain.  For certain people, all these changes, often occurring in short succession, find that their sleep patterns are affected.  For example, when the weather is changing from high pressure (usually with clear skies), to a low pressure system (usually bringing clouds starting off at the mountains), the atmosphere can feel heavy, giving way to the expression "feeling heavy-lidded".
One may feel sleepy, even when having had enough rest, during the process of this change in atmospheric pressure. 
Environment Canada has a report for Farmers that could help you plan your days in this regard.  Unlike the normal weather reports, which are almost flippant in some mediums, the Environment Canada site Weather Office of Environment Canada Link gives the humidity percentage in the Farmers Weather Reports.
No amount of pressure, weather high nor low, seems to be able to provoke the mainstream stations into adding the humidity percentages into their reports.  
In any case, the pressure is dropping, and sleep is at hand.

Community Calendar At A Speed You Can Spell By!

A Variety of Events From Which To Choose.  "What's Your Pleasure?"


Click Here and Scroll Down to Community Calendar To Hear This Week's Events.


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Browse Any Book Store But Order From Vine & Fig Tree Books. Quiet & Hype-Free!

	A fine selection of thoughtfully chosen books, audio products, greeting cards and gift items. You can phone ahead and order the book you've seen or heard of - and when it's ready, pop in & pay. A space of quiet reflection where you can hear yourself think while you browse V&F's shelves.

Ever wanted to buy a book but had other plans for your cash?
One block north of King Edward Avenue on Vancouver’s West Side. View a map, or the new street view.

Even if you do not see the book you want on the shelves, Vine & Fig can order it for you! Current Hours: 10:30 – 5 weekdays Closed weekends and holidays until the fall. Address: 4109 Macdonald Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6L 2P1 Free Parking behind the store. Phone: (604) 734-2109, Toll Free: 1 (877) 734-2109. Email: info@vineandfig.ca

Just write it's name and publisher/author down and phone to 
Vine & Fig Tree Books, and by the time you have your money,
your book will be ready for you to collect.  The free parking is
perfect, and across the street is a Government Office with courtesy
phone and public facilities.