Who Killed the Electric Car?

Sometimes I just shake my head.

Watch the trailer for Who Killed the Electric Car?

It was among the fastest, most efficient production cars ever built. It ran on electricity, produced no emissions and catapulted American technology to the forefront of the automotive industry. The lucky few who drove it never wanted to give it up. So why did General Motors crush its fleet of EV1 electric vehicles in the Arizona desert? WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? Chronicles the life and mysterious death of the GM EV1, examining its cultural and economic ripple effects and how they reverberated through the halls of government and big business. WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? is not just about the EV1. It's about how this allegory for failure reflected in today's oil prices and air quality can also be a shining symbol of society's potential to better itself and the world around it. While there's plenty of outrage for lost time, there's also time for renewal as technology is reborn in WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR?

It makes me so mad to wonder where we could be today technology wise. The Winnipeg Free Press had an article today by Dallas Hansen titled Electric Cars Coming to a Driveway Near You that details the history of the electric car and how it seemed to disappear throughout history...

In regards to in GM's EV-1: "Charging required about eight hours, from a wall-mounted charger in the driver's garage - far more convenient, EV-1 drivers said, than regularly filling up at gas stations. Unfortunately for lessees, they did not own their vehicles. And when California's Air Resources Board quashed the ZEV mandate in 2001, GM moved to quash the cars themselves. After seizing hundreds of EV-1s from satisfied customers, the cars were transported to Arizona for crushing ... complete with a voice over from GM spokesman Dave Barthmuss shamelessly insisting that all recovered EV-1s would be completely reused and recycled." (A19)

But, there IS time for renewal. What do you think?

A culture of consumption

How many earths would it take to support a world of people living your lifestyle? Find out!

Never before have I been so busy not being very busy at all - I like it! I've seen HEAD, a very ambitous new musical by SIR, finished a great book called The Way the Crow Flies by Ann Marie-MacDonald, went to the country to for a rocking great Stagette for Karla (and to visit family of course), my mom ran a half marathon!, I'm working almost 4 jobs, I'm trying to learn the names of almost 50 Intro: Performance students that I only see once a week!, I've had a at least one cup of tea everyday. I've also had the chance to start writing again, a frustrating but rewarding venture that I lost for a while during the craziness of the summer. Hopefully I've entered the stage of my early 20's titled "Mel starts to get it together" - I'm very happy at any rate.

For anyone who has lived/worked/played downtown, or for anyone who loves rocking accordian music, you have to listen to That's What Keeps the Rent Down Baby by Geoff Berner. Awesome.

What kind of pinatta is that?

Ranting

Glad to see this article on the CBC. It is a big world after all ...

I was watching American television this AM and they were talking about Islam and the reaction to the Pope's speech on the 15th, which was criticized by Muslim's because it essentially implied that their faith is based on violence. He quoted a Byzantine emperor who said a command by Mohammed to spread his faith by the sword was "evil and inhuman." The fallout from the speech has, of course, been violent, with churches being burned and a nun allegedly being killed (that was still speculation this morning ....)

The conversation of the hosts was, of course, that protesters should not use violence when protesting a comment that Islam is violent - I defanitely agree with that. However, I was very disturbed when the conversation lead to a "where are the moderate leaders when this violence is happening? Why aren't they standing up and condeming this violence?" One of the hosts said that "if there were moderates they would be speaking out."

I take this to mean that she thinks that all Muslims are extremists. WHAT. There are MILLIONS of muslims around the world, and if they were all closet extremists, don't you think the world would be more crazy then it is? Plus, there are moderate Muslims wanting to speak out, but they have a very hard time finding their way onto American Talk-shows. I wonder why?

Well, that's my rant for the day. What a crazy world we live in.

moving on ... always forward

Wow

And we've come to the end of season 1 of Theatre by the River. I'm not sure how I feel about that ... Here are some random sampling:

Relieved, exhausted, sad, post-show depression, EXCITEMENT, relief ... RELIEF. It was such a roller-coster this year. Such huge successes combined with giant internal problems that caused way too much stress to Matt and myself. But we learn, make some changes, and carry on. Moving on ... always forward.

I miss Dromio already ... he was a fun little guy. A great friend, went with the flow, such a quick thinker (so clever!), emotional, fun. Yeah, he will always be one of my favourite characters - a character that rifted off of the truest parts of myself if I do say so myself. Yes I'm emotional, known to cry on occassion, but I'm pretty low-maintanence and fun to hang out with, right?

But, change of topic!

I was very excited to open my paper this weekend to discover that the Fort Whyte Centre had given itself a make-over! It is now: ForteWhyte Alive Human. Nature. I defanitely want to go check it out, hopefully go for a day of canoe or kayaking, take a hike ... sweet sweet time off and fresh air - I love it! Hopefully this new face-lift will draw more young people to the centre to enjoy the simplicity and beauty of our prairie environment. I defanitely think they should BAN cell phones on any nature preserve.

And hummers on network television. I was watching CSI: Miami tonight (I know! Free time, it's so weird - and TV is so bad, but such a guilty pleasure. You're brain doesn't have to work at all, it's so relaxing! ... Wait, what does that say about the medium?). Anyway, if I have to see Horatio Cane zooming around in that damn Hummer one more time, I might scream. AH!!!!!

Last Weekend!

THEATRE BY THE RIVER

presents Shakespeare's

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

This is your last chance to see this show! We're hoping to have over 1000 people see the show by closing night on Sunday, so do come (and tell your friends!)

Thursday - Sunday @ 7pm

Assiniboine Park, northwest corner

Stuff to do

Greetings!

Elizabeth May, newly elected leader of the Green Party of Canada will be in Winnipeg on Sunday, September 3 from 11:20am til 12:25pm at the Winnipeg CN train station, 123 Main St, Wpg.

Elizabeth is travelling across Canada on Viarail and will conduct Whistle-stop rallys at any station where time and the train schedule permits.

You are invited! Please bring all Green Party members, green supporters and anyone else who would just like to meet our dynamic new leader and hear her inspirational view of a new, greener Canada.

Do come out if you can, Elizabeth is always a treat to listen to!

As for myself, aside from crazy Green rallys and Comedy of Errors, I'm trying to put together my fall schedule. I will be TA'ing 2 classes at the university, both of which were very last minute - but it's nice to be in demand for something at least (maybe I'll be a teacher after all ... *shudder*). In any case, I'll be working with the most eccentric Shelagh Carter, and the very lovely Hope MacIntyre. Alas, since I didn't actually apply to be a TA this year, I won't get to work with Ian again, but I am meeting with him next week. I'm hoping to help with Red Roots - they need to do another play!!

I will still be putting in a few shifts a week at the Y, as well as doing some community respite work. Once again, Mel is back to working 3 jobs.

Comedy is going very well, and our goal now is to have 1000 people see it by the end of the closing show on September 10th. Winnipeg has been very supportive in this venture (when we had to cancel Thursdays show due to rain, Matt and I waited at the site until 7:15, just in case. 11 people still showed up, rain gear in hand, ready to see the show despite the gale-force winds and imminent rain. Bless them!) After this show is done I'll have a bit of a break. I'm doing a reading of a one-woman show for FemFest which I'm very excited about, but no actual show planned until next summer. Weird, I've been doing shows one after the other for almost 2 straight years now, so this will be a very scary - but very necessary - break to get my feet back on the ground and figure out where to go next.

Post in summary: come out tomorrow to meet Elizabeth May, come to see Comedy of Errors, Mel has no prospect of full-time employment, but she's at peace with that and has more than enough to keep her busy this fall.

Until next time, think green, enjoy the dwindling days of summer, and smile!