“…mystery surrounds this erotically charged novel ….the ABC’s of Canadian fine furniture design and production…” – Ottawa Citizen
“…like good wine – rich, complex, pleasingly acerbic…a dance of intellect and eros that expertly unfolds …and closes with panache…” – Jim Bartley, Globe & Mail, Toronto
“…a psycho-sexual tug of war in the world of design…” – Spring Book Review, Globe & Mail, Toronto

‘The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous’
LOOK FORWARD
IMAGINE, dear reader, if you will, that we are in the year two-thousand-eight-hundred and ninety-seven. 2897 A.D.
We are watching an old man. His name is Wong. He is carefully removing the tattered remnants of decaying cloth from an ancient and fragile black walnut chair frame. As he gently brushes the dirt and grime from the back of a brittle marquetry panel, an inscription is uncovered in a language that he does not know. Close by, there are two numbers beside each other, pencil written by two different hands. One is relatively recent, the other an ancient script.
1997 / 2336
Wong’s experienced fingers caress the smooth worn-out carving on the shafts of the weakened legs. He discovers that the once dramatic and voluptuous human figurines at mid-section are oddly without hands. He has never in his long years of restoration seen this kind of mythic imagery. One leg had been professionally pinned and well repaired long ago. Wong quietly admires the subtle and skilful craftsmanship of his talented predecessor of 2336.
He stands back to study the piece. Puzzled.
Again he examines the intricate marquetry panel. Once beautifully done, it shows a small mouse nibbling on a cherry seated on a burled wreath of pine cones beneath a sprig of mistletoe. Wong’s index finger thoughtfully touches the adjacent inlaid antler image, trying to understand. Some pieces of the original ebony stringing are now missing.
He looks again at the overall shape of the chair frame.
He curls his fingers around the knuckle on the armrest. It had originally been crisply carved by, and for, a delicate hand. But the overall size of the chair was uncommonly large. And there was something being told by the taut stance of that back leg. And why was the wood hoof on the front cuffed with what seemed to be some kind of beaded bracelet? Again he looks at the fading antler image, damaged by time through exposure to raw sunlight.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the long lost mystery of Origin began to reveal itself to the ageing Master’s Eye. This strange decorative art object was North American, late-twentieth century, of that he was certain. As for the rest of the intricate details of its engaging story, who had so artfully made it, and why, that, he regretfully knew he would never ever know.
He chuckled, returning to his work. Nature still managed to keep some of her creation secrets from the prying sharp eye of her attentive white haired apprentice. “
…
Winner of the Hamilton Arts Council ‘Best Fiction Award’ in 2000, ‘THE GILDED BEAVER by ANONYMOUS’ was first printed in a Collector’s Edition of 800 Numbered Copies. In celebration of this title’s 10th Anniversary, ACORN PRESS CANADA is offering an EXCLUSIVE opportunity to ‘Canadada Readers’ to purchase this work significantly below the List Price of $79.95 for an amazing $48 Canadian !!! Price ALSO includes global shipping & handling!
Dear readers, only 122 copies remain in stock. This is truly a Collector’s item …

If interested in owning your very own piece of ‘Canadada’ – please send an International Money Order for $48 (Cdn funds) (- available at your local bank or post office – ) to ‘ACORN PRESS CANADA’ . Mark envelope as follows: –
Attn: ‘The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous – 10th Anniversity Offer’.
ACORN PRESS CANADA
17 Main Street, P.O.Box 1425
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada, L0R 2H0
Remember to mention in your cover note – with your return address – that you are a ‘Canadada Reader’, then kindly allow 2-4 weeks delivery. This offer has been arranged ONLY for this 10th Anniversary Celebration and runs ONLY until December 31st, 2009. The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous’ is ONLY available at this price via CANADADA.
NB: First come, first served - while quantities last.
… phew … how was that – ???
Love & kisses,
Canadada
‘Three Cups of Tea’: GET THIS BOOK!
June 3, 2009
Seldom do I whole-heartedly endorse a work of ‘non-fiction’ but this book by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin is truly inspirational.
Greg may be a ‘failed’ mountaineer, but he is without a doubt a truly accomplished ‘humanitarian’. His relentless determination to build schools in Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan over the past decade has been brilliantly retold by David Oliver Relin. The tale is nuanced, highly visual, evocative, wide-ranging, insightful and uplifting – a GREAT read.
Suitable for all ages, GET & GIVE THIS BOOK!
— Change an impoverished child’s life forever.–
Order direct from Greg’s foundation – The Central Asia Institute
…
Of comparable interest is a Canadian organization – Ten Thousand Villages ….
“Ten Thousand Villages began in 1946 when Edna Ruth Byler, a Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) worker, visited volunteers in Puerto Rico who were teaching sewing classes in an effort to help improve the lives of women living in poverty.
From this trip, Edna brought several pieces of embroidery home to sell to friends and neighbours. The pieces became quite popular and she soon added cross-stitch needlework from Palestinian refugees and hand carved Haitian woodenware to her inventory.”
Now a world class portal for hand-crafted goods, she promotes ‘Commerce with a Conscience’ … “Men and women around the world have a simple dream – to earn an honest living, provide a home, food and education for their children, and to be gainfully employed in a job that brings dignity and joy. Ten Thousand Villages partners with thousands of talented artisans in a healthy business relationship.
Often referred to as ‘Fair Trade,’ our philosophy of helping to build a sustainable future is based on the principle that trade should have a conscience. Through ‘fair trade,’ artisans receive respect, dignity and hope from working hard and earning fair value for their work.”
Order direct from Ten Thousand Villages
Brainwaves: Frequencies & Functions …
May 10, 2009

… the brain activity chart above (circa 2008) raises as many questions as it answers …
… as does the image below of the Dalia Lama watching t.v. …

... and what about gender?
The chemistry of the brain is not gender neutral. Hormones, glandular activity, body functions interact with the brain - & vice versa ..
…. Is it possible to separate the Sexual Mind from the physicality of the Brain?
I wonder …
The Decorative Peasant … (another poem)
April 28, 2009
… from my vantage boudoir point
of West of Centre -
or Left of Centre -
or Right of Centre -
depending if you politically gaze
on
or out
or in at -
I watch the continual
movement, surge
ebb and flow
of urban, suburban, rural
humanity
course along the young blood
of this my Canadian civilization
My own beating heart heaves
harmoniously
alternating panic with patience
adjusting to nuance of mechanic
and organic insurgence
…
waiting, I peel
a plumb purple grape
plucked from the cluster bounty
of my small garden
and pop its full bodied ripeness
into my mouth,
then, absentmindedly
crave that mysterious
envelope of skin
But the shocking discovery of
that succulent pulp voluptuousness
disorients profoundly
my hap-hazard analytical
watchful
Being
- for a brief instant
the Centre shifts –
LIFENESS ripples rapidly
down to the scarlet tips of
my budding toes
I gaze outward again
to regain my bearings
and yes, all is as it was before
(All was is as it is was before)
I furtively pull out another grape
from the clipped cluster
and methodically
peel back
the hardened weather-exposed
encasement of purple epidermis
and once more pop
that fleshy perfect orb inward
to taste again
n-wow-ness …
A Fertile Imagination … (another poem)
April 10, 2009

means
a willingness to
x – plore
the seemingly meaningless
it demands neutrality -
a suspended judgement
during quixotic questing – though
questing does bring understanding
as shape shifting synaptic valuations
stimulate the eventual judgment
of election & selection – yes, it does
zing & zang, it zings & zangs
a fertile imagination applies
what has been learned &
extends perception again & again
awwaaay out there beyond the known
to become thought -
filled feelings that cross pollinate &
create lush hybrids that BLOOM
with fresh clean BEAUTY
a fertile imagination allows
mindful indulgence. It just IS -
BEST when natural morality remains
grounded in Awe & Wonder
a fertile imagination is
critical for us & our combined evolution.
And Survival.
Always ask WHY -
BECAUSE … you SEE …
IF we remove Fertile, all becomes Sterile
IF we remove Imagination, all Collapses
- nothing would remain, only a lonely
… … monotone of monotony … …
Fused together we insta-leap into multi-verse
and EVERYTHING BECKONS At Once
come, sweet one
come SEE …
CONTRASTS: Hand-processed & Digital Photography – Exhibition @ The Sunrise Gallery, Hamilton, Canada
March 31, 2009

‘Pastoral Seen’ by M.L.Holton (SOLD)
Opening Reception:
Easter Weekend, Saturday, April 11th, 2-5 pm
Running thru til May 3rd, 2009.
Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sundays 1-5 pm.
@
The SUNRISE GALLERY,
HAMILTON (Beach Area), CANADA
For more info, MAP & phone – link HERE.
‘Planet Forward’ on PBS … Airing April 15th, 2009
March 22, 2009

The following web-based production struck me as innovative ‘tell-a-vision’:
The ‘idea’ is to draw on the vast resources of the web to whip up an informed ‘citizen’ broadcast that will collate, merge & present divergent points of view about our current energy needs and resources …
Check it out.
My own contribution occured sometime ago … waaaaay back in 2008, over at another blog site ‘wattsupwiththat’ …. If you want to consider that, here’s the link.
The main post there, ‘Top Ten Science Based Predictions that Didn’t Come True’, acted as a ’spring board’ for a looonnng digression – and TIMELY DEBATE - about Energy and OUR Energy consumption. ‘The Debate’ in the ‘comment section’ got very heated & INTERESTIN’ …
Well worth the read.
All in all, this wondrous planet IS our Future …
… we forget that at our peril …


