Samara Mosque

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

Sunni militants blew up a sacred site in Iraq last week bringing Iraq even closer to being the world’s leading exporter of rubble, hopelessness and futility.

It is almost a habit for me to post on current events after they are current but so often, I am conflicted. This is a horrible event perpetrated by one sect to another yet the groups seem indistinguishable from each other. From another perspective, this bombing is the result of events perpetrated by the United States, so they share perhaps the lion’s share of the blame.
I am reminded of some of what I have heard Gwynne Dyer say and write: that the object of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and further attacks on the Saudis, the Spanish, the British and those longsuffering victims in Iraq is not to vanquish an enemy. It is not to exact justice or revenge. It is not to encourage others to do the same and it is not for religious outrage against the realities of modern life in the West.

No, the motive behind these attacks it this: to provoke the United States and her allies into such an unmeasured, irrational response that it would enrage Muslim society so much that they would overthrow the pragmatic (or brutal) dictatorships of the Arab world and embrace the religious right.

This has proved true in the first instance. The US did fall for the bait and they did exactly as Usama’s script would have them do. The US did attack impulsively and without plan or object. While it is true that Afghanistan was a measured rational response with a clear goal: remove the Taliban and Bin Laden’s ability to strike. What of Iraq? The American invasion of Iraq was what the Whahabbis were looking for. This was the response that would get them a Taliban with a difference. A Taliban with oil, roads, a population. The fanatics may not have had the immediate success they were hoping for.

But they may yet get Iraq

Volvo P122

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

I do not know what it is about classic European Autos. There is a BMW 3__ something on my block form the early ’70s and the owner has completely restored it over the last year. I am so jealous.

Besides the Citroen 2CV, this era of Volvo sedans and coupes have got to be on my “I have been a very good boy this year” list.

Please?

Citroen DS 19

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

Before I move my obsession for cars on to vintage BMWs or old Volvos, I would like to share with you another vision of inductrial design, the classic French Sedan, the Citroen DS 19.

Even the sales graphics are great.

Had some friends over last night to revel in sweet doggitude.

As well as Briana and myself there were Gillian, Dave, Tristan, Nadia and Jason in attendance with Nathan, Kristina and Jocelyn sending regrets.

Pop cutlure was referenced, stories of past events were recounted. Drinks and food were consumed. Work was discussed, romances were explained and humorous remarks about sex or foolishness were enjoyed by all.

Particularly interesting were indepth discussions on database design and computing or alternatively myth, the spread of language groups in migtratory populations and Greek and Roman Heroic literature. With profound agreement, all agreed it was much cooler to be geeky than to actually be cool.

Special thanks is due to Tristan for bringing some wine to share and to Briana for gracing us all with her astounding beauty and charm. I for one could not stop staring at her.

Untitled by Richard Tomkinson

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

He should probably just call it “Lighthouse”. Another oil painting by my Dad Richard Tomkinson. I really like this one. Perhaps I will steal it. I am perhaps the world’s best art thief. I walk out of my parent’s house several times a year laden with priceless canvases. I have quite the collection of my dad’s work.

Here is a poem:

Early Morning

Something that never was,
that now is
and that again will not be­­

of which I am the observer
(who will also not be)
but who observes as from an eternity
of no time
the moment now,

the salesman who made a deal,
the young woman who paid him,
the red-lipped college girls, bold, a bit shy,
the counter girls on a coffee break,
the macho men,

all milling about unconscious
of one another
unconscious of the hand of time

that makes all things vanish, all fade,
all suffer change.
And they live today as if they were forever,
when they are here only for a day.

And I observe, and I am like them
only for a day

Louis Dudek

Mona Lisa by Richard Tomkinson

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

This is a treatment of the Mona Lisa by my father Richard Tomkinson. I am not sure about the seam on the girl’s forehead. Bree says it is thus on Da Vinci’s also.

I have not yet talked to Dad about this one but I am guessing it was a project for a class or something like this. If you are reading Dad, comment and explain.

Enjoy!

Carole Taylor

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

Today in Victoria BC, Provincial Foxy Finance Minister Carole Taylor released the details of the BC 2006 Provincial Budget.

“The focus of the budget is children, there’s 421 million dollars over four years including 72 million to add more social workers and front line staff.” CKNW

The budget is notable for two serious things and some other things that are not so serious.

Bad press about useless youth and child services = more money and focus on such like. Serious.

Province turning a corner on a localised recession and so this is the first real ’spendie’ budget (possibly on the backs of the down-trodden, who am I to say.) Serious.

In the not-so-serious catagory. “Baby needs a new pair of shoes”. In keeping with tradition, the Finance Minister sports a new pair of shoes on budget day. Usually loafers, brogues and oxfords on the dour feet of the folically challenged get passing mention on budget day. -But Baby!- $600 Gucci pumps complete with the horse bit logo. Bling Bling!

So guess what the radio news focused on? Shoes, legs, related topics. Then the Speaker of the house says ‘Baby’ he better not be talking about any one present in the Legislature. So sure we in BC have a FMILF with gams from here to Revelstoke but the children! The Children!

A Room with a View

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

One thing I will not miss when we move from this apartment is the view. The street noise we are used to. The parking we are used to. The creepy boppers an eggs throw away slaving away…well, they are still creepy. The photo doesn’t give you the sense on how close they are. I can feel their sweaty creepy faces peering in on us. I guess we are ‘boppers’ too, to them.

We did see the dramatic uptick in bopper population post-New Year’s resolutions. We saw the faces, resolute, and then we saw less and less of them.

Yet they bop on. I am glad for the glass between us.

Today I sauntered off to the business BC offices on Cordova street (with Wagner and my own personal arm candy) and plunked down the $45.00 to register a business name with the government.

Actually I registered three names. You see, it is pretty likely that ‘one name or another’ will be taken so to get the one you want (I seem to be chanelling Deborah Harry) you register three names. If your first choice is already being used (by some looooser) then the second chioce may be an option, and so forth.

You have to choose one with certain features and you may not use expletives or reference the royal family or the government. (&*%@@*^ Campbell is a Queen Ltd.) You also need to keep it general and all purpose if you plan to have a business that has a wider focus than just one product or function. They have to have an purposive element and a descriptive element. “The Business” is not permitted. Think instead, “Vancouver Cat House” or “Jimmie’s Illicit Narcotics Delivery.

Here were my choices in order of preference. Remember: general names. These are not product names or neccessarily the public name for the company.

Brilliam Holdings
Coast Quadra Holdings
Cerebus Enterprises

I know, pretty bland but still, I felt good to do it. Gee, at this rate I will be building a forty storey office tower with my name on the side in no time. “Tomkinson Tower” Sweet.

9oclockgun

Originally uploaded by Will_Tom.

One of the things I really like about living in downtown Vancouver is the ways the city has of keeping you in time with its rhythm. The office buildings disgorge at 430 and the streets are filled with suits and skirts popping into HMV to buy a disk they didn’t know they wanted until they saw it. Another example is the horns on the Hydro Building that I (used) to hear moaning “O Canada” across the skyline. It is connective. It is visceral. It is…. kind of parental.

Vancouver even tells me when I should think about going to bed. I don’t, but every time I hear the 9 o’clock gun I think:
1) it is 9 o’clock
2) I should think about going to bed
3) what am I twelve? I ain’t goin’ to bed yet!
4) Oh, isn’t that sweet. Vancouver really cares!
5) Pirates… or the French! “Heart of Oak! Rule Brittania!”

Well ok, not neccessarily in that order.

Still, soon I will move to New Westminster where my father was born, his father and his father before that. The cannons on the river are filled with concrete and I have to wait until the Hyack festival to hear any really good black powder explosions. Oh well. I think the trains go by at the same time each day.