A report on the last night at the Kamloops Daily News

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A very sad day as yet another Canadian paper shutters for good. Wait. That’s the wrong word.

Free Houses for Writers!

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I’m not even joking. Detroit, which is both a centre of urban innovation and a festering cesspit of corruption and the last, twitching appendage of the Industrial Revolution, is giving away free houses to writers.

Like, to live in.

To keep.

To OWN.

Write A House is Detroit-based literary organization that uses the wide range of available home stock in Detroit to build up support for the literary arts in the city.

Detroit visual arts & Detroit musical arts have gotten a ton of attention over the years, but we believe this is a city that could really use some more writers.

And we believe writers should have nice homes. Write A House invests money in vocational training to renovate vacant homes and then awards the homes to emerging writers. It’s like a writer’s in residence program, but the writers get to keep the homes, forever. It’s pretty much that simple.

We want you to be involved in building our first home! We are raising money to cover a big chunk of the renovation costs of one house. Our goal will take us approximately ½ way there. The rest we will be raising through work with outreach with local and national arts foundations. Any additional monies raised will be applied to our other homes. (For our initial year, we have purchased 3 houses to renovate.)

We are partnering with Young Detroit Builders, an organization that trains youth in building rehab and renovation. So not only will you be giving a writer a home, just as importantly you will be providing youth with skills they can use for a lifetime of employment. Plus, you will be helping to stabilize a neighborhood.

The neighborhoods we are working with are a rich quilt of culture and change. It won’t be deluxe Beverly Hills, but maybe that’s okay.

It’s certainly okay for me. If you want to get in on this, take a number and get in line behind me. So far the video has fewer than 500 views, but I have a feeling that’s not going to continue to be the case for much longer. Sure, Ireland doesn’t tax artists and poets, but they also don’t provide free housing unless you happen to be Marianne Faithfull. And don’t be too scared: it’s only a short hop across the St. Lawrence to Windsor, Ontario and those lovely, polite people in Canuckistan.

Special Story Writing Friends Needed!

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…and by “special” we mean exactly what you think we do.

The big bad grammar Nazi

The big bad grammar Nazi

This is the Craigslist Ad of the Week, from the Writing Opportunities section of the Victoria, BC Craigslist. Whether this is a greater opportunity for writing or for derision is an open question, but it won’t be after you read the full ad. Here’s a teeny teaser.

It’ll be like Xman meets Harry Potter. I’ve got so many stories inside me. & more manifest! This is your Door. Watch my YouTube videos?! I need to put out. Help!! <3

[What’s the old saying? Beware of shamans who want to put out for you?]

I’ve got a story about a couple that traveled to hold really special party’s wile racking up really dope radical siblings & social life. Sick connections as they traveled the lands of their world with objective & uncanny timing. Their target is to find & provide a four day super positive metamorphic catalystic work space for safe people who want to really activate their superpowers right away.

To hold this gathering, we find & rent someone’s house, but not a small one. Then make sure you have at least 27 people are coming to attend this fore day break through session. $20.oo a head at the least. What happens is; there’s several songs that are potent light spells. Filled with carefully worded positive & uplifting affirmations. Loads a inner self supportive collective consciousness. Reinforced with lyrics to conger energy’s of safe love & protection.

I can definitely see at least 27 people wanting to pay $20.oo a head at the least for “fore” days of this. Yew betcha. If, again, only for the comedy value.

You fast on Day Two, and on Day Three 80% of you get acid. The other 20% get the shaft, I suppose. He does want to put out. Well, it doesn’t say “acid” specifically. It says “A equally porssoned mixed halusigenic liquid supplement…to conger energy’s of safe love & protection.”

But not, apparently, grammar, spelling, or punctuation.

Please, please, can someone I know go to this and take notes?

h/t Steffani Cameron

Job: External Communications Specialist at VanCity

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Vancity. Make GOOD money.

Vancity. Make GOOD money.

Found this on LinkedIn, I think. Anyway, if I were sticking around I might apply for it but as I’m going to be traveling for the next year or so, it’s all yours. May the best External Communications Specialist win!

Job Details

Requisition Number 13-1251
Post Date 10/17/2013
Close Date 11/1/2013
Title External Communications Specialist
Employee Type Contract
Employee Schedule Full-Time
Job Category Communications
City Vancouver
Province BC
Description External Communications Specialist

With exceptional listening and compassion skills, and the ability to translate Vancity’s Good Money™ brand promise to our members, you will have excellent writing skills and a solid understanding of content strategies.  This will be complemented by three years of related experience and a specialized post-secondary diploma or degree in communications or a related field.

The External Communications Specialistreports directly into the Manager Communications (external).

Key areas of accountability for this role are:

  • Research, write, edit, and provide recommendations to publish materials to enable the execution of communications plans.
  • Assist the communications team in creating and maintaining content in internal and external Vancity channels.
  • Plan and coordinate logistics for organization wide events and meetings.
  • Assist in media monitoring, gathering and analyzing data to measure effectiveness of media plan and other communications plans.

Here at Vancity, we have a consistent set of expectations for all employees:

  • Work effectively and with full commitment on the tasks assigned by your manager.
  • Give your manager your best advice.
  • Stay within policy.
Qualifications Competencies:

  • Solid business acumen in the context of the financial industry.
  • Solid analytical skills to review information, detect anomalies, and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
  • Solid problem solving and decision making skills to apply specific standards and guidelines to the work; escalating unresolved issues to senior staff
  • Solid knowledge of the concepts, practices and techniques of the related field.
  • Solid knowledge of Vancity strategies, functions and programs.
  • Solid communication and interpersonal skills to act as a resource for the specialized area, providing specialized advice, guidance, explanations, and related support; and also to participate development of program content.

Education:

The competencies for this position would typically be acquired through a specialized post-secondary diploma in a communications discipline or general undergraduate degree.

Experience:

2 to 3 years related experience.
Apply to This Job
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We commit to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace and to working with people and communities to help them thrive and prosper. Diversity is integral to this commitment. Our diversity allows us to fully understand, connect to, and respond to the needs of our members and communities.

Sound like a good fit? Put your outstanding skills to use with an organization that promotes work-life-balance, accountability-based leadership and member-led innovation that creates community impact. Apply online today!

Selah.

Today in Twitter Spats of the Immortals

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https://twitter.com/normmacdonald/statuses/390053346591006721

Also, like Capote, not wrong.