A Practical Visitor's Guide to Saskatoon

I love this... I just came across it whilst googling bareass beach!

(source: Anonymous)

1.First you must learn to pronounce the city's name. It is Sask-A-tune, not
"S'toon", and it DOES NOT matter how people who are not from here pronounce
it.

2. Saskatoon has its own version of traffic rules. Never forget that
downtown Saskatoon is composed in large part of three or four block
streets. The only way to get out of the center of town is to turn around
and start over when you reach the river.

3. All directions start with, "Go down Circle Drive ."

4. Circle Drive has no beginning and no end, although it does not actually
circle the entire city, either.

5. Exit and entry ramps on Circle Drive are just the recommended way of
entering and exiting Feel free to exit at any grassy point you wish.

6. The 8:00 a.m. rush hour is from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. The 5:00 PM rush hour
is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.

7. If you actually stop at a yellow light, this is a dead giveaway that you
are a tourist.

8. Idylwyld can only be pronounced by a native Saskatonian , so do not
attempt the phonetic pronunciation. People will tilt their heads to the
right and stare at you.

9. Bingo, Bugs and Baseball are here to stay. DEAL WITH IT.

10. Construction on Saskatoon streets in summer is a way of life and a
permanent form of entertainment. Kind of like the weather.

11. Construction crews aren't doing their job properly unless they close
down all lanes except one during rush hour.

12. Many bizarre sights can be explained simply by uttering the phrase,
"Oh, we're in Sutherland".

13. We have a zoo. Well, it's not really a zoo. We just like to call it
a zoo.

14. We also have a nude beach that we call "Bareass Beach". No one really
knows where this is but everyone has heard of it so assume it is an urban
myth and does not really exist (except in the minds of Saskatonians).

15. If someone actually has their turn signal on, it was probably left on
at the factory where the car was made.

16. Buying a Saskatoon street map is a waste of money since the
termination or continuation of any street is entirely at the discretion
of the Works Department of the City. Our Works Department also has a fondness
for changing street names at mid-way points (typical instruction that a
northbound tourist may receive: "just head outta town on that road that used
to be Warman Road")

17. Asking directions will help you get acquainted with the residents. It
will not be any help at all for finding the address you seek.

18. Never honk your horn at another car in traffic. The bumper sticker
that reads,"Keep honking, I'm reloading." is considered a fair warning.

Motive Art Movement Launches

The art movement I'm involved with has just launched, so here's the press release. I hope readers of fatpaulie.com would come over, register, and join in the discussion on the MOTIVE site.

London, UK
July 2, 2007

The sculptor Blake is launching a new action group for artists who want to help victims of war, poverty and disease by raising money for charities supporting the victims of human injustice.

Motive launches its website (http://www.motive-art.org) this month with a call for artists to join the movement and donate their work or time to charitable projects.

Blake himself is donating the entire collection from his 2007 exhibition to the No More Landmines Trust and their mine clearance work across the developing world. He expects to raise more than £1 million from the sale of a series of quarter life size bronzes at his exhibition Fragments.

He said: "For centuries, artists have used their work to make political and social statements. But we believe this is not enough. We want to push art past commentary and into positive action. Our aim is simple but huge. We want artists to help create a better world."

Canadian-born Blake (http://www.blake.at) is a noted figurative sculptor who trained in Europe. His Fragments work was inspired by his visits to Vietnam, where he saw first-hand the horrors created by landmines. Each piece has been created in clay then partially destroßyed before being cast in bronze.

"I have called the exhibition Fragments because that's what landmines create. They shatter people's lives."

Blake stressed that he does not expect artists to follow his lead by giving away their entire collection.
"To launch Motive, I had to make a dramatic gesture, but clearly many artists will not be able to do this."

The Fragments Exhibition shows at the following locations:
August 13-24 The Smithfield Gallery, 16 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9HY
October 13-25 Chapter House, Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EE
November 1-17 Royal Opera Arcade, 5 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5NP

For more information about Motive and its website, or to request an interview with Blake, please contact Paul Sherrard via email at paul@motive-art.org