For some reason the words "embroidery" and "nude" rarely appear in the same news story.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2006/08/11/nude-embroidery.html?ref=rss

Here's an unusual way to get rid of your anger:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5251952.stm?ls

If you're attending the Saskatoon Fringe Theatre Festival, I strongly recommend "McCarthy and the Old Woman", a one-woman show written and performed by Rita Deverell, at Venue 7. She does a wonderful job of playing multiple characters, and the script mixes comedy and drama very effectively.

Here's a link with more information about the production:

http://www.25thstreettheatre.org/2006%20Fringe/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=62

There is some good news for pregnant women in Japan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5255672.stm

Here are some Buddhist words of wisdom.



Sakka asked the Buddha: "Do different religious teachers head for the same goal or practice the same disciplines or aspire to the same thing?"

"No, Sakka, they do not. And why? This world is made up of myriad different states of being, and people adhere to one or another of these states and become tenaciously possessive of them, saying, 'This alone is true, everything else is false.' It is like a territory that they believe is theirs. So all religious teachers do not teach the same goal or the same discipline, nor do they aspire to the same thing. But if you find truth in any religion or philosophy, then accept that truth without prejudice."

-Digha Nikaya

From "The Pocket Buddha Reader," edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com .

I hope you'll enjoy this video that a friend found online recently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI

When I was at the Saskatoon Fringe Theatre Festival yesterday, I ran into several people I know who asked me if I was doing a show at the Fringe this year. I told them that I wasn't and that I was attending the festival as "a civilian" this year. This was also a reference to the fact that I used to review the Fringe for CBC Radio and sometimes for magazines.

I've done 10 Fringe Festival shows (some in Edmonton but most in Saskatoon) over the years, including at the first Fringe Festival in Canada (Edmonton in 1982). My last Fringe show was in Saskatoon in 2003 ("Fishing Buddies" and "Dancing Backwards"). Over the years I've worked with lots of wonderful people on these shows and have enjoyed writing and/or directing and/or acting as part of the productions.

However, I'm not sure if I'll do another Fringe show or not. I love the creative process of writing, rehearsing and performing, but I get tired of having to put up posters, distribute handbills and try to get media coverage because there's so much competition--especially from well-known touring groups--for potential audience members.