6 — Sunday, August 23, 1998 — North Shore News IVE music lovers are singing 4 sad song with word that the ortside Room is closing its doors at the end of the month. For the past two years the 50-scat lounge in the Seven Seas restaurant served as both a proving ground for musicians and a great place to spend an evening with friends. And while Portside patrons are sad- dened by the closing, it is the North Shore’s tnusical community that has lost the most. From the first day the room opened its doors Portside manager Gregory Aimas and entertainment prograsaer Derek Nyberg dedicated their stage to the development of local musicians. . Sure, established piayers like Paul Hyde, John Bottomly and Megan Metcalfe were often on the bill, but it north shore news VIEWPOINT Sad song that would define the vision of the room. Much tafent was discovered dur- ing these nights. Unfortunately, the Portside’s dynamic duo also discovered that live music -~ once the bread and butter of Vancouver’s nightlife scene — is out of tune with the public. Where once peo- ple looked forward to a night out with friends, they are now holed-up in front of their televisions, their computers, their video players. As standup come- dian Steven Pearl once said: “When I was young we didn’t have MTV; we had to take drugs and go to concerts.” The loss of the Portside Room may seem like no big deal to many. However, {oz the aztists who rocked the boat, and for those who found solace, spirit and inspiration in their creations, the closing is truly a sad was the mid-week open mike nights song. you said it _ “1 will not apologize to anyone for refining our business. We’re responding to our customers’ needs.” Park Royal director Rick Amantea responding to she actions of 40 “big box” protesters outside the construc- tion site of the new West Vancouver Keg restaurant. (Fro an Aug. 16 News story.) o00 _:“They’re not using drugs to escape life in a ghetto whee life is realiy creminy | Life is pretty good ge in West Vancouver.” . | West Vancouver Police Const. Harry McNeil address- ing students at St. Anthony’s school on the difference between drug users in Canada and the U.S. (From an Aug. 16 News story.) - 00Gc » “It’s not a real job. Ie’s just something that’s there now. It’s a way I can:see the world, get out there and meet people.” 4 North Vancouver male model Aaron. Dudicy on the significance of lucking into a lead role in a Madonna video and the potential for further modelling work. (From an Aug. 16 News fashion Hoy) 5 QO “D’ve decided, contrary to the giceful predictions of my political opponents and the newspaper editorials, that: I’m oot opting back in.” “. North Vancouver Reform MP Ted White announcing his decision to turn his back on the lucrative MP’s pension plan. (From an Aisg. 19 News sory) . “You're damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’s. 1 would urge everyone fighting the justice system to speak up.” _ Gillan Guess discussing her behavior with the media during her ‘trial fer obstruction of justice. (From an Aug. 19 News story.) Qa0o0 “I¢ wasn’t for the money. It’s in everybody’s mind to get out of the suit (and) downtown life. You’re trading a salary fora lifestyle.” ” Art and ‘framing store owner John Denharteg on his career change out of banking. (From an Aug. 19 News business story.) north shore. Worth Share News, four-ded in 1969.as an independent suburban nevespaps: td qualied Under Schedule 111, raragrage: 411 of the Excive Tax Act, is published each Wedansrtay. Friday and Sunray by North Shore Free Frese Ue and chstributed to every daor on the North ‘Shore. Canada Post Canadian Puyobcatons Mail THE real lesson of the Ciinton scandal is not about the sexual dalliances of the world’s most powerful man. It’s about the mounting dangers — for all of us — of the information age. We're taiking about the insane theory that everyone has the right to know everything atwout everybody every: ss here on the globe. The the ory that more infor- masjon is always better information and total information, however skewed or inaccu- rate it may later prove to be, is best of alt. Nobody has analyzed the essential fal- lacy of this theary better than David Shenk in his 1997 book DATA SMOG: Surviving the Information Glut. It focus- es on the spectre of total information overload with miiiime{ value for the aver- age individual. Ic warns that information is pointless unless usctul to its recipient and that mere data is not knowledge, let alone wisdom. Fast rewind to Britain in 1936. Although King Edward VIII’: liaison with Wally Simpson had been well publi- cized for months in America and Europe, the average Briton first read about it in his newspaper a scant two wecks before Edward abdicated. In the U.S. itself, the private life of Franklin D, Roosevelt — along with the fact that he was wheel- chair-bound — was studiously ignored Hann esastes Marae 985-2131 (177) Classified Manager 906-6222 (702) Complrolir 968-2131 (133) by the media of the day. The colorful liaisons of John F. Kennedy were accord- ed similar media courtesy. In short, as recently as 30 years or so ago national leaders were still judged primarily on the public service job they did. Media bosses recog- nized — to ewist Pierre Trudeau’s famous quore — that they nor- mally had no business in the bedrooms of the state. ‘thus, the media often handled the mors harmicss personal pec- cadillos of the high and the mighty with same degree of sensitivity and class. . No longer, alas. Media competition has now intensified, thanks in part to sensation-hungry iabloids and no-holds- barred radio and TV talk shows. More than ever today, “thou shalt not be scooped” is the paramount law for sur- vival in the media jungle -— so to hell with sensitivity or “class.” Whether it’s the heir to Brnitain’s throne or the U.S. president, let it all hang out in the circu- ation and ratings battles. Yet even all this pales beside the mas- sive public access in recent years to the largely unregulated Internet, already far and away the biggest compctitor to the traditional media, which ignore it at their peril. If there are facts they have missed — or decide for the moment to withhold —— chances are that the information is readily available anyhow to the legions of Net surfers among their own audiences. This is the same Internet where mas- happy returns of T sive databases also store every tiny: detail of your and my personal lifesry habits and (yes!) sins — available with few keystrokes to marketers and anyone: else in the world. It’s not just Bill | Clinton, Prince Charles and Fergie live today in a global goldfish he Potentially, we all do, except join us in the bow?!) Soca But how, this clueless philosopher asks, docs all today’s torrent of i t tion really add to the sum of human piness? What do I gain from learning ¢! sleazy cetails of Monica’s stained dre when Hillary forgives Rill end pvq' three Americans want him to carry} being an effective president? Wasi: any worse at the:job | : Monroe? Will Camill: barber’s name, t how often I visit the tiquor:store Whatever happened to preciouis’pi Did the guy who wrote “whe rance is bliss, "tis folly. ise sumething we don’t? . es WELCOME to Canada birthday tomorrow, Aug.: Mac Howard fro Jap Ys West Van’ Kiwanian Arthur: Ho And warm anniversary. wishes’ that.’ day to North Van’s Bob. and B Griffin. . : os eee WRIGHT. OR WRONG: If you want to hit bottom, stop digging the Hole: LETTERS TO THE EDITUR Letters must include your name, full address & telephone number. Managing Editor 965-2031 (116)