Entries by Jeffrey Ian Ross

Thirty Years After VIOLENCE IN CANADA

Canada is often portrayed, by Canadians and outsiders alike, as a peaceable kingdom. A safe, polite, largely nonviolent country. Aside from a handful of gritty television series that have made their way out of Canada, the True North is generally depicted as an exceptional place to live, work, or vacation. But thirty years ago, I […]

Interpreting Graffiti and Street Art Tours

Although graffiti writers and street artists are central to shaping the urban visual landscape, they don’t act alone. Behind the scenes is a network of typically low-visibility individuals and organizations that enable or obstruct these visual interventions. While considerable attention is paid to the forces that attempt to prevent and abate graffiti and street art […]

The Death of Democracy in America Is Boring

Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention has witnessed constant assaults on personal liberties and the Constitution. What I want to argue is more unsettling: what we’ve seen over the past months is not only distressing, but boring, and that’s the real danger. Nearly every day […]

What’s my favorite Japanese dish to prepare?

When I tell people I enjoy cooking Japanese food (@_gaijinchef), they often ask me which dish I enjoy making the most. Although it’s a natural question, I find it difficult to provide a straightforward answer. There are two main reasons why. First, I specialize in cooking Washoku (i.e., traditional Japanese cuisine characterized by seasonal ingredients, balance, […]

Do Blues Musicians Really Need to Suffer to Be Great?

There’s a long-held belief that great art requires suffering. One genre where this perception is especially prominent is blues music. Rooted in the African American experience, the blues is known for its emotional intensity, blue notes, and repeating chord structures, often conveying themes of physical, emotional, or psychological hardship. Given these origins, one might ask: […]