Award-winning Author
Catch the audiocast of Nino Ricci’s true life tale of intrigue, illicit narcotics, and capitalist tendencies, “My Life as an Entrepreneur,” part of CBC Books’ stranger than fiction series.
Just don’t tell Nino’s parents.
First heard on CBC’s The Sunday Edition.
Giuseppina D’Agostino, the Founder and Director of IP Osgoode and an Associate Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, recently appeared as a witness before the Parliamentary Committee Hearings on Bill C-32. D’Agostino is the author of Copyright, Contracts, Creators: New Media, New Rules, which looks at the precarious position of freelance journalists under current copyright regimes, and has been a strong voice for greater recognition of the rights of creators in the drafting of copyright legislation.
D’Agostino’s opening comments to the committee focused on the dangerously ambiguous nature of the new “education” exemption under the bill’s fair dealing provision, and on the potentially negative impact of this provision and others on creators. You can read her opening comments in full at IP Osgoode or watch the video at the Parliamentary Committee site (go to Meeting 5).
See Zoe Whittall’s blog at quillandquire.com for more response on Ricci’s C-32 Op-ed.
Industry Minister Tony Clement has publicly denounced Nino Ricci’s Globe editorial on C-32 in a tweet to his 6027 followers, calling Ricci’s views “fiction” and asserting “Fair dealing is never an unfettered rt to copy!”
The tweet does not indicate what portion of Ricci’s article Mr. Clement found fictitious, or indeed that he actually read the editorial.
The backlash continues against Ricci’s comments on C-32. To see more thrilling attacks on Ricci’s intelligence and character, visit theglobeandmail.com’s Commentary hub.
The response from Ricci (now in hiding somewhere along the American border): “I am heartened by the vigour of the response to my article. My favourite response, both for its succinctness and its wit, is from Mike Boos. ‘Nino Ricci is a two-time winner of the Governor-General’s Award for fiction. Looks like he’s trying to win a third award for fiction with this piece.’ I hope Mr. Boos is meaning to imply that whatever the shortcomings of my piece in terms of its understanding of the issues, it is at least well-written.”
Not having learned his lesson from past forays into politics, Nino Ricci has made the mistake of offering his humble opinions on the shortcomings of the Harper government’s new copyright legislation, Bill C-32, at theglobeandmail.com. Already, he is feeling the backlash. “Nino, you are a great authour,” comments Noah Stewart. “But seriously misinformed when it comes to copyright law. Before attacking students and teachers, you should take the time to understand what Bill C-32 is actually about.”
Responds Ricci: “If I attacked students and teachers, it must have been a typo. I really like students and teachers. Honestly. All of my children are students. As for teachers, I have only the deepest sympathy for them, having failed at the job myself.”
Ricci has yet to hear from his children as to their opinion of his comments.
Nino Ricci was at his desk playing Spider Solitaire when the call came in.
“Mr. Ricci? I’m calling on behalf of York University’s Bryden Alumni Awards to let you know you’ve been chosen for this year’s Pinnacle Achievement Award.”
Ricci couldn’t believe his ears.
“I mean, I’m honoured, of course, but the truth is I don’t even play pinochle!”
“That’s ‘pinnacle,’ Mr. Ricci.”
“Oh, is that how you pronounce it? And all my life I’ve been mispronouncing it ‘pinochle’!”
Ricci’s friend and fellow York alumnus, the prominent Toronto lawyer Jay Naster, who now shares a poker circle with Ricci, was as dumbfounded as Ricci was at the news.
“Are you sure they said pinochle? Maybe they meant poker. But then I doubt it, given the way you play.”
The 2010 Bryden Alumni Awards will be presented November 4th at the Design Exchange in Toronto. Fellow recipients include Galit Solomon of CTV News, Hana Zalzal of Cargo Cosmetics, James Love of Love & Whalen, and Harriet Lewis, York University’s Chief Counsel. Ricci graduated from York with a B.A. in English in 1981.
Cormorant Books has announced the publication of a 20th Anniversary Edition of Lives of the Saints, with an introduction by Steven Hayward and with original colour illustrations by renowned Canadian artist Tony Urquhart. This hardcover commemorative edition will include chapters excised from the original edition and an afterword by Nino Ricci on the novel’s place in his own life and work.
Available November 2010. Check out the 20th Anniversary web page for more details.
The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Rumours are swirling that U.S. president Barack Obama may make an unofficial stop at the Nino Ricci web site in the coming weeks after a bookstore mix-up landed Ricci’s novel The Origin of Species on the President’s desk.
“I guess he was planning a visit to Texas and wanted to read up on his Darwin,” said a source close to sources in the Washington rumour mill. “By accident the bookstore sent him the Ricci book instead.”
When the book failed to appear in White House recycling bins, speculation grew that the President’s curiosity had been piqued. “Who is this guy?” he allegedly commented. A Google search by White House intelligence services quickly tracked down the Ricci web site, and the idea of a visit was born.
The secrecy and security surrounding such a visit is extreme, and nothing is known of its timing or itinerary. Said Ricci, “Frankly, I’m happy if he just pops into my home page for a couple of minutes. Though I’d love to show him around the gallery and the archives.”
As for the upshot of the visit, Ricci is keeping his hopes modest. “What would be great is if some right wing religious group got wind of the visit and started organizing book burnings and that kind of thing. That would really boost sales. But to be honest I’m just kind of amazed the book ever made it past White House security.”
President Obama could not be reached for comment.
Nino Ricci reached new heights on his recent promotional tour in the U.S., particularly in New York City, where at one point he scaled to the top of the Empire State Building. On the book front, meanwhile, an event at one of Manhattan’s premier independent booksellers, McNally Jackson, drew an audience well into the double digits.
Already the raves have started to roll in. “Anna loved this,” commented culture blog largehearted boy on the Other Press edition of The Origin of Species (Anna herself was unavailable for comment), while an audience member at the McNally Jackson event was overheard to say, “Look, the cover matches our wallpaper!” Said Ricci, with his trademark modesty, “It’s a miracle just to be published.” Experts in the U.S. publishing industry who were familiar with Ricci’s work agreed.