No doubt cats call us "useful idiots". Actually, they probably call us "useless idiots".
Monday, March 16, 2026
Quote: George Mikes on the Cat/Human Dynamic
"You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals."
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Flyer Card: Dr Danielle Martin of University-Rosedale
Here in Canada we have three upcoming by-elections for ridings that have to be re-determined. Those are: my own riding of "University-Rosedale" (Toronto, Ontario), "Terrabonne" (Quebec), which I've been to; and "Scarborough Southwest" (Toronto, Ontario).
Slipped inside my door yesterday was the above card. Dr Danielle Martin will be looking for a win in this Liberal fortress. Longtime Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland stepped down from her firm position after accepting a voluntary role advising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ms Martin will maintain the Liberal brand in "University-Rosedale". She has my full support.
These by-elections will all take place on Monday, April 13th. I will so be there!
Prime Minister Mark Carney rocks.
Postscript: The Liberal Party of Canada has to win just two of these ridings to cement a (thin) "majority" government. The two Toronto ridings are a pretty safe bet for the LPC, while "Terrabonne", no doubt, will be a very close contest.
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Quote: Raymond Carver on Relaxing and Reading
“Woke up this morning with a terrific urge to lie in bed all day and read.”
I hear you, brother. While I couldn't lie in bed all day, I'd have to get up and at it, your greater point sits well with me.
Friday, March 13, 2026
RCAF Aircraft: CF-104 Starfighter
In March of last year I posted a piece on the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) Canadair CC-106 "Yukon" transport aircraft. Here are a few memories regarding my "brat" past; memories about RCAF Station/CFB Baden-Soellingen (4 Wing), in then West Germany, that might be of interest to former, or current, military brats, and perhaps a few "civilians"....
In those days, the mid-late 1960s and early 1970s, the RCAF's main front-line jet fighter/interceptor was the CF-104 "Starfighter". Built under license (from Lockheed) by Canadair at its Cartierville Airport plant in the Montreal suburb of Saint-Laurent, the "one-o-four" went on to enjoy a long life with Canada's Finest Service; eventually being replaced by the CF-18.
With such a high-performance aircraft, especially one originally designed for high-altitude interception but re-geared for a low-level strike and reconnaissance role, there were bound to be more than a few accidents. During the years I lived in Iffezheim, West Germany, 'we' lost several 104s from 4 Wing. The most memorable incident happened in July of 1969 when two collided over the countryside. I remember vividly my father darting off for two weeks as part of the recovery/investigation team and, upon his returning, with redundant bags of sugar and other such foodstuffs, him recounting the commotion at the crash scene when they arrived: "It (a farmer's field) was crawling with Polizei." Apparently the two jets "locked wings" which sealed their fate; one pilot managed to eject while the other went down with his machine — some of what my dad described about the impact site was pretty gruesome.
There was another: Soon after I got to school one morning my teacher told the class that a Starfighter had crashed not long after we had been bused in. (My family and I lived off-base, and not in the local "PMQs" [Private Married Quarters]. I have long been thankful that my parents wanted to live with the Germans, and not in a semi-sheltered environment called "Kleinkanada". There were lots of Canadian kids in my neighbourhood — offspring of other smart parents.) If I remember correctly, that pilot managed to eject safely from his aircraft, despite the fact that he was in "take-off" mode... a dangerous time to try to eject.
Perhaps my fondest memory regarding the CF-104 Starfighter is of the machine's sound; that sound. One would hear the roar of jets in formation, and look up to see whether they were Canadian or German — the Luftwaffe, too, operated the Starfighter. One beautifully sunny day my Grade 2 school teacher walked us out to the airfield; why exactly I did not know — I'm sure Mrs. Gunnery said something, but I could not have been paying attention (surprise?). Upon taking position at our stations my school mates and I looked off over the flatness of the strip to the horizon. Suddenly there were several descending trails of black smoke which, of course, I was familiar with; moments later I noticed a series of landing lights seemingly suspended over the field. Suffice to say the 104s were flying very low, just over the deck, as they raced past us: What a noise! I love jets, and the racket they make, but really!
In those days, the mid-late 1960s and early 1970s, the RCAF's main front-line jet fighter/interceptor was the CF-104 "Starfighter". Built under license (from Lockheed) by Canadair at its Cartierville Airport plant in the Montreal suburb of Saint-Laurent, the "one-o-four" went on to enjoy a long life with Canada's Finest Service; eventually being replaced by the CF-18.
With such a high-performance aircraft, especially one originally designed for high-altitude interception but re-geared for a low-level strike and reconnaissance role, there were bound to be more than a few accidents. During the years I lived in Iffezheim, West Germany, 'we' lost several 104s from 4 Wing. The most memorable incident happened in July of 1969 when two collided over the countryside. I remember vividly my father darting off for two weeks as part of the recovery/investigation team and, upon his returning, with redundant bags of sugar and other such foodstuffs, him recounting the commotion at the crash scene when they arrived: "It (a farmer's field) was crawling with Polizei." Apparently the two jets "locked wings" which sealed their fate; one pilot managed to eject while the other went down with his machine — some of what my dad described about the impact site was pretty gruesome.
There was another: Soon after I got to school one morning my teacher told the class that a Starfighter had crashed not long after we had been bused in. (My family and I lived off-base, and not in the local "PMQs" [Private Married Quarters]. I have long been thankful that my parents wanted to live with the Germans, and not in a semi-sheltered environment called "Kleinkanada". There were lots of Canadian kids in my neighbourhood — offspring of other smart parents.) If I remember correctly, that pilot managed to eject safely from his aircraft, despite the fact that he was in "take-off" mode... a dangerous time to try to eject.
Perhaps my fondest memory regarding the CF-104 Starfighter is of the machine's sound; that sound. One would hear the roar of jets in formation, and look up to see whether they were Canadian or German — the Luftwaffe, too, operated the Starfighter. One beautifully sunny day my Grade 2 school teacher walked us out to the airfield; why exactly I did not know — I'm sure Mrs. Gunnery said something, but I could not have been paying attention (surprise?). Upon taking position at our stations my school mates and I looked off over the flatness of the strip to the horizon. Suddenly there were several descending trails of black smoke which, of course, I was familiar with; moments later I noticed a series of landing lights seemingly suspended over the field. Suffice to say the 104s were flying very low, just over the deck, as they raced past us: What a noise! I love jets, and the racket they make, but really!
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Picturing: Alan Outside the Spadina Subway Entrance
Before ducking into that (TTC) station's west-side entrance, Al decided to take in some city art.
Sunday Fun: Strolling Bloor Street West of Spadina
Late this morning I met an old friend, and former Film Effects coworker, for lunch: beer and food at Paupers Pub; good ol' "Paupers". I had not visited that venerable "Annex" hotspot since before the Covid lockdown... that long ago. While Al and I chatted for a few minutes it suddenly occurred to me that all the seating has been reupholstered, freshened up. It looks great!
The above pic is my "tourist photo". It's a beautiful day here in Toronto. The temperature currently sits at 10 Celsius (50). Tomorrow's forecast is calling for 16 (61).
Picturing: JD Rouette Peaceful in Toronto on Sunday
I've known Jean-Denis Rouette since the summer of 1991. He had been sent my way by mutual Montrealer friends. He's a talented editor, a "working editor", and a collector of physical video media: DVDs and BDs (Blu-ray Discs). I have a few Criterion titles, but my collection would pale.
What makes "JD" so cool to me: he believes that Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) is not the worst film ever made. That, beyond its own filmic and production shortcomings, it has something vital to say. (I agree, as would "Cult Movies" author Danny Peary.)
Perhaps my favourite story regarding my old friend: Jean-Denis is a big Orson Welles fan. We once got into a discussion about Citizen Kane (1941). Effortlessly we transitioned to The Six Million Dollar Man, a 1970s television series we both watched in our youth: from Welles' greatest picture to ABC's bionic man, specifically the "Bigfoot" episodes. When JD mentioned "Good Bigfoot", and we addressed it with the same reverence as we would Charles Foster Kane, I knew I had met an intelligent lover of the motion picture form.
Postscript: We dined at Peaceful Restaurant last Sunday. It gets a five-star review from me. JD was familiar with the small chain from when he lived in Vancouver. It figures that an out-of-towner introduces me to an establishment that's but a few minutes from where I live.
Peaceful Restaurant
515 Bloor St WToronto
* * *
ISO speed: 1000
F-stop: f/3.3
Exposure time: 1/200
Friday, March 6, 2026
Flash Poem: The Cat's But
My cat asked for
my homage
But
If I failed to
comply
He would pay
homage to
me and my
my homage
But
If I failed to
comply
He would pay
homage to
me and my
___
2017
Simon St. Laurent
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)