tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68056604674001797422024-03-18T22:20:35.365-04:00Simon St. Laurent, SquibberSimon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.comBlogger2903125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-86507006608659616882024-03-16T12:54:00.001-04:002024-03-16T13:20:07.134-04:00A Flip on an RCAF/CAF C-130 Hercules<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0oHl6rnspmI/X1dtdMkVv3I/AAAAAAAAEsE/_GS4FwLLfhMy1Axg1IUeMWgWbYfb5VRsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/caf%2Bhercules_sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0oHl6rnspmI/X1dtdMkVv3I/AAAAAAAAEsE/_GS4FwLLfhMy1Axg1IUeMWgWbYfb5VRsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/caf%2Bhercules_sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Some images take us way back. The photo above, which I grabbed from Wikipedia, flew me to my "brat" youth. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules has served the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) for decades. In my day, the "Herc" was painted in the livery illustrated above, which only help feed the pangs of nostalgia.<br />
<br />
The route of CFB Lahr to Gatwick Airport, and back again, was my trip; my "flip".Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-31393468193791988952024-03-11T21:52:00.008-04:002024-03-13T05:35:03.121-04:00Star Trek ― Series Proposal ― March 11, 1964<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl195zowFBLN1ifCBzrZahiossXbONybuG6MjMnGl9vJGCsGVXUfCGdj46G0U4Zn2ft7Ro_SYU3H5VWpPeRcAHhp0YTTEq5r_olYs1JIVjqlARP-hKvH2QjVN3lhGbhnrxhykUPBM1n8NGisX_MOgFMQyEotmosIhU5AGPHjM8PXNBCosk9IHE4rdK71w/s700/star%20trek%20proposal%20roddenberry_blg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="557" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl195zowFBLN1ifCBzrZahiossXbONybuG6MjMnGl9vJGCsGVXUfCGdj46G0U4Zn2ft7Ro_SYU3H5VWpPeRcAHhp0YTTEq5r_olYs1JIVjqlARP-hKvH2QjVN3lhGbhnrxhykUPBM1n8NGisX_MOgFMQyEotmosIhU5AGPHjM8PXNBCosk9IHE4rdK71w/s320/star%20trek%20proposal%20roddenberry_blg.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">click to enlarge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This ol' Trekker saw a tweet minutes ago by designer Michael Okuda. He noted that it was sixty years ago today that Gene Roddenberry produced (had typed up) his first presentation paperwork for a proposed television series. It would be, and was always called, "Star Trek".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first pilot episode, "The Cage", would go before the cameras that November. <i>Desilu</i>, Lucille Ball, especially, had faith in the series concept. Lucy's star shined brightly, and still does.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">Star Trek</span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Created by:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">GENE RODDENBERRY</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">FIRST DRAFT</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">March 11, 1964</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">STAR TREK is...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">A one-hour television series.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Action - Adventure - Science Fiction.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The first such concept with strong</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">central lead characters plus other</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">continuing regulars.</span></div><p></p>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-13817016791529948042024-03-07T15:21:00.003-05:002024-03-07T15:22:57.303-05:00Reading: The Canadian Constitution (Dodek)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZcxNKtOIN_hubSedQx7Io8mZTHY09alMuHyB_tYJrP8_A3BrW32dwxO0J5YNFvz6lqVd2f040vCUXr84t2j9LP5Aqsi-CsLf1dgZzo7Fl1ECAgNPmQwx_5kGCV-uz6NO4afqOrYLwdMaROEjNhc5pJdC41nMngS8Mm6TDta7rMrxpVsQRyKWZCsWADrA/s360/book_the%20canadian%20constitution_blg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZcxNKtOIN_hubSedQx7Io8mZTHY09alMuHyB_tYJrP8_A3BrW32dwxO0J5YNFvz6lqVd2f040vCUXr84t2j9LP5Aqsi-CsLf1dgZzo7Fl1ECAgNPmQwx_5kGCV-uz6NO4afqOrYLwdMaROEjNhc5pJdC41nMngS8Mm6TDta7rMrxpVsQRyKWZCsWADrA/s320/book_the%20canadian%20constitution_blg.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><i>"We can identify a 'Canadian constitutional model.' Our Constitution is the envy of the world and Canadians have been involved as advisors in constitution-making in places such as South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Israel. Yet our constitution is much more than the written documents that are contained in this book. It is the living, breathing experience of Canadians in their daily lives. It is the spirit of democracy and tolerance that makes Canada the great country that it is."</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Author Adam Dodek explains in his preface why he decided to write <b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The Canadian Constitution</span></b>. His educational background ― which included McGill University and law school in the States ― along with his travels, allowed him to study the constitutions of various countries. As Mr Dodek states, he kept coming back to our own.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm but a few chapters in, but this document is fascinating.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Postscript: a few years ago I read Robert A. Dahl's <b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">How Democratic Is the American Constitution?</span></b> Fascinating stuff.</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-78294500600570734572024-03-03T13:34:00.000-05:002024-03-03T13:34:13.368-05:00Picturing: Bird on the Bush<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW1KFleSBSs172rD1jZW-nOBT0zZC2HeIE5VRL8DzvfDmyR1p8kxyl-_EwutQJhVudU6w3o-E8cAt8P2u8NC7EBW0jtrlldPlhbGzK8uyYCizuCnAoZ7tBQHAUS-k7VIWw-Jz40qd3RnzN3W9sGHXishv0kyjvDE5WvjsJEc5oH6r7ta9m2CAZs2km28T/s450/bush%20bird%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW1KFleSBSs172rD1jZW-nOBT0zZC2HeIE5VRL8DzvfDmyR1p8kxyl-_EwutQJhVudU6w3o-E8cAt8P2u8NC7EBW0jtrlldPlhbGzK8uyYCizuCnAoZ7tBQHAUS-k7VIWw-Jz40qd3RnzN3W9sGHXishv0kyjvDE5WvjsJEc5oH6r7ta9m2CAZs2km28T/s16000/bush%20bird%203.jpg" /></a></div><p></p>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-4634009550847511532024-02-27T21:15:00.003-05:002024-02-27T23:06:55.999-05:00Upcoming Book: Heaping Coals (Coren)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhRW3aauNCGIV9opA6b6XMw02a4EPhJjhjPtH7vJS3BUuemcTmK6xS1LWC7ROid1exFUQaTneGi7m1NxD9qx66w1fji1VSKdwcRnYKAOewcbdLRKeLdG7lV5JLrgdXJ0gf53-Dq9aWOUdajR3Rki-to4RzUyXDUusAp8Q7BBfFFBUE3d-Gq1a50a8YD4B/s600/book%20cover_coals_coren_blg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhRW3aauNCGIV9opA6b6XMw02a4EPhJjhjPtH7vJS3BUuemcTmK6xS1LWC7ROid1exFUQaTneGi7m1NxD9qx66w1fji1VSKdwcRnYKAOewcbdLRKeLdG7lV5JLrgdXJ0gf53-Dq9aWOUdajR3Rki-to4RzUyXDUusAp8Q7BBfFFBUE3d-Gq1a50a8YD4B/w400-h295/book%20cover_coals_coren_blg.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last year I read Michael Coren's 2021 book <i>The Rebel Christ</i>, and I was impressed to the point where I felt compelled to commit my feelings to html: <a href="https://www.simonstlaurent.ca/2023/07/read-rebel-christ-coren.html">Read: The Rebel Christ (Coren)</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Heaping Coals - From Media Firebrand to Anglican Priest</span></i> is his latest book, and, no surprise, I'm looking forward to its release in October.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reverend Coren announced on his Twitter page today that he's "read the proofs and finished the photo captions".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From the publisher, Dundurn:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"From England’s working class to high profile media personality, Michael Coren charts his encounters with people of faith, fame, and fortune.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Michael Coren writes of his life leading up to entering the seminary and being ordained. Growing up in a working-class mixed-religion family, then entering a career in media, Coren was, and in some ways still is, the consummate outsider. He records his encounters and work with Oscar-winning writers, celebrities, and authors, and his early successes as a journalist.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>After marrying and settling in Canada, Coren became a darling of the Christian right, with his TV and radio shows and syndicated column. He describes his shift to more progressive Christianity and politics, and what happened personally and professionally when this occurred.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Not just a humble admission of fault, but an articulate and convincing account of a spiritual awakening."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">... and a special note from Stephen Fry:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>“Coren tells us the stories of his fascinating life with clarity, self-deprecating wit, and page-turning verve.”</i></div></div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-15972467944807086892024-02-15T16:15:00.005-05:002024-02-15T17:43:19.099-05:00CD: UFO (Gray)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WN-LiSNBbtUBzXHpgZDmIje3qr6-XvS952sMdxg2a5Pf2l_8gxzXktf235azZV5zMieZXHnadJK_CMWpTm8xx8GoQeucC9Unzbdm7iRSkYiJaQthZaPoT1Y8ZMTjJMolBhQOp1ZrDl7qyTYwEl1RMY5LSdD3rRnIa_eHvJeAMYcHsmqpkcVPVp26Qnu1/s240/cd_ufo_gray_blg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WN-LiSNBbtUBzXHpgZDmIje3qr6-XvS952sMdxg2a5Pf2l_8gxzXktf235azZV5zMieZXHnadJK_CMWpTm8xx8GoQeucC9Unzbdm7iRSkYiJaQthZaPoT1Y8ZMTjJMolBhQOp1ZrDl7qyTYwEl1RMY5LSdD3rRnIa_eHvJeAMYcHsmqpkcVPVp26Qnu1/s16000/cd_ufo_gray_blg.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">UFO</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">- Original Television Soundtrack -</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Music by</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Barry Gray</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Silva Screen Records</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">2019</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Tuesday nights during the 1970/71 television season I was there with my parents in front of the Zenith colour set tuned to Canada's CTV network. British husband and wife producing team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson left their "Supermarionation" puppet show empire behind to launch <b>UFO</b>, a live-action science fiction series set on the moon's surface and here on good ol' Earth, principally in England. "U-Fo" was superior in many areas: one being the music department.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barry Gray had long been the producers' main scorer, and his efforts for this short-lived dramatic programme were top-drawer, injecting just the right amount of funky Hammond organ fun ― dig that wonderfully spot-on opening theme tune ― and otherworldly bizarreness and genuine heartbreak. While the series could be silly at times, with some episodes seemingly asking, "What were we thinking?", when <b>UFO</b> was good, it was more than good. And its background music was no small contributor, certainly in a telly-series out of this world, even when based here on Sol III.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The perfect capper to any <b>UFO</b> episode, especially one ending on a particularly serious note, was the dissonant and creepy end title music ― not only did it reinforce a sense of darkness that tended to pervade the show format, it functioned as a counterpoint to the (then) contemporary feel of the opening title theme.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">End note: This CD of a 72-minute total running time is a fine sampling of episode scores; around five hours of music was recorded for <b>UFO</b>.</div><p></p>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-38986131895458234522024-02-15T09:36:00.003-05:002024-02-15T09:36:50.940-05:00The Canadian Flag is 59 Today<div style="text-align: left;">And what a flag it is!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On February 15th, 1965, the "National Flag of Canada" was inaugurated in a ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I was a teenager a certain subject came up for discussion while I was hanging out with a friend. He said: "I like our flag."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next to the "Nisshoki" (Japan's national flag), our own red-and-white may pack the most visual punch of all national flags.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She's a beauty! Let's keep honouring her....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWyAKYaRvH9-qSfbFxzxlUY4LmLZ0JzKbm_0rshxRCN3s5QHHgT4kcQ-IsK1AsQfeWOg2RoUvkJtn2Ws561eyLSwx0xUuVsq_1f6RxwV_SP6iClez0P6HtTS-QdEZXaGYdEOeco359pbikQ8FHaqp0Gay5XuB32Epk7YKsWolvhQK_oChfU9aixUVxFJQ/s333/canada%20day%20and%20flag_blg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWyAKYaRvH9-qSfbFxzxlUY4LmLZ0JzKbm_0rshxRCN3s5QHHgT4kcQ-IsK1AsQfeWOg2RoUvkJtn2Ws561eyLSwx0xUuVsq_1f6RxwV_SP6iClez0P6HtTS-QdEZXaGYdEOeco359pbikQ8FHaqp0Gay5XuB32Epk7YKsWolvhQK_oChfU9aixUVxFJQ/s16000/canada%20day%20and%20flag_blg.jpg" /></a></div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-19743067850225344682024-02-10T20:56:00.004-05:002024-02-10T21:02:51.615-05:00Angel Hair Is On Tonight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsswASe5YN_GwG22fjhhaNW_ZQogtRc19gheUTqY5RJVOXnYH7A1-6XVoFrhBWn3WzReEzZesn4tvs__qJG36IB1XSPMUG48vxZf6DaWffTBPkZtUjrQbw3yJJlBV52d1xJB_U70mA6hWQYOetFFmDFW9W_rx5GUuVcUh3kGgrHaEYUs_Nsg9HJ1WYB-t/s450/angel%20hair%20dish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsswASe5YN_GwG22fjhhaNW_ZQogtRc19gheUTqY5RJVOXnYH7A1-6XVoFrhBWn3WzReEzZesn4tvs__qJG36IB1XSPMUG48vxZf6DaWffTBPkZtUjrQbw3yJJlBV52d1xJB_U70mA6hWQYOetFFmDFW9W_rx5GUuVcUh3kGgrHaEYUs_Nsg9HJ1WYB-t/s16000/angel%20hair%20dish.jpg" /></a></div> <div><br /></div><div>Recently I had a discussion with one of my clients, a lovely lady from the Philippines. When I mentioned (mentioned, yes) that I love Filipino dishes, she asked me if I've had Angel Hair.</div><div><br /></div><div>I asked her:</div><div><br /></div><div>"Like that from my shedding cat?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Magic words tickled my ears:</div><div><br /></div><div>"I would love to bring a container of Angel Hair to give to you next time we meet."</div><div><br /></div><div>Delivered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did I mention that I <i>love</i> Filipino food?</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-4237956257752434432024-02-08T19:39:00.004-05:002024-02-08T20:25:20.648-05:00ReBook: Dreaming Aloud (Heard)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcZCVz4lszx9oUSrklr3RwgGiWqVj38NDr88_iALJ_BQmei0z7tIBSe3qhzdeRi-Schz1B4kyqQLRJ1d4toyWGjJWN_ZgnEly9_LZseDZ27qtOH7BW0Eb-oWoUJa4nmWroJIa-XBHiI7Gy3ZN-d-OszYKPJwo1RkECyA4qPThU2CoJ4IvC2ciS4trWPD8/s369/dreaming%20aloud_blg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcZCVz4lszx9oUSrklr3RwgGiWqVj38NDr88_iALJ_BQmei0z7tIBSe3qhzdeRi-Schz1B4kyqQLRJ1d4toyWGjJWN_ZgnEly9_LZseDZ27qtOH7BW0Eb-oWoUJa4nmWroJIa-XBHiI7Gy3ZN-d-OszYKPJwo1RkECyA4qPThU2CoJ4IvC2ciS4trWPD8/s16000/dreaming%20aloud_blg.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">Dreaming Aloud</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">- The Life and Films of James Cameron -</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">by</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Christopher Heard</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Doubleday Canada Limited</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">1997</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>A few years ago a friend of mine met James Cameron here in Toronto ― it was arranged by a client of ours, a mate of the filmmaker's. Mr Cameron was very cordial and a true gent in giving my buddy, a huge fan, some time. The only disappointing part of the brief talk was when Cameron declined, gently, signing <b>Dreaming Aloud</b>. "I'm sorry, Carl, I can't sign that."<div><br /></div><div><b>Dreaming Aloud</b> is actually a good book. Christopher Heard comes across as being fair to his subject. It's far from being trash writing even when he does speak of some negatives regarding the 'animated' Canadian filmmaker.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Titanic</i> (1997) was still in production when the book's publisher sent it to the presses, so we are blessedly spared the suffering and grating squeaks of "My Heart Will Go On". Heard would have had to go on about that song, otherwise.</div><div><br /></div><div>James Cameron <i>is</i> a fascinating filmmaker and man.</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-2955712479511036602024-02-08T11:12:00.003-05:002024-02-08T11:12:51.353-05:00Toronto Not as Cold as These Pics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBvHJiscUBykzAwHWCL73i2m-qwIGW7RFPKPJxhPAn5KPgm6lRXgavY09UJFEZ9-6f4aVe8n_FqTkqNTpv6Eaj9nUzx4j19goIaMjvGNlamq07aRi4aDOkiFEr9wmBvlNdq-1Hpffaox76L3M0LJ_1aN4pDWyXVa08frIxv_lxHlX2lD8lTDGNJhGeykG/s450/toronto%20not%20cold%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBvHJiscUBykzAwHWCL73i2m-qwIGW7RFPKPJxhPAn5KPgm6lRXgavY09UJFEZ9-6f4aVe8n_FqTkqNTpv6Eaj9nUzx4j19goIaMjvGNlamq07aRi4aDOkiFEr9wmBvlNdq-1Hpffaox76L3M0LJ_1aN4pDWyXVa08frIxv_lxHlX2lD8lTDGNJhGeykG/s16000/toronto%20not%20cold%201.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvD_XijG1KyDtEI1mrgqyfwsgdraQbGaMMixY41VKVjNoNyZblff1XlY3YGUXiSYCBabWOTAP6oE5ZcCfP9AUwQojawJHzzXAG-B_n_yprKC6tzVtS03ZM5pDKjjqjZXXdY_MaGmaSL3Dc7hOV_kMPRVRo1R0CV86wE2wXVIrsTlcwdhQqX-Lju7R5NfB/s450/toronto%20not%20cold%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvD_XijG1KyDtEI1mrgqyfwsgdraQbGaMMixY41VKVjNoNyZblff1XlY3YGUXiSYCBabWOTAP6oE5ZcCfP9AUwQojawJHzzXAG-B_n_yprKC6tzVtS03ZM5pDKjjqjZXXdY_MaGmaSL3Dc7hOV_kMPRVRo1R0CV86wE2wXVIrsTlcwdhQqX-Lju7R5NfB/s16000/toronto%20not%20cold%202.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today: 6 Celsius (43 Fahrenheit)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow: 12 (54)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Saturday: 8 (46)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now: scary</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-6643456300733951182024-02-08T10:36:00.003-05:002024-02-08T10:58:34.197-05:00The Mystery Books of Sunday Past (Classics)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd5AXrbdHEONcmthLOS_ibB_HKJ7lurWtG0GGv_QGUzCgC-sRm6QlhsQoODoGc3QKBNUCBKYElKAZkEjP6-SNZhc-c3zCh9fj472OdIXCnAN5ZPHy4i7pitqyjyJlzcuIPy8KhdxrsqWIzMbvK9iyZt_77lZ0Gs4EOXaMys_4V0T3o0eFt0UuXHv-CQ-B/s450/books%20leagues%20under%20and%20w%20of%20worlds_blg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd5AXrbdHEONcmthLOS_ibB_HKJ7lurWtG0GGv_QGUzCgC-sRm6QlhsQoODoGc3QKBNUCBKYElKAZkEjP6-SNZhc-c3zCh9fj472OdIXCnAN5ZPHy4i7pitqyjyJlzcuIPy8KhdxrsqWIzMbvK9iyZt_77lZ0Gs4EOXaMys_4V0T3o0eFt0UuXHv-CQ-B/s16000/books%20leagues%20under%20and%20w%20of%20worlds_blg.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This past Sunday, I asked two questions: <a href="https://www.simonstlaurent.ca/2024/02/two-classic-books-need-to-be-revisited.html">Two Classic Books Need to Be Revisited</a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's been a long time since I first read Jules Verne's <i>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</i> (1870) and H.G. Wells' <i>The War of the Worlds</i> (1898).</div><div><br /></div><div>Two classic books, deserving of a re-read. First, the Nautilus....</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-78927562073457024352024-02-04T15:30:00.004-05:002024-02-04T15:46:31.047-05:00Two Classic Books Need to Be Revisited<p>From a book I first read in elementary school, its first sentence....</p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">"The year 1866 was marked by a strange event, an unexplainable occurrence which is undoubtedly still fresh in everyone's memory."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also from my schoolboy years, a book with a most provocative opening sentence....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Without Googling, try to identify the above classic books.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As any writing instructor will tell you, you must hook the reader from page one; even better if you can do it from sentence one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now, to honour my post's title, I must pick one and dig in; revisit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCJRV-eyxL6uvmr9GFdb2zLHSnLgdG3J8_nBtT_MyRcn1qHMb4UZsSF5ejtrV5aW1zFOQswLA5HuUoeZ6A0e1VaJeZH6zL_qGGhuPmEWDhcLFQiplawr0kK3_JCeJ5r0BGeDPRAQT-Kk06ic_gJet_3Qrg2Wi9x5_nwCIbrvfduCn8r7Sx23cZfnl9qPv/s114/ink%20bottle_smsm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="114" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCJRV-eyxL6uvmr9GFdb2zLHSnLgdG3J8_nBtT_MyRcn1qHMb4UZsSF5ejtrV5aW1zFOQswLA5HuUoeZ6A0e1VaJeZH6zL_qGGhuPmEWDhcLFQiplawr0kK3_JCeJ5r0BGeDPRAQT-Kk06ic_gJet_3Qrg2Wi9x5_nwCIbrvfduCn8r7Sx23cZfnl9qPv/s1600/ink%20bottle_smsm.jpg" width="114" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-58249832741508521962024-01-25T19:50:00.000-05:002024-01-25T19:50:35.875-05:00Flash Fiction: Sorry, It's the Robert Bloch in MeBobby asked nicely: “Are you done?” All according to plan. Worn work boots dangled fresh laces a metre in front of a slab of meat and bone hooked. Bobby smiled with pride at his work. Its bold statement.<br /><br /><br />
A stylish white-haired lady poured tea into an ornate teacup.<br />
<br />
“Ma, I’ve always liked your blend of tea.”<br />
<br />
The server smiled. “Oh, Bobby, you were always a sweet boy.” The son sipped, self consciously, as his mother continued: “I was a little worried at first; what you did to those poor little creatures when you were just two really worried me.”<br />
<br />
Bobby sipped his hot beverage with more assuredness. “You’re right, Ma. I went on to bigger things.”<br />
<br />
Mother had to add “Awww, sweet to the last”. She took a sip then looked concerned, hesitating, unsure if she made English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Orange Pekoe, or… something else.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIG0zVq5jBA/W5UHvXEZMsI/AAAAAAAAC0I/PMDSU9GYU1YtdApmQMDz-FtTwqiHEB6RgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/ink%2Bbottle_smsm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="114" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIG0zVq5jBA/W5UHvXEZMsI/AAAAAAAAC0I/PMDSU9GYU1YtdApmQMDz-FtTwqiHEB6RgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/ink%2Bbottle_smsm.jpg" /></a></div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-19336422031674465472024-01-23T06:53:00.001-05:002024-01-23T07:02:53.673-05:00The CPC Is Polling High; Next Election is in Oct. 2025<div><b><span style="color: red;">October 19, 2015 (the dispatched: Stephen Harper)</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: white;">October 21, 2019 (the dispatched: Andrew Scheer)</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">October 20, 2021 (the dispatched: Erin O'Toole)</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Conservative Party of Canada and its brethren have enjoyed three consecutive losses; losses made more potent when one considers that the Liberal Party of Canada was considered to be vulnerable in the federal elections of 2019 and 2021. The final tally wrote a minority, albeit a healthy minority, in both cases.</div><div><br /></div><div>What gives? Well, for starters, the CPC giveth away and the LPC taketh away.</div><div><br /></div><div>Much has been made in some quarters about the fact, and it is an incontrovertible fact, that the Conservatives won more votes.</div><div><br /></div><div>I make much of the fact, and it is a dirty little fact, that Pierre Trudeau and the Liberals won many many more votes in total than did Joe Clark and his Progressive Conservatives in the 1979 federal election.</div><div><br /></div><div>Liberals: 4,595,319</div><div>Progressive Conservatives: 4,111,606</div><div><br /></div><div>Guess who became Prime Minister of Canada....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86oh0B16L98/XvaRXnwACNI/AAAAAAAAEh8/EssoQUZOcDcp32BxGxEm04A4SR9ohaetwCPcBGAYYCw/s156/simon%2Bphotog_cu_sm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="138" height="156" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86oh0B16L98/XvaRXnwACNI/AAAAAAAAEh8/EssoQUZOcDcp32BxGxEm04A4SR9ohaetwCPcBGAYYCw/s0/simon%2Bphotog_cu_sm.jpg" width="138" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-38999250053606465972024-01-22T07:26:00.000-05:002024-01-22T07:26:18.863-05:00Poem: Scanning Between the Lines (Overscan Set)The Lines are out of Raster<br />
The Raster is out of Lines<br />
<br />
Is gone the picture tube<br />
information in pictures<br />
might reassemble<br />
<br />
someplace eclectic<br />
a placement of ideas<br />
and thoughts electric<br />
<br />
to home base time correction<br />
no Minow needs<br />
correcting for no reason<br />
<br />
but what we<br />
see on<br />
the flat screen<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
___</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2017</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Simon St. Laurent</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIG0zVq5jBA/W5UHvXEZMsI/AAAAAAAAC0I/PMDSU9GYU1YtdApmQMDz-FtTwqiHEB6RgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/ink%2Bbottle_smsm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="114" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIG0zVq5jBA/W5UHvXEZMsI/AAAAAAAAC0I/PMDSU9GYU1YtdApmQMDz-FtTwqiHEB6RgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/ink%2Bbottle_smsm.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-17852992693616362342024-01-18T15:21:00.004-05:002024-01-18T16:27:15.053-05:00ReBook: Star Trek - Phase II (Reeves-Stevens)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcs2uSt3Z0w62QDaAI70K1V4rRbMTbbPrGOLm8qiFALNRY-AVCfZgD3u6-Tai6HXP2TarXRZi9VqOa2bwT8i6WMFd3iLzLvFRzXcigYZgwFqWYeKAtGO0Wfu9kCWK7iIBZCn1niGE3Q-WprEZZG-3sWKKBmqHLF1mvSOYkZA2RRJbDRZhAMzgpKKsvlzs/s308/book_star%20trek%20phase%20ll_blg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcs2uSt3Z0w62QDaAI70K1V4rRbMTbbPrGOLm8qiFALNRY-AVCfZgD3u6-Tai6HXP2TarXRZi9VqOa2bwT8i6WMFd3iLzLvFRzXcigYZgwFqWYeKAtGO0Wfu9kCWK7iIBZCn1niGE3Q-WprEZZG-3sWKKBmqHLF1mvSOYkZA2RRJbDRZhAMzgpKKsvlzs/s16000/book_star%20trek%20phase%20ll_blg.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">Star Trek - Phase II</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">― The Lost Series ―</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">by</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Pocket Books</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">1997</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There was an almost-filmed <i>Star Trek II</i> television series of 1977. It is also known as "<i>Phase II</i>", its original name. I remember seeing TV Guide's end-of-book yellow teletype page noting that Paramount was to produce a new ST series. This probably would have been early-to-mid 1977. Too bad the property didn't stay on television at that time, instead of going to the big screen. Star Trek works best on television.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The book <b>Star Trek - Phase II</b> is a good overview of the almost-series. Authors Reeves-Stevens are weakest when they editorialize, saying that the show would have failed. I disagree, even if I have the benefit of hindsight: <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> was predicted by many to fail, but it survived. Admittedly, popping it into syndication gave it a little more time and room to breathe and find its place in the universe. Had ST:TNG been a "big three" (ABC, CBS, NBC) show it would have enjoyed a larger budget, but it also would have been more scrutinized ratings-wise. <i>Star Trek II</i> was earmarked as the flagship series for the planned Paramount Television Service, a network, but one on par with a syndication service and a platform that would have provided a comfort zone to its star series. A big reason why I feel that <i>Star Trek II</i> would not have failed: with the exception of Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock, since the actor was not interested in reprising his famous role at the time, it featured the original cast of characters. Any reincarnation with that stellar crew would have given the show extra impulse power.</div></div></div><p></p>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-89498380900021413992024-01-17T20:11:00.002-05:002024-01-17T20:13:31.313-05:00CD: Time Out (the Dave Brubeck Quartet)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gAJvS8J2yMJfISFXPEbTJp5DKirihC-H-UHY4u3VdZjAWC-YNJBH-D4QCzZ-RvymBwhYIuVuKY6RgxNJ1x0XTKMtTJW7x7jPZc5GUajj6f_UIAAajAOhZ96174d_gTmISZkfK7WTABbJa_CgXIlBmnWBduVzqhke1qoZ-NKLGebm6JGNaPO4CbsSMVah/s242/brubeck%20quartet%20time%20out_blg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="240" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gAJvS8J2yMJfISFXPEbTJp5DKirihC-H-UHY4u3VdZjAWC-YNJBH-D4QCzZ-RvymBwhYIuVuKY6RgxNJ1x0XTKMtTJW7x7jPZc5GUajj6f_UIAAajAOhZ96174d_gTmISZkfK7WTABbJa_CgXIlBmnWBduVzqhke1qoZ-NKLGebm6JGNaPO4CbsSMVah/s1600/brubeck%20quartet%20time%20out_blg.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;">Time Out</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">by</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">The Dave Brubeck Quartet</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Columbia Records</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">1992</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Although I had heard pieces like <i>Blue Rondo à la Turk</i> when I was a teen, it was when I took a course in college called "Great Composers" that I really took notice of master jazz man Dave Brubeck. The course's instructor, American-Canadian composer Michael Horwood, showed the class a documentary on great music through the ages. The segment on Brubeck reeled me in.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Take Five</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Kathy's Waltz</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Pick Up Sticks</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Genius!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The coolest: man, men, and album.</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-54088886017631956022024-01-10T07:18:00.005-05:002024-01-10T07:24:18.343-05:00Four Canadian Prime Ministers ― Liberals All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZzQSq2BCLM/W-IsT5qnSVI/AAAAAAAAC64/b5T3J8gxkdQpVQtlKZHQn_jBovtFfnyEwCLcBGAs/s1600/chretien-trudeau-turner-pearson_sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="521" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZzQSq2BCLM/W-IsT5qnSVI/AAAAAAAAC64/b5T3J8gxkdQpVQtlKZHQn_jBovtFfnyEwCLcBGAs/s1600/chretien-trudeau-turner-pearson_sm.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><div>
A picture from 1967 featuring Liberal Party of Canada politicians: Pierre Trudeau; John Turner; then prime minister Lester B. Pearson; and Jean Chrétien.<br />
<br />
Trudeau, Turner, and Chrétien would become prime ministers of this great country.</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-48334710524142048972024-01-09T06:56:00.000-05:002024-01-09T06:56:28.580-05:00Conservatives Know It All, AllAfter some serious research online as to what makes up a real Conservative, I've come to the conclusion that they possess great knowledge on any number of subjects. Just read the comments below any Twitter (X) posting or newspaper article that invites, begs, an angry right-winger to set the record straight, or to reaffirm what was stated in the 'above', and you'll be impressed.<br />
<br />
They are experts on, but not limited to, the following....<br />
<br />
History<br />
Geography<br />
The Sciences (don't exist)<br />
Botany<br />
Engineering<br />
Technology<br />
Metallurgy<br />
Oceanography<br />
Sociology<div>
Medicine<br />
Economics<div>Tectonics<br />
Anthropology</div><div>Philology</div><div>Liberal Arts (as we all know, only Liberals take "Liberal Arts")<br />
Cognition (?!)<br />
<br />
<br />
Note: I left out Philosophy as that may invite Semantics; and Pragmatism.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RY0SlUnHKw/Xr8sDiAssfI/AAAAAAAAEVE/hjps2wbgS4gpYQJveXD2YjVyfCH3DHk5QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/doomsday%2Bmachine_ss.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RY0SlUnHKw/Xr8sDiAssfI/AAAAAAAAEVE/hjps2wbgS4gpYQJveXD2YjVyfCH3DHk5QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/doomsday%2Bmachine_ss.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div></div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-50928593182915384882024-01-01T00:00:00.002-05:002024-01-01T00:00:00.138-05:00Will & Mist: Happy New Year 2024!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLFflI0XISMWCcMwtgV1ENOwzw1QTJtLZj4dcSJ7iR6hGI7WjMDuGtujQEDlFS8fsrOCnr9-J6QCCeVlL8df7_oD6iO5rGZkkKheQ06zsmfBpTi5TCyT-74bf9tg2XO2CTj-soW17BvuroQvPcuD_iGgd5NGBcyoehOmPCTg6N2jXbY0kdvSqc49U6dWT/s400/Will%20&%20Mist%20005_blg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLFflI0XISMWCcMwtgV1ENOwzw1QTJtLZj4dcSJ7iR6hGI7WjMDuGtujQEDlFS8fsrOCnr9-J6QCCeVlL8df7_oD6iO5rGZkkKheQ06zsmfBpTi5TCyT-74bf9tg2XO2CTj-soW17BvuroQvPcuD_iGgd5NGBcyoehOmPCTg6N2jXbY0kdvSqc49U6dWT/s16000/Will%20&%20Mist%20005_blg.png" /></a></div><p></p>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-47311222581401977642023-12-30T07:04:00.003-05:002023-12-30T09:16:21.193-05:00Ink & Acrylic On Packing Paper Asks 2023 a Question<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6KHWuVSPKvomxKuRtOR-IHjkamVKBN1lsPv46rb5yG9XIAXWuW67EjRj8s9JI-cOLqU60AwYlxSTZkXXdNfIsQGv8JBa7ta_kXg1zPIWf36EeMp67Bjx9Eh84WTLjA8diWPQfWCpluJNpvyVCtVKEQ34sQs8VlHT-V3SdNyZMGoDH6P3NXFBgKN4NO5I/s717/drawing_why_sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="717" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6KHWuVSPKvomxKuRtOR-IHjkamVKBN1lsPv46rb5yG9XIAXWuW67EjRj8s9JI-cOLqU60AwYlxSTZkXXdNfIsQGv8JBa7ta_kXg1zPIWf36EeMp67Bjx9Eh84WTLjA8diWPQfWCpluJNpvyVCtVKEQ34sQs8VlHT-V3SdNyZMGoDH6P3NXFBgKN4NO5I/w400-h225/drawing_why_sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>That's</i> the answer?</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-46132129390801053382023-12-26T17:46:00.001-05:002023-12-26T17:46:11.470-05:00That Was Boxing Day 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9u4zOjS9rpuFwIw8QcX_bBHBrvIsC3Zuatblwhsir_z6bUO2AA6h3aeFpzMtoB5PK_nlk2520hK2DH6eCfpXWlZZiE2DGsVfgNFIdanvEO4BQiUqZ9u4-HQ0gZHNhg_ZU9nCgJakVjHWIA4kECcsnxkRXuOnwkYBTFVx1b80sjMtIxtCikIQpvtteedG/s320/boxing%20in%20boxes%20art_blg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9u4zOjS9rpuFwIw8QcX_bBHBrvIsC3Zuatblwhsir_z6bUO2AA6h3aeFpzMtoB5PK_nlk2520hK2DH6eCfpXWlZZiE2DGsVfgNFIdanvEO4BQiUqZ9u4-HQ0gZHNhg_ZU9nCgJakVjHWIA4kECcsnxkRXuOnwkYBTFVx1b80sjMtIxtCikIQpvtteedG/s16000/boxing%20in%20boxes%20art_blg.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Cats not included."</div><p></p>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-83968012841056602023-12-25T10:49:00.001-05:002023-12-25T10:49:44.671-05:00A Christmas Trek TraditionChristmas is great when you're a kid. This morning I thought about my favourite memories. Quickly I nailed one: 1970.<br />
<br />
(After reading that, pretend you have a faulty memory. This is more correct: "He posted about the Christmas of nineteen-ninety.")<br />
<br />
My favourite present that year was the AMT "Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Space Ship Model Kit".<br />
<br />
(<i>Star Trek</i> was sparking hot. The series had finished its NBC network run only eighteen months earlier. Toronto television station CFTO was running/stripping the episodes at 5pm on weekdays.)<br />
<br />
It was not a simple plastic model kit as it was "lighted". Small light bulbs, included in the box, could be inserted into the top and bottom of the primary hull (the saucer-shaped portion) and at the front-ends of the engine nacelles (those long tubes). The former were capped by green-tinted discs, and the latter were topped-off by amber-tinted domes. My mother helped me with the wiring and the insertion of the lamps' power source: a D-cell, not included with the kit, sat in the secondary hull (the bottom tube-like section).<br />
<br />
Building a model kit is fun, but seeing the completed AMT U.S.S. Enterprise suspended from my bedroom ceiling was a trip, and it looked great with the bedroom light off.<br />
<br />
I remember something else from Christmas Day 1970. My dad was in the process of carving the turkey when he looked over at the Zenith television: "I'm surprised this is on today." (The episode was "The Return of the Archons".)<br />
<br />
Fond Christmas memories.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71b7EQpFBo8/WkEQdxVycPI/AAAAAAAACBM/o6U7feq8fCkwORNTSkhodfLxbZ6I4DuiwCLcBGAs/s1600/amt%2Benterprise_kit%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="381" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71b7EQpFBo8/WkEQdxVycPI/AAAAAAAACBM/o6U7feq8fCkwORNTSkhodfLxbZ6I4DuiwCLcBGAs/s1600/amt%2Benterprise_kit%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-33763995117665802882023-12-24T09:40:00.003-05:002023-12-24T09:58:04.232-05:00Notes from a Brat: Christmas Eve in West Germany<div>Having a father in the Canadian Armed Forces plopped me down into a slightly different culture: West Germany ― the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany). While listening to the radio a few years ago I heard a piece about whether or not it's cool to let the little ones open their gifts the night before Christmas. This brought back memories: some bright, some dark.</div>
<br />
As is the tradition in that great nation, opening the boxes and wrappings is done the night before. A then little one, me, not only did not complain but decided then that Germany is one great nation. I remember well one Christmas where our landlord and his wife came up to say hi and to present us with presents. I remember mine: a Matchbox toy of an early 20th century automobile.<br />
<br />
Roll back a few years to my first Christmas in Germany. Santa Claus back in 1960s Deutschland was not a big thing ― if you'll pardon the expression. Saint Nick, however, was. Well, let me tell you what that man did to this then five year old. One evening my parents summoned me to our apartment's entrance. Standing inside the door was a tall figure, a woman (probably a teenager), dressed up in full Saint Nick attire. My mother said "look dear" as she pointed at my shoes which were parked neatly on the mat. I saw it, an inanimate thing in one of my shoes... a lump of coal. ("Noooo!")<div><br /></div><div>I, dressed fashionably in what some crude folk might refer to as a "wife-beater shirt", held both hands up to my face and started crying. My parents laughed. It was not funny.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6fAHfuSoVUf70WMilAKr8y4HV32pSOF3TAknkV5Z5x_tQquZpMTsGZMP_GQRyXu7zDuJyVA6JHVATGA_YOuknqsP5EsU8BT-Wcfj6OEEyjAmirFQRyQYmWjB03kBQAxFV9xo2DZxFKkXzigbokQRON13eBQJeZ-92n-huHjMBA-MhAyHpOtABx5gPA/s200/matchox%20old%20auto_mini.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6fAHfuSoVUf70WMilAKr8y4HV32pSOF3TAknkV5Z5x_tQquZpMTsGZMP_GQRyXu7zDuJyVA6JHVATGA_YOuknqsP5EsU8BT-Wcfj6OEEyjAmirFQRyQYmWjB03kBQAxFV9xo2DZxFKkXzigbokQRON13eBQJeZ-92n-huHjMBA-MhAyHpOtABx5gPA/s16000/matchox%20old%20auto_mini.jpg" /></a></div></div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805660467400179742.post-41756871008993013972023-12-18T21:27:00.009-05:002023-12-19T10:58:53.520-05:00Majel Barrett ― Number One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mWaZcpSFp_VeJoZJ5_Q3MqFYbWw3wl1kQxBH7-f9uPScqz_CDAt_1rWXVHQbps-UXjkMTWuYp2Vc8wcMSdahtOBhX9pRFkdK7Di-dJmi1P8H6Tv4cDTQuwatCAQVAsA7-K2Vzxc9-8KQM-NJnmglDBr0zGWroTlFc2NHF_PMv_ikP7luzyA9c8VQtRJz/s430/majel%20barrett%20the%20cage_blg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mWaZcpSFp_VeJoZJ5_Q3MqFYbWw3wl1kQxBH7-f9uPScqz_CDAt_1rWXVHQbps-UXjkMTWuYp2Vc8wcMSdahtOBhX9pRFkdK7Di-dJmi1P8H6Tv4cDTQuwatCAQVAsA7-K2Vzxc9-8KQM-NJnmglDBr0zGWroTlFc2NHF_PMv_ikP7luzyA9c8VQtRJz/s16000/majel%20barrett%20the%20cage_blg.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div>Majel Barrett's first appearance in <i>Star Trek</i> was in "The Cage", the first pilot show. Here, playing Number One, she was billed as "M. Leigh Hudec", which was her real name ("M", short for "Majel", of course). </div><div><br /></div><div>For the series proper, the actress, now "Majel Barrett", played Nurse Christine Chapel. The frame below is from the first-season episode "The Naked Time".</div><div><br /></div><div>As illustrated in that early episode, and later in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", Ms Barrett was a fine actress ― perhaps Nurse Chapel was underused.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi3rPmILmsGXVjtcvP0jCk7G-BK8cAeWY7ZNHJrjXsliwySNdqGEL0Axb-MR4gGMyEsEbAuB_GqNSixB1MFuoQD7-mRG4V7rl1qqZ_xDb8UVMAcV50Ij9htdLfhQa9p8RYml3giz9dMLCrK_Qka9CQnlCvdELCj6QU989HjRQ9C2xV0CWO7EhXgE9Ph5Z/s380/majel%20barrett%20the%20naked%20time_blg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi3rPmILmsGXVjtcvP0jCk7G-BK8cAeWY7ZNHJrjXsliwySNdqGEL0Axb-MR4gGMyEsEbAuB_GqNSixB1MFuoQD7-mRG4V7rl1qqZ_xDb8UVMAcV50Ij9htdLfhQa9p8RYml3giz9dMLCrK_Qka9CQnlCvdELCj6QU989HjRQ9C2xV0CWO7EhXgE9Ph5Z/s16000/majel%20barrett%20the%20naked%20time_blg.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Majel Leigh Hudec</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">February 23, 1932 - December 18, 2008</div>Simon St. Laurenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948457860768548876noreply@blogger.com0