There Was a World Series?

This morning I heard that the Washington Nationals won the World Series. I had not realized that event was being staged right now. When I was a kid that baseball event was a loud event. And of course in the early 1990s, Toronto's own Blue Jays won back-to-back Series'.

I had not realized that the Washington Nationals are an offshoot of the Montreal Expos.

The Expos: Yep, I remember watching them and Boots Day on television when they played at Jarry Park.

Major League Baseball seems to have lost its lustre.

Sober Bar - A Sobering Thought

I understand there is a non-alcohol bar called a "sober bar". Cool name. It feels like a regular bar, but its tender has little need to shout: “You’re cut off!” Until I met a certain Aussie in London, England, I had no desire to consume alcoholic drinks.

On a beautifully sunny day by the River Thames, north bank, I exercised my 35mm still camera gear and noticed an older gentleman exercising full 35mm still camera gear. He too was clicking away, firing at and across the river. I figured the gent was Australian since he bore a faint resemblance to Crocodile Dundee -- the match was in the hat.

We soon synced and started talking.

“Fancy going for a pint?”

I could not refuse. (For this round I’d skip the replacement drink: ginger ale.)

We walked to a pub that sat just across the street from St. Paul’s Cathedral. Sir Christopher Wren’s mighty architectural masterpiece would stand overlooking my first serious foray into beer.

My mate brought a couple of pints from the bar to this simple waiting Canadian lad. During our table talk I sipped a brand I’ve long forgotten, if I even knew what it was then. (As noted in chalk on the sandwich board outside, the pub sold a fine Canadian brand, Molson; in that case spelled as “Molsen”.)

After depleting the drink by a mere two centimetres, I thought through the haze of suds: “Why are the overhead quartz lights streaking?”

Book: Anger is an Energy - John Lydon

A Forever Question: A Cat Hearing

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question.”

Sir. Why do cats often hear but not listen?

Re Scan Poem: Scanning Between the Lines

The Lines are out of Raster
The Raster is out of Lines

Is gone the picture tube
information in pictures
might reassemble

someplace eclectic
a placement of ideas
and thoughts electric

to home base time correction
no Minow needs
correcting for no reason

but what we
see on
the flat screen

___

2017

Simon St. Laurent

___

The above was first posted as "Poem: Scanning Between the Lines" on October 11, 2017.

Bay Street Video Story

A few weeks back I heard that Toronto's premier video store, Bay Street Video, has had almost no press. It seems that Toronto's press won't do a story unless it's something sexy, like: "Yet another longtime Toronto video store closes its doors."

Time to rectify this oversight.

Saturday, Day, Canada

That was the week that was. The Liberals hold onto the top seat while the Conservatives cannot accept defeat. Monday's federal election set a new table. One guest, it seems, did not take his place. In essence, the Cons forgot to dress for dinner.

The Greens, the NDP, and perhaps the Bloc to some extent, might work together; perhaps go bowling as one. The Conservative Party of Canada wants no part of it. They're fixated on being a loud and obnoxious dinner guest. Issue Andrew Scheer a bib.

Book: Shock Value - John Waters

Post Election Post: Plunging Fire

“I’m glad the Liberals won.”

That text message sent to me by a friend the morning after Monday’s Canadian federal election undoubtedly reflected the morning-after feelings of a lot of Canadians. “I’m glad the Liberals won” would more often than not decode as “Anybody but Scheer”. Andrew Scheer, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, is poison; not only to his party, but to Canada.

(Sorry, I’m reading John Lydon’s autobiography Anger is an Energy - My Life Uncensored and the author’s scrappy style is influencing me here.)

“Admiral” Scheer misdirected his fleet of ships. His party needs to reassign him to shore duty. Janitorial.

CD: Saturday Night Fever - Soundtrack

I Was Off By a Little

Yesterday I predicted that the Liberals would win the Canadian Federal Election. I was off a little in my seat counts:

Liberals - 127
Conservatives - 118


What really happened was, at least with the two front-runners:

Liberals - 157
Conservatives - 121


I really thought the Cons would gain more seats. Andrew Scheer was not able to grow his base. Victory was his for the taking and he blew it.

Author Tom Holden on the Creative Type

“For some reason in our modern, sterile and sometimes harsh world, creativity is something that is frowned upon. Never be ashamed of this talent -- it marks you out as different from huge swatches of the population.”

True.

Take a Vote Prediction

Today is election day here in Canada. Will Prime Minister Justin Trudeau keep his seat? The sitting Liberal has some competition.

I've read some predictions as to whether the Liberals or Conservatives will come up with the most seats won. Essentially it's a two-horse race.

My own prediction, which I will not erase in the morning even if it is way off:

Liberals - 127
Conservatives - 118


Note: There are 338 ridings, which leaves 93 for the NDP, the Bloc, the People's Party of Canada, and the Greens.

A Forever Question: To Cast

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question.”

Sir. Why will eligible voters in a democracy not cast a ballot?

CD: Time Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet

CD: The Music of Alexander Mosolov

Picturing: Pride of Calais Enters Port of Calais

CD: Revolver - The Beatles

Picturing: Pride of Calais Approaches Port of Calais

Paint on Paper: That's a Good Question