Music Video: YYZ (Rush)

Rush rocks!

One day in the late 1970s, Rush member Alex Lifeson flew his bandmates, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, into Toronto International Airport. The airport's IATA identification code of "YYZ", broadcast by the airport's VHF omnidirectional range system as Morse code, greeted the music crew as they approached. The repeating rhythm called like a siren... inspiring the band to write a piece to exploit the sequence.

(Y)  - . - -   (Y)  - . - -   (Z)  - - . .

Beauty, eh?

I love this instrumental piece.

Toronto rocks!

(The video embedded above I shared from the super Canadian band's YouTube channel.)

A Forever Question: Priorities

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

Sir. Would a cat forget to pick us up from the pawn shop?

Re Post: The Budget Will Balance Itself Quote

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau gets some people going. A frequent attack on the PM is the very selective extraction of a certain quote by him; a line from a greater idea. This method is commonly referred to as "quote mining". (Out of context.)

In fact, Mr Trudeau was speaking about the Stephen Harper government's inability to present a strategy to stimulate economic growth. Economists disagree with one another to various degrees on how much such growth leads down the line to less government expenditures. The theory is that increased government revenues through taxation rolls ultimately to a decreased demand for outlays to departments such as employment insurance and welfare. Part of the PM's platform was to support infrastructure building, which hopefully would get the ball rolling and help lead to the above.

The original quote:

"The commitment needs to be a commitment to grow the economy and the budget will balance itself."

In its proper context the idea doesn't sound so harebrained.

More Modelling New RCAF 100 Hoodie from the CWHM

Yesterday I posted a piece showcasing me modelling a lovely new article of clothing: the RCAF 100 Hoodie.

I purchased it from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) in Hamilton, Ontario.

The response from friends and family was so good ― the CWHM just made another sale ― that I thought I would continue my vanity project and pop up another photo, one taken this afternoon.

To paraphrase actor Will Smith: "This makes me look good!"

Modelling the New RCAF 100 Hoodie from the CWHM

Today I received this wonderful hoodie from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's gift shop. As my late father was in the RCAF (and later, CAF) for decades, and I only knew the life of a military brat well into my teen years, I felt it fitting that I honour Canada's finest service. The Royal Canadian Air Force will celebrate its 100th anniversary in April of next year.

The garment is $99.99 but it's money well spent, as a good portion goes to the restoration and maintenance of several old warbirds... a good cause, as far as I'm concerned: My father served on Lancaster bombers in the last few months of the war. And the "Lanc" is probably the representative flying machine in the CWHM's collection. It still flies.

By the way, the hoodie is manufactured by Red Canoe.

When in Hamilton, Ontario, be sure to visit the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

A Forever Question: Biscuits

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

Sir. Would cats market us as dogfood?

Pre-production: 2060 (A Short)

It'll be dark; it's already looking dark, and I don't mean the image.

2060 should be finished for 'release' late next month. At this early juncture, the video short is looking to come in at around five minutes running time.

Back to Sir Isaac....

A Forever Question: For Production?

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

Sir. Would a cat license us?

The Great Power Outage of 2003

"It was twenty years ago today." (August 14, 2003.)

I was at my place of work in downtown Toronto. My co-worker and I stood in front of the bank of VTR (Video Tape Recorder) equipment and chatted some technical business. Suddenly, a harmony of clicks and clacks. And lights going out: overhead fluorescent tubes and the video decks' myriad of little indicator lamps. The shutdown was dramatic. And it meant that every video feed and recording we had going at the moment was rendered useless.

At first my partner and I both thought it was that bloody little local transformer station that too often failed in the middle of a work day. No doubt it'll pop back on in seconds or minutes.

Minutes passed.

Our manager popped out of his office and exclaimed: "There's a blackout on the entire eastern part of North America!" That was drama. Then it set in. We would have no need to finish our shift. Time to go home.

Wait a moment. That means there's no subway. Then, as now, I lived in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood.

Fine. I'll walk home.

As I propelled west along King Street I bumped into a friend and former co-worker who was making his way home. The fifty-minute walk was a great chance to catch up.


That evening I went for a stroll: Shadow People!

Picturing: Mushroom Cloud (Formation) Over Toronto

From minutes ago. I looked out my window and saw a beautiful billowy cloud. I grabbed my mini Canon and snapped away.

International Cat Day and Mr Spock on Cats

 

To wind up my feelings on this International Cat Day and the domestic cat, I will defer to a conversation between two characters from one of my favourite television shows....

KIRK: What do you make of the cat, Mister Spock?

SPOCK: Quite a lovely animal, Captain. I find myself strangely drawn to it.

It's International Cat Day 2023

As it's International Cat Day, I must explain myself....

The odd person asks me now and again why I'm a "cat lover"? It's a good question, and one I can answer readily.

Well, besides the strikingly obvious qualities of a cat, like the quirky and unique from-cat-to-cat personalities, it's that look the average feline carries: "All systems normal."

A Forever Question: We're Prone to

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

Sir. Would cats exaggerate about how much they need us?

Picturing: A Bird in Toronto of Metallic Beauty

Birds of a type were bouncing about the grass. Out came my Canon to snap a variety of bird I was not familiar with. I love birds but I'm not a birdwatcher. I'd be a sad case at a crime scene. ("Officer, they pecked him away, till he was nothing but feathers!")

Sunday Fun: Advert Artwork at Spadina Station (TTC)

A couple of months ago, while I was waiting for a subway train at "Spadina Station" (of the Toronto Transit Commission), an advert got my attention. So cute.

Adopt Woody.

Male dog.

Dogs can help you

take more walks and

improve your health.

When I popped back into that subway station a few weeks later I noticed something different: It seemed to me that someone adopted Woody. (The train was coming and I hadn't time to pop out my camera to take a picture of the ad sans pup.)

BBC News Page Humour? (In a Flash!)

While I was on the BBC's website this morning, a story headline on the main page caught my eye:

Warner Bros sorry for

Barbie atomic bomb

memes

The Official Barbie Movie

account is criticised for replying

to images making fun of atomic

bombs

Whoa! Never, ever make fun of atomic bombs.

More thought should have been put into that line.

Better?....

The Official Barbie Movie

account is criticised for replying

to images making light of atomic

bombs