Monthly Archives: March 2019

About time some Canadian province took the first step. Kids today don’t need unnecessary distractions in class. I await the day that educators wake up to the price of having devices in classes at the exclusion of books, literature, and … Continue reading →

The great session drummer who played behind Sinatra, Presley, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, and The Monkees.

7 pm, Thursday, March 28 Stony Plain Public Library I will be reading from the new book, pictured above.

The fine French pianist-composer-performer who, with his various trios from the ’50s on, recorded and performed cool jazz adaptations of many famous classical works by composers including Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Debussy, Satie, Chopin, and Ravel. Considered something of a maverick, he was … Continue reading →

John Kuby was a 68 year-old healthy sports guy who unexpectedly ran into a tongue cancer diagnosis while checking out his nasal problems. His book about adapting to and surviving this cancer is a tell-all, gutsy synthesis of 80+ blog … Continue reading →

Young woman on a flight from T.O. to Calgary bit by a scorpion as the plane was coming in for a landing. Terrible in any situation, but in this context, what are the odds?

(from the very scarce 1990 cassette version) by Langston Hughes, originally released in 1968 on MGM (later a Verve reissue). Well, if you want to find out more about black male sensibility in the first half of the 20th century, this is … Continue reading →

(4 CDs, BBC Radio/Faber) In one of the best spoken word CDs in memory, Jeremy Irons has the perfect low, serious voice for reading Eliot’s most famous works including: “Preludes”, “The Love-Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, “Portrait of a Lady”, … Continue reading →

getting a workout reading Richard Scarry’s big book of cars and other things that go with the younger grandson (3 1/2). One month to go till my eyes settle enough to get proper prescription reading glasses for reading up close (up to … Continue reading →

James is a top filmmaker-music composer locally. His latest: “A Shortened Infinity” (look up that title on YouTube to view) is a beautiful, wondrous piece de resistance on many topics. I’ve included some of my e-mail response to the video … Continue reading →