Monthly Archives: September 2022

–T.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” I am oft reminded of this key line in response to street killings and drugged-up crazies with no other higher purpose to their lives. Eliot’s distinction in choice puts everything into … Continue reading →

is enjoying a certain vogue among the ‘loose screws’ on the loose in our midst: to wit, the Saskatchewan knife spree and, yesterday, the random knife attack on a street in North Edmonton. Writers and poets have long been prescient … Continue reading →

(My family came through on a couple of nice tees. This is the first edition of Hemingway’s classic with the myth-inspired image artwork.) (My favorite Beatles album of all-time, released in 1966 after Rubber Soul, and before Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely … Continue reading →

(Above: the rare first ed. UK dust jacket) A novel I once taught when I started teaching high school English in 1972-3. It’s a 1957 UK SF novel set in an English village in which all the women become simultaneously, … Continue reading →

and their longing to own an inexpensive pet beginning in the 1950s These were sold for very cheap through Woolworth’s in their pet section from the 1950s for decades. I bought a couple there, but they did not pan out … Continue reading →

(from my Edmonton book collection; most of these pix from 1914–the first year of WW1) (Way-y back: 1890. Hudson Bay always one of the first buildings in prairie cities because of the fur trade) (Downtown, 1914) (“It’s hard not to … Continue reading →

(I’ve lived through) -Professional athletes who stay with one team for life-Sunday store closures-Bridge parties-Card catalogues-Carbon paper copies-Civil defense exercises in schools-Open and widespread DDT spraying-Drive-in movies-Fire escapes on the outside of buildings and schools-Fur coats-Gas station attendants everywhere-Handkerchiefs-Hitchhiking everywhere-Dr. … Continue reading →

  Gerald S.H. Lock alias Gerald St.Maur (1935-2022). In pace requiescat. My wife and I got to know Gerald and his wife Edna very well in 2018 when he was putting together his memorable, two-volume  Collected Poetry collection. We spent … Continue reading →

Danielle becomes first hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic season Here in Alberta, another Danielle is poised to destroy our province and chop us off from Canada without input from Albertans. She has long been a clumsy, dangerous menace and is … Continue reading →

The newly released Mint issue honouring Oscar Peterson. Recommended: This is a very representative sample of Oscar’s best works, many recorded live.