the new Boeing design, I’m sure we’ll all get on our phones to book flights with revised Boeings a.s.a.p.
Boxing Day Boeing update: An Air Canada Boeing 737 flying between Arizona and Montreal was forced to divert to Tucson b/c of mechanical failure ( shut off 1 engine first).
1990s: Reading at a Whyte Ave. bar with Dean McKenzie, Glen Kirkland and band including John Towill–didgeridoo, and two students from Scona High where I worked: John N.–an East Indian percussionist, and Solon McDade on bass
1990s: Yardbird Suite, reading backed by Charlie Austin at a jam
1990s: Harry Ainlay Coffeehouse, reading backed by Tommy Banks Trio
2007: Yardbird Suite: reading “As Good as It Gets” with Charlie Austin Trio–an homage to the trio at a Stu Millman memorial; excerpts of poem were later used on a Charlie CD mentioning Stu
2013: reading a Dean McKenzie poem backed by Andrew Glover group at Dean’s Celebration of Life
King Trump should be held accountable in the Supreme Court for his 20,000 lies (as reported by The Washington Post) to the American people, for openly and privately consorting with other evil killer-dictators who want to destroy America, and for trying to overthrow American democracy, its election, and the Constitution. The GOPs who voted against his impeachment and chose to go on his anti-election kool-aid list should also be called to account for their treacherous support of this thoroughly corrupt, depraved wanna-be dictator who has arrogantly and maliciously poisoned America and the world.
the selfish anti-maskers, the Canadian snowbirds still mindlessly heading south, the desperate pig-piling materialists crowded together in shopping malls, and the dopes who still think Trump won the election.
I know. Let’s recast the chorus of “Eleanor Rigby”:
“Ah—-look at all the brain-dead, dumb-ass people!
Ah—–look at all the brain-dead, dumb-ass people!”
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That said, there are still a lot of good, kind, nice, Real folks in the world who care about and look out for others, who act responsibly, who have and use common sense, who follow facts and science. I venture, the majority.
But. We will always people ignorant and selfish, who try to cut corners, who assume that following laws is not for them, the trolls and crazies who put themselves above others, who are prepared to blame others when they screw up and cause injuries or deaths to others. Non-critical thinkers. Ones who want to assume power and control everything. The ignoramuses and lunatic fringe of the world. Such is life. Such is human nature.
We only have had civilized living (before Brexit, Trump, and the pandemic) because sane and educated people, by and large, preferred a sane, organized world, who wanted global reciprocity and a fair and balanced idea of democracy and equal treatment of and respect for others.
But it’s pretty clear at this chaotic, uncertain time in world history, that the crazies will always bugger things up for others with their personal agendas which exceed all else. They will always show up and line up to drink whatever insane, barbarous kool-aid, tearing apart remaining responsible people, buildings, institutions, and civilization. Yes, the barbarians are back and on the rise again.
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Whack-a-mole-ing aside, it’s good to stay focused and to live one’s life as fully as possible, looking out for others as much as one reasonably can. It is the right time for common sense, critical thinking, and autonomy. More than ever, it is time to be an individual and not merely a mob member. A genuine, honest, kind person not a mindless follower. A person with a sense of humor, decency, sanity, and perspective.
1954: Kindergarten half-time, a Winnipeg elementary school
1955-1961: gr. 1-6, Bannatyne School, Wpg.; was the key speaker at the 100th reunion
(with Hugh at 100th reunion, my oldest childhood friend, gr. 1)
1961-1962: gr. 7, Golden Gate, junior high, Wpg.
1962-1964: gr. 8-9, Bannatyne School
(gr. 8 yearbook staff)
1964-1967: gr. 10-12, Silver Heights; attended the 50th reunion before the school burned down
(gr. 12, 1967)
1967-1970: finished 1st 2 yrs. of a B.A.
1970-1971: B.A. completed, U of Alberta; English major
(1971-1972: Professional Diploma, Education, U of A; ‘with double major: History/Philosophy’)
(mentored by Glenn, my ED CI prof; I gave his eulogy; he sent me many student-teachers over the years; he also published my 1st writing)
1975-1977: summer/evening classes, 2 Grad Diplomas, Secondary English
Teaching
1972-1975: Grand Centre High School, in now Cold Lake
1975-1984: McNally High School, Edmonton
(started a group called The Cultural Alternative Conspiracy at McNally; this is me performing Dylan songs one noonhr. backed by student musicians)
1984-1986: J. Percy Page High School
1986-2002 Strathcona High School
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(With my textbook author-friend Glen Kirkland in the early ’80s; we formed a partnership in 1978 that extended all the way to 2000 and over 50 textbooks and guides)
After retirement at 52 in 2002, I continued to be connected with education, authoring textbooks with friend Jerry Wowk, making suggestions for the AB sr. high novels list, creating a literacy tips series for Edmonton Public, and doing in-services across Canada until 2010. So, technically speaking, I was involved in Education for 55 1/2 years. Quite the long haul.
Chef Jose Andres, Founder of World Central Kitchen, who has facilitated 30 million meals during the pandemic.
With 1/6 of Americans going hungry, including 1/4 kids, this is a man with a plan at the right time.
He views food as an agent of change and wants to see more activism re. real food solutions including a Secretary for Food in the U.S. (wouldn’t be a bad idea in Canada either given the increasing no. of poor).
A true Christian, he follows Jesus’s example in feeding others as a way to practise faith. He feels that politicians who claim to be good Christians should be providing food to the poor.
Adios, Charley Pride, 86.
My wife’s parents took us to see him twice way back at the Jube.
Great voice and black entertainer who broke ground for blacks in country (though Ray Charles also did a memorable C & W album before that.)
In 1973-75, in Grand Centre/Cold Lake, I sang his “The Snakes Crawl at Night”. Nice ironic song and fun to sing.
Jonathan Capehart
https://www.msnbc.com/the-sunday-show/watch/msnbc-s-launch-of-the-sunday-show-ends-with-capehart-thanking-his-family-and-nbc-news-family-97652293807
“We all have expiry dates. Some of us will die today, some tomorrow. Some next month, some 15 years from now. No one gets out alive.”
We should never kid ourselves or dwell in ignorant bliss. Especially at Christmas as we remember all the dead who are no longer in our lives. If I were to recommend one story for Christmas reading, it would be James Joyce’s “The Dead” from Dubliners.
The excellent 1987 John Huston adaptation of Joyce’s classic story, starring his daughter. Make certain you see the 83 minute version from Amazon, not the 73 minute version.
there is an illusion of real intelligence and wisdom.
Human intelligence is often sadly lacking these daze as we come to depend more and more on machines.
There is a notable lack of focus as people, by and large, endlessly distract themselves to no useful or purposeful end with the ‘wonderful’ technology.
There is simply too much fire hydrant-style information with an inability to pull out what’s important or to make distinctions within whatever information. Often there is no sense of priority, insufficient intelligence, and zero brainpower at play.
Human should be the agents of whatever technology, not the other way around.
This Christmas, I wish all technology-users the gift of conscious autonomy and a life capable of freedom without total, mindless reliance on technology. It is users’ unique personal lives after all, not the machines, that is important and prime. Weren’t we all given our brains for some reason?
