The Rowdyman did very well this evening. Stuck in the middle of a whole gang of the rich and famous, he managed to be the good fellow I know him to be. Himself, with no need to put on airs. Now that his name is on a sidewalk somewhere in Toronto, he put it so well: They’ll be saying, “Look at him walking by his star“.
posted in media | Comments Off on Look at him walking by his star | 235 words
When I was very young, we lived under the economic umbrella of the general store. Not that different from one seen in any of the various Green Gable movies and television productions. Also not too surprising, as we were within buggy distance of Avonlea, if such a community had existed and if we’d had a buggy. My grandfather had one, but my father had opted for the more modern pickup truck that was well-suited to clay roads. Where was I? Oh yes, shopping.
posted in economy, history | Comments Off on Shopping in the new world | 326 words
Natural history was the operative term today. From the early moments just after dawn, with several species of birds under the tree in front of the house, through the visit from a June bug at the office, past an explanation of why crows and starlings hang around the pool for several weeks each year; a day of factoids.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Natural history moments | 441 words
“It’s been several hours now, and I’m finally less nervous. The barrage has been light but constant for several hours now, and the ground vibrates lightly. Even the dog has grown accustomed.” My neighbour had believed that we were in for an evening of thunder, despite nothing in the forecast. I knew better; that was artillery fire.
posted in environment | Comments Off on It can’t be thunder | 290 words
I’m working my way through a book I picked up during a visit to the local public library branch while waiting for a slow bus, and I have to recommend it to anyone who a passing interest in American history from the last century. In particular, this book, Empire Rising by Thomas Kelly, is set in New York City in 1931, when the Empire State Building was under construction. The tallest building in the city went from a hole in the ground to a great observation point in just over 400 days. Take that, the people who never seem to finish megaprojects.
posted in history | Comments Off on Iconic images | 298 words
So, what could be cooler than a ransom note made by cutting out letters from a dozen different magazines? Well, there’s an easy one; the crazed look on the face of the investigator who has to know exactly which magazines were used in the creation. You see, there are those who read messages and then there are those who want to identify the fonts used in the message.
posted in media | Comments Off on So many fonts, so little time | 331 words
There’s something pathetic about the kid who wants to be class president, but who keeps being held back from the goal because the rest of the kids know that leadership requires some common sense. It’s even more pathetic when it applies to the political class. Witness our current prime minister, off showing off for the rest of the G8 in Europe.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Wait, there’s a new plan from the Steve-O | 350 words
Filtering out the batcrap from the real news is sometimes a chore. Tonight, the capsule from Europe on the news shows a new-century version of the Cold War in the making. Or is it? The whole blur of disinformation in the media is troubling, because we can’t tell if there is anything more than posturing for an ill-informed public taking place.
posted in media | Comments Off on Separating the fiction from the fictitious | 244 words
The children of teachers are doomed to their own version of hell-on-earth. All parents tell their progeny what to do; teachers not only tell what but how. Education is a means unto itself. Ask my children.
posted in environment, technology | Comments Off on So what can I teach today? | 285 words
We’ve all done it. Gone somewhere and left personal belongings behind. It’s what makes the stuff “ours”. We expand our personal space to the point where the stuff not attached just gets out of reach. One more reason for tying your shoelaces well. And your belt. And the strap around your cowboy hat, if you have one. Today, my parent training was called upon to teach the corollary skill to one of my young’uns; getting the stuff back.
posted in environment, travel | Comments Off on Personal belongings do go astray | 504 words
