Less clutter on the counter ...

This morning, I threw out the knife block I had in the kitchen. I mounted the new magnetic knife holder thingy on the wall. It works just fine. I was going to get just one ($25) but being the paranoid person than I am, I bought two of them. The magnets are strong enough to hold everything and the wall space is at the every end of the counter, so if I drop a knife it won't land on my toes.

Something old and new ...

Well this brings back memories for sure, so I figured I would give it a try, again This is a safety razor, first developed by the Gillette Company just over 100 years ago. When I was a teenager, everyone used these to shave every morning. I cannot remember when I switched over the cartridge style plastic razors, but I know they don't always give the best shave. Come Monday morning I will install a brand new ultra sharp safety blade into the razor and submit my face and neck to the what I hope will be an ultra clean smooth shave. If I can get five or six good shaves a week, then I will be pleased.

COVID news coverage ...

Sitting in the newsroom on Tuesday I asked a co-worker what I could use at a press conference to hold my little audio recorder. Normally I just hold it close to the face of the person talking to get a good recording of what the person has to say. Not anymore. We all have to keep our distance.
"Use a hockey stick" said the co-worker. I thought he was joking. He wasn't. He said Molly from the TV station used a hockey stick to hold her microphone. Good idea. I drove out to see Jennifer. We went to the shed in the backyard. There had to be a dozen old sticks there. So I showed up at the news conference with the hockey stick this morning and no one even blinked. I taped the recorder to the end of the stick and it worked just fine!

Heat

Well it’s the Fourth of July and I feel terrible for many American friends who are struggling with the COVID-19 comeback. Too many people are sick and dying. More people need to take this seriously.

In the meantime, I am struggling. Sudbury has a 30+ heat wave and I have a rough time with that. Stayed in the apartment all day Friday with two fans running. Oh well, at least there is no ice on the windshield to scrape. My car is like a sauna unless I drive for ten minutes so the AC can cool it down. Gotta take another cooling shower.

A love song...

I was amazed recently to see a YouTube video of a 1960s song that appears to be making a comeback of sorts. It is a love song that hit the charts in 1965.  It was in Billboard’s Top 100 that year – Number 4 in August ’65 performed by The Righteous Brothers. These guys; Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, were not brothers. They were performing in night clubs in the early 1960’s. In one place, a group of U.S. Marines, mostly Blacks, couldn’t believe how intense and soulful their songs were. Many people didn’t believe the singers were white. One marine remarked “You brothers have righteous music.” And so the name stuck.
The interesting thing on YouTube is that so many young people – young women mainly – are reacting to the song like it is the most wonderful thing they’ve ever heard. It is easy to understand why.

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYj2hex99gY
When you think about the time this song hit the charts, the Viet Nam war was ramping up. Ten of thousands of young men were on the other side of the world. Their sweethearts were back at home. People were in love and missing each other. It didn’t matter if you were black or white.
So then you have Bobby Hatfield in a voice as smooth as warm chocolate crooning;

“Ohhh,  my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch….

“I’ll be coming home. Wait for me. Wait for me.

You’ve got to go and listen to this song on YouTube to get the full effect. Hatfield is amazing. He performed the song live, with just an orchestra, no Auto Tune, no back up singers. Just the man, singing his heart out.
Don’t forget that when these guys hit the charts – twice that year – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, The Four Seasons, Stevie Wonder, Elvis and Bob Dylan were already dominating the scene.  
Hatfield sings solo on this song, but the Brothers  were in full bloom that same year when they released You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling, another chart topper. Fans of Bill Medley will remember his voice when he performed a duet years later with Jennifer Warnes in the movie Dirty Dancing, singing I’ve Had The Time of My Life. Another amazing song.

Hoping for the best ...

So here we are with the first full day of summer. It used to a wonderful time for young people finishing up the school year and looking forward to a time of fun and relaxation. But now there is a lot of worry for what the future holds.  Education is the most important thing we can provide for our young people. Ontario has two and half months to figure out how to get it right. When students return to school in September they might be in classrooms, they might be doing remote learning online or have a combination of both. I don’t have the answers but I hope our education gurus can find a way to help our young people learn and get they answers they need to go forward and make good decisions. And if we have to pay higher education taxes then I am okay with that.

Sudbury Saturday night ...

Was more than pleased to have a nice Saturday night fire in the valley with the gang at Scott and Jennifer’s place. Don and Denise moved back into Sudbury so they were there along with Christine and Victoria who made the drive up from the city. Tyler and Emilie joined along with Nathan and Dara. So it was nice to sit around and chat even though the bugs were out. But there was just enough woodsmoke to keep the bugs from being too nasty. A few drinks, some great conversations and it was the perfect way to kick off summer. It was the best way to catch up with everyone and I was thinking how perfect it was after two and half months of isolation.  I think we will have to do this again.

Camera

For years I have carried a camera with me, no matter where I go. Just in case I might see something that would make a good picture for the newspaper. Things have changed. It seems everyone with a cell phone has a good camera these days. And for people who do bad things, more and more of that is being recorded on camera. Sadly, we are seeing more instances of bad cops doing stupid things.

A case in point is the cop who kneeled on the neck of George Floyd which surely looks like it contributed to Floyd’s death. In recent days I have seen half a dozen other videos of stupid cops doing stupid things and because it was on camera, these people will pay, either with lost jobs or criminal charges.

It is the new way of things. If people do stupid things, they will likely be caught on camera.

Great ketchup ...

A few years back, I switched my preference from Heinz Ketchup to French's Ketchup, mainly because Heinz had closed its tomato processing plant in Leamington, Ontario and moved operations to Mexico.
I switched over to French's because it continued to use Canadian tomatoes, even though their ketchup is made in the U.S. It tasted good.
In the past few months, I changed my preference again. I now use President's Choice Ketchup. It is made in Canada and it tastes just fine. And it is usually less expensive. I made a nice western sandwich this week and I was pleased to have another great tasting ketchup.
Don't be shy. Give it a try.

Yes! Back in the game on Monday ...

Not sure if this is good karma or just good luck, but I have been invited back to work. I got the call Monday and after a very quick interview, I agreed to a 10-month contract that begins on June 1^st. I will be back in the Sudbury newsroom and back in the journalism game.
(See my posting below from March 20, 2020.)

I have to admit I was slowly getting used to the idea of being at home and doing whatever I liked, especially when I could hit the couch mid-morning with a great cup of coffee and a good book. For several hours a day I would totally immerse myself into whatever great novel I was reading. What a luxury.

Then there were times I would stare at the wall and think, what the hell am I doing? My life is passing me by and I am stuck here. And then I would think of so many other people in the world who are indeed struggling in hard situations. So, slap my face and think positive! So yes, this is a good thing and I am blessed with a good life.

A powerful message ...

I don't know if this has ever happened before. The entire front page of the Sunday New York Times -- May 24,2020 --was presented with no articles and no advertisements. It was nothing but a list of American citizens who have died as a result of the COVID-19 virus. A very powerful message ...

Clever poetry

I like poetry that is clever.
Following is from the New York Times this week.

-- A rhyme for Orange --
Worth sharing...

:)

Lapis Lazooli, a poet and truly,
A man with some dubious talents.
Said to me, last July with a glint in his eye:
“What I’ll tell you will throw you off balance.”

I admit I was leery, ennui-ed, somewhat weary;
Just what was he cooking this time?
“I’ve unlocked the enigma, destigma-ed the stigma;
And for orange I found a real rhyme.”

Now, it’s really no news that New Yorkers schmooze,
We’re verbal and vocal, loquacious.
But in Coney Islond, we will not be conned,
“Gimme a break, that’s fallacious.”

He tugged at his beard — it was worse than I feared —
And he whispered, his voice was a hiss:
“Neither Ogden, nor Parker, nor Stephen Sondheim,
Dared to attempt such a perilous rhyme.
Forget about Seuss ’cause he knew he’d be lost;
Not Wordsworth, not Shelley, not Shakespeare, not Frost;
Not Yeats, not a one in this august mélange,
Would ever endeavor a rhyme for or-anj.
But I — ”

He then cleared his throat trying hard not to gloat,
(I was doing my best not to cringe.)
“The word that’s a rhyme, that’s mundane yet sublime:
Orange — its mate is doorhinge!”

Doorhinge?! Doorhinge?!
Now, I am no yokel, I’m Brooklyn, I’m local,
Won’t ever be tricked, teased nor taken.
“Well, I’ll tell ya, Lapis, that’s nothing but crappis,
You’re messhugah, you’re mad, you’re mistaken!”
“No!
You’ve no ear for whimsy, your knowledge is flimsy,
Van Gogh never could sell his art.
Galileo was hounded, Prometheus grounded.
Here’s the moment, my friend, that we part.”

A rough time for young people

 One has to feel bad for young people who were looking forward to their high school graduation and prom. The world is a confusing place for a lot of young people and now this COVID-19 pandemic is making it a lot worse. I know that graduation and prom are huge things for a lot of young people. It is a celebration of something they have achieved; a celebration with friends and people that are special to them. But all they are hearing is that there is no celebration for them; to practice social distancing and to just suck it up. It’s a hard thing to deal with.

Sadness

Feeling sad over the crash of the Snowbird jet that occurred in Kamloops yesterday. It is terrible that a member of the team lost her life. I know there will be an investigation and I wonder if the age of the aircraft will be considered.  The Canadair Tutor was built in the 1960s as a trainer. These planes are more than 50 years old. The Tutor was retired as a trainer by the RCAF about 20 years ago, but it continues to be used for aerobatics.

Withdrawal?

I might have to do some research but I am pretty sure I am experiencing withdrawal every time I finish a book. I have read five books in the past two weeks. Nothing special, just novels.  I find I get totally immersed in what I am reading for five or six hours at a time. The only reason I stop is because my butt is sore, my back is sore, my neck hurts or my eyes are sore. And then I feel exhausted and usually take a half-hour nap. I finished a book about an hour ago and found I was feeling let down. I knew the end of the story had to be coming, but still I was disappointed when I finished the book. So I took a nap. Now I have just taken the first shower in three days and realized I have to scoot out and get some groceries. When I get back time to have something to eat and maybe start a new book!

Summer is on the way. Time for a buzz!

It was nice to drop by at Jennifer's place this week where she was kind enough to try her hand as a barber. For me it was a perfect time to get a backyard buzzcut. So thanks Jenn!
One of my cousins remarked on Facebook that this photo made me look like my old man. Well, I am the old man now! :)

Electric vehicles are great ... but not in the North

I am thinking the jury is still out on the verdict of whether electric vehicles will grab a significant portion of the consumer market anytime soon.

I purchased a newer vehicle in December all the time thinking that I should hold out for an electric vehicle, or at least a gas-electric hybrid. The other vehicle was 10 years old so I figured it was time.

Living in Northern Ontario, my first instinct was to have a vehicle that was reliable in the winter. I honestly don’t believe the electric vehicle market is there yet. My new Jeep is a gas guzzler, but not at bad as my old Nitro. Still I am enjoying the current low gasoline prices, even though I have no where to go!

There is a different story for commercial vehicles, that can afford to have charging stations and support systems for batteries. In mining for example, if you purchase an electric vehicle, you likely purchase a spare battery unit at the same time.

When one battery needs recharging, you replace it with a freshly charged battery and go back to work in minutes. You put the other battery on charge.

We did this in the 1980s when I was a miner at Kidd Mine in Timmins. One of my jobs was to drive the electric underground train hauling ore. If the loco began losing power in the middle of the shift, we pulled into the shop and switched out batteries. It took about 10 minutes. Enough time for a smoke.

This would be nice if you could do it with your new electric car in 2020. It doesn’t work like that. Also, with communities in Northern Ontario – indeed in most of Canada – being rural and remote, it is not always easy to find a charging station.

That’s the key reason for me. Winter and long distances. I don’t see electric vehicles measuring up anytime soon. I can foresee news stories in the next few years where motorists with electric cars run out of power and get stranded in a snowstorm or on a busy highway. Yes, it happens with gas vehicles already, but I believe it will be more of an issue with electric cars.

Coping with COVID ...

Thinking what it will be like in Canada – or anywhere – a year from now. This is the most bizarre time ever. I remembering reading about the Spanish Flu of 1918 – 1919 and thinking something like that could never happen again.

I never imagined that a virus could bring the world to a standstill so quickly. When we get the all-clear, will it really be safe? Or will we all be willing to take a chance that we won’t get sick from something else? I guess it shows how frail we human beings really are in the big scheme of things.

It also brings home the reality of things that are important. Nothing seems to matter to me anymore other than the health and safety of the people close to me.

If there is anything good from all this, hopefully it is that people have demonstrated the importance of communal teamwork. There are so many good examples of people or organizations doing things to help other people. I hope we all learn to appreciate people more.

More reading ...

It has to be one of my guilty pleasures; reading something when I don't have to read... like when I am working. I was pleased to pick up my Kobo recently to discover that over a period of months, I had purchased several books that I knew I would read someday. I read two books last week, just zoomed through them as I was enjoying my isolation, like most other Canadians.
I also noticed that my supply of coffee is dwindling along with Baileys while I read … so I know I've done a lot of reading.
On Friday, I selected a book by the well-known author Leon Uris. It kept me up late Friday night and has taken up most of my time on this Saturday. I had to cook supper so I have taken a break. As I was reading through this classic -- Battle Cry -- it occurred to me that it was such a good story it could have been a movie.
Imagine my surprise when I googled the title and found it was indeed made into  movie in 1955. It really is a compelling story.
Oh well it is past 6 p.m. time for supper, some whiskey and more reading.
Stay home, stay healthy.

I can read!

In the mornings, I like to browse the Internet and check the newspaper websites to get caught up on things. I have noticed that more and more of these websites have short videos instead of printed news stories. This is annoying. I prefer to read a news story. If there is something confusing or contentious I can re-read the sentence or paragraph to get things straight. Videos don't do that. If you don't get all the details in the first run, you have to pause and rerun the video. That doesn't always work. Here is a snippet from the front page of today's National Post.  Three out of the four stories on the left were videos. I am not lazy. I don't need a video.  I can read.