Olympian Spirit - 2

Don’t let anyone tell you, Dear Reader, that Canadians don’t take hockey seriously!
Beginning at 8 a.m. Atlantic (4 a.m. Pacific) last Sunday, we gathered in our homes, pubs, community halls, mosques, arenas and public squares to watch the Olympics Mens hockey final game.
On Monday, CBC News showed a Tweet with a photo from Highway 401 in Toronto, taken during that game: there were NO VEHICLES on that stretch of Canada’s busiest route!

That hockey game was described as ’tense’, along with the semi-final win over a strong Team Latvia.
But they could not match the drama of the womens hockey final with Team Canada against Team U-S-A!
Team USA was leading 2-0 with less than 3 minutes left in the 3rd period, and it looked like they would capture the gold medal. I was listening to the excellent CBC Radio call by Steve Armitage, and the situation seemed hopeless.
But Team Canada scored a goal on a deflection, and later another goal while they had 6 attackers,

Olympian Spirit - 1

The CBC is providing extensive coverage of the Olympic Winter Games now underway in Sochi, Russia: on TV, radio and the Internet. And they can be proud of their work!

The Games are presented throughout the morning and early afternoons (because of the 8-hour time difference), and highlight packages are available during the evenings. Of course, all Canadian team hockey games men's and women's, are shown live.
In our society, we often hear of some negative behaviours expected or shown by the younger generation. During these games, however, we have witnessed many members of our team who have made us proud by their performances in the games, as well as with the media.
I am particularly impressed by these young people (and they ARE young, aren't they!!) for their excellent poise and sporting behaviour when they are interviewed.

The Wonder of Reading

The solution to yesterday's newspaper ‘Cryptoquote’ said it well:
There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all. — Jackie Kennedy.
Reading has always been a special part of my life. I cannot remember not having books. My wife and I, both former teachers, still read a lot and have always ‘adopted’ books over our house.

During my early years, my Mom, as well as just about any visitor to our house, often took time to read to me. For example, we would look through ‘The Three Little Pigs,’ while she told the story and sang the famous ditty: “Who's afraid of the big bad Wolf?” Of course, I followed the excellent illustrations.
My reading career was launched in a variety of Walt Disney books,

How Cold Was It?*

That question has been on everybody's lips for the last month, as the northern half of the globe has seen a ‘roller coaster’ of temperatures.

First, there was a continent-wide cold snap in December, near the date of the official start of winter. On Monday, the 23rd, a blizzard with lots of snow and freezing rain swept across the American Mid-West, as well as Ontario, Québec and New Brunswick. Many of the folks in these areas — especially 250,000 in Greater Toronto and 40,000 in Montréal — had no power throughout the entire Christmas week.
(Photo: fotosearch.com)
There was deep cold throughout the Prairie provinces, with temperature readings as low as -50, taking into account the wind chill. In the U-S, colder temperatures made it all the way down to Atlanta, and as far west has Dallas, and even San Diego.

2013: A Very Good Year!

Lots of ‘looking-back’ stories at this time of year.
During 2013, two major events happened in our family, and we just happen to have the photos to show:
— On May 29, our grand-niece, Amelie (a.k.a., La niña), was born in Havana, Cuba.

Our nephew was not able to get permission to attend his wife in the delivery room, because of medical regulations there. Everything went well, and his wall-to-wall grin was visible, even in the text of his e-mail! La niña was baptized earlier this month, and all three are doing fine in Havana right now.
However, we have a problem: Madre has been unable to get an emigration visa; they want to live / work

Nelson Mandela

Earlier this morning, the people of South Africa – and indeed the whole world – were in the final stages of giving this remarkable man their final respects. His burial took place in his home village of Qunu.

Our impressions of this remarkable man still range from “terrorist” to “father of his country” … and everything in between.
His death ten days ago came as no surprise, as the 96-year-old statesman had been in poor health for many months. Throughout most of the mourning period, the atmosphere was of an upbeat 'celebration-of-life' by the South African citizens, accompanied by singing and dancing.

'Where were you, when … ?'

Most of us, of the Boomer era, can remember exactly where we were when we heard the news that President Kennedy had been shot.

I had the chance to revisit many of the feelings and of that tragic weekend, during the last couple of weeks. The 50th anniversary shows were quite restrained. (Photo: The Guardian)
Here are some of the thoughts and images that went through my mind all over again:
-- The entire world, especially America, descended into a depressed state: reactions on the streets ranged from outright weeping, to quiet introspection.
-- Did Oswald act alone?
Conspiracy theories still abound (available on any overnight radio talk show!):