It was then years ago this past summer that I started this blog. Soon I will write something looking back at ten years of postings... a celebration of sorts.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
THE INSTANT KIND
At times, a cup of instant coffee hits the spot for me. I would hardly claim that the instant kind is any replacement for the real stuff, but it is quick to prepare.
Maxwell House has long been my special fast blend, but last week I saw Taster's Choice marked down in price at my local food store.
I am no shill for any beverage, hot or cold, but I have to say that Taster's Choice is now my own choice for instant coffee.
Maxwell House has long been my special fast blend, but last week I saw Taster's Choice marked down in price at my local food store.
I am no shill for any beverage, hot or cold, but I have to say that Taster's Choice is now my own choice for instant coffee.
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
NEW STAR TREK ON CANADIAN TV
The news was released yesterday that the new "Star Trek" television series will show in Canada on CTV (Canadian Television); at least to start things off. The show will premiere in January on that network with the remainder of the planned 13 episodes airing on "Space".
The news...
https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2016/07/18/new-star-trek-series-to-premiere-on-ctv.html
Trivia...
It was CTV that gave Star Trek its premiere back on September 6, 1966... two days before NBC.
The news...
https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2016/07/18/new-star-trek-series-to-premiere-on-ctv.html
Trivia...
It was CTV that gave Star Trek its premiere back on September 6, 1966... two days before NBC.
Friday, July 1, 2016
HAPPY CANADA DAY OF 2016
As the title says, fellow Canadians; we the privileged. Let's continue to roll the ball.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
NETFLIX TO DO NEW "LOST IN SPACE" SERIES
A friend sent me this special link minutes ago...
http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/lost-in-space-reboot-ordered-to-series-by-netflix-1201806272/
The original series is terrible. I liked it as a child but once I hit my teens I could see how wrong a child could be. Lost in Space suffered from poor production design (even the initial design work; so 1950s done in the mid 1960s) and, more importantly, stunningly bad writing.
I thought Netflix was all about quality shows. One cannot go back to the garbage dump.
http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/lost-in-space-reboot-ordered-to-series-by-netflix-1201806272/
The original series is terrible. I liked it as a child but once I hit my teens I could see how wrong a child could be. Lost in Space suffered from poor production design (even the initial design work; so 1950s done in the mid 1960s) and, more importantly, stunningly bad writing.
I thought Netflix was all about quality shows. One cannot go back to the garbage dump.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
THE TORONTO SUN'S BIG MOVE DOWN SIZE
I've seen it happen many times before; a company makes a move to much smaller digs only to end up closing its doors for good, a few years or months later. Like many, I've worked for companies where this was the case. We hear how "it's good for the company", "things will stay the same", "it's still the same company", and so on... to the grave.
The Toronto Sun, which currently occupies a small fraction of the space in the building originally built to house them exclusively, is moving up from King Street E. to take office space at Postmedia headquarters on Bloor Street E., number 365 (which contains a clue, no doubt).
Today's issue of the Toronto Sun contains a story explaining the "when" but not the "why"; the "real why", not the official line of "there will be great opportunities for Sun Media and Postmedia to work together": They conveniently skirt around the issue...
The Sun's Big move
We say goodbye to our historic King St. location and hello to our new home on Bloor St.
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/03/25/the-suns-big-move
There's a real story coded in that article. But, no surprise, the Toronto Sun is incapable of reporting the unedited truth, which is why I go to the Globe and Mail. While that paper is not perfect, at least it makes an effort to live up to the title of "newspaper", and the Globe is written above a Grade-3 reading level.
Check back here in about 365 days. I'd be willing to clear some space in my tool shed. Rent: $1 per month.
The Toronto Sun, which currently occupies a small fraction of the space in the building originally built to house them exclusively, is moving up from King Street E. to take office space at Postmedia headquarters on Bloor Street E., number 365 (which contains a clue, no doubt).
Today's issue of the Toronto Sun contains a story explaining the "when" but not the "why"; the "real why", not the official line of "there will be great opportunities for Sun Media and Postmedia to work together": They conveniently skirt around the issue...
The Sun's Big move
We say goodbye to our historic King St. location and hello to our new home on Bloor St.
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/03/25/the-suns-big-move
There's a real story coded in that article. But, no surprise, the Toronto Sun is incapable of reporting the unedited truth, which is why I go to the Globe and Mail. While that paper is not perfect, at least it makes an effort to live up to the title of "newspaper", and the Globe is written above a Grade-3 reading level.
Check back here in about 365 days. I'd be willing to clear some space in my tool shed. Rent: $1 per month.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
MEMORIES OF AND ABOUT SYLVIA ANDERSON (1927 - 2016)
Several times in the history of this blog I've posted thoughts on the old television series Space: 1999. It was created and produced by Gerry Anderson and his then wife, Sylvia.
Last weekend I took a look at what Sylvia Anderson was up to these days. (Gerry died back in December of 2012.) I also went on to her personal website and saw her comments about looking forward to production of the new Thunderbirds series. (Thunderbirds was a "Supermarionation" series that had been produced in the early to mid 1960s. It enjoys the largest following of all the Anderson shows and, in my opinion, it is their best... with the possible exception of UFO.)
On Wednesday morning I awoke to the news, revealed to me via The Guardian, that the grand lady had passed away the day before (March 15th). At first I was saddened, of course, but was reminded that she lived to 88 years of age; as a matter of fact, Anderson died less than two weeks shy of what would have been her 89th birthday.
I remember listening to an interview with Ms Anderson a few years ago where she spoke of her applying for a job at a film production company back in 1957. She was a graduate of the London School of Economics ("I wanted to save the world...") and was looking for work, now that she was a single mom. What I remember most about Anderson's reminiscences was her recounting how she almost didn't get the job, not through failing the interview, but because she could not find the address of AP Films (Anderson-Provis). Sylvia Anderson, then "Sylvia Thamm", was seconds away from giving up, but before aborting her quest she happened to notice a small side street. It was the street she had been looking for. Just think, had she not decided to check it out Sylvia Thamm would have not become an "Anderson" and gone on to co-produce and co-create and help design all those "puppet shows" and UFO and Space: 1999.
I think that's a great story; a great "what if?". We all have those stories: "If only I had... I didn't realize they were right around the corner... If only I could go back and make sure I looked at the odd sign over what I thought was an automotive repair shop... Why didn't I call that number?...."
The odd thing is many people who gear up intending to enter and prosper as a creator/producer in the film and television business should probably not work in the "biz". They have nothing special in the way of talent, and offer little of note if anything at all. Sylvia Anderson was guided, perhaps, by some great force; someone or something knew this lady would wield influence through innate talent. Imagine that.
Look back at my previous posting on Ms Anderson; from July 12th, 2013...
SYLVIA ANDERSON INTERVIEW STORIES
http://barrysmight.blogspot.ca/2013/07/sylvia-anderson-interview-stories.html
(I would agree with her still on the casting of Space: 1999. Having seen, recently, more than a few episodes of that "near-miss" series, it's obvious one of the many things that would have helped it attain greater heights was if Robert Culp had have been cast as "John Koenig".)
Last weekend I took a look at what Sylvia Anderson was up to these days. (Gerry died back in December of 2012.) I also went on to her personal website and saw her comments about looking forward to production of the new Thunderbirds series. (Thunderbirds was a "Supermarionation" series that had been produced in the early to mid 1960s. It enjoys the largest following of all the Anderson shows and, in my opinion, it is their best... with the possible exception of UFO.)
I remember listening to an interview with Ms Anderson a few years ago where she spoke of her applying for a job at a film production company back in 1957. She was a graduate of the London School of Economics ("I wanted to save the world...") and was looking for work, now that she was a single mom. What I remember most about Anderson's reminiscences was her recounting how she almost didn't get the job, not through failing the interview, but because she could not find the address of AP Films (Anderson-Provis). Sylvia Anderson, then "Sylvia Thamm", was seconds away from giving up, but before aborting her quest she happened to notice a small side street. It was the street she had been looking for. Just think, had she not decided to check it out Sylvia Thamm would have not become an "Anderson" and gone on to co-produce and co-create and help design all those "puppet shows" and UFO and Space: 1999.
I think that's a great story; a great "what if?". We all have those stories: "If only I had... I didn't realize they were right around the corner... If only I could go back and make sure I looked at the odd sign over what I thought was an automotive repair shop... Why didn't I call that number?...."
The odd thing is many people who gear up intending to enter and prosper as a creator/producer in the film and television business should probably not work in the "biz". They have nothing special in the way of talent, and offer little of note if anything at all. Sylvia Anderson was guided, perhaps, by some great force; someone or something knew this lady would wield influence through innate talent. Imagine that.
Look back at my previous posting on Ms Anderson; from July 12th, 2013...
SYLVIA ANDERSON INTERVIEW STORIES
http://barrysmight.blogspot.ca/2013/07/sylvia-anderson-interview-stories.html
(I would agree with her still on the casting of Space: 1999. Having seen, recently, more than a few episodes of that "near-miss" series, it's obvious one of the many things that would have helped it attain greater heights was if Robert Culp had have been cast as "John Koenig".)
Monday, February 29, 2016
TOM BRADY AND MY SENSE OF TIME
As per the standard mode for me I am doing some serious work on my computer while listening to the news radio. Why not keep an ear open for what's going down in the world today, including the Oscar results (which I really care about). Who's spotlight?
One thing that made my left ear rotate in the manner of a cat's audio receptor: A new contract agreement shall see New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stick with the team through to 2019. I processed that by thinking, "that's quite a few years from now... will Brady still be playing then?"
Then I gave my head a shake: It's 2016 right now... today! Why do I think it's 2006 (or something like that)?
A friend of mine has a theory: Time speeds up as one grows older.
One thing that made my left ear rotate in the manner of a cat's audio receptor: A new contract agreement shall see New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stick with the team through to 2019. I processed that by thinking, "that's quite a few years from now... will Brady still be playing then?"
Then I gave my head a shake: It's 2016 right now... today! Why do I think it's 2006 (or something like that)?
A friend of mine has a theory: Time speeds up as one grows older.
Monday, February 22, 2016
MICHAEL DEN TANDT IS RIGHT
It is so nice to read columns from a bright conservative -- they do exist. Read today's piece from National Post writer Michael Den Tandt...
here
Mr. Den Tandt is correct: Conservatives can't win by being the party of angry old men.
His piece on Justin Trudeau from a few days ago was very good. While I don't agree with everything he said, there, Tandt is right when he says that our new Prime Minister is approachable and engaging (as in: what a difference!)
... and the Toronto Sun continues to be more and more irrelevant.
here
Mr. Den Tandt is correct: Conservatives can't win by being the party of angry old men.
His piece on Justin Trudeau from a few days ago was very good. While I don't agree with everything he said, there, Tandt is right when he says that our new Prime Minister is approachable and engaging (as in: what a difference!)
... and the Toronto Sun continues to be more and more irrelevant.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
I LOVE THE TORONTO SUN
The Toronto Sun never ceases to amuse me. Case in point: Editor responses to letters-to-the-editor from the last couple of days...
* "(Trudeau will blunder his way through the next four years)"
* "(Let us know how you feel about Trudeau in four years)"
The latter quip was made in response to a letter which, I should note, made a good point. Trust the Toronto Sun to be insanely bitter over a certain man's ascendancy to the top office. The name of Justin Trudeau drives them crazy.
The Toronto Sun drives me to... read more of their childish nonsense. There's humour in that rag.
Addendum: Contrary to what the reader may think from my opinions on the Toronto Sun, I would never feel amusement from seeing them go out of business. My only wish is they would return to what they were years ago: A feisty little newspaper. Calling them a "newspaper" now is stretching the truth. Standard news stories, which you would expect to just report the news, end up as editorials. It's all rather unfortunate.
* "(Trudeau will blunder his way through the next four years)"
* "(Let us know how you feel about Trudeau in four years)"
The latter quip was made in response to a letter which, I should note, made a good point. Trust the Toronto Sun to be insanely bitter over a certain man's ascendancy to the top office. The name of Justin Trudeau drives them crazy.
The Toronto Sun drives me to... read more of their childish nonsense. There's humour in that rag.
Addendum: Contrary to what the reader may think from my opinions on the Toronto Sun, I would never feel amusement from seeing them go out of business. My only wish is they would return to what they were years ago: A feisty little newspaper. Calling them a "newspaper" now is stretching the truth. Standard news stories, which you would expect to just report the news, end up as editorials. It's all rather unfortunate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)