The Neo-Nazi and the Dutch Guy

As the bile that rose in my throat brought forth a rage that I could not ignore, I found myself verbally attacking this racist, Nazi sympathizer. Young though he may have been (21 perhaps), the garbage he believed was quite unbelievable. I don’t know what crap he’d been reading, or what he was involved with, but at some point he’d been made to believe that the Holocaust was no big deal, and that there really were not that many Jews who died…that it was all this North American propaganda or some such. Continue reading The Neo-Nazi and the Dutch Guy

Death of a Canadian Icon – Stompin Tom

Stompin’ Tom Connors dies at 77 Stompin’ Tom Connors, the lanky, cranky country music legend who extolled Canada’s pastoral and working-class virtues in song has died. He was 77.[the Toronto Star] I gave a tear for this legend of Canadian Music when I read those words this morning in the Toronto Star online. Many outside of Canada probably have no idea who he was, and … Continue reading Death of a Canadian Icon – Stompin Tom

A cottage, a bonfire & guitars = Céilidh

There are rare times in our life when the planets align, the right people are gathered, and MAGIC happens. True magic. The sort of moments that become cherished memories. Those rare times when you are FULLY aware and can thus revel in the moments, imprinting them on your soul for ever more. There are times when you truly are thankful to be alive, to be … Continue reading A cottage, a bonfire & guitars = Céilidh

My Favourite Canadians: Tom Thomson

Writing about Thomson in 1914, the younger artist David Milne observed: “Varley and Lismer pines are pretty conventional pines, well done but quite familiar … you admire their proficiency, that’s all. But with Thomson’s trees, it’s different. You can’t be indifferent. These few patches with knotted strings are powerful; there was strong emotion behind their making and they stir the same now.” Milne notes, too, … Continue reading My Favourite Canadians: Tom Thomson