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Boo
The Happy Norwegian
Myron Floren was best known as the accordionist in Lawrence Welk’s band. I was never a fan of Lawrence Welk or his television show (they were way too clean cut for me), but looking back at some of Mr. Floren’s performances on the show, I can see what an accordion wizard he really was.
In the next video, Floren and Welk play a duet on Muskrat Ramble. Muskrat Ramble was written by Kid Ory but really popularized by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five.
…and here is Mr. Armstrong and the boys, just to put the tune in context
and more Myron Floren…Carnival of Venice
Finally, here’s a fun boogie.
Dangerous Gigs
The Presurfer has an interesting post up about the most dangerous jobs in America.
I never would have guessed that fishing was number one on that list. I might have said forestry or construction or mining. I suppose being out on the ocean, exposed to storms and such really is more dangerous than I imagined. I’m not surprised that farming is on the list. Farmers use all kinds of heavy equipment as well as a variety of chemicals and livestock farmers deal with large animals as well.
The most dangerous part of my job has to do with sitting on my butt in front of a computer for too long. Do you have a dangerous job?
Storytime
Image via Wikipedia
I mentioned a few days ago that I had a story-telling/squeezebox engagement at the annual Roselands Horticultural Society’s Awards dinner. Spicecat was kind enough to send me some pictures from the event, so below, that’s your humble servant, telling stories and squeezing out tunes on stage. For the ephemera buffs in the crowd, the logo on my engineer’s hat is from the Algoma Central Railway, also known simply as the ACR. The squeezebox I’m playing was made in Italy by Guerrini. It’s a triple row diatonic button accordion tuned to GCF. That means the reeds on the right side are set up like three diatonic harmonicas stacked on top of one another, the bottom one in G, the middle one in C and the top one in F. Of course I play across all three of the rows.
So what’s this Ford guy all about?
Image via Wikipedia
In case you haven’t been following the Toronto municipal elections (you mean we aren’t the centre of the universe?), here is an attempted transcript of the now infamous Rob Ford “As it Happens” Interview on CBC, from The Torontoist. Some folks think the CBC ought to have cut Mr. Ford some slack and not run this. Maybe they’re right. I don’t know. I do know that it did get aired, so we might as well all use it as an opportunity to get to know our new mayor a little bit.
Related Articles
- Worried about Rob Ford? Give him a call (thestar.com)
- Rob Ford and the future of Toronto (theglobeandmail.com)
- Rob Ford: Mike Harris’s gift to Toronto (fullcomment.nationalpost.com)
End of Mushroom Season
There are still some mushrooms around Southern Ontario and still some people out picking them. For me, though, I think the season is about over. There are so many leaves on the ground, it’s about impossible to see anything fruiting, except on the odd lawn. The season for most of the mushrooms I like to chase is long over.
This has been just my second year learning about mushrooms and picking them for the table, and it’s been a good one. I’ve found a few choice spots for chanterelles and hedgehogs and lobsters in particular, as well as some pretty good spots for summer boletes.
I’ve enjoyed a steady supply of fresh wild mushrooms for the table and I’ve dried plenty for winter. The dogs and I have wandered through lots of different forests and even made a trip north to Muskoka. Moreover, I’ve learned a lot. I can now identify several more species based on my experience. I’ve taken a quick look at some forests I want to explore next season. It’s been fun for me and for the dogs and good exercise too.
Another good thing is that my knee is better. Last season I was somewhat limited by a very sore knee, but thanks to a good doctor who figured out what the problem was and showed me how to fix it, my knee is remarkably back to 100%. Sometimes I even forget which one it was that caused me all that grief.
One of my winter projects will be to document some notes and pictures of fungi I identified this season. I started that last year. As I learn more and more species, I want to build my own little field guide based on my own knowledge and experience, as incomplete as that might be. If I continue to learn a few more species each year, in a few years, my notes will be an interesting record of Southern Ontario fungi.
King of the Nine String
Image via Wikipedia
Join me over at SqueezeMyLemon and let’s listen to the late great Big Joe Williams. Williams had a long career that included recording many sides with the harp player Sonny Boy Williamson (the first one). He doubled up three strings on his guitar, creating a nine stringed instrument for a more percussive effec, and had a very distinctive sound. This isn’t fancy music, but it’s powerful and distinctive.
I never would have thought…
Image via Wikipedia
I suppose I am, like the Pooh, a bear of very little brain. I thought that even those who trumpeted Rob Ford for Mayor of Toronto would have an epiphany at the voting booth and think “oh no, what am I doing, I can’t vote for this character.” I was way wrong. Ford didn’t just win, he won way more convincingly than anyone expected, even driving up voter participation along the way.
There were lots of other changes as well. We have 14 new councillors (out of 44) and that has to be healthy. It may even turn out we have another new one or two after some recounts in close races. We’ll see. Nine seats were vacant and 5 incumbents fell, including the controversial and outspoken Sandra Bussin, who was trashed in Beaches-East York.
Now we’ll see if Ford can work with Council to accomplish any of his brash promises. I suspect he’ll have a rough go of it, but time will tell.
Related Articles
- Rob Ford elected mayor of Toronto (cbc.ca)
- Rob Ford: The people’s choice, in spite of themselves (theglobeandmail.com)
- Ford leads suburban barbarians to Toronto’s gate (fullcomment.nationalpost.com)
The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain…
are coming to Toronto….
and Tuffy P ordered tickets for my birthday.
wahooooooo….
Election Day
Toronto Municipal Elections – Vote Today
If it seems as if our municipal election campaign has been going on for a really long time, it’s because it has been. The municipal campaigns are way longer than either the provincial or federal races. Typically, voter turnout for our local elections is very low, but I suspect this time more people will be motivated to get out and vote. It seems everyone I talk to lately has an opinion and I think that’s healthy. I hope participation is very high.
This election is going to mark a significant change for our city. Historically, it has been very difficult for a challenger to unseat an incumbent in Toronto. This time, 9 councillors will not be seeking re-election. That’s 20%. As well, there are a number of very strong new candidates who may well have gained enough steam to scramble into office.
I’ve been struggling to find candidates I can solidly get behind, both in my ward and in the mayoralty race, but I think finally I’ve made up my mind and I’m ready to get out and vote this afternoon. See you there.
Related Articles
- Toronto, it’s no time for cynicism. Every vote counts (theglobeandmail.com)
27th Street 