March 8, 2010
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The Hurt Locker

Apparently there was some kind of awards extravaganza on the television last night. What was that all about?

That reminds me, Tuffy P and I watched The Hurt Locker the other day. Very intense film. I enjoyed the fact that the director was able to put together a tough and powerful film on a modest budget without having to resort to a lot of fancy computer technology. It brings the film closer to home….just a bunch of actors doing their thing.

When we watched the Hurt Locker, I saw us in the characters. There was no romance, just a bunch of guys trying to disarm bombs day after day. In case you can’t figure it out on your own, we’re told early in the film – war is a drug. Oddly, I can’t recall the names of the characters, even though I remember most of the scenes vividly. The scene that really hammered things home for me was when the lead character goes home and is at the grocery store. He has to pick up some cereal but seems immobilized in the cereal aisle, unable to deal with ordinary every day life. It might have been different if the grocery store aisle were wired with explosives.

The Hurt Locker was an ugly film. See it if you get a chance.

March 7, 2010
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900 more Tim’s?

The Tim Horton’s empire is planning to add another 900 outlets. For those not living in Canada, it seems as if some cities have Tim Horton’s on just about every corner. This includes drive-through locations galore. I wonder if they will reach a saturation point. Who’s going to drink all that coffee? Current franchisees can’t be too happy with this news. I know many people go out of their way to get their java from Tim’s, but more outlets has to mean fewer Canadianos for each outlet.

Meanwhile, it seems that empty coffee cups have become the single most prevalent item of litter around.

March 7, 2010
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Bull Fiddle Boogie

Here’s Pee Wee King and the Golden West Cowboys…

For good measure, here’s another boogie by the same outfit. This one is a novelty piece called Chew Tobacco Rag.

Finally, here’s a “humdinger”. This one even has yodelling.

March 6, 2010
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Searches that found my mighty ship

Colonel Sam Smith off leash dog – must be the nice weather bringing folks outdoors
Los Tigres del nortes – narcorridos
Paula Fletcher – time for her to move on
Portugal Accordion Tradition – concertinas
Albatross Lakeshore – a good pub
Polki Z Strapon – intriguing anyway
Dog fenced parks in Etobicoke – again
A good year on 27th Street – I second that
das boot – a good movie
Colonel Smith dog area – I’m going there with Memphis now

March 6, 2010
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Go

Vox and I played three games last night, and this time I was fortunate to win them all.

Here’s a snapshot from the second game. I was playing white and I was in trouble deep because Vox had killed my white group in the lower right side, giving him massive territory. I needed a huge turnaround to win. After killing the four black stones just below the centre of the board, I set my sites on the circled group. I dropped a bomb inside his group, extended, and suddenly all his stones looked very sick indeed. Har!

Now in the third game, Vox left a weakness along the right side and I got there first. I killed off the three circled stones and that was about the margin of victory at game end.

Filed under: Go
March 6, 2010
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Buck’s Polka

Many people of my generation who grew up during the period when Hee Haw was on television, wouldn’t give a second thought to the music of anyone who had anything to do with that hocum. However, before selling his soul to the devil television, Buck Owens and his band The Buckeroos made some great music, that defined the Bakersfield sound. Here’s Buck doing a piece I really love called Buck’s Polka. This one is for all you guitar pickers out there. Strap on your telecasters and play along.

Here’s My Heart Skips a Beat from way back in 1966.

Here’s one more….Foolin’ Around. These boys could always be counted on to wear excellent outfits when they played. No jeans and t-shirts here.

March 5, 2010
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Front Yard Crops

Check out this article in The Toronto Star about front yard veggie gardens. There is some similar activity happening not far from Anchovy World Headquarters that I’ve watched with interest. I’ve never been a fan of the lawn. At our old place, I removed the lawn from the small front yard in year one and replaced it with what became a wonderful perrennial jungle. The back evolved over several years and featured some veggie patches, a rock garden and a shady bit with a beautiful red Japanese Maple that my father picked out for us. I was sad to see that the people who bought the house when we left took out a lot of the crazy love that characterized our garden.

One thing we didn’t do was bring veggies into the front yard. I think it would be very healthy for our communities to do more of that, and I love the idea of people with land and people with skills getting together to share the wealth of the land. At the new Anchovy World Headquarters, I don’t think we’re going to be able to grow much in the way of veggies, due to the mature trees all over the property. We have a huge locust in the front yard and in the back, there are several very tall mature spruce trees, along with a couple very old apple trees, a big silver maple and more. A lot of the back yard is dominated by the shallow roots of the conifers. I’ve made a perrenial garden at the side of the house and two perrenial gardens in the back. Each year we’ll transform the gardens a bit more.

For those with sunny gardens, I think planting some crops is a great idea. I’m all for breaking down the tyrrany of the lawn and using garden space to grow food.  I love our shady spot, but I do miss my early season spinach and fabulous tomatoes and chiles.

March 4, 2010
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Maple Sugar

I understand the government is contemplating changing the lyrics to the Canadian national anthem to make it more gender neutral. Well, I can understand that. I’m actually not really sure what that line “true patriot love in all thy son’s command” really means anyhow. But if we’re going to open the pandora’s box around changing the anthem, I’d like to propose we go for a bigger change.

There is a Canadian tune that stops me in my tracks every time I hear it. It transports me across this land and drops me in the woods. It’s spring, a new season, a fresh start. The snow is still on the ground in the woods but I can smell spring in the air. Instead of messing about with the lyrics of our current anthem, I suggest we adopt a new tune altogether. The sap is flowing. There’s not much time. Let’s make Maple Sugar by the late great Ward Allen the new Canadian national anthem.

Here it is….

March 3, 2010
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Mountain Dulcimer

I don’t think I’ve posted any mountain dulcimer music here since I moved over from Mister Anchovy’s to this space. It’s a diatonic instrument in the zither family. Usually it’s used to play American old-time music or sometimes gospel music.

Of course you can also play bowed dulcimer…

March 3, 2010
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Is Toronto City Council Out of Control?

Toronto Star
Toronto Sun
National Post

This kind of behaviour is not new to our dysfunctional City Council. This time out it was Paula Fletcher making an inappropriate outburst. Fortunately it’s an election year. Unfortunately, most people don’t seem to bother voting. Also unfortunately, it’s very difficult to vote out a sitting Councillor, no matter how badly they need voting out.

I think it’s time to start a movement to replace our entire City Council. Everyone. Let’s start fresh and let a new group of individuals have a go at it. How can this be done?

The Prescription is as follows:

1. Vote.
2. Cast your vote for anyone but the sitting Councillor. Most wards will have several choices. Talk to them and pick the one you think will do the best job.
3. Suggest to your friends and family that they vote in this year’s election.
4. Tell them you want to see a change, a big change. Suggest that they also vote for anyone but the sitting Councillor.

Tell enough friends and this can happen……