The new episode is up! Listen here or find it at all the good podcast places.
This week, we get into contemporary versions of classic B-movie, sci-fi, beer drinking monsters . Why is there a sudden interest in producing kitsch 1950s movies featuring low-tech analog machines and masking tape? And if there are aliens, why don’t they visit me? We are so grateful to our listeners…Thank you!
I came across this on the WesternAF YouTube channel. It’s Sierra Farrell performing Elk River Blues.
As some of you know, I got it in my little brain that I can learn to play fiddle. It’s an instrument with a steep learning curve, but I feel as if I’m turning a corner on it – maybe with enough time and effort fiddling is within my grasp.
One of the things I’m doing is listening – a lot. I did that with banjo too. I think listening and practice are the two cornerstones. There are so many ways to play any tune. A good example is a tune I’m working on now, Big John McNeil. It’s a Scottish tune, which also goes by the name Lord Ramsey’s. It’s been kind of adopted into the Canadian Old Time and Métis repertoires. When I attended Midwest Banjo Camp, a number of American players called it a Canadian tune, perhaps because they first heard Canadian fiddler’s doing it.
Here are some wonderful versions of Big John McNeil…
JJ Lavallee
Patrick Ross
Daniel Carwile
I met up with my friend Ted this morning for a walk around Humber Bay East Park. It was a sunny morning but quite cold. The trails were bare, a perfect day for a winter walk.
We saw a tremendous amount of fresh beaver activity, but no sign of the beaver.
Humber Bay is a good spot to see winter ducks like this bufflehead.
There were swans preening in a sheltered area.
I caught some movement as a bird landed in some shrubs. I didn’t get a good look but snapped some pictures.
It turned out to be North America’s smallest falcon, an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius, sometimes called a sparrow hawk), and it looks like he’s got some lunch.
Here is my friend David Sawyer from down in NC playing his excellent song, Centipedes can’t Fly (Don’t Look at Me)
David is a fabulous songwriter. Check out all the goodies on his YouTube channel.
The new episode of The Agency Podcast is up. Listen to it here or find it in all the good podcast places.
Selling Sunset to riding the rods. Young Offenders to The high priest of discernment. Your agents have lots of fun and cover quite a few bases in this episode. Hop on the train and enjoy.
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The Agency Reading List is a list of books which have come up in discussion on The Agency Podcast. If you enjoy the podcast, you might also enjoy reading some of the books on the list. I add books as they come up, and I’ve captured most if not all the books mentioned or discussed. Feel free to visit the list anytime.
In the face of an uproar over his family vacation to St. Barts while his government encouraged people to stay at home, Rod Phillips resigned as Finance Minister. There are still questions. Premier Ford knew Phillips was away and went along with the ruse – until the story broke. He has said as much. Is that OK with you? After all, Mr. Ford campaigned on a platform around the slogan “For the People”.
We all heard Premier Ford tell us to stay home, avoid gatherings, avoid travel – for the common good. We have to work together to fight the pandemic. OK, the pandemic has been going on for a long time but we’re trying our best. Now we find out that provincial Finance Minister Rod Phillips took off for a luxury vacation in mid-December. Not only that, but he released social media posts which implied he was staying home as he thanked the public for doing the same.
Toronto’s Mayor John Tory has spoken out in Minister Phillips defense, saying: “He made a mistake in this instance which he has owned up to and he’s now going to return to the country and keep doing his job, which he’s been doing throughout the time. So, it’s one of those things where it’s very unfortunate but at the end of the day I think he has learned a lesson from it as, probably, have a lot of other people watching what is going on.” He went on: “The kind of horse-whipping he was given by the premier is something that is not a great experience to have when you’re on a team in politics like that and he got one of those yesterday,” Sorry Mayor Tory, but that won’t do. It’s not “unfortunate” it’s hypocritical. How can we have any trust in our provincial leadership when they say one thing for us but do another thing altogether. Mayor Tory’s response seriously undermines his own credibility.
Premier Ford has asked Phillips to return home right away, and told the public “it will not be tolerated again.” That implies he intends to keep this character on in spite of Minister Phillips’ behaviour. Minister Phillips released a statement: “I deeply regret travelling over the holidays. It was a mistake and I apologize.” That’s it? Really? Sorry, but that’s just not good enough. He’s coming home, but only because he got caught.
If Premier Ford wants to salvage a shred of credibility, he needs to cut this guy loose.
Today on a walk through the Arsenal Lands, adjacent to Marie Curtis Park, we saw a big doe. I think our presence on the trail scared her up. I’ve seen deer in there once before, a few years ago – when I saw 4 of them very close to Lake Shore Blvd. A friend has since seen them in there occasionally so I knew they were still around. What a pleasant surprise! This one was in behind the big wooden sound baffles, west of the bicycle trail. Although I had my camera with me it was not out and ready and I had no chance for a photograph. Maybe next time.
27th Street 