Category Society
Thoughts on Martin Scorsese’s “Silence”
It bombed at the box office, which didn’t surprise me. I saw it a couple of weeks ago at the tail-end of its theatre run, and have thought for a while about what I want to say about it. It is not your usual Hollywood fare, far too serious at a time when America is […]
It’s Flag Day!
I remember the day, February 15, 1965. I was a student at Thorndale Elementary School in Montreal. The entire school was mustered outside as Canada’s new flag was raised for the first time on the school flagpole. It was the culmination of a national debate, first over whether Canada needed a new flag, then what […]
Valentine’s Day 2017
Suppose they create an artificial holiday. Do I have to participate? Today is Valentine’s Day, and I admit I struggle with the observance of it. It seems so artificial somehow, one day out of 365 in the year set aside to celebrate love. Shouldn’t we be celebrating love every day? I’m not sure how historically […]
Presto Woes
I’m finally getting my money’s worth on my daily commute. I am riding for free. My schedule this month has me not going into the office as much as usual. It didn’t make financial sense to purchase my usual monthly transit pass. I decided to “pay as you go.” Ottawa, like many cities, offers a […]
Riverdale
I read in the newspaper that Netflix was adding a new television series, based on the Archie comic characters beloved by millions. I also read that it was an updated version, a reflection of 21st century social conditions. Forewarned, I watched the first episode of Riverdale anyway. The characters names are the same as in […]
The Shootings
The news was horrific, the reaction predictable. Sunday night there was a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City. Six people dead, many more wounded. Details were of course sketchy at first, and are still becoming known. Politicians were quick to label it a terrorist attack, but at least refrained from assigning blame. Certainly it […]
Climate Change Secret
It’s quite pleasant in Ottawa today, especially if you like snow. Admittedly, if you have to drive in the stuff you might be less than thrilled at the white stuff falling from the sky, causing problems for your morning commute. Overnight low was minus three (all temperatures in this post are Celsius. For Fahrenheit conversion […]
I Couldn’t Resist
A Friday evening bonus post for you from The New Yorker. You would hope he really didn’t say that, but given his past history I, for one, can the plausibility of it. Hopefully he’ll get better acquainted with the book in the next four years.
Inauguration Day – Not My President?
There will be protests today, as Donald Trump is sworn in as President of the United States. I understand that. It was a polarizing campaign and people still haven’t accepted the results emotionally. Demonstrations though are not the proper response. They won’t make the protesters feel any better, and there is nothing they can do […]
A Trump For The Rest Of US!
Canada at times suffers from an inferiority complex. We look at our brash, bold, successful neighbour to the south, and we want to be just like her. Now we have our chance. Businessman and reality television star Kevin O’Leary announced yesterday he is in the running to become the next leader of the Conservative Party […]
random thoughts from lorne 
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