Good News on a Day That Is Full of Not So Good
I’ve always loved Oreos and thought that prophets of doom weren’t looking in the right places. Why do we need to invent the devil when we’ve got ourselves? Why worry…
Mary Soderstrom
Christmas is Coming, Herring Are Bought
Sophie wants to make sil, Swedish pickled herring, this Christmas so on Tuesday she, I and Thomas went to the Poissonerie Jean-Talon to buy salt herring. On Saturday the gang…
Two of My Favourite Things: Recycling and Music
A perfectly wonderful video about music produced on instruments made from recycled materials by kids in a slum. A little like steel drum bands, but with a real classical bent.
Another Giant Falls: Oscar Niemeyer
This is a little bit late, but it took me a while to come to grips with Niemeyer. Still not sure about what he means in terms of urban planning,…
When "Cheap Asian Labour" Isn’t Enough–Robots Work for Even Less
Some big North American outfits are moving production back to this continent for various reasons. Among them is the perceived need to shorten the supply line, but also because it’s…
Saturday Photo: What Do You do When There’s No Snow?
Skate, of course. They’ve put up the boards in the outdoor rinks in the parks near us, but we’re not ready for skating yet. But you can skate elsewhere. The…
NPD Outremont Annual General Meeting Saturday
The NDP Outremont riding association will hold its Annual General Meeting beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 8, in the café/bar La Grande Gueule, 5615 A, Côte-des -Neiges Road. (Metro…
Anniversay of the Poly Massacre: Not a Time to Think about Weakening Gun Control
“A monument was built to the young women not far from the site of the massacre, just off the university campus. … There are benches around the edge the park,…
Take Five for Dave: Tribute to a Great Musican
This just in: Dave Brubeck dies at 91; This is a great version of the classic “Take Five” from a Montreal appearance four years ago when he was still going…
Return of the Cold: No Day to Think Creatively
It's been four weeks now that we've been dragging colds around. Thought I was over it and had made plans to make fruitcakes with Sophie and play with little Thom…
Icelandic Star Bjork Interviews Arvo Pârt: Preparation for a Great Concert of SMAM
The past and the present, as everyone knows, are intertwined in all domains.Music lovers will have a great chance to see just that when The Studio de musique ancienne de…
Saturday Photo: Snow Fallling on Nearly Bare Branches
This photo was taken a couple of winters ago, but I don't think I've ever used it as a Saturday photo. It seems particularly appropriate today, when the snow is…
In-laws and Jane Jacobs: Densifying the Suburbs
Jane Jacobs at the end of her life was all in favour of densifying cities by allowing "in law apartments" and the like on single family lots. In her last…
First Snow!
We've had a few flakes at least three times, but yesterday was the first snow that lasted. Not much on the ground, but still...
Are You Listening, Politicos? Health Care Is What Matters to Canadians
Most interesting survey got quite a bit of press yesterday: Canadians hold the health care system more important than any other characteristic of their country.As the Globe and Mail reported:…
Is This the End? History from Taticus to The Doors and Sandra
Very interesting meditation on time and the river(s) flowing by James Atlas in The New York Times, entitled "IsThis the End?" A sample:"History is a series of random events organized…
Saturday Photo: Holly, a Harbinger of Holidays
I had always thought that you couldn't grow holly in Montreal, that the climate here is just too tough for the lovely shrub. But I found this vigorously growing stand…
What I Read During My Fall Vacation
Well, it really hasn't been a vacation, but I've been attacked by several little viruses, generously shared with us by Jeanne who picked them up at the day care centre.…