Not so fast. With the retirement of the penny on Feb 4th things will change. It makes sense to lose the penny since each one costs 1.6 cents to produce. Cash transactions will be either rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents, but the cent will remain as the base monetary unit. Electronic payments, credit cards and cheques will still reflect it. You just won't be lugging around that extra weight in your pocket. So, you'll need to follow up your question about a penny for your thoughts with, "Do you take credit cards?"
An odd choice for someone who seems rooted in Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras music. But once again, memories come into play. In the 60's at the height of folk music popularity, CBC Television ran Singalong Jubilee during the summers (also later as part of their winter schedule.) Although Murray didn't appear until 1968 both she and the programme are inexorably tied to my "lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer."
In the end, it wasn't even close - 1,150 to 866. Although Sandra Pupatello was leading after the second ballot, both Gerrard Kennedy and Charles Sousa dropped out and threw their support behind Kathleen Wynne and their delegates followed. Wynne becomes the first female Premier in Ontario history and the first openly gay Premier in Canada.
At the convention she didn't shy away from the possible impact of her sexuality.
Let's put something on the table: Is Ontario ready for a gay premier? You've heard that question.
Let's say what that actually means: Can a gay woman win?
...
I don’t believe the people of Ontario judge their leaders on the basis of race, colour or sexual orientation. I don’t believe they hold that prejudice in their hearts.
In the end it may be a factor for some, but not important enough to matter. What is more pressing is how she will deal with governing in a minority situation, the continuing labour strife with the teachers and, most importantly, the deficit of $11.9 billion. She seems to be making the right moves by promising to call back the legislature next month and to work with the opposition. The opposition, however, must want to work with her as well and, after all, this is politics where despite the lip service paid to putting the Province ahead of ideology that has seldom happened. She is a conciliator, but that can be a double-edged sword. She risks appearing ineffectual and overly accommodating.
None of this may matter. Ontarians have reached the end of their patience with the Liberals; McGuinty's prorogation of the legislature after his resignation as Premier didn't help. Wynne may not have time to change this, even if she can, before the Conservatives and the NDP, sensing blood, pull the plug and force an election.
Just put your arms around someone
Never know whose waiting for a little love
It's not a waste of time
We got enough
So put your arms around someone
There's a whole lot of hurt going around
If you got a smile
Won't you pass it down
It's going to mean so much
So go on go on and put your arms around someone
Jeannettte McCurdy
Lyrics from Put your arms around someone
We've always been impressed by 'Teen Wolf's' frank and inclusive approach to sexuality, and that'll continue in Season 3. This season, we'll even see at least one gay sex scene on the show, which is a rarity in teen dramas. Don't get too prematurely excited though, Sterek fans -- this particular hookup involves Danny, who we're hearing has a pretty significant role in Season 3 even though his BFF Jackson left Beacon Hills. Source ZAP 2 it
In an earlier post I mused about the possibility of an increased presence for Keahu Kahuanui's character now that Colton Haynes has left Teen Wolf. If the information from ZAP 2 it is correct then not only will Danny appear more frequently, but also we'll get a level of gay intimacy that hopefully will be on a par with that of the straight characters.
Portuguese artist Dórdio Gomes first studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Lisbon before moving to Paris in 1910 on a scholarship to the Julian Academy. After losing the scholarship in 1911 he returned to Portugal. In 1921 we once again went to Paris where he attended the National School of Fine Arts. While he remained in Paris for 5 years he also travelled throughout Europe where the art he experienced influenced his own style. He settled in Porto, Portugal in 1933, where he taught at the School of Fine Arts from 1934 until 1960, thus passing on his own influence to the
painters of the 1940's/1950's. (Translated and summarised from Wikipedia.)
Source: Local History and Archives, Hamilton Public Library
Start at the northwest corner of King and Hughson, and move slowly up the sidewalk, alongside the old Right House building. It helps if it’s a sunny day.
Peer across the street. And there on a slab of stone set into the brick wall, you’ll spot the outline of six big letters pulled down years ago – KRESGE.
That name was once on hundreds of stores across the continent. It belonged to Sebastien Spering Kresge, who got his start in 1899 in Detroit.
Link to the full article is at the bottom of this post
When I was growing up in the late 40's, early 50's I lived in a small city of about 35,000. Everything was centred in the downtown. The five & dime stores were Woolworth, Kresge, and Metropolitan, The higher end department stores were Eatons and the Right House. Around and among them were clustered all kinds of local stores as well as 4 theatres. You didn't have to travel to find things you needed or wanted no matter what the quality you were looking for or the price you could afford. That, of course, was a function of its time. While there were lots of cars many families, including mine, didn't own one, so the centralised businesses made sense. People went downtown to shop. Saturdays the sidewalks were packed, even more so because the open-air farmers' market was there as well.
The roots of the changes that happened are pretty well the same as in other cities no matter the size - growth, population shift and increased mobility. More people meant that they lived farther from the downtown. When we moved out of the city in 1952 we ended up in the outskirts surrounded by market gardens with a handful of neighbours. By 1958 the tar & chip street had become 4 paved lanes and there was a high school beside us. Plazas sprouted up with stores like Woolco and K-mart, followed by enclosed malls. No one went to the centre of the city anymore because there was no need; just hop in your car, park it for free and shop to your heart's content at the new downtown.
One by one the five and dimes closed as did the department stores. I think the Right House lasted the longest, eventually moving to one of the malls before the company closed its doors. Woolworth, Kresge, Metropolitan, and Eatons, the iconic Canadian department store, are also gone. So too are their replacements Woolco and K-mart. Relics of the past that only exist in photos and in memories stirred by newspaper articles.
If you follow Teen Wolf you are probably aware of the amount of fan fic written about it and in particular Stiles Stilinski (Dylan O'Brien) and Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin) or as they are better known, Sterek. Fans have picked up on a connection between the two characters and have turned it into a cause célèbre. Of course it is fuelled by photos like this and the comments of the actors themselves when out of character.
Shipping1 of characters is nothing new, but there is a concerted online campaign, of which he is aware, to have executive producer and head writer Jeff Davis incorporate this into the story line.
I'm of two minds on this. As a gay man, who wouldn't want to see something happen between these two? There is a chemistry, often shrouded in apparent dislike, but obvious when Derek turns to Stiles for something or when Stiles actually rescues Derek. But is that just part of a good story, where even characters who only tolerate one another are thrown into situations where they must work together?
On the other hand, I'm uncomfortable with fans of a show trying to write it. They don't have the all-encompassing vision of the person who created it. They aren't aware of what plans lay ahead for the show or the characters. Jeff Davis himself has said that the unintentional connection between the two preceded the push for something more. This makes sense because the stories are written and filmed well before they appear on television where the fans can begin to fantasize.
I'm more in favour of leaving it up to Davis to do with his characters as he plans. If he chooses to incorporate the fan input that's his decision, but he shouldn't cave to the pressure if it's not where he sees them going. And fans really should accept his decision. The reason you watch any show shouldn't be because you want to change its direction; you should watch it because it entertains you, holds your interest and, if you're lucky, even challenges you2. You don't have to agree with the writer or his decisions for that to happen. In fact, sometimes it's better if you don't.
In the meantime, all this is great for fuelling and maintaining interest in the series. Something of which I'm sure Davis and the actors are aware and can continue to use to their advantage with teases and hints that may or may not be real.
1 Shipping, derived from the word relationship, is the belief that two characters, fictional or non-fictional, are (or will be, or should be) in a romantic relationship. From Wikipedia
2 While I watch the show, I'm fully aware that I'm well outside its intended fan demographic and that, while it has its moments and is generally entertaining, it's not great television. But then again very little currently is.
Minimalist design risks appearing cold and unwelcoming. As far as I'm concerned that's the problem with the the first living room below (the winter landscape doesn't help.) However, add some colour and that doesn't have to be the case. As you can see, although it predominates you're not always restricted to modern furniture to achieve the look.
All images have larger views. Just click on any one
My own tastes lean more toward transitional-styled major pieces with Asian-influenced smaller pieces and accessories. To a certain extent my choice is driven by a few things I have inherited or have purchased over the years that I love. None are newer than 40 years old - a Chinese-inspired hand-knotted Indian area rug that's going on 100, two painted chests, and a Chinese-style display cabinet in which I have my pre-1965 Innuit sculptures. The sculptures have a minimalist sensibility, but it's surprising how well they fit the more elaborate yet uncluttered style of my room.
