MONDAY APRIL 1ST, 2013

Today is Easter Monday so there will be no Trewism Blog today







Just kidding....April Fools!   Mother Nature is pulling an April Fools as well.  It's suppose to be Spring but it's not spring weather with snow and high winds and about a minus 5 temp. to greet us this morning.
This the day, April Fools Day, we are probably like we are the rest of the month.  I hope you had great Easter Week-End...Was the Easter Bunny FULL OF HOPS, and Chock full of Chocolate.
WHY DOES THE EASTER BUNNY BRING..... EGGS...

5.It's A Big tax write-off.                                                        

4. He gets a good deal from the local chickens.

3. Its a Secret plan to eliminate human race by cholesterol overdose.

2. Would you want to hunt for waffles?.

1. Because the Energizer rabbit got the good job.


MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR

The origin of April Fools Day may go back to The Roman Festival of HILARIA held March 25th and the Medieval Feast of Fools held December 28th (where pranks are still played in some Spanish-speaking countries) may have been precursors.  It's more likely it started in Chaucer's "Canterberry Tales" where it may have been a printing error caused a line to be transformed into March 32rd, as the anniversary of King Richard the 2nd to Anne of Bohemia instead of April 1st. In Chaucer's tale, the vain cock Chaunecleer is tricked by a fox. There are several other references that may have lead to the day as well and the practice of having it end at 12 noon is probably only made up by teachers to stop the Pranks. I will always remember the prank we played on the unsuspecting public at CKMP in Midland I think in 1965, when it was reported that a UFO had landed at Little Lake Park overnight.  The increase in traffic that morning was incredible.  The Phone calls afterward were not very kind.:)
When we see $$$$$ signs.  It was created on this date in 1778 by Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans business man who saw quite a few of those over his years.
In 1868 Our 1st Class Postal rate was fixed at 3 cents.
1918, The Alberta Government declared Prohibition on all alcoholic beverages. This lead to the setting up of illicit Liquor stills and people to patronizing them.  Speakeasies were also set up as well and one famous still was located in Calgary's Baptist Church whose caretaker fermented raisin's in the choir loft until busted.  that must have lead to some interesting "anthems" on Sundays. The Crowsnest Pass and other Passes from B.C. became hotbeds for smuggling hooch.  Actually Prohibition was first proclaimed there in 1875, but didn't work then either and it lead to places like "Fort Whoop-Up near present day Lethbridge.

In 1920 the Ottawa Senators  beat Seattle for the Stanley Cup (it was a 5 game series)  and no Daniel Alfredsson was not on their roster.
In 1932 The RCMP absorbed the police forces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Alberta.
The first production of "Spring Thaw" took place in Toronto in 1948 which had people such as Don Harron Salome Bey, Don Francks, Jack Duffy, Rich Little and Catherine McKinnon as performers and contributing writers such as Pierre Berton and Wayne and Shuster.  It ran from 1948 to 1971 and was revived in 1980 and 1981. It also toured Canada 3 years.
In 1969. Quebec, Quebec legalized Civil Marriages for the first time.  Not sure that it ever made it to "CIVIL" DIVORCES :).
In 1975 there were lots of complaints from radio listeners when Canadian radio and TV station were required to give temperatures in CELCIUS,   and there were lots of  disgruntled phone calls about it and stacks of Snail mail send to radio stations over it.  In fact the mail stacks were Fair-in Height at the time.  Some radio and tv outlets still mention Fahrenheit.
The year was 1992 when the NHL Players launched their first strike against owners.  The first Strike in NHL history lasted just 10 days. Now of course they can go on forever.
In 1997, 69 year old Gordie Howe played an AHL hockey game with the Syracuse Crunch.  It was his 85th birthday yesterday and unfortunately he is suffering from Dementia.


BIRTHDAY PEEPS TODAY

Susan Boyle is 52,  Debbie Reynolds is 81, Hockey's Scott Stevens is 49, Ali McGraw of  "Love Story" fame is 74, Lon Chaney Senior was born in 1883,(Juniors Dad) He was a versatile actor of the early cinema.
Jane Powell also a well-known actress is 84.  She was a friend of Liz Taylors and also was married 6 times.Liz had 7 Husbands but 8 marriages, because she married Richard Burton Twice.  She was almost named "Marriage Capital of the World" (Zsa Zsa had 9 by the way)

They of course are no where near the current record holder Linda Wolf who is 68 years and may be headed for a Double Dozen.  She currently stands at 23. Her Slogan I guess is "Carry On...and Marry On"








AND FINALLY

Two men, sentenced to die in the electric chair on the same day, were led down to the room in which they would their maker. The priest had given them last rites, the formal speech had been given by the warden, and a final prayer had been said among the participants.
The warden, turning to the first man, solemnly asked, "Son, do you have a last request?
To which the man replied, "Yes sir, I do. I love dance music. Could you please play the Macarena for me one last time?"
"Certainly," replied the warden. He turned to the other man and asked, "Well, what about you, son? What is your final request?"
"Please," said the condemned man, "kill me first."
MORNIN' everybody....mornin'

THURSDAY MARCH 28TH AND 27TH IF U MISSED

HI everyone....It's Ken here to throw another Blog on the fire to take off the morning chill.  I will also post Yesterdays Blog in case you missed it.  (I put the wrong date on it and then tried to fix it but I am not sure it worked very well).  Not a bad looking start to Thursday.  On this date in 1991, 1993 and 1995 there was no snow.  It got up to 15 or 16 celsius in 93.  How about a nice coffee, lets "ROLL UP THE GRIN TO WIN"...SEE, it's all good, we get to Play Again.



"MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR TIME"

IN 1380, Gunpowder first first used in Europe and it Kinda "Blew up in their Faces".
1918 saw Conscription riots break out in the Province of Quebec.  
in 1930, Constantinople was re-named Istanbul, It was originally named after Constantine the Great,.  who was well-known for being the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity.

 He originally called his new empire The New Rome.  After he was gone it seemed to be in a constant state of Flux.  It was seized more times than Maple Leaf Playoff tickets. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" was a song about the name change and was originally recorded by the Canadian group The Four Lads on August 12, 1953. This recording was released by Columbia Records. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on October 24, 1953, and it peaked at #10. It was the group's first gold record.
In 1935, The Canadian Radio Commission (forerunner of the CRTC) prohibited "Sales talks or Spot advertising on Sundays on Canadian radio stations.....Never on a Sunday



Still with radio, a Station in 1944, in New York City banned Singing Commercials for some reason.


  

  Also on this date in 1944 Stephen Leacock died in Toronto age the age of 74. 
In 1959, The Chinese government ordered the Dali Lama to take his local Government in Tibet and go.....Instead of  "Hello Dalai" it was " Goodbye Dalai".
The Year was 1967, when King Said of Arabia was Dethroned.  He very quickly got out the classifieds in the For Rent section looking for a place to stay because he had great knowlege about the "Low Rents of Arabia".


BIRTHDAY PEEPS ON THIS DAY....

Karen Kane (of the Ballet world) is 62 and still on her toes.
Actor Ken Howard is 68, Reba McEntire is still knockin 'em dead in Country Music and on TV with her own show at age 58.
Actress Diane Wiest is 67, Lady Ga Ga is only 27 and already has 5 Grammies, Vince Vaughn is 43 and Conchata Ferrell is 70.  She is Berta on "2 and 1/2 Men" and is very funny.  Maybe she should be called..".Lady Ha Ha."


AND FINALLY......Two nuns cycling down a cobbled street. The first one says "I've never come this way before" the second one replies "Must be the cobbles".

Wednesday March 27th:

MORNIN' everybody...mornin' Fe-Fi-Fo Fum, lets kick ol' Man Winter in the frosty Bum.  Good Wednesday mornin' to you.  It looks like we are in for a few flurries today but it should be around zero or a little bit better as winter hangs on. Back in 1991 the snow was gone but the "Ice-Out Car" was still on top of the Kempenfelt Bay Ice and the clock was still ticking. There was snow  left in 1993 with a high of plus 6 but of course it was melting and there was no snow in 1995.

TIME FOR "THE MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR"

IN 1513. Spain's Ponce de Leon Discovered Florida (he never did find the fountain of youth) and today the "Snowbirds" continue looking.
1790, was the year the Shoelace was invented (the next year a 2nd Shoelace was discovered and that made both shoes stay on).
In 1834, William Lyon Mackenzie was elected Toronto's first Mayor, and his first order of Business was to call for a new board sidewalk for King St.  That would need a raise in Taxes which did not go over well and led to a fight.  That in turn led to an accident at a tumultuous meeting, which caused several deaths when the  building floor gave way.
In 1883, "Pile of Bones" re-named Regina was named the Capital of the North West Territories (which also included Alberta and Saskatchewan at the time).
Canada recognized the U.S.S.R. on  this date in 1924.
In 1945 General Eisenhower declared German Forces defences on the Western Front Broken.
1962 found Jacques Plante winning the Vezina Trophy for a 6th time which tied the record.
Mount St. Helens became active in 1980 on this date.  It had been idle for 123 years.

WABC in New York, Banned the song "One Toke over the Line" Despite other stations doing the same it still made it to number 10 on the charts. I still have my Brewer and Shipley POTHOLDERS :) .
The Area's Elvis Stojko won Gold in the men's World Figure Skating Championship in 1994.  It seems like only yesterday to me. (I remember when Toller Cranston was Shorter Cranston).



BIRTHDAY PEEPS ON THIS DATE.

Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990), Gloria Swanson (1899-1983), Actor Michael York is 71, Mariah Carey is 43, Model Caitlin Upton is 24, Black-Eyed Peas lead singer Fergie is 38, Canucker Nathan Fillion (Castle) is 42 (both Leads in that series are Canadian), Pauley Perrette (Abby on NCIS) is 44,  Quintin Tarintino (Pulp Fiction) is 50, Shaun Cassidy turns 55, Much-loved Canadian singer Jann Arden (Insensitive) is 51 today.
and in 1868, Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred  (Author and Songwriter) wrote possibly the most performed song of all time, "Happy Birthday to You" It originally came out in their songbook "Song Stories for Kindergarten" as "Good Morning to You" and they  probably copied the tune from earlier songs from possibly the 1850's. Patty's class began to sing it so much the words changed to birthdays and "BOB"S YOUR UNCLE" it became known as "Happy Birthday to You." Sometimes it's not heard a lot in movies because of Royalty fees and is replace with "For He's a Jolly Goodfellow"  (no Royalty fees need to be paid on a instrumental:).


and finally......A Sandwich walks into a bar....and the Bartender says "SORRY WE DON'T SERVE SANDWICH'S IN HERE".

Mornin' everybody....Mornin'

WEDNESDAY MARCH 27TH, 2013

Fe-Fi-Fo Fum, lets kick ol' Man Winter in the frosty Bum.  Good Wednesday mornin' to you.  It looks like we are in for a few flurries today but it should be around zero or a little bit better as winter hangs on. Back in 1991 the snow was gone but the "Ice-Out Car" was still on top of the Kempenfelt Bay Ice and the clock was still ticking. There was snow  left in 1993 with a high of plus 6 but of course it was melting and there was no snow in 1995.

TIME FOR "THE MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR"

IN 1513. Spain's Ponce de Leon Discovered Florida (he never did find the fountain of youth) and today the "Snowbirds" continue looking.
1790, was the year the Shoelace was invented (the next year a 2nd Shoelace was discovered and that made both shoes stay on).
In 1834, William Lyon Mackenzie was elected Toronto's first Mayor, and his first order of Business was to call for a new board sidewalk for King St.  That would need a raise in Taxes which did not go over well and led to a fight.  That in turn led to an accident at a tumultuous meeting, which caused several deaths when the  building floor gave way.
In 1883, "Pile of Bones" re-named Regina was named the Capital of the North West Territories (which also included Alberta and Saskatchewan at the time).
Canada recognized the U.S.S.R. on  this date in 1924.
In 1945 General Eisenhower declared German Forces defences on the Western Front Broken.
1962 found Jacques Plante winning the Vezina Trophy for a 6th time which tied the record.
Mount St. Helens became active in 1980 on this date.  It had been idle for 123 years.

WABC in New York, Banned the song "One Toke over the Line" Despite other stations doing the same it still made it to number 10 on the charts. I still have my Brewer and Shipley POTHOLDERS :) .
The Area's Elvis Stojko won Gold in the men's World Figure Skating Championship in 1994.  It seems like only yesterday to me. (I remember when Toller Cranston was Shorter Cranston).



BIRTHDAY PEEPS ON THIS DATE.

Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990), Gloria Swanson (1899-1983), Actor Michael York is 71, Mariah Carey is 43, Model Caitlin Upton is 24, Black-Eyed Peas lead singer Fergie is 38, Canucker Nathan Fillion (Castle) is 42 (both Leads in that series are Canadian), Pauley Perrette (Abby on NCIS) is 44,  Quintin Tarintino (Pulp Fiction) is 50, Shaun Cassidy turns 55, Much-loved Canadian singer Jann Arden (Insensitive) is 51 today.
and in 1868, Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred  (Author and Songwriter) wrote possibly the most performed song of all time, "Happy Birthday to You" It originally came out in their songbook "Song Stories for Kindergarten" as "Good Morning to You" and they  probably copied the tune from earlier songs from possibly the 1850's. Patty's class began to sing it so much the words changed to birthdays and "BOB"S YOUR UNCLE" it became known as "Happy Birthday to You." Sometimes it's not heard a lot in movies because of Royalty fees and is replace with "For He's a Jolly Goodfellow"  (no Royalty fees need to be paid on a instrumental:).


and finally......A Sandwich walks into a bar....and the Bartender says "SORRY WE DON'T SERVE SANDWICH'S IN HERE".

Mornin' everybody....Mornin'

TUESDAY MARCH 26TH 2013

IT'S TUESDAY TIME.....with yours trewly , "Drumming to the beat of a different March" and it looks like some more spring-like weather is on, for the next few days.  A nice morning at Orr Lake with the temperature setting in around Zero.  There was lots of snow 20 years ago, a high of plus 5 in 1984, most of the snow was melting in 1985 (around 30 % ground cover in 1985.  Also in 1985 "Amadeus" won best picture for 1984 with 8 Oscars, 6 Big Birds and one Kermit.



"MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR"

An earthquake felt from Mexico to Oregon rocked the Owen Valley in California on this date in 1878.

In 1921, Our Sloop De Jour  (actually Schooner) the "Bluenose" was launched in Lunenburg at a cost of $35,000.  It was built for fishing and racing and boy could it dangle and it could stop on a dime. (old expressions, sorry).
In 1953 Dr. Jonas Salk announced on radio a vaccine to prevent Polio.  

In 1955, "the Ballad of Davie Crockett" was the number one song in the U.S. 

"Bridge on the River Kwai"

took the Best Picture Award at the 30th Academy Awards in 1956 and Alec Guiness won for Best Actor. It won 7 Academy Awards and of course for 3 weeks following everyone was whistling its theme "The Colonel Bogey March" 

 The sheet music was a million-seller, and the march was recorded many times. "Colonel Bogey" was used as a march-past by the 10th and 50th Battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, the latter of which is perpetuated today by The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) of the Canadian Forces who claim Colonel Bogey as their authorized march-past in quick time,
The most serious nuclear accident in U.S. history took place at the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania in 1979, when one of the reactors overheated.  Fortunately, a catastrophic meltdown was averted and there were no deaths or direct injuries from the accident. Not Like the Chernobyl affair where people still have to put blankets over each other to go to sleep.
In 1992, The New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 50 years.



BIRTHDAY PEEPS ON THIS DATE....

Diana Ross is 69, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith , and Liv Tylers Dad is 65 (I think his face has already received its "old age punchin') ,Keira Knightly (Pirates of the Caribbean) is 28,  The NHL's Mike Peca is 39, and former Leaf Luke Richardson is 44, Martin Short was born in Hamilton on this date 63 years ago, Country singer Kenny Chesney is 45, (my fav is "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem), Leeza Gibbons is 56, Vicki Lawrence (Carol Burnett show) is 64, Johnny Crawford (Mark in The rifleman TV series) is 67.  He was also a pretty good singer.
Bob Woodward (Watergate reporter) clocks in at 70.  Also born on this date is actor James Caan at 74, Leonard Nimoy (Spock) is 82, just 5 days after Bill Shatner.  Leonard was also the first actor to wear "EAR WIGS.  

AND FINALLY......

There has been lots of excitement over the two new Panda's in Toronto....I know they already have names but maybe we could give them North American names Like "Pandora the explora" or even instead of "honey Boo Boo"  IT COULD BE "HONEY BAM-BOO BOO"

Mornin' everybody, mornin'

MONDAY MARCH 25TH, 2013

Good Monday to you.  It looks like Spring might finally be breaking at Orr Lake.  This a picture from yesterday taken by Karin along the shoreline next door and it looks like the temperatures are going to be on the plus side this week (so they say), However, we could still get a bit of snow and some rain as well. Checking our files from 2001 we had 4 or 5 inches of new snow.  On this date in 1988 the snow was melting very quickly and we had  about 50% of our lawns uncovered and we could fill-up at the pumps for around 35 Cents per Litre. Welcome to my Monday Blog this 25th of March. 



MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR:

12 years ago I saw my very first Maple Leaf hockey game "in person" in Toronto and it was the Leafs vs. the Buffalo Sabres and it was quite a thrill for me. Till then I could only see them Lose on TV.
In 1776, George Washington was given the very first "Congressional Medal of Honour" for capturing of Boston from the British.
 In 1880 Globe editor George Brown was shot in his office by George Bennett, a disgruntled ex-employee.  Brown died later of his wounds and Bennett was hanged for murder.  This is now known as "Going Postal". Back then it was called "Going Newspaper" (always try to keep your ex-employees GRUNTLED).
In 1882, the First demonstration of Pancake making took place in a department store in New York City and it caused quite a Flap (Jack).
 In 1893 a Toronto cab driver was fined $2.00 or 10 days in jail for driving on a Sunday.
  In 1905, an Anglo-American convention decided to define the Alaska-Canada border as it is today. The US President Theodore Roosevelt had threatened to send in troops if the boundary was not fixed the way the US wanted it .
 Left out of the talks, Canada ended up with no seaports in Northern BC or the Yukon and the resulting anti-British sentiment led to the founding of the Department of External Affairs in 1909.  I'd say BULLY FOR ROOSEVELT and the U.S.(BULLIES FOR SURE)  I don't remember taking this is school.
The Modern Olympics began  in Athens Greece in 1896.
In 1937, Lionel Conacher missed on the first Stanley Cup Penalty Shot which wasn't great but also on this date in 37, The Washington Daily News became the first U.S. newspaper to have a Perfumed Ad Page, which really Stunk.
In 1982, Wayne Gretzky became the first player in the NHL to score 200 points in a season. He of course still holds the record and he did it 4 times.  Mario hit 199 but no one else has hit the 200 mark. He finished with 216 points in the 85/86 season.

BIRTHDAY PEEPS

Jean de Brebeuf was born on this day in 1593 in Normandy in 1593.  He was tortured to death with Gabriel Lalemant by Iroquois invaders at St. Louis, Huronia on March 16th, 1649. He was canonized in 1930.    
In 1643 he wrote the Huron Carol which in a modified version which is certainly still used today. There are Schools named after him and the parish municipality of Brebeuf Quebec is named after him.

Elton Hercules John is 66 today (real name Reginald Kenneth Dwight) , Aretha Franklin "the Queen of Soul" is 71, Sarah Jessica Parker is 48. The very "Racey" Danica Patrick is 31, Desperate Housewife Marcia Cross is 51, Gloria Steinem is 79, Howard Cosell "Old Yeller" (1918-1995), Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky & Hutch) is 70, Katharine McPhee (of the TV show Smash) is 29.  Wow, it's a big day for birthdays, Actress Brenda Strong (the voice on Desperate Housewives) is 53, James Lovell of the Apollo 13 Space Mission is 85, Canadian actress Keri Matchett is 43 (seen here)..................................
 and the late great singer guitarist Jeff Healey was born in 1966 (till 2008). Also, Bela Bartok was born in 1881 (till 1945)  A lot of the scintillating Bar-Talk from the TV show "Cheers" was a result :).







AND FINALLY....FOUR "FONTS" walk into a bar...the bartender says, "Get Out, we don't serve your TYPE in here!"


mornin' everybody....mornin'.

FRIDAY MARCH 22ND, 2013

MORNING everyone.  What can I say about the weather that I haven't said  every day of the past week. Today's weather Ditto. This weather system has stalled right over us. I guess it could be worse.  In 1988 it was very cold with snow and low temperature records were set all over the province.  It's still snowing slightly here although it's only dropped a couple of cm. We of course were Basking in the gorgeous Spring Weather last year at this time.  The Temps were very warm in fact March 21st RECORD temperature was +27.
 Here's a little wake-up tip to "JUMP START the old coffee maker.  The (Red Cable) goes from positive to positive and the negative cable (Black) goes from GROUND TO BLACK (unless you add milk). Here's another borrowed pic from the net.




MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR.

In 1818, Easter fell on this date, This is the earliest date it can take place and it won't again until 2285 (I can hardly wait :). Apropo of that Captain James T Kirk of the "Enterprise" (Star Trek) was apparently born in 2233 in the "Star Trek Series.
In 1894, The Montreal Amateur Athletic Association Defeated the Ottawa Capitals 3-1 to win the FIRST  STANLEY CUP  3 Games to 2. (by the way Lord Stanley bought the silver cup for $48.67.)
In 1903 on this date Niagara Falls apparently ran out of Water because of a drought. Here is a Picture of the American Falls when they stopped the water flow in 1969 to see if it could be repaired .  They decided not to fix it because it would be too costly. On March 30, of 1848 an ice jam stopped the water flow.

1979 on this date saw the NHL decide to absorb Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City and the New England Whalers of the WHA .  Leading to the death of that league.  This of course precipitated  "the Keon Curse" (because of Harold Ballard's actions with Dave Keon ) and in my opinion the reason why the Leafs will never win the Stanley Cup in my lifetime :) unless the Leafs can lead Keon back into the Alumni Fold.

In 1978, 73 year old Karl Wallenda fell and died, while trying to walk a tightrope between 2 Puerto Rico
Hotels.  His Grandson Nik Wallenda (who did the Niagara crossing in 2012) is now planning to walk across the Grand Canyon this June without a safety Harness.  An" Oops" and it's 1500  feet down to the little Colorado River. He's Doing it to Honour his Grand-Dad.

BIRTHDAY PEEPS TODAY

SPEAKING OF MR. KEON, it's his 73rd birthday today and he will be participating in the honouring of the 50th Anniversary of 1963 Stanley Cup Championship Team which many feel  was the best Leaf Team ever. It takes place tomorrow night at the Air Canada Centre. Please Dave, get rid of the CURSE!
William Shatner  is 82 today (Captain James T Kirk) born in Montreal.  Skater Elvis Stojko is 41, Chico Marx was born on this date, Great singer, Roger Whittaker (Durham Town Etc.) was born in 1936, George Benson in 1945, also Jeremy Clyde (of Chad and Jeremy) is 68 as well.  Andrew Lloyd Weber (Cats etc.) is 65 and no relation to the Hamburger Folks.  Here's BREAKING NEWS, Wolf Blitzer is 65, Reese Witherspoon is 37 and Marcel Marceau who said "A mime is a terrible thing to waste" was born 90 years ago on this date.  His mom told him to be "quiet" when he was  very young, "and I don't want to hear a PEEP out of you".

AND FINALLY.....A message to Wolf Blitzer who has been on Radio and TV for many years...."Old Announcers' Never Die...They Just get a "LITTLE LONG in the BOOTH"

Mornin' everybody, Mornin"

THURSDAY MARCH 21ST 2013

Happy 1st full day of Spring 2013 or "There's NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS".  We have another few new cm.'s of snow and it's still coming down.  Well, it's not as bad as 1988 when it was cold and had a low of -22. In 1991 there was no snow but the Ice Out car was still on Kempenfelt Bay and gas at the pump  was at 47 cents.  There was some snow on the ground and gas was 50.2 cents per litre in 1994, and of course it was very spring-like last year at this time. GOING WAY BACK TO 1896 there was a big storm in Ontario with even the trains getting stranded in the snow. (A little before my time)

Here is an advertisement showing CP TRIPS to the Chicago World's Fair in 1896.






MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR

In 1666 Intendent Jean Talon counted 3,000 people in Canada's first Census. Of course, it wasn't Canada then.
200 years later in 1866 P.E.I. voted against Confederation, despite the fact that the Charlottetown Conference was held there in 1864 and in fact they didn't join till 1873 when it became our 7th Province (despite the fact it is Canada's 23rd Largest Island and it has about the same population as Barrie.
In 1891, An Inter-family marriage ended the infamous feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys in the U.S.  (after 150 family members had been Killed by that point). They were the Democrats and the Republicans back in the day.
In 1952, Alan Freed hosted the first ever Rock and Roll Concert called "the Moondog Coronation Ball" in Cleveland for a crowd of 10,000. 25,000 fans turned up and a lot of the older generation were not amused because all the artists were Black.  However they had another in 1986 in part because they wanted to attract the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which they did.

Speaking of Rock and Roll, Clarence Leo Fender died on this date in 1991.  He was the creator of the first solid-body ELECTRIC Guitar in 1948 which he called "The Broadcaster" which was changed in 1950 to the "Telecaster". In 1955 he created the "Stratocaster" which became the biggest selling guitar of all-time.  It had that special arm on it you could push and it would change the pitch of the guitar strings (WOW).  It was a good kind of "Fender Bender" (a good example to listen to might be "Walk Don't Run" by the Ventures.     



"Walk Don't Run" was on the charts twice, the first time in 1960 and then an updated version in 1964.

PEEPS WITH BIRTHDAYS TODAY...


Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent is 77, Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685.  Here is a Pic of a T shirt for fans.  He fathered 20 Children in his lifetime. Timothy Dalton who was the last James Bond to Smoke (The Living Daylights in 1987) is 69 Today. You never hear too much about his TAKE on James Bond but I liked him a Lot!One can also see him occasionally on Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. Mathew Broderick is 51, Eddy Money was born 65 years ago and Rosie O'Donnell is 51. If it is your Birthday I hope it's a terrific day.


and finally....to get this Blog out faster, I have set my Laser Printer on STUN.

Mornin' everybody...mornin'

WEDNESDAY MARCH 20TH, 2013

Did you SPRING out of bed just after 7 am this morning...As the weather clock ticked into official SPRING, IT looks like the Mainspring is still  locked on winter. Wiarton Willie and Punxsutawney  Phil were both way off the mark 6 weeks ago in the prediction of an early spring. 

Karin did this

This winter has certainly left me COLD! Looking back we had No snow in 1990 and 1995 but we did have a huge storm in 1983 with 5 inches of snow in 12 hours. Oh well, as the British Say...Keep Calm and Shovel on. 




MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR.

On this date in 1727 Sir Isaac Newton died  when a great big apple fell on his head while doing another experiment of the Law of Gravity. There are different sources offering different dates of his demise and it's like comparing "Apples and Oranges". 
Uncle Tom's Cabin was first published in 1852.

This is "Egg Balancing day", The day that people all over the world try to get an egg to Balance on its END. It is a Chinese ancient custom that suggests you can Balance a raw egg on its end on the first day of spring (Vernal Equinox) , because the earth's axis is perpendicular to the Sun, making day and night equal in Length and that affects solid objects here on earth.  You could balance pencils and other things if that were the case.
This is suppose to apply on the fall equinox as well.  It has nothing to do with EGGS-ISTENTIALISM EITHER. If you have time today, why not try it but probably the Yolk will be on you.

Speaking of Yolks, John Lennon and Yolk-o-Ono got married in 1969.    They of course Launched their "Bed-In for Peace" When they couldn't get into the U.S. because of a drug charge they checked into the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal in May of that year and recorded "Give Peace A Chance" in the suite.  Another case of Lennon and his facination with the U.S, where he was ultimately killed. This song of course was not to be confused with the Jolly Green Giant's "GIVE PEAS A CHANCE".
1966: The World Cup, was stolen while on display at Westminster Hall in London, the World Cup was on show prior to the start of the World Cup tournament in Britain later in the year. It was found 1 week later in a in South London garden wrapped in a newspapers. England did go on to win the World Cup later in the year beating West Germany in the final.


FAMOUS PEEPS BLOWING OUT CANDLES

Bobby Orr can finally get his Old Age pension at the end of next month. Probably the best hockey player ever, turns 65 today but his knees are probably too bad to get down and thank the Lord. Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is 74 (he won't  be having a huge party, just a conservative party). Fred Rogers (of Mr. Roger's Neighbourhood) was born in 1928 and died in 2003.  Today's weather would lead us to sing. "It's a BOOTY FULL day in the Neighbourhood" 
Director Spike Lee 57, Holly Hunter is 55, Singer Bruno Mars is 28, Model Kathy Ireland is 50,
Actor/Director Carl Reiner is 91 (Dick Van Dyck Show),  Singer Vera Lynn is 96 and the Oldest  
 singer to have a no. one song on the British charts (1992).  She had such great tunes as "We'll meet Again & The "White Cliffs of Dover). Famous Canuck writer Hugh Mac Lennon. who won 5 Governor-General Awards (including "Two Solitudes" was born in 1907 and Today is BIG BIRD"S Birthday (he is forever 6 Years Old)

and finally.....Thanks to Marg and David for a lovely meal last night....

It was the Pillbury Dough Boy's birthday as we mentioned In Mondays Blog ...apparently he bent over to blow out the candles and all you could see were  DOUGH NUTS.

 Mornin everybody Mornin'

TUESDAY MARCH 19TH, 2013

Wow!  I could have used a little bit of the Reveille wake-up this morning.  We have cloudy skies again this morning and yet again, it is snowing. a couple of cms. of new snow again this a.m.  Last year it was very mild with no snow and temperatures in the teens.  Lots of snow on the ground in 1993 and vitually no snow in in 1991, but we had a very big storm in 2001. Tomorrow is the official start of the spring season. 

SPRING IS SPRUNG, THE GRASS IS RIS' BUT DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE IT REALLY IS?

MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR

This is the date that the "Swallows return to Capistrano" (the San Juan Capistrano Mission) California.
 The miracle of the "Swallows" of Capistrano takes place each year at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, on March 19th, St. Joseph's Day. 
As the little birds wing their way back to the most famous Mission in California, the village of San Juan Capistrano takes on a fiesta air and the visitors from all parts of the world, and all walks of life, gather in great numbers to witness the "miracle" of the return of the swallows.
Each year the "Scout Swallows" precede the main flock by a few days and it seems to be their chief duty to clear the way for the main flock to arrive at the "Old Mission" of Capistrano.
The last few years they have not been returning.

 With the arrival of early dawn on St. Joseph's Day, the little birds began to arrive and began rebuilding their mud nests, which are clinging to the ruins of the old stone church of San Juan Capistrano. The arches of the two story, high vaulted Chapel were left bare and exposed, as the roof collapsed during the earthquake of 1812. It's somewhat similar to what the Canada Geese do each year.  The Canada Geese return to Little Lake Midland to Poop all over the place and discourage swimming and fun. It's known as the "LITTLE LAKE PARK POOPAPOLOOZA"
On this date in 1687 French explorer La Salle was murdered by his own men while trying to reach the mouth of the Mississippi River. He did a lot of exploring around the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi and claimed the land for France.
In 1825, The Hudson's Bay Company established Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River
near the present Portland Oregon. 
In 1931, Nevada legalized Gambling Prior to that it had a strict Anti-Gambling Law from 1910 which didn't even allow the flipping of a coin for the price of a drink.
In 1950 the maiden flight of the Avro Arrow took place.
The Academy Awards were televised for the first time on this day in 1953.  The "Greatest Show on Earth" won as best picture for 1952. 
In 1976 Buckingham Palace announced the separation of Princess Margaret and her husband The Earl Of Snowdon after 16 years.

Exactly 10 years later The engagement of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson was announced.
It didn't work out either but they still seem quite close

IN 1996 the Winnipeg Jets Flew off to Phoenix.  It was a long Layover but they returned Last Year to a tumultuous return.







BIRTHDAY PEEPS ON THIS DATE

Patrick McGoohan (1928-2009). Ursula Andress who played Honey Ryder in Dr. No turns 77 today.  She was chosen the "hottest Bond Girl" recently, with Halle Berry 2nd.

Glenn close is 66. Bruce Willis is 58 and Wyatt Earp was born in 1848 and died in 1929.  (a bad case of Earpes)










and finally....the latest BLONDE JOKE..

Skier Lindsay Vonn is Dating Tiger Woods. This a picture of Lindsay getting set to go out with Tiger

Have a great day despite the snow....Mornin' everybody mornin'

MONDAY MARCH 18TH, 2013

The Suns up...time for the puns-up I guess....for this  look back at March 18th with the offical start of Spring in the offing on Wednesday, but don't get too carried away.....
     "There is a very great difference, I'm sorry to say"
     "Twixt the first day of spring and the first spring day"
It's a Cold one this morning at Orr Lake with the Mercury sitting at -13  (7 am)           
  

On "THE MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR" TODAY

Back in 417 St. Zosimus began his reign as Pope (back then they burned "Pope-Pourri" to make the white smoke.  Not only did it do the job it smelled nice too.:)
In 1881, Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth opened in M.S.G.
On this date in 1892, Lord Stanley donated a cup as an  award for the best hockey team in Canada.  When was the last time a Canadian team won it? It was of course the Montreal Canadiens in the 92/93 season....so 20 years ago....NICE! Lets not even talk about the Leafs.
In 1931, The first electric Shavers went on sale in the U.S. (made by Schick).
In 1944 Russia  composer Rimsky-Korsakov was born where it was" Roll up the Rimski-to- Winski".  
1945, Maurice "Rocket" Richard became the first NHLer to score 50 goals in a season.
1966, Scott Paper began selling Paper Dresses for $1.00,(Scotties Little SOFT-TEASE).
The Beatles  "Penny Lane" went to number 1 in 1967.
The Buffalo Sabres set an NHL record of 9 goals in 1 period against the Maple Leafs 1981.



                                                                                                       FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS BORN ON THIS DATE;

On March 18, 1961, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a small cheerful boy with big blue eyes was born. He weighed only 14 ounces and was 8-3/4 inches tall. His name was Poppin’ Fresh, but he is more widely known as the Pillsbury Doughboy. he is 52 today.... Chet Noice, a freelance artist, wrote and illustrated a story about a baker who lovingly created a special batch of dough. While the dough was left to rise overnight, it came to life. He eventually sold his idea to Pillsbury. The character didn’t evolve into Poppin’ Fresh until Rudy Perz, a copywriter for the Leo Burnett ad agency, came along. While sitting in his kitchen trying to create an advertising campaign for Pillsbury, Perz kept imagining a living dough boy popping out of a Pillsbury Crescent Rolls can. He also had him Giggle when Poked in the tummy while today I guess he is Googled when poked in the tummy. In the 1970s, Poppin’ Fresh was joined by a family that included his wife Poppie Fresh (aka The Pillsbury Dough girl), son Popper, baby daughter Bun Bun, GrandPopper and GrandMommer, Uncle Rollie, Biscuit the cat, and Flapjack the dog. The family was created as 7-inch vinyl dolls that sold at Sears. And in 1972, the Doughboy was crowned “Toy of the Year.” and speaking of that Canada has it's own updated dough Boy...He makes lots of Dough on the Speaking circuit and is Canada's own TRUE DOUGH-BOY, Justin TIME FOR MOST LIBERALS.

ALSO born on this date....Vanessa Williams (singer/actress) and probably the best known Miss America ever, is 50 today. Irene Cara (Flashdance and "Fame") singer is 54, Charlie Pride is 75, John Updike (1932-1999)., and Wilson Pickett is 72 still riding around with "Mustang Sally" Adam Levine of Maroon 5 (and "The Voice" judge) is 34 and Queen Latifah is 34 (there is no King Latifah as far as I know).

and finally...just to wrap up the wearin' of the green....out at a bar I saw a guy, drunk.  I was going to give him a Nasty Look....but he Already Had one....."What's  the difference between an Irish Wedding and an Irish Wake? One Less Drunk.   (You can Kilkenny for that one)

FRIDAY MARCH 15TH, 2013

Snow, Snow and more Snow.  Is Christmas coming twice this year? Time to go hither and yon, although I think there might be more yawning than hithering.  I certainly slept in and am starting this blog off "sans coffee" so I am not promising too much on this "Ides of March day", The day when Julius Caesar was warned to Beware of.  I always think of The Wayne and Schuster Skit...and the words "I told him, JULI DON'T GO"  
E Tu Brute roughly translated "you Too Ya Big Brute!

"MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR:

As well as the Caesar Assassination in 44 BC;
In 459 Atilla the Hun died of a nosebleed.  Maybe he should have been called ATILLA THE HON.
In 1603 Champlain left for Canada on this date and did a lot of perusing the St. Lawrence area.
In 1917 CZAR NICHOLAS the 2nd stepped down after a 4 day revolt which he called "Revolting". He went from being "The Kreme de la Kremelin" to almost "Nickel-less and Penny-less".

In 1943, "The Empress of Canada" was torpedoed  and sunk off the coast of West Africa with the loss of 400 lives. It had been built in 1920 in Scotland and was converted to a troop ship in 1939.  The Duchess of Richmond was re-named the Empress of Canada in 1947.  It caught fire in 1953 and was scrapped the next year. In 1961 they built another Empress and it plied the waters until 1971 when it was sold off to another cruise line.

and we all know what happens to cruise ships these days.

In 1964 Liz Taylor and Richard Burton were married the first time in Montreal on this date and of course there were stories of them spending part of their Honeymoon at one of the big estates along Kempenfelt Bay.
In 1970, Bobby Orr became the first defenceman to score 100 points in a single NHL Season.  He went on to do it 5 more times for a total of 6.  Other Defencemen to do the same:  Paul Coffee did it 5 times and Al MacInnis, Brian Leetch and Denis Potvin did it once each. Brian Leetch was the last to do it.

TODAYS  CANDLE BLOWERS:


Mike Love of the Beach Boys is 72, Canadian Director David Cronenberg is 70 today. (Videodrome, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch and Crash).
Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewife fame, is 38. Joe E. Ross (Car 54 Where are you fame) and hockey's PUNCH IMLACH, who lead the Maple Leafs to 4 Stanley Cups, including the Last one in 1967 was born on this date in 1918 (he died in 1987).  I have mixed emotions about Punch in his second incarnation of the Leafs. He seemed to get Harold Ballard disease and was a complete failure. Plus he got rid of at least 2 of the favourite Leafs of all-time. (Sittler and McDonald) 


and finally with today being "Beware of the Ides of March Day"

Julius Caesar walks into a Bar and asks for"a Bloody Caesar.  The Bartender says. "how do you make it" ?  Julius says..."Oh Never mind. Brutus said He'd take a STAB at it."
Mornin Everybody Mornin'.

THURSDAY MARCH 14TH, 2013

GOOD DAY...did you notice all the white smoke outside when the Pope was chosen yesterday....oh that wasn't white smoke....it was white snow.  It Figures. We have about 2 cms of new stuff. Nelly Furtado had just  started to sing and then someone said "Wait till the Nun Signs Nellie" and poof with some white smoke it was all done. Yes its's me, time to throw another Blog on the fire for the 14th of March.  20 Years ago it was very wintery with lots of snow. 


OUR MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR

IN 1794 Eli Whitney patented the Cotton Gin ( tasty but the cotton keeps getting caught in my throat).
In 1843, Victoria's Secret was discovered by James Douglas who started the town.
Women in Saskatchewan were given the right to vote on this day in 1916.
The year was 1923, a fellow by the name of Peter Parker broadcast the First Professional Hockey game on CKCK Regina. The Man from Plaid also known as "GRIPES" did "Coaches Corner" 
In 1925, the first Trans-Atlantic Radio broadcast was carried out.
Jack Ruby was found Guilty of Killing Lee Harvey Oswald in 1964 on this date.
The Rolling Stones played what they called a Farewell Concert in 1971 in London (really it was just a Tax Dodge, and they just moved to France for a few years). 

"CATS" opened in Toronto in 1985 and played there for two years.  I went to it and fell asleep and only woke up when I started "PURRING too Loudly. It was an all-Canadian cast but when it started originally in 1981 in London England Judi Dench was cast as Grizabella but had to be replaced when she snapped her achilles tendon. The big song from that Andrew Lloyd Webber Production was of course "MEMORY"





FAMOUS PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DATE;

Johanne Straus in Austria in 1804.

Albert Einstein was born in Germany 1879-1955 and came up with the Theory of Relativity,  He also had some great Quotes such as "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new". Also "any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves". Einstein's Brain is suppose to be preserved in a Mason Jar in Wichita Kansas.  He requested it to be studied by a Pathologist there.  I am leaving my brain to the Canadian Pun Institute because of my statement, "its ok to be punny as long as your good at it"                                                                                                              
Michael Caine is 80 today. I always loved his Harry Palmer roles and his performance in the movie "Ciderhouse Rules" (It also brought my attention to the beauty of Charlize Theron) 
Billy Crystal is 66 today (still the Oscars best Host). Megan Follows is 45 (Anne of Green Gables)
the Mini series is the highest rated drama in Canadian TV. Parts or it were filmed at the Simcoe Count museum.  
Rick Dee's DJ (Disco Duck) is 63 and Baseball's great but late Kirby Puckett (1962-2006)
If it's your special day, I hope you have lots of Breath for the Blowing out of the candles. (don't start any forest fires either).

and finally

The new Pope was picked Yesterday....Pope Francis the 1st and there is no Trew to the rumour his first words were "LET"S BE FRANK"

Mornin' everybody....mornin'.