Category: Humour
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17. Away from the Screens and into the Street?
I have always believed that hardening of arteries is far less dreadful than the narrowing of the mind. As a septuagenarian, I’ve tried to resist the creeping conservativism too often typical of advancing years. While no raging grandpa, I like to think that through the decades, my politics have tilted evermore leftward. Still, I increasingly…
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14. A Twisted Tribute to CBC Radio
Among the many despicable plans of the Trump administration is the proposed gutting of American public broadcasting services. The MAGA Republicans charge that PBS and NPR couple bloated budgets with “liberal bias.” Even Big Bird of ‘Sesame Street’ is suspected of being a “woke socialist.” It is not surprising that hard-line conservatives in Canada have…
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13. A Spotty Maple Leaf
1 February 15th 2025 marked sixty years since the first raising of the red and white maple leaf as Canada’s official flag. Of the 24% of Canadians who are old enough to remember that day–– probably very few do. Those whose memories stretch back sixty years or earlier are more likely to recall the controversy…
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10. Touchy Humour
‘The Meaning of Monty Python’ (2013) features the five surviving Pythons––Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Jones and Palin–– in conversation over tea in a living room setting. The documentary bookended the Turner Classic movie channel’s recent tribute to the legendary troupe. Shown before the documentary were ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ (1975), ‘The Life of Brian’…
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S. A Few Pinches of Native Soil (con’d)
A Kentucky-born friend and I have joked about the commonalities of our respective boyhood territories. In growing up, we both found ourselves at odds with ole timey religion, country music and conservative ‘values’… Outside of Acadia, the Canadian Maritimes–– like southern Appalachia–– retains a dominant Scots-English-Irish population. There is considerable evidence that rural Maritimers are…
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S. A Few Pinches of Native Soil (intro.)
Introduction: About a decade ago, I planned to write a monograph about my oft uncomfortable relationship with the province of my origin. That project faltered with the usual exigencies. From the muddle of notes made in preparation for a first draft, I have pulled out pieces which I have hopefully, battered into some coherence……
Coprolites in Amber (etc.) 