tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52665744871711515112024-03-14T10:31:32.777-07:00Chris MoralesChris MoralesChris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.comBlogger892125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-67558778708028703102024-02-14T08:24:00.000-08:002024-02-14T08:24:19.807-08:00Master your to-do list<p> </p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e503fdc6-7fff-141f-6ccb-310c0d9b739a"><h1 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -8.85pt 0pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #17365d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Master Your To-Do List </span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 1.15pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Are you ready to gain your time?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 4pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Many professionals</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">don’t think they never have enough time to finish all the things they need to do, let alone time to do the things they love!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“I used to get overwhelmed by my to-do lists: It never used to decrease, no matter how many tasks I completed in a day. When I found the Plan, Prioritize and Produce system, my stress level went down and I ended most days feeling good about what I had accomplished.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 1.15pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And even though we all have the same 168 hours in a week, it never feels like we have enough time. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -8.85pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The reality is that you do have the time you need — it’s just being taken up by non-essential tasks that are getting in the way.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -8.85pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The good news is… There’s a formula that, when applied, gives us hours of our life back. It’s as simple as this:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 1.15pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Prioritize</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6.85pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Plan</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6.85pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Produce</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -8.85pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Apply the 3 P’s of time management to all your work to boost your productivity and increase your income!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -8.85pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Are you ready to learn more?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6.85pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’ll walk you through each step of my time management system in this short course, so you can jump right in:</span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #499bc9; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Introduction </span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 1.15pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Step One: Prioritize</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6.85pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Step Two: Plan</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6.85pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Step Three: Produce</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 1.15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 1.15pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When you’ve completed this course, you will be able to…</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Clarify your goals</span></h2></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Set specific milestones and deadlines for each goal</span></h2></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Identify what current time management issues you are facing </span></h2></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Prioritize better </span></h2></li></ul><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Get Stuff Done! </span></h2></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 18pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Plus, so much more!</span></h2></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://buy.stripe.com/fZeeX98BU1ezdxefZ2" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 91px; overflow: hidden; width: 183px;"><img height="93" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/b81LiFgMQbkMf0ChGYqKdRdpSG2JIuQxZcxtYLnaK1drZz9ooSeHkPwC1vPP91YDYsE21lKZW0hTRrtd_ElK7SR1uuWuijZh7TOd4Hzvb7yIiL6JlrBYmCObmxdT-cd0t2BaL4W-qTIOKSnyBDwTIQ=w185-h93" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="185" /></span></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -8.85pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This course is delivered by video and contains an action guide with everything you need to become a time management expert.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6.85pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -6.85pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I promise that when you take this course, you’ll love how good you’ll feel about managing your time! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 4pt 0pt 10pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">P.S. If you only </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">master one aspect of time management, you can quickly reduce the time you spend on non-productive administrative tasks. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain!</span></span>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-59842061891492133282023-12-19T04:01:00.000-08:002023-12-19T04:01:10.900-08:00Elvis has NOT left the building<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LEqyofETEV26ueH8fsTiLN-0L43QtigUqLMz98ZEtuaGQgSsP0X5tUeK09L3M4kyAGxTEFYtatkBFVhLu9E3O9shRU5A3Q3FGJBRq511qUbYDE976dDC55JsWVIJvx1PTifUDMoU3SEt1Rw22EWiq9RmsZJ7ggHmABYjh-UMcIsCyeumlF5hNwShbiRu/s1200/elvis-has-not-left-the-building.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LEqyofETEV26ueH8fsTiLN-0L43QtigUqLMz98ZEtuaGQgSsP0X5tUeK09L3M4kyAGxTEFYtatkBFVhLu9E3O9shRU5A3Q3FGJBRq511qUbYDE976dDC55JsWVIJvx1PTifUDMoU3SEt1Rw22EWiq9RmsZJ7ggHmABYjh-UMcIsCyeumlF5hNwShbiRu/s320/elvis-has-not-left-the-building.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/gHFIB1p4SR0?si=zj_mlryVwcYL6u0x" target="_blank"><b>Elvis has not left the building!</b></a></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Truly the king of rock and roll is still with us in spirit…I was reminded of that recently when I learned he had sold over 500 million records in his lifetime and earned over $100 million this year coming in at #2 on the Forbes 2023 list of top-earning dead celebrities!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let’s back up to 1977: In one of the most shocking 1970s events, the death of the King of Rock n’ Roll on August 16, 1977 propelled the world into mourning. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At the young age of 42, Elvis Presley fans all over the world couldn’t believe they were saying goodbye to their idol so suddenly. His unexpected death made front-page headline news all around the world, especially since he had recently been performing before his death and showed no signs of major health problems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At the time of his death, Elvis Presley was resting between shows at his mansion in Graceland, and he was found lying face down on the floor. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After being pronounced dead after a speedy ambulance trip to the hospital, a doctor performs an autopsy to try and find the cause of death. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They discovered Elvis was very ill with diabetes, but he had no signs of having suffered from a stroke, lung disease or heart disease. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The actual cause of death still remains a mystery, with some people having a hard time believing Elvis had really died. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some people thought he was still alive and in hiding, and others contested the way he passed away. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The death of Elvis ended his era of rock n’ roll but his legacy is unparalleled. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Elvis influenced so many up and coming musicians, including the Beatles, and had a great impact in pushing rock music to a prominent position within American culture. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This from Paul Simon:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The first time I heard his music, back in ’54 or ’55, I was in a car and I heard the announcer say, ‘Here’s a guy who, when he appears on stage in the South, the girls scream and rush the stage.’ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then he played ‘That’s All Right, Mama.’ I thought his name was about the weirdest I’d ever heard. I thought for sure he was a black guy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Later on I grew my hair like him, imitated his stage act. Once I went all over New York looking for a lavender shirt like the one he wore on one of his albums. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I felt wonderful when he sang ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water,’ even though it was a touch on the dramatic side, but so was the song. When I first heard Elvis perform ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ it was unbelievable, and I thought to myself, how the hell can I compete with that?”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Better than his music were his films. And I know you’re thinking: He made terrible movies! But I loved them more than his music!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Who can forget ‘Viva Las Vegas’ with Anne Margaret:</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bright light city gonna set my soul</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gonna set my soul on fire</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So get those stakes up higher</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That’s Vegas baby. No one else rocked a baby blue sequined jumpsuit like the King of Rock and Roll.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">No, Elvis has most definitely not left the building!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time…</span></p><div><br /></div>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-22996477707780836672023-12-05T02:17:00.000-08:002023-12-06T12:55:18.248-08:00Reggae saved Jamaica<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmm4Q_1bYHE1NlYhDRJEu-A4wRx_OZQnlXf3Vdr0LY8E4AqE-Vs4BrkLUOmgyX-f67m4o5v8gkrInUTefw4cfdEszxxUHLxRmzFejSbz72xYXGZsowpICHLeCu0lLaRdMtBCgs0Yi9YctbkQht4yUmV7MqA2WVIRWUFWjVdYuSfYdIPEZKK7M0uRtTxCm/s1000/reggae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmm4Q_1bYHE1NlYhDRJEu-A4wRx_OZQnlXf3Vdr0LY8E4AqE-Vs4BrkLUOmgyX-f67m4o5v8gkrInUTefw4cfdEszxxUHLxRmzFejSbz72xYXGZsowpICHLeCu0lLaRdMtBCgs0Yi9YctbkQht4yUmV7MqA2WVIRWUFWjVdYuSfYdIPEZKK7M0uRtTxCm/s320/reggae.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I’m Jamaican by birth…and didn’t listen to reggae music growing up.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jamaica in the late 1960’s, was chaotic and dangerous. Barely 5 years after gaining independence from the United Kingdom, political differences had spilled over into warfare. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was the Peoples National Party, the PNP versus the Jamaican Labour Party, the JLP. Particularly in the Kingston area where we lived, the body count rose steadily in daily and nightly skirmishes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/eKiXbcgDUSg?si=5ziZvPVIOn1eincx" target="_blank"><b>The music that saved the nation…literally…was Reggae</b></a>. At a huge concert, Smile Jamaica at the National Stadium on December 5, 1976 Bob Marley took the stage and played his heart out and brought a fractured nation together with rebel music…Reggae!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first popular song to use the word reggae, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that was strongly influenced by traditional mento as well as by American jazz and rhythm and blues, and evolved out of the earlier genres ska and rocksteady.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stylistically, reggae incorporates some of the musical elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, mento (a celebratory, rural folk form that served its largely rural audience as dance music and an alternative to the hymns and adapted chanteys of local church singing) and also draws influence from traditional African folk rhythms. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the most easily recognizable elements is offbeat rhythms; staccato chords played by a guitar or piano (or both) on the offbeats of the measure. The tempo of reggae is usually slower paced than both ska and rocksteady</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reggae is deeply linked to Rastafari, an Afrocentric religion which developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, aiming at promoting pan-Africanism. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reggae music is an important means of transporting vital messages of Rastafari. The musician becomes the messenger, and as Rastafari see it, "the soldier and the musician are tools for change”. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock Rasta</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was a Buffalo Soldier</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the heart of America</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stolen from Africa, brought to America</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That is the opening verse of the Bob Marley and the Wailers hit, Buffalo Soldier from the album Confrontation. It sums up the deep underlying foundation of reggae.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rock bands in the 1970s were inspired by reggae. Big names included:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Police, Walking on the Moon</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Elvis Costello, Watching the Detectives</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Specials, Ghost Town</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Clash, The Guns of Brixton</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eric Clapton, I Shot The Sheriff</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">‘I shot the sheriff’ was originally recorded by Bob Marley and the Wailers and released in 1973 on the album, ‘Burnin’. It was a cry for justice. A popular theme in Jamaica then and an important issue for Bob Marley in particular.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eric Clapton was inspired. He covered it and released it on his second solo album, 461 Ocean Boulevard. Reggae was firmly atop the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back to 1976…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The political violence worsened in Jamaica after we left for Canada in 1972.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ahead of the national general elections planned for early 1977, the economy, driven by the tourism industry had ground to a halt and there was almost open warfare across the island. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The nation was on the brink of disaster. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At 8:30pm, on December 3, 1976, two days before the Smile Jamaica Concert, seven men armed with guns raided Marley's house at 56 Hope Road. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Marley and his band were on break from rehearsal. Marley's wife, Rita, was shot in the head in her car in the driveway. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The gunmen shot Marley in the chest and arm. His manager, Don Taylor, was shot in the legs and torso. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Band employee Louis Griffiths took a bullet to his torso as well. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were no fatalities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite the attempt on his life, Marley insisted his performance at the concert go ahead. What was to be only one song turned into a 90 set. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Too strong to say Reggae saved the Nation that day?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maybe not…</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rise up this mornin'</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Smiled with the risin' sun</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Three little birds pitch by my doorstep</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Singin' sweet songs of melodies pure and true</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saying', ("This is my message to you")</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Don't worry about a thing</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'Cause every little thing gonna be alright</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Singing' "Don't worry about a thing</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'Cause every little thing gonna be alright!"</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I mentioned earlier that I didn’t grow up listening to Reggae Music. Times change…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reggae plays a big part in my life now. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My favourite groups include Third World (Try Jah Love) and Bob Marley’s Exodus. Both are on repeat play.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And by the time you read this, I’ll be back in Jamaica in Negril at my 12th running of the Reggae Marathon 10k event. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time…</span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-31973624436881288772023-11-28T03:56:00.000-08:002023-11-28T03:56:29.282-08:00Gas Lines: The Crisis of 1973<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXYZ9Fy2xa3rcA6dqqa5duoygswpnPdmrRoVMBHHZgIcUEesu5lNQgIHtvsEVpokUQKoUXp-QAzD5B2txbBYdva9YkqHVUHFmwHzDB80zZVrQDvmh_npXd-3aCJEqELZLBquPjjKA5Smiamq6_9osEVQxfR1q1Df0mNwiSTFwxe0kKpMbDxPwP1Tc8RQX/s572/Gas%20lines.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="572" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXYZ9Fy2xa3rcA6dqqa5duoygswpnPdmrRoVMBHHZgIcUEesu5lNQgIHtvsEVpokUQKoUXp-QAzD5B2txbBYdva9YkqHVUHFmwHzDB80zZVrQDvmh_npXd-3aCJEqELZLBquPjjKA5Smiamq6_9osEVQxfR1q1Df0mNwiSTFwxe0kKpMbDxPwP1Tc8RQX/s320/Gas%20lines.png" width="320" /></a></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-407f8206-7fff-0dc9-2674-71aeac266faf"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/mxwSMU_rPxY?si=tSQddgcSf6mwo9Ez" target="_blank"><b>world lined up to buy gas in 1973</b></a>…and it was ugly!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So bye, bye, Miss American Pie</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey 'n rye</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Singin' this'll be the day that I die</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This'll be the day that I die</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Don McLean wrote and released the song in 1971. Much of it was biographical, as a reflection of what was happening in America during the 1960s with the assassinations of the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Vietnam War. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For McLean, it started with what he called the end of the happy 50s, the tragic plane crash of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JD “the Big Bopper” Richardson in February of 1959. The day the music died.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then the gas supply dried up…</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were two separate oil crises in the 1970s:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 0pt 11.25pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1973 with a war in the middle east </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 0pt 11.25pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1979 with the Iranian revolution</span></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 27pt 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">North Americans from coast to coast faced persistent gas shortages as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, disrupted oil supplies.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 27pt 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here’s what it looked like in the first one in 1973:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 0pt 11.25pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Drivers would go to stations before dawn or late at night, hoping to avoid the lines.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 0pt 11.25pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Odd-even rationing was introduced — meaning that if the last digit on your license plate was odd, you could get gas only on odd-numbered days. </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 0pt 11.25pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some gas stations took to posting flags — green if they had gas, yellow if rationing was in effect and red if they were out of gas.</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 0pt 11.25pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To conserve gas, the maximum speed limit was cut to 55 miles per hour. </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 27pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 11.25pt 0pt 11.25pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To cut energy consumption in the broader economy, daylight saving time was introduced year-round at the beginning of 1974, facing criticism from parents whose kids had to go to school before sunrise in the winter months.</span></span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #040c28; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And we were driving big vehicles with big engines and poor fuel economy that were not particularly well made.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #040c28; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We felt the pain in our wallets at the gas pumps.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #040c28; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Not surprisingly Auto sales were hurt by the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">embargo as the price of gasoline soared. The industry never recovered!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A quick sidebar: In the early 1970s GM, Ford and Chrysler had nearly 83% of the new car industry. Yes, you heard that right…The ‘Imports’ sold only 17% of the all the cars sold! </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fast forward 10 years and the total share was down to 71% as the Japanese automakers saw their smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles soar in popularity.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I stopped driving North American cars when I sold my 1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic and replaced it with a Mazda. That Chevrolet had a massively fuel inefficient 350 cubic inch V8 engine, bench seats in the front and an AM/FM radio! I’ve never gone back!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Musicians responded to the crisis. This novelty classic from Brent Burns was directly aimed at OPEC, ‘Cheaper food or no more food’:</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If they don't lower the gas. We're gonna lower the boom, Quit shipping all that wheat and corn, forget the Golden Rule. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If they don't lower the price of crude we're gonna cut off the food And in about a week they'll sing a different tune.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yikes!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And 6 years later before we had the opportunity to fully recover, we did it all over again…</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time…</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-91460986523621517022023-11-21T07:27:00.000-08:002023-11-24T08:08:48.187-08:00Call the Fashion Police!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOCcn5NbBHKSkGbIJ2U3UTVOa8T5APsWeC-oe_bSpTi4v09NV0e_c2NVcXuUr453V6yAlOYbXB1W_TR6oN5mlbBNZ6SURAmdcnzVQhaoyn-CFkggmjtlmVX4z87nIxaT3Nhj1A1MwLjdDLjRRRYP0aRRtaAbmzw3k7u9IxHwcTEauUAR44KUTNzWs_aPH/s796/paul-smith-velvet-2-piece-suit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="441" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOCcn5NbBHKSkGbIJ2U3UTVOa8T5APsWeC-oe_bSpTi4v09NV0e_c2NVcXuUr453V6yAlOYbXB1W_TR6oN5mlbBNZ6SURAmdcnzVQhaoyn-CFkggmjtlmVX4z87nIxaT3Nhj1A1MwLjdDLjRRRYP0aRRtaAbmzw3k7u9IxHwcTEauUAR44KUTNzWs_aPH/s320/paul-smith-velvet-2-piece-suit.jpg" width="177" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-aa5c0614-7fff-7ec8-4eef-2dcc5a7f3aaa"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wore a <a href="https://youtube.com/live/yqdQCZlYUPg" target="_blank"><b>light blue 3 piece velvet suit</b></a> to my high school graduation in 1976. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let me repeat that: A powder blue, flared leg suit with matching vest all made of velvet! Stretched over my portly 18 year old frame. Thankfully there are no remaining photos of my take on 1970s fashion. And I’m even more thankful that social media didn’t exist.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The overarching trend of fashion in the 1970s was individuality. I certainly extolled that!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Early in the decade, Vogue proclaimed </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">"There are no rules in the fashion game now"</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Due to overproduction flooding the market with cheap synthetic clothing, common items included mini skirts, bell-bottoms popularized by hippies, vintage clothing from the 1950s and earlier, and the androgynous glam rock and disco styles that introduced platform shoes, bright colors, glitter, and satin. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Accessories in the early '70s riffed on Hippie outfits: Chokers, headbands, scarves, and jewelry made of wood, stones, feathers, and beads.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And for a certain teen in Mississauga, velvet!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh…and the music that inspired much of this look?</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ziggy played guitar</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jamming good with Weird and Gilly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And the Spiders from Mars</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The opening lyrics from Ziggy Stardust, the 2nd track on the 5th studio album from David Bowie with the title: ‘The rise and fall of ziggy stardust and the spiders from mars’.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mississauga is a suburb west of Toronto. Neither it or Toronto were fashion mecas in the 1970s. The clothing that we wore could have been a little dated to be sure. But we wore it proudly.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">High school dances were a rite of passage back in the day. They were held on Friday nights in the cafeteria or gym. They usually included a live rock band made up of our fellow classmates. They played loud and hard! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In between sets a DJ spun rock tunes and this was when the dancing took place.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dressing up for these dances allowed us full teenage fashion expression. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back to the velvet!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My typical look went like this:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Skintight jeans tucked into knee high platform boots</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tight floral print shirt</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Topped off with a…wait for it…navy blue velvet jacket!</span></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I never danced much at these high school dances…I wonder why?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pushing these fashion trends were the superstar celebrities of the 1970s:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">David Bowie of course in his ziggy stardust persona</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Elton John - glam rock extreme!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Diana Ross - disco queen</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cher - at the height of her sequins</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Elvis Presley - power blue ‘onsies’ as he prowled the Vegas Stages late in his career</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And where best to see and be seen: Studio 54 in New York City!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toronto had it’s own version of hot night clubs, one of which was in the basement of the Hilton Hotel on the Airport Strip in…Mississauga! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was called Misty’s. DJ Vicky Watson ran the console. There was a raised dance floor of plexiglass with lights above and under the floor. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sirens, glitter balls, strobe lights and of course dry ice added to the atmosphere of decadence.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Away from the dance floor, booths and tables were tucked into dark corners…’What happened at Misty’s stayed at Misty’s’</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">People lined up for hours to get in and the place didn’t get rocking until late.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The night was over when Vicky put on ‘Last Dance’ by Donna Summers.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have fond memories of Misty’s: I was the bouncer there for one glorious summer before heading off to university.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the immortal words of Donna Summer:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last dance</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last chance for love</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, it's my last chance</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For romance tonight</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time…</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /><br /></div></span></span>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-1033982046071964782023-11-14T04:02:00.000-08:002023-11-24T08:05:40.719-08:00The Kent State Massacre<p style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mFh3N3HOsi0CW2eZu7kNSidRP18JM1iH9csOqy5Y6LSnCEuxsOVYDN9ZGj4C4nLqk3RRPcgAgYrOfq7NGUd5zlj5ZYcJp3G1PZR0E_0YmaDKgc55iADE6tIO8si4OowwqCHOobA9CFsUTnWYSrDpaaaBjphWAgKGFQfg9aq7VwnD5d77Fq2pTue0skuk/s1200/3000.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mFh3N3HOsi0CW2eZu7kNSidRP18JM1iH9csOqy5Y6LSnCEuxsOVYDN9ZGj4C4nLqk3RRPcgAgYrOfq7NGUd5zlj5ZYcJp3G1PZR0E_0YmaDKgc55iADE6tIO8si4OowwqCHOobA9CFsUTnWYSrDpaaaBjphWAgKGFQfg9aq7VwnD5d77Fq2pTue0skuk/s320/3000.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tin soldiers and Nixon coming</span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">We're finally on our own</span></div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: center;">This summer I hear the drumming</div><div style="text-align: center;">Four dead in Ohio.</div>
Brutal lyrics from the song, ‘Ohio’ by Crosby Stills Nash and Young about the shooting of 4 students at Kent State University in Ohio on May 4, 1970.
Neil Young wrote the song as a direct reaction to the shootings. It was recorded and released within weeks of the incident.
It is regarded as one of the greatest protest songs ever written.
<a href="https://youtube.com/live/Q2VPJAq_r9E" target="_blank"><b>I can’t listen to it 53 years</b></a> later without getting angry. University students protesting a senseless war in Vietnam.
Protests over the Vietnam war had been escalating in the US throughout the 1960’s.
In 1963 President Kennedy increased US involvement in the war sending in 16,000 advisors. Whatever that means…
Once Lyndon Johnson had settled into his presidency following the assignation of Kennedy, he continued the escalation sending 100,000 troops in 1965. That grew to 500,000 combat troops by 1968.
At home protests grew as the body count increased with no tangible results.
<div style="text-align: center;">At Kent State, protests to the US involvement in the Vietnam war had been ongoing and growing since 1966. The core of the protesters were a group known as Students for a Democratic Society, SDS.</div>And it's 1,2,3 what are we fightin for?
<div style="text-align: center;">Don't ask me, I don't give a damn, the next stop is Vietnam.</div><div style="text-align: center;">…And its 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Well there ain't no time to wonder why...WHOPEE we're all gonna die.</div>
That’s the chorus from the ‘Vietnam Song’ performed by Country Joe and Fish at Woodstock. It sums up the protest culture that was growing.
Richard Nixon got elected in 1968. One of his campaign pledges was to end the conflict. But a couple of things transpired in 1969.
First was exposure of the Mai Lai massacre where US troops slaughtered nearly 500 Vietnamese Villagers.
Second was the re-introduction of the Draft Lottery. This eliminated deferments for college students and teachers.
Anger in the US boiled over when Nixon instead of working to end the war, further escalated it by invading Cambodia. That occurred on April 29, 1970…barely 5 days before the campus shootings.
SDS protests were turning ugly and University officials were concerned about the increasing aggressiveness and violence.
Leading up to the May 4 shootings, demonstrations attracted increasing numbers of students. But more worrisome to University and City officials were the threats to destroy the city and university. Real or not, rumors of students with arms caches, plots to spike the local water supply with LSD and building tunnels to blow up downtown stores were rampant.
The city called in the National Guard in response.
By all accounts various protesting groups were active on campus May 4th. They resisted calls to disperse and in the immediate run up to the shootings were pelting the Guardsmen with rocks. They responded by opening fire:
</span></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Allison Krause, 19.</span></span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jeffrey Glenn Miller, 20.</span></span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sandra Lee Scheuer, 20.</span></span></span></li><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">William Schroeder, 19.
<div style="text-align: center;">Tin soldiers and Nixon coming</div><div style="text-align: center;">We're finally on our own</div><div style="text-align: center;">This summer I hear the drumming</div><div style="text-align: center;">Four dead in Ohio.</div>
Why?
In the aftermath, Guardsmen said they feared for their lives. Heavily armed and protected militia versus unprotected young students hurling rocks. Incredulous.
America changed that day. The nation realized their elected governments could turn on citizens that coldly.
Kent State accelerated cynicism over the concept of US Democracy. A lot of the 1970s movements gained momentum: Civil rights, Women's rights at the top.
Movements paid in blood.
That are being paid for still today.
Until next time…
</span></span></span></li></ul><p></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-46042351733152218512023-11-07T03:53:00.002-08:002023-11-24T08:02:23.306-08:00Watergate: A Redemption Story<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOkiF3rZJlcLCNaHIhOoudiNJp4MZbbAlyvx8kZAJF08uytpZZfCKEMrEFsYG0xpMl2Wr9Qz_nsY0BzqndCEodR1VRs0L0vT7TPfxah-EPM8lGplApKL_jt6SKccEiL6Z3thM4Pq2jQN2bxN0VMu7NDeu6un2q2xL5M6rkDGFDXy165sgytNTpgDQ1r3S/s1280/watergate-building.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOkiF3rZJlcLCNaHIhOoudiNJp4MZbbAlyvx8kZAJF08uytpZZfCKEMrEFsYG0xpMl2Wr9Qz_nsY0BzqndCEodR1VRs0L0vT7TPfxah-EPM8lGplApKL_jt6SKccEiL6Z3thM4Pq2jQN2bxN0VMu7NDeu6un2q2xL5M6rkDGFDXy165sgytNTpgDQ1r3S/s320/watergate-building.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watergate does not bother me, does your conscience bother you? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tell the truth’</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those lyrics from ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd in response to Neil Young’s Southern Man. Ahhh…the battle of the bands!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://youtube.com/live/Q2VPJAq_r9E" target="_blank">Watergate broke in 1972</a> </b>during Richard Nixon’s second term as president. The break in occurred at the Democratic National Headquarters offices in the Watergate Hotel in Washington. It was and is an example of dirty politics: an attempt to get information of the election campaign plans of the Democratic party through any means possible…even if illegal.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watergate captured our attention. I was 14 years old at the time and it was a topic of discussion in at least one class at high school. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And it was impossible to escape news coverage. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I wind you back to the media landscape in 1972:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">3 US TV networks dominated the market</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nightly newscasts at 6 pm were ‘must see TV’...Walter Cronkite anyone?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">2 networks in Canada</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">2 daily newspapers, the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Local radio</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watergate dominated the news in all media, especially TV. It ushered in new phrases including ‘Deep Throat’ a particularly memorable one in reference to the source that gave the reporters much inside information.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">‘Tricky Dick’ was another that was applied to President Richard Nixon…and it stuck for the rest of his life.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Along with probably his most memorable utterance, ‘I am not a crook’.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the fact, the movie ‘All the President’s Men’ told the incredible story of the lies, duplicity and tactics that the President and ‘all his men’ told to defend themselves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watergate was also a two part story. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first was the break in itself which was illegal.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The second part and the more interesting one was the ‘Coverup’ that escalated right up to the President himself in the process swallowing up everybody in the executive branch of his Presidency. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A sidebar: Richard Nixon was a Republican. I can’t help but note with much interest that US politics since 2016 have taken place at the hands of Republicans. But I digress… </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the story that caught my interest concerned one of the Watergate conspirators, John Dean, chief counsel for President Nixon from 1970 until he was fired by in April 1973. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">He was involved in early strategy sessions discussing plans to bug the Democratic headquarters and later to photograph documents.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the break in occurred and the coverup was in full swing, he was intimately involved in advising the President and team on defensive strategies.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But he smelled a rat! And he was right. He was being set up as a scapegoat for the entire affair and despite his deep involvement, decided to look after himself. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">‘United we stand, divided we fall’!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">He decided to cooperate with the Senate Watergate Committee who were investigating the Watergate scandal. He made a deal that resulted in him being found guilty at his criminal trial but with reduced jail time. His testimony and subsequent trial was covered by all the news outlets, in particular TV. They enjoyed massive ratings and we enjoyed front row seats to the biggest political drama we had seen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dean’s testimony was crucial in linking Richard Nixon to Watergate. He resigned in disgrace and was forever tainted. He never got redemption.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dean on the other hand rose from the ashes and built a new life first as an investment banker (and why not), an author and lecturer. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And that’s what we like isn’t it. Redemption comes to the person who is contrite, takes responsibility for their actions and pays the price. That strategy wipes the slate clean…you get to move on with your life.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But Watergate was just the beginning…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watergate exposed the darker, corrosive nature of politics. Today with social media, politics has become a dismal game that preys on our basest fears. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">James Taylor captured the zeitgeist in this song about Nixon and Watergate:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I just now got the news; He seems to tell us lies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And still we will believe him; Then together he will lead us</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Into darkness, my friends</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time…</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></div></span></div>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-15305981455389404752023-10-31T06:42:00.001-07:002023-11-24T07:59:03.691-08:00Altamont: The end of the Age of Aquarius<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc3U-2u3vFdrarb-D5THqzszjslOEvpnrxF-aAkUJWIp4dFGiF0D7WYoy_0HRkoXbSLDpv3vlzxk8mmyQGsMd5NpgcHUM8-DlXqJfa2OKhrl6Ts-w8ysz6A3kmKItiIEjxSVdsFRhd5Bk-NvQktNQVvG8J4U6JPXyKAILCw73VAfM_AlXXeBk-d9kBy1b/s711/960x0.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="711" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc3U-2u3vFdrarb-D5THqzszjslOEvpnrxF-aAkUJWIp4dFGiF0D7WYoy_0HRkoXbSLDpv3vlzxk8mmyQGsMd5NpgcHUM8-DlXqJfa2OKhrl6Ts-w8ysz6A3kmKItiIEjxSVdsFRhd5Bk-NvQktNQVvG8J4U6JPXyKAILCw73VAfM_AlXXeBk-d9kBy1b/s320/960x0.webp" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the moon is in the Seventh House</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And Jupiter aligns with Mars</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then peace will guide the planets</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And love will steer the stars</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you get more optimistic than that classic from the 5th Dimension?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We remember the 1960s fondly: <a href="https://youtube.com/live/6xukoq6jqus" target="_blank"><b>The age of Aquarius</b></a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a time of optimism and promise. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">US President John F Kennedy made the bold promise of successfully landing a man on the moon and bringing him home within the decade. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was most apparent in the music and broad hippie culture of peace and love…combined with protests over the Vietnam war. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 60’s came to a screeching halt on December 6, 1969 at the Altamont music festival in California. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Altamont Speedway Free Festival as it was called, was billed as Woodstock West in reference to Woodstock, the iconic event on Max Yasgur’s farm in New York a few months earlier. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">"I'm going down to Yasgur's Farm</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gonna join in a rock 'n' roll band</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Got to get back to the land</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Set my soul free"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those lyrics are from ‘Woodstock’ by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. It was their first live performance with that lineup and they defined Woodstock.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">At Altamont only a few months later, Santana, Jefferson Airplane and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead were on the lineup. It was to be another celebration of peace and love!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">By all accounts things were bad from the start. “A bad vibe was in the air”. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Planning was chaotic. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The venue changed location at the last minute, the stage setup was problematic and to cap it off, the Hells Angels were hired to provide security.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rowdiness and violence during the performances prompted </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Grateful Dead to cancel their performance…and they were the main organizers!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">When The Rolling Stones finally took the stage to close out the event, all hell broke loose! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fans had been storming the stage and the Hells Angels played fast and loose with their interpretation of security. There were multiple altercations with fans…fights broke out…lots of bruised heads.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Stones stopped their set and pleaded for calm.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">That’s when things got crazy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meredith Curly Hunter was among those who had been beaten back by the Hells Angels as he tried to get closer to the stage. He took it badly, left and came back with a pistol, out for revenge for the bad treatment. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">He was killed in the ensuing melee. Figuratively and in reality, the 60s died that day. Best captured in the opening lyrics from the Rolling Stones, Gimmie Shelter:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A storm is threatening my very life today</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If I don't get some shelter…I'm gonna fade away</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Altamont symbolized the breakdown of the love and peace idealism of the 1960s and the potential dangers of large, poorly planned gatherings. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is remembered as a tragic and violent event that had a profound impact on the history of rock music festivals and the cultural perception of the 1960s.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 1970s were marked by significant cultural movements, shifts in fashion and music, and pivotal moments in civil rights, feminism, and environmental awareness. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, it was also a decade of economic uncertainty and political turmoil, making it a complex and transformative period in history.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">These lyrics from ‘One Tin Soldier’ by the Canadian band, The Original Caste speak to the boiling up 1970’s culture:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do it in the name of heaven, you can justify it in the end</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time…</span></div><div><br /></div>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-3183641009017056992023-10-24T03:35:00.001-07:002023-11-24T07:56:41.630-08:00Culture shock: Growing up in the 1970's<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnADQ7qcF2xcRNOCtNpCGUhec66Wqx32pQFsUBr6x2IDKgD68aRnHWwNN6aH2R7I_rYG5cCG6VlKYb8D87XL650BoMa6UxMw2aTv1Csih0E96_dFfA7b-KWuiTTY438pZbdyOHOpyEOhyi-gs6upHFmOELx04NbH-Y6yDQbToOTt3yphy9iF3kjcBTPz0/s1024/1-inauguration.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img alt="Culture shock, Expo 67, Jamaican, Canadian" border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="1024" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnADQ7qcF2xcRNOCtNpCGUhec66Wqx32pQFsUBr6x2IDKgD68aRnHWwNN6aH2R7I_rYG5cCG6VlKYb8D87XL650BoMa6UxMw2aTv1Csih0E96_dFfA7b-KWuiTTY438pZbdyOHOpyEOhyi-gs6upHFmOELx04NbH-Y6yDQbToOTt3yphy9iF3kjcBTPz0/w366-h237/1-inauguration.jpg" title="Expo 67" width="366" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-0e89cbf9-7fff-25f6-b161-83407e2977ba"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The chorus from the Joni Mitchell hit, Big Yellow Taxi“ released in 1970 goes like this:</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone”. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I grew up in the <b><a href="https://youtube.com/live/jHPewWf3LGQ" target="_blank">1970s, the son of Jamaican immigrants</a>.</b> It was a turbulent decade that mirrored the turbulence we experienced as a family beginning a new life in Canada.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The culture shock of immigrating to Canada from our home in Jamaica was just the first a cold reality after having spent many vacations in Canada in the years leading up to our big move. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In 1967 we travelled </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to Canada for the first time. We were here to visit family and friends in and around Toronto. That was exciting enough but an even bigger part of the trip was our planned visit to Montreal to take in Expo 67. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Canada and certainly Montreal was buzzing that year in celebrating 100 years as a nation. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ll always look back fondly on the road trip down the 401 to Montreal. I got to ride on the top of the luggage in the back of a huge Ford ‘woodie’ station wagon. Yes, those were the days before seat belts and airbags!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We spent 3 days touring Expo; going on the rides; visiting the pavilions; riding the monorail; stuffing ourselves with food. On one of the days it rained…we splashed in the puddles and got soaked thoroughly. That was a glorious day.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Montreal and Expo 67 began our love affair with Canada.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few years later when the violence in Jamaica intensified, my parents made the decision to leave our homeland. Canada was the choice; us kids didn’t push back. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 4 hour airplane trip transported us from the world we knew into one we thought we knew. As is typical for most immigrants, we experienced the culture shock of moving from a visitor to a resident. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And what a shock it was!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We dressed differently. We spoke with a thick accent. We looked different. We ate different food. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thankfully I liked rock music…I know, a kid from Jamaica who didn’t like Reggae?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rock…that became my ticket to adapting and fitting in. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And that’s what we did back then. Fit in. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve liked rock for as long as I can remember. In Jamaica my early music collection included Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Jefferson Airplane and Led Zeppelin. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In Canada I added The Guess Who and a little 3 piece heavy rock band called Rush. A highlight of my mid-teens was seeing Rush play live very early in their career: In Brampton in front of no</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #00796b; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> more </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">than 90 fans, they rocked the place! I was hooked!</span></span></p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-56190495214775816412023-10-17T03:52:00.001-07:002023-10-17T03:52:04.652-07:00Oldsmobile 88<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB10rHbsCPP6UCtTCRoC8BHNH7lRbzdVwOsJ1o4jr5dNiBvVeMfoQpPZCq0V23Lk-AfRtFI-NZAFF97Go2Aqz7rzOQMrndAM4nmzHGVB0N__wMhUkcYrrYOjD3ohxVXKnzhCFMPsG_6Rim_bpwUSNscCRX3iLU9w1hS1Hh2em9cbDp9ROoYpBIVdFHjP1H/s1920/oldsmobile-dynamic-88-hardtop-coupe-front-side-power-america-fest-2018-1-595973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB10rHbsCPP6UCtTCRoC8BHNH7lRbzdVwOsJ1o4jr5dNiBvVeMfoQpPZCq0V23Lk-AfRtFI-NZAFF97Go2Aqz7rzOQMrndAM4nmzHGVB0N__wMhUkcYrrYOjD3ohxVXKnzhCFMPsG_6Rim_bpwUSNscCRX3iLU9w1hS1Hh2em9cbDp9ROoYpBIVdFHjP1H/s320/oldsmobile-dynamic-88-hardtop-coupe-front-side-power-america-fest-2018-1-595973.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Oldsmobile Delta 88 was a beast! A two door coupe with a massive 350 cubic inch V8 engine. The enormous doors opened enough to allow entry into the back seat without moving the split fold front bench seat. It was left hand drive. The reason I note that is that this was my Dad's car when we lived in Jamaica...where cars drove on the left side of the road. It was totally inappropriate but we loved it!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was around 10 or 11 years old when this beast came into the family. By then I was working with my Dad at his Texaco Service station on Spanish Town Road on the edge of Trench Town in Kingston. He was an early riser so by 5:30 am we were in the Olds on our way to work. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Service Station provided a number of services. Gas of course and diesel...truck and bus owners were regular customers. Then there were the oil and lube done on a hoist for the cars and over an open pit for the trucks and buses. In those days suspension bits and ball joints needed to be lubed up. I can still remember the sound of the compressor hissing as it pulled thick lubricant from the 55 gallon drum. And the smell...ahhh....!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We repaired tires as well. In those days all bias ply tires had an inner tube. It had to be removed in order to repair it. That was my first job: Patching and repairing inner tubes. The surface around the hole had to be roughed up first then the adhesive was applied and allowed to get tacky. Only then could the 'patch' be applied. Then it was on to the vulcanizer: a press that applied pressure and heat to permanently fix the patch to the tube. Once done, I inflated the tube, ran it under some water to see if there were any bubbles and if none, gave it back to the installer to put back onto the rim.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then it was time for lunch. And another ride in the Olds. Most days we headed to my Grandmother's place for a home cooked meal. Usually something with rice...heavy, and delicious. We always made time for a quick nap before heading back to the service station for the afternoon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The day we had the collision was like any other. We had stopped at a local plaza on the way to lunch. Dad pulled out of the parking lot directly into the side of a small Japanese car. To this day I don't remember feeling any impact! The front end of the Olds was miles away and protected by a solid steel, chrome plated bumper. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We both jumped out of the Olds to inspect the damage. The chrome bumper had made a remarkable accurate indentation in the side door of the impacted car. Thankfully we had been going slowly and the impact was on the empty passenger side of the car. The Olds bumper had a...scratch! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This being Jamaica, Dad and the other car owner quickly settled things with Dad offering to pay for the repairs. Then we jumped back in the Olds and headed to lunch. Within minutes it seemed a distant memory.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They don't make cars like that anymore. Which is probably a good thing. Today at high speed, a car like that vintage of Oldsmobile would cause serious damage. But darn...I do miss that Oldsmobile 88!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-39180794370563414292023-10-03T05:31:00.001-07:002023-10-03T05:31:34.634-07:00Swedish cars rock<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThuFXrhlAzlAP0BkUZiYIm4AvtD95xHU2npbZtSqIRQp56ibBlMED_lE1XDzcDfL-ASRd59WthYKhPH8m22ieN5aAtsJlYmI8uRfVebpUynXyWm5ftputQTVVJ_vlazTVLLlYuCfa_RTMGq6ZURzI_dqN81AZqgeFKVoM_hd573gDl6YxF8gTypUWfnKm/s1024/33.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThuFXrhlAzlAP0BkUZiYIm4AvtD95xHU2npbZtSqIRQp56ibBlMED_lE1XDzcDfL-ASRd59WthYKhPH8m22ieN5aAtsJlYmI8uRfVebpUynXyWm5ftputQTVVJ_vlazTVLLlYuCfa_RTMGq6ZURzI_dqN81AZqgeFKVoM_hd573gDl6YxF8gTypUWfnKm/w308-h231/33.webp" width="308" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My love affair with Swedish cars began with a SAAB 900 Turbo. It was a used silver 3-door. Blue leather interior, steel sunroof and 3 speed automatic. A big 4 cylinder engine with a huge turbo. When the turbo kicked in, hang on! I loved that car. For the first time driving, I felt at one with a vehicle. I drove that car until the dashboard electrics 'flashed out' one day and all the electronics quit! I figured a fire was next so limped it into the SAAB dealership in Oakville.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There I traded it for a light green 9000 5 door Turbo. Another automatic with a tan leather interior. The dashboard and controls were all in their familiar places...it was an easy transition. This car was really nice at highway speeds...it liked 125 kph. So did I. The hatchback was a great feature: I could fold down the rear seats and turn it into wagon. The twins learned to drive in this car and once they had their full licences it never rested on weekends. One weekend in particular they ran up almost 1,000 km driving around Mississauga! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cl4-Azul2cm-T6EDRIkxC-VjTKtolN0_pRYsVFONT6IsRyE9o1jqqelzSxUtkLQpohNWAXhcJj2CUDzKcoG3k_HA07pLfIJt24W7D0J_8Idm5UjKdUbnWkyn1FFqnHAKk8_FSJcZByn4hnPaSenLH0Fwl74JvEv7UiFZmUUJaHpF1guF3Xv1JUPq9TKo/s240/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="240" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cl4-Azul2cm-T6EDRIkxC-VjTKtolN0_pRYsVFONT6IsRyE9o1jqqelzSxUtkLQpohNWAXhcJj2CUDzKcoG3k_HA07pLfIJt24W7D0J_8Idm5UjKdUbnWkyn1FFqnHAKk8_FSJcZByn4hnPaSenLH0Fwl74JvEv7UiFZmUUJaHpF1guF3Xv1JUPq9TKo/w282-h211/th.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When that SAAB left, I wandered away from the brand for a couple of vehicles. All good but not Swedish. My next one though was the sweetest: A gunmetal grey SAAB 9-5T. A four door with grey leather interior. The T stood for the larger turbo and by that model most of the torque steer had been engineered out. This was my favourite of all. It could carve the corners and cruise all day on the highway. Sally also loved this car...I think I even let her drive a couple of times. I was sad to see it go.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And to see SAAB go the way of the dinosaur only a few years later in the collapse of the GM empire.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many years later I was looking for a 'well-used' used car. Or...cheap car! I found an older Volvo V70 wagon on a used car lot in Wasaga Beach. It was a little banged up on the rear door on the passenger side but it started, idled smoothly and drove straight. There was a little knock in the engine but nothing I was too worried about. That car was a workhorse. Weekly drives up and down the 400 to Toronto, multiple dump runs when we got ready to sell the house in Toronto. It just went and went... Once back in Toronto and not needing a second vehicle, Holden inherited it. He drove it for a couple years more before the brakes finally gave up the ghost. It was a sad day for us when we dropped it off at the scrap yard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcTFldzAphFNtagl1ysk3BnLkLHbru_ALkTgTENLFOFCGjiy8H7s_YdEokKvY0BlJVGWinVBmLdhUJhcu7vncYiDDNFGpjkEa36M9kRML0C39FQ8kwlVmtw6y9v1CbqiabkoB0BZs-W6Q7ELLA46hLCIEiGQu91mr1wdjKWWfhcwqnZxRuOyJmy2LTgTV/s800/$_86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcTFldzAphFNtagl1ysk3BnLkLHbru_ALkTgTENLFOFCGjiy8H7s_YdEokKvY0BlJVGWinVBmLdhUJhcu7vncYiDDNFGpjkEa36M9kRML0C39FQ8kwlVmtw6y9v1CbqiabkoB0BZs-W6Q7ELLA46hLCIEiGQu91mr1wdjKWWfhcwqnZxRuOyJmy2LTgTV/w269-h202/$_86.jpg" width="269" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next up was an old Volvo V50 that I picked up about 4 years ago for myself. By then Sally was driving a Volvo XC 60...more on that in a moment. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The V50 had a ton of mileage on it but the engine ran smoothly, transmission was solid and I liked the shape. I drove that up until Holden took it over earlier this year. We've had to do some suspension work but otherwise the car runs well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back to the XC60 that I'm currently driving. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJuYEF8bHCkIIRjTkICOouh2HyCHGFbLJbrLk-h-TWBPq308A49XkNCBl5-I91KXdkJpqrt8cU_TVHTQNMrxhNoF4ZuJAt0HS0dNOW5UqQ10onULXSb6e5wY4O2PbwpPCCn1AkUz3QW1ldXK9N8ixOUTLSUP0874iT42WlIHaK2vSIt9UQMvsmbhJKPRg/s1024/$_86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJuYEF8bHCkIIRjTkICOouh2HyCHGFbLJbrLk-h-TWBPq308A49XkNCBl5-I91KXdkJpqrt8cU_TVHTQNMrxhNoF4ZuJAt0HS0dNOW5UqQ10onULXSb6e5wY4O2PbwpPCCn1AkUz3QW1ldXK9N8ixOUTLSUP0874iT42WlIHaK2vSIt9UQMvsmbhJKPRg/w305-h172/$_86.jpg" width="305" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It was Sally's baby. She had driven Volvo's before and loved them. She survived a car accident many years ago in a Volvo and appreciated the engineering. We purchased this one with about 100,000 km on it. Black with tan leather interior and pretty tricked out. The big engine was a draw: It lit up on the highway when we test drove it. Sold! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been driving it since early this year. Its bigger than I like in a car but it drives 'small'. I have a colour-coordinated car carrier for Milo in the back seat and with windows down and sunroof open, we both enjoy the open road.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes Swedish cars are quirky. They are not for everyone. But once you've had one...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-89213741023359879182023-09-24T12:11:00.100-07:002023-09-26T03:17:51.238-07:00Falling Asleep<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG982FxnipImFoP1oI4Wi4PMkBIx-mV5VzCAV2cN8uicJNUdx9pVwQGpZvhJa9PQh__lSmskPymmyupSq1zj3Jfrb7iGRB9qO0ARTPD6E6YsVMecnfbJGTS0XrQVKGx2-GdxwBF2xWVlRkT0M4GmrpZsrqAlgl2BG_oDURprW9dfzf9GMfTnyJ0HY3jRxi/s1400/0_xb97lynCyoa03VwV.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG982FxnipImFoP1oI4Wi4PMkBIx-mV5VzCAV2cN8uicJNUdx9pVwQGpZvhJa9PQh__lSmskPymmyupSq1zj3Jfrb7iGRB9qO0ARTPD6E6YsVMecnfbJGTS0XrQVKGx2-GdxwBF2xWVlRkT0M4GmrpZsrqAlgl2BG_oDURprW9dfzf9GMfTnyJ0HY3jRxi/s320/0_xb97lynCyoa03VwV.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Falling asleep has been difficult for the past year. I like being in bed I just can't sleep. And I should note: It's a King-sized bed!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know I have trouble falling asleep and getting a good night's sleep because my Fitbit reports that every morning. And I check it every morning! Hmmm...that could be part of the problem.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I get up super early. Some mornings on the weekend, I'm up as the parties are winding down. I've hear a few party-goers chuckle as they see my running by. And by super early I mean 3:30 am! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The morning routine is pretty rigid every day including weekends: I make the bed, brew coffee, read before taking Milo out around 4:15 am. We walk for about 20 minutes and he does all his business. I think he likes it because he trots along at a brisk clip. He may be doing that to get back inside quickly. Once back inside he marches back into his crate and curls up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I head out around 4:45 am for my morning run. My goal is around 45 minutes and most mornings I get through that comfortably. I've give up raw speed and rest days to keep up the consecutive day streak...now over 1,600 days. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After showering and breakfast, I spend a few minutes on the computer before heading out to drop Milo off for the day. The weekends are a little bit different: Saturday I head out for my Big Breakfast cheat meal (Eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns) and on Sunday its Church.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you may imagine by mid-afternoon I'm pooched! A Coke Zero caffeine hit is necessary to get to the end of the work day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once home, the trouble begins. Milo and I like watching TV. Again, I believe he likes it because he curls up on his special fluffy blanked on the sofa beside me. I usually make it 45 minutes before nodding off. Around 8 pm I stumble out with Milo for his last outing before heading back in for the evening.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I read, write and listen to music for about 45 minutes before turning in for the evening. And that's the challenge: I don't fall asleep quickly and then once asleep, I wake frequently throughout the night. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've tried everything: Over-the-counter sleep aids (don't like them...they leave me groggy in the morning); Melatonin (How many are too many?); Meditation; Hot showers; warm milk (Ugh). Nothing seems to work. I've heard CBD works but I've not tried that yet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know, I know...the early evening napping probably has something to do with this. And certainly the stress of the past year still plays heavily on my mind. I've pretty much resigned myself to this being my normal. It's really quiet at 3:30 am and I've read some really good books over the past year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Falling asleep...may not be a problem at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-78711430845964893722023-09-19T03:10:00.000-07:002023-09-19T03:10:45.589-07:00Back to Church<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3wgQsEkCIFMHc_jptK4PNy-ZZyyF8G2fdy1IpT4daHjFs2qAcD9-vDdbdqhu7_c6RF0FF629ovvXBuZ1HT19HPIo4C7wYSsuo9bGEbta0zVVGCsbkuAb-KGDyVB2BedJrNO4utTMxo4mJWEHb_SIL9RA2MwOhOjawVR1lSZ1qV1aJf0MKg4K9dVOMZGz/s431/OLS%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="374" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3wgQsEkCIFMHc_jptK4PNy-ZZyyF8G2fdy1IpT4daHjFs2qAcD9-vDdbdqhu7_c6RF0FF629ovvXBuZ1HT19HPIo4C7wYSsuo9bGEbta0zVVGCsbkuAb-KGDyVB2BedJrNO4utTMxo4mJWEHb_SIL9RA2MwOhOjawVR1lSZ1qV1aJf0MKg4K9dVOMZGz/s320/OLS%201.png" width="278" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I went back to church this year. I'd been away a long time. The institution seemed moribund and not relevant. But I went back anyway.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was baptized a Catholic. I have the original certificate safely tucked away. My first school was <a href="https://www.sttheresaprepja.com/home" target="_blank">St. Theresa's Preparatory School</a> on Deanery Road in Kingston, Jamaica. Because of my February birth date and because there was no kindergarten in those days, I entered First Grade at 3 1/2 years old. My Dad dropped me off on my first day and he told the story for many years of how I got up from the desk wailing and chasing after him. Yes, a most inauspicious start to a Catholic education. It seemed scary: The teacher as nice as she turned out to be, was a nun covered entirely in a white smock. Nothing showing except face and hands. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Religion was a big part of the curriculum from that early start. Catholic taught by Jesuits. Faith in a higher power; Belief in the unknown; a moral and ethical code; a Community. These were instilled from an early stage. We hade religion classes and went to church during school regularly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On to high school. <a href="https://campioncollege.com/" target="_blank">Campion College</a> 'uptown'. The Jesuit priests who ran Campion College were an interesting bunch. Father Ryan, a tall Texan taught me how to street fight: 'Hit fast, hit hard...if he gets up, run! Live to fight another day!'. Father Riel taught us Latin and Religion. That was an interesting mix...I still remember conjugating my verbs! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At Campion we learned how to integrate religion into daily life; that religion and 'real life' are not separate. Religion as a belief system can be a good way to live life. It came down this: Living well meant working hard, playing fairly, treating people with respect, helping others. It's what I learned...it's what I believe today!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My kids went to Catholic school from kindergarten to high school. Both schools were close to home and we liked the connection to the religious. I see today how their exposure to the religious has tempered their behavior. I am pleased.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sally and I went to Church on-and-off over the years. We had both been married in the Catholic Church previously so when we decided to get married, there was only choice for us. After a lengthy annulment process (that is another story!), we tied the knot in a church service in front of immediate family. Expressing our marriage vows in front of grown children was an awesome experience! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then we dropped off. For various reasons we stopped going to church. We turned negative in fact, disgusted by the behavior of members of the clergy. We were sickened by the institution. I struggled with reconciling the positive influences of the nuns and priests in my earlier life with the horrifying stories in the press. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It stayed that way for years. But there was always a tug, something deep down that kept me connected.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our world got upended in January of this year and it's been a scramble to adjust. Its been like living in a pea soup fog in a twilight zone. I can't see anything and when I bump into something it is strange. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tug back to the church intensified. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4t_xjXRfjqz5w1dzLqO_lCtZoWAIBPis2UtqX8_Wuecrlz9ChFXKbx-JzY8TIKL3fXZIOZP-VxnAKZK5sruw_Kqi-tHz8a1hn1i0ru4mLucVeWEXuLLeUPZ365EE_OC-WoPBu5zj04o2zFQ_TS0nFdzhwiH7OSROXj5lUzdK0o7Ud--Xgm-enpVhIIC8/s422/OLS%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4t_xjXRfjqz5w1dzLqO_lCtZoWAIBPis2UtqX8_Wuecrlz9ChFXKbx-JzY8TIKL3fXZIOZP-VxnAKZK5sruw_Kqi-tHz8a1hn1i0ru4mLucVeWEXuLLeUPZ365EE_OC-WoPBu5zj04o2zFQ_TS0nFdzhwiH7OSROXj5lUzdK0o7Ud--Xgm-enpVhIIC8/s320/OLS%202.png" width="281" /></a></div>There are a number of Catholic churches near me and I looked into all of them. In the end I chose <a href="https://olsorrowset.archtoronto.org/" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Our Lady of Sorrows</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> on Bloor Street at Royal York Road. The deciding factor was the sound. Let me explain: </span><a href="https://olsorrowset.archtoronto.org/" style="font-family: verdana;">OLS</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is an old-school styled church building. Tall ceiling, columns and a real pipe organ up in the mezzanine at the back of the church. The sound of that booming organ did it for me! I joined the congregation in March and attend the 8 am Mass on Sunday morning. I walk to church each Sunday and I haven't missed a service yet! Routine...obsession...whatever!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love the weekly experience. The familiarity of the Mass routine, the same people each week...it gives me a feeling of connection and peace. I like that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And maybe that's all religion and 'going to church' really is: A place and time to reflect on life. To recharge the spirit. To have a moral code. To be part of a community. From that perspective, going back to church has renewed my faith in the goodness of people. And that's worth something.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time</span>...</p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-38025575738290835432023-09-12T02:57:00.000-07:002023-09-12T02:57:28.375-07:00Coming together at Reggae Marathon<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHEtO67z7DGGJv8ewR9hO8Ln7ROlre6VUSrwRICgffPkV-p5koSWnquBQDUkFask6OahRmCn16AviRd_ZgpZh1S5zy3XqLqF7INxhrTtdYQc-9arsm2Ba2Zg9Lvg5PT-NrQBuxqQd7hmTrLEJ5vHkjPuRxCQRggqpnS2B2D6tJDPdRUzExrPnrsSC0q44/s1360/rm%20banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reggae Marathon, Negril, Jamaica" border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="1360" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHEtO67z7DGGJv8ewR9hO8Ln7ROlre6VUSrwRICgffPkV-p5koSWnquBQDUkFask6OahRmCn16AviRd_ZgpZh1S5zy3XqLqF7INxhrTtdYQc-9arsm2Ba2Zg9Lvg5PT-NrQBuxqQd7hmTrLEJ5vHkjPuRxCQRggqpnS2B2D6tJDPdRUzExrPnrsSC0q44/w608-h80/rm%20banner.png" title="Reggae Marathon, Negril, Jamaica" width="608" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's a coming together at <a href="https://www.reggaemarathon.com/?v=3e8d115eb4b3">Reggae Marathon 2023</a> that promises a spectacular ending to one hell of a year! It's been along time coming.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The story begins in 2008 when I ran my first and only marathon at Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica. I did it with Sally's full support. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a fund raiser as well. Together, Sally and I raised over $5,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Foundation, the charity we picked to honor my Dad who passed away in 2007. A complex confluence of emotions surrounded that first Reggae Marathon event. And it was there that we came together with the Reggae Marathon family from Jamaica and around the world that continued for 11 years. It has endured to this day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over the course of those annual pilgrimages to Negril, a couple of my sons came along. Courtney paced me through the finish of one half marathon sacrificing his time to see me through a challenging race. The next year both he and his twin brother Andrew made the trek along with a couple of friends. That year we also connected with our Jamaican family...that was a race weekend to remember! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After coming along for the first two races, Sally begged off. As a non-runner and not a sun worshiper as I was, the race weekend didn't offer her much. As the Reggae Marathon social media guy I was busy all of the time in Negril. She let me get away every December to 'play with my Reggae Marathon family'. Thank you Sally!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I stopped going to Negril for <a href="https://www.reggaemarathon.com/about-negril/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">Reggae Marathon</a> after the 2019 event. I felt then that 11 consecutive years was enough. And what timing! Who knew about COVID 19 that would stop the world for the next couple of years including the live Reggae Marathon event. But the Reggae Marathon stuck together. On one of his annual vacations to Negril toward the end of the pandemic, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Larry Savitch a long-time runner and Reggae Marathon regular, posted beach pictures. I lived vicariously through those posts. Thank you Larry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the pull to go back to <a href="https://www.reggaemarathon.com/video-highlights/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">Reggae Marathon</a> continued.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had planned to run Reggae Marathon in 2022. That changed in March when Sally got diagnosed with brain cancer. Everything changed that day. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRWlhsXgheNzKNRo3zSbpTgl4_bDquk958iudS8tDhb_zm64SY0mGdfDi3XNFik-A2xlrGLiwAoSS5s1txxznX72GWFFYFCjZktnhCHs-LpFZCzOPLPIg9mdwK61xT7gYhAYtWXIITfba6rKKMMK1amK5istQLqnEBgc3vEayV9ygR37m_805jMK-rwEX/s3872/DSC04068.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRWlhsXgheNzKNRo3zSbpTgl4_bDquk958iudS8tDhb_zm64SY0mGdfDi3XNFik-A2xlrGLiwAoSS5s1txxznX72GWFFYFCjZktnhCHs-LpFZCzOPLPIg9mdwK61xT7gYhAYtWXIITfba6rKKMMK1amK5istQLqnEBgc3vEayV9ygR37m_805jMK-rwEX/w335-h224/DSC04068.JPG" width="335" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sally passed away in January 2023. We held her celebration of life this past August, a day before her 69th birthday. It was a joyous event celebrating a life lived well!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the photos in the collage I put together has her sitting under the broiling sun at the finish line of that first Marathon in 2008. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I finished over an hour later than I had told her, and worried about her worrying about me. But as I ran down the finish chute and saw her sitting there smiling...there are no words! I felt her presence that day on the final few miles to the finish. Thank you Sally!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Earlier this year Courtney, Andrew and Holden hatched a plan for a family vacation. In no time we settled on Negril in December. We're booked now: kids, spouses, grandkids...12 in all. We've even got a few other friends and families coming along! Courtney, Andrew and I are running in the Reggae Marathon and the non-runners in our family will make up a large cheering section at the finish! Can't wait!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite not being a fan of the broiling sun or heat, Sally will be looking down on us this December. She'll be smiling as she watches her family come together at <a href="https://www.reggaemarathon.com/the-race/?v=3e8d115eb4b3" target="_blank">Reggae Marathon 2023</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-33939399601459216472023-09-05T03:12:00.000-07:002023-09-05T03:12:39.399-07:00It's just a sign<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94R4a90S_esoSAWeGuAN54qXFb23IUwHrRKWzMjV3y65uyw3D6VFLkAVQtQQ_K7SrIbGA8VZZ7dpXvPpp64oZgs1ql3qs3y1AmpvbdMtqHaDqQxO4zU7_z0IBxEr9RN7KxV9tOtBs0Q2BrSJU5HklD5QZDPS1Z6GIu48YW6xyS8FxPnHZw6LlvI0yv6LW/s4032/20230820_074412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94R4a90S_esoSAWeGuAN54qXFb23IUwHrRKWzMjV3y65uyw3D6VFLkAVQtQQ_K7SrIbGA8VZZ7dpXvPpp64oZgs1ql3qs3y1AmpvbdMtqHaDqQxO4zU7_z0IBxEr9RN7KxV9tOtBs0Q2BrSJU5HklD5QZDPS1Z6GIu48YW6xyS8FxPnHZw6LlvI0yv6LW/s320/20230820_074412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elon called. He wants his sign back! I love that Twitter, I mean 'X' cares so much about pedestrians. Just like their cars!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnAK6LSyHFP718zv2Sy9cS_ef4Pv9pF4v6LKnTuU_R_YnAl0Vf10nQj_EBjZp9hIJ-ngKeW6-5Iy3ZlFYuwXD2YsNj4uGppKp2WI2gjR4nJkXk2Dr50aZExBRypwe2qG4RAE1w8zl9zJ97vtBtMUKi8sTD3w15eRJ2OQD-0pWDXOBvJgQxtak1uwoJzhZ/s4032/20230820_073801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnAK6LSyHFP718zv2Sy9cS_ef4Pv9pF4v6LKnTuU_R_YnAl0Vf10nQj_EBjZp9hIJ-ngKeW6-5Iy3ZlFYuwXD2YsNj4uGppKp2WI2gjR4nJkXk2Dr50aZExBRypwe2qG4RAE1w8zl9zJ97vtBtMUKi8sTD3w15eRJ2OQD-0pWDXOBvJgQxtak1uwoJzhZ/s320/20230820_073801.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't enter but go that way! Drivers can be forgiven for finding this just a little bit confusing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWYCwbrD07VfNts2844j1MYhHOyzrTFnuqe3PkcMD6GBXz6j-wsoGcns-bLA1YqtfyAFyaoHyEkWQg6b8jxkTLVgFOtv6EdPZ4unn-BR_y5eSIam8PUPIUDCELVURlgBX3Lk-Ik0l31r7Zt26ZZwGwpd4e1p9mDQwfwX5__iO_ohCKgvu-dSOqEmvY5Jg/s4032/20230820_075110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWYCwbrD07VfNts2844j1MYhHOyzrTFnuqe3PkcMD6GBXz6j-wsoGcns-bLA1YqtfyAFyaoHyEkWQg6b8jxkTLVgFOtv6EdPZ4unn-BR_y5eSIam8PUPIUDCELVURlgBX3Lk-Ik0l31r7Zt26ZZwGwpd4e1p9mDQwfwX5__iO_ohCKgvu-dSOqEmvY5Jg/s320/20230820_075110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't make a U turn to the left. Does that make it OK to make a U turn to the right? Asking for a friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaS-012VMp5d0AyKeWO4rB_JJ2SKtsy6iCjKySh2ck4nuQd9MXbaZEi_6BTfQYBLn3a2inIvN285CSoGyNILPunOqnpaSv-h_YSZpWak_4vJ1DebJVWt9pA5RaH8ImNp7LdDtLPVw9R2WTnLwgLSg6nYKxnQ-jfHtmdMsrNbAYoP_JCTauwdoYtVi5XLmp/s4032/20230820_073638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaS-012VMp5d0AyKeWO4rB_JJ2SKtsy6iCjKySh2ck4nuQd9MXbaZEi_6BTfQYBLn3a2inIvN285CSoGyNILPunOqnpaSv-h_YSZpWak_4vJ1DebJVWt9pA5RaH8ImNp7LdDtLPVw9R2WTnLwgLSg6nYKxnQ-jfHtmdMsrNbAYoP_JCTauwdoYtVi5XLmp/s320/20230820_073638.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 'Correct' lane exists. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until next time...</div><p></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-50279128660704704842023-08-29T01:10:00.005-07:002023-08-29T01:10:58.706-07:00The 80s Called<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAbJtdz5p6lz-l05fz7bbmciTpY1ydqTZwBONnNZg2p5gbfwJXGIcwEZykEd-jbPvlqKJO3NgJDOl358OeMArk1uMp3m8hYzEF3gJljLfdjm-DHQWGKZUm7KXCcmr22nf49wyFtQybtZSbjXhMnITD6CBQngqC1M7KrIidvEVZ5JtQA1r6qLfQe4z9g94/s474/The%2080s.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="222" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAbJtdz5p6lz-l05fz7bbmciTpY1ydqTZwBONnNZg2p5gbfwJXGIcwEZykEd-jbPvlqKJO3NgJDOl358OeMArk1uMp3m8hYzEF3gJljLfdjm-DHQWGKZUm7KXCcmr22nf49wyFtQybtZSbjXhMnITD6CBQngqC1M7KrIidvEVZ5JtQA1r6qLfQe4z9g94/s320/The%2080s.png" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">"The 80s called and they want their shirt back". That from a work colleague and friend when he saw my shirt last Friday. I was taken aback at first but then I realized it was a complement. The 80s were good years for me. Here are a few highlights:</span><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I graduated from the Broadcasting Program at Conestoga College</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started my first full-time job in Radio at CKKW in Kitchener</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I got married!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I bought my first house in Kitchener</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The Twins, Andrew and Courtney were born in 1983; </span>Holden followed in 1987</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I got fired from my first full-time job but landed a sweet gig in the Advertising Agency world in Toronto...where I've spent the majority of my working life</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">We moved our family from Kitchener to Toronto and settled in nicely in a townhouse in Clarkson, Walden Circle (where we lived for 20+ years)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I moved up fast in the Advertising Agency business churning through 3 agencies before settling into Cossette</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started running when my doctor asked me if I'd like a prescription for my high blood pressure. I said no to drugs!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I bought a white Pontiac 6000SE with gold trim. It had bucket seats and the world's clunkiest 4 speed manual transmission...OK, that was not a good thing!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Took a family road trip to PEI with all three boys. Cavendish Beach and Lobster suppers!</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So no 80s...you can't have your shirt back!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-71457172801118135152023-08-20T03:52:00.003-07:002023-08-22T10:46:31.262-07:00On a walk with the dog<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYPi6mpVfEnYCDDWZl6jBKCEAzKKnGepKfZMvnH_SiChQO3BlHzmSb2V-Po-ggbTS5vH3ZfIOmINet0zlLL4M-7IRNbt6xCvoNOkbaPxcSlYiQh9iJeSNCEbLnCv8TAOMLJ4tBXf19xdbjr5D4R1wECqAm-PUH9V5uVvPVk_00TuQiKdY_lANXDThyXbs/s4032/20221209_064827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYPi6mpVfEnYCDDWZl6jBKCEAzKKnGepKfZMvnH_SiChQO3BlHzmSb2V-Po-ggbTS5vH3ZfIOmINet0zlLL4M-7IRNbt6xCvoNOkbaPxcSlYiQh9iJeSNCEbLnCv8TAOMLJ4tBXf19xdbjr5D4R1wECqAm-PUH9V5uVvPVk_00TuQiKdY_lANXDThyXbs/w269-h202/20221209_064827.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>In an especially grumpy mood one morning, I wanted to pull the covers over my head to shut out the world. I heard a gentle yelp from Milo's room. Darn! He needed to go out! Why didn't he know that was in a bad way? Why couldn't he leave me alone?</div></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Feeling even more down, I stumbled out of bed, dragged on my track pants and released him from his crate. He jumped up on my leg and with his big, toothy grin looked me dead in the eye as if to say, 'Time to go for a walk".</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Milo is a 6 year old Yorkipoo that we adopted 2 years ago. Some call him a rescue and I suppose that is true: He had languished in a Yorkie breeders compound after she had 'rescued' him from a less-than-good environment. The day we visited he was one of two that we considered. The other was a tiny Yorkie similar to Tia who had been with us for nearly 15 years. Milo was disheveled, his hair was long and matted. He followed me around the yard for the entire visit. When I stopped, he stopped and sat beside me. He came up to me on first calls and he sniffed approvingly. I was drawn to him but it was that look in his eye: Mischievous! That did it. I told Sally he was the one and a week later he was home.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'High energy' doesn't do justice to Milo. He has an insatiable appetite for playing and at the mere mention of 'outside', he is up and ready to go. His favourite toy is his stuffed duck! Playing tug of war with him is good for 15 minutes.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He's not fond of rain so on those soggy mornings we walk under a long covered breezeway at the front of our building. He darts out to do his business and then wants to head back inside. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And that's what he loves to do. Sleep. Then, all dogs like to do that. He has favourite places of course with the main one being up on the sofa beside me while we 'watch TV'. Because he and have similar bladder habits, we get along just fine. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXfzEe2aV6j7fJFL8nbaOT517e05HlNPZR7XFLaf30bUze79sRMby5Jw43KIBi_t13PJ-ZmvQfrOn4pzJbCSIp4qPuWBRA2w2wna4AHzPITMlj6zd-lQlq6XD7V_Vucjkc_nRnkOibTCMsy7Dmry-ueZeU0pUHbWM1UMjvIDuDie3bH9LZCYvxMKTSe5x/s4032/20221206_134149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXfzEe2aV6j7fJFL8nbaOT517e05HlNPZR7XFLaf30bUze79sRMby5Jw43KIBi_t13PJ-ZmvQfrOn4pzJbCSIp4qPuWBRA2w2wna4AHzPITMlj6zd-lQlq6XD7V_Vucjkc_nRnkOibTCMsy7Dmry-ueZeU0pUHbWM1UMjvIDuDie3bH9LZCYvxMKTSe5x/w262-h196/20221206_134149.jpg" width="262" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the week our walks are shorter and limited to early morning before work and immediately after when I get home. On the weekends though we get to stretch our legs with longer walks. He's particularly fond of heading down to the Humber River where he can sniff and pee to his heart's content.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On those longer walks I'm inspired to take pictures. Many of the 'Today's view' photos come from those walks. The trees, the sun, the river...a true nature-lovers paradise just steps from the apartment. Sally did a fine job finding this apartment complex.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8ioa-8aILpQlDgps6szJS20QeHYPslUpub_qG6cLoWjavF9L8bXe8sJoKi2ONxU93CupN0Zdyy-MF0AM8x5settlXe5X7GOqdqKsYSWSIMqUfvCJE53IM60nmXu0cZjRB9lua84sb5pYu_P0l2EzfjQfxjmg4-QfD3ROPgJwgh8hvjAGxLjNNlIbGZkS/s4032/20230607_071957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8ioa-8aILpQlDgps6szJS20QeHYPslUpub_qG6cLoWjavF9L8bXe8sJoKi2ONxU93CupN0Zdyy-MF0AM8x5settlXe5X7GOqdqKsYSWSIMqUfvCJE53IM60nmXu0cZjRB9lua84sb5pYu_P0l2EzfjQfxjmg4-QfD3ROPgJwgh8hvjAGxLjNNlIbGZkS/s320/20230607_071957.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My favourite thing about Milo is his fondness for squirrels. True to his Yorkie heritage, he abhors them. With his great eyesight, he'll spot one 50 feet away and slowly and stealthily approach. At abuot 10 feet away, he lunges: zero to full tilt in 3 bounds! So far he has only managed to nip at the tail as the squirrel scurried up the tree...what will he do if he actually catches one! No, I don't plan to find out.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On that grumpy morning once I'd pulled my coat and baseball cap on, Milo took me for the walk. He knew. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time... </span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-65018464240985944402023-08-15T03:18:00.001-07:002023-08-15T03:18:30.131-07:00A good soul<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglWSARhkmcETVjrp12F7I7pbzr596OYD9SG9BOh_ga-_aExe_L5LNOjS2T92xynT15fob2COF2OmTW1bycCzClLjbT5QAyKGorQddx0-ZLizMlaxH9ymxG4yR_gKwvD7jDQcV_HbzZ4nL1_LU9IyTPFAPVHNiwGlTzI_SKKCilGNPvRgJshdD8YBt2odO/s4032/20230729_085540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglWSARhkmcETVjrp12F7I7pbzr596OYD9SG9BOh_ga-_aExe_L5LNOjS2T92xynT15fob2COF2OmTW1bycCzClLjbT5QAyKGorQddx0-ZLizMlaxH9ymxG4yR_gKwvD7jDQcV_HbzZ4nL1_LU9IyTPFAPVHNiwGlTzI_SKKCilGNPvRgJshdD8YBt2odO/s320/20230729_085540.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finding a good home for Sally's quilting fabrics, supplies and sewing machines proved to be more of a challenge that her clothes. And she was a clothes horse! How many singlets can one person own? Apparently a lot! I had multiple false starts but after lots of tears, I found homes with two good souls.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">First to go was her Pfaff quilting machine. A high-end unit that she was so proud of when she finally bought it. I didn't ask the price...I'd learned not to! She did her usual due diligence and searched far and wide to get the best value. In the end she chose a slightly used machine. And with that, she created the masterpieces for family and friend. I have two and cherish them dearly. On cold, snowy wintry days with the fireplace on, I wrap up in the bigger one and it is so very peaceful! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I got Facebook message from a young quilter who was looking to upgrade. We exchanged a couple of messages, agreed on the price and day and time for pickup. As she pulled up to the front of our apartment building and stepped out with her husband, I knew instantly that the Pfaff had found a good home. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She told me her quilting story and I shared Sally's. All three of us were emotional...there was so much in common. A good soul. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The fabrics, equipment, supplies, books, another Pfaff sewing machine were next up. I listed them on Facebook Marketplace and had a number of low-ball offers. None felt right. I came close with one quilter even agreeing to the sale but at the last minute I just couldn't pull the trigger. I apologized and took the post down.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A week went by before I summoned the courage to try again. This time I took out all the boxes of fabrics and supplies. I laid them all out on the desk and floor of Sally's sewing room. I was overwhelmed. At the volume and quality. Sally had amassed quite a collection. I needed to find someone who would respect the collection and breathe new life into the fabrics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's the beauty of quilting. It's a labour of love and once complete they take on a life of their own. I hoped I could find such a person.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back on Facebook Marketplace I went this time with a lot of pictures and a video showing the entire collection. I didn't expect a lot of interest and that proved correct. But it didn't take long for a serious quilter to come forward.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DOOCd6QhnM8" width="320" youtube-src-id="DOOCd6QhnM8"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Late on a Friday afternoon she reached out and after a few messages she seemed serious. She lived 3 hours north of Toronto and I volunteered to meet her halfway, in Orillia, to complete the transaction. She thanked me for that and something whispered that this was another good soul. Her response to my answer of why I was selling all this 'stuff' was the clue...she took a moment to respond and it was gentle and understanding.</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I drove into the parking lot of the plaza just off Highway 11 in Orillia, I spotted her and her husband right away. We chatted about quilting as me moved all the boxes out of the Volvo...it was packed to the hilt!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then once done, the three of us standing in the parking lot, she dropped it: Both she and her husband had lost their spouses. Truly speechless and with tears streaming down my face, they shared their stories. I shared mine. What a release...relief actually...I don't get to speak about Sally with people who have been through the experience often. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She runs a quilting retreat in cottage country and will use the fabrics for future quilting fabrics. She is sending the sewing machine and fabrics and supplies she doesn't use up to a an organization for Native Women (sewers and quilters) in the Thunder Bay area. I asked her to send me photos of any quilts that are made with the fabrics. I look forward to seeing the results. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">People talk about a person's soul and how it lives on. From one good soul to two others, Sally would be pleased.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-82415222809768832332023-08-07T03:14:00.001-07:002023-08-07T03:14:34.490-07:00One more Santorini sunset<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ebnWmAOxQyazOqculj3KG0dja6EmEsAGykyfsRhqqL2f-T_xNiKV4rjiV__q04kg5VjMbDpLtKE_gTPLpO2K0s0I0O2Y65Qbj1vLL70k8tpwNdXL117i3Tola-_l6OlJjX_3T_aX1iS7X6Pj_W1w_nkqohO-jW8XACqArjEd_N9e2D-qHozpiMAgdjfa/s4032/20230806_110110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ebnWmAOxQyazOqculj3KG0dja6EmEsAGykyfsRhqqL2f-T_xNiKV4rjiV__q04kg5VjMbDpLtKE_gTPLpO2K0s0I0O2Y65Qbj1vLL70k8tpwNdXL117i3Tola-_l6OlJjX_3T_aX1iS7X6Pj_W1w_nkqohO-jW8XACqArjEd_N9e2D-qHozpiMAgdjfa/s320/20230806_110110.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love sunrises. Sally preferred sunsets. She converted me on our vacation to Santorini while sitting on our edge-of-the-caldera hotel terrace drinking red wine and eating cheese and olives! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sally shared with me that one of her dream travel destinations was visiting Greece. I was happy to put that trip together...I love traveling and visiting new places and the adventure begins on my way to the airport. We planned 10 days in Greece, 6 in Santorini and 4 in Athens. We could have spent it all in Santorini taking in the spectacular sunsets. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had collected a ton of frequent flyer miles and had enough for First Class from Toronto to Athens. Top deck of the Jumbo both ways. The highlight of the outbound leg was that we got to sleep with Sophia Lauren. Yes, that Sophia Loren. She came onboard just before the doors closed and took her seat two rows behind us. Sidebar...she was fully put together when she came onboard and looked exactly the same 9 hours later after the all night flight. It's a mystery how she did that...she didn't have any handlers with her. I digress...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The ferry ride from Piraeus Port in Athens to Santorini usually takes hours. I booked us on a high-speed catamaran ferry and that reduced the sea time significantly. It was a blast standing on the bow of the boat with the wind blasting in our faces. The boarding experience was also a hoot: Our travel agency had warned us that we'd have to scramble to board since the boarding system was simply a mad dash once boarding time was announced. We joined the crowd!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The white washed buildings that top the Santorini cliffs like confection on top of a cake rose up out of the mid-morning Aegean brilliance. It was magical. We made the wise choice to take a taxi to our hotel in Fira and that was the wise choice given the situation with the overcrowded buses that had to navigate the switchback from the pier up the side of the vertical caldera.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvEOsATxWGHfjXes8rAkuFEfYHb34y6Qz2PPXU4rKsSAZ6L73CgsbmvwtFUpKZGlwB9dkCcdwXimFl7CBgM_h_DeTyoXi2KrHJh8_90IK2IVkAffzTwqN8_lZyczMwu4Ddn76SvShw_-0MnA8dhKyy_brQWKtF3AOr118k3FC54SOf2jK19J0AI3XVTyb/s4032/20230719_061209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvEOsATxWGHfjXes8rAkuFEfYHb34y6Qz2PPXU4rKsSAZ6L73CgsbmvwtFUpKZGlwB9dkCcdwXimFl7CBgM_h_DeTyoXi2KrHJh8_90IK2IVkAffzTwqN8_lZyczMwu4Ddn76SvShw_-0MnA8dhKyy_brQWKtF3AOr118k3FC54SOf2jK19J0AI3XVTyb/w226-h169/20230719_061209.jpg" width="226" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />We had chosen a small hotel at the south end of Fira that had the lovely name back then of 'Madame Rita'. There was no 'madame' and none of the staff was named Rita. It didn't matter. We were in Santorini. On the edge of the Caldera with a Terrace to ourselves. That first evening was our first Santorini sunset. It was to be like that every day of our time in Fira.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many years have passed since that dream vacation. What I'd give for one more Santorini sunset....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't go back but I have the memories...and those grow stronger every day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-64173406866885225422023-08-01T04:54:00.000-07:002023-08-01T04:54:52.067-07:00A smoking runner<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlaoRnXtkfBuySPYCqcziI2az5UIW252SP1yjEt52hgYINahkMYAl1fPDMkH6-BcHy1D7jNkKtSTnk1tv2WxjHNrXs-shct2XTqKYWBvU53l3ca_GodNfrerMF-ybICfW6I6NFR4GoJjHl0XNl3mDuMf0J1tOMnOwxv5lirwp0Bvn08FzHoBZ1XMgOhKJ/s478/WHY-YOU-THINK-SMOKING-IS-COOL-1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="478" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlaoRnXtkfBuySPYCqcziI2az5UIW252SP1yjEt52hgYINahkMYAl1fPDMkH6-BcHy1D7jNkKtSTnk1tv2WxjHNrXs-shct2XTqKYWBvU53l3ca_GodNfrerMF-ybICfW6I6NFR4GoJjHl0XNl3mDuMf0J1tOMnOwxv5lirwp0Bvn08FzHoBZ1XMgOhKJ/w194-h193/WHY-YOU-THINK-SMOKING-IS-COOL-1.webp" width="194" /></a></div>We have a new running event. It's called, 'The 100M Smoking Dash'. If you haven't heard of it yet, brace yourself for summer 2024 at the next Olympics. They have scheduled it for right after the 4 x 100M Relay and it's meant to close out the Track and Field events. I can't wait!</div></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 100M sprint is an anaerobic event. Aerobic efficiency is not as important as power. The Sprinters transition to the Smoking Dash without stress. And they don't have to change their diet or training program...they only have to add smoking for the duration of the event, around 10 seconds.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tricky part are the Smoking Dash rules. Runners must get into the starter blocks with their cigarette already lit. They have to keep it firmly in their mouths from the crack of the starter's pistol until they hit the finish line. They cannot touch the cigarette with any body parts and the cigarette must be lit when they cross the finish line. If the cigarette falls out while they are sprinting, they are automatically disqualified. After the race the race judge will measure the remaining cigarette to ensure that more than 50% remains. If not, again, immediate disqualification.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another unique of the Smoking Dash is that there will be sponsors. The sprinters will wear the colours of the companies that manufacture the cigarettes they smoke while competing. They will also have to smoke their sponsor's cigarettes at the medal ceremony. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Smoking Dash is going to make for great television!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In case you haven't figured it out yet, this is all a fabrication. It was triggered when I saw a gentleman running to catch a bus last week with a cigarette dangling from his lips. I've never smoked. It's not a habit I learned to love. I've never experienced nicotine addition...or withdrawal. I'm a long-time runner and need maximum oxygen efficiency to run comfortably. Thus...I don't smoke. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But this guy...he had form. He made the 25 metres to the bus look effortless. I had to give him props!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">No, there is no smoking running event. But I bet it would be a hit!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-21171439649380389292023-07-25T03:10:00.000-07:002023-07-25T03:10:00.674-07:00Top 10 list of 'What were they thinking?'<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj9EbxolVkSb3r582Xs_4aEBUpZgrz3V_dV1gROsyVLU4f03sqK7a5wXLU7XssGzzHTbBAzh6WbbAcnlMOUhy9pT3xE4dVz95rVhiDlLFel6y_VHFCwdZ_oceU73Au2Ym9n4Zir-4seFAyZZxtqE-H02TUe-NeozVtnYtGdDoqWXcxQFIByHgBK0ifxrV/s1001/e8822cfbc6a2a051f2b8476cb358759e40631955_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bullet holes, cars" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj9EbxolVkSb3r582Xs_4aEBUpZgrz3V_dV1gROsyVLU4f03sqK7a5wXLU7XssGzzHTbBAzh6WbbAcnlMOUhy9pT3xE4dVz95rVhiDlLFel6y_VHFCwdZ_oceU73Au2Ym9n4Zir-4seFAyZZxtqE-H02TUe-NeozVtnYtGdDoqWXcxQFIByHgBK0ifxrV/w320-h320/e8822cfbc6a2a051f2b8476cb358759e40631955_original.jpg" title="Bullet hole decals" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What were they thinking? Here are my top 10 list of things this week:</span><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Business name, 'Steel Born'. Seriously? (If I have to explain it...)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bullet hole decals on a car. Should I be worried or am I not in on the joke?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">'2 for $6' pricing in grocery stores. I just need 1!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Still in the grocery store: Fresh chicken prices less than the cost of the fully cooked rotisserie chicken. Explain.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">'Chef-inspired kitchens'. So my kitchen won't work for a chef?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">This sign on a to-be-developed apartment building complex: 'Exciting designs'. Huh...?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Artificial Intelligence: If it's intelligent it's not artificial.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 'TV Screen' in a Tesla. It's bigger than my laptop screen...how is this OK?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Electric scooters. Particularly electric scooter riders who think they are vehicles and ride down the centre of the road. One 'tap' and it's lights out for the scooter rider.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ear buds. On the subway, on the sidewalks, in shopping malls. This is one way to cull the herd...you'll never hear it coming!</span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></div><p></p></div>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0Toronto, ON, Canada43.653226 -79.383184315.342992163821151 -114.5394343 71.963459836178842 -44.226934299999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-6491355398138541272023-07-18T03:40:00.000-07:002023-07-18T03:40:04.846-07:00On the drive to Mill Run<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_eR4TsEYVR83cnzoxfKp7ND9ZLKbBpeWI9yzcKhGGm_ee4UbxIFjJjrBU-G8qRQGc8kpjwh2em7QBSY2mA9s6aMifnyq9La2DFoCrcTKDQkFjwlJZXuf3X4vK_5NxXrMUAjeL_i3xl2OfQelS68dZxbUYqhGIKFGFGsQZ0Bo9IiJkl00EZrVnF_K2gbV/s1140/20210920arHighwayBuild03-1634443378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1140" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_eR4TsEYVR83cnzoxfKp7ND9ZLKbBpeWI9yzcKhGGm_ee4UbxIFjJjrBU-G8qRQGc8kpjwh2em7QBSY2mA9s6aMifnyq9La2DFoCrcTKDQkFjwlJZXuf3X4vK_5NxXrMUAjeL_i3xl2OfQelS68dZxbUYqhGIKFGFGsQZ0Bo9IiJkl00EZrVnF_K2gbV/s320/20210920arHighwayBuild03-1634443378.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'd forgotten how much I love to drive. On the drive to Mill Run, Pennsylvania to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright house, <a href="https://fallingwater.org/" target="_blank">Fallingwater</a>, I rekindled the love affair. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The drive begins on the butchered QEW through Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington before opening up a bit on the leg from Hamilton through to Fort Erie. Once into the US things don't improve on the 190 through downtown Buffalo before it veers west to pick up I90. At this point I wasn't feeling the love of driving yet...concrete highways are nice to look at, terrible to drive on. There's a harshness to the ride. On the up side: The speed limit on I90 is 65 MPH. With the cruise control set at a comfortable 70 MPH, the miles flew by.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Imagine my https://fallingwater.org/ when I turned south toward Pittsburg on the I79 and met true blacktop interstate roads! With stunning vistas to go along with the winding two-lane, it was simply awesome. And to top it off: 70 MPG speed limit. Ahhh...I set the cruise at 75 MPH, turned up the stereo and 'enjoyed the drive'. American's know how to build and maintain roads...at least those who live in Pennsylvania on that stretch of highway do!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Some observations of drivers I encountered:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Americans know how to drive really well! Pass on the left, cruise on the right. I did not encounter a single left lane bandit on the drive down or back!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">All drivers I encountered left space in front of and behind each other. No crowding.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Kudos to the lady in the Lexus with the roof open, windows down who passed me at around 85 MPH while holding her smartphone and texting. Pretty awesome display of multi-tasking (I slowed down to get as much space between our vehicles)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The guy in the ancient clapped out Nissan Maxima who blasted by at around 100 MPH when I was already doing 75 MPH. I never saw him again...perhaps he was late for lunch!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">To the two drivers in massive duelie pickup trucks who passed me doing over 80 MPH. Black trucks virtually identical. Perhaps they were twins...</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm itching to get back on the road. I have a plan to visit all the Frank Lloyd Wright historic buildings in North America. That's a pretty good excuse for heading back out on the road.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Until next time...</span></div><p></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-15280153811517757282023-07-10T12:37:00.000-07:002023-07-11T03:25:15.839-07:00Ear buds are killing us!<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nwBH052-_dCT2e2ixdaBITCfB3ygcgDoioaGmuBViAx78uD-YTSlW6cl40GHbja-_2C9czcNmBUDax0ZFpJ0Sv_Xfu4qy_aL8Se9BfHSuj2Zl-_JJkwbQKC45ZY1QC4HDiYSmaMePxW72pf_6a04-t0I2WOdziPYOMI8aUbmkbWt8d1MbKUy1E4kbkFM/s628/headphones.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="628" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nwBH052-_dCT2e2ixdaBITCfB3ygcgDoioaGmuBViAx78uD-YTSlW6cl40GHbja-_2C9czcNmBUDax0ZFpJ0Sv_Xfu4qy_aL8Se9BfHSuj2Zl-_JJkwbQKC45ZY1QC4HDiYSmaMePxW72pf_6a04-t0I2WOdziPYOMI8aUbmkbWt8d1MbKUy1E4kbkFM/s320/headphones.PNG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Ear buds are killing us and I don't mean from the electro waves running through our brains. They are killing us because we have become dumb and dumber when using them in public. Here are some examples:</span><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Cyclists who wear ear buds while riding on public roads with traffic. A cyclist is vulnerable to vehicles. A cyclist who can't hear what's going on around him in traffic increases the odds of a collision. The vehicle may be damaged but the cyclist will come out worse.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Runners who wear earbuds. These runners are slightly better able to evade traffic especially if they run facing traffic and stay on sidewalks. Here's the added risk: Runners are already 'in the zone' while running. Listening to music adds to the noise and reduces their awareness of what's going on around them.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Drivers who wear headphones while driving. This one is truly stupid. Playing loud music in the vehicle is already a distraction but you can hear some outside noise. Increasing the isolation with headphones on...mind blowing!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Subway commuters! It seems everyone wears earbuds on the subway. That was my observation last Friday. It isolates you from the potentially dangerous situations that develop quickly. Especially on the platform as the train approaches and inside the often packed train car. Sorry, that tune or podcast can wait...I'd rather be safe. </span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Distracted and isolated...that leads to slower reaction times. Approximately 4 seconds slower if you believe this article: <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9567595/People-cycle-wearing-earphones-FOUR-SECONDS-slower-identify-road-hazards.html" target="_blank">Time to ditch the headphones</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Here's an idea: The next time you see a cyclist/runner/driver/subway commuter wearing earbuds or headphones, yell at them to stop! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Until next time...</span></div><p></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-62018874036774428752021-06-08T04:38:00.000-07:002021-06-08T04:38:27.944-07:00Don't Fake It<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKovnXR2MCVPsf39W8C25vHJNJbnRPwBt2XqWiYjVW5D9A7iTYg_o9Z4MGGSk55_TLYih15e2so4tU4oIamEljvWcsE5g10mxJ-jiDTPzttxqfxGgnKVXSPkMhf5kW5eaA6fdLSgpYR2YW/s1100/3fs7A01_b9f5b4f9f7662788f0fd904a1c1c9bff_2000.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKovnXR2MCVPsf39W8C25vHJNJbnRPwBt2XqWiYjVW5D9A7iTYg_o9Z4MGGSk55_TLYih15e2so4tU4oIamEljvWcsE5g10mxJ-jiDTPzttxqfxGgnKVXSPkMhf5kW5eaA6fdLSgpYR2YW/s320/3fs7A01_b9f5b4f9f7662788f0fd904a1c1c9bff_2000.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I despise the saying, 'Fake it till you make it'. And I have no respect for the people who say it. Let's break it down.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first two words, 'Fake it' mean that it's OK to lie about your skills, aptitude or talent. That mean that the foundation is weak. I think it is much wiser to actually acknowledge that you actually don't know something and ask questions to learn. I'd hate for my Dentist to use these words on me. And it would be truly be worrisome if that was her attitude on her first day of dental school!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">'Till you make it', the second part of the saying implies that you can build something real and lasting on the lie of the foundation. I'm pretty sure that if the foundation is weak, the structure on top will not stay up for very long! And to use another analogy, when I board a ship, I want to be really confident that the people who assembled it weren't 'faking it'!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">'Fake it till you make it' is one of those cliché's that play to ignorance. We don't have to look far for examples...Provincial Politics in Ontario...and to see the damage faking it has wreaked on us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But the joke may be on us: We follow fakers of all types and get caught up in emotional hysteria despite our rational inner voice screaming out, 'Stop!' Look how we as individuals and as societies have behaved throughout the COVID pandemic. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let's call it for what it is: A crude, cheap panacea to bulldoze the masses.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm NOT faking it till I make it...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz2Xw8X5I444YF_pPdiPCqaE-dehOYoTs5wkx4CCzS1Ujm4y8I7A800zpeyrFI0alo2D2_jexn0ykvEfbk4qUVk6W7jwpAThPAZg3AD_XTXt6Yh96PCMl1OwFSKzk1uY6BtK2yuu6zzT8/s574/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chris Morales, Toronto" border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="574" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz2Xw8X5I444YF_pPdiPCqaE-dehOYoTs5wkx4CCzS1Ujm4y8I7A800zpeyrFI0alo2D2_jexn0ykvEfbk4qUVk6W7jwpAThPAZg3AD_XTXt6Yh96PCMl1OwFSKzk1uY6BtK2yuu6zzT8/w112-h108/Capture.PNG" title="Chris Morales, Toronto" width="112" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0Toronto, ON, Canada43.653226 -79.383184315.342992163821151 -114.5394343 71.963459836178842 -44.226934299999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5266574487171151511.post-35731201999039962802021-06-01T04:28:00.000-07:002021-06-01T04:28:03.062-07:00Customer Service Gone Wrong<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI-GpOLWMvTFdUdf-HQPqZLXsx11RVsl_nCocrsQV5kZKCGYkN6fcX4OditygPhYmuhR6kj4qMw_sFcBxZiZTJgfXDady86jNOnriVqPNjdeI-pE-nRdBA0d3dG65E55xly-6UN-gFUkO/s760/cover_image.jpg.760x400_q85_crop_upscale.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Customer Service" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="760" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI-GpOLWMvTFdUdf-HQPqZLXsx11RVsl_nCocrsQV5kZKCGYkN6fcX4OditygPhYmuhR6kj4qMw_sFcBxZiZTJgfXDady86jNOnriVqPNjdeI-pE-nRdBA0d3dG65E55xly-6UN-gFUkO/w320-h168/cover_image.jpg.760x400_q85_crop_upscale.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is customer service gone wrong. It happened at the local Volvo Dealership at 7:35 am when I stopped in to purchase a lock nut tool to remove a flat tire on Sally's Volvo: </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Good morning...How can I help you today?" was my greeting upon entering the Service/Parts Department at the local Volvo Dealership.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's a nice start I thought. Unfortunately that was as good as it got...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"I'd like to speak with someone in Parts...I need to buy a lug nut tool to remove the lock nuts on my 2010 Volvo XC 60" I said.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"The Parts Department doesn't open until 8 am" was the curt response. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"But your website shows it open at 7:30 am" I responded.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcElIBcFRMg4bL9QLId7J6SIMS3swu2Sj8Upzf3G0yya_S6t1rhg2qpx7ht1Hs9esvWlk7Fy-dyKtpd1UOOn12H-KOnUSic99IdCIyYcOiviP9qrJH-I5gtprfQWzYLpnyq_Zg_GIc-_3/s444/Parts+Hours.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Customer Service" border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="444" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcElIBcFRMg4bL9QLId7J6SIMS3swu2Sj8Upzf3G0yya_S6t1rhg2qpx7ht1Hs9esvWlk7Fy-dyKtpd1UOOn12H-KOnUSic99IdCIyYcOiviP9qrJH-I5gtprfQWzYLpnyq_Zg_GIc-_3/w320-h79/Parts+Hours.PNG" title="Customer Service" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blank stare!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"The Parts Department doesn't open until 8 am" she repeated with no acknowledgement of what I had said. "Maybe Bill (not his real name) can help you...Bill?" she called out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"What...I just got in...haven't even had any my coffee yet" came Bill's voice from behind the partition.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"We have a customer here who needs parts". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"He has to order online for curbside pickup...we don't open until 8 am" was his exasperated response.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I could go on...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was struck by the absolutely unresponsive nature of both the Service and Parts people. They had determined that I was a low-value customer and had no interest at all in looking after my needs. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've spent a large part of my career in advertising working with auto manufacturers and auto dealers. Usually I've been at the pointy end of the blame game: The advertising didn't work, the leads are crap, I don't understand customers. Yes there are many variables in the automobile buying process. A big one is customer service. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I got back home I went back onto this Dealership's website and sure enough here's what they have prominently on their website: 'Customer Service is the Priority". Hmmm...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We currently own 2 Volvos. Both used and likely will need replacing soon. Between us Sally and I have owned 5 Volvos. We're brand loyal to the Volvo brand. We will seek out another Dealership who walk the talk when it comes to Customer Service!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until next time...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz2Xw8X5I444YF_pPdiPCqaE-dehOYoTs5wkx4CCzS1Ujm4y8I7A800zpeyrFI0alo2D2_jexn0ykvEfbk4qUVk6W7jwpAThPAZg3AD_XTXt6Yh96PCMl1OwFSKzk1uY6BtK2yuu6zzT8/s574/Capture.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chris Morales, Toronto" border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="574" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz2Xw8X5I444YF_pPdiPCqaE-dehOYoTs5wkx4CCzS1Ujm4y8I7A800zpeyrFI0alo2D2_jexn0ykvEfbk4qUVk6W7jwpAThPAZg3AD_XTXt6Yh96PCMl1OwFSKzk1uY6BtK2yuu6zzT8/w112-h108/Capture.PNG" title="Chris Morales, Toronto" width="112" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Chris Moraleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450956212856090924noreply@blogger.com0Toronto, ON, Canada43.653226 -79.383184315.342992163821151 -114.5394343 71.963459836178842 -44.226934299999996