![]() Peggy HOGARTH (Margaret Eileen) - Went to sleep on Thursday April 15, 2021 in her 95th year, and passed away peacefully. This was as she wanted and fulfilled her wish to get off the train to begin the next great adventure. Peggy leaves behind an enormous congregation of loved ones and admirers from a life well-lived as sister, aunt, godmother, financial advisor, colleague, supporter-of-the-arts and friend to most everyone she had contact with. The extended Irwin, Hogarth and Whiteside families – and many, many others – will continue to be enriched by the memory of her gentle nature, keen insight and wicked sense of humour. She leaves a legacy of kindness. Her life is all the more remarkable when seen against the challenges she overcame and success she achieved that she was quick to share. Still among the most cogent people we’ve ever met, her axioms live on: what happened Thursday is the truth behind “there are only so many hops in the frog” – and none of us will ever forget her creed, “Be Happy”. When I was a baby, only a few weeks old, Peggy came to take care of me for a week while my parents went on holiday. She never had children of her own, so I was the closest she'd ever experience to an extended time with a newborn. Later during a rough patch (we all have them) she came to stay with us, for about a month. Mum set her up in our sun-room. After she moved to Toronto I would often visit, once staying with her for two weeks while I looked for a place to live. Another time I painted her apartment at her request. We would have lunch every six months or so and I would drop by at Christmas with gifts from Windsor. She was a great conversationalist and we will miss her smile. (A special note: When Peggy lived in Windsor she was a Windsor Light Music Theatre member and participated in a number of shows in the late 50's early 60's.) ![]() Prince Philip died on the 9th. He belonged to another generation whose way of thinking (for the most part) has passed. If you do any reading of his life there are some questionable chapters including his mentor-ship by Mountbatten. Beginning with sexual perversions and stretching all the way to ritual killings of virgins. OK, that last part is highly suspect, but it is out there. I imagine consort to a Queen is a difficult station in life - a kind of castration. He was not faithful, but who cares - not even the Queen. May he rest in peace. Early in the month it was announced that Ontario will again go into full lock-down, this time until May 20th. We will see what happens then. My art exhibition at Mackenzie Hall has been postponed for the third time. I don’t mind, there are reasons for everything, and everything is connected. I doing more paintings. My show will still be called Covid 30, but currently I have 42 for display. I expect more. ![]() Idea Create an app which will pilot a self driving lawn mower which will cut a labyrinth on a (flat) lawn. Good for public works departments. You would have a multitude of labyrinth designs and sizes to choose from - which will fit appropriate space. Over time, the path should be worn down by the users so that cutting is no longer required. I followed up the idea with a contact with an Atlanta firm called Appsketiers (love the name). Kameon Maggart got back to me and we chatted. He mentioned that there are a number of robotic lawnmowers out there and said his team would have a meeting with the developers. If we decide to go ahead it will be $400 US. Meanwhile I put the question to Husqvarna, a Swedish manufacturer of leading robotic mowers to see if this can already be done with their current products. Not at the current time was their answer. I decided I was not interested in selling to such a narrow market, even if the app was successful. Top of the line robotic lawnmowers are expensive. We agreed to put the project on hold. Note: cut the front lawn on April 5th, 10th, 15th, and 25th. My new HP all in one desktop computer arrived and I’ve been setting it up. Reloading software, which means digging up the serial numbers and access codes. In days gone by we would put the disk back in and start from there. New computers do not have CD drives, all software resides in the cloud. You download it but to access your license you need all the original numbers. I use my desktop primarily for music composition, image editing and hopefully more movie editing/making (old home movies). I was “tethered’ to the old desktop by the length of my headphone cord. Now with wireless headphones I can wander around the room as I listen to compositions. This is very freeing. I moved the old desktop to the basement and will begin excavating it for any files I might want to keep. ![]() Having watched the 3 part series on PBS about Hemingway I realise I like adventurous people. Hemingway lived an amazing life - the wars, the travel, the books, the wives, the fishing even though it ended in suicide - which could have been related to the head injuries. I also admire TE Lawrence (of Arabia), Sir Richard Burton, Wilfred Thesiger, Gertrude Bell, Marion Carstairs, Gavin Young, Bernard Moitessier, Harland Hubbard, Josiah Harlan to name a few. What these people have in common is that they lived in a time where these kinds of adventures were possible. There are no longer many places on the earth to explore (I suppose the Amazon, but why? Or the Arctic), we have probably reached those limits - this work has been done for us. Our adventures await us internally. If you think the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey - where we are travelling through the colour lights, or the first Star Trek movie where we travel deeper within the cloud (many found that terribly boring). We needed to discard (to a certain extent) the external and venture deeper inward. Has this not always been the case? On April 8th I got my first covid vaccination (Pfizer) at the WFCU Center. An excellent setup. The first man interviewed me while I was in my car - the usual questions about symptoms and travel. He sent me on to 3 others, (they must have been waiting for more traffic) where I was given a wristband. I parked and entered the building. After passing a security guard a man gave me some hand sanitiser and a woman checked me in (just my name and time slot) I was sent to the next woman who checked my health card and gave me a number from a machine (I was 103). The next man looked at the number which was now up on a large digital readout and pointed out that I should go down to station 12 (I think there were maybe 18 stations). At the station I sat and was formally registered by another woman behind a glass barrier. She handed me a printout and sent me to the next man - whom I knew. Bob and I chatted briefly and he passed me on to another woman who delivered me to the nurse at station 12. This was in another building. This nurse asked me more questions then gave me the vaccination. I was then sent to a waiting area. Another woman came along and gave me a printout confirming I’d had a vaccination (when, where etc) which I was to keep and bring to the second. After my observation time was up I exited the large waiting area (ice rink pad) and the next woman checked to make sure I wasn’t leaving early. The last woman explained about the certificate, asked me how I felt and then I left the building. ![]() Set the Wayback Machine to September 21, 1972 The headliners were a band called “Yes” and it was midway through their “Close to the Edge” tour. The venue was the 15,000 seat Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan. I was with my high school steady. We entered the area and were headed to our seats, which were on the upper balcony. We had to walk across the main floor to get to the other side. The mid floor aisle took you pretty close to the backup band which was set up on a small stage in front of the main stage (if memory serves). There were four guys sitting on chairs with amped acoustic guitars and maybe drummer and a bass player (again if memory serves) The house lights were all up and they had started their set. People were milling about, getting their seats, it was very casual. Their sound was clean and tight, and I was a little surprised that a band like this would be backing Yes. Then they started into Peaceful Easy Feeling. I was enchanted. They followed it up with Witchy Woman and then Take It Easy. Who are these guys?? Never heard of them. The Eagles and their just released debut album. Covid Fallout Housing prices in most Canadian cities have skyrocketed, up some 30% in a year. This is due to many believing that after the pandemic they will not be returning to the office full-time. People are trading small condos for single unit homes and have the option of looking further afield (if they only need to drive to the office once or twice a week). They believe they will need and be able to afford the space to work from home. This is completely a result of the pandemic. Note: a standard sheet of ¾ plywood, 4 x 8 (used for floors and roofing) cost about $38 this time last year. It is now almost $100. The pandemic has driven this increase. Seen on our local news - A man sold his property for $1.2 million but had not bought another house to move to. When they interviewed him he was shocked at the prices of the homes for sale and was reluctant to offer what the agents were recommending - $100,000 - $200,00 over asking. He and his wife have no place to live - they may rent. ![]() Read With Lawrence in Arabia Lowell Thomas 1967 FTW: "With brilliant narrative verve, Lowell recounts the exploits of the young British agent who managed to weld disparate and warring Arab tribes into a formidable mobile fighting force—a guerrilla army that would defeat the Turks in the Arab Revolt, sealing the fate of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East during World War I." Maybe my 4th book on T.E. Lawrence - slightly different take, and now I think I’ve read enough about T.E. My Lively Lady Sir Alec Rose 1988 Account of his 9 month circumnavigation in his sailboat “Lively Lady”. An odd name as the boat was kind of a slow poke. Helps if you know parts of a sailboat, but if you stick with it and google the terms now and again, you will learn a great deal. Lots of sail changes. Sir Alec has at the same time the worst and yet best luck. Sounds like he spent 8 of the 9 months in storms. He was 60 when he did it, no mean feat for a young man. Really a story for sailors or those interested. Would not recommend it as a first “sailing adventure” book. ![]() Viewed The Ghost Writer (2010 Prime) Directed by Roman Polanski, a thriller based on Tony Blair and events surrounding the invasion of Iraq. Was consistently in the top 5 films of that year by most critics. Stars Ewan McGregor as the unnamed ghostwriter, Pierce Brosnan as Adam Peter Bennett Lang (Tony Blair), a former British Prime Minister, Olivia Williams as Ruth Lang, Lang's wife, Kim Cattrall as Amelia Bly, Lang's personal assistant, Timothy Hutton as Sidney Kroll, Lang's American lawyer, Tom Wilkinson as Paul Emmett, a professor at Harvard Law School, James Belushi as John Maddox, Rhinehart's New York executive, and Eli Wallach as The Old Man at Martha's Vineyard. Lots of tension, great entertainment. View trailer here Gone Baby Gone (2007 Netflix) Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, he also co-wrote the screenplay based on the book of the same name by Dennis Lehane. Stars his brother Casey Affleck with some good performances by co-stars Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman. It’s described as a neo-noir mystery crime thriller. Many movie critics consider this Casey Affleck’s break-through performance - it’s very interesting. View trailer here ![]() Dial M for Murder Alfred Hitchcock 1954. Grace Kelly 1929 - 1982 (52) FTW: "On May 23 1954, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the "first audiences proved to be a jury that could not only make up its mind, but could make it up in a hurry. In exhibitors' own terms, "DIAL M" literally died. And after just four performances on Wednesday, some long-distance telephoning to report complaints, the increasing skimpiness of customers—a good many of them making no bones of their dissatisfaction—permission was given to throw away the glasses and hastily switch to the 2-D version. Whereupon business at the Randolph took a turn for the better. Dial M for Murder marked the end of the brief flirtation with 3-D films of the early 1950s. Hitchcock said of 3-D: "It's a nine-day wonder, and I came in on the ninth day." View trailer here Five Easy Pieces 1970 From Roger Egbert’s review: “Bobby Dupea (Jack Nickolson) is a voluntary outcast who can't return to his early life, yet has no plausible way to move forward. He's stranded between occupations, personas, ambitions, and social classes. In 1970 (and before and since), most American movies centered on heroes who defined the plot, occupied it, made it happen. "Five Easy Pieces" is about a character who doesn't fit in the movie. There's not a scene where he's comfortable with the people around him, not a moment when he feels at home.” There was a moment in the film where I had an overwhelming sense of deja vu - like time was folding in on itself. The end is disturbing because you know it’s not the end. In my version, he doesn’t get 1 mile down the road before he gets out of the truck and returns to the gas station. He makes a decision to participate in his own life. They get married, but she later divorces him. View trailer here ![]() Cinema Paradiso (1988 Prime) I’d never seen it but had loved the theme song for many years. I watched the director's cut (Prime) which most film critics do not like. They prefer the shorter “butchered” version which was the one which made the movie a film classic. I like the director's cut because it finishes the love story. Most critics feel the meeting of the two old lovers is messy. What it said to me was that, yes that is the lesson. When a love ends early, let it end, and fully appreciate that you could love, did love. Keeping it locked up in your heart is not the place for it, but use it to go forward and search for another - it’s not really the person, it’s the emotion. The scene of the kissing at the end is a tribute to men and women everywhere who dare to take a chance on love. I think that it was Toto's realisation - that once long ago he took a chance. I think he will now try again. (directors cut, the original is almost 3 hours long) View trailer here Anatomy of a Murder 1959 Starred James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden, Kathryn Grant (married Bing Crosby) and George C. Scott. Only Kathryn Grant is still living (2021) Cameos by “Mr Wilson” from Dennis the Menace and “Floyd the barber” from the Andy Griffith Show. View trailer here ![]() Margin Call (2011 Netflix) Movie based on the mortgage derivative meltdown around 2009. I will just mention the cast. Kevin Spacey as Sam Rogers, head of sales. Too bad about Spacey’s downfall, he could (can) entertain. Stanley Tucci as Eric Dale, head of risk management under Sam and Will, who is fired in the layoffs. Zachary Quinto as Peter Sullivan, one of the risk analysts who first uncovers the crisis. Trek fans will know him as the new Spock Jeremy Irons as John Tuld, the CEO of the firm, who is flown in to deal with the crisis. No need to explain who he is. Paul Bettany as Will Emerson, head of trading, who was Eric's boss until his departure. Bettany is a great actor, mostly as villains, but his portrayal in “Uncle Frank” is not to be missed. Simon Baker as Jared Cohen, division chief for the firm, who reports directly to Tuld. Not as recognisable as the others, but if you remember “The Affair of the Necklace”, and if you haven’t seen that one, do Demi Moore as Sarah Robertson, chief risk management officer, and colleague of Cohen's. I’d seen this one before, but was still good on a second viewing. (IMO) View trailer here You Only Live Twice 1967 Connery’s second to last Bond film. Theme sung by Nancy Sinatra. The next film was “On Her Majesty's Secret Service” starring George Lazenby, but George refused to sign a long term contract, so they talked Connery into one more. Then Roger took over (Live and Let Die, and the theme sung by Tom Jones). Spectre’s Ernst Stavro Blofeld was well played by Donald Pleasence. View trailer here Returned to source : Bernie Madoff, Lindsey Johnson (family friend 66) April 17th ![]() Kent was a friend from the French River. A generation of kids who were fortunate to have family cottages in a small area on the river, grew to be good friends as they met each summer. This obituary is from the International Ice Hockey Federation on Kent's inclusion in their Hall of Fame in 2012. Kent Angus, a much loved and admired member of the IIHF family for nearly a quarter century, passed away in Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto last Saturday, 24 April, at the age of 68. He is survived by his lifetime partner, Donna, a brother Brian, and a step-daughter, Keri. He is predeceased by a son, Matthew, from an earlier marriage. Angus received the Paul Loicq Award in 2012 at the IIHF’s Hall of Fame Ceremony in Helsinki, Finland. For more than 20 years he headed Nike’s jersey program that provided uniforms across the IIHF’s top tournaments. He was usually the first to arrive to an event and the last to leave, and he worked tirelessly to ensure all player uniforms met IIHF standards and specifications. But Angus wasn’t just a hard worker. He loved hockey, loved the IIHF, loved travel, and loved working with people. He was respected for his attention to detail at work and devotion to his family at home. “Kent was just a joy to be around,” recalled long-time TSN broadcaster Gord Miller, a Loicq winner himself a year after Angus. “His job was tremendously difficult. Keeping all the federations and teams happy was no easy feat, but he did it with professionalism and good humour.” Kent was born in Toronto and studied business administration and management at Sheridan College from 1970 until 1972. His father was a pilot for Air Canada, and Kent also earned his pilot’s license. He worked in the terminal for Air Canada at Pearson airport in Toronto, and that is how his most unlikely relationship with the IIHF began. “Kent was the last person I’d see through the window as the aircraft door closed before taking off,” recalled former IIHF Sport Director Dave Fitzpatrick from his home in Germany. Back in the early 1990s, Fitzpatrick worked with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (Hockey Canada today) and travelled with the National Junior Team every Christmas for the World Junior Championship. Angus helped arrange the many last-minute details for the Team Canada entourage, and as such he got to know John Pickett, who represented one of the corporate partners that supported the National Team Program at the time. When Nike became brand supplier for the IIHF, Pickett needed someone operational who knew about hockey, Hockey Canada, and the details of organization. He thought of Angus. Coincidentally, Fitzpatrick joined the IIHF at the same time, eventually becoming Sport Director and not only working with Angus but becoming the best of personal friends as well. That first IIHF season, 1995/96, was a steep learning curve for Angus, Nike, and the IIHF because Nike supplied the unforms for all tournaments and all levels. Eventually Nike focused on top-level events, from the Olympics and World Championships, Women’s Worlds and the World Juniors. It was estimated that during his time coordinating with the IIHF, Angus oversaw the making of more than 75,000 sweaters for tournament play. It wasn’t just his work at events that was appreciated. Angus worked year-round with the involved IIHF member national associations to ensure the designs and colours, fonts, nameplates, and every detail that goes into each sweater was just perfect and to each country’s satisfaction. “Kent was such a constant at all the international tournaments that TSN covered,” recalled Paul Graham, a senior executive at TSN. “He was always willing to help out and go that extra mile – and always with a welcoming smile. We worked together in locations all over Europe, and it was always comforting to see him on location. You knew it was an important tournament when Kent was there. I last heard from him just prior to Christmas. Even though he was retired, he was checking in to see if we had everything we needed in the Edmonton bubble. It was just another example of what a professional and caring man he was.” Indeed, Angus had retired in early 2019 to enjoy life and spend more time with Donna at their home in Markham and at their cottage on the French River in Ontario. However, a loss of peripheral vision, which didn’t seem like much at first, soon revealed a pinched optic nerve by a blood vessel in his brain. Surgery revealed more complications, and he was placed into an induced coma for three weeks. After waking and being alert for a few days, his condition worsened and he passed away on Saturday. He will be cremated, and a celebration of life will occur at a later date when a larger gathering can be safely arranged. “I’m numb,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m here in Germany and Donna is in Markham, and I can’t do much. I had a call with him last Thursday to say good-bye. It was the toughest 15 minutes of my life. He was such a wonderful person, and he enjoyed life so much. It’s a shame he had so little time to enjoy retirement.”
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AuthorI believe we are what we think. What we think depends on what we feed our brains. This is a partial record of what my brain has been eating. Archives
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