Coinage du Jour - 02 November 2021 - Plague Journal Day 600

Micah 6:8
Revelation 3:14-16
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Coinage du Jour:
Exsulation n. the opposite of insulation - rather than preserving temperature differences, exsulation encourages the same temperature on both sides of its installation.
I'm not sure there's much use for that, but I haven't really considered it much yet.

Today is Election Day here in these United States. Generally it seems to be local elections rather than State or Federal things. Still, I would urge you to go vote - provided you know something about the issues on which you'll be voting. If you don't know who the candidates are, and you don't know what proposals you will be asked to approve, please just stay home. Id' rather have a light turnout than have everyone jump in and cast a totally uninformed vote.

Also, on this date, 02 November 1938, CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada's public radio and television broadcaster, was established. I grew up watching a fair amount of CBC television, and have become a fan of much of their radio programming as well. I wish they had not so nearly abandoned their classical music format, but there is still much good radio being produced there at the CBC.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Get Up And Do It Again, Amen - 27 May 2021 - Plague Journal Day 441

Micah 6:8
Jude 1:17-23  Romans 5:1-5
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Channel 9 in Windsor is doing the Greater Windsor/Detroit Metroplex a huge favour these days. After the evening news each weekday they play an episode of the Rick Mercer Report. This was one of the CBC's greatest shows, and it's wonderful to be able to watch it again - even his weekly Rants about whatever was going on in Canadian politics back when the show was airing for the first time.

We were watching an episode recently where Rick was rappelling down a cliff - face first. He was pretty obviously terrified, but managed to make it down with some great coaching by the staff. He stood at the base of the cliff, finished quaking, and asked, "now what?"
"Now you do it again." was the reply. And he did.

Heidi and I then talked about the wisdom of that repetition. She thought it made total sense - a way to convince your adrenaline-besotted self that this really was something you can do. She spoke in general terms until I interjected that I had assumed she would be bringing up her lone skydiving experience.
"Oh, exactly," she agreed, "I should have done it again right away; then I could have done it over and over, rather than just the once."

Today is Heidi's birthday and Nothing To Fear Day. What a perfect pairing after that conversation, eh?

So go out today and do something that frightens you - and then do it again. You'll thank me (or Rick Mercer) later.

Today also has one of those odd conjunctions of celebrations - it's Sunscreen Protection Day and Red Nose Day. Don't those cancel out?


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

R.I.P. Stuart McLean

I completely understand the sentiment others have expressed at past passings:
"I don't have to believe it if I don't want to."

I don't want to believe it, but I do have to acknowledge the passing of a wonderful, positive, loving man who was part of my Saturdays since 1994. Stuart McLean was a consummate radio host, storyteller, and (virtual) friend.

Hearing him tell his stories encouraged me to go ahead and tell some of my own. I will sorely miss him, along with Dave and Morley, Sam and Stephanie, and the whole cast of characters who made those stories as real as the essays he also presented.

My condolences to his friends and family. Stuart was a gem and will be greatly missed.

Rats.

RIP Jurgen Gothe

I don't even remember if it was Radio Two yet, but weekday afternoons nearly always found me listening to Disc Drive on CBC where Jurgen Gothe managed to move us all from the classical world to jazz and pop with a great mixture of banter and information.

We just got the news this morning on Radio Two that he had died, and I didn't want the day to pass without acknowledging his influence on my musical taste and knowledge, as well as on my taste and knowledge of wine. He was a gem on the radio and will be well and truly missed.