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Saturday, June 07, 2014

Bee Movie

With summer fast approaching (exactly two weeks from today), there's certainly a lot of sights that I am seeing right now that I didn't see six months ago.  You remember?  That time in which we were stuck in that seemingly endless winter with snowdrifts as tall as a three-story building?  I get chills just thinking about it.

No, wait.  That's the A/C inside that's making me chilly.  Hold on a minute while I adjust the temperature settings.

Ah.  That's better.  Now, where were we?  Oh, yes.  Summer sights.

Yes, this is the time of year in which people hock their old wares to make some money for new stuff at garage and yard sales.  This is the time of year in which you take in the smell of barbecues and freshly cut grass.  It's the time of year in which kids run through sprinklers or ride their bikes down the street to the corner store for ice cream cones.

And it's also the time of year in which a lot of creatures come out of hibernation and bask in the hot summer sun.

This is a story about one such creature that for years I despised.  A creature that I wanted to see eradicated from the planet once and for all.  A creature that just happens to be linked to today's "Saturday Night at the Movies" blog entry.



I'm talking about bees.

As a child, I hated bees with a passion.  To me, they were annoying black and yellow striped pests who did nothing but hurt people.  I think I can even pinpoint the exact moment in which I turned against bees.

I was seven years old, and one of my favourite things to do when I was a kid was walk around barefoot.  I was the boy who absolutely hated wearing shoes and socks around the house.  You'd think that I would have learned my lesson when I walked around our backyard in bare feet when our backyard had an infestation of prickly thistle bushes.  Take it from me, those things hurt!

Well, one thing I did when I was younger was I used to leave the door wide open whenever I went outside.  And this meant that the possibility of ants, caterpillars, and bees could get inside the house.

Sure enough, as I walked inside the house in my bare feet, I didn't realize that a bee was hiding underneath a magazine that was left on the floor, and well...it stung me in between the toes.  A spot that I definitely don't recommend getting stung in at all!



Needless to say, that painful experience taught me just how powerful a bee sting was.  And, well, it made me want to launch a campaign against the killer bees of the world.  I ran away from bees whenever I saw them when I was younger, and when I was older, I had the idea that a dead bee was the only good kind of bee.

Of course, this was when I was young and stupid.  Now that I'm old and wise, I feel guilty about my hatred of bees...especially now that I've learned some truths since that stinging incident some twenty-five years ago.

First, bees only sting when they feel threatened.  If you leave them alone, or lightly swat them away, they'll likely not even so much as bother you.  Second, bees do a lot for the environment.  Their pollen gathering abilities help supply the fertilization needed for fruits and vegetables to grow and mature for consumption.  Without bees, there would be no fresh food.  And without any fresh food, well...we'd quickly become an endangered species.



And thirdly, that bee that stung me was more than likely a wasp...the bee's bigger bully cousin which stings you no matter what you do or don't do.  So, let me reiterate.  Bees=good.  Wasps=need to die a slow, painful death.  The jury's still out on hornets, but if they're anything like wasps, they can disappear too.

The truth is that for several years now, bees have been dying out in massive numbers, leading to higher costs for fruits, vegetables, and even honey!  And as someone who once listed Honey Comb cereal as one of his favourite cereals (which at 33 I still eat, thank you very much), I couldn't imagine a world without any of those things.  Nobody knows what the cause of the mass bee deaths are.  Some say it could be disease.  Some say it could be climate change.  Some blame Monsanto.  Whatever the case, I hope that the bee population can be protected and that somehow, bees can find a way to reproduce and continue to do the things that they do to make the world a better place.

So, in celebration of bees everywhere, why don't I feature a movie that features bees in a positive manner.  One that makes heroes out of those wonderful honey makers themselves!



Yep.  I'm talking about Bee Movie.  The DreamWorks Animation film which was directed by Simon J. Smith and Steve Heckner was released on November 2, 2007, and featured the voices of Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, and Chris Rock.  Seinfeld also served as a writer and producer of the film.  Though the film was given mixed reviews, it did make over $280 million at the box office, making Bee Movie another success for DreamWorks.

This movie was admittedly a lot of fun to watch, and if you ever wondered what it would be like if bees could talk and show you into their world, this movie does offer one possibility.  Of course, as we well know, the only sound you hear from a beehive is a lot of buzzing, and the only thing you might see inside of a beehive are intricately shaped honeycombs that are filled with sweet, delicious honey.



But in Bee Movie, we're quickly introduced to a teenage bee named Barry B. Benson (Seinfeld).  He's buzzing with excitement (pardon the pun) over his upcoming college graduation (class of 9:15), and he and his best friend Adam Flayman (Broderick) are really looking forward to life after school.  After all, the future for Barry is looking extremely bright.  With college underway, all Barry wants to do is spend the rest of his life doing what he wants to do.

Unfortunately, fate had a different plan for Barry.  You see, upon graduating college, it was expected for every single bee to choose a career - similar to anybody who graduates from a college or a university.  That was fine.  What wasn't fine was the rule that stated that once a bee chose a job, they were stuck with it until they died.  Certainly not a easy thing to accept - especially in a world where some people have two or more careers.

And Barry, as the eternal non-conformist, decides that choosing a career for life simply isn't enough for him.  He'd rather spend his time hanging around the group known as the "Pollen Jocks", a group of athletic bees that spend their days gathering pollen from the many flowers blooming around the world.  On one such day, he observes the Pollen Jocks collecting nectar and he is so fascinated by it that he decides that he wants to do it too...that is until he becomes an unwilling participant in a tennis game, and somehow finds himself invading the confines of a family car.  Barry's initial reaction?  Humans are nuts and should be avoided...which made perfect sense, since one of the rules of the bee world is never to talk to a human.

But something happens as Barry tries to make his way back home.  Somehow he gets trapped inside of a flower shop and when the patrons of the shop trying to kill Barry, the owner of the flower shop, Vanessa Bloome (Zellweger) rescues Barry and sends him outside to safety.  Barry, touched by Vanessa's kindness, flies back in to thank Vanessa for saving him, and the two of them form a friendship despite the cardinal rule that bees and humans must never communicate with each other.

Meanwhile, Barry discovers a sad truth when he and Vanessa go into a grocery store.  Barry is shocked to see humans buying huge jars of honey for consumption, and he hitches a ride to Honey Farms to discover the truth behind how the company got their hands on so much of their honey.  He meets up with a mosquito named Mooseblood (Rock) who fills him in on how humans have always swatted mosquitoes, and this sets the gears in motion for Barry to pursue his true calling - that calling is to launch a lawsuit against humans for stealing their honey!  Add in a sleazy lawyer (Goodman), and you have one honey of a trial.  And when it is all done and over with, the outcome could cause some irreversible damage to the world's food supply.

With help from Vanessa and Adam, Barry decides that he must right the wrong he caused, and works out a plan to restore the delicate balance of the world between bee and human.  And, here's a bit of a hint.  The Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California plays a huge part in that.

Now, I can't really reveal the ending of Bee Movie because I don't want to spoil it for you all.  But what I can tell you is that after watching this movie, I tend to look at bees a lot differently.  No longer do I see bees as these horrible flying beasts who only want to hurt us.  No, they're wonderful creatures who help make the world a better place, and I definitely salute them in the quest to continue making delicious foods.

Although my opinion on wasps has not changed.  They wouldn't be missed if they disappeared.

Friday, June 06, 2014

Casserole for a Crowd!

We are going to get to today's FOODIE FRIDAY post in just a few moments from now.  But before that happens, there's something that I really want to talk about.  Something that is quite serious that is happening just a couple of provinces away from where I am living right now.

As I type this blog out, there is a manhunt going on in the community of Moncton, New Brunswick - located Southwest of Prince Edward Island.  A shooter is on the loose after killing three RCMP officers and wounding two others on the evening of June 4, 2014, and as of right now, the shooter still has not been caught, leaving the city under complete lockdown.  I can't imagine how frightening a situation that must be, and my thoughts go out to the people of Moncton at this time.  Thoughts of condolences and prayer go out to those families of the RCMP officers slain on the evening of June 4, and I am hoping that the nightmare that the people of Moncton are experiencing ends as quickly as possible.

Of course, by the time this entry is posted, it very well could be.  If that is the case, I'll add an edit to the end of this entry if need be.

Secondly, I wanted to pay homage to the 70th anniversary of D-Day.  On June 6, 1944, the Battle of Normandy took place on several beaches where 155,000 Allied troops pushed through the Atlantic Wall and pushed inland in what would become the largest amphibious military operation in global history.  It is estimated that a total of 12,000 casualties were recorded in the battle, with only one-third of those confirmed.  It was one of the most important battles of World War II, and I want to take this opportunity to remember those soldiers who gave their lives in an effort to bring peace back to the world exactly seventy years ago today.

Thanks for that.

You know, after typing all that out, I was wondering if it would still be a good idea to even go ahead with the FOODIE FRIDAY post.  But in the end, I thought about it and the more I thought, the more I wanted to do it.  If for no other reason to celebrate the freedom that those soldiers fought for seventy years ago.



So, for today's recipe, I thought that I would take a look through a cookbook filled with scraps cut out from newspapers and magazines.  Over the last twenty years, Mom managed to fill up an entire scrapbook with dozens of recipes.  Allow me to share one with you.  And, while I have no idea where the recipe came from, I would think that maybe Campbell's had a hand in the recipe design!  It's a dish known as...

CASSEROLE FOR A CROWD

2 cups raw macaroni
2 lbs. ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 10 oz. can tomato soup
1 10 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 10 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of water (use the empty can from one of the soups)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup melted margarine
1 cup fine soft bread crumbs
1 pinch of seasoned salt or paprika
parsley flakes

PROCEDURE:

Cook macaroni.
Brown ground beef and onion and add to macaroni.
Add soups, water, seasonings, and macaroni blend and cover with bread crumbs and margarine.
Top with parsley flakes
Bake at 350 degrees for thirty minutes to one hour
Makes one large or two small casseroles that can feed a total of eight people (or can be used for eight separate meals if you're making it for yourself).

And, that last part is something that I wish to highlight for this recipe feature.  That is that you can use basic, simple ingredients to make enough food to feed an army.

I've never really been all that skilled in planning budgets.  90% of the time, I tend to overspend more than anything.  Granted, I only overspend by five, ten dollars tops.  I'm certainly not shopping at places like Whole Foods or anything - mainly because my small town doesn't have one.  But when you take into account that most people do their grocery shopping once or twice a week, that overspending can certainly add up.  In the list of ingredients that I provided for you, I've estimated that the total cost of all the ingredients will run you about fifteen dollars - possibly twenty if you decide that you want to buy the brand name soup instead of the generic store brand (which I honestly don't know why anyone would since the generic store brand tastes the same as the higher-priced brand name good ninety-eight per cent of the time). 

Not a bad price for ingredients.  Well, that is if my math is correct.  It probably isn't.  But it's still a heck of a lot cheaper than if you went out to a fancy restaurant and ordered the same dinner!

The fact is that in this economy, the future is very uncertain.  Nobody exactly knows when things will improve.  Remember, the Great Depression only ended when World War II began, and I think the last thing any of us wants is another global conflict to perk up the economy.  People are finding new and creative ways to try and stretch a dollar more than ever before, and this includes meal preparations.

I've just posted one example for all of you.  If you have any other cost-efficient recipes to share, please send them to my e-mail address at
matthewwturcotte518@gmail.com.  If your recipe is chosen, you will get full credit!

EDIT:  A suspect in the Moncton shootings has now been captured and is in police custody as of 5:58 am, June 6, 2014.

Thursday, June 05, 2014

Remembering Ann B. Davis

I'm a few days late with this post, but given that I was waiting until "Tube Talk Thursday" to write this entry, I figured that it was better late than never.

For those of you who were born too late, you might not recognize the name Ann B. Davis at all.  But for those of you who were around during the early 1970s, you probably remember her very well.  After all, she played the role of Alice Nelson on the television sitcom "The Brady Bunch" during the show's entire run.



On June 1, 2014, Ann B. Davis passed away in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 88.  The cause of death was from a subdural hematoma sustained in a fall in her home.  Ann B. Davis' death marks the second death of the main cast of "The Brady Bunch", following Robert Reed's death in 1992.



I will admit that when I was born, I had absolutely no idea what "The Brady Bunch" was.  I had kept hearing references to the show during my formative years, and my family did watch it when it originally aired, but it never aired in syndication during my early childhood years.  Or, if it did, it was on before my family started subscribing to cable television in the late 1980s.  Whatever the case, "The Brady Bunch" was always a bit of a mystery to me.

I suppose it made sense.  The show debuted in 1969 and ended in 1974 - a full seven years before I was born.  I think I even missed that Brady Bunch Christmas movie when it originally aired in 1988 because I was more interested in watching an episode of "Full House" or some "Punky Brewster" rerun, or whatever else was on television that year.  To me, Marcia, Jan, Cindy, Greg, Peter, and Bobby were the names of kids who played in our school playground at recess.

It was only by chance that I happened to catch an episode of "The Brady Bunch".  You know how your cable provider will sometimes offer you a free preview of some of the superchannels that cost extra to activate?  They may last a weekend, or a full week, or a whole month?  These preview weekends are designed to get you to watch the stations, and get you hooked so that you could spend the extra money to activate them.  On one of these preview weekends some nineteen, twenty years ago, we got to preview TBS, UPN (remember THAT network?), The WB (remember THAT network?), and a couple of other movie channels.  It was a special four day event that lasted Thursday through Sunday.

Well, that was where I saw my very first episode of "The Brady Bunch".  It used to air in the afternoons on TBS just before reruns of "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" and "Saved By The Bell".  If memory serves me, it was the pilot episode where Mike and Carol get married, and the kids are really young, and the dog and the cat get into a fight and destroy the whole wedding feast. 

The episode itself was cute...I suppose.  It sort of reminded me a lot of the sitcoms that I used to watch in the 1980s when sitcoms were more family friendly. 

Now since then, I've seen more and more episodes of "The Brady Bunch", and I have to agree that some shows were better than others.  I don't find it as cheesy and saccharinely sweet as some people might (though admittedly I tended to favour the older characters over the younger ones).  I had my favourite Brady (I was always a Jan fan), and I had my least favourite Brady (sorry, Cousin Oliver - though admittedly Robbie Rist was better in his voice work).  But one constant in every episode was the woman in the sky blue dress who worked at the Brady housekeeper.  A woman who always had a kind word to say about everybody and who always had some decent advice to give.  And, she often used her dry humour to elicit laughs from the audience, which worked great on me.

Truth be told, I was always very partial to Alice.  There was just something about the way that Ann B. Davis played her that made me wish that she could come and live with my family.  That is to Ann's credit, of course.

But would you believe that another actress was lined up to play Alice instead?  Believe it or not, actress Monty Margetts was lined up to play the role when "The Brady Bunch" was being cast.  But just before the show's September 26, 1969 premiere, the role was recast with Davis in the role.  Why this was the case?  Well, perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the role of Carol Brady was also recast.  Originally, Carol was to be played by actress Joyce Buffant, but producers of the show were having second thoughts about casting her in the first place.  At the last moment, Buffant was let go, Florence Henderson was hired, and Ann B. Davis was hired as a sort of comedic foil to Henderson's soft-spoken, low key presence.

It worked.

Now, here's the thing.  Ann B. Davis didn't mind the fact that her role on "The Brady Bunch" seemed to typecast her for all future roles.  In fact, not only did she play the role of Alice Nelson during the five season run of "The Brady Bunch", but she reprised the role for "The Brady Bunch Hour", "The Brady Brides", and "The Bradys" (just how the heck many Brady spinoffs were there?)

And that's not all.  She reprised the role of Alice in other television projects including the sitcoms "Day by Day" and "Hi Honey, I'm Home".

TRIVIA:  On "Day by Day", one of the stars of the show was actor Christopher Daniel Barnes, who ended up playing Greg Brady in 1995's "The Brady Bunch Movie", in which Ann B. Davis did a cameo as a truck driver!  Funny how people are connected, isn't it?

Of course, one thing I want to stress was that the late Ann B. Davis did much more than portray a housekeeper on a 1970s era sitcom.

Interestingly enough, when Ann graduated from high school, she originally considered pursuing a career in medicine!  But she opted to change her major to acting after being wowed by her brother's performance in a production of "Oklahoma!" 

After graduating with a degree in drama and speech in 1948, one of the first jobs that she landed was as a judge in the television show "Jukebox Jury".  (Don't worry, I haven't heard of it either.)

But her first major role came just a few years later in 1955.  The boyfriend of one of Ann's friends personally recommended Ann for a role in the NBC situation comedy, "The Bob Cummings Show".  Long story short?  She won the role and stayed on the program for four more years playing the part of Charmaine "Schultzy" Schultz.  Not only did she win an Emmy for her role in the show, but she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960!  I do believe that makes her the first of all the Brady Bunch actors to earn that honour.  But, I honestly am not sure.  Whatever the case, I think it's an awesome piece of trivia.

Actually, come to think of it, the truck driver that Davis played in "The Brady Bunch Movie" was named Schultzy.  That's a really cool throwback to the past, isn't it?

And, of course, Ann also starred in a series of commercials for "Minute Rice", "Shake 'n' Bake", and the Ford Motor Company, and played a physical education teacher in "The John Forsythe Show".  Even as she grew older, she never gave up acting entirely.  In the 1990s, she starred in theatre productions of "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Crazy For You", and her last credited appearance on television was at the 2007 TV Land Awards, in which she was given a standing ovation.

And, why not?  Ann B. Davis was a legend in her own right.  One that will never be forgotten in the history of television.



ANN B. DAVIS
1926-2014

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Lead By Example



June 4, 2014

First things first...I just realized that this is post 1,111!  Freaky!

Anyway...

I don't know whether I can call this a blessing or a curse, but as far back as I can remember, I've had lessons having to do with common sense and etiquette drilled into my head.  And, when you're growing up as a child, sometimes it's hard for us to understand why we follow these lessons in life.  In fact, I think that it's not until we hit adulthood that things really begin to sink in and we understand why we do them.



Some of them seem incredibly simple enough.  When you're walking with somebody else on the sidewalk and you see somebody else walking down the same sidewalk in the opposite direction, you walk in single file so that the other person can pass by you without having to sidestep onto the grass or the road.  When you're going through a door and someone else is directly behind you, you hold the door open for them.  When you're stopped at an intersection in your car, and you happen to see someone else waiting to cross at the crosswalk, you let the pedestrian cross first before you drive off.

These are all little things that anybody can do to show somebody else respect.  And, you know what?  In this open letter to everyone who might be reading this letter, I have to say that I'm a little bit annoyed at the total lack of respect that some people seem to have towards other people these days.  Forget about chivalry being dead.  In my experience, people seem to have completely forgotten how to show even the slightest amount of respect towards their peers, and I think it's a real crying shame.

I mean, you see these sorts of things all the time.  You see people so absorbed with their smartphones that they tune out everything and everyone around them.  You see people typing out insults and profanities on Facebook or Twitter to somebody else simply because you don't like what they post on their own pages.  Things like that are just plain rude and should never be tolerated under any circumstances whatsoever. 

But then again, I look at some of the instances of really bad behaviour that happens in public gathering spots, and I can't help but think of a phrase that somebody told me a long time ago.  And, it's a phrase that I have taken with me since I basically graduated high school.



"LEAD BY EXAMPLE".

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I haven't always been a believer in this phrase.  I think the first eighteen years of my life were such that I was not seen as a leader.  I honestly didn't even see MYSELF as a leader in anything.  I certainly had a difficult time understanding the concept of how respect actually worked.  I mean, I was always taught to respect my peers and my elders, always say please and thank you, and all that jazz.  But when you're a kid, and you're trying to get approval from the people you attend school with, only to get a complete lack of respect in return...well, let's just say that it took a lot of time for me to develop my own sense of self-respect.



Because let's face it.  I know I've said this before about the concept of love.  But if you can't respect yourself at the end of the day, then how in the world can you respect other people?  Seriously.  Just think about that question for a minute.  I don't mind.  I'm patient.



Okay, now that you've had a minute or two to think about self-respect, let us continue our discussion, shall we?

I think that in this world, we all owe it to ourselves to take a step back and determine whether or not we're actually being as respectful as we would like to be.  And, I think that we all have a responsibility to ourselves to lead by example in that regard.  If we show the world that we are capable of treating our fellow man or woman with dignity, compassion, kindness, and honour, then there's a really good chance of everybody paying it forward and leading the charge towards a more respectful school environment, workplace, and home life.

On the flipside, if you belittle people, make them feel stupid, and completely show an utter lack of respect towards them, do you really think that they're going to go around treating people kindly?  I mean, it's really a rehash of the whole nature vs. nurture theory (of which I am a firm believer on the side of nurture for that debate).



I can't begin to tell you how many times I cringe seeing how many families that I see come into the store I work at and seeing so many parents screaming at their kids to behave, and then buying them whatever they want whether they deserved them or not.  I tell you, if I had pitched a fit inside of a store when I was six, I would have been dragged back into the car and been promptly taken home - without anything that I wanted.  But of course, when you're working on the sales floor, you can't intervene unless the situation gets physical, and even then, you have to follow protocol to get the situation diffused.  It's so difficult for me to see this bad behaviour from both children and their parents.  I mean, if the child is too young to know better, fine.  But if your child is old enough to know better, it's no excuse. 

And, sorry to say parents...it's your job to set a good example for your own children.  It's not the cashier, sales floor associates, teachers, co-workers, or the guy who runs the 7-Eleven on the corner to discipline your children.  And, kids learn by example, you know.  I shudder to think of what one child must have been thinking when she saw her mother tear a strip off of one of my co-workers because of a simple price discrepancy.  I'm going to wager that this child is going to grow up showing her peers that same disrespect that she witnessed.   And, if I were a gambling man, I'd bet more than just a pretty penny on it.

Honestly, when I look at my experiences growing up, I was always taught to respect my family.  Oh, mind you, I had my screamfests and rousing choruses of "I HATE YOU"'s peppered throughout my childhood, but I never talked back for long without getting put in my place by my father. 

I should clarify that what I mean by "getting put in my place" is not by violence - well, aside from a couple of spankings, of course.  Not that I advocate spankings at all, mind you. 

But you know, just going back to my own experiences, the idea of respect was a foreign concept to me.  Not so much with family members, but with people who I got to know through school, or through any of the jobs that I have worked since I turned 17.  And, I don't really need to get into detail about school, because let's face it.  You've heard those stories before.

But what I will say is this.  Respect is not something that you can buy at any store.  You can't download it from iTunes (well, unless you purchase the song by Otis Redding or Aretha Franklin).  You can't even be given respect as a graduation gift or unwrap it with the twenty-seven toasters that you receive as wedding presents.  Respect is something that has to be earned.

Sometimes we all forget where we are, and sometimes we have a really bad day and snap at someone that we really don't mean to.  But it also takes a big man (or woman) to swallow their pride and own up to their mistakes.  Because as we all know, apologizing is a sign of respect.  Not weakness.  Respect.

And, I don't care what your age is, or how long you've been with a company, or whether you have brown eyes or blue eyes.  There's a lot of things in this world that I can not respect.

I don't respect people who think that their way is the only way, and refuse to take anyone else's opinions into consideration. 

I do respect people who uses collaborative efforts to try and make everyone feel like they are a part of a team.

I don't respect people who hang out in their own little cliques and exclude other people who don't fit in.

I
do respect people who are welcoming to other people and will hang out with them regardless of seniority, position, or other non-important details.

I don't respect people who give attitude to other people simply because they feel like they are entitled to do so.

I
do respect people who check their egos at the door and work with people in solving a problem.



I don't respect people who don't seem to realize that they were once beginners at something, and who faced scrutiny by more seasoned people (be it at a job, or on a sports team, or what have you) when they were starting out, and then turn around and criticize new people for everything under the sun.

I do respect people who know exactly what it was like to be a new person (at a job, or on a sports team, or what have you), and instead of criticizing new people, works with them, and mentors them to become better people.

I don't respect people who outright refuse to do work because they couldn't be bothered with doing it.

I do respect people who outright refuse to do work because the job is not safe.  I doubly respect people who will take the initiative to make the job safer.

I don't respect people who pass the buck onto other people because they couldn't be bothered to give a straight, honest answer.

I do respect people who at least try to come to a conclusion by working with their peers.  Maybe the conclusion can't be found, or maybe the person might not like the decision, but at least an effort being made is something.

And finally...




I do respect every single one of you for listening to my rants, raves, opinions, and thoughts over the past three years.  And, believe me.  All of you are winners in my book, and I respect the hell out of you for it. 

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

June 3, 1967

The first Tuesday Timeline of June 2014 is sure to bring some sweet, sweet music to your ears.  Seriously, I was having a bit of trouble selecting a topic for this week, so I went into the archives of Oldies Music Trivia to make my selection.  And after I talk about the song a bit, I'll explain the reason why I opted to choose said song.  Believe me, I think that you'll love it.

So, welcome to the third of June.



(And, yes.  Corey Hart actually wrote a song called "Third of June" back in the mid-1990s.  No, he's not the subject of today's Tuesday Timeline.  I just found it funny that there's a song for today!)

But here's a list of some of the other events that took place today throughout history!

1608 - Samuel de Champlain completes his third voyage to New France at Tadoussac, Quebec

1781 - Jack Jouett begins his midnight ride to warn Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature of an impending raid by Banastre Tarleton

1864 - The Battle of Cold Harbor takes place during the American Civil War

1888 - Ernest Lawrence Thayer's "Casey at the Bat" is first published in the San Francisco Examiner

1889 - The transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway is completed

1916 - The National Defense Act is signed into law in the United States

1925 - Actor Tony Curtis (d. 2010) is born in New York City

1926 - American poet Allen Ginsberg (d. 1997) is born in New Jersey

1937 - The Duke of Windsor marries Wallis Simpson

1940 - During World War I, the Luftwaffe bombs Paris, France

1942 - Singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield (d. 1999) is born in Chicago

1962 - 130 people are killed in a plane crash in Paris, France when an Air France Boeing 707 overruns the runway causing the craft to explode

1968 - Valerie Solanas launches an assassination attempt against Andy Warhol, shooting him three times

1979 - The second worst oil spill in the world takes place in the Gulf of Mexico after an oil well blows out, releasing three million barrels of oil into the water

1984 - Operation Blue Star is launched by the Indian government at Harmandir Shahib

1989 - The government of China sends troops to force protesters out of Tiananmen Square

1991 - The eruption of Mount Unzen in Kyushu, Japan kills 43 people

2009 - Actor David Carradine dies of asphyxiation at the age of 72

2010 - Actress Rue McClanahan passes away of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 76

2011 - Controversial doctor Jack Kevorkian dies at the age of 83

And, would you like to know who is celebrating a birthday today?  Here's the list...Chuck Barris, Irma P. Hall, Jim Gentile, Loretta Long, John Derbyshire, Eddie Holman, Tristan Rogers, John Rothman, Melissa Mathison, Suzi Quatro, Deniece Williams, Jill Biden, Dan Hill, Suzie Plakson, Susannah Constantine, Anderson Cooper, Saffron (Republica), Arianne Zucker, Dan Ewing, Lalaine, and Michelle Keegan.

Okay, so obviously as I said before, today's Tuesday Timeline has something to do with music.  In fact, I could have used this song as a Sunday Jukebox entry given that it was a #1 hit this week exactly forty-seven years ago.



Which if you figure the math out makes today's date June 3, 1967.



Interestingly enough, the song that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 was inspired by a previous hit, if you can believe it.  The first version was released in the summer of 1965 by singer Otis Redding (clicking on THIS LINK will let you hear the original version), and the lyrics told a different story than the version that ultimately hit the top of the charts two years later.  We'll get to that meaning in a little while.

But first, why don't we play the song that DID hit the top of the charts exactly 47 years ago today? 



ARTIST:  Aretha Franklin
SONG:  Respect
ALBUM:  I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You
DATE RELEASED:  April 29, 1967
PEAK POSITION ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS:  #1 for 2 weeks

Yes.  Aretha Franklin took Otis Redding's song, revamped it for her own album, and she walked away with the #1 hit. 



So, what makes Otis' version different from Aretha's version?  Well, aside from the fact that Aretha's version sounds more upbeat than Otis Redding's interpretation...

Well, it's all in the lyrics.

In Otis' version, the song from the perspective of a man who works hard and looks forward to enjoying a relaxing night at home where he finally receives respect from his loved ones.  And, here's a fun fact.  The song was inspired after a fit of complaining on the part of Redding while he was on tour, and someone else went up to Redding and told him "What are you griping about?  You're on the road all the time.  All you can look for is a little respect when you come home."

Simple enough, I suppose.

But, when Aretha Franklin debuted her version in 1967, she changed things up a lot from Otis' version.  And, her changes made the song an anthem of sorts for the growing feminist movement.  It's also a great song that deals with giving respect to your fellow man/woman.  We'll be talking about that a little bit later in the Timeline entry.

So, Aretha's version was actually recorded on Valentine's Day, 1967, and comparing the two versions, there's a lot of obvious differences between the two.  For one, Otis' version doesn't have that catchy "R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me" line in it.  Nor does Otis Redding tell you to "sock it to him" at any point during his version.

But in Aretha's song, the lyrics take on a whole new meaning.  In Aretha's version, she wants the world to know that she is declaring herself to be a strong and resilient woman who is confident that she has everything that her man wants from her.  She is singing as a woman who has never had to suffer from low self-esteem, and has a firm sense of knowing who she really is.  Given the time period in which this song was released, that was almost considered to be a rarity.  Back in the 1960s, women were still considered to be the "weaker sex", and yet here was Aretha, proudly singing that she is confident enough in herself to demand that he respect her. 

As I said, it was definitely a song that lead the charge towards the feminist movement and eventually paved the way for equality amongst both sexes.

And, it certainly helped get Aretha Franklin a #1 hit on June 3, 1967.

But since I've brought up the topic of respect in this blog entry, I kind of want to expand on that topic.  I definitely believe that respect is one thing in the world that has to be earned.  And, I am a firm believer in mutual respect.  To me, respect cannot be a one-sided thing.  It would be incredibly ridiculous to give somebody your undying respect when they hate your guts and do everything in their power to hurt you.  I guess one example of this would be an abusive relationship in which a man or a woman stays in a relationship in which their spouse bullies them, belittles them, or beats them up on a daily basis because they are told that they will never find anybody else who will treat them the same way.  Given that situation, I hope they don't.  I hope they find someone who will respect them enough to treat them the way they deserve to be treated.

I also think that you can respect someone without actually liking them.  I mean, I'll be honest with all of you.  Some people really tick me off.  And, there are some people who I probably wouldn't invite over to my place for a spot of tea, or fresh baked cookies, or a game of Mario Kart 8.  But, that's okay.  People have different personalities, and people can sometimes have personality clashes because they rub each other the wrong way.  But you can still treat them with respect in most cases.  Giving them the silent treatment.  Not cool.  Spreading rumours about them in the employee lounge.  Not cool.  Throwing lawn darts at them whenever you get the chance.  DEFINITELY not cool.

And, I think we're all guilty of forgetting to mind our P's and Q's at some times in our lives.  Heaven knows I've made quite a few mistakes in conflict resolution over the years.  But learning from them, accepting that sometimes you can be in the wrong, and offering sincere apologies can really help in rebuilding that bridge of respect. 

And, well, maybe nothing you do will ever get someone to like you.  In which case, you wipe the dust off, and spend time with people who do.  Seriously, why would you waste time trying to impress people who want to hurt you when there are other people who will be your friend, and teach you the real value of the word respect.

Just think about that for a second.  I'll be having more of a lengthy discussion about it tomorrow.  So, stay tuned.

Monday, June 02, 2014

Ending Voter Apathy

Under normal circumstances, this would be the spot in which you would be listening to the latest episode of the chat show that I am doing with my pals JOSHUA, CARINE, and JONATHON.  You know, the show that is called MOTIVE4CHANGE in which we talk about topics designed to get youth thinking about a variety of subjects, and how youth can be the motivation necessary to bring about changes in the world.

That is...that's what normally is supposed to happen on MOTIVATION MONDAY.  But, as we all well know, things have a tendency to change.  And sometimes, real life can interfere with plans.



Which is why there's no episode to post today.

But don't worry.  The reason why there isn't an episode to watch is because of all good things.  As it turns out, most of us had some exciting things happen to us this week.  I was busy with family commitments (seriously, it's very rare that most of us in my family have a get together, so whenever they do happen, I take advantage.)

But for
Joshua and Carine, the week was filled with a lot of excitement.   In fact, I want to have all of you join me in congratulating both Joshua and Carine on their graduation from college!  They both earned their diplomas on the weekend, and they are absolute proof that hard work definitely pays off.  I am very proud of both of them, and I am sure that they will do extremely well in future endeavours.

And, while we're on the subject,
Jonathon is on his way to university this coming fall, so let's wish him well on his journey to greatness.  Make us all proud!

Again, I can't help but stress the importance of hard work in this case.  All three of my
MOTIVE4CHANGE partners worked extremely hard for their success, and I want them to know just how much their work is appreciated.

In fact, given that there's no show for today, it dawned on me that I should try to find some way to salvage this blog entry in some manner.  But how?

Well, I suppose that I could lead a discussion on a topic that could have a major effect on not just youth, but anybody in the world. 

Yes.  That's exactly what I plan on doing.  Since the
MOTIVE4CHANGE episode for this week is being postponed to another day, I'll kick off a discussion myself.

Just fair warning though.  This is a discussion that seems to go against every bit of hard work that my
MOTIVE4CHANGE pals have displayed over the last couple of years...but yet, it's a discussion that needs to be had because it's this blogger's opinion that this subject is everything that is wrong with the world today.

That's why today I want to talk about apathy.  And, to be completely honest with you, I absolutely hate apathy of any kind.

In case you're wondering what apathy is, I'll explain it.  Apathy is the feeling one feels when they have a lack of interest, concern, or enthusiasm on any given topic in the world.

And, well, let's face it.  All of us are guilty of being apathetic at some point.  I'll admit it myself.  I'm apathetic towards sports, religion, commercialism, and anybody with the last name of Kardashian.  And, in small doses, a little bit of apathy can be considered quite healthy.  It allows us to focus more on the things that we all should care about.  Things like family, school, health, and "The Big Bang Theory".

But when we take on an apathetic stance on everything in the world...well, as far as I'm concerned, it's overkill. 



Many of you reading this will likely not know this at all, but on June 12, 2014, the province of Ontario will be going to the polls to elect a new government.  Our choices this time around?  Well, we have Andrea Horwath, Tim Hudak, and Kathleen Wynne.  And, yes, I already know who I will be voting for this time around, and no I am not going to tell anybody how I will be making my choice this time around.  But the point is that as someone who is a Canadian citizen, resident of Ontario, and is of legal age to cast a vote, I plan on making my vote count.

But, apparently during our last election in Ontario, I was probably only one of the few who actually did.  The last time we had an election in Ontario was in 2011, and that year was registered as an all-time low for voter turnout...less than 50% came out to the polls.

I just don't understand it. 

I mean, let's face it.  Ontario's a province in trouble.  The economy is terrible, budget blunders are causing problems with health care and education, and over the next five years, because of scandals involving gas plants and the like, our power bills are expected to go up 42% over the next five years.  That's ridiculous.

Why, with so many economic and social problems in Ontario, you'd think that the upcoming election would cause more people to get out there and make their voices heard, right?

Well...no. 

Truth is, I've talked to a lot of people about the election, and many refuse to cast a vote.  Their opinion is that all politicians are money grubbing crooks who are only out to line their own pockets with gold while simultaneously destroying the middle class.  A harsh opinion for certain.

Sigh...but you know, I can't say I blame people for feeling this way.  Honestly the three candidates who are in the running are quite polarizing figures.  It's certainly one of the reasons why I won't go into politics.  You definitely need a thick skin for that job, and I can honestly say that I don't have it for that job.  Though, I think I would look fairly good in a suit and tie...

...ahem, what was I saying?  Oh, yeah.  Candidates.

It's not easy for me to make a choice in this election.  However, considering that this is MOTIVATION MONDAY, I encourage all of you in Ontario to try and make a decision and let your choice known.  Because to be honest with you, it's time for a change.  If things remain stagnant for too long, more people will stop caring.  And if enough people stop caring, things will become much harder.

I mean, think about it like this.  Imagine being one of the few employees in your company that actually cares about providing customer service, while everyone else around you is more concerned with their games of Candy Crush on their computers in their cubicles.  It's enough to make you throw your hands in the air and join along.  Problem is that if nobody worked, the business would shut down.  If the business shuts down, those people would have no jobs.  But you also have to consider that the people who provide the supplies for the business would automatically lose sales too, which could lead to company lay-offs.  It's an extreme situation, mind you, but not one that is impossible.





I mean, it's just something to think about.  You may not like any of the candidates at all.  But if you don't like what's happening in the province, or the country, or the world...do something about it.  You can start by making your voice heard at the polls.  You know I'll be there.