2018: The Year Ahead

ANNIVERSARIES IN 2018

170th Anniversary of the French Revolution of 1848

The Town Hall of Paris, February 25, 1848

In 1848, there was a wave of revolutions in Europe, including the February Revolution in France.  On February 18, 1848, the Orleans monarchy of King Louis Philippe was overthrown and replaced by the elected government of the French Second Republic.  In the ensuing months, the government became more conservative.  On June 23, 1848, the people rose up in an insurrection.known as the June Days.  This was a bloody rebellion by Paris workers against the government's conservatism.  On December 1848, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, was elected President of the Second Republic, largely with the support of the peasants.  Three years later, however, he suspended the elected assembly and established the Second French Empire.  As Napoleon III, he ruled as Emperor of France from 1852 to 1870.

100th Anniversary of the end of World War One

Photo taken in the forest of  Compiègne after Armistice agreement

World War One came to an end on November 11, 1918.  It came into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.  The fighting ended that day with the Armistice between the Allies and their last opponent, Germany, was signed in the forest of Compiègne, approximately 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Paris (The Allies had already reached agreements for armistices with Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire).  Although the Armistice ended more than four years of bloody warfare, it had to be prolonged three times until the Treaty of Versailles came into effect on January 10, 1920.

100 years since the post-World War One Flu Pandemic

   

Soldiers from Fort Riley, Kansas, ill with Spanish influenza in hospital ward

The 1918-1920 flu pandemic was an exceptionally deadly influenza.  It is estimated to have infected 500 million people worldwide.  It resulted in the deaths of millions and was one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history.  It killed more people than the Great Wat (World War One) that proceeded it.              

                                        

80 years since Kristallnacht ("Crystal Night") 

"Crystal Night" shop damage in Magdeberg, Germany  Attribution: German Federal Archives

On November 9-10, 1938, a pogrom against Jews was carried out in Nazi Germany.  It is known as Kristallnacht ("Crystal Night" or "Night of Broken Glass."  The name "Crystal Night" is derived from the shards of broken glass that littered streets from the damaged windows of Jewish-owned shops and buildings.  Jewish homes, hospitals and schools were ransacked.  The windows of synagogues were smashed.  Many deaths resulted from "Crystal Night," including suicides and the post-arrest maltreatment of the 30,000 Jewish men who were imprisoned in concentration camps.

The "Crystal Night" attacks were in retaliation for the assassination of the Nazi German diplomat Ernst vom Rath by a German-born Polish Jew named Herschel Grynszpan.


80 years since the Munich Pact

Chamberlain greeted by Hitler Sept. 24, 1938  Attribution; German Federal Archives

After negotiations by major European powers at a conference in Munich Germany, a settlement was reached that allowed Nazi Germany to annex portions of Czechoslovakia inhabited primarily by Sudeten Germans.  These German-speakers had lived in the border districts of Czechoslovakia since the time of the Austrian- Empire.  In the early hours of September 30, 1938, the agreement (dated September 29, 1938) was signed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.  On September 30th, upon returning home, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain delivered his "peace for our time" speech to London crowds.



80 years since Germany annexed Austria

German and Austrian border police dismantle a border post in 1938.  Attribution: German Federal Archives  

                                                           
On March 12, 1938, Nazi Germany forcibly annexed neighbouring Austria and German troops invaded the country.  This was known as "Anschluss" or the union of the two countries. After annexing Austria, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler appointed a new government of his choosing to replace Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg who had opposed the annexation. Schuschnigg had been coerced by Hitler to appoint Austrian Nazis to positions of power and later resign.  Note: Above is a photo of German and Austrian border police dismantling a border post in 1938.



70 years since Communist takeover of   Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia 1948

On February 25, 1948, under pressure from the Czechoslovakian Communist party, President Edward Benes permitted a communist-dominated government to be organized (Above is a photo of the resignation of th democratic ministers).  Although the Soviet Union did not physical interfere (as in 1968), the virtually bloodless coup was described in the West as Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe.



70th Anniversary of the birth of Israel

On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed by Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion at the Tel Aviv Art Museum.  Ben-Gurion's proclamation brought tears and applause from the crowd at the museum and he went on to become prime minister of the first Jewish State in 2,000 years.



50th Anniversary of the flight of Apollo 8

Left to right: F. Borman, W. Anders, J. Lovell

Earthrise photo from Apollo I

Apollo 8 was the second manned spaceflight in the Apollo program and was launched on December 21, 1968.  Its accomplishments were as follows: It became the first manned spacecraft to leave the orbit of the Earth, reach the Earth's Moon, orbit it  and return safely. The crew was made up of three astronauts - Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders.

Apollo 8's journey to the moon took three days.  The crew made a Christmas Eve television broadcast in which they read the the first ten verses from the Book of Genesis.  The flight of Apollo 8 helped to set the stage for the moon landing in July of 1969 and Neil Armstrong's first steps on the lunar surface.

50th Anniversary of the Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia

On the night of August 20=21, 1968, Soviet-led Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia to put an end to reforms made during the "Prague Spring."  Tanks rolled into Prague.  The invasion cracked down on Czech leader Alexander Dubček's liberal reforms and strengthened the power of authoritarian wing of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.



50 years since the riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention

In the United States, the Democratic Party held its convention to nominate a candidate for president.  The convention took place in Chicago from August 26 to August 29,1968.  Demonstrators came to the Windy City that summer to protest American involvement in Vietnam. During the buildup to the convention, Chicago mayor Richard Daley repeatedly stated that law and order would be maintained.  For eight days, counter-culture and anti-Vietnam protesters were met by police with guns, billy clubs, mace and riot helmets.  One of the major groups involved in the organization of the protests was the Youth International Party, known as the Yippies. 




50 years since the assassination of Bobby Kennedy

On June 5, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy won the California primaries, a major victory in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.  After addressing his supporters in a ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, Kennedy was fatally shot while exiting through the hotel kitchen.  His assassin was Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian with Jordanian citizenship, and a strong opponent of Israel.



50th Anniversary of the student and worker riots in France

Strikers in Southern France occupying factory.  Attribution: BeenAroundAWhile 

After months of conflicts between students and authorities at the Paris University at Nanterre, the administration closed down the university on May 2, 1968.  The next day, students at the Sorbonne University protested the closing.  These events spurred great unrest in France throughout the month of May.  There was a series of student occupation protests against capitalism, unemployment, poverty, consumerism and traditional institutions.  Workers joined the students and there were more demonstrations and general strikes.  Universities and factories were occupied, stalling the nation's economy.  The crisis became so serious that civil war or revolution was feared.

Police used force against the student occupations and wildcat strikes.  This led to street battles, more occupations and the spread of general strikes.  President Charles fled the country briefly. The protests did not quell, however, until May 30, when De Gaulle dissolved the National Assembly and called an election.

50 years since the My Lai Massacre

The My Lai Massacre was the mass killing of hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by U.S. Army soldiers from Company C, Ist Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd (America) Infantry Division.  The killings occurred on March 16, 1968 in the hamlets of My Lai and My Khe in South Vietnam.  The victims included women, children and infants.  26 soldiers were charged with criminal offences, but Lt. William Calley Jr.., a platoon leader in C Company was the only one convicted.  Calley was found guilty of the murder of 22 villagers and originally received a life sentence, but his sentence was reduced to 20 years by the Court of Military Appeals.  It was later reduced to 10 years by the Secretary of the Army.  Calley was pardoned by Richard Nixon in 1974 after serving three and a half years under house arrest.


50 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., American civil rights leader, was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.  He was fatally shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, where he was staying.  King's assassin, James Earl Ray, ws a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary.  Ray was arrested on June 8, 1968 at London's Heathrow airport.  He died in 1998 at the age of 70.

                                                                                                                           

HOLIDAYS, FESTIVALS AND OBSERVANCES, RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR 2018 (Canada and the United States)

JANUARY


NEW YEAR'S DAY (Gregorian Calendar): Monday, January 1, 2018

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY:  Saturday, January 6, 2018

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY (United States):  Monday, January 15, 2018

FEBRUARY

MARDI GRAS (SHROVE TUESDAY):  Tuesday, February 13, 2018

ASH WEDNESDAY:  Lent begins Wednesday, February 14, 2018

VALENTINE'S DAY:  Wednesday, February 14, 2018

CHINESE NEW YEAR

2019 is The Year of the Dog.  The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, in determined according to the Chinese lunar calendar.  This year the festival begins on Friday, February 16, 2018, the first day of the lunar calendar.  It lasts for seven days.

PRESIDENTS' DAY (United States):  Monday, February 19, 2018

MARCH


INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY:  Thursday, March 8, 2018

ST. PATRICK'S DAY:  Saturday, March 17, 2018

GOOD FRIDAY:  Friday, March 30, 2018

PASSOVER:  Begins the evening of March 30, 2018 and ends the evening of Saturday, April 7, 2018.

APRIL

EASTER SUNDAY:  Sunday, April 1, 2018

EARTH DAY:  Sunday, April 22, 2018

MAY


MOTHER'S DAY:  Sunday, May 13, 2018

RAMADAM:  Begins at sunset on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 and ends on Thursday, June 14, 2018 (Dates may vary)

VICTORIA DAY (Canada):  Monday, May 21, 2018

MEMORIAL DAY (United States): Monday, May 28, 2018

JUNE

EID-AL-FITR (End of Ramadan): Begins in the evening of Thursday, June 14, 2018 and ends in the evening of Friday, June 15, 2018.

FATHER'S DAY:  Sunday, June 17, 2018 (the third Sunday in June)

JULY


CANADA DAY (Canada):  Sunday, July 1, 2018

INDEPENDENCE DAY (United States):  Wednesday, July 4, 2018

AUGUST



SEPTEMBER


LABOUR DAY (Canada), LABOR DAY (United States):  Monday, September 3, 2018

ROSH HASHANA (Jewish New Year):  Begins at sunset Sunday, September 9, 2018 and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, September 11, 2018

YOM KIPPUR (Jewish Day of Atonement):  Begins the evening of Tuesday, September 18, 2018 and ends the evening of Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

OCTOBER

THANKSGIVING DAY (Canada):  Monday, October 8, 2018 (the second Monday in October)

HALLOWEEN:  Wednesday, October 31, 2018

NOVEMBER


ALL SAINTS DAY:  Thursday, November 1, 2018

DIWALI (Hindu Festival of Lights, beginning of Hindu New Year): Begins on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 and ends Saturday, November 10, 2018

REMEMBRANCE DAY (Canada), VETERAN'S DAY (United States):  Sunday, November 11, 2018

THANKSGIVING DAY (United States):  Thursday, November 29, 2018 (the last Thursday in November)

DECEMBER


HANUKKAH:  Begins the evening of Sunday, December 2, 2018 and ends the evening of Monday, December 10, 2018

CHRISTMAS DAY:  Tuesday, December 25, 2018

BOXING DAY (Canada):  Wednesday, December 26, 2018

AROUND THE WORLD IN 2018

CANADA

A general election is scheduled in the province of Ontario.  It will take place on or before Thursday, June 28, 2018.  There are 122 seats in the Ontario legislature.

The Quebec Winter Carnival (Carnaval de Québec) will be held in held in Quebec City, Quebec from January 26, 2018 to February 11, 2018.  Below is a drawing of Bonhomme Carnaval, the festival's mascot.

The Calgary Stampede with take place in Calgary, Alberta from July 6, 2018 to July 15, 2018.

The 139th Canadian National Exhibition (also known as the CNE or The Ex) will be held from August 17, 2018 to September 3, 2018 at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the leading public film festival in the world, will take
place in Toronto, Ontario from Friday, September 7, 2018 to Sunday, September 16, 2018.

COSTA RICA

There will be general elections in Costa Rica on February 4, 2018 to elect both the President and Legislative Assembly.

CZECH REPUBLIC

A presidential election will be held in the Czech Republic on January 12-13, 2018, with a runoff to be held on January 26-27, 2018 if required. The incumbent president Miloš Zeman is standing for re-election.

FRANCE

The 71st Cannes Film Festival {Festival de Cannes) will be held in Cannes, France from May 8, 2018 until May 19, 2018.

GERMANY

Federal elections will be held in Germany between August 17. 2017 and October 22, 2017.

ITALY

A general election is due to be held in Italy on May 20, 2018.  Voters will elect the 630 members of the Chamber of Deputies and the 313 elective members of the Senate of the Republic for the 18th Parliament.

SAUDI ARABIA

On June 24, 2018, Saudi Arabia will allow women to drive.

UNITED KINGDOM

 

The marriage of Britain's Prince Harry of Wales will marry American actress Meghan Markle.  The wedding will likely take place in the spring of 2018.

UNITED STATES

The 2018 United States midterm elections will mostly be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.  All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate will be contested.



SPORTING EVENTS IN 2018

AUSTRALIA

COMMONWEALTH GAMES:  The 2018 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held on the  Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from April 4, 2018 to April 15, 2018.


TENNIS:  The Australian Open will take place from Monday, January 15, 2018 to Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.

CANADA

HORSE RACING:  The 158th running of the Queen's Plate, the first jewel of Canada's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing, will take place at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario on Saturday, June 30, 2018.  The Queen's Plate, founded in 1860, is the longest, continuously run stakes race in North America.  

GOLF:  The Canadian Open will be played at the Glen Abbey Golf  Club in Oakville, Ontario.  The tournament will take place from July 23 to July 29, 2018.

CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (CFL):  The 106th Grey Cup will be held on Sunday, 
November 25, 2018 at the Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.

FRANCE

TENNIS:  The French Open (also known as the Roland Garros) will take place at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France from May 27 to June 10, 2018.



RUSSIA

SOCCER (FOOTBALL):  The FIFA World Cup will be held from June 14, 2018 to July 15, 2018 in Russia.

SOUTH KOREA

The 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS:  The XXIII Olympic Winter Games will be held in Pyeomgchang, South Korea from February 9, 2018 to February 25, 2018.

UNITED KINGDOM

TENNIS:  The prestigious Wimbledon tournament will run from Monday, July 2, 2018 until Sunday, July 15, 2018.  It will take place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbleton, London, England.

GOLF:  The 147th British Open Championship will be held at Carnoustie Golf Links in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland from July 16, 2018 to July 22, 2018.

UNITED STATES

NFL FOOTBALL:  Super Bowl LII (the 52nd edition of the Super Bowl) will take place on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  U.S. Bank Stadium is the home of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).

AUTO RACING:  The 102nd Indianapolis 500 will take place on Sunday, May, 27, 2018 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana.

GOLF:  The 82nd edition of the Masters Tournament will be held from April 5, 2018 to April 8, 2018 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

HORSE RACING:  The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby, known as "The Run for the Roses," will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018 (the first Saturday in May) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

GOLF:  The 118th United States Open Championship (U.S. Open) will be contested from June 14, 2018 to June 17, 2018 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in  Shinnecock Hills, New York, east of New York City on Long Island.

BASEBALL:  The 89th edition of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be hosted by the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C..  The game between the stars of the American League and the National League will take place on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

BASKETBALL:  The 67th National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles California at Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

TENNIS:  The U.S. Open will be held from Monday, August 27, 2018 through Sunday, September 9, 2018.at the USTA Billie Jean King Center in New York, New York.

ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS IN 2018

The 75th Golden Globe Awards ceremonies, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018. at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. These awards recognize excellence in film and television, both American and foreign.

The 60th annual Grammy Awards, honouring the best of the music industry, will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The 90th Academy Awards ceremonies will take place on Sunday, March 4, 2018 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Vancouver, British Columbia will host the 47th annual Juno Awards, honouring the best in Canadian music. The ceremony will be broadcast from Rogers Arena on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

The 72nd Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, better known as the Tony Awards, will be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 10, 2018.

WHO TURNS 50 IN 2018?

Gillian Anderson, American-British actress, born August 9, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Patricia Arquette, American actress, born April 8, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Marc Anthony, American singer, born September 16, 1968 in New York City, United States.

Josh Brolin, American actor, born February 12, 1968 in Santa Monica, California, United States

Kenny Chesney, American country singer, born March 26, 1968 in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States.

Daniel Craig, British actor, born March 2, 1968 in Chester, England, United Kingdom.

Billy Crudup, American actor, born July 8, 1968 in Manhasset, Nassau County, New York, United States

Céline Dion, Canadian singer, born May 30, 1968 in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada.

Megan Follows, Canadian-American actress, born March 14, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Brendan Fraser, American-Canadian actor, born December 3, 1968 in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Aiden Gillen, Irish actor, born April 24, 1968 in Drumcondra, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Cuba Gooding Jr., American actor, born January 2, 1968 in The Bronx, New York City, United States

Tony Hawk, American skateboarder, was born on May 12, 1968 in Carlsbad, California, United States.

Hugh Jackman, Australian actor singer, born October 12, 1968 in Sydney, New South Wales,
Australia

Ashley Judd, American actress and political activist, born April 19, 1968 in Los Angeles, California, United States

LL Cool J, American rapper, born January 14, 1968 in Long Island, New York, United Stats

Lucy Lawless, New Zealand actress, born March 29, 1968 in Mount Albert, New Zealand

Lucy Liu, American actress, born December 2, 1968 in New York City, United States

Sarah McLachlan, Canadian singer and songwriter, born January 28, 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Parker Posey, American actress and musician, born Novermber 8, 1968 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Lisa Marie Presley, American singer, daughter of Elvis, born February 1, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Rachael Ray, American television personality, chef, businesswoman, born August 25, 1968 in Glens Falls, New York, United States

Molly Ringwald, American actress, singer, dancer and author, born February 18, 1968 in Roseville, California, United States

Guy Ritchie, British filmmaker, born September 10, 1968 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Barry Sanders, former American football player, born July 16, 1968 in Wichita, Kansas, United States.

Will, Smith, American actor, rapper, born September 25, 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States

Naomi Watts, British actress, born September 28, 1968 in Shoreham, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Owen Wilson, American actor, producer, born November 18, 1968 in Dallas, Texas, United States.


- Joanne

Johnny Bower: A Great Goalie and a Great Person

"Johnny Bower was a legend.  He was a Stanley Cup champion.  He had a wicked poke check.  And he was beloved, not just by fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but by hockey fans everywhere."

- Kevin McGran
Sports Reporter, Toronto Star, December 27, 2017


"Johnny Bower was the best standup goaltender I'd ever seen, even better than Turk Broda.  He played his angles better than anybody else. he stood on his feet better than anybody else, and he stopped the puck very, very well."

- Howie Meeker, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward
From "Legends of Hockey" television series


"There may not be a more loved Toronto Maple Leaf nor a former player who loved them back as much . . . Johnny was beloved much more than his Hall of Fame credentials as a player.  It was his generosity of spirit, kindness and passion for people that made him a legend at life."

- Brendan Shanahan, President of the Toronto Maple Leafs



When I learned that Johnny Bower had passed away at the age of 93, I felt as if I had lost a part of my childhood.  No doubt, many baby boomers in the Toronto area and elsewhere felt the same way. Johnny was a Hall of Fame goaltender who played on four Stanley Cup teams for the Maple Leafs.  However, as Brendan Shanahan pointed out, he was much more than a great goalie.  He was a great person.

Johnny was not arrogant or extremely wealthy.  He simply conducted himself with the utmost class and dignity.   He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.  I have never heard anyone say a bad word about him.  He was a great ambassador for the Maple Leafs,. always signing autographs and chatting with fans.

Johnny Bower was born John William Kiszkan in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, a farming town north of Saskatoon.on November 8, 1924.  He was one of the nine children of John Kiszkan, a labourer at a Prince Albert packing company, and his wife Betty.  Johnny and his siblings (one brother and seven sisters) grew up on the Prairies during the Great Depression.  He and his friends played shinny on rivers, lakes and patches of ice during the cold Saskatchewan winters.

The Kiszkan family couldn't afford hockey equipment, so Johnny's father designed his son's first  hockey stick from poplar tree branches.  Pucks were made from pieces of wood, rolled up in black tape and Johnny's first goalie pads consisted of mattresses cut in half.

As a child, Johnny wasn't a good skater and he preferred to be a goaltender. "I used to watch the defencemen and forwards get bounced," he told hockey writer Stan Fischler.  "I figured, heck, I got it better than they do.  At least I'm still standing on my feet."

At the age of 15, Johnny lied about his age and enlisted in the Canadian Army during World War II.  He reported to Vernon, British Columbia for training and from 1940 to 1943, he was stationed in England as a gunner with the 2nd Canadian Division. Due to rheumatoid arthritis, he was discharged from military service.  Upon his return to Prince Albert, he played junior hockey with the Prince Albert Black Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 1944-45.  It was there that he caught the attention of the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Johnny received a call from Hub Wilson, general manager of the Barons,  Hub persuaded him to leave Prince Albert and his part-time job with CN Rail and move to Cleveland, Ohio.  At the start of the (1945-46) season, Johnny turned professional.  He signed with the Barons for a $50 bonus and $1,700 for the season. Under Cleveland coach Bun Cook, a former forward for the New York Rangers, Johnny made improvements to his game.  Cook taught him how to play the angles rather than throw himself at shots.  Johnny also began using lighter sticks to lessen the effects of the arthritis which had weakened his hands.  By the 1949-50 season, he was the ace goalie for the Barons.

After Johnny's parents divorced in 1946, Johnny began using the surname "Bower," his mother's maiden name.  During his his first year of professional hockey, he legally changed his last name to "Bower," stating that he did so because sportswriters had difficulty spelling "Kiszkan" correctly.

Johnny Bower was a star goaltender in the AHL and was voted the league's best goalie three times.  However, he didn't catch on in the National Hockey League until he was in his 30s.  In fact, he spent almost 12 years in the minors, mostly with Cleveland, before landing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In November of 1948, Johnny married a Saskatoon woman named Nancy.  In his book, The China Wall: The Timeless Legend of Johnny Bower, Johnny describes how he met his future wife on a golf course north of his hometown of Prince Albert.   It was the summer of 1948 and Johnny's Cleveland Barons had won the Calder Cup (the championship of the American Hockey League).  Johnny, who was working as an assistant pro that summer, was sent out to warn Nancy and her friends not to swing their golf clubs so wildly.  Although Nancy was angry about the incident, she still agreed to go to a movie with Johnny when they ran into each other in town that evening..

Although Johnny will forever be associated with the Blue and White of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he did suit up for another NHL team.  He was picked up by the New York Rangers for the 1953-54 season.  They chose him as their starting goalie over Lorne "Gump" Worsley, the previous year's winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.  Bower played all 70 games for the Rangers that season.  Still, the following season he was sent back to the minors in favour of Worsley.

Johnny played for the Vancouver Canucks of the AHL (1954-55), the Providence Reds (1955-56) (1956-57) and the Cleveland Barons.(1957-58),  Then along came the opportunity of a a lifetime,, which Johnny almost turned down. The last-place Toronto Maple Leafs were looking for an upgrade in goal.  On June 3rd, 1958, they claimed Bower from the Cleveland Barons in the Inter-League Draft.  Johnny, however, was reluctant to join the Maple Leafs.  He was tired of moving around and his intention was to remain with the Cleveland Barons.  He was content in Cleveland and even had a successful restaurant in the city,  Ultimately, though, he couldn't resist a chance to realize his dream of winning a Stanley Cup.

Some persuasion from his wife Nancy also helped him to make the decision to play for the Leafs.  In 2017, Johnny told the Toronto Sun that "Nancy always reminds me I didn't want to go.  I said at the time, I'm 33, I'm happy in Cleveland.  She kept saying this is your big chance.  We wound up staying for four Cups."

In July of 1958, the Leafs hired George "Punch" Imlach to be an assistant general manager (in November he was  named full-time general manager, after which he also appointed himself head coach).  Imlach strongly encouraged Johnny to play for the Leafs.  He finally agreed and became an integral part of a golden era in the history of the storied franchise.

Johnny Bower had his name inscribed on the Stanley Cups four times during the 1960s.  The Toronto Maple Leafs enjoyed three consecutive victories in the early years of that decade (1961-62) (1962-63) (1963-64) and then 1966-67.  Johnny won the Vezina Trophy two times during his career with the Leafs - in 1961 and 1965.  He shared the 1965 award with teammate and fellowHall of Famer Terry Sawchuck (Note: Until the 1981-82 season, the Vezina was awarded to the goalkeeper(s) of the team allowing the fewest number of goals during the regular season.  It is now given to the goalkeeper who is judged to be the best at his position by the general managers of all NHL clubs).

The goaltending tandem of Bower, 42 and Sawchuck, 37, led the Toronto Maple Leafs to an upset victory in the 1967 Stanley Cup Final over the Montreal Canadiens.  The Leafs defeated the Canadiens four games to two.  In doing so, they captured the thirteenth Stanley Cup in franchise history.  The NHL underwent an expansion for the 1967-68 season, with the number of teams doubling from six to 12.  The Maple Leafs lost Terry Sawchuck to the Los Angeles Kings in the expansion draft. and they have not won another Stanley Cup to date.

The 1968-69 season was Johnny Bower's last full season in the NHL.  On April 6, 1969, at the age of 44 years, four months, he became the oldest goalie to play in a Stanley Cup playoff game.  Johnny appeared in one game for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1969-70 season, mainly due to injuries.  He played his final NHL game on December 10, 1969, a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Montreal Forum.  In March of 1970, Bower announced his retirement.  He was 45 years old and had played 11 complete seasons with the Maple Leafs.

Johnny Bower died of pneumonia on December 26, 2017.  He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Nancy, and their three children, John Jr., Cindy and Barbara, plus eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  He will be remembered for his fierce determination on the ice and his charitable works off the ice.  I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet him or speak to him.  I also regret that h won't be here to see the Leafs win the Stanley Cup again, whenever that may be (soon I hope).  However, I know he will be here in spirit to enjoy it.

END NOTES

* Johnny Bower's nickname was "The China Wall" because of his solid, tough-as-nails, brick-wall-like goaltending. He was given the nickname by a Cleveland sportswriter during minor league career.  The "China Wall" moniker was also a reference to Johnny's age.  He was teased about being as old as the Great Wall of China.

* Not only was Johnny suffer from arthritis, but he also had poor eyesight.

*  Johnny played in an era when goalie went bare-faced, although he did wear a mask for the last 17 games of his career.  Even after goalies began wearing masks, many continued playing without one, including Gump Worsley, the man who replaced Johnny Bower on the New York Rangers.  Ironically, "The Gumper" later went to Montreal Canadiens and replaced Jacques Plante, the man who
popularized the goalie mask.

Johnny Bower wearing mask

* On November 9, 1965, Johnny, his son, John Jr. and some neighbourhood children, recorded a novelty Christmas song called "Honky the Christmas Goose."  The children's song, written by CBC producer Chip Young, told the story of a wild goose that ate so much he couldn't fly, but ultimately is able to save Santa Claus.

"Honky the Christmas Goose" by Johnny Bower and Little John with the Rinky Dinkss became a local hit.  It was played on CHUM 1050, a popular Top 40 Toronto radio station. In December of 1965 It reached No. 29 on the CHUM Chart, dislodging The Beatles' "Day Tripper."

* Johnny's oldest appearance in the NHL took place 32 days after his 45th birthday, on December 10, 1969).  He was the first player in NHL history eligible to collect his pension while still on the active roster.  To date, the oldest goalie to ever play in an NHL game is Maurice "Moe" Roberts (born December 13, 1905)..  Moe Roberts, an American hockey player, appeared in a game for the Chicago Black Hawks on November 25, 1951.  Roberts was the assistant trainer for the Black Hawks and was called on to substitute for the injured regular goaltender Harry Lumley  (backup goalies were not used in those days).  He didn't allow a goal, but the Hawks still lost the game to the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 5-2.  Roberts was 45 years, 11 months and 13 days old when he played that game.  He appeared in a total of only ten NHL games (with the Boston Bruins, New York Americans and Chicago Black Hawks).

*  Johnny was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976.

*  In 2009, Johnny published an autobiography with Bob Duff titled: The China Wall: The Timeless Legend of Johnny Bower

* Johnny resided in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Ontario.

*  In September of 2014, Johnny Bower and two other players were officially honoured with a bronze statue of themselves on "Legend's Row" outside of Toronto's Air Canada Centre. Johnny and fellow Leaf greats, Ted Kennedy and Darryl Sittler, became the first three members of "Legend's Row."

*  On January 1, 2017, Johnny was named one of the hundred greatest players in the NHL's first century.  The ceremony took place at the 2017 Scotiabank Centennial Classic in Toronto.


- Joanne

Reflections and Quotes on Christmas Day 2017

      "Hark the herald angels sing,

    Glory to the new-born king."

    Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"

- Charles Wesley, Christmas Hymn (Altered from "Hark how all the welkin rings. Glory to the King of Kings:)


Today is Christmas Day and if the world ever needed the season's message of hope, it's this year.  2017 has been a horribly difficult year for humanity.  It's been a year of hurricanes, wildfires, right-wing extremism, threats of nuclear war and the egregious actions of the American president.

Here are some words from the late South African leader Nelson Mandela to give you hope as Christians celebrate the birth of Christ and the New Year comes upon us all:

“I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”

- Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
From  Long Walk to Freedom: Autobiography of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela

Being optimistic, however, does not mean we should wear rose-coloured glasses and blissfully ignore serious problems.  The wisest, happiest and most successful people have the ability to balance their idealism with realistic and worthwhile accomplishments.  The problem lies in defining "realistic."  The greatest people often achieve what they have been told is unrealistic or impossible.



Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.

- Attributed to Winston Churchill (1874-1965),
British statesman

Winston Churchill

I do come home at Christmas.  We all do, or we all should.  We all come home, or ought to come home, for a short holiday - the longer,  the better - from the great boarding- school, where we are forever working at our arithmetical states, to take, and give a rest.

- Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English writer
From A Christmas Tree

Charles Dickens

At Christmas, it is necessary to make time to rest and reflect.  We need to ponder and meditate in order to remove ourselves from all the hustle and bustle and the relentless commercialism surrounding us at this time of year.  A simple pause. a look within ourselves, will give us a better appreciation of the season and relieve our stress.  It will allow us to focus on what genuinely matters.  It will give us a chance to assess where we are, where we are going and where we would like to be.  After we reflect, we will be better able to rejoice. We will truly be home.for Christmas.

- Joanne

How To Spot A Money Pit: Property Spending Facts

This infographic provides some facts, including costs, you should be aware of before investing in a property.  (Note: Costs are in British pounds).  It also provides tips about what to look for when purchasing a property and what to avoid.  It is very interesting and informative, particularly if you are planning to buy..  

- Joanne



How To Spot A Money Pit by ABC FINANCE LTD.

Was Alastair Sim the Best Scrooge?

                                                                   

Alastair Sim as Scrooge

For a work established in reiteration, it may be invidious to pick out one definitive version (of Scrooge). However, one actor claimed the part in a way that no one else has managed.  In Scrooge (1951), Alastair Sim utterly possesses the role.  He's a man physically framed for the Dickensian world: huge-eyed and hangdog, at once over the top and subtle, sinister and comic . . . In other words, he was born to play Scrooge.  Sim's performance was so definitive, so excellent, that it produced its own reiteration.

- Michael Newton
From "Bah, humbug! The many faces of Scrooge," The Guardian, December 19, 2015


Although there will always be dispute over which is Alastair Sim's finest screen performance, there's little doubt as to which is his best known.  His 1951 characterisation of Charles Dickens' notorious curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge . . . is generally regarded as definitive.

- Greg Ferrrara, American film critic



Alastair Sim did not receive an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the title role of the 1951 British film Scrooge (released in the United States as A Christmas Carol).  At the 1952 Oscars, it was Humphrey Bogart who won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of a gruff steamer captain in The African Queen.  It turned out to be Bogart's one and only Academy Award victory and, as a big fan of Bogie, I certainly don't begrudge him the honour.  However, I think a strong case can be made that Sim should have won the award.  At the very least, he should have received a nomination.  Outside of the United Kingdom, he didn't seem to get the recognition he deserved.

Alastair George Bell Sim was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on October 9, 1900, the son of Alexander Sim, a Justice of the Peace and a successful tailor.  Alastar was always interested in language, especially the spoken word.  He was very skilled at poetry reading  and served as the Fulton Lecturer in Elocution at New College, Edinburgh University from 1925 to 1930.  In 1948, he was elected rector of Edinburgh University, a post he held until 1951, after which he was made an honorary Doctor of Law.  While still holding his position at the university, he ran his own drama school for children in Edinburgh.

 It was not until he was 30 years old, however, that Alastair Sim launched his professional acting career.  He began performing in London's West End (his first stage appearance was as Messenger in Othello), but it wasn't until he was 35 that he made his film debut.  In the late 1940s and most of the 1950s, Sim was a leading film star in Britain.  Beginning in 1935, he appeared in more than fifty British movies. During World War II, he played Sergeant Bingham in the "Inspector Hornleigh" films," directed by Walter Forde.  His other screen appearances include Green for Danger (1946), Hue and Cry (1947), The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950), Scrooge (1951). The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954) and An Inspector Calls (1954).  In 1950, the year before Scrooge was released, he was voted the most popular film actor in Britain in a national poll.

Ebenezer Scrooge was to become his most memorable role. Nobody played the old miser like Alastair Sim. With his facial expressions, his mannerisms and his wonderful voice, Sim was able to capture the very essence of Dickens' character.  He succeeded in making audiences understand why Scrooge became a reclusive skinflint and also why he was able to find redemption. Some details of Scrooge's early life, not mentioned in Charles Dickens' 1843 novella, were added to the 1951 movie, providing some motivation for Scrooge's behaviour.  During the sequence with the Ghost of Christmas Past, for example, we learn that his sister died in childbirth, giving birth to his nephew, Fred, which explains Scrooge's animosity toward Fred.  We also learn that Ebenezer's mother also lost her life giving birth to him, causing his father to harbour a grudge against him.

In my mind, Sim is Scrooge and the 1951 film version is the best version.  It's a Yuletide tradition with me.  I watch it every year at Christmastime and never tire of it.  It should be watched in its original black and white for maximum enjoyment. A colorized version of the film was released in 1989 and is included on many DVDs as an extra.  However, the black and white contrast better reflects the misery and poverty of Victorian London during the Industrial Revolution.  It makes the ghosts far more frightening.

The film provides a wonderful adaptation of Dickens' story in a concise 87 minutes, thanks to the screenplay by Noel Langley and editing by Clive Donner.  Its cinematography, lighting and musical score are truly superb, as is Alastair Sim's supporting cast, particularly Mervyn Johns as Bob Cratchit, Michael Hordern as Jacob Marley and Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge's long-suffering housekeeper.  One of the most unforgettable scenes in the film occurs near its finish, when Mrs. Dilber encounters a deliriously happy reformed Scrooge.  She does not no what to make of his behaviour and is confused and frightened.

Kathleen Harrison as a frightened Mrs. Dilber

In 1951, United Artists released Scrooge in the United States, under the title A Christmas Carol.  The film was originally scheduled to be shown at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for Christmas.  However, theatre management deemed it too gruesome and the showing was moved to a nearby theatre instead.  The film received mixed reviews in the United States and it was a disappointment at the box office.  On the other hand, it was one of the most popular films in Britain in 1952.

Some great actors have played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in other film versions of Charles Dickens' Christmas classic.  The first sound version, a 1935 British version directed by Henry Edwards, features Seymour Hicks as Scrooge. Other actors who have played Scrooge include Reginald Owen in A Christmas Carol (1938), Albert Finney in a musical entitled Scrooge (1970) and George C. Scott in a CBS made-for-television movie called A Christmas Carol (1984).  The latest actor to portray Ebenezer Scrooge is Christopher Plummer in the film The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017).  It is the story of how Charles Dickens came to create Scrooge and the other classic characters in A Christmas Carol, such as Tiny Tim.  I've seen it and I enjoyed it immensely.

Seymour Hicks as Scrooge (1935)

Reginald Owen as Scrooge (1938)

Albert Finney as Scrooge (1970)

George C. Scott as Scrooge (1984)

My favourite Scrooge, Alastair Sim, died of lung cancer on August 19, 1976.  He was 75 years old at the time of his passing in London, England. Sim left a magnificent legacy. on film.  Every year at Christmastime, it is my custom to watch the Sim play Scrooge.  I never grow tired of this timeless Yuletide tradition and it never ceases to delight me.


END NOTES

* Alastair Sim married actress Naomi Plaskitt in 1932.  They remained together until his death in 1976.  They had one daughter, Merlith.  After his death, Plaskitt published a memoir, Dance and Skylark: Fifty Years with Alastair Sim, in 1987. She also wrote articles for Oldie magazine.

Naomi was born November 30, 1913 in Bedfordshire, England, but spent her childhood mainly in Scotland.  According to her obituary in The Guardian, she first met Alastair in 1926 when she was only 12 years old. They met at a rehearsal for an amateur production of W.B.Yeat's The Land of Heart's Desire, organized by the Scottish Community Drama Association.

Naomi died in England on August 3, 1999.at the age of 85.  She and Alastair appeared in one film together, Wedding Group (1936).  She played the role of a maid in a Scottish manse and Alastair portrayed the minister.

Naomi Sim

* In 1953, Alastair Sim was appointed to the Order of the British Empire.  However, he refused knighthood in the early 1970s.



- Joanne     

The Evolution of Video Game Storage

Here's an infographic that shows how the storage of video games has changed through the years.  As games became more detailed and more sophisticated, more storage was required.  Thus began the evolution from cartridges to discs to next-generation consoles.  This infographic traces this movement to internal memory.  I hope that you find it interesting, entertaining and informative.          

- Joanne      
                                                                                                                          

The Evolution of Video Game Storage by Storage Centres.

A Vision for Toronto

Municipal elections will be held in Toronto on October 22, 2018.  In less than a year, voters will determine the mayor of Canada's largest city (the fourth largest in North America).  So far, there are two candidates in the race - John Tory, the incumbent mayor, and former Etobicoke North, Ward 2 City Coucillor Doug Ford.  Ford, 53, is the older brother of ex-Toronto mayor Rob Ford.and he supports his late brother's disastrous right-wing policies.  If it comes down to a choice between the two, I will have to choose John Tory.   However, neither shares the vision I have for my city.

Almost every day, I travel by public transit.  I see men and women begging inside and outside TTC stations, Recently I witnessed three down-and-out men lying side-by-side on the floor of the Bay subway station.  Last month, it was revealed that at least 70 homeless people have died in Toronto this year.  Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's medical officer of health, warned that the sample is limited and that more hospitals and agencies are being urged to turn over their data.  However, 70 is probably lower than the actual number of homeless who will die in 2017. This is a shocking figure for such an affluent city.  That is why combating homelessness and poverty must be of the highest priority.  There should be more affordable housing, close consultation with the homeless themselves and better care and treatment for alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness.

The Scarborough subway should be cancelled immediately.  The 3.35-billion one-stop subway is not worth the cost to taxpayers.  In fact, it is an egregious waste of money.  (LRT is the way to go).  The savings could be invested in infrastructure that would benefit the people of Scarborough.  Unfortunately, both Tory and Ford support this grievous mistake.

As for the TTC, there are far too many delays and interruptions in service.  It is not dependable.  That is a serious problem that needs to be tackled.  Every weekend, stations are closed for signal upgrading.  This has been going on for a long time and it is annoying to subway patrons who are herded onto slow-moving shuttle buses.

Toronto needs more green spaces, more outdoor squares and more outdoor seating.  One of the joys of European cities is their squares.  Can you imagine Italy without its piazzas or London without Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus?  Here in Toronto, the Yonge-Dundas Square could be much improved.  It needs more green and some art.  There should be a beautiful square at Yonge and Bloor, but alas, the monstrous "The One" is being built there instead.

There is a woeful lack of public washrooms in Toronto, especially in TTC stations.  Also, the city is definitely not as clean as it used to be.  There is far too much litter and too many cigarette butts on our streets.  We are in need of an anti-litter campaign.   

Developers have had their way in this city for much too long. That is why you can hardly tell that Toronto is located on the shores of Lake Ontario.  The lake is surrounded and concealed by ugly high-rise condos.  Compare that with what Chicago has done with its waterfront.  It's too late to fix that, but I would still put more limits and regulation on development in this city.

The mayor of this city should be an ardent supporter of public libraries, museums and art galleries.  He or she should ensure that they receive adequate funding.  Great cities are filled with aquariums, theatres, opera houses and planetariums. Toronto has the Ripley Aquarium of Canada and the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.  It used to have the McLaughlin Planetarium. right next to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).  The planetarium opened its doors in 1968 and closed in November 1995 due to provincial budget cuts when Mike Harris was premier.. It suffered from declining attendance when the ROM underwent major construction beginning in 1978.  However, attendance improved when the ROM reopened in 1984.

For a brief time, after its closure, the McLaughlin Planetarium housed the Children's Own Museum.  It is currently being used as a storage and office facility for the Royal Ontario Museum.  In 2009, however, ROM revealed that it had sold the planetarium building and its site to the University of Toronto for $22 million.  In 2014, the university announced plans for new facilities to be constructed on the site.  Sadly, our former planetarium faces demolition, although there is a campaign to save it, supported by Jeff Balmer, associate professor of the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  There is also an online petition to preserve the building.

The concerns of Toronto's Black community would definitely be of high importance to the mayor.  He or she should work hard to try to improve the relationship between Blacks and police in this city. and fight racial profiling.

And yes, I am not afraid to say it.  The mayor of Toronto should should call for the raising of property taxes, especially those of the 1 per cent in the higher income bracket.  At the same time, he or she should respect tax payer's money and try to ensure that their hard-earned dollars are spent wisely and prudently.

We all want a more livable city.  We all want services.  The money has to come from somewhere.  It doesn't grow on trees.  However, if we improve the health and welfare of Torontonians, we will reduce crime and poverty.  Tax money will be saved on health care and prison facilities.

I am proud of my city.  It has so much to offer and such great diversity.  However, it has often been ill-served by its politicians.  The people of Toronto deserve much better.  That's why I urge Torontonians to take time to study the issues.  Don't fall for simplistic catch phrases such as "subways, subways, subways" or "war on cars" or "We're being taxed to death."

John Tory is expected to defeat Doug Ford handily.  However, he should not be handed a second term in office without really debating the issues I have mentioned.  He and Ford need a challenge from the left.  Otherwise, the two of them will try to outdo each other in trying to present themselves as fiscally conservative.  They will spend the campaign talking about closing libraries and cutting programs.

It will actually benefit John Tory to have a strong progressive challenger.  It's not good for a politician to get too easy a ride and he may become complacent.during a second term in office.  He'd be a much better mayor if he is forced to really defend some of his positions, especially his stand on the Scarborough subway.

John Tory

The problem is that no progressive candidate seems to be willing to run in 2018, at least not yet.  The left seems to have conceded the election to Tory. It seems content to bide its time until 2022.  After all, it takes a lot of time, money and effort to run for mayor of a large municipality such as Toronto.  Not too many want to go through that if they don't feel they have a chance of winning.  Nevertheless, it is still my hope that someone will come forth.  It is not to late for someone else to emerge as a viable candidate.  The next election is four years from now and that's a long time in the life of a city.


- Joanne

The Rise of Lord Alan Sugar

Here is an infographic about the rise of BBC host, Lord Alan Sugar, best known as the long-time host of the The Apprentice in the UK.  It is a timeline of his life and his rise from obscurity to one of Britain's most influential businessmen.  I hope you find it informative and entertaining.

- Joanne


The Rise Of Lord Sugar by ABC FINANCE LTD.

Pug or Partner? Are You Better Off With A Dog?

bDog lovers should enjoy this.  It's an infograhic on the financial, emotional and practical benefits of having a pug as opposed to a human partner.  I hope you find it amusing and informative.  (Note that costs are in British pounds)

- Joanne


pug or partner? by Moneypod.

Roy Halladay: My Tribute to the Doc

"By all accounts, the baseball world lost not only a star and a great competitor but also an even greater man, one who had earned virtually universal respect within the industry and among fans.  His immense talent may have been matched only by his tireless work ethic and his humility."

- Jay Jaffe
Sports Illustrated, November 8, 2017

Roy Halladay's premature death came as a shock to baseball fans, especially those in the two cities where he made his mark - Toronto and Philadelphia.  On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, Roy lost his life when his single-engine plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida.  He was 40 years old, much too young to die, especially for a man with such a zest for life.

Halladay was the Toronto Blue Jays' first-round selection in the 1995 major league draft. In total, Roy spent 16 season in Major League Baseball, 12 of them in Toronto, the remainder in Philly.  He was an eight-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner (22 wins in 2003 for the Blue Jays and 21 wins in 2010 for the Phillies). The lanky right-hander from Colorado left the game with some impressive career statistics. He had a win-loss record of 203-105, an ERA of 3.38 and 2,117 strikeouts.  Halladay was durable and resilient.  He had the strength and determination to go deep into games.  At the time of his retirement in 2013, he was the major league leader in complete games.among active pitchers with 67.  He had also racked up 20 career shutouts.

Roy's nickname "Doc" (after Wild West gunslinger Doc Holliday) was bestowed upon him by the late Tom Cheek, longtime radio voice of the Toronto Blue Jays.  He endeared himself to Torontonians because of his philanthropy.  He gave back to the community.  During his time with the Jays, Roy and his wife Brandy invited children from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children and their families to watch games in  "Doc's Box" at the Rogers Centre.  Halladay also had a stipulation in his contract by which he donated $100,000 each year to the Jays Care Foundation.and he was nominated several times for the Roberto Clemente Award for his support for underprivileged children.

When Roy left the Blue Jays after the 2009 season, Toronto fans were disappointed and saddened.  At the same time, they understood why he had to go.  It was best for Doc.  He wanted an opportunity to compete in the playoffs and the World Series before his career ended.  He didn't think that was going to happen in Toronto.  So, he went to Philadelphia, where he fulfilled his dream of playing in the postseason.  He simply wanted a chance to play on a World Series-winning team.

In December of 2009, the Phillies acquired the Blue Jays' ace in a trade for minor league prospects Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor.  For Roy, the 2010 season in the City of Brotherly Love was unforgettable.  It was simply magical.  On May 29, 2010, he pitched a perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies, defeating the Florida Marlins by a score of 1-0.  It was the 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history.  Halladay followed that up by throwing a no-hitter in his very first postseason start, on October 6, 2010.  It was only the second no-hitter in Major League Baseball history (Don Larsen threw a perfect game for the New York Yankees in the 1956 World Series).  Halladay's postseason no-hitter made him the fifth pitcher in major league history to throw two no-hitters in one season.  It came at the expense of the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Divisional Championship).

Although the Phillies did not advance to the 2010 World Series, Roy's 21 regular season victories and his perfect game earned him his second Cy Young Award.  He joined the exclusive group of only six pitchers in MLB history to win the Cy Young in both the American and National Leagues.  It is a group that includes such luminaries as Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Gaylord Perry.

During the 2012 season, Roy reached another milestone in his illustrious career.  He became the 67th MLB pitcher to record 2000 strikeouts.  During  2013 season, however, Halladay was plagued with shoulder problems and had a 6.82 earned-run average in 13 starts with the Phillies.  His fastball averaged only 88 miles per hour.  Realizing that he was no longer capable of playing at his former level of excellence, Roy decided it was time to retire and spend more time with his family.  He explained his decision with these words: "There's a lot of travel and a lot of time away from family and loved ones.  I felt this is a great time for me to get back involved and help my kids. They're starting to strive for their dreams and that's something I want to be part of, so I'm looking forward to that."

Roy with family

In December of 2013, Halladay signed a one-day, free-agent contract so that he could retire as a Blue Jay.  In doing so, Roy demonstrated the high regard he held for the city of Toronto and the Blue Jays organization.  At the time, he stated, "I was very lucky to have a lot of people in the (Blue Jays) organization really develop and help me become the player I was able to become."

By no means did Roy intend to slight the city of Philadelphia or the Phillies organization.  In fact, he he said, "I want the Phillies organization to know how much I enjoyed my time there.  How much they meant to my family and what a major part of my career they were."  It was just that Toronto had given him his start and had stuck with him when he struggled during the early days of his career.

Last June, I attended the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in St. Mary's Ontario.  Roy was one of the inductees, along with Montreal Expos great Vladimir Guerrero, Baseball Canada president Ray Carter legendary umpire, Doug Hudlin and the 2015 gold-medal winning Pan Am Canadian Baseball team.  Although I didn't get an opportunity to speak to Roy, I was delighted to see him there.

I am so thankful hat Roy Halladay played in Toronto for a dozen years.  My only regret is that he was unable to play on a winning team here and it's unfortunate that he failed to secure a World Series ring in Philadelphia.  However, he deserves to be voted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown when he is scheduled to appear on the 2019 ballot.  I admit I'm biased, but I hope Halladay is inducted as a Toronto Blue Jay.

Apart from Roy's excellence as a ball player, he was a wonderful human being and an exemplary family man,  He was completely devoted to Brandy and his two sons, Braden and Ryan.  He wasn't loud-mouthed, crass or boastful.  He was the kind of athlete you would want your children to emulate.

R.I.P. Roy Halladay.


- Joanne

Trump versus Kim

   
U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have been playing a dangerous game.  In truth, both men have been behaving like children fighting in a schoolyard.  They have been hurling insults at each other in the manner of pubescent adolescents.  What an ungodly spectacle!  It is truly lamentable that two such immature men should wield so much power in the world.

Kim Jong-il is only 33 years old  and he is a ruthless dictator.  Donald Trump is 71 year old and he is the purported leader of the free world.  He is the head of state of a democracy which is supposed to stand for liberty and defend human rights.  Both live a lavish lifestyle and they are both narcissists.

Kim called Trump a "dotard."  and Trump's derisive pet name for Kim is "Rocket Man"  When Kim referred to Trump as "old," the president responded sarcastically, "I'd never call him short and fat."  This repartee would be comical, if it weren't so frightening and if the stakes weren't so high.  However, we can't lose sight of the fact that there is a genuine risk of nuclear war.  For now, Trump and Kim are exchanging insults, but what if they start hurling nuclear missiles?  What if North Korea misinterprets one of Trump's loathsome midnight Twitter messages?

This is not a chess game.  These are not schoolboys at recess.  This is not some contest to prove who is more macho.  These two men have lives in their hands - human lives.  If they press a button, they can wipe out innocent human beings in seconds. Kim is a brutal,totalitarian  and he behaves like a brutal totalitarian.  Trump conduct is another matter.  Much more is expected from the leader of a country which prides itself on its democratic ideals.  The President of the United States should not demean himself and his country by stooping to the level of the dictator of North Korea.

Trump's stance has not made people feel any safer.   According to the Los Angeles Times, Hawaii is already making preparations in the event of a surprise nuclear attack by North Korea.  Television commercials will begin airing advising Hawaiians "to get inside and stay inside" in case a bomb drops.  Concerned residents and state officials are preparing warning siren to go off  on December 1st

In August, North Korea launched a missile over Japan.  According to CNN, their state media announced that "it was the first step of the military operation (of the North Korean military) in the Pacific and a meaningful prelude into containing Guam (a U.S. territory).

Some downplay Korea's nuclear threat.  After all, Kim may be nasty, but he certainly doesn't want to self-destruct or give up his hold on power.  Remember that this is a man who reportedly had his uncle executed and his half-brother killed in an airport assassination after learning of a Chinese-backed plan to remove him from power.

Donald Trump, it seems, is the wild card in this situation.  He's unstable and unpredictable.  That's what worries me.  What a tragedy it would be if the United States and North Korea stumbled into war.  I only hope that sanity prevails.


- Joanne

More Reflections on War and Peace on Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada and other Commonwealth countries.  It is Veterans Day in the United States.  On November 11th, 2010, I posted a short essay about why I wear a poppy on Remembrance Day.  Here is that essay again, along with some quotations on war and peace.  I believe it is especially relevant given the current tensions in the world and the threat of nuclear annihilation.

Why I Wear a Poppy on Remembrance Day

Without equivocation, I believe that war is an abomination, a blight upon humanity. Yet every Remembrance Day, I wear a bright red poppy. Here's why. I wear a poppy to honour the memory of those who have suffered and died in war. I also wear it to remind myself of the folly and futility of war. Yes, war may sometimes be necessary to rid the world of a scourge such as Nazism. It may be the only recourse to overcome a madman like Adolf Hitler. However, there is no glamour in war, only hardship, poverty and death. It is not glorious and it is not adventurous. It is unspeakably brutal and it takes the lives of innocent people. It causes untold destruction and it cruelly separates families. It forces its victims away from their homes and into refugee camps. In times of war, the innocent are the most vulnerable and they always suffer the most.

I wear a poppy for those who died in the muddy trenches World War I. The “Great War” was an ugly and unnecessary war. When it began in August of 1914, many thought it would be a grand adventure and that the troops would be home by Christmas. They didn’t realize that such a great number of those eager, youthful combatants would never see their homes again. Sadly, those young people went to war and died because their countries were engaged in a battle for colonies and for military and economic superiority. What a waste of human potential!

I wear a poppy for the victims of World War II and Korea and Vietnam. I wear it for those who suffered under Nazism and fascism and for those who sacrificed their lives to end the reign of those cursed ideologies. I wear it for the victims of Stalin and Mao and all those who currently live under totalitarianism and dictatorship.

I wear a poppy to remember all the women who have been violated by soldiers during wartime. I wear it for the 6 million who perished in the Holocaust and for all the victims of genocide. I wear it for the 300,000 who died in Nanking in 1937 and I wear it for those who lost their lives when the deadly atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I wear it for the victims of Pol Pot and his killing fields. I wear it for the children of war, the babes in arms who begin their lives in poverty and horror. I wear it for the orphans and widows of war. They suffer because the military-industrial complex and arms dealers throughout the world have a vested interest in war. Without it, they would not be so affluent. Their money would be spent on education, health care and the alleviation of poverty.

I wear a poppy to remember the mistakes of history. This is an imperfect world and humans are imperfect creatures. Evil exists and it will take root and spread if we allow it to do so. The only answer is to educate the world's youth so that they will not support another Adolf Hitler. We must make certain that young people are well-versed in history and that they know the truth about war, genocide and extremism of both the right-wing and the left-wing variety. They must be made aware that extremism leads to death, misery and totalitarianism.

I wear a poppy for the all the victims of terrorism and for their families. I wear it to remember those who perished on September 11, 2001. I wear it for all those who have been maimed and broken by war, both physically and psychologically. I wear it for those who lack basic human rights. I will not forget. On this November 11th and every November 11th, I will remember them all and I will hope for peace.


QUOTATIONS ON WAR AND PEACE

Older men declare war.  But it is the youth who must fight and die.

- Herbert Hoover
Speech at the Republican National Convention, Chicago, June 27, 1944


I have never met anyone who wasn't against war.  Even Hitler and Mussolini were, according to themselves.

- David Low (1891-1963), British political cartoonist
From New York Times Magazine, February 10, 1946


History is littered with wars which everybody knew would never happen.

- Enoch Powell, (1912-1998), British politician
From his speech to the Conservative Party Conference, October 19, 1967


I have seen war.  I have seen war on land and sea.  I have seen blood running from the wounded.  I have seen men coughing out their gassed lungs.  I have seen the dead in the mud.  I have seen cities destroyed.  I have seen 200 limping, exhausted men come out of line - the survivors of a regiment of 1,000 that went forward 48 hours before.  I ave seen children starving.  I have seen the agony of mothers and wives.  I hate war.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Speech at Chautauqua, New York, August 14, 1936


The absolute pacifist is a bad citizen; times come when force must be used to uphold right, justice and ideals.

- Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947)


What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?

- Mahatma Gandhi
From Non-Violence in Peace and War [1942]


There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell.

- William T. Sherman, American Union general
From his speech at Columbus, Ohio, August 11, 1880


Peace can not be kept by force.  It can only be achieved by understanding.

Albert Einstein


Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.  This world in arms is not spending money alone.  It is spending the sweat of its labourers, the genius of it scientists, the hopes of its children . . . This is not a way of life at all in any true sense.  Under the cloud of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Speech before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, 1953


War is nothing but a continuation of politics with the admixture of other means.

Karl von Clausewitz (1780-1831), Prussian soldier and military theorist
From On War   


You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.

Malcolm X
Speech in New York, January 7, 1965


War appears to be as old as mankind, but peace is a modern invention.

Henry Maine (1822-1888), English jurist
From lecture delivered in Cambridge, 1887, in International Law [1888]


You can't switch on peace like a light.

- Mo Mowlam (1949-2005), British politician
From Independent, September 6, 1999


Peace is not the absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.

- Benedict (Baruch) Spinoza (1632-1677), Dutch Jewish philosopher
From Theological-Political Treatise [1670]


They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not lift sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

- Isaiah 2:4



- Joanne