Putin has something on Trump. But what?

I am becoming more and more convinced that Vladimir Putin has something really big on Donald Trump.  It may not be just one thing.  It may be a compilation of compromising material and huge debts, political personal and financial.  It appears that Trump owes Putin, bigtime. and that Putin is taking every advantage of his leverage over Trump.

Before his departure from the recent G-7 summit in Alberta, Canada, Trump whined and complained that Putin should have been there.  He declared that kicking the Russian dictator out of the group was a "very big mistake" which helped pave the way for the war in Ukraine (Russia was part of the group of eight (G-8) until it annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014).

Trump blamed former U.S. President  Barack Obama and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for Russia's expulsion from the group.  As usual, Trump had it wrong.  Trudeau didn't become Canada's PM until 2015.  It was Trudeau's predecessor, Conservative PM Stephen Harper, who helped expel Putin.  Kicking Russia out for its annexation of Crimea was a move that was popular among American conservatives back then.

Trump was also dead wrong in his assertion that the expulsion of Russia from the G-8 led to Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.  Putin invaded Ukraine because he wanted Russian control of Ukraine.  It was an unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation, and Putin is a war criminal.  So, why does Trump persist in defending this ruthless Russian leader?

It's no surprise that Trump avoided tougher sanctions on Russia at the G-7 summit.  In a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump declared that "Europeans should do it first."  He said he wanted to continue with stalled peace negotiations before hitting Russia with sanctions.  When reporters questioned him as to whether he was on board with Europe on new sanctions against Russia, he replied, "well Europe is saying that, but they haven't done it yet."

Trump went on to say. "When I sanction a country, that costs the U.S. a  lot of money - a tremendous amount of money. It's not just, let's sign a document.  You're talking about billions and billions of dollars.  Sanctions are not that easy.  It's just not a one-way street."  Maybe so, but why would the high cost of imposing sanctions have stopped Trump if he really wanted to do so?  

According to ABC reporter Rachel Scott,. Trump said he would be "open to" Putin to mediating the  current Mideast conflict between Israel and Iran.  He claimed that Putin could play a stabilizing role in the region.  Yeah, right!  Mercifully. French President Emmanuel Macron firmly dismissed Trump's proposal.  He stated that Moscow does not have the credibility for such a role.

In February of 2022, when Joe Biden was president, Donald Trump called Putin "smart" while the Russian despot pressed on with his large scale invasion of Ukraine.  "The problem isn't Putin is smart - which of course his is smart - it's that our leaders are dumb," Trump said.  He claimed that NATO nations "are not so smart, they are looking the opposite of smart."  He then blamed the Biden administration for the invasion, which Putin falsely claimed was justified because Ukraine was run by "drug-addicted, neo-Nazi" leaders."

When Trump is angry or upset with someone or something, he does not hesitate to condemn that person on social media.  The worst he has ever said about Putin's Russia is that he is "disappointed."  He's been much harsher with former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.  However, despite Trump's favourable attitude toward Putin, their bromance appears to be one-sided.  Trump presents himself as an alpha male, and he is an authoritarian.  There is little doubt that Putin has the strongman qualities that Trump greatly admires, but there must be something much more than that for Trump to go out of his way to mollify him.

Putin does not seem to share the same admiration for Trump.  He just uses Trump for his own purposes.  Trump's support for the murderous Russian falls right into Putin's hands.  Trump is Putin's useful idiot.  Furthermore, Putin probably holds the key to an embarrassing or horrific secret in Trump's past, a secret that Trump can't risk having revealed. 

Alexander Vindman, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel who testified against Trump at his 2019 impeachment trial, had this to say during an interview with Morning Joe on MSNBC on February 28, 2025, as he accused Trump of betraying Ukraine to serve the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin.  

"I am not big into conspiracies because I see government as a leaky sieve - things just don't stay secret. But now I 'm starting to wonder," asked Vindman, "what does Putin have on Trump that he's willing to bend over so hard, to bend over backwards to really support Putin's agenda?  It doesn't make a huge amount of sense.  He's not getting anything for it right now.  He's giving away the farm."

Donald Trump likes to think he's perfected the art of the deal.  He wants to be known as a great deal maker.  Here's what Vindman had to say about Trump's dealing with Putin.  "I'm not sure what kind of deal he's making, where he's giving everything his opponent wants, nothing in return, maybe the promise, the dangle of something in the future."

Trump has made no demands on Putin and he refuses to hold Putin responsible for the 2022 invasion. He claims that Putin only talks to him.  Right!  Nobody else matters!

Perhaps we will never know the exact details of what Putin has on Donald Trump.  It may be related to the Steele Dossier, the controversial political opposition research report on Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.  The report was compiled by counterintelligence specialist Christopher Steele.  It contains allegations of wrongdoing, conspiracy and co-operation between Trump's election campaign and the Russian government.  In 2017, the file was published as an incomplete 35-page compilation of memos. To be fair, none of the allegations have been verified.  Steele considered them to be "raw intelligence - not established facts, but a starting point for further investigation."

There is also the possibility Trump's defence of Putin may be related to Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. There was a time when Trump and Epstein were quite chummy.  Billionaire Elon Musk recently posted that Trump's name is in the still-sealed "Epstein Files," the U.S. government documents about the disgraced wealthy financier and convicted sex offender.  Epstein died in prison in 2019 of what the authorities called an apparent suicide.  Musk claimed that the "Epstein Files" haven't been released because Trump is in them.  

Musk has since deleted his explosive allegations from his X social media platform, but I can't help wondering if the Russians themselves have some damning evidence about Trump's relationship with Epstein.  This is pure speculation, of course.  How reliable is the word of Elon Musk in this instance?  Who knows for sure?.  I'm just considering all the angles and various reasons why Donald Trump is so beholden to Vladimir Putin.  

A Daily Beast reporter, Julia Davis, revealed part of a Tass Russian News Agency article that quotes Vladimir Putin's aide, Niikolay Patruchev, saying that "to achieve success in the (2016) election, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations.  A responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them."  What are these forces?  Was there a concerted online foreign disinformation campaign to assist Trump's 2016 election campaign?  According to Microsoft News, "American intelligence has already determined that Russia worked to help Trump's (2025) campaign, as it had in the past.  However, there has been do direct proof of collusion between Trump and Russia - not by the Trump-maligned Mueller Report, nor since."

In, the early 1990s, Donald Trump faced financial ruin.  He had amassed massive personal debt. Two of his businesses, the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City and the Plaza Hotel in New York had declared bankruptcy. In the fall of 1992, Trump made a deal with U.S. banks to work off almost a billion dollars of what he owned.  After that, no U.S. bank would lend him money. 

However, Trump eventually made a comeback,  According to Michael Hirsh, a columnist for Foreign Policy, "foreign money played a large role in reviving his fortunes.  In particular, investment by wealthy people from Russia and former Soviet republics." 

 Donald Trump's  longtime architect, Alan Lapidus, told Foreign Policy that based on what he knew from the internal workings of the Trump Organization, Trump "could not get anyone in the United States to lend him anything.  It was all coming out of Russia.  His involvement with Russia was deeper than he's acknowledged."

Glenda Blair, a Chicago-based investigative journalist, has studied Trump closely.  She is the author of a definitive biography of the Trump family entitled The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a President.  Blair has written that "Trump was on the Titanic heading down.  Everyone's drowning around him . . . Suddenly he gets saved.  It's almost like a spaceship landed right next to where he was in the water."

In 2021, The Guardian reported that documents it obtained from a top-level Kremlin meeting in 2016 appear to say that Russia had compromising information on Donald Trump.  The newspaper stated that it verified the documents and that they reveal a plan to help Trump win the 2016 election.  There have long been rumours that Russia had lurid information about Trump's behaviour on a business trip.

Evidence suggests that Donald Trump owes some kind of huge unpaid debt to Russia.  Unfortunately, Ukraine is paying the price for Trump's dealings with Russia and his return to the Oval Office.  Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is the one who is benefiting from Trump's actions and his decisions.

SOURCES:  Foreign Policy, "How Russian Money Helped Save Trump's Business," by Michael Hirsh, December 21, 2018; Business Insider, "Leaked Kremlin documents support claim that Russia has compromising material on Trump, report says," by Tom Porter, July 15, 2021;  Wion, '"What does Putin have on him?' Key witness accuses Trump of betraying Zelensky as both leaders meet," by Prapti Upadhayay, February 28, 2025; The New Voice of Ukraine, "Trump dodges tougher Russian sanctions at G7 summit," June 17, 2025

- Joanne

José Bautista and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies

On Saturday, I spent a wonderful afternoon at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Mary's, Ontario.  This year one of the inductees was Joey Bats himself - José Bautista.  Above is a photo of José signing autographs at Saturday's festivities.  

Bautista, a right fielder and third baseman, spent 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, mostly with the Toronto Blue Jays.  He played for four different teams before the Pittsburgh Pirates traded him to the Blue Jays in August of 2008.  In 2010, he slugged 54 home runs, the most ever hit by a Blue Jay in one season.  Yet, what most fans will always remember is José's epic bat flip to emphasize his go-ahead, three-run homer in the decisive Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series between the Jays and the Texas Rangers. 

I was impressed by Bautista's speech in St. Mary's.  He did not recite a list of his accomplishments.  He focused on thanking those who had given him support as well as his Blue Jay teammates and other Dominican players.  He thanked his family, his wife and daughters, who were in attendance.  He also thanked his parents for emphasizing the importance of education.  José learned to speak English at a young age and he is very fluent in the language.

Bautista

If you are a Canadian baseball fam, it's worth the trip to St. Mary's on induction day or just to see the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.  The quaint, historic town is located about on the Thames River, 20 kilometres southwest of Stratford, Ontario and about 170 kilometres southwest of the Great Toronto Area.  St Mary's is nicknamed "Stonetown" because of its many homes, churches and commercial buildings that are constructed of local limestone.

This year's Hall of Fame festivities were hosted by Sportsnet's Hazel Mae. She introduced longtime Toronto Star baseball writer and sports columnist Dave Perkins. Dave accepted the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's 2024 Jack Graney Award.  The Graney Award is given to "a member of the media who has made significant contributions to baseball in Canada through their life's work.

In addition to Bautista, other inductees included the following: Greg Hamilton from Peterborough, Ontario, who has served as Baseball Canada's Head Coach and Director of Men's National Teams since 1998, Erik Bedard, a Franco-Ontarian major league pitcher, who was the staff ace for the Baltimore Orioles, the late Amanda Asay, from Prince George British Columbia, who played on the Canada women's national baseball team from 2005 to 2021,  the late Arleene Johnson of Saskatchewan, an infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1948 and the late Gerry Snyder, who served on the Montreal City Council and was instrumental in bringing the Expos and Major League Baseball to Montreal.

Erik Bedard was unable to attend the ceremonies.  Gerry Snyder's son was there to represent his father, who passed away in 2007.  Arleene Johnson passed away in 2017 at the age of 93.  Her daughter made a speech about her contribution to Canadian woman's baseball.  Amanda Asay died in a skiing accident in 2022 at the age of 33.  Her father spoke on her behalf.  

Amanda Asay

José Bautista is from the Dominican Republic, but Canadian citizenship is not required to be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame. This year's inductees have all made lasting contributions to baseball in this country.

END NOTES

* I said hello to former Blue Jays outfielder Lloyd Moseby who was in attendance.  Some Montreal Expos fans always attend the ceremonies wearing their Expos caps.

- Joanne

Language corner: My list of annoying words and phrases

Okay.  Here is my list of the words and expressions that I find the most annoying.  This is not just a highly subjective list.  People I have spoken to are also annoyed by some of the words are phrases that are on this list.  So, without further ado, here is my list.

- Joanne

MY LIST OF ANNOYING WORDS AND PHRASES

It is what it is.  That expression means absolutely nothing.

Spinster:  Why isn't there a similar word for an unmarried man or lifelong bachelor?  It's sexist.

Nag:  Another sexist word.  In the world of horse racing, the term "nag" is often used to describe female horses.  With human beings, it's almost always a woman who is described as a nag.  

My bad.  Why can't we just say, "I was wrong." or "I made a mistake?

I could care less.  It should be "I couldn't care less."

It goes without saying . . . Well then, why say it?

No offence, but . . . is usually followed by something offensive.

I'm just saying . . . I'm not sure what message that this expression is supposed to convey.  Is the speaker unsure about how his words will be received?  It sounds apologetic.

Basically is used far too often and unnecessarily. It has become a filler. It should be used to mean "fundamentally" or "in the most essential respects."

Like don't get me started on how like is used in like three or four times in like every sentence.

Literally when it is used to denote something in a figurative or exaggerated sense, not an actual sense.  For example, it's ridiculous to say "I literally died."

The honest truth: If a truth isn't honest, then what is it?  The expression is redundant.

Everything happens for a reason is often meant to provide comfort.  However, not everything happens for a reason.  Some things just happen.  Period.

Why concern about the environment has moved to the backburner

In the American election last November, and in our Canadian election in April, the environment was not a huge issue.  Why not?  Well, there are several reasons.  Let's start with the American election.  Donald Trump doesn't care about climate change.  He thinks it's a Chinese hoax.  He wants to revive the coal industry.  He thinks that wind turbines cause cancer.  He just wants to "drill, baby, drill!"  During the 2024 presidential election campaign, the environment was not a popular topic among American voters.  They were more understandably concerned about inflation and the cost of living.  The price of groceries and gas affected them directly.  Inflation seemed so much closer to home.  So, despite Trump's horrible business record (he has filed for bankruptcy protection six times), many Americans thought he would be better for the economy than his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.  

Americans were concerned about kitchen table issues and immigration.  Trump managed to convince many of them that caravans of undocumented immigrants were about to pounce on their communities, causing crime and havoc.  He repeated this lie over and over, playing into people's fears and bigotry.  What they didn't understand is that climate change, immigration and the economy are inseparable.  Each of those issues affects the other. Pollution is the cause of numerous illnesses and deaths worldwide. Everyone pays with the loss of life and the cost of healthcare.

Many lives have also been lost by the hurricanes and flooding and wildfires caused by climate change.  These disasters not only cost precious live, but they cost millions in tax dollars.  There doesn't have to be a choice between having a good economy and combatting climate change.  A green economy creates green jobs.  Furthermore, many immigrants have been forced to leave their homes due to climate change.  They have no choice but to become refugees.

Since his return to the presidency, Trump has been erratic and unpredictable.  His campaign to impose tariffs and his overall handling of the economy have been disastrous.  Many Americans, with the exception of Trump's brain-washed die-hard MAGA loyalists, regret having voted for him.  Of course the oil companies want to preserve their wealth.  Oil is their cash cow.  They want Trump to promote fossil fuels.  

With regard to the environment, extreme right-wing conservatives are different from their more moderate counterparts.  Moderates believe that conservatives should conserve the environment.  Here in Canada, we call those moderate conservatives "Red Tories."  Regrettably, there aren't many Red Tories left  in this country anymore.  They are a dying breed, replaced by populists and more far f right U.S. Republican types.

The far right, however, mock efforts to fight climate change.  They don't want to cut down on plastic or make strong efforts to combat climate change.  Remember how Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, ranted during the election campaign that he wanted to get rid of single-use plastics bans and bring back plastic straws.  It's as if implementing any measures to deal with climate change is left-wing radicalism.  The Conservatives criticized the carbon tax so harshly and so relentlessly that Mark Carney's Liberals would likely have lost the election if he he hadn't abolished it. There were endless cries to "axe the tax."

As I write this, two Canadian provinces, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, have declared a state of emergency due to wildfire.  People are being evacuated from their homes.  Flin Flom, Manitoba, a city of 5,000 people, about 631 kilometres (391 miles) northwest of Winnipeg, is engulfed by wildfire smoke.

I must also mention that the Village of Blatten, in the Swiss Alps, was evacuated due to a glacier collapse.  Authorities ordered Blatten's 300 residents to leave.  More than 500 glaciers have already disappeared from Switzerland.

We ignore these warnings at our peril.  Climate change is not going to go away on its own.  It's understandable that people are upset about inflation, but environmental threats can't be ignored.

- Joanne

It's Time to Come Home, Stanley

 Dear Stanley,

Won't you please come home!  It's been almost 32 years, and we miss you dearly here in the True North Strong and Free.  You've been away for far too long.  You were last seen in Montreal in 1993.  We hear that you will decide whether to show up in Edmonton or Florida this year.  Please choose Edmonton.  You went to Florida last year.  Isn't it time for a change of scenery?  Remember, Stanley, you were born in Canada and named after our governor general.  You have a Canadian passport.  Besides, Edmonton is very nice in June.  It's a wonderful place for a parade.    

I know you've been to Edmonton five times - 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990.  It's been a while, though.  The younger crowd doesn't remember much of the Gretzky and Messier years  There's a new guy in town who wants to hoist you.  He's a very fine lad from Richmond Hill, Ontario and his name is Connor McDavid.  

Florida is known for oranges and sunshine.  Football is the number one sport in the state.  It has three NFL teams.  Most of the  people there would rather see the Miami Dolphins or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Jacksonville Jaguars win a Super Bowl than the Florida Panthers win a Stanley Cup.  Edmontonians are far more excited about your possible homecoming. They will line the streets.  They will welcome you with open arms and much celebration.  You can be sure of that.  

Uncle Gary, from New York, will even be there.  He'll be on hand to present you to your elated fans.  Our prime minister will join the celebration with great enthusiasm.  He is a huge Oilers fan, and he was raised in Edmonton.  What a lovely scenario!

Remember, dear Stanley, the celebration won't just take place in Edmonton.  People all over Canada will welcome you home joyfully.  A nation cries out for your return.  The time is right.  It's a perfect storm.  So, please come home!

Sincerely,

Joanne and millions of Canadian hockey fans

EDITOR'S UPDATE: We will have to wait longer for Stanley to come home.  The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in six games.

Mainstream media treat Trump differently than Biden

There is a double standard in the way mainstream media treat Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Just imagine what would happen if Biden or any other American politician had said or done some of things that Trump has said or done. It would have been completely unacceptable to corporate media.  That politician would definitely not be president of the United States right now  Yet, Trump's sick and outrageous comments are accepted by many. Don't take him seriously. It's just Trump being Trump. He's unpredictable. He boosts ratings for cable networks. Besides, some fear retribution from the mob boss.

Yes, Biden has cognitive issues due to aging.  However, during his presidency, the American economy was the envy of the world.  Biden has always respected the rule of law.  He is not an authoritarian.  He has never treated Canada, and America's European allies, the way Trump has been doing.  Biden would never would have imposed the destructive tariffs that Trump has imposed and destabilized the economies of the United States and much of the world. Kamala Harris wouldn't have either.,

I have posted the following article by Tony Pentimalli because it is well worth reading for those who want a clear picture of what is happening in the United States. It is also must reading for those who believe in democracy and are appalled by America's slide into authoritarianism. People of good will must speak the truth about the Trump regime.

- Joanne

The Misdirection: While They Watch Biden, Trump Unravels the Republic

By Tony Pentimalli

There is an art to distraction. The magician never hides the trick in his hand—he hides it in yours. And in today’s America, the illusion is almost perfect: while Donald Trump descends further into autocratic madness, the nation’s attention has been carefully directed toward the decline of a man no longer in office.

Jake Tapper’s newly released Original Sin, chronicling the final chapter of Joe Biden’s presidency, is a masterclass in that misdirection. With behind-the-scenes accounts of confusion, forgetfulness, and quiet panic among aides, it raises legitimate concerns about transparency—but also reveals a more troubling truth: we are fixating on the rearview mirror while barreling toward the cliff.

Biden, now facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, exited public life with dignity. He acknowledged the limits of age and responsibility, stepped aside, and gave the country a chance to choose its future. That is not failure. That is stewardship.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump—the man who now holds the presidency again—rages incoherently from podiums, forgets what century it is, threatens mass deportations, mocks the disabled, and promises dictatorship “on day one.” He recently described Biden’s diagnosis as “stage 9 cancer”—a non-existent condition—and claimed he met with people who have long since died. He called Milwaukee a “horrible city,” confused Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi, and warned the military about electric boats. These are not gaffes. They are warning sirens.

But you wouldn’t know it if you watched cable news.

Mainstream media, once thought to be the ballast against authoritarian drift, has largely accepted Trump’s incoherence as political theater. Networks air his rambling speeches without editorial framing. Headlines quote him verbatim, without context or correction. Influential voices like Tapper’s delve into Biden’s decline with Pulitzer ambition—while Trump’s delusions are broadcast like late-night punchlines.

What’s unfolding is not a scandal of health. It is a scandal of priorities. The media has become the willing accomplice in laundering Trump’s unraveling into normalcy. By obsessing over Biden’s cognitive descent, they normalize Trump’s descent—from incoherence into autocracy—as if it's part of the show.

This asymmetry reached a new low with the publication of Original Sin. For right-wing commentators, the book is gospel. For centrist media, it’s confirmation bias. For Trump’s camp, it’s the perfect distraction from a presidency sinking deeper into delusion and authoritarianism.

They cling to the illusion that covering Biden's decline is safer than confronting Trump’s radical ascent. But cowardice masquerading as impartiality is how democracies slide into silence.

This is not just about mental sharpness—it is about what each man has done with the power he held. Biden, by all accounts, spent his final year working through limitations, passing bipartisan legislation, managing international crises, and defending democratic norms. Trump, by contrast, has used his second term to erode civil liberties, deploy federal power against dissent, and rule by grievance and paranoia.

His administration is not a sideshow—it is a slow-motion constitutional collapse. Under Trump’s orders, ICE has resumed warrantless raids. DOJ prosecutors have been stripped of oversight when investigating lawmakers. The Insurrection Act is being openly reinterpreted for domestic use. And through it all, the media’s spotlight remains trained on the man who left the stage.

There is cruelty in this deflection. Biden, a man confronting death with grace, has become the straw man for every anti-elderly talking point, every grievance, every fear. And yet, it is Trump who insults Gold Star families, mocks cancer-stricken opponents, and brags that “only he” can save America from itself.

What Original Sin exposes is not just the aging of a president, but the original sin of a political media more interested in the appearance of neutrality than the defense of truth. To treat Biden’s decline as disqualifying, while Trump’s authoritarianism is shrugged off as a personality quirk, is not journalism—it is complicity.

This is the con: we are being told to fear the man who stepped down—so we ignore the one who is burning the house.

So let us be clear. One man stumbled on words. The other has weaponized them into policy. One met the end of his presidency with humility. The other met his second with vengeance.

The true crisis isn’t a man confronting his limits—it’s the one exploiting ours. Trump is the danger in plain sight. And the press, eyes wide open, is choosing to look away.

*Tony Pentimalli is a political analyst and commentator fighting for democracy, economic justice, and social equity.                                                                                

Why the Leafs lost

 

On Sunday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the Florida Panthers. They didn't just lose.  They lost ignominiously.  They played without heart.  What kind of team comes out flat for a decisive seventh game playoff in their home arena?  Thousands of fans were cheering for them.  They should have been pumped.  They were not.

The Maple Leafs, as presently constituted, are not built to prevail in the post-season.  They do very well in the regular season, but they can't seem to get past the second round of the playoffs.  They lack something.  Depth?  A winning spirit?  They certainly lack the ability to rise to the occasion.  

As members of the team pack their bags and head to golf courses, it's time for a post-mortem.  The Leafs' defeat may finally signal the end of the Core Four, and it's about time!  The Leafs were never going to win the Stanley Cup with so much of their cap devoted to four players.  As for team president Brendan Shanahan, his future with the Leaf organization is very much in doubt.  The "Shanaplan" is effectively dead.  It has failed to bring home Lord Stanley's Jug, a feat that has not been accomplished by Toronto's NHL team since 1967.  

Mitch Marner is expected to be the first member of the Core Four to leave the team.  It's doubtful that the Leafs will pay him the kind of money he'll be asking for.  Number 16 (my favourite number) was booed off the ice on Sunday night.  He has likely played his final game in a Leaf uniform and will seek free agency.  However, I don't think Marner deserved so much of the blame for the team's poor performance.  Where was Captain Auston Matthews?  He seemed to be missing in action.  I am not questioning Matthew's talent as a goal scorer.  He's a great player.  He scored 69 goals last season.  Unfortunately, he has never been a prolific scorer in the playoffs.  He has never dominated when it's all on the line.  He's no Sidney Crosby or Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky or Connor McDavid.

On August 23, 2023, Auston Matthews signed a four year, $53,000,000 contract with a cap hit of $13,250,000 per season.  His contract expires at the end of the 2027-28 season, when he will be 30 years old.  So, he's going to be around for a while.

Matthews' performance this season has not been as strong as it was last season because he has been plagued by an injury.  I doubt he is 100 per cent.  However, it is not Matthews' injury that really concerns me.  It's his lack of leadership skills.  He doesn't seem able to rally his team.  I don't understand why he has replaced John Tavaras as team captain.  Tavaras is much more mature and far more experienced,  He demonstrated his maturity by not whining and complaining when the "C" was taken away from him.  He just continued to help the team.  He scored 34 goals as a 34-year-old this season.

Mitch Marner

Auston Matthews

William Nylander will also be around for a while, too.  In January of 2024, Nylander signed an eight year, $92,000,000 contract with a cap hit of $11,500,000 per season.  His contract expires at the end of the 2031-32 season when he will be 36 years old.  

On July 1, 2018, John Tavares signed a seven year, $77,000,000 contract with a cap hit of $11,000,000 per season.  His contract with the Leafs expires at the end of this season.  He will turn 35 in September.  After the Game 7 loss to Florida, Tavares said that he wants to remain in Toronto.  That's not surprising because he's married with a family, and he wouldn't want to uproot them.

When asked about his future, Mitch Marner replied, "Pretty devastated.  I don't have any thoughts right now . . . I've always enjoyed this team.  I haven't thought about anything [with my future].  Just trying to put my best foot forward and come here and try to win hockey games and help try to win that ultimate goal."

Ah, yes.  Mitch knows that ultimate goal is not a great regular season.  The ultimate goal that Marner alluded to is the Stanley Cup.  It has eluded the Toronto Maple Leafs for 58 long years.  Now that they are officially eliminated from this year's competition, I'll be cheering for the Edmonton Oilers.  A Canadian-based team has not won the Cup since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, almost 32 years ago.  It's about time we brought Stanley home to a city and a country where hockey really matters.

- Joanne

EDITOR'S UPDATE: On May 22, 2025, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Brendan Shanahan's contract would not be renewed.

Vocabulary Quiz:- Names of Colours

 

Number 16 Vocabulary Quiz #10

Can you identify ten words that are names of colours.  Test your knowledge.  Ready! Set! Go!

1. Vermillion

A.  A bright yellow

B.   A brilliant red colour

C.   A white vanilla colour

D.   A peach colour

E.   A rusty orange colour

2.  Ochre

A.  Light purple

B.  Very dark blue

C.  Yellow to deep orange or brown

D.  Light pink

E.  None of the above

3.  Titian

A.  Lemon shade

B.  Bright silver

C.  Brownish-orange

D.  Golden 

E.  Lime coloured

4.  Indigo

A.  Dark green with yellow tinges

B.  Pale blue with yellow tinges

C.  Orange-blue colour

D.  Greenish-blue colour

E.  Deep blue colour

5.  Fuchsia

A.  Pinkish red

B.  Light grey

C.  Bright orange

D.   Dark purple

E.   Light purple

6.  Periwinkle

A.  Dark orange

B.  Light orange

C.  Greenish-blue

D.  Dark purplish-blue

E.  Light purplish-blue

7.  Bisque

A.  A shade of dark orange

B.  Shade of pale orange

C.  Cream colour

D.  Light red

E.  Shade of light yellow

8.  Khaki

A.  Light shade of green

B.  Dark shade of green with a  slight yellowish tinge

C.  Dark shade of green with a heavy yellowish tinge

D.  Light shade of tan with a slight yellowish tinge

E.   Light shade of tan with a heavy yellowish tinge

9.   Xanadu

A.  Greenish-grey hue

B.  Brownish-grey colour

C.  Purple-blue hue

D.   Purple-grey hue

E.    Greyish-black colour

10.  Magenta

A.  Light red

B.  Light orange

C.  Bright orange

D. Purplish red

E.  Light yellow and soft purple

ANSWERS

1.  B

Vermilion is a brilliant red colour.  Example: "I saw vermilion streaks of sunlight in the sky.

2.  C

Ochre is yellow to deep orange or brown,  It is a natural earth pigment..

3.  C 

Titian is a brownish-orange colour.  The term originates from an an Italian artist named Titian who would paint women with a tint of red hair.

4. E

Indigo is a deep blue colour.

5.  A

Fuchsia is a pinkish red colour.

6.  E

Periwinkle is a light purplish-blue.

7.  B.

Bisque is a shade of pale orange.  Think of the creamy soup from which it takes its name.

8.  D

Khaki is a light shade of tan with a slight yellowish tinge.  It is used by armies for uniforms and equipment, especially in desert regions, where it provides camouflage.

9.  A

Xanadu is a greenish-grey hue,

10.  D

Magenta is a vibrant purplish-red colour.

- Joanne

Democracy is alive and well in Canada

Canada has just held a federal election. The campaign ran for just 36 days.  The result: Democracy is alive and well in this country.  Why do I say that?  Not because Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives failed to form the government.  I have made no secret of the fact that I am not enamoured of Poilievre's policies and I certainly wish the Conservatives had a leader who was more of a centrist.

To his credit, however, Poilievre delivered a dignified concession speech, as did Jagmeet Singh of the NDP and Mark Carney of the Liberals.  All three delivered speeches that were gracious, especially Singh, whose party had a difficult night.  He resigned because he lost his own seat in British Columbia and the NDP was reduced to 7 seats, losing official party status.  Many NDP supporters voted strategically in order to prevent the Conservatives from forming the government.

Poil

Singh

Poilievre, for his part, did not attack the other leaders. He did not refuse to concede.  He did not blame anyone or anything for the fact that his party did not win the election.  He merely said that the Conservatives fell just short of finishing the job.  Meanwhile, Carney spoke of humility and admitted that he had made mistakes.  He said he intended to serve as prime minister of all Canadians.  Can you imagine Trump or JD Vance saying something like that?  Never in a million years.  There was no talk by any of the leaders of the election being stolen or rigged.  How refreshing!  How civilized!  How democratic!

Carney

The road ahead will not be easy.  Canadians face challenges that they have never faced before.  Since Donald Trump is abandoning U.S .leadership in the world, Canada must form new trade alliances.  Canada and Europe must fill the leadership void.  Our great nation must provide some stability in a world of Trumpian chaos.

- Joanne

Canada's crucial election

Today Canadians face the most consequential election in our nation's history.  In this election, we will choose which direction this country is headed.  The biggest issue is confronting Donald Trump.  The unstable U.S. leader wants to break us.  He challenges our sovereignty.  He repeatedly says that he wants us to be the 51st state.  He wants our natural resources.  He is not joking.  He means what he says.

Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada is not the answer.  He could never really stand up to Trump, because the two are cut from the same cloth.  If Poilievre were a beer, he'd be "Trump Lite." He has only distanced himself from Trump because of Trump's tariff threats.  However, Poilievre is far more right wing than Joe Clark and Robert Stanfield.  He and Stephen Harper have made sure that there is no "progressive" remaining in the name of the party.  The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada has truly become The Conservative Party of Canada.

Poilievre has spent a lot of time and money telling Canadians that Canada is broken.  Isn't that reminiscent of the way Trump's claim that only he could fix America?  Poilievre will do noting to combat climate change.  In fact, he talked about getting rid of paper straws  and bringing back plastic straws.  Doesn't that echo Trump's attitude toward the environment?

Poilievre wants to cut government spending drastically.  He wants to cut taxes.  He will cut much-needed social programs to pay for his tax cuts.

Poilievre claims that he will be tough on crime.  At the same time he sparks fears.  Yes, the public must be protected, but the answer is not so one-sided.  It's not either/or.  We must also deal with the social problems that contribute to crime.  Dealing with root causes won't put an end to crime, but it will help.  Spending money on building more jails, as has been done in the U.S., will not solve things either.

Poilievre

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s lack of explicit condemnation of far-right individuals and groups is a silence that speaks volumes about his willingness to court voters with more extremist views, according to those who study extremist movements.

And as incidents continue to mount in which Poilievre is photographed rubbing shoulders with people openly supporting far-right causes, questions will continue to mount about how open the Conservative leader is to more polarizing ideologies, they say.

Teresa Wright

iPolitics

April 29, 2024

Here is a headline from CBC news - January 9. 2025

Elon Musk praises Poilievre, mocks Trudeau as he steps into Canadian politics

"Poilievre is simply dialed into the truth behind the anti-human globalist agenda,” 

- Far-right U.S. conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.  

Jones is best known for losing a $1 billion defamation lawsuit brought by the families of the Sandy Hook school shooting.  He has also described Poilievre as "the real deal." 

Dennis Prager, a conservative commentator, notorious for once lamenting that "the Left has made it impossible to say the N-word, praised Poilievre in an episode of Dennis Prager Podcasts.  

“He’s a good-looking guy, I hope he becomes Emperor of Canada."

- Dennis Prager praising Pierre Poilivre.

Note;  I encourage everyone to vote and to embrace democracy.  I have already voted in advance polling.  

- Joanne

Reflections on Easter Sunday 2025

 "Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless."

- Charles M. Crowe

From 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think (2013)

"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances."

- Robert Flatt

From What is God Waiting For?: Understanding Divine Delays in Your Life (2006)

Today is Easter Sunday.  It is also the last day of the Jewish Passover.  For Christians and Jews, it is a time to celebrate hope and freedom, no matter the dire circumstances in the world.  Allow me to be frank.  I am a baby boomer and I have never experienced such trying times before in my life.  I was born well after the darkest days of World War II, when France fell to the Nazis and London was bombed during the Blitz.  Now in the 21st century,, there seems to be a resurgence of fascism and the extreme right around the world.  How could so many have forgotten the evils of Hitler and Mussolini and Imperial Japan?

It is 2025 and the United States is smack in the middle of the fight against fascism and authoritarianism posed by Donald Trump and his supporters, many of whom claim to be Christians.  However, Trump's policies are the very antithesis of Christ's teachings.  His immigration and refugee policies are cruel and vindictive, not to mention his contempt for the rule of law, his misogyny, his racism and his spreading of hatred.  His policies flout Christian tenets as set out in parables such as The Good Samaritan.  They do not advocate for the poor and disadvantaged.  Trump's false god is money.  

Pope Francis has strongly condemned the Trump administration's mass deportations policies.  Vice President JD Vance, supports Trump's immigration policies, as does Mike Johnson, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Vance is a convert to Catholicism, and Johnson is an evangelical Christian and a Christian nationalist.  How can they square their support of Trump's policies with the teachings of Christ.  The so-called Christianity of the far right gives Christianity a bad name.  Christianity teaches social justice.  Trumpism is definitely not social justice.  Christ spread a gospel of love.  Donald Trump preaches hatred and discord.

Meanwhile, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has declared an Easter truce in the Ukraine.  Both sides have blamed the other for breaking the truce.  However, it should be pointed out that a truce would not have been needed in the first place if Putin, a war criminal, hadn't invaded Ukraine in February of 2022.

Love will triumph!

Happy Easter!

Now let the heavens be joyful,

Let the earth her song begin;

Let the round world keep triumph,

And all that is therein;

Invisible and visible,

Their notes let all things blend,

For Christ the Lord is risen

Our joy that hath no end

- Saint John of Damascenus

From The Congregational Hymn Book: Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship (1881)

- Joanne

RFK Jr., Trump, measles and fluoride

Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. has sold his soul for a powerful position in the Trump administration.  Thanks to his allegiance with Trump, he is now the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.  His father, who was a man of integrity, would be ashamed of his son's conduct.  RFK Jr., born January 17, 1954, was just 14 when his dad was slain in Los Angeles by an assassin's bullet.  The late Bobby Kennedy fought for civil rights and social justice.  Sadly, his namesake has made a Faustian deal with a wanna-be dictator.

RFK Jr. is a big proponent of eating healthy foods, as a health secretary should be.  He laments that Americans are too obese.  To his credit, he has been very vocal about that.  Not so long ago, Michelle Obama did the same thing.  When she was First Lady, she launched her "Let's Move" campaign, which tried to combat childhood obesity by promoting healthier eating and physical activity among kids.

The former First Lady's campaign had mixed results.  Combatting obesity is a daunting task, especially when both children and adults are glued to their computers and cell phones.  Furthermore, it is difficult for lower income families to afford healthy foods.  Fast foods are far less expensive.  Maybe if the Trump administration would stop making cuts to programs that help struggling families, low income earners would be able to afford healthier foods.

RFK Jr. deserves credit for promoting healthy diets, except that he has aligned himself with Donald Trump, a man who is not exactly known for eating healthy foods.  Trump has made no secret of the fact that his favourite foods are steak, meatloaf and burgers.  Although he avoids coffee, alcohol and the dough in a slice of pizza, he  enjoys consuming fast foods and sipping diet cola. It is not surprising that he is overweight and unfit.  I wonder why RFK Jr. doesn't tell his boss to pursue a more healthy diet and to exercise, although that wouldn't make any difference to Trump.  Trump would never give up fast food or exercise.  He won't even walk on the golf course.  He rides a golf cart all the time.  

How can RFK Jr. promote healthy eating when the president is setting such a poor example?  How can he tell people to avoid McDonald's when his boss delights in eating cheese burgers and sipping soft drinks?  It's a monumental task, like circling a square.

Trump feasting on McDonald's food.

RFK Jr. is an environmental lawyer.  Yet, he has supported a man who thinks climate change is hoax.  How can he reconcile his concern for the environment with Trumps promotion of fossil fuels such as coal, his "Drill baby drill!" slogan, his removal of environmental regulations, his statements that wind turbines, which he calls "windmills," cause cancer?  How can someone who truly cares about climate change work for a man who shows no concern for the environment?

Then there is RFK Jr.'s anti-vaxxer beliefs.  He is also a proponent of conspiracy theories.  This is a man who has talked about worms eating his brain.  This is a man who has spread false claims for years.  For example, he has promoted the theory that the preservative thimerosal, which has mostly been phased out of modern vaccine formulas, seems to be instrumental in a rise in autism cases..  In 2006, Kennedy wrote in Rolling Stone and Salon magazines that the government was aware, but "knowingly allowed the pharmaceutical industry to poison an entire generation of American children."  Certified health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and others, have debunked RFK's Jr.'s claim.  They were unable to find any credible link between vaccines and autism.

Is it any wonder that there has been a sudden outbreak of measles in the United States and Canada when it was once thought that the childhood disease was a thing of the past?  Some parents have been avoiding the vaccine for fear of their children becoming autistic. 

 On April 6, 2025,, RFK Jr. attended the funeral of the second child who died from the West Texas measles outbreak. The child was an unvaccinated 8-year-od girl.  Kennedy wrote on social media that he was in Texas to team up with the state's heath officials with the goal of preventing the spread of the highly contagious respiratory virus.  He noted that "the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine"  However, just a few hours later, Kennedy praised "extraordinary healers" Dr. Ben Edwards and Richard Bartlett, "who have treated and healed some 300 measles-stricken Mennonite children with aerosolized budesonide and clarithromycin."  

Edwards and Bartlett are controversial figures.  Both have reportedly promoted alternatives to vaccines to treat disease.  The truth is that if the Mennonite children had been vaccinated in the first place, they wouldn't have contracted measles, and they wouldn't have needed healing from the likes of Edwards and Bartlett.

Kennedy Jr. has also been taking aim at fluoride in public drinking water, much to the dismay of scientists and dental health organizations.  They have warned that such a move would be disastrous.  It would prove detrimental to public health.  

Kennedy disagrees with the opinion of experts.  He thinks he knows better.  He has supported claims that fluoride contributes to several physical and mental health issues, including ADHD, hypothyroidism and lowering of IQ.  Dentists and epidemiologists have argued that his claims are scientifically unproven.  They contend that removing fluoride from water systems could have an adverse affect on public health.  In fact, Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association described Kennedy's claims that fluoride is harmful and unwarranted as a "myth."  "When government officials, like Secretary Kennedy, stand behind the commentary of misinformation and distrust peer-reviewed research, it is injurious to public health," he said. 

During a recent visit to Salt Lake City, RFK Jr. declared that fluoride "should not be in our water."  He praised the state of Utah for passing a first-ever ban on fluoride in public water.  The ban takes effect next month.  "I'm very, very proud of this state for being the first state to ban it, and I hope many more will come," he stated.  

The health secretary didn't stop there.  After the news conference, he informed the Associated Press that he will tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cease recommending that cities and states add fluoride to public water systems.  Fluoridation is not mandatory by law.  How many will have to suffer tooth decay and cavities due to the removal of fluoride before the madness of RFK Jr. ends?  How man children will die form measles?  

SOURCES: Independent, "RFK Jr. praises anti-vaxxer hours after attending funeral for 8-year-old who died from measles," by Julia Musto, April 7, 2025; USA Today, "RFK Jr. to go after fluoride in tap water as dentists warn of disastrous health impacts," by Cybele Mayes-Osterman, April 19, 2025; Wikipedia

- Joanne

Blue Jays finally sign Vladdy. Is it enough?

 
So, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn't going anywhere.  According to MLB insiders, the 26-year-old slugger and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a lucrative 14-year, $150 million US deal.  It's the largest contract in franchise history  According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the deal has no deferrals, a signing bonus and a no-trade clause, effectively making Guerrero a Blue Jay until the age of 40.

The Vladdy signing is good news for the team, but you'll have to excuse me if I don't rush to congratulate Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins for finally getting the deal done.  They don't deserve any medals for doing what they should  have done long ago.  Why wasn't Guerrero locked up sooner?

Better late than never, of course, but the deal should have been done a few years ago.  Instead, the Jays left Vladdy in limbo while they the chased the impossible dream.  They pursued Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, even though those two were never going to come to Toronto.  The Jays should have concentrated on signing on Vladdy because he wanted to remain in the city.  Shapiro and Atkins are fortunate that they managed to come to terms with Vladdy at the 11th hour, but they would have been able to pay him less had they signed him earlier.

Perhaps the last minute deal was made out of desperation on the part of Blue Jay management.  The Vladdy signing saga was becoming a distraction.  There was going to be constant speculation about where Guerrero was headed in free agency.  The uncertainly was upsetting the fan base.  There was concern about the future of the team.  With Vladdy gone, fans feared that there be years of rebuilding. 

The signing of Vladdy does not solve all the Blue Jays' problems.  They still do not have enough power hitting.  Management has paid too much attention to defence and not enough to offence.  The Jays won't be able to really contend until they hit more home runs.  The long ball isn't everything, but it sure helps. 

Now that Vladdy has been signed, where does that leave Bo Bichette?  He seems likely to pursue free agency, but will the Vladdy agreement influence the shortstop to stay?  Even if Bo wants to remain in Toronto, the Jays may not be able to afford him after paying all that money to his teammate.  Bo's future is another question mark for a team that has too many question marks surrounding it.  However, at least the team has settled things with Vladdy.  That's a start.

- Joanne