I am crushed about Desmond Tutu. He was one of the few individuals whom I truly revered. We were so much the better for him, and we will not soon see his like again. I am bereft.
Um, I GUESS we can do a hell-call if you want, though I'm not entirely clear about the nature of your objections.
Did you think I was defending Lastman?
Or did you think I was implying that you were one of the people who defended the snow-removal?
On the first point, I was only saying that the decision to call in the troops was possibly defensible, with the caveats that a) it only became necessary because the city itself screwed up on their duties, and b) Lastman's jubilation over this decision didn't help the city's image.
As to the second point, no, I didn't mean that you were one of the Torontonians defending Lastman. I'm sorry if my "you" was misunderstood. In my mind, I was addressing the specific Torontonians who had made that argument, and "you" meant something like "your mayor" or "your city government".
FWIW, I never would have voted for Lastman either, though as a someone who had lived in Edmonton in the 1990s, I would definitely have had to hold my nose to vote for Gomberg. (Maybe Enza Supermodel would have been an option?)
ADDENDUM: Just saw your second-post, following your deletion. I don't doubt that most people in Toronto, quite possibly the vast majority, are embarrassed about calling in the army. I did encounter some people who defended it, though, and it was their arguments my post was rebuting.
New Zealand author Keri Hulme, author of The Bone People (and other stories too) has died. A prophetic local voice about family, violence, and spirituality years before people were talking about such things - let alone all in the same story
Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has died. His control of the Democratic caucus in the Senate was instrumental in the passage of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. "Obamacare").
One person not mentioned here is John Madden who started out as and American football professional, then coach who never had a losing season, then sports broadcaster, then developed American Football computer games. One of his quirks was he feared flying so would travel on a bus. I set this up to share this story:
Desmond Tutu is in the waiting room of heaven. He knew this because the door through which he entered had a sign on it reading, HEAVEN, and he was met by St. Peter, who asked him to take a seat until his name was called. So Tutu has a seat and begins reading a waiting room copy of Eternity Today, when suddenly the door through which Tutu had arrived is blown open by a great wind, and in walks Senator Harry Reid. Reid looks at Tutu and says, wait a minute…you beat me? Who’s idea was it that I should follow YOU!? Old friends, the two laugh and begin to chat, when suddenly, the same door is blown open, and through it, the two hear the sound of hydraulic brakes, like those of a bus, and Boom! In walks John Madden. Confused, Madden looks from Tutu to Reid and back, and says: Wait a minute…the game is over? And the party is HERE? SCORE!!!
And as they are laughing and cheering, once again, they hear the wind, the door opens, and in walks Betty White holding up a copy of the January 2022 copy of People Magazine, which features Betty herself on the cover, with 2” letters that read: Betty White Turns 100!!! And she says to the three men, well my word! I didn’t expect to meet you here. But then again, I’m pretty sure I’m early.
Richard Leakey, an important name in archaeology for his discovery of early hominid fossils, and an important figure in Kenyan wildlife conservation, has died, aged 77.
A different kind of 'goodbye'. Yesterday, I retired from our kirk session after thirty years as an elder, and for most of those years as its presbytery representative. It was hard to do, but necessary. I was becoming a square wheel on the minister's wagon, and he needs a united team to support him. It feels very strange.
That sounds like a major life event Stercus Tauri. Is there some way the church will be marking your contributions of so many years?
I am sure there will be a 'Thank you' letter from the session, and perhaps a small gathering of presbytery people at a pub where the consumption of fermented fluids may be involved.
Ordination (in The Presbyterian Church in Canada) is for life, but retirement, resignation and even removal with cause are always available. Retirement when the going is still good is probably the best option.
Sidney Poitier was one of the few who received knighthood (as a Bahamian citizen) and the American Medal of Freedom (as an American citizen). I enjoyed all his movies. My favorite was To Sir With Love. Even though it was sent in a secondary school in a lower class neighborhood in England, that class could have been my class in rural America.
Francis was a great musician, a true gentleman and a thoroughly nice bloke; the first time I met him, he grabbed me and gave me a hug, and I thought, "good God, I've just been hugged by Jackson in G!"
I hope he and David are telling jokes in Heaven; may he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Mr Cats was also sad about Francis Jackson, who was, he tells me, 103. When Mr Jackson was a sprightly 60 something he and Mr Cats were companions on an organists jaunt to what was then East Germany.
The (now) Three Knights - Sir JVT, Sir Chris Whitty, and Sir Patrick Vallance have managed to insert a degree of hope, common sense, and practical science into the awfulness of the onward march of Dread Lord Covid...
Has anyone mentioned Ronnie Spector, she of the fabulous melodramatic voice, which first appeared to thunderous effect in "Be my baby", and then other hits. Much abused by her husband, she kept her career going. Died yesterday, rest in power.
Comments
An excellent all round cricketer. One of the best ever England captains.
Very sad news. He was a very great man
A great and good man, RIPARIG 🕯
Toronto is eternally embarrassed about calling in the army. Fuck off.
Um, I GUESS we can do a hell-call if you want, though I'm not entirely clear about the nature of your objections.
Did you think I was defending Lastman?
Or did you think I was implying that you were one of the people who defended the snow-removal?
On the first point, I was only saying that the decision to call in the troops was possibly defensible, with the caveats that a) it only became necessary because the city itself screwed up on their duties, and b) Lastman's jubilation over this decision didn't help the city's image.
As to the second point, no, I didn't mean that you were one of the Torontonians defending Lastman. I'm sorry if my "you" was misunderstood. In my mind, I was addressing the specific Torontonians who had made that argument, and "you" meant something like "your mayor" or "your city government".
FWIW, I never would have voted for Lastman either, though as a someone who had lived in Edmonton in the 1990s, I would definitely have had to hold my nose to vote for Gomberg. (Maybe Enza Supermodel would have been an option?)
ADDENDUM: Just saw your second-post, following your deletion. I don't doubt that most people in Toronto, quite possibly the vast majority, are embarrassed about calling in the army. I did encounter some people who defended it, though, and it was their arguments my post was rebuting.
@Pangolin Guerre and @stetson - this is not the place for a spat about Toronto politics. Kindly cease and desist or take it to Hell.
Thank you.
Piglet, AS host
I think I may have met her briefly when I visited Okarito to see the kotuku (white Herons) .
😢
Desmond Tutu is in the waiting room of heaven. He knew this because the door through which he entered had a sign on it reading, HEAVEN, and he was met by St. Peter, who asked him to take a seat until his name was called. So Tutu has a seat and begins reading a waiting room copy of Eternity Today, when suddenly the door through which Tutu had arrived is blown open by a great wind, and in walks Senator Harry Reid. Reid looks at Tutu and says, wait a minute…you beat me? Who’s idea was it that I should follow YOU!? Old friends, the two laugh and begin to chat, when suddenly, the same door is blown open, and through it, the two hear the sound of hydraulic brakes, like those of a bus, and Boom! In walks John Madden. Confused, Madden looks from Tutu to Reid and back, and says: Wait a minute…the game is over? And the party is HERE? SCORE!!!
And as they are laughing and cheering, once again, they hear the wind, the door opens, and in walks Betty White holding up a copy of the January 2022 copy of People Magazine, which features Betty herself on the cover, with 2” letters that read: Betty White Turns 100!!! And she says to the three men, well my word! I didn’t expect to meet you here. But then again, I’m pretty sure I’m early.
I am sure there will be a 'Thank you' letter from the session, and perhaps a small gathering of presbytery people at a pub where the consumption of fermented fluids may be involved.
Whichever way, enjoy your retirement!
RIP.
Indeed.
Goodnight Mr Tibbs.
Same friend also posted that a member of the cast of Vicar of Dibley has also died.
I think I may need to suggest that this friend joins these forums as there is a decided overlap in interests.
F*ck. Now I'm crying actual, proper tears.
Francis was a great musician, a true gentleman and a thoroughly nice bloke; the first time I met him, he grabbed me and gave me a hug, and I thought, "good God, I've just been hugged by Jackson in G!"
I hope he and David are telling jokes in Heaven; may he rest in peace and rise in glory.
https://theguardian.com/society/2022/jan/13/jonathan-van-tam-to-quit-as-england-medical-officer
The (now) Three Knights - Sir JVT, Sir Chris Whitty, and Sir Patrick Vallance have managed to insert a degree of hope, common sense, and practical science into the awfulness of the onward march of Dread Lord Covid...