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Blue Notes

Blue Notes

Flying the Montreal Canadiens flag

Lately I have noticed the flag of the Montreal Canadiens sticking up from the side of so many cars. I know that it is meant as a gesture of support for our hockey team, but it made me think: What flag would I fly? If someone asks me where I’m from, I never answer: Quebec. For me, the whole idea of Quebec has been hijacked. Even though I live in this province it is governed by representatives of something called “The Québécois Nation” of which I am not a member. In fact, I am...
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Blue Notes

Caught in lost-baggage hell

Last weekend I flew to Wichita. Why, you ask? Although I must say I found the people there very friendly and the hospitality as good as anywhere, I have to admit that it was because it was my job. But the real story was not in being in Wichita. It was getting there, and getting back. ...
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Blue Notes

Forget your RRSP; opt for a live while you can plan

I know a man in his late 70s who worked all his life to save, let’s say for the sake of simplicity, a million dollars for his retirement. And now his savings are worth half of that. Yes, he lost half a million on the stock market in the last couple of months. If any gambler had done that, his wife would have divorced him and his friends would be pressuring him to get professional help. But by encouraging mutual fund investments with the RRSP program our governments have aided and...
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Blue Notes

Figuring out Celine

Years ago, Lise Payette wrote a book about French Quebecers who left Quebec to work in the textile mills of the United States. She called them Les Disparu – the disappeared - because they had left their culture and language, and now spoke English. Although this must have surprised those emigres themselves who could see each other quite well it wasn’t really meant for them. It was meant to be both a horror story and an object lesson for Les Québécois – speak English and you will...
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Blue Notes

Let's try the artificial ice

Last year, I saw The Rockettes’ Christmas spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The highlight was when an actual ice rink emerged from below the stage with two figure skaters in full spin. How did they do that? I asked myself. Today, in Beaconsfield I found out. It was artificial ice. It has been used for shows in New York and Las Vegas for a while now. But the applications go way beyond show business. ...
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Blue Notes

My philosophy

I wonder what form of dyslexia I have. I recently read an obituary of a well known activist who was described as “full of integrity, never compromised her values.” I immediately thought: “judgmental, stubborn and ideologically hidebound.” I have also heard people being praised for being “passionate.” I am always glad I don’t have to live with them. Because I am hearing: “unreasonable.” I am sure it would be someone who would feel that: “If you don’t agree with...
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Blue Notes

Message to my American cousins

Dear American cousins, (This is not just a figure of speech. I actually have some real cousins who live in the States.) ...
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Blue Notes

If you have to vote Liberal, Kelley’s not a bad guy

I first bumped into Geoff Kelley a few years ago. He was playing in a local softball league at a park near my house. Being a die-hard baseball fan myself, this impressed me to no end. So last week I thought I should speak to my current and, unless Hell freezes over, future MNA, to see how he was coping with the hardball of politics. I told him that I had been amused to see his face on a Oui poster. Did he not realize that the new Liberal posters echo the PQ’s famous posters of the...
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Blue Notes

Another Quebec election

This Quebec election is depressingly familiar. Once again it highlights the two great dangers of democracy. First, there is the bribery. In the early days of democracy, corruption was rampant. Politicians would round up poor people, give them a couple of bucks and take them to the polls. Of course, this is all ancient history. Right? ...
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Blue Notes

The U.S. election - exciting isn't it?

Everyone is talking about the American election. So should I be any different? I think we can say – if we are not too caught up in partisanship emotion – that it has been one of the most interesting elections in our lifetime. And if it goes the way everyone says it will go, it will be a truly remarkable achievement. ...
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