I was having a beer with a neighbour, a guy who has to commute into Montreal each day. He was telling me what he thinks about the new proposals for the Turcot interchange, particularly the one that is being proposed in a rare moment of unanimity that includes the mayor of Montreal, his leader of the opposition and the mayor of Westmount.My friend was especially interested in the way they think it would be a good idea to reduce the number of lanes heading west from two to four because...
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in Rick Blue's blog

What is the meaning of the word “random”? Teenagers use the word a lot. I have heard my 15-year-old daughter say: “That’s really random.” I assumed it meant “far out” or “unpredictable.”In a way it does. When I asked her, she told me that something is random when it is something that has nothing to do with anything. It is something that is irrelevant.“Let’s say you’re talking about your house and someone says: Did you see the hockey game last...
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in Rick Blue's blog

I  just saw the controversial Tiger Woods Nike ad on the New York Times video site. It is everything an ad should be: concise, interesting and conceptually brilliant. Just like the Nike logo.In black and white, the camera is on Tiger Woods’ face. He has a serious expression. He looks thoughtful, possibly full of remorse. There is a single voice over. It is his father, admonishing him gently. The final question asked is: “Did you learn anything?”...
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in BOFarrell's blog

Because I have been a fan for my entire guitar-playing life, last week I went to see Gordon Lightfoot perform at Place des Arts. I saw many others there like me who had strummed Lightfoot songs around a campfire or at a party. It was a love-in. mostly Baby Boomers. I felt at home....
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in Rick Blue's blog

Last weekend we played at The Comedy Nest. The idea was to play on April Fools Day. But it was also Easter weekend, Passover and 75 degrees!Did that help or hurt business?There are arguments on both sides. If there is a small crowd, is that the reason? Or, are local people simply not interested in seeing us? Impossible to tell. Rationalization is the only way out.Growing up in Montreal, I had always dreamed of playing the Forum. Of course, in those days, if you called it...
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in Rick Blue's blog

Last year, Westmount fined a man for feeding squirrels in the park. But look out Westmount – we now have a new contender for the most uptight suburb of Montreal.And the winner is …the City of Dollard des Ormeaux. It made the national news again. That’s the joyless West Island suburb that wouldn’t let a man paint a Greek flag on his own garage door not so long ago.He was celebrating the fact that his team won the World Cup. Who did it hurt? Was there a victim in his...
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in Rick Blue's blog

During the Twentieth Century the gradual easing of restrictions in Canada regarding the modesty of female fashion has mirrored the gradual increase of their rights....
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in Rick Blue's blog

They called me “a denier.”What did you do?I denied it....
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in Rick Blue's blog

It’s notable how Oscar night crosses over cultures and nationalities. I grew up in a typical anglo North American family and we always watched them. My wife grew up in a typical Québécois family. And she always watched them.So now we watch them together.Normally the Oscars are quite predictable. But last night’s upset was stunning. It truly was a David-and-Goliath moment. The little film beat out the blockbuster....
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in Rick Blue's blog

As you drive around the West Island, look at the houses and the streets. What do you notice?This is what I notice. There are very few kids. Oh, they live there all right. They just aren’t allowed to play outside.Back in the day (my day, anyway) we used to run wild all over the neighbourhood. We played cowboys and Indians, tag, army and street hockey. All kinds of games. We were fearless. Was it really that much safer then? Is it really so dangerous now that kids can’t play...
» Continue reading this entry
» Read more in BOFarrell's blog