Blue Notes

I Doubt, Therefore I Blog

Rick Blue — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:05:17 -0400

They called me “a denier.”

What did you do?

I denied it.

Oscar night

Rick Blue — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:05:52 -0500

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.

Parents who cannot let go: How far will it go?

BOFarrell — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:30:37 -0500

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 on their own front yards?

Cup of tea?

Rick Blue — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:51:00 -0500

Everyone down here in the States is talking about the Tea Party. It is a grassroots protest movement named after the famous Boston Tea Party that preceded the original American Revolution.

Their motto was: No taxation without representation. And that same charge, that was aimed at the British crown in 1776, is now being aimed at their own federal government in Washington.

Spending is good

Rick Blue — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:41:44 -0500

I think the U.S. will soon pull out of the recession. It's very simple, really. They all spend money.

I honestly don't know how they do it. But as I travel around the Southwest, I see so many new cars. In the hotels and restaurants and casinos I work at, I see so many people who seem to have an endless supply of disposable cash.

Recession? What recession? That seems to be the attitude.

Eating in the U.S.A.

Rick Blue — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:23:32 -0500

There are things a Canadian has to get used to when dining in the United States.

The first thing is the size of the portions. The food is piled high. The rule of thumb seems to be – quantity not quality. There is no such notion as too much of a good thing. Enormous steaks will come with equally enormous mounds of melted cheese on top. And desserts will be large enough to feed a village in Bangaladesh.

Put your hands in the air and give us your money

Rick Blue — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:25:41 -0500

Welcome to the new era, West Islanders, when you will be expected to pay more and more for the privilege of living adjacent to the once-great metropolis of Montreal.

You will be pleased to know that the delusion of grandeur, the Montreal tradition so epitomized by Jean Drapeau, goes on. But in an all new way. Instead of inspiring enormous and expensive civic projects that will bleed taxpayers for decades, it has become a huge sink hole of entitlements that will bleed taxpayers for decades.

The sentimentalization of nature: Avatar is Pocahontas meets Michael Moore

Rick Blue — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:30:11 -0500

The record-breaking film Avatar is a visual wonder; and also a wonderful example of the sentimentalization of nature.

It portrays a beautiful and wholesome naturalism that stands up to a crushing militarized civilization fuelled by greed. It is Pocahontas meets Michael Moore. And although we leave the theatre identifying with the heroic blue aboriginals, all but the most deluded among us know they never existed and they never will.

Jay's dilemma

Rick Blue — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:43:36 -0500

I believe in travel as a cultural experience. So while in Los Angeles last week, I was eager to partake in some local culture. I went online and secured tickets to see a taping of the Jay Leno Show.

It was an unusual time to be there. The show had just been cancelled. And at the moment the problems at NBC are the talk of the town. Jay has not been drawing the numbers needed for his time slot and is being demoted to a later spot. The current holder of that time slot, Conan O’Brien, is not happy and has been vocal about it. We could feel the tension in the atmosphere.

Southern California

Rick Blue — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:35:32 -0500

I am in California once again. I never get tired of coming down here.

I flew here to visit my mother. "How long did it take you to fly here?" She asked.
"Four and a half hours," I replied. "In the air. And four and a half hours on the ground. In lines."

"That must be why they call them airlines," she said. "It's an equal mixture of time spent in the air and time spent in lines."