The Barron Blog

Monday, 28 June 2010

The G20 Sideshow

There were many legitimate protests and alternate viewpoints presented at the G20 conference, but I doubt that anyone remembers them.
Instead of an intelligent debate on international issues what we got was a media circus of riot-geared cops, lunatic anarchists and sensation-filled media sound/picture bites. "The G20 summit" was simply an opening act to the big destructive sideshow.
There was "My Summit 2010" which was a collection of workshops by young people around the globe on what they would do to make the Earth a better place. Does anyone remember that event? Like everything else it took fourth or fifth place to the media sideshow above.
All the destruction could have been avoided if the G20 conference was held on an aircraft carrier. It would have been cheaper too.
Cops in riot gear were looking for a riot and surprise surprise, they found one. This was a self-fulling prophecy at its best. Why not just have a wall and let the protestors write on it? Who would the anachists fight then?
Toronto mayor, David Miller, called the anarchists criminals. Perhaps, he should have threatened them with "Miller's Cave" to keep them good.
I'll give "The G20 in Toronto," one star. I see better crap on TV most of the time.

Posted by qualteam at 6:27 PM EDT

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Monday, 21 June 2010

A Baby Shower Welcomes A New Human Being To The Family Of Man

A person's life can be celebrated at anytime during his earthly existence. There are always achievements and personal qualities that warm our hearts.
This also happens when a baby is born and welcomed into the family with a baby shower. On Saturday, I was priviledged to assist in welcoming my grandnephew (Eric Wilkinson) into our families. Above is my nephew Michael Wilkinson and his wife Amanda with their new son.
As you can see from this photo, Eric has already brought lots of love to his new family. This is an event that should be celebrated and I'm celebrating it on this blog and on my Fackbook page with more photos.
Baby showers are not just for women and badies, but for men, aliens, spirits and anything else that is an intelligent life form. Individuals should be acknowledged not only for what they've done, but for their potential to do great things.
Those in attendance to this joyous event were my wife, Irene, my sister Linda Wilkinson, Mike's mother, James Wilkinson, Mike's brother, my brother, Bob Barron and his wife, Donna. There were also many friends and relatives from both sides of our families.

Posted by qualteam at 5:49 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 21 June 2010 6:10 PM EDT

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Monday, 14 June 2010

Country Legend, Ray Price

Back in the 1950s, there were many country singers who had hits on the pop charts. Unfortunately, most of them are dead now.
One exception is Ray Price who at 84 continues to sing good and sound great with a full orchestra behind him. Sure he had country hits from the 50s like "Crazy Arms" and "Heartaches by the Number", but he also had pop hits like "Release Me" and "For The Good Times".
As you can see from the youtube video above, Ray's heart seems to lie with "The Big Band Sound of the 1940s". I think he went country when he inherited Hank William's band back in the early 50s.
It was a real treat to find a singer who spanned so many decades of popular and country music.
Popular music didn't start with Elvis Presley or The Bealtes. It's great that someone like Ray Price reminds us of that fact.
Who's Going To Fill Their Shoes? by George Jones
Other country and pop legends who passed away.

Posted by qualteam at 10:36 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 14 June 2010 11:42 PM EDT

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Monday, 7 June 2010

It's My Birthday And I'll Party If I Want To

I had a great birthday party at my nephew's place (Blair Noseworthy) on Saturday. There's more photos on my Facebook Page. The most interesting gift was the huge bottle of Tequila above. It was given to me by another nephew, Bryant Noseworthy and his wife Marlene. They picked the bottle up in Mexico where they got married.
I challenged everyone at the party to a foot race, but only my 12-year old grandson, Kyle accepted. He beat me by 10 seconds.
This is what I look like in 2010. The hair is not dyed. I try to keep in good shape with lots of exercise and a healthy diet. This includes "medication" like the bottle above.
I'd like to wish everyone who visits my blog a happy birthday whenever and wherever it may be. A birthday is a celebration of life and in the words of the most famous Vulcan of all time: "Live Long And Prosper".

Posted by qualteam at 9:03 AM EDT

Updated: Monday, 7 June 2010 9:14 AM EDT

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Saturday, 5 June 2010

Top Ten Timeless Realms

After watching Lost, I decided to create my own list on "Top Ten Timeless Realms". If you have your own list on this subject, please sent it to me at qualteam@rogers.com.
"The Q Continuum": Although "The Q" are a non progressive society, I put it in first place because of the possibilities that could exist there. Who wouldn't want to be in a place where all kinds of creations and games are possible?
The World Of The Tralfamadore in "Slaughter House Five": Kurt Vonnegut's epic novel of death, destruction and redemption remains relevant today.
The Twilight Zone's "Nice Place To Visit": Rod Serling's view of Hell was quite unusual for the late 1950s. This work was and still is a masterpiece.
Richard Matheson's "What Dreams May Come". Both the novel and the movie mostly take place in an afterlife where your deepest desires and nightmares could come true.
Twilight Zone's "A Game Of Pool": Becoming the best at anything in this world or the next can carry some heavy responsibilities.
"The Land Of Oz": Dorthy discovers that the fantasy world of Oz isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
"The Never Never Land Of Peter Pan": When I was a kid, the concept of never growing up appealed to me. Many years later, it still captures my imagination.
"Alice In Wonderland": I learned how to communicate better using this book. It holds a special place in my life.
Star Trek's NG, "The Royale": Being captured by a good book may seem like Heaven, but being captured by a bad book could turn into Hell.
"The Sideways World Of Lost": Despite the maze of unresolved plot lines in Lost, the final episode did have some good moments in the confusing Sideways World.
As you can see, I confined this top ten list to fantasy/sci/fi movies and TV series.

Posted by qualteam at 1:48 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 6 June 2010 12:44 PM EDT

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Monday, 31 May 2010

Riverdance At Casino Rama

Riverdance has been around since the early 1990s, but this is the first time that I caught the show.
The dancing is precisely co-ordinated and at times incredibly fast. It is a real treat for the senses as Ireland comes alive in the forms of dancers, singers and musicians.
Ireland is part of my heritage and I was able to indentify with this type of storytelling that used poetry, dances and songs to demonstrate how the Irish overcame adversity and found their place in the world.
A major disappointment were musical interludes from the musicians which slowed things down and took attention off the storyline. Three Stars.

Posted by qualteam at 9:48 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 31 May 2010 9:51 PM EDT

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Friday, 28 May 2010

Final Thoughts On "Lost"

I know there are many fans of Lost who think it was the greatest series on TV. I certainly don't share that opinion. Lost had the potential to be a great sci/fi story but it failed to achieve its potential. Please read below.
To begin with, the whole subject of "Who Or What Is Behind The Phenomena On The Island" was simply dropped. In place of an atequate resolution of Lost's main mysteries like the numbers, the donkey wheel, The Dharma Project, the light in the tunnel, etc. there was an obsession to wrap things up in "The Sideways World"(created by a Nuclear Explosion???). No characters in Lost seemed to remember that incident.
In the Sideways World, the plane crash never happened and people who were dead were suddenly very much alive. This is alternate universe (A)(present time) that lasted until the final episode when the losties suddenly found themselves in alternate universe (B) (A timeless zone) where the plane crash did exist. This is either a paradox or two separate universes created by God knows what.
The mind boggles at the contrived events used to bring Lost to an end.
The last scene in the church looked like the finale cast party.

Posted by qualteam at 1:39 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 29 May 2010 7:36 AM EDT

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Monday, 24 May 2010

The May Two-Four Holiday In Canada

The 24th of May is officially, Queen Victoria Day in Canada. Lately, more and more Canadians are now calling it "Two-Four Day". This is a reference to a 24-bottle-case-of-beer. I think Bob and Ted Mackenzie started this two-four craze with their "Two-Four Anniverary Show". In actual fact, the 24th of May is the unofficial start of Summer. Beer sales skyrocket like fireworks on "Firecracker Day". It is public holiday. You might call it "National Beer Day".
Only in Canada, could you have someone raising a pint to the memory of a queen who's been dead for over a hundred years.

Posted by qualteam at 4:02 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 24 May 2010 4:05 PM EDT

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The Losties Check Out Of The Island

Instead of a war between the good guys and the bad guys, Lost found itself being a story about "Moving To The Light With Friends". This was disappointing because I really wanted to see the real Locke appear and defeat the false Locke on his home turf.
The real Locke could have also been a mentor in helping his dead and living friends discover the secrets of "The Sideways World".
What bugs me is that a weak character like Jacob got to interact after death with his candidates about "Protecting The Light" while the real Locke went to "Lost Heaven" until the others joined him.
The warm fuzzies of the ending don't make up for the lack of a good protagonist in Season Six.
Jack Shepard isn't a good leader because he followed the others into the light. "Gee, I'm dead, thanks for telling me dad".
More reviews of the Lost Finale.

Posted by qualteam at 8:40 AM EDT

Updated: Monday, 24 May 2010 9:13 AM EDT

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Thursday, 20 May 2010

The Big Attractions In "Lost" Are The Mysteries

These mysteries are multiple and complex. I like stories that challenge my intellect and imagination.
Unfortunately, the series lacks a dynamic protagonist that I can indentify with and cheer for. John Locke appeared at first to be a natural leader, but he got killed off three quarters of the way through. I think the producers realized their mistake and brought him back as the smoke monster taking the form of John Locke, now he's the bad guy.
The other potential protaganists like Jacob and Jack Shepard have glaring weaknesses or lack of leadership that hold them back. Those guys don't seem to have a clue about getting the losties off the island or solving the big mysteries(Like the existence of the "Sideways World").
Recently, I expressed my views on a "Lost Forum" of what I was looking forward to in the finale:
"Dying isn't a way to get off the island. Moving into a "Sideways Alternate World" isn't either. The island blew up from a nuclear device at the end of season five and it's still there. Of course, going away physically isn't a solution because the "Oceanic Six" came back.
The lost souls who are dead have to go to "The Light" at the centre of island. Jacob burns his ashes but that won't allow him to leave the island. Both MIB and Jacob have failed to reach enlightenment on why souls are hanging around this area. Leaving the island physically, probably involves Desmond, the Donkey Wheel, The Magic Numbers and the electromagnetic properties of the island. The Losties would then be propelled into the Sideways World. I would have liked it if Jack, Richard or Hugo asked more questions concerning the above. If I was lost on this incredible island, I'd be trying to solve those puzzles".
I'm expecting a bit of let down for the finale. Some loose ends will be tied and others won't.
P.S. In Stars Wars, Obi Wan Kenobi became more powerful after he died. It would be great if the real John Locke appeared to save everyone after the fake John Locke is about to do everyone in. I don't think this will happen. The producers made a mistake by killing their best actor and protagonist. They brought John Locke back as "Ole Smokie" because they needed him in the series. Jack Shepard doesn't fill the real Locke's shoes. He was simply drafted because he's better looking than Hurley.

Posted by qualteam at 11:15 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 23 May 2010 12:44 PM EDT

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