The Barron Blog

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

We're Going To Newfoundland Next Week

We're going to Spaniard's Bay NFLD exactly. That's where my wife's brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Winnie Noseworthy live.
This will be the fourth time that I've visited Newfoundland. The first time was in 1998 and I created a webpage for that visit.
Finding out about Newfoundland history and old English settlements like Cupids and Harbour Grace is a lots of fun. You might not know this but for two hundreds years Newfoundland was a haven for English pirates.
I've also been "screeched in" by my wife. This means becoming an honorary Newfy and a member of "The Cod/Pirate/Viking Fraternity". What an honour!
Newfies are probably the friendliest people on Earth. Family, friend or friend of a friend, they love making you feel at home. The song below "Music and Friends" tells it all.

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The weather in the summer is at least five to 10 degrees lower. In the evening, it's about 10C, very good for sleeping.
On the downside, there isn't the choice or closeness to places like malls, recreational centres and entertainment facilities which you have in the Greater Toronto Area.
I may have to go to the library to use the internet unless I find a good "hot spot" for my laptop.
We'll be gone for a month, but I'll try to keep you informed on these unique experiences.

Posted by qualteam at 9:22 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 14 July 2010 10:00 PM EDT

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Sunday, 4 July 2010

Denny Doherty And The Mamas And Papas

Every now and then a biography will come along that really moves me. This was the case of Denny Doherty's biography, "Here I Am".
Denny was a founding member of the 60s folk/pop group, Mamas and Papas. This was the first group to combine folk melodies with rock and roll. For a short while, they set the standards for the hippie lifestyle. As you might know, Denny was having an affair with fellow band member Michelle Phillips who was married to M & P member, John Phillips. The guys were also heavily into drugs and alcohol.
Mamma Cass Elliot was in love with Denny, but he turned her marriage proposal down. She was a star in her own right and unfortunately died of a heart attack in 1974.
I was surprised to find out how varied Denny's career was. He acted in several plays, TV series and wrote a collection of soulful ballads. He was not only influenced by the folk songs of the 1950s, but the Gaelic Music of Nova Scotia. This was presented very well in Denny's filmed biography, "Here I Am". Four Stars!!!

Posted by qualteam at 10:39 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 5 July 2010 2:43 PM EDT

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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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