JOANNE'S JOURNAL
Edition No. 2
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
- Albert Einstein
From The Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929
Well, I certainly need my imagination to get me through the month of November. It's my least favourite month of the year. Although there can be a haunting beauty about the eleventh month of the year, it is still the death month. The trees are bare. The days become shorter and darkness comes earlier and earlier. That is why I always choose a Wednesday in the middle of November as my November Blah Day and I plan something enjoyable and interesting for that day. This year, my November Blah Day falls on Wednesday, November 16.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S POPULARITY APPEARS TO BE RISING AGAIN
I was pleased to read that U.S. President Obama's popularity has stared to rise again. It was just one poll, a November 2 Quinniapic University poll, but it may be indicative of a trend. The Republicans seem to be squabbling among themselves and the Herman Cain scandal hasn't help. GOP Senators have not done their party any favours by blocking Obama's American Jobs Act. The President is trying to do something to create jobs and Republicans are stubborning preventing him from doing so. One year from tomorrow, on November 6, 2012, American voters will have their say. In the meantime, this race is far from over! Fasten your seat belts!
GOOD NEWS FOR TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Good work, Toronto library lovers! Your campaign to save our public libraries seems to be succeeding. Your emails to city councillors and your petition have produced results. On the evening of November 1st, the budget committee of the Library Board voted unanimously against neighbourhood library branch closings and cuts to hours of operation. We must however, remain vigilant. The fight is not over yet. It is possible that this decision could be reversed when the full Library Board convenes on November 21st. Library budget reductions may also be accomplished by slashing library staffs.
GOOD FOR YOU, GABBY GIFFORDS! I ONLY WISH YOU WOULD SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF GUN CONTROL
U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona has shown remarkable bravery and courage. She now vows to return to Congress. I hope she does. Giffords, the victim of a horrific shooting by a crazed gunman, has lost half of her sight in both eyes. She walks with a cane and writes with her left hand.
A new memoir, titled Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, describes her efforts to recover after being shot last January 8th in front of a Tucson, Arizona grocery store. Six people lost their lives in the attack that day, including a nine-year-old child.
Rep. Giffords' memoir is written from the point of view of her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly. The last chapter, however, however, is written from Giffords' own perspective. She states emphatically, "I will get stronger. I will return." I'm sure she will and I wish her the best.
Giffords attacker, Jared Lee Loughner, was clearly unstable. It was known that he was unstable. He never should have been allowed to possess a gun. If there had be stricter gun control, this tragedy would never have happened. It's too bad the courageous congresswoman has not supported strict gun control. She would be a tremendous advocate for the cause, such as James Brady who was shot in the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan.
ROB FORD AND MARY WALSH
Allow me weigh in on the Rob Ford - Mary Walsh 22 Minutes controversy. While I think Mary Walsh should not have gone to Ford's home, it is my opinion that the mayor overreacted and behaved uncivilly. As she pointed out, how dangerous is a 60-year-old woman with a plastic sword? It's too bad that Mary didn't do her Warrior Princess thing at another location. Politicians of all political stripe have faced the Newfoundlander's Marg Delahunty persona. They have either joked along with her or gritted their teeth and smiled.
GUY FAWKES DAY
Today is Guy Fawkes Day in Britain. I suggest that you read my posting on Guy Fawkes Day from last year - November 5. 2010.
RIDDLE ME THIS
Why was the skeleton afraid to cross the street?
ANSWER
Because he had no guts.
Basketball
Here's what I think about the NBA lockout. I have no sympathy for the owners and no sympathy for the players. A pox on both their houses, I say! So many people are struggling to make ends meet and unemployment is rampant in North America. So why should I empathize with those obscenely wealthy and overpaid athletes and their fat cat owners? What about those stadium workers who sell tickets, souvenirs and concessions? What about the restaurant and small business owners who lose business when there are no games?
Here in Toronto, there isn't much buzz about the Raptors. I don't hear many people lamenting their absence. Of course, only the Leafs really matter in this town. There's probably a great deal more reaction in other cities. If not, then it does not bode well for the future of professional basketball.
Baseball
Here are some final comments about the 2011 World Series. I am quite pleased that the St. Louis Cardinals won. I'll never forget Game Six and how the Cards kept coming back. They were extremely persistent and refused give up. Their victory in Game Six really decided the Series. Game Seven was really anti-climatic. There was absolutely no way it could live up to the excitement of the previous game. The Cardinals won it at home before their enthusiastic and loyal supporters. Tony La Russa made a wise decision to retire. He goes out in a blaze of glory and a World Series victory. How can he possibly top that?
I'm disappointed that John McDonald will not be back with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2012 season. T.O. fans will miss Johnny Mac. He was one classy guy. I hope he finds happiness playing in Arizona and I'm glad he had the opportunity to play in the postseason with the Diamondbacks.
I couldn't believe the number of ex-Blue Jays in postseason plays. It was pretty hard for Toronto fans to swallow. Why didn't some of those players perform as well here in T.O.? I'm thinking of Mark Rzepczynski and Octavio Dotel.
- Joanne
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