South Dakota legislature's bill an insult to women

A direct attack on Roe v. Wade is coming from the South Dakota legislature. The new bill, which outlaws abortion, makes no exceptions, not for a pregnancy caused by incest or rape. It would only be legal—the only exception if it would save the pregnant woman's life.

Doctors who perform abortions could face up to five years in prison. The bill passed the State Senate 23-12. It's expected to pass the House again and then go to Governor Mike Rounds' desk. The bill's sponsor says he thinks the antiabortion movement has momentum on its side and a—quote—“change in national policy on abortion is going to come in the not-too-distant future.”

To read an excerpt from their conversation, click on this link


In his opening statement DAN ABRAMS, HOST, ‘ABRAMS REPORT' states:

"My Take” is that the state lawmakers have got to know this bill effectively spits in the face of the U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Not just because of Roe v. Wade, because the high court reaffirmed Roe when it revisited the abortion issue in 1992 in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. A majority agreed that women have the right to have an abortion before the fetus is viable and to obtain an abortion without undue interference from the state.

So whatever you think of abortion, this law is almost an insult to the court. Governor, I know you've made it perfectly clear you support many abortion restrictions, but this is not an abortion restriction. This is outlawing it. I assume you've got to know that this wouldn't pass the court's test.

Dan has it right, I may be a Canadian liberal, small l. But attacking a womens right to not have to live with the stigmatisms that the world would impose on her if she was forced into bringing a child into the world that was the result of a rape or god forbid incest, is as sick as the act it self.

Roe v Wade is a world wide cornerstone of justice and for a handful of South Dakota extremist politicians to even conceive such a bill proves that their is something seriously wrong with our elected officials.

Here in this country our Canadian women found themselves in a similar fight for respect.

On May 29, 1990, the House of Commons passed Bill C-43. This bill would have put abortion back into the Criminal Code, while exempting from penalty those abortions deemed necessary by a physician for health reasons. Bill C-43 was awaiting only Senate approval to become Canada’s new abortion law when, suddenly, two cases of clandestine illegal abortion reappeared in Canada. In June of 1990, a sixteen-year-old girl from Kitchener, Ontario, sustained physical injury from a botched abortion performed in a man’s home. Less than two weeks later, a Toronto woman died from a self-induced coat-hanger abortion, apparently the first such death in well over a decade.

When Bill C-43 was introduced, at least sixty doctors, fearful of possible criminal prosecution, stopped performing abortions. A 1990 survey done by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada found that 275 of the 460 specialists then performing abortions would stop if the bill became law. The legal possibility of criminal charges for performing an abortion was simply a greater price than most doctors could afford to pay.

Bill C-43 was defeated by the Senate on January 31, 1991, in a dramatic tie vote. Since then, there have been no new attempts by the federal government to return abortion to the Criminal Code. Abortion in Canada has remained a private medical matter between a woman and her doctor since 1988.

Later,
Kenaz

Man of steel's super wife passed away

Dana Reeve, who became a champion of spinal cord research after the death of her husband, actor Christopher Reeve, has died of lung cancer in Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She was 44.

Reeve, who was diagnosed with the disease in August, died yesterday, said Maggie Goldberg, spokeswoman for the Christopher Reeve Foundation. Reeve was chairwoman of the foundation and founder of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center.

Christopher Reeve, best known for his portrayal of ``Superman'' in four movies, was paralyzed from the neck down after he fell from a horse in 1995. The couple started the paralysis research, treatment and support organization as he learned to live as a quadriplegic.

Christopher Reeve died at age 52 in 2004. The foundation named for him has awarded more than $55 million in grants for neuroscience research.

Reeve, an actor and singer who did not smoke, lived in Westchester County, New York. She announced the lung cancer diagnosis two days after ABC News anchor Peter Jennings died of the disease at age 67.

Reeve is survived by her son, Will, 13, and two stepchildren, Matthew and Alexandra; as well as her father, Dr. Charles Morosini, sisters Deborah Morosini and Adrienne Morosini Heilman.

For more about this courageous women and the work her and Christopher accomplished vistit the "Christopher Reeve Foundation" website.

Later,
Kenaz

Postcards from the Hammer

I found this great photo site put together by Janet Forjan-Freedman the 43-year-old historical interpreter at Dundurn Castle has a personal collection of more than 1,500 cards from the 1890s until the 1950s. And the great part is they're all about Hamilton.

The assortment -- which can be seen online at www.hamiltonpostcards.com -- offers a fascinating glimpse at the city's personality.

Through the collection you can see how civic pride has evolved over the years, whether the pictures expound the virtues of Gore Park, the Royal Connaught Hotel, area waterfalls or the Beach Strip.

Local history author Margaret Houghton had an interesting take on the popularity of collections like this for Hamiltonian's. She had an idea for a book. But she couldn't get any publishers interested in it. She wanted to write about Hamilton landmarks and icons that have been torn down or disappeared such as the bathrooms in Gore Park, Paddy Green's and "Shorty Green" water fountains.

"Why would anyone want to buy a depressing book like that?" one publisher asked.

"You don't understand people in Hamilton," Houghton replied. "They love this stuff."

And you know what? Houghton was right. She eventually found someone to put out Vanished Hamilton and it's been "flying off the shelves." The book has been so successful that a second printing was ordered within weeks of the book launch. A Vanished Hamilton II and III are also planned.

Hamiltonians love to glorify the past and they like to get angry at people who change things for the sake of change. The interest in the book is also a reflection of the passion for local history in the city.

There are apparently only three places in Canada where an author has any hope of selling books on local history -- Halifax, Vancouver and Hamilton.

"And of those three, Hamilton is the best," Houghton says.

Why is that?

"It's because Hamilton is the biggest small town in Canada," she says.

Later,
Kenaz

A Canadian takes top honours at the Oscars

Congrats to London, Ontario born Paul Haggis who was still floating on cloud nine Monday morning after winning the best picture Oscar for his film Crash on Sunday night.

Haggis and producer Cathy Schulman accepted the Best Picture Award from screen ledgend Jack Nicholson.

Coming from directly from Hollywood celebrations and hobnobbing with the biggest stars, and still without a wink of sleep, Haggis told reporters it was "pretty darn cool" getting an award from Jack Nicholson. "It was an amazing feeling," he said.

The film was the directorial debut for Haggis, who also won the Academy Award for best original screenplay with co-writer Bobby Moresco. Crash beat out the heavily favoured Brokeback Mountain for the top Oscar.

In typical Canadian humbleness, Haggis heartily laughed off suggestions the awards, plus a nomination last year for Million Dollar Baby script, had made him Hollywood's top dog.

"That's a pretty scary thought," he said. "I don't think so."

Haggis says he never believed either Crash or Million Dollar Baby would make it to the silver screen because his topics were offbeat and even slightly depressing.

"When I wrote Million Dollar Baby and [Crash], I didn't believe either one of them would ever get made. Crash – I figured no one would ever make it. It had all these characters. It was about race relations and fear and intolerance. Who'd want to see that?

"I thought my grandchildren would read these scripts and go, 'Oh look, grandpa tried to get into the movies. Isn't that cute?' "

Haggis' next project is a film entitled Flags of Our Fathers. It is based on the story of six men who raised the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima during the Second World War. Haggis wrote the script.

IMDb mini-bio: Paul Haggis

Later,
Kenaz

Baseball ledgend Kirby Puckett dead at 45

Hall of Fame outfielder Kirby Puckett died Monday after a stroke. He was 45. Puckett was admitted to intensive care at Phoenix's St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and listed in critical condition following surgery for a stroke suffered Sunday morning at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kirby Puckett died Monday at age 45. Puckett underwent the surgery at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn before being transferred to St. Joseph's, where he passed away Monday afternoon.

Puckett debuted in the majors in 1984 and retired in 1995, his career cut short by glaucoma which left him blind in his right eye. Of equal concern was Puckett's excessive weight gain upon retiring.

"It's a tough thing to see a guy go through something like that and come to this extent," admitted former Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek.

"That's what really hurt him bad, when he was forced out of the game. I don't know if he ever recovered from it."

Puckett was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame with former teammate Dave Winfield in 2001. He was 40 years old at the time, making him the third-youngest inductee behind Lou Gehrig (36) and Sandy Koufax (37).

... Kirby was taken from us much too soon and too quickly."

MLB commissioner Bud Selig.

Later,
Kenaz

New tape of Canadian hostages shown on Al-Jazeera

James Loney and Harmeet Sooden

Hostages held in Iraq


The CBC has reported that Arab television channel Al-Jazeera broadcast a brief videotape on Tuesday reportedly showing three of four peace activists, including two Canadians, taken hostage in Iraq last fall.

Canadians, James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Sooden, 32, of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, were shown in the 25-second video. Their colleague, 74-year-old Briton Norman Kember, was also seen. The tape, which had no sound, carried a time-stamp of Feb. 28.

The mens families say the tape offers great hope for their return. No speculation or reasons have been given for American Tom Fox's absense from the tape.

Rune Reading For The Week Of March 6-March 12, 2006

Introduction to Rune Readings

Rune readings are arrangements of the 24 runes (letters) of the old Futhark alphabet. The layout of the runes is known as a spread, and determines what each rune refers to. For example, in the Three Norns spread, the first rune represents the past, the second the present, and the third the future.

Sets: In addition to each rune having a meaning, the material in which the runes are carved can color the reading. Most people consistently use runes made of ceramic, stone, or wood. In order to broaden your experience, we offer readings with Gold Runes (for questions about business, career, and property), Jade Runes (for questions about love, friendship, and relationships), Ice Runes (for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement), Spirit Runes (for questions about mysticism, spirituality, and religion), and Stone Runes (for questions about the natural world and things beyond human control).

The question will remain the same: "Will this week be a successful one?"

Rune Alphabet



Spread:Cross(in order of reading)
The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement.




Here is the Reading Using the Ice Set.

1.


The left rune represents an important element of the past. Dagez means daylight, and represents divine light. This rune generally refers to dawn (the initial sparking of energy) or to midday (the climax of energy). Both dawn and midday are symbolic of change, but unlike the changes in the perpetual circle of the year which are slow and subtle, the changes over a day are much faster and more dramatic. The breaking of a new day is symbolic of the rapid illumination of dismal circumstances, and is suggestive of Satori. Be careful - although this rune generally suggests a positive change, the symbology of a peaking point suggests that there must be a change downward as well. Fortunately for some, this rune is cyclic and irreversible, and so permanence is not promised - the only thing you can be sure of is an exciting ride.

2.


The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Sowelu is a strong symbol, for it represents the sun. Unlike equatorial cultures who may see the sun as a harsh and imperial force capable of causing droughts, in the cold north the sun is a purely feminine force that gives life and allows crops to grow. In dark times, this rune represents clarity of sight and the victory of good over evil. Sowelu is irreversible, as the cycles of the sun and seasons are perpetual.

3.


The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Kenaz is the rune of light and knowledge. The rune is shown reversed representing a state of darkness or ignorance. Either you are unable to obtain information that you need, or the information is being withheld from you. In darkness there is fear, but remember that darkness does not mean isolation. Friendship and comfort can still be available, although they are not immediately visible.

4.


The top rune represents a force that works for you. Algiz can be easily recognized as the antlers of the elk that it represents. The elk can represent victory, but is much more appropriately associated with the thrill of the hunt itself. This rune therefore can portend vigor and success in active endeavors. Also, this rune seems symbolic of a hand with outstretched fingers - a protective hand. This hand may suggest that you will be shielded from things negative - the problems still exist, you are spared the brunt of their force.

5.


The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Ehwaz is representative of the eight-legged horse ridden by the god Odin. As such, this is the rune of controlled movement and travel, including the pursuit of an objective or station in life. Since some older sources show Odin not as a man riding a horse but as a centaur-like being, this rune can also represent the union of man and nature, or the fusion of two entities in perfect harmony. As this rune is reversed, this could bode poorly for travel or for the vehicle involved. In the more spiritual sense, this rune could represent difficulties in self-improvement or other attempts at advancement. Finally, it may represent a splitting of two or the inability of two to act as one.

If you are further interested in Rune stones, please check out a script I wrote about three years ago. The story tells of a women's chance encounter with the towns rune reader and physcic. Her reading leads to a terrible discovery about her ex-husband.Click here to read 'Evil Of A Different Kind'

Later,
Kenaz

And the winner was....

Back on February 2 I made my predictions for tonight's 78th Academy Awards here is the complete list of nominees. For each category I have indicated my picks, if different, the winners are highlighted in CAPITALS.

As you will see I did okay with the big awards, but got creamed else where. I guess you can I got my back broke by an ape who crashed the party. And for the record who picked "It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp" for song? Anywho, I've had enough, almost 3.5 hours is way to long! Here's how it all shook down.

Results:
From Yahoo Movies

Breakdown:Overall
Experts Picks:18/23
Users Picks:12/23
Me:7/21

Top 6 Catagories:Best and Supporting Actor,Actress,Director,Picture
Experts:5/6
Me:3/6
Users:3/6

Performance by an actor in a leading role
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN in “Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Terrence Howard in “Hustle & Flow” (Paramount Classics, MTV Films and New Deal Entertainment)
Heath Ledger in “Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features)
Joaquin Phoenix in “Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox)
David Strathairn in “Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
GEORGE CLOONEY in “Syriana” (Warner Bros.)
Matt Dillon in “Crash” (Lions Gate)

Paul Giamatti in “Cinderella Man” (Universal and Miramax) (my pick)

Jake Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features)
William Hurt in “A History of Violence” (New Line)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Judi Dench in “Mrs. Henderson Presents” (The Weinstein Company)
Felicity Huffman in “Transamerica” (The Weinstein Company and IFC Films)
Keira Knightley in “Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features)
Charlize Theron in “North Country” (Warner Bros.)
REESE WITHERSPOON in “Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Adams in “Junebug” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Catherine Keener in “Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)(my pick)

Frances McDormand in “North Country” (Warner Bros.)
RACHEL WEISZ in “The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features)
Michelle Williams in “Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features)

Best animated feature film of the year
“Howl’s Moving Castle” (Buena Vista)
Hayao Miyazaki

“Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride” (Warner Bros.)
Mike Johnson and Tim Burton(my pick)

“WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT” (DreamWorks Animation SKG)
Nick Park and Steve Box

Achievement in art direction
“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures)
Art Direction: Jim Bissell
Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (Warner Bros.)
Art Direction: Stuart Craig
Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
“King Kong” (Universal)
Art Direction: Grant Major
Set Decoration: Dan Hennah and Simon Bright
“MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Art Direction: John Myhre
Set Decoration: Gretchen Rau
“Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features)
Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood
Set Decoration: Katie Spencer

Achievement in cinematography
“Batman Begins” (Warner Bros.)
Wally Pfister
“Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features)
Rodrigo Prieto
“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures)
Robert Elswit
“MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA” (Sony Pictures Releasing)Dion Beebe
“The New World” (New Line)
Emmanuel Lubezki

Achievement in costume design
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (Warner Bros.)
Gabriella Pescucci
“MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Colleen Atwood
“Mrs. Henderson Presents” (The Weinstein Company)
Sandy Powell
“Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features)
Jacqueline Durran
“Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox)
Arianne Phillips

Achievement in directing
“BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN” (Focus Features)
Ang Lee
“Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Bennett Miller
“Crash” (Lions Gate)
Paul Haggis
“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures)
George Clooney
“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks)
Steven Spielberg

Best documentary feature
“Darwin’s Nightmare” (International Film Circuit)
A Mille et Une Production
Hubert Sauper
“Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” (Magnolia Pictures)
An HDNet Films Production
Alex Gibney and Jason Kliot
“MARCH OF THE PENGUINS” (Warner Independent Pictures)
A Bonne Pioche Production
Luc Jacquet and Yves Darondeau

“Murderball” (THINKFilm)
An Eat Films Production
Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro(my pick)

“Street Fight”
A Marshall Curry Production
Marshall Curry

Best documentary short subject

“The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club”
A Dan Krauss Production
Dan Krauss (my pick)

“God Sleeps in Rwanda”
An Acquaro/Sherman Production
Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman
“The Mushroom Club”
A Farallon Films Production
Steven Okazaki
“A NOTE OF TRIUMPH: THE GOLDEN AGE OF NORMAN CORWIN”
A NomaFilms Production
Corinne Marrinan and Eric Simonson

Achievement in film editing

“Cinderella Man” (Universal and Miramax)
Mike Hill and Dan Hanley(my pick)

“The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features)
Claire Simpson
“CRASH” (Lions Gate)
Hughes Winborne
“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks)
Michael Kahn
“Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox)
Michael McCusker

Best foreign language film of the year
“Don’t Tell”
A Cattleya/Rai Cinema Production
Italy
“Joyeux Noël”
A Nord-Ouest Production
France

“Paradise Now”
An Augustus Film Production
Palestine (my pick)

“Sophie Scholl - The Final Days”
A Goldkind Filmproduktion and Broth Film Production
Germany
“TSOTSI”
A Moviworld Production
South Africa

Achievement in makeup
“THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE”
(Buena Vista)
Howard Berger and Tami Lane
“Cinderella Man”
(Universal and Miramax)
David Leroy Anderson and Lance Anderson

“Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith”
(20th Century Fox)
Dave Elsey and Nikki Gooley (my pick)

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN” (Focus Features) Gustavo Santaolalla
“The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features) Alberto Iglesias

“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) John Williams(my pick)

“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks) John Williams
“Pride & Prejudice” (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

“In the Deep” from “Crash” (Lions Gate)
Music by Kathleen “Bird” York and Michael Becker
Lyric by Kathleen “Bird” York (my pick)

“IT'S HARD OUT HERE FOR A PIMP” from“Hustle & Flow” (Paramount Classics, MTV Films and New Deal Entertainment)
Music and Lyric by Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard
“Travelin’ Thru” from “Transamerica” (The Weinstein Company and IFC Films)
Music and Lyric by Dolly Parton

Best motion picture of the year

“Brokeback Mountain” (Focus Features)
A River Road Entertainment Production
Diana Ossana and James Schamus, Producers (my pick)

“Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
An A-Line Pictures/Cooper’s Town/ Infinity Media Production
Caroline Baron, William Vince and Michael Ohoven, Producers
“CRASH” (Lions Gate)
A Bob Yari/DEJ/Blackfriar’s Bridge/ Harris Company/ApolloProscreen GmbH & Co./Bull’s Eye Entertainment Production
Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman, Producers
“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures)
A Good Night Good Luck LLC Production
Grant Heslov, Producer
“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks)
A Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures Production
Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg and Barry Mendel, Producers

Best animated short film (I have no clue)
“Badgered”
A National Film and Television School Production
Sharon Colman
“THE MOON AND THE SON: AN IMAGINED CONVERSATION”
A John Canemaker Production
John Canemaker and Peggy Stern
“The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello” (Monster Distributes)
A 3D Films Production
Anthony Lucas
“9”
A Shane Acker Production
Shane Acker
“One Man Band”
A Pixar Animation Studios Production
Andrew Jimenez and Mark Andrews

Best live action short film (Again I have no clue)
“Ausreisser (The Runaway)”
A Hamburg Media School, Filmwerkstatt Production
Ulrike Grote
“Cashback” (The British Film Institute)
A Left Turn Films Production
Sean Ellis and Lene Bausager
“The Last Farm”
A Zik Zak Filmworks Production
Rúnar Rúnarsson and Thor S. Sigurjónsson
“OUR TIME IS UP”
A Station B Production
Rob Pearlstein and Pia Clemente
“Six Shooter” (Sundance Film Channel)
A Missing in Action Films and Funny Farm Films Production
Martin McDonagh

Achievement in sound editing
“KING KONG”(Universal) Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn

“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Wylie Stateman (my pick)

“War of the Worlds” (Paramount and DreamWorks) Richard King

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (Buena Vista)
Terry Porter, Dean A. Zupancic and Tony Johnson
“KING KONG” (Universal)
Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges and Hammond Peek

“Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sony Pictures Releasing) (my pick)

Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Rick Kline and John Pritchett
“Walk the Line” (20th Century Fox)
Paul Massey, D.M. Hemphill and Peter F. Kurland
“War of the Worlds” (Paramount and DreamWorks)
Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ronald Judkins

Achievement in visual effects

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (Buena Vista) (my pick)

Dean Wright, Bill Westenhofer, Jim Berney and Scott Farrar
“KING KONG” (Universal)
Joe Letteri, Brian Van’t Hul, Christian Rivers and Richard Taylor
“War of the Worlds” (Paramount and DreamWorks)
Dennis Muren, Pablo Helman, Randal M. Dutra and Daniel Sudick

Adapted screenplay
“BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN” (Focus Features)
Screenplay by Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana
“Capote” (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Screenplay by Dan Futterman
“The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features)
Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine
“A History of Violence” (New Line)
Screenplay by Josh Olson
“Munich” (Universal and DreamWorks)
Screenplay by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth

Original screenplay
“CRASH” (Lions Gate)
Screenplay by Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco
Story by Paul Haggis

“Good Night, and Good Luck.” (Warner Independent Pictures)
Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov (my pick)

“Match Point” (DreamWorks)
Written by Woody Allen
“The Squid and the Whale” (Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures Releasing)
Written by Noah Baumbach
“Syriana” (Warner Bros.)
Written by Stephen Gaghan

Later,
Kenaz

New Playlist Uploaded Over at Kenaz's Old Time Radio

Here's the track list in alphabetical order. Click on the highlighted links to read about the terrific blues and jazz artists as well as the old time radio programs that my station plays. Be sure to check out my station info by clicking on the highlighted title link.

Authors Playhouse - Minstrels of the Mist - 44 08 04 32/44/sc 28:54
Billy Miranda - Go Ahead - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1957-1959 Part One) (Disc 7) 32/44/sc 1:49
Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1955-1956 Part Two) (Disc 6) 32/44/sc 2:25
Chuck Berry - Almost Grown - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1957-1959 Part Two) (Disc 8) 32/44/sc 2:21
Dale Hawkins - La-Do-Dada - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1957-1959 Part Two) (Disc 8) 32/44/sc 2:35
Danny Gatton - Sky King - Cruisin' Deuces 14:06:56 6:41
Danny Overbea - Forty Cups Of Coffee - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1952-1954 Part One) (Disc 3) 32/44/sc 3:11
Dave Baby Cortez - Rinky Dink - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1962-1964) (Disc 10) 32/44/sc 2:53
Danger with Granger FBI - Scientist - 19xx crime 32/44/sc 24:21
Eddie Bo - Oh-Oh - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1957-1959 Part Two) (Disc 8) 32/44/sc 2:27
Ellery Queen - The Three Frogs - 48-04-29
otr 32/44/sc 28:51
Etta James - All I Could Do Was Cry - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1960-1961) (Disc 9) 32/44/sc 2:57
Etta James - Stop The Wedding - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1962-1964) (Disc 10) 32/44/sc 2:54
Hound Dog Taylor - Sitting Home Alone - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1967-1968) (Disc 12) 32/44/sc 3:46
Inner Sanctum - Detour to Terror - Old Time Radio 32/44/sc 28:42
JOHN COLTRANE - Cat walk - The Prestige Recordings CD 04 32/44/sc 6:28
JOHN COLTRANE - Cattin' - The Prestige Recordings CD 05 32/44/sc 7:23
Johnny Fuller - You Got Me Whistlin' - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1957-1959 Part Two) (Disc 8) 32/44/sc 2:10
Larry Liggett - That Man Is Walking - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1952-1954 Part Two) (Disc 4) 32/44/sc 2:47
Laura Lee - Dirty Man - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1967-1968) (Disc 12) 32/44/sc 2:54
Little Joe Blue - Dirty Work Goin' On - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1965-1966) (Disc 11) 32/44/sc 2:49
Little Johnny Jones - Big Town Playboy - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1947-1950) (Disc 1) 32/44/sc 2:56
Little Walter - You're So Fine - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1952-1954 Part Two) (Disc 4) 32/44/sc 3:06
Little Walter - My Baby - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1955-1956 Part One) (Disc 5) 32/44/sc 2:42
Little Walter - Just Your Fool - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1960-1961) (Disc 9) 32/44/sc 2:25
Lowell Fulson - Reconsider Baby - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1952-1954 Part Two) (Disc 4) 32/44/sc 3:11
Mamie Galore - It Ain't Necessary - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1967-1968) (Disc 12) 32/44/sc 2:13
Marshall Chess Interview - Marshall Chess Interview - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (Interview) (Disc 14) 32/44/sc 1:10
Muddy Waters - Mad Love (I Want You To Love Me) - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1952-1954 Part Two) (Disc 4) 32/44/sc 3:04
Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1955-1956 Part One) (Disc 5) 32/44/sc 2:58
Muddy Waters - Can't Get No Grindin' - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1969-1975) (Disc 13) 32/44/sc 2:48
Old Time Radio - Ellery Queen - 1944 13:35:48 32/44/sc 25:44
Old time radio - Bloopers 2 Of 3 - otr comedy 32/44/sc 11:31
Otis Rush - All Your Love - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1960-1961) (Disc 9) 32/44/sc 2:56
Lights Out- The Sea -32/44/sc 22:12
Pigmeat Markham - Here Comes The Judge - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1967-1968) (Disc 12) 32/44/sc 2:43
Rosco Gordon - Booted - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1950-1951) (Disc 2)32/44/sc 3:05
Sonny Boy Williamson - Don't Start Me Talkin' - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1955-1956 Part One) (Disc 5) 32/44/sc 2:36
Sonny Boy Williamson - Fattenin' Frogs For Snakes - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1957-1959 Part One) (Disc 7) 32/44/sc 2:21
Sonny Boy Williamson - Help Me - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1962-1964) (Disc 10) 32/44/sc 3:10
Suspense - Lost Ship 32/44/sc 16:33
Suspense - Report from a Dead Planet - Old Time Radio 32/44/sc 19:57
The Creaking Door - Anna - 02.45.49. 32/44/sc 31:00
The Dells - There Is - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1967-1968) (Disc 12) 32/44/sc 3:35
The Flamingos - Would I Be Crying (If I Were Lying To You) - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1955-1956 Part Two) (Disc 6) 32/44/sc 3:02
The Jaynettes - Sally Go Round The Roses - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1962-1964) (Disc 10) 32/44/sc 3:01
The Moonglows - We Go Together - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1955-1956 Part Two) (Disc 6) 32/44/sc 2:46
Whistler - The Go-Between - OTR 32/44/sc 26:51
Wilie Dixon - Walking The Blues - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1955-1956 Part One) (Disc 5) 32/44/sc 3:04
X Minus One - To the Future - 12/14/55 32/44/sc 28:50

total hours of programming 7:15

Later,
Kenaz

Victoria Gotti is star of the A&E reality TV show "Growing Up Gotti." Personally, I don't think much of the program or Gotti and her three irritating sons. This show is "reality" tv gone wrong, what's next "Diner and a Chat With Charles Manson" or "Loving Art With John Gacey". When it comes to watching the Gottis squabble I prefer a colonoscopy. In lew of, I prefer to watch these clips taken from surveillance videotapes made during a two-day family visit to the Illinois penitentiary John Gotti called home (prison officials recorded all visits to the Gambino family boss). I found all them on The Smoking Gun. During the January 1998 sitdown, an irritable Gotti meets with his brother Peter, Victoria, and her son John, who was 10 at the time and not yet addicted to hair gel. The prison videotapes are so entertaining I had to share. If you view these videos using "Mozilla Firefox", for what ever reason they all will autoplay even though I have this feature disabled.

Blowing Up Gotti

Gotti Prison Tapes

Gotti VideosEpisode 1: Grandpa Blows A Gasket

Despite grandpa's suggestion that he pursue a legal career, little John says he'd rather be an athlete. The Dapper Don, however, doesn't want anyone in his family leading the degenerate life of a baseball or basketball player. Bristling, the lil' wiseguy announces that he'll instead opt for a less glamorous career. That sass doesn't sit well with the incarcerated hoodlum, who threatens the kid with bodily harm and tosses him from the visiting room. Raging at the child's bad attitude, Gotti blames his own wife Victoria: "That shit comes from your fucking mother, not from me," he tells his daughter.

Blowing Up Gotti

Gotti Prison Tapes

Gotti VideosEpisode 2: Parenting, Gotti Style

John Gotti criticizes daughter Victoria's handling of a problem her son encountered at school. Seems that after a classmate slurred Little John--accusing the kid (imagine!) of being a tyro wiseguy--Victoria had a polite conversation with the kid's mother to express her displeasure. Which was the wrong way to handle things, according to the imprisoned killer, who equates such civility to acting like a "rat" or a Jew. Instead, Gotti tells his daughter she should have instilled fear into the young troublemaker's mother by invoking her notorious daddy and threatening to--at least--cut the boy's tongue out. Along the way we are reminded, "Being a nigger is embarrassment, being John Gotti's grandson is an honor."

Blowing Up Gotti

Gotti Prison Tapes

Gotti VideosEpisode 3: Growing Up Agnello

"We're not animals," Victoria declares, recalling how then-husband Carmine Agnello--who's now serving nine years for racketeering--behaved like one when dealing with a kindergarten matter involving son Frank. The Dapper Don says his daughter and grandsons could avoid the hassles associated with being a Gotti by using Carmine's last name. "You should stay off television. You should stay off the book covers. You should use Victoria Agnello and they won't know who the kids are and they won't be forced with this problem." Yeah, right.

Blowing Up Gotti

Gotti Prison Tapes

Gotti Videos Episode 4: Gotti Blood

John Gotti goes off on a wild ramble after Victoria tells daddy she's his "biggest fan." The caged Godfather says his real fans are people like that girl from Idaho who wrote that he is "what America was meant to be." Noting the decline of civilization (kids "imitating all these coons...imitate niggers...your president's a piece of crap"), Gotti explains why his family is a bunch of morons: "I took garbage Gotti blood and contaminated it with DiGiorgio (his wife Victoria's maiden name) blood."

Blowing Up Gotti

Gotti Prison Tapes

Gotti Videos from The Smoking Gun.com

Episode 5: I Got Nothin'

In the final installment of Blowing Up Gotti, Victoria gets a scolding for failing to send a Christmas photograph to her incarcerated dad. When the Dapper Daughter tries to blame brother John, Jr. and his wife for bumbling the group picture project, the Gambino crime boss rails at his disrespectful family: "I'm not your father or John's father or these kids's grandfather." Soon, a fidgety Victoria gets up and leaves, and Gotti explains to brother Peter how visitors like his daughter are cramping his lifestyle in the federal pen: "I told you I didn't want you to bring these people no more...I laugh all day. I'm in a good frame of mind 'til I see them...fuck you, fuck you, and fuck them."

Later,
Kenaz

Hamilton set to go boom!

An extraordinary $117 million in new development is set to transform the heart of Hamilton. Thanks in part to $14 million from the city's downtown residential loan program, 14 new projects will bring 700 residential units to the core.







A landmark car dealership will become a high-end hotel.









Historic buildings, such as the prized Foster-McKay building and Victoria Hall at 66, 68 King Street East, will be restored.







And infamous eyesores, like the Spallacci building east of Denningers, will no longer make you sick as you enter through the eastern archway. It will be burried and become affordable housing units.









Mayor Larry Di Ianni was grinning just as wide about the development boom on Hamilton's horizon. He used to tell people they wouldn't recognize the downtown in seven to 10 years. Now he's down to five.

This is vindication for the city's downtown loans program. Allegations of wrongdoing led to an internal investigation, outside audit and OPP investigation. The program was cleared on all fronts, letting staff focus on their original goals, said Ron Marini, the city's director of downtown renewal.

This is just the latest round of loans for the program which has already invested more than $18 million since its start in 2002. Some of its original projects are built and occupied with all or part of their city loans paid back. The first 14 projects added 952 residential units to the downtown.

The latest round of development is significant, said Marini, because it marks the first time developers are willing to not just renovate existing structures but build from the ground up. The biggest loan of $3.6 million will see a half block on King William Street, bound by Jarvis Street and Ferguson Avenue, converted into a massive 11-storey building, including retail space, four floors of parking and 198 condos.

Hamilton Motor Products, which closed this fall at the corner of Main Street West and Bay Street, will become a long-term stay Hilton Homewood Suites. The 10-storey hotel takes a stab at the city's shortage of quality rooms desperately needed to attract big conventions and tourists. Its location and proximity to nearby facilities will be a huge boost, said David Adames, executive director of Tourism Hamilton.

The city also gave a $1.6-million loan for redevelopment of the Royal Connaught. The bankrupt hotel will reopen to visitors, while also offering retail space and new residential units.










Councillors also moved ahead yesterday with a new loan program to encourage residential development in business improvement areas beyond the downtown. The program, worth $2.3 million, will provide development loans for smaller commercial cores like Barton Village. Projects like, the General hospital expansion which is already underway on the old Stelco Wellington Works property. Production of the mill stopped in 1984, since then it's been an abandon building and numerous fires. Demolition happened last the summer and currently their doing clean up.







This property will become a parking lot as the General hospital is expanding and will use their current parking lot as the Regional Rehabilitation Centre.







Further along Barton St there's a very important and historical property called the Smart-Turner building. It's a 129-year-old stone structure and an example of early industrial heritage in Hamilton. The plan is to convert the place into an adult version of a Ronald McDonald House an affordable place for families of critical care and cancer patients called the Mark Preece Family House. The project could derail if it is found that the site's soil is to contaminated.










Here are the rest of the projects.



At 119 King East, four units will come into the upper three floors of this building. Some work has already begun and, with the massive windows overlooking King, I suspect these will be sharp units in a very cool, slender building.

Not to get lost in the mix is the very important project announced by Hamilton Housing a couple of months ago of a new five storey apartment building geared to Mac students to be built just east of John on the north side of King.









The new 14 storey condo planned for 221 York Boulevard at Hess, the former sight of Premier Fitness. This project at Hess could be a catalyst to start transforming Hamilton's main downtown entrance into the vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood it deserves.

The building at 4, 8, 14 Forest Avenue and James Street was purchased approximately one year ago and contains mixed-use buildings with a total of 12 residential rental units. The majority of the units are currently vacant and in disrepair. The intent is to renovate the buildings and create 25 residential rental units. The property is listed on the City’s Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.

189 King William Street
This property is owned and operated by a not-for-profit
company known as the Children’s Learning Centre. The property is a semidetached
two storey retail building. The renovation will enhance the second floor
to accommodate one 1,000 square foot unit. The renovation will complete both
sides of the semi-detached buildings. The property is listed on the City’s Inventory
of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.

53 King Street East: The developer plans to create 24 rental apartment units in
the vacant 3 upper stories. The ground floor commercial units are to remain (My
Convenience Store & The Salvation Army Thrift Store). The property is listed on
the City’s Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.

12 Ferguson Avenue: The developer plans to convert the entire 3 storey building
to 12 apartment units. Presently, the ground floor is used as a pub known as
“AFB” and the upper floors are used as office space.

119 King Street East: This building will be converted to house 4 dwelling units on
the upper 3 floors of this existing 4 storey building. The ground floor will remain as a commercial use. The property is listed on the City’s Inventory of Buildings of
Architectural and/or Historical Interest.

267 King Street East: The 2 upper floors of this vacant building are being
renovated to contain 7 live-work dwelling units in loft style. The ground floor is
being renovated to contain an artist’s studio and a café.

275 King Street East: This property’s main floor has been renovated and is
currently owner/occupied by Brownie’s Downtown. The second and third floors are
currently vacant and in need of repair. Three units have been proposed which will
bring a positive effect to King Street East. The property is listed on the City’s
Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.

Add these to the projects already in progress like the Downtown Arts Centre that will be at the corner of Rebecca and Hughson Street, the former Salvation Army building. Here is an artists rendering of the project,







A three storey addition is being built onto an old printing factory at King William and Mary. It will be residential space once complete.







Else where in Hamilton, back in January McMaster University unveiled a draft vision for its research park on the old Camco site, which is to become an eco-friendly community for scientists. The plan is to house labs, offices and classrooms for public and private research in eight to 10 buildings on the brownfield site straddling Longwood Road north of Aberdeen Avenue. The park will be 40 metres wide and 350 metres long.









If this wasn't enough downtown Hamilton is set to get a department store again. It’s called Hart’s, a name that means nothing in Ontario. But this Montreal based chain has been around since 1960 and now has more than 70 outlets in small towns across Quebec and the Maritimes. Now they’re pushing into this province. They’ve locked up close to 40,000 square feet — about half the space of a full-size Zellers — in the old Eaton’s Centre, right by the entrance to Jackson Square. The store opens this fall.

Later,
Kenaz

Hockey Cards: memories and financial gain

When you mention hockey card collecting, the people of my generation instantly conjure up warm childhood memories about hockey card collections from the late 1970s, early eighties. Since then, the affordable line of hockey cards has gone away, as the hobby today is tailored towards adults, rather than to kids with meager allowances. Instead of $0.10 to $.50 packs, which were the norm when I collected, card collecting is now a big memorabilia business with packs of glitzy cards costing in the high single digits. Despite the high costs of today's new generation of cards, what was a thoroughly enjoyable hobby for wide-eyed kids can still continue to produce endless hours of good wholesome fun.

The secret to amassing an affordable collection in today's market is two-fold: first, if you have a limited budget, the rule is to stay away from buying expensive packs of cards. Yes, you may be lucky and strike it rich when you gamble on high-end packs and manage to find a rare "insert" card, but there is no worse feeling then when you've ripped open a pack and discover that you've blown your hard-earned money on a bunch of "commons." Therefore, you are probably better off targeting single individual cards or save up and purchase "factory sets".

These cpmplete base sets are produced by the manufactures and an economical way of aquiring all of your heros. Most manufactures then release "special sets" through out the season in limited quantities. The limited amounts drive the price of these sets up, but this doesn't necessarily mean these sets will retain their value, so be careful. The same rules apply for these type of sets as it does for purchasing packs.

The third savvy rule in today's market environment is to stay away from card stores that sell individual cards at full Beckett price. Beckett is the universally referenced price guide that quotes the book value of individual cards. Since card stores usually have high overheads tied up in rent and wages, they normally charge customers the full Beckett price ( in Canadian dollars instead of US dollars). The important thing to realize is that you should generally not settle for any price higher than around 25 per cent to 75 per cent of the Beckett book value because this adjusted price range is usually within what the real market value lies.

To seek out the lower market prices, try to go to card shows or exhibitions on weekends. Another alternative is to find great deals on the internet, although the prices tend to be in US dollars and shipping costs will negate part of the savings.

However, you may find hidden treasures just by simply digging out your old dusty collection out of the basement. For instance, suppose you are from Hamilton and like to collect cards of local hero Tim Horton. Then, formerly non-descript common cards of Tim Horton suddenly have special meaning attached to them. A 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee AS Tim Horton card is listed at $15US in the Beckett guide, but locally you might get $20US. Just for the record his 1951-52 Parkhurst RC is listed at $600US but goes much higher.

I started collecting for fun about 1976-77 and stopped about 1982. In that time I poured every cent of my $3.00 a week allowance in to my "habbit". In that time I probably opened a couple hundred packs and when I sold my box of memories at the local card shop in 1989 and three partial sets on E-bay in 2004 , my treasure box amassed the grand total of $440. Not a bad return on my original $40.

I started collecting again in 1990 as my "allowance" for my hobby grew slightly. I have managed to find some great deals at the aft mentioned place on complete sets and individual cards. My hobby has grown into more of a gathering of insurable cards to add to my future retirement earnings, since I doubt there will be much of a Canadian Pension Plan left when I retire. Anyway, I've scrapped and scrimpt to put a decent collection together of mostly "O-Pee-Chee/Tops" brand sets and individual cards from 1969-70 up to 2003-04 with some "Parkhurst" individual cards from the 1950's.

Although not monitarilly rich, my favourite set is the 1980-81 "Super Cards" put out by O-Pee-Chee. This one year only 5"x7" set of 24 cards features the "Great One" and goes for about $40US. I remember running to the local variety store daily, asking the terrific store owner if she would search through the boxes she kept behind the counter for my "need it" cards. For what ever reason, she obliged and I finally got the set done.

As I remember each card went for about a quarter. Well jump ahead a decade and while I went searching through my parents basement for this set, to my disheartment a little, I found out that my mom had tossed out my neglected memories including this set. Oh well, my mistake, so a couple of years ago I repurchased this set online for a song. Now my childhood memories are intact once again.

Here are the photo scans I took of some my favourite cards from my sets.




























Later,
Kenaz