Taken Mount Pleasant cemetery, Toronto Ontario

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The Globe Theatre as pictured below is a reconstruction of the famed London theatre most associated with Shakespeare. It opened in 1997, and is almost on the exact spot of the original.

The original Globe Theatre in London burned to the ground after a cannon employed for special effects misfired during a performance of William Shakespeare's Henry VIII and ignited the theatre's roof.

Source Image Credit: Wiki republished here under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.

This past week saw the death of three of Generation X's pop icons. And I am reminded of how each of them was a blessing in some way to me.

Ed McMahon, and Johnny Carson will always remind me of my parents, as it was a nightly ritual for them to tune into the Tonight Show when I was a kid growing up. Memories of the opening theme to the show, and Ed's booming voice, and laugh will always remind me of what I perceived as a kinder, more gentle time where my biggest stress was what to wear to school tomorrow.

Memories of Farah Fawcett also remind me of being a child of the 70s, and stirs up memories of my own youth. Not only did I watch Charlie's Angels, I collected their trading cards, and had all three of their Barbie dolls. Farah was beautiful, and a talented lady who bravely shared her struggle with a devastating, and I'll say it, embarrassing for many people, form of cancer. Perhaps her death will inspire others to seek early detection, and treatment.

Michael Jackson broke the colour barrier, no he smashed for good the colour barrier of MTV with his videos, and his music, and dance moves, which are still highly imitated by various artists to this day almost 30 years later. I do associate both good, and bad memories from my youth with his music, as I am certain all of us can even if we weren't big fans. His music was just that popular. And despite his bizarre personal life, there is no denying his positive contributions to the music industry, and the happiness he brought to his millions of fans.

My life has been enriched in ways by having had each of these people a part of it, as icons of my youth, and for that they, and their work are each my blessing this week.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

This past week saw the death of three Generation X icons with the passing of Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, and the within hours Michael Jackson. I was very shocked to hear of Michael Jackson's sudden death, but sadly I was not all that surprised either.

I would like to remember Michael Jackson for his music, the Jackson Five, and for how we all knew him best in the 1980's as the true King of Pop. It is unfortunate that while his fans will remember him for his early career, others will remember him for the last few years with the allegations of child molestation (although there he was never convicted of any crime) his dangling his youngest child (a baby at the time) from an open window, and of course the numerous plastic surgeries, and other assorted eccentricities.

What a strange, and in ways tragic life Michael Jackson led, and it all ended way too soon.

Paramedics were called to Jackson's Los Angeles home just after noon on Thursday. He was rushed to UCLA Medical Centre where doctors battled in vain for an hour to save his life. He was pronounced dead at 2.26pm, with family members at his bedside.

Michael Jackson's death from a cardiac arrest was probably the result of drug abuse, said a family lawyer who claimed the star was addicted to painkilling medication.

R.I.P Michael Jackson you will be forever missed by your loved ones, and fans, and around the world loved or loathed you will never be forgotten.

Source and Image Credits: UK. Telegraph

I was very saddened to learn of the death of Farah Fawcett at the age of 62 yesterday. Over the past couple of years I had been following her courageous battle with cancer, and greatly admired her bravery in coming forward to bring awareness to the rare anal cancer that she suffered from.

Her later years, and her devastating illness is not how I will remember Farah though. As a child of the 70's I will always remember her for being one of Charlie's Angels, a tv show that we all watched. I had all three Charlie's Angels Barbie dolls, and I collected their trading cards....all lost except from memories of childhood.

I will always remember her iconic poster that every boy I knew had, and some of us girls too.

I will remember Farah for her dazzling smile, and of course for changing the way an entire generation of women styled their hair.

"Born Feb. 2, 1947, in Corpus Christi, Texas, she was named Mary Farrah Leni Fawcett by her mother, who said she added the Farrah because it sounded good with Fawcett. She was less than a month old when she underwent surgery to remove a digestive tract tumor with which she was born.

After attending Roman Catholic grade school and W.B. Ray High School, Fawcett enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin. Fellow students voted her one of the 10 most beautiful people on the campus and her photos were eventually spotted by movie publicist David Mirisch, who suggested she pursue a film career. After overcoming her parents' objections, she agreed."

The rest as they say is history.

R.I.P Farah.....it feels like a part of my own youth has died with you.

Sources and Image Credits: Zimbio

What a sad, and tragic filled week it has been for those of us in Generation X who lost three icons of our youth. I don't know about you, but growing up in our house during the 1970s my parents faithfully watched The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and his side kick Ed McMahon. I can still clearly hear his voice booming out "Heeeere'ssssssss Johnny!!!!" signaling I was up way past my usual bed time.

In addition to working with Carson, McMahon was the host of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995. He later also became well-known as the presenter of American Family Publishers sweepstakes.

McMahon annually co-hosted the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. He performed in numerous television commercials, most notably for Budweiser.

Something I had not known before was that Ed started his very lengthy career as a Bingo caller. This somehow is quite fitting.

Ed McMahon passed away early Tuesday morning. He was 86 years old.

Source and Image Credit: WBZ.com

I just finished adding some new photos to the Norfolk Militia Heritage Regiment Re-enactment Group website. The newest photos are in the sections for the Port Dover 2009 event held last weekend, and in the section for camp life in general. If you like historical re-enactment, and are interested in the War of 1812 click on the link and check us out.

Cheers!

I just finished reading Ann Rule's Smoke Mirrors and Murder, and can say if you are an Ann Rule fan or a fan of true crime you will not be disappointed. I am no longer suffering insomnia, but was unable to put this book down, and quickly read it cover to cover in two nights.

Here is a taste:

In some murder cases, the truth behind the most tragic of crimes crystallizes with relative ease. Not so with these fascinating accounts drawn from the personal files of Ann Rule, America's #1 bestselling true-crime writer. What happens when the case itself becomes an intractable puzzle, when clues are shrouded in smoke and mirrors, and when criminals skillfully evade law enforcement in a maddening cat-and-mouse chase? Even the most devoted true-crime reader won't predict the outcome of these truly baffling cases until the conclusions revealed in Ann Rule's marvelously insightful narrative: An ideal family is targeted for death by the least likely enemy, who plotted their demise from behind bars.... A sexual predator hides behind multiple fake identities, eluding police for years while his past victims live in fear that he will hunt them down.... A modest preacher's wife confesses to shooting her husband after an argument -- but there's more to her shattering story than meets the eye. These and other true cases are analyzed with stunning clarity in a page-turning collection you won't be able to put down.

What really struck me in these marriages gone horribly bad case files is how much policing has changed over the last 40-50+ years. DNA was unheard of a few decades ago, and even cell phones are a relatively new invention. New techniques in forensic science, and policing has made catching the bad guys, and getting convictions much easier than in the past, and my hat really goes off to all the older police officers, and detectives.

What has frighteningly not changed is domestic violence leading to murders. And that dear readers is very, very sad, and tragic.

Check out our History Book Nook for more Ann Rule titles.

I had some very good news in regards to my health this past week. I saw my Endocrinologist, and the latest blood labs show that I am becoming more hypothyroid. This is may sound bad, but it is actually good news as it means the radiation I had back in March has finally taken effect. I have started a new medication called Synthyroid to be taken once a day in the morning. It will take about 2 weeks to saturate my blood, and at that point I should finally start to feel like my old self again. In 6 weeks my doctor will assess the dosage that I'm currently on, and depending on how the blood tests turn out will see if they can find a good balance for me. I can then look forward to blood work twice a year as opposed to twice a month and only one small pill daily for the rest of my life.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

It has been described as the most publicized criminal trial in American history, and it all began on back in 1994. It was on today's date that after a lengthy car "chase" along a Los Angeles freeway that was broadcast to the world, and a failed suicide attempt that OJ Simpson was finally arrested, and charged for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The rest that followed as they say is a very sad bit of American justice history.

I remember my sister, a friend who was visiting, and I becoming glued to the television during the white Bronco chase. We had been planning on going out, but instead watched the news from home. These were shocking, and horrific murders, and at the time I was equally shocked to hear that OJ was the prime suspect. It just goes to show how we think we know celebrities because they seem familiar to us through their work, but that really couldn't be further from the truth.

Image Credit: Wiki

WWII Syringe for direct interhuman blood transfusion Image Credit: Wiki

It was in 1667 that a French physician by the name of Jean-Baptiste Denys administered the first fully-documented human blood transfusion to a human being. The physician used the blood of a sheep to give a transfusion to a 15-year old boy. Soon after he administered sheep's blood again, this time to a labourer, and both of his patients made full recoveries.

The reason given for their survival is the very small amount of blood that was used. Had they been given a larger amount of animal blood they certainly would have died.

Thankfully we have come a long way since then in understanding how blood transfusions work. Today components of human blood are used to save many lives around the globe.

Warming up before the concert. A lot of staff and students had to leave camp early due to flu.

This week went by ok. I had a nice trip up to the the music camp that the kiddo spent a full week at learning more about her cello. The camp itself was very nice, and the faculty quite warm, and friendly. We enjoyed the concert put on by the students, and appreciated the hard work that went into it.

Unfortunately the flu swept through camp, and by Sunday afternoon the kiddo had come down with it too. She had to miss a few days of school, but otherwise is now on the mend.

So far neither Matthew nor I are showing flu symptoms. Fingers, and toes crossed that we remain flu free.

Yesterday the eldest came over for dinner. It was nice to touch base, and learn she id doing well in her career. She works in the non-profit sector for a large medical charity. Thankfully they are not suffering too badly in these harder economic times as they do much good work here, and in poorer nations.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

The Great Barrier Reef was discovered in 1770 when the HM Bark Endeavour captained by English explorer James Cook, ran aground there. The ship was damaged severely. Before that time Europeans were unaware of the Great Barrier Reef's existence. Today it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To learn more you can check out the Wiki entry for The Great Barrier Reef

Pictured above is a satellite image.

Who do you think is the longest reigning Monarch in the world today? I believe that most people would assume it is Queen Elizabeth II of England, and if that is what you would guess you'd be wrong. In 1950 Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej became King Rama IX of Thailand making him the world's longest reigning Monarch also serving as head of state.

Image Credit: Wiki

The classic dystopian novel 1984, written by English author George Orwell was first published June 8th, 1949. The image above is of the the book's very first cover, since redone, and reprinted many, many times.

The book itself has had a huge impact in my opinion on modern pop culture, and even our language. It has been twice adapted to the cinema and radio, three times for television, and once to the stage.

For further reading: 1984 Wiki entry

It has been a very quiet week around the Didier-Darroch household as the kiddo has been away at music camp. The kiddo LOVES her cello. She practices almost every day, and I never have to remind her. She has been playing cello for about four years now, and was totally thrilled to be accepted into the limited spots the camp had available. Now with the week almost up I am very much looking forward to her coming home. Quiet can be goodly, but only in small doses.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

As a Westerner I remember learning in horror of the events that unfolded in Tiananmen Square on June 4th 1989.

I cannot believe that it has been 20 years since the horrific crackdown on the student-led protests, which started in April, grew throughout May until early June, when troops were sent in, and led to the deaths of 100s if not thousands of Chinese people.

China is not acknowledging the anniversary, and I am left to wonder if anything in the past 20 years has really changed.

I am not overly fond of spiders, but these giant, 37 tonne, mechanical spiders that took part in celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Yokohama are definitely cool! I believe these same spiders from France made an appearance in the U.K last year.

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