Bill Traylor was born into slavery in 1853 and became an artist at age 85. Am I the only one who thinks he influenced Kara Walker?

I’m reading this book on becoming better friends with my brain. Barr is a Scottish neuroscientist living in Quebec.

I’m about to finish The Forbidden Experiment, the late Roger Shattuck’s tragic account of the “wild boy” found in Aveyron, France in 1800.

The view today at Iona Beach Regional Park near Vancouver International Airport.

This early (1964) music video spotlights an amazing song by a gifted singer, Dionne Warwick. Bacharach’s melody is tinged with jazz, and the performance is a slice of pop perfection. youtu.be/7NHFidD6IYo?...

DIONNE WARWICK • WALK ON BY • PARIS, 1964

YouTube video by Our Lady of the Exquisite Cotard

youtu.be

The Lego Ninjago character rode SkyTrain with me today.

Disappointed to see that this merch will be sold at tomorrow’s Dyke March in Vancouver. Intifada = violent uprising, 2nd intifada & rejection of the 2000 peace plan (it incl. a Palestinian state) killed thousands of 🇮🇱 ppl. All 🏳️‍🌈 ppl should reject terrorism & support true peace.

I received an unexpected letter in the mail from BC Cancer Agency following the tests from my annual physical. I’ll be contacted soon to schedule more testing, but there is a less-than-5% chance I have cancer. 🤞

Today is a good day to recognize the many contributions of Dr. Anthony Fauci and other public health officials who have done so much to protect the health of individuals and communities.

I’m reading Hank Idsinga’s memoir of his Toronto policing career. His book is a page-turner and I’m learning a lot about law enforcement…

Sad news - an apparent terror attack at Berlin Pride. Tomorrow’s parade has been cancelled. May the perpetrator be caught and face justice. www.reuters.com/world/berlin...

Vehicle mows down crowd at Berlin Pride festival, killing one

Many people were hurt, with some in life-threatening condition, after a vehicle apparently drove into a crowd near Berlin's ​Pride celebrations.

reuters.com

My last read was pretty heavy, so I’m now reading Quebec writer Jacques Poulin’s novel Spring Tides, translated into English by Sheila Fischman.

This week I’m reading Philippe Sands’ memoir of his involvement as a lawyer in the criminal case against Pinochet. The book also explores Pinochet’s ties to Nazi war criminal Walter Rauff, who apparently used his Holocaust “experience” to set up a detention centre in Patagonia.

It’s amazing that some ppl would believe that 🇨🇦 is somehow responsible for wildfire smoke crossing national borders. But there’s a viral recent article in the Atlantic that quotes a depressing stat: fewer than half of Americans read a book in 2022, indicating a literacy deficit.

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 3w ago

Trump threatens Canada with tariffs over ‘invasion’ of wildfire smoke ft.trib.al/qyxF06M

My partner John has been suffering from a polyp inside his right nostril. He was sent to the ER on Tuesday by our family doctor; a CT scan showed no tumour present. He will have a biopsy and possible removal one week from today (Friday July 24).

This is my personal favourite of the paintings we have at home. We purchased it in the mid/late 00s; the work is by Salt Spring Island Metís artist Sherry Leigh Williams.

I’m reading The Golden Daughter, 🇨🇦 journalist Halina St James’ story of her Ukrainian mother’s enslavement by Nazis and the postwar life she made in Canada.

I like pizza and I like tiramisu, but this “pizza tiramisu” concept from Canada’s leading frozen pizza brand (Dr. Oetker) is a no-go for me.

It’s been a dryer-than-normal year in Vancouver; I wouldn’t mind several days of drenching rain.

In 2024 🇺🇸 Senator Lindsay Graham went on television and questioned whether Joe Biden was Healthy enough to live another four months. Now Graham is dead at 71 while Biden is going on 84. Lesson? It’s dicey to predict death… and life is precious.

I’m reading the Summer House, the first novel by Japanese writer Masashu Matsuie to be translated into English (tr. by Margaret Mitsutani). It’s a story of a group of architects trying to win a competition for a library design, an uncommon premise in literary fiction.

I’m glad ICE released this nun but why was she ever taken into custody? I’m almost certain her order made sure she had the right papers (if born abroad); she is also a registered nurse so she has to be a legal resident for her license. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Texas nun released after ICE arrest in Texas sparked national outrage

Sister Leticia Ugboaja was detained June 28 as she walked to Our Lady of Sorrows Church to attend Mass, according to the Diocese of Brownsville.

usatoday.com

Yesterday PEN America published this article detailing how Jewish and Israeli authors have had struggled to get published after the 10/7 Hamas attacks; sadly bigotry thrives in publishing. pen.org/a-silent-mor...

‘A Silent Moratorium’

Interviews with Israeli and Jewish writers who report facing rising isolation and exclusion.

pen.org

I’m 5 years younger than Bob Dylan was when he released the mournful, dirge-like song Not Dark Yet. I guess I can take comfort in the fact that Bob is still touring 29 years after the song’s release and released several subsequent albums of new music. youtu.be/5fGYWAVw2zg?...

Bob Dylan - Not Dark Yet

YouTube video by Ivan “Ico” Obst

youtu.be

Mendel Uminer is a hero! There’s nothing wrong with having 10,000 books in an apartment and living a life of the mind!

BOOKSNS@booksns.bsky.social · 4w ago

Too Many Books? Mendel Uminer faced a crisis when his landlord objected to the 10,000 volumes in his New York studio apartment https://www.booksns.com/215538/ Too Many Books? Mendel Uminer faced a crisis when his landlord objected to the 10,000 volumes in his New York studio apartment by …

This PSB video from 2002 was directed by Bruce Weber & filmed at his Little Bear Studios, which looks like a photography version of Andy Warhol’s Factory. I appreciate Weber’s art while being horrified at the sexual assault allegations from over 20 men. youtu.be/l88m22K_RC4?...

Pet Shop Boys - I Get Along

YouTube video by PetShopBoys Parlophone

youtu.be

Throwback Thursday: looking out an office window in 2014.

I haven’t eaten at Subway in a long time, but I noticed that the chain is bringing the “Subdog” to its locations in Canada. It features a Schneider beef wiener and hot dog condiments on their sub bread. This won’t draw me to Subway.

The leaders of our 🇨🇦 political parties generally don’t look great when they dress up in white costumes. Pierre Poilievre either forgot Trudeau’s mistake or he needs some Queer Eye fashion help (99% of western wear clothing doesn’t look this bad).

The first train to downtown was packed today (a World Cup game was being played) so I waited two minutes for the next train; it was less crowded and I got a seat right away.