We are living in challenging times. There is tension in the Far East, the Middle East and Europe. And here in Ontario the premier resigned but is staying in office and is forcing all the elected officials to take an unspecified vacation while he waits for someone to take his place. But while all of this deserves our attention and concern, the matter that dominates the news day after day, night after night, is the hockey lockout.

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My handwriting sucks. Actually that’s not true; In fact I am totally incapable of what is referred to as cursive writing. Other than being able to make a few loops, a line and a dot, which forms my signature, I never write.

So, let me start again. My printing sucks. Now I know that many people say that their printing/handwriting is bad, but mine goes beyond bad. If I take down a phone number and look at it five minutes later I can’t tell if I’ve written a 6, a 9 or 0 – and I’m also unclear how a ^ can be part of a phone number.

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There’s a rhyme I remember from when I was young that ascribed characteristics to children based on the day they were born. It started “Monday’s child is fair of face/Tuesday’s child is full of grace…”

But this wasn’t one of those modern day kids’ poems or stories where important life lessons of tolerance are learned and we are all encouraged to embrace diversity. This was no “Joanne has two mommies, three daddies and a friend who is transitioning.” No way. This was more “Your life is determined by things that are totally out of your control.”

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There have been two big stories in the news the past little while. One is that it has been really hot out and the other is that I am really stupid. Now admittedly it’s not that Peter Mansbridge (or whoever fills in for him when he’s getting his head waxed) starts the National by saying “Tonight – heat wave continues all over Canada and Jonathan Rudin is really stupid.” It’s just that I am reminded of my lack of intelligence whenever the discussion turns – as it has done a lot lately – to the Higgs boson.

I admit I started a bit behind on this whole thing. You see I thought people were talking about the Higgs bosom and I didn’t know who Higgs was but I figured it was just some amply endowed starlet and I had no need to keep up with the story since I focus my entrainment news on the comings and goings of Justin Bieber – the greatest entertainer in the world.

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Photos and video clips from the latest live performance!

Email from Jonathan Rudin:

I get the sense that it’s tough to be an aging rock star. They face challenges that many of us do not have to worry about. I pause here to note that the term “aging rock star” can be applied to any popular musician who is older than you are and also to any musician younger than you but who has gone through enough drug rehab and/or plastic surgery etc. that that makes them look not only older than you but pretty much anyone on the planet.

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Bert Clarke Comes Home to perform with Gordon’s Acoustic Living Room.

A stellar performance for the band this month, thanks in part to the last-minute announcement that Bert Clarke (long-time bassist for G.A.L.R.) would be returning to play with his favourite Toronto band for a one-time spring/summer performance. He performed classics such as “Elvis Presley Blues” and “Mountains/Forests”, and the band was all smiles. We’ve missed you, Bert!

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G.A.L.R. has been invited to perform on the big stage at the Tranzac Club as part of a showcase and fundraiser concert organized by Crave Music for the benefit of artists trying ot get their music recorded and released.

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Despite missing two regular performers (Barry and Jonathan), the band put on an impressive performance, aided by the addition of Brian Morgan on the bass for most of the night. There was a special guest appearance by Josie Miner as well. Continue reading →