Another bear killed today!

Yet another bear was killed today after yesterday's killing. I can't believe it. A man wearing a provincial uniform with shoulder flashes reading "conservation" said "this is what we do" when a bear wonders into a resort area. No bear traps are put in place and officers are not on hand in force with tranquilizer guns to capture and remove bears. The bear is just shot dead without any hope of living a full life without harm from humans. What is going on?

Another Bear Killed in Manitoba

I reported a black mother bear and her two cubs were shot last summer in Swan River for going into town. They never bothered anyone and were sent up a tree. They were simply shot down without a chance to escape human intervention. Again yesterday at a Lake Winnipeg resort area a young black bear was killed. He wandered near a beach area unknowingly. No doubt the smell of human food drew him near. He was hunted down by police and immediately killed, killed, not captured and returned to the wild unharmed. It just disturbs me that the provincial government has taken no steps at all toward protecting bears from humans. It sad, very sad.

Out on the Town

Story by Norm Richards


Went out last evening. I don't do it much. I suppose going out has changed quite a bit over these recent months, days and decades for sure. My friend and co-worker was celebrating his birthday. Bunch of us went up to the same rooftop bar we gathered at last year. It offers large tables and lots of room to move about. The music is not so loud and the games on TV can be seen from the bar. It's quite open for a social exchange, chats, play, sharing. Sounds like being online with friends doesn't it?
But it took time getting in. I got there after the others and waited in line. I stood in line stewing and steaming. I asked to be let in to join my party but the lug at the door wouldn't have it.

There are a lot of places to go out to in this city. I almost turned tail and went elsewhere but for my friends upstairs. You know, If you want live music there's not many other cities in north America that would rival our city. I spent a number of years playing bars and clubs here as a musician. I've experienced the scene from a different perspective I suppose.

I remember walking home on a Saturday night in Vancouver when I was in film school and seeing long lineups for dance bars. I was amazed how people would stand in a line for long periods of time just to dance. But I suppose hooking up happens and perhaps that's the payoff for lineups in certain bars. I'm a whole hearted supporter of live acts. I think dance clubs with recorded music have there place I suppose. Going out today takes selection and making up your mind what it is you want for entertainment before you leave home. Once you get into an establishment that's probably where you will remain for an evening. I used to love bar hopping but it's harder to do. I love to discover a bar with a good act. I think it just takes so much pre-planning to go out today. So, if I'm not playing I'd rather stay home. Why not? Why bus ta gut trying to get in somewhere and not be satisfied in the end. I loved living in Banff, Alberta. You could cover four to five bars in one night and have a super time all in a two block radius. But that's a resort town and few others compare.

I've become quite expert at packaging an evenings entertainment at home. Preparing food and libation is a good start. The stereo turned up loud with a solid ipod rotation of all the hits warms the heart. Every once and awhile I feel the need to get up and play my drums to the songs I hear. If the mood strikes I pull from a large collection of feature movies I own. The computer screen can be seen over my shoulder for the once and awhile exchange with cyber friends. I write story. I read a book. My library is full of any kind of reading I prefer including an e-reader to select from. So why do I need to go out? Should I? For friends, I do.       

Amy Winehouse is Gone

By Norm Richards

Amy was not with us very long. 27 years seems so brief a time. Time enough to touch my heart and my soul. Her voice struck me first. At first, I never knew what she looked like. I thought she was black. She was a thin woman from England with Jewish background. I'm not sure history or religion played much part in her life though. Her father is a working class bloke, a taxi driver who loves music. He shared it with her just as I always have with my own children.

Amy is many years my junior and close in age to my son. He's developed a great love for music and now shares that with his own son. I love that about my kids. My daughter loves music too. Dance took over her life. She's gone onto a professional career in business and now, today, her life is taken over by her children's dance demands. They're fine award winning dancers and will continue to perform.

But today, I feel for the parents of Amy Winehouse. I make my condolence for her passing. She was a soul sister to many around the world including me. She suffered and wrote about it. That's not so different than me. She put her words into song and interpreted that wonderfully.

I own her video "I Told You I was Trouble" Amy Winehouse Live in London. It documents her career and her visit to the USA. I love her performance with the big band. She has two black men backing her on vocals. That somehow seems appropriate rather than female backup singers. It might have been misunderstood like she was trying to copy The Ronettes. That was never true. He voice alone was different than what Ronnie Spector did although Amy's stage look resembled her. I love a performer who finds a look. Lady Ga Ga did it recently and Cher and others did too. So Amy's gone. What did we learn from her? It doesn't hurt to feel. It does hurt to love but we have a human heart and can't help ourselves. Mainstream media would rather report Amy's drug and alcohol abuse. But we understand. We know we can escape. We know we can medicate. Does it help? Maybe, for awhile. We know the love and hurt Amy had for the people she knew. We have relationships too. I'm grateful we knew her for awhile. I feel better for it.

    

Jamie's Jammin!

By Norm Richards

Got to press my pants tonight and be ready for work tomorrow. Holidays are great, relaxing, but.

I went out and visited my son. My grandson Jamie is grand! He's simply delightful! Here, he's enjoying his jello. I love orange jello too. First he mushed it up. Little hit the mouth but he loved the experience. I did too.





We have to do brunch again. It's so much fun.

A World View

Story by Norm Richards

I'm amazed on how things are in the world. Some countries overspend, on what? I don't know. We consume to excess. What does anyone have to show for it? Does it make our life better? Can we show our friends and be proud. Does prosperity bring pride in who we are. Do we always want to do better? How can life be made better?

Through her book "The Right to Write" Julia Cameron says to have an artist day. Spend the day doing something artistic. I do, but right when I'm enjoying it, I notice the mess people leave behind. How can people be like that? After seeing a movie, I collect my popcorn bag, napkins and drink cup. I place them in the trash as I leave. Many still don't. Patrons have been encouraged to do so for some time. I did theater cleanup when I was a kid. One of my first jobs was cleaning up after people. Eventually I hired others to do that job. The workers often found money on the floor during cleanup. I reminded them they would. It was a bonus of the job. I was still flummoxed by the mess people make. In those days drinks were not sold with popcorn and candy.

Today, while I venture out in search of my artist day I see things people leave behind. The bus is full of trash, so are the streets where people gather. The city places trash cans everywhere, so why does half of it never hit the can? I don't know. When I go somewhere. I go. I don't stop in the middle, eat, make a mess and move on. When you're going somewhere, just go, get there, spend some energy and move on. On the way home, buy your food, go home and make a mess but at least feel responsible to clean up after yourself. We wonder why half the population is overweight, well?

Maybe I'm to much of a Virgo or a neat freak but good God! What will it take? I don't know. I understand economics. We have to spend and we have to consume to make our economy grow and prosper. Some people take it literally. I've been to Disneyland several times. You'd think that would be the place of ultimate consumption in the world. No! It isn't. Sure everybody who goes there loves the experience and it's a fair price to get in however I was surprised how clean the place is and remains that way all day long.

Jamie stays dry.

This is Jamie. Jamie is my grandson. He just turned three years old in June 2011. He sure is fun! He had his Birthday Party while I visited him just yesterday.