Scribbles and Bits

Click on this text for a link to a question and answer article interviewing Canadian guitarist Randy Bachman about his experiences with late guitar legend, Jeff Healey.

One of Canada’s best kept secrets is a folk singer/country singer named Stompin’ Tom Connors.  Fiercely Canadian, he returned a number of Juno awards one year in protest of those artists who had shifted their emphasis to the “south of the border market.”  Stompin’ Tom earned his name for the way that he kept his beat by rythymically stomping his foot as he played.  After receiving complaints about wearing down stage floors he began to bring his own sheet of plywood to stomp on.  Generally ignored by pop radio, Stompin’ Tom nevertheless acquired a huge, inter-generational following and along with Don Messer, Tommy Hunter, Hank Snow, and others, has become an icon and source of national pride.

Here’s a recent snow sculpture of Stompin’ Tom that was an entry in a snow sculpture contest and below it is Stompin’ Tom’s response.

“To Abram, Asher and Ben Waterman, and Team Prince Edward Island. All I can say is WOW! And Congratulations on the great job you guys did on the Snow Sculpture “Stompin’ Tom & the Hockey Song”. Your theme could not be more “Canadian” and I hope you win the competition. It’s awsome!”

I just managed to lose a few posts in noodling around with themes.  So, if it seems like it was here last time you looked but now it’s gone, it really is gone.

Eric

I came across this interesting French web resource for English language learners that offers a journal, a forum, self-testing, and other resources.  It operates on a subscription basis but might be worth checking out if you are a French speaker who is actively studying English.

Go to MyCow.Eu 

Finland’s citizenship legislation changed in 2003 to allow multiple citizenship.  Prior to this, Finnish citizens who became naturalized in other countries lost their Finnish citizenship.  The 5 year span from May 31st 2003 through May 31st 2008 was established to permit those who had previously lost their citizenship to regain it.  The cost of filing a citizenship declaration with a US embassy is 240 euros.  For those who are eligible, Finnish citizenship also affords European citizenship and the freedom to live and work in any of the member countries.

Here are some useful links for those who may be interested:

Finnish Embassy USA

Rules For Declaration: Finnish Embassy in Canada