Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16 |
I seem to recall hearing that Castro "opened his jails" on Florida. A rather bizarre thing to do, but makes sense in a certain context. What, you're accepting any refugees from Cuba? Here, we don't want these, take them!" Cuba wins big, US gets a political win with a social loss. Castro was probably greatly entertained by the whole affair. As I recall the great majority of the "prisoners" Castro released to the United States were political not criminal prisoners. So Castro got rid of most of the Cuban troublemakers and turned what was becoming a nasty embarrassment into a magnanimous gesture. Had the U.S. failed to accept the released prisoners it would have made us appear as the villains in the eyes of the international community and our own people. So no matter what your opinion of him, Fidel Castro, once again, proved himself to be a brilliant political strategist. By-the-way the vast majority of those prisoners released to the United States are now hard working tax payers making substantial contributions to the culture and economy of this country. So don't sell them short either. Castro very successfully played the role of an international political buffoon to lull the U.S. and the U.N. into consistently underestimating him. He was demonstrably an economic and social failure but his political buffoonery kept the U.S. and other world powers off his back and enabled him to retain power in Cuba long after his time had passed. The U.S. trade sanctions were successful in impoverishing the Cuban people but they also set up a "them and us", "big bully and little victim" situation that enabled Castro and his cohorts in remain in power. To me, Castro and his political strategies are terrifyingly similar to those of our apparent president elect, Donald Trump. 👺
If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?
— Albert Einstein
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8 |
These Cubans are still wealthy and politically connected. They still nurse lifelong grudges against Castro, and feel that he took what was rightfully theirs. So they are, unsurprisingly, cheering his death.
During and after World War II many Jews fleeing Europe were not allowed to enter the United States. Cuba accepted them. When Castro came into power, the Jewish community feared that a Communist government would not allow freedom of religion (or worse; cf. Soviet Union with whom Castro had strong ties), so they left for the United States, which by that time allowed them entrance.
On a Mac since 1984. Currently: 24" M1 iMac, M2 Pro Mac mini with 27" BenQ monitor, M2 Macbook Air, MacOS 14.x; iPhones, iPods (yes, still) and iPads.
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4 |
During and after World War II many Jews fleeing Europe were not allowed to enter the United States. The same dismal behavior was exhibited by the Dominion of Canada.
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7 |
A true hero has passed: John Glenn
Jon
macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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MacBook Pro 15" (2015) Sierra 10.12.6
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8 |
Alan Thicke, classic TV dad ("Growing Pains"), songwriter (themes for "Wheel of Fortune", "Diff'rent Strokes" and more) and late-night TV host ("Thicke of the Night").
On a Mac since 1984. Currently: 24" M1 iMac, M2 Pro Mac mini with 27" BenQ monitor, M2 Macbook Air, MacOS 14.x; iPhones, iPods (yes, still) and iPads.
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7 |
Zsa Zsa Gabor, who proved that you don't need talent to succeed. Still, she had some great quips, including "How many husbands have I had? Do you mean apart from my own?"
Jon
macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8 |
Lou Harris, pollster extraordinaire, dead at 95. Where was he in this last election?
On a Mac since 1984. Currently: 24" M1 iMac, M2 Pro Mac mini with 27" BenQ monitor, M2 Macbook Air, MacOS 14.x; iPhones, iPods (yes, still) and iPads.
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7 |
Carrie Fisher, who had a successful career and an unhappy life. May she rest in peace.
Jon
macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Richard Adams, author of Watership Down, at the age of 96.
Mid-2012 15" 2.7Ghz MacBook Pro Retina, 16GB RAM, OS 10.13.1 Late-2014 27" 4Ghz iMac 5K, OS 10.13.1 iPad Pro iPhone 5
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7 |
I read Watership Down as an adult and loved it. It may be classified as a children's story, but it has so much more that it should appeal to adults. Many things in that book will go over a young person's head.
Jon
macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4 |
I read Watership Down as an adult and loved it. It may be classified as a children's story, but it has so much more that it should appeal to adults. Many things in that book will go over a young person's head. One mustn't forget Shardik and The Plague Dogs.
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7 |
Carrie Fisher, who had a successful career and an unhappy life. May she rest in peace. And now, tragically, her mother. Debbie Reynolds
Jon
macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4 |
This year can easily be characterized as a "dumpster fire" of a year. (Read into that anything that you will.) To say more than that would be overkill. {Hey, I'm a poet and don't know it. ]
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8 |
Still in last year, William Christopher, better known as Father Mulcahy on the TV series of M*A*S*H.
On a Mac since 1984. Currently: 24" M1 iMac, M2 Pro Mac mini with 27" BenQ monitor, M2 Macbook Air, MacOS 14.x; iPhones, iPods (yes, still) and iPads.
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7 |
Jon
macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 14
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 14 |
Comic and dramatic actress, Mary Tyler Moore, Some of the best belly laughs I've had were while watching exchanges between Mary and Lou in the newsroom.
ryck
"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers
iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020), 3.8 GHz 8 Core Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 2667 MHz DDR4 OS Sonoma 14.4.1 Canon Pixma TR 8520 Printer Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner c/w VueScan software TM on 1TB LaCie USB-C
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8 |
"Mannix" TV star Mike Connors, at nearly 92 years.
On a Mac since 1984. Currently: 24" M1 iMac, M2 Pro Mac mini with 27" BenQ monitor, M2 Macbook Air, MacOS 14.x; iPhones, iPods (yes, still) and iPads.
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4 |
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4 |
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 4 |
Stuart McLean, creator of and famed for "The Vinyl Café" in its many incarnations, as well as a national treasure qua storyteller extraordinaire CBC radio personality and Vinyl Cafe host Stuart McLean has diedAddendum: "Canada's Storyteller: A Tribute to Stuart McLean" will be aired today (Feb 16) on CBC Radio One at 1300 local time. Following the airing it should be available as a podcast (cbc.ca/podcasts).
Last edited by grelber; 02/16/17 02:25 PM. Reason: Addendum
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8 |
Diversely talented musician Al Jarreau.
On a Mac since 1984. Currently: 24" M1 iMac, M2 Pro Mac mini with 27" BenQ monitor, M2 Macbook Air, MacOS 14.x; iPhones, iPods (yes, still) and iPads.
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7 |
Rock and roll great Chuck Berry. I remember his songs from my misspent youth.
Jon
macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15 |
I often find myself singing Chuck Berry songs to myself...know many of the lyrics by heart; in my mind he and early Elvis WERE Rock 'n' Roll!!!
The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.
In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
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Re: Ad astra: another passing.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7
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Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 7 |
Jimmy Breslin From the obituary: "Love or loathe him, none could deny Mr. Breslin’s enduring impact on the craft of narrative nonfiction."
Last edited by jchuzi; 03/19/17 09:05 PM.
Jon
macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
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