For Those Of Us With Long Memories …

Fifty years ago today, in a “third rate burglary”, White House operatives broke into the offices of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate complex in Washington DC.  It eventually caused the demise of Pres. Nixon.

Twenty-eight years ago today, OJ Simpson brought the excitement of a low-speed police chase to prime time television.

Only in America, eh?

In Memoriam: For All Fallen Workers

Sixty-four years ago today, an engineering error caused the almost-completed Second Narrows Bridge to collapse. The working site was filled with men almost finished their shift. Nineteen of them died, many dragged to the bottom of the inlet by the weight of the their tool-laden belts.  It was an unmitigated disaster and is forever remembered in the official name of the structure — which was later completed — as the Ironworkers’ Memorial Second Narrows Crossing.

More than 100 BC workers are killed in workplace accidents every year in this province. As we drive across the Bridge, it is important that we remember both the workers who died on that particular day and those who continue to risk their lives each and every day right to the present. People are our most precious resource, and every single death is a disaster for each family concerned.

Image: Standing Stones

Living the High Life

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Highlife Records and Music has been an important fixture on the Drive for forty years, selling an eclectic range of world music, jazz, and instruments. The store also sells albums written, produced, and performed by Highlife’s owner, Kevin Finseth.

I am glad that the Vancouver Sun ran this feature for the launch of his latest album called Hertzog. Stuart Derdeyn describes Finseth’s music as “[p]aired with the lovely cello work of jazz cellist Peggy Lee, additional instrumentation from producer A-Dub and the bowed kemenche and wordless vocals of Turkish artist Asli Maj, the music is like a soundtrack to a film by Greek director Theo Angelopoulus.”

The store is always worth a visit!