Can't be everywhere.

I'm missing a regular weekly treat, the Corktown Ukulele Jam at the Dominion Hotel, 500 Queen Street E., Toronto. This week the theme is Gordon Lightfoot and I love his music. It's a hoot, this jam, close to a hundred ukulele fanatics turn up with instruments. It starts at 8PM, be early or sit at the back.

They have a quiz on their web page identifying ancient pictures, last week it was this one, from 1954:

First thing I did when I got to Canada was to have the jacket made, I wanted one that would look good on TV which was black and white at the time. I never did land a TV gig wearing it but finally got thirteen weeks with CITY-TV wearing my pearly suit, in black and white, in 1972 just as colour came in. They used a little b&w remote system in a van, sold the van and cameras etc. to Venezuela right after my series finished.

London Bobby, time traveller from the last century.

Search for Eddie Cevasco's love child.

The boy would be about forty now. His dad was a musician, record producer and a good guy from the US who produced my first album, "Booze, Birds and Ballads" and also, while here in Toronto, a son.. Eddie fell for a girl who wanted no strings, just a baby. Eddie is no longer with us but his son has a sister in the US who would love to meet him. Here's a picture taken at the Barmaid's Arms, Toronto, in 1971. Eddie's the guy with the long hair at the end of the table. Anybody...?

Sears Cares - but only in the US.

Sep 30 Blog (machine life 18 months?) emailed to Sears Canada

Sep 30 Auto reply from Sears Canada, we'll get back to you in 3 days.

Oct 1 from James at Sears Cares (US) - we saw your blog,  send us the details and we'll look into it.

Oct 2 owner has repair done and pays $400 +tax (ya gotta wash)

Oct 4 From Stephanie at Sears Cares (US) ( paraphrased) Oh, you're in Canada. Tough.

Oct 6 from Sears Canada, so far, nothing.

The Life of a Sears Kenmore Washing Machine, 18 months?

We have a Sears Kenmore washing machine, cost about $800 + tax, warranty one year.
First repair, a leak, at 13 months. Cost $90 +tax.
Second repair, a computer chip, at 18 months, cost $400 + tax.

A *@**!! computer chip! Why does a washing machine need a computer chip? They used to have a simple sequential timer, easy to diagnose and easily replaced when it went wrong after about 5 years, I remember. Finally at about ten or twelve years or more it would be time to replace the whole machine, and it never leaked.

Who needs programming on a washing machine? Oh, delicate fabrics they say. What proportion of the household washing load is delicate fabrics? Aren't they better done by hand anyway? The washing machine is for the grunt work and doesn't need a *!*@**%* computer chip. And I don't need $500 + tax worth of repairs before it is two years old.

I'll send this to Sears, and Frigidaire who made it, I'll post the reply if I get one.

Bob Smith
Time traveller from the twentieth century

Canada's Got Talent Looking For Fall Guys

Canada's Got Talent is coming to Toronto so I took a look at the website and read the participant agreement/release. After all, I am a good act and at my age a novelty, definitely an asset to such a show if I say so myself and, now I'm retired, I have time.

I've read a few showbiz contracts and this one takes the cake. Words like arrogance, bullying, gotcha by the balls, exploitation and slavery come to mind as I read it. And on their part a complete abrogation of any responsibility whatever for anything.

It gives them specific permission to to make secret recordings backstage or anywhere and use them to make the participant look ridiculous. It gives them permission to use the participant's name, work, pictures and videos in future broadcasts, advertising, even merchandising without compensation. And it insists on using the term participant, not performer. Performers have to be paid.

No wonder Susan Boyle blew her top. I won't be signing it, I pity anyone who does.

London Bobby
Time traveller from the twentieth century.

Playing chicken with world financial system

If the U.S. doesn't get an agreement between extremists in both parties by August 3 they are down the tubes and we will be sucked in after them. Tempting to sit back in Canada's comparatively stable economic climate but they are our biggest customer by far. If they go broke, we go broke. Hopeful quote from Winston Churchill, “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.”

London Bobby

Time traveller from previous century

Keep them in until somebody owns up!

Oh Obama, such a schoolmaster! He had them all in his study today and he's making them all come back on Sunday. All the top people of both parties, both houses. These are rich people, how many Sunday pool parties, yachting jaunts and keggers have been disrupted? The wives must be furious.