Just Rusty

Rusty the cat in a pirate ship cat toy

1944 Nickel

I found this in my change! It's an 1944 nickel - these were made of steel plated with chrome in order to save copper and nickel for the war. The 'V' is for victory, and I guess the torch is  a reference to the torch in "In Flanders Field". The chrome wore off easily and the steel quickly rusted. Around the rim of the reverse of the coin there are tiny Morse code dots and dashes that say "We Win When We Work Willingly". The Morse code for the letter "V" was used in allied propaganda broadcasts - the first four notes of Beethoven's 5th Symphony - Duh Duh Duh Daah - is V. It was used in Norman McLaren's "V for Victory" in 1941.

I can see a murder suspect's videos!

Jared Lee Loughner's Youtube videos have only gotten a few hundred views as of 7.19 pm EST.... rambling incoherent things. In the old days, as a reporter the best I'd get was "He was real quiet" but now we've got their rantings posted all over the place.  I'd watch them but my cat is tapping my shoulder and wants to go play.

"The sound of gunfire, off in the distance, I'm getting used to it now" Talking Heads 2011

On the Seaway there is a section between Quebec, Ontario and New York State called 'Smugglers' Alley' - lots of heavily armed smugglers operate there - this is the sound of .30 or .50 calibre machine guns firing to welcome in the New Year - the lights you see are not muzzle flashes, just navigation buoys. There were times in the early 90s where you'd here this all the time, but now I only hear it on New Year's.

New Year's Eve Fireworks in Alexandria Ontario

Rachel Davis

Looking through old files I found a photo of Rachel Davis, a girl I knew who'd been shot to death in Vancouver after she'd gone to the aid of someone she didn't know who was being beaten outside a club in Gastown. She'd shielded the victim from the blows, but unfortunately that someone was a drug dealer who'd just called his buddy to get a Glock and then began firing it into the crowd, killing her and Richard Hui, and injuring four others.Vancouver Province Story

She was like that! I saw her being protective of girls who'd gotten too drunk at parties....

I interviewed her dad for the Star - first time I've ever covered anything serious where I knew the victim personally.

If you are trying to break up a fight, don't get BETWEEN anybody, even if they are smaller than you - they can attack you without warning  -  you should stand away at a safe distance and phone police.

Her family set up an award to commemorate her at racheldavis.ca

with Sam Dinicol

Too cloudy to see eclipse, solstice in a few minutes

I went out just when the eclipse began then went back to bed - at near total eclipse I went out again, but it was too overcast! Solstice in 10 minutes! Solstice and Lunar eclipse on the same day!