Category: Dan’s Stuff

Follow the bouncing bear!

Meet Dan.

Hello,
Well here it is! Almost two years after I last hosted a radio show called
Saskatchewan Weekend I return to the Radio Airwaves this weekend with a show
called Saskatchewan Weekend on CBC Radio One.
Wooooooooo hooooooooooo!
Feel free to visit the Saskatchewan Weekend CBC Webpage
Airing from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. (Saskatchewan Time – that’s 8 to 11 am Eastern
time) on Saturdays and Sundays, Saskatchewan Weekend is a mixture of music,
news, sports, weather, information and survival tips. The music is from all
formats ñ pop, rock, classical, easy listening, country, new age, world,
film soundtracks, jazz and blues. There are also interviews with newsmakers,
celebrities and the people who live next door to you.
Should you not live within the Saskatchewan area the show is also on the
internet at http://www.sask.cbc.ca/.
You can listen by:
1) Clicking on RADIO at the top left.
2) Clicking on RADIO again to get a pull down menu
3) Select LISTEN TO CBC RADIO
4) Click on REGINA in the Saskatchewan Region.
5) ENJOY!
Wish me luck!
Your friend,
Dan Reynish
PS – Yes I am very excited!

The Origin Of The Name “Canada”
After Columbus landed in the Western Hemisphere in 1492, European rulers sent explorers across the Atlantic to the Americas to claim territory and discover riches. The Spanish, Portuguese, English, Dutch and French all wanted a piece of the “New World” for themselves. Sometimes we forget that the “new world” was not new at all, but the ancient home of many people who were called “Indians” by the Europeans. Jacques Cartier came from the French court of King Francis I to explore North America. In 1534, on his first voyage, he explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In Chaleur Bay, he met aboriginal people for the first time. They were Micmac people, and their meeting was the first time that the French and the natives traded furs. For centuries to come, fur trading would be important in the development of the North American colonies.
When Cartier sailed farther up the gulf and into the Bay of GaspÈ, he and his men were greeted warmly by a group from the Iroquoian nation of StadaconÈ.
They had come from their home, which is now the site of QuÈbec City, on a fishing expedition.
The story goes that Cartier asked the chief, Donnacona, what the land was called. The chief, who was inviting Cartier into their camp, replied “kanata,” their word for village, as well as their name for the area around their home, Stadacon√à.
Maybe Cartier understood Donnacona, or maybe he did not, but “Canada” has remained the name of the whole vast territory that comprises our country.
Cartier sailed back to France with two of Donnaconna’s sons, then returned again to Canada. On his second voyage, he sailed up the St. Lawrence River and visited the site of Montr√àal. He opened the door to French settlement of the rich land, and later colonists followed.
At first the aboriginal people were friendly, but many became hostile when they understood that their old way of life could not survive with the arrival of so many strangers. The struggle to establish peace and understanding between the people of the First Nations and the European settlers has continued during the many centuries since Cartier’s arrival.

The ‘You’re a Great Canadian’ Canada Day Quiz 2003
True or false? Wilfrid Laurier was the first Prime Minister born in what is now Quebec
By Randy Ray and Mark Kearney
Canada Day is a time for enjoying a ball game, lounging around the pool or taking part in the fireworks and festivities at Parliament Hill. But let’s not forget the other national pastime that commands the attention of Canadians — politics.
Canadians of all stripes love talking, reading, and debating about the people and events that make up Canada’s political scene. But while they may be familiar with the faces and issues, what do they know about our rich political heritage and the people who shaped it, especially all you political insiders on Parliament Hill and across the country?
On this Canada Day 2003, take a few moments to test your knowledge of the politicians, symbols and political events that are an integral part of Canada’s history.
Score well and you might just deserve the title “Right Honourable.” (The answers are below).
1. Canadian-born Andrew Bonar Law was once Prime Minister of which country?
a) Great Britain b) Australia c) Canada d) South Africa
2. When Canada was formed in 1867, what was the maximum yearly salary a Member of Parliament could earn?
a) $300 b) $600 c) $1,200 d) $3,000.
3. What was Prime Minister John Diefenbaker’s middle name?
a) Herbert b) Albert c) Michael d) George e) Arthur
4. What is the name of the statue on the dome of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg?
5. True or false? Wilfrid Laurier was the first Prime Minister born in what is now Quebec.
6. In which year was “O Canada” officially proclaimed as Canada’s national anthem?
a) 1939 b) 1967 c) 1977 d) 1980 e) never
7. Red and white are the colours of Canada’s national flag. Who designated them as Canada’s official colours?
a) King George V b) Prime Minister Lester Pearson c) Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent d) Queen Elizabeth II
8. In addition to being Prime Ministers of Canada, what do Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir John Sparrow David Thompson have in common?
a) both were born in Kingston b) both died while in office c) they were elected to the House of Commons on the same day d) neither ever married.
9. E.B. Eddy was the founder of a successful lumber, paper and match business in Hull and in the late 1800s, served as the community’s mayor. While mayor, which of the following can he take credit for?
a) introduction of a bill to create the city of Hull b) a 50-per-cent reduction in property taxes for Hull businesses c) opening the first tavern in Hull.
10. Where in Canada did women first have the legal right to vote?
a) Quebec b) Ontario c) Nova Scotia d) Manitoba
11. Who held the office of Prime Minister for the shortest period of time?
a) Alexander Mackenzie b) Sir Charles Tupper c) Joe Clark d) John Turner
12. What final alteration was made in 1965 before the red and white Maple Leaf flag was adopted?
a) the maple leaf was enlarged by one inch b) a deeper shade of red was used c) two points were removed from the base of the maple leaf d) the stem of the maple leaf was shortened.
13. What was flying atop the Peace Tower on Feb. 15, 1965 before the first official raising of Canada’s Maple Leaf flag took place?
a) the Union Jack b) nothing c) Red Ensign d) the Governor General’s standard
14. Who was the first Senator to serve as Canada’s Prime Minister?
15. In what year did the Conservative Party and the Progressive Party merge to become the Progressive Conservative Party?
a) 1939 b) 1952 c) 1941 d) 1954
16. What did the federal government outlaw in September 1972 for safety reasons?
a) firecrackers b) open-wheeled go-carts c) smoking in airplanes d) expense accounts for politicians.
17. I was a champion of justice issues including women’s rights when I was elected to the House of Commons in 1921. Who am I?
18. Three of the four original provinces that made up Canada on July 1, 1867 were Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. Name the fourth.
19. Where did MPs meet after fire gutted the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings in 1916?
a) The East Block b) Ottawa City Hall c) the Museum of Nature d) Lansdowne Park
20. Unscramble the following letters to form the name of one of Canada’s Prime Ministers: tarruh gmeenhi.
Randy Ray of Ottawa, a former Parliament Hill correspondent, and Mark Kearney of London, Ont., are the authors of The Great Canadian Trivia Books and I Know That Name! The People Behind Canada’s Best-Known Brand Names. For more Canadiana, visit their Web site at www.triviaguys.com
ANSWERS
1. a) Great Britain, in 1922
2. b) $600
3. d) George
4. The Golden Boy
5. False. Sir John Abbott, Canada’s third prime minister, was born in Lower Canada (now Quebec)
6. d) 1980
7. a) King George
8. b) both died while in office, Macdonald, on June 6, 1891 and Thompson, on Dec. 12, 1894.
9. a) a bill to create the city of Hull
10. d) Manitoba, where females won the right to vote in January 1916.
11. b) Sir Charles Tupper, who led the country for 69 days in 1896. John Turner came second, being PM for 80 days in 1984.
12. c) two points were removed from the base of the maple leaf reducing the number of points to 11 from 13.
13. d) the Governor General’s standard.
14. Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott, who served as Canada’s second Prime Minister from June 16, 1891 until Nov. 24, 1892.
15. c) 1941 under leader John Bracken of Manitoba
16. a) firecrackers
17. Agnes Macphail
18. New Brunswick
19. c) in the auditorium at the Museum of Nature, then known as the Victoria Museum
20. Arthur Meighen, Canada’s ninth PM.

On This Day In History – June 11
1793 – The first patent for a stove was issued — to Robert Haeterick.
1961 – Roy Orbison was wrapping up a week at number one on the “Billboard” record chart with “Running Scared”, his first number one hit.
1972 – The controversial 62-minute XXX-rated film “Deep Throat” opened at the Mature World Theatre in New York City. Linda Lovelace starred, or, whatever…
1979 РOne of Americaís greatest legends, both as a movie star and as a symbol of patriotism, died this day. Marion Michael Morrison, known as John Wayne, died following a courageous fight with cancer. ëThe Dukeí was 72.
1981 РThe first baseball playerís strike in major-league history began during mid-season after Seattle defeated Baltimore 8-2 at the Kingdome in Seattle. For two months, the nationís favorite pastime was watching negotiations between the playersí union and team owners.
1982 – The movie “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” opened. Steven Spielberg directed this classic. It dazzled audiences with state-of-the-art special effects and a touching, humorous, story line, grossing over $100 million in its first 31 days of theatrical release.
1993 – U.S. audiences rumbled to theatres for a first look at Jurassic Park. The Steven Spielberg-directed dinosaur blockbuster billed a gigantic $47.06 million — just for openers.
1999 – “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” premiered at theatres across North America.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE!!

Need a break? Try gazing at fish.

Everything you need for St. Patrick’s Day!

‘Futurama’ hits DVD, but show comes to close

Matt Groening is a proud papa. The Simpsons just celebrated its 300th episode, but he’s especially pleased to see his other animated child, Futurama, get its day in the sun.
A first-season DVD will be out March 25 and a few fresh episodes remain to run on Fox, even though the sci-fi satire has ended production.
As The Simpsons heads toward its 15th season, Futurama faces early retirement because of inconsistent scheduling and, Groening says, a lack of promotion. The Emmy-winning Futurama, which premiered in 1999, follows Fry (Billy West), a pizza-delivery guy who gets frozen and thaws out 1,000 years later. He goes to work for a futuristic delivery service, joining Leela (Katey Sagal), a one-eyed alien, and Bender (John DiMaggio), a robot with human frailties.
The Fox Home Entertainment DVD includes commentary on the first 13 episodes by Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, West and DiMaggio.
“They’re wild parties, these commentaries,” Groening says. “Billy and John sing along with the theme and make up their own lyrics and talk in their characters’ voices.”
Groening says the last of Futurama’s 72 episodes will provide some closure, but he wishes the show could have continued: “We had so many more stories we were eager to tell.”
He won’t make comparisons between his animated progeny, except for one nod to Futurama: “It’s definitely better animated.”

A Good Heart
By Feargal Sharkey
I hear a lot of stories, I suppose they could be true
All about love, and what it can do to you
High is the risk of striking out, the risk of getting hurt
And still, I have so much to learn
Well I know, ’cause I think about it all the time
I know that real love is quite a vice
And a good heart these days is hard to find (a good heart)
True love, the lasting kind
A good heart these days is hard to find
So please be gentle with this heart of mine
My expectations may be high, I blame it on my youth
Soon enough I learned the painful truth
I’ll face it like a fighter, then boast of how I’ve grown
Anything is better than being alone
Well I know, ’cause I learn a little every day
I know, ’cause I listen when the experts say, that
That a good heart these days is hard to find (a good heart)
True love, the lasting kind
A good heart these days is hard to find (ooh)
So please be gentle with this heart of mine, yeah
Yeah!
As I reflect on all my childhood dreams
My ideas of love weren’t as foolish as they seemed
If I don’t start looking now, I’ll be left behind
And a good heart these days, it’s hard to find
Well I know, it’s a dream I’m willing to defend
I know it will all be worth it in the end
And a good heart these days is hard to find (a good heart)
True love, the lasting kind
A good heart these days is hard to find
So please be gentle with this heart of mine