Ever since I was I was a boy, I have been fascinated with robots, and today I have quite a collection of battery operated ones.Little and not so little ones that roll all over the house, amuse my friends and scare their dogs.But there are no robots that fascinate me
Continue readingTag: humanity at its best
Montreal Simon: Harry Leslie Smith 1923-2018
For about a week, along with hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, I have been keeping an online vigil for 95-year-old Harry Leslie Smith.Harry had been battling pneumonia in a hospital in Belleville, Ontario.He fought bravely, but early this morning that battle finally ended. But what a
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Sad End of a Great Space Adventure
Early this morning, about 1.2 billion kilometres away from Earth, an amazing 20-year voyage came to a sudden end.When the Cassini spacecraft crashed into Saturn.And I must admit that when it did, I found myself moved beyond belief.Read more »
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Orlando Massacre and the Doctor’s Bloody Shoes
When I saw the first pictures of the Pulse nightclub shooting, and I saw the ambulances converging on the scene.And then because there weren't enough of them, I saw the wounded being loaded onto the back of pick up trucks.Two thoughts went through…
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Fort McMurray Fire and Mandela’s Children
I must admit when I first saw that 300 South African firefighters had arrived to help battle the Fort McMurray wildfire I was a bit shocked.I wondered didn't we have enough firefighters in this country to finish the job ourselves?But then I saw …
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Rescuing the Abandoned Pets of Fort McMurray
When I saw all those people trying to escape the fire they're now calling The Beast, I tried to imagine how they must have been feeling.Not only having to flee their homes, and worry whether they'd still be there when they returned.But also in …
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Syrian Refugees and the Friendly Holiday Isle
The other day I told you how Scotland was getting ready to welcome its first group of Syrian refugees, and how that small country had been working hard to try to make them feel at home.In a country so different from the ones they were coming from.Well …
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Face of Hate and the Inspiring Message of Antoine Leiris
When I see how the tragedy in Paris has some of the bigots in this country crawling out of their holes, to spew ignorance and hatred. Like this ghastly joker. Half maniac, half beast.Or I read the comments from those who are so afraid, they would deny desperate refugees safe haven in
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Paris Massacre, the Children, and the Flowers
It's hard enough for an adult to understand the horror of the Paris massacre. Or how some people can be so cruel and vicious.So imagine being a parent in that city, and having to try to explain that horror to children.So I have to say I thought this dad did
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Brad Wall and the Phoney Con Refugee Scare
I like to think that in some refugee camp in the Middle East, a mother and her children have just found out that they could be in Canada in just a few weeks.And that they are a lot happier than they are in this photo.For they have been living in
Continue readingMontreal Simon: José Mujica: The Pauper President Steps Down
In a world groaning under the weight of poverty, ignorance, and war, it's hard to imagine how we will ever solve all our problems.Or even save the planet from destruction.In a world full of grubby self serving politicians, it's hard to find a political hero.But I do have one, and
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Con Regime’s Lethally Inadequate Response to the Ebola Epidemic
We are still awaiting our first case of Ebola.And even though the risk of a major outbreak in Canada is almost negligible, in the emergency rooms of the nation, doctors, and nurses, are already struggling to contain an epidemic of fear.Not just the irrational fears of their patients, but legitimate
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Ice Storm, the Cons, And My Awesome People
When I heard the freezing rain tap tapping against my bedroom window the other night I feared the worst. It brought back memories of The Great Ice Storm of 1998, and I wouldn't want to live through something like that again. But when morning came I saw I was lucky. The storm
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Nelson Mandela and What That Giant Meant To Me
When I heard the news that Nelson Mandela had died at first I was sad, like billions of people all over the world. For he was my greatest living hero, and somehow I had hoped that he would live forever. “Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father,”
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Hurricane Sandy and the Twitter Troll
On Tuesday night, as New Yorkers struggled to cope with the fury of Hurricane Sandy.A Twitter account with the handle ComfortablySmug tried to cause even more fear.By sending out a series of alarming false messages.Read more »
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Curiousity, Mars, and the Triumph of Humanity
I just can't help myself eh? I just had to insert the Cons, like an ugly alien probe, into this amazing story. The US space agency has just landed a huge new robot rover on Mars. The one-tonne vehicle, known as Curiosity, was reported to have landed in a deep
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Lonely Old Man and his Music
When I was in university I used to volunteer once a week at a nursing home in Montreal’s East End. Sébastien used to play the piano and sing French songs, I would play the guitar, my lab Kerouac would lick them all to death. And we all had a hoot. Except
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