Aretha Franklin - by Moses

 
       Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, has just died of Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 76 - this August 16th, 2018.

  Aretha Franklin was admired by everyone who knew her.  She won 18 Grammy Awards and was outspoken towards the Feminist Movement, Woman's Liberation Movement, and African-American Rights over the duration of her life.  She recorded top hits 'Respect', 'Natural Woman', and 'Freedom' (or 'Think') among others.  She brought former President Barack Obama to tears in a performance of 'Natural Woman' in 2015.

  Franklin's Father was a Minister, and her Mother was likewise a singer.  Aretha was self taught on piano at the age of 5.  To put things into perspective, Aretha Franklin, a legend, has just passed on into the Heavens.

  Her rise to fame began in the early 60's when she performed alongside legends Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, Otis Redding, Dionne Warwick and others in a huge African-American Music scene in Motown (Detroit). She spoke for Rosa Parks and the early Civil Rights movement across America, and was a focal point of Motown.  She was even featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1968. 

  We should celebrate her life for a full year to commemorate her contributions towards humanity as both a person, and entertainer which involved her playing many shows pro-bono for the causes in which she supported.   As a Jew I often face anti-semitism in todays' age.  Jewish people have had a similar diaspora to the plight of African-Americans in America and beyond.  Constant ethnic slights are hurled, sometimes hidden, yet felt.  What I truly feel strongly about is that our history be re-told and NEVER forgotten.

Stan Mikita - by Moses

  Stan Mikita has passed on this August 7th, 2018 at the age of 78, after suffering from dementia over his last few years with us.  He was a true legend of the game playing all his 21 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks.  Mikita was co-leader of the Hawks alongside Bobby Hull (though they played on different lines) and won the coveted Stanley Cup in 1961.

  Stan Mikita was the first player born in Czechoslovakia to play in the NHL when his career began in 1959.  He was playing on 'The Scooter Line' with Ted Lindsey and Kenny Wharram.  After Lindsey retired Ab McDonald replaced him on the Left Wing and was finally replaced by Doug Mohns, when the line was renamed 'The Production Line'.  

  Mikita won two Hart Trophies, four Art Ross Trophies, two Lady Byng Awards, and was named 1st Team All-Star six times.  He had an incredible 150 Playoff points in 155 Games played, and had 1467 regular season points in 1396 Games.  He was a +329 over the duration of his career.  Of his 1467 Points he had 541 Goals and 926 Assists.

  What made Mikita so revered by Hockey fans wasn't just his tenacity of the game (attest to his high penalty minutes in his early years - before toning it down to win 2 Lady Byng Awards), but the fact that he was a true team player.  His 'Hawks were dependent on him producing to make the playoffs (which they did most years in which he played), and he could just have easily won another two Stanley Cups (Stanley Cup Finals that Chicago lost), alongside Mikita's' only sip of the Cup win of 1961.  Mikita was only one of a handful of men to have played in four decades 1959-1980.

R.I.P for a truly great Hockey Man

Possibilities for the 2019 Toronto Blue Jays - by Moses

  With all the young talent in the Toronto Blue Jays Farm System we'll be seeing many changes over the next couple of years.  

  It would stand to reason that the Jays would get rid of current Manager John Gibbons and bring in a fresh face to Manage the team.  A good place to start would be to hire a career baseball man like Joe Girardi.

  The Blue Jays have perhaps the greatest talent in the Minors today in Vladimir Guerrero Jr..  As a third baseman this leaves a dilemma for the Jays brass as we still have Josh Donaldson in our Organization.  I would say trade Donaldson and Lourdes Gurriel to the Arizona Diamondbacks and pick up Steven Souza Jr., Clay Buchholz, Jon Duplantier, and Silvino Bracho from the Diamondbacks Organization.  This would free our team salary of about $10 Million for what Donaldson would be getting on his next contract with the club.  Also remove Randal Grichuk, Devon Travis, Kendrys Morales, and Marco Estrada in trades for prospects likewise for the purpose of freeing future cap space with all our young talent.

  At this point, with Girardi, let him develop all the young talent the Jays have in the Minors today.  Over the next two years bring up the following players;  Sean-Reid Foley (RHP), Jordan Romano (RHP), Zach Jackson (RHP), Travis Bergen (LHP), Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Rowdy Tellez, Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Danny Jansen, Dalton Pompey, Dwight Smith, and Anthony Alford. 

  As a result of all these changes being made to start the 2019 Campaign the Toronto Blue Jays 25 Man Roster would look as such;

Manager - Joe Girardi

Pitching Staff

Starters

1.  Aaron Sanchez (RHP)
2.  Marcus Stroman (RHP)
3.  Clay Buchholz (RHP)
4.  Jon Duplantier (RHP)
5.  Ryan Borucki (LHP)

Relievers

1.  Sean-Reid Foley (RHP)
2.  Travis Bergen (LHP)
3.  Danny Barnes (RHP)
4.  Silvino Bracho (RHP)
5.  Ryan Tepera (RHP)
6.  Ken Giles (RHP)

Batting Lineup

1.  Kevin Pillar (Bats Right) - CF
2.  Cavan Biggio (Bats Left) - 2B
3.  Justin Smoak (Switch) - 1B
4.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Bats Right) - 3B
5.  Teoscar Hernandez (Bats Right) - LF
6.  Steven Souza Jr. (Bats Right) - RF
7.  Rowdy Tellez (Bats Left) - DH
8.  Russell Martin (Bats Right) - C
9.  Bo Bichette (Bats Right) - SS

Bench

1.  Danny Jansen (Bats Right) - C
2.  Aledmys Diaz (Bats Right) - 2B/ 3B /SS 
3.  Dalton Pompey (Switch) - OF  
4.  Anthony Alford (Bats Right) - OF 

The Occupy Movement Revisited Part Two - by Moses

  Breakfast in bed for 3 Million people.  The next Woodstock.  Three hundred bands playing a concert over a three week period.  Could this occur?

  When all is said and done, the proceeds from this venue would pay for 100 new small communities in each Province, Territory, and Nunuvit across Canada.  200 'Whites', 200 'Blacks', 200 'Asians', and 200 'Natives' totaling 800 people on each small community .  This would build up rural communities and make the rat race disappear for those that want it to disappear.

  Is Canada ready for a population influx?  Wouldn't it be more easily accommodated by building an infrastructure for this purpose?

  The rural pockets to be developed in this context would be thriving Metropolitans in the future in the future if done effectively from inception.  A small community of 800 people naturally evolves into a small Township of 5000 people, and finally into a City.

  In the Occupy Movement we could see a Kibbutz type structure.  Free food for everyone.  Free housing, free clothing, minimal monthly pay, and luxuries added based on the profits of the community/Kibbutz camp (ie. an ampitheatre, a swimming pool, tennis courts etc...).  This was what the Nation of Israel/Palestine used to build up their country.  

  This would alleviate poor pockets in big cities that exist across Canada today.  The poor would actually see a return for their time.  Work 6 hours a day 5 days a week.  If you work more than 6 hours a day you accumulate time off for the future.  Skills would be taught, and new families started.  This would turn a National unemployment rate of 8% into a rate of an optimum 4% and build families for the future.  Our economy would flourish, and our Nations' young would have a new valuable option to living poor in the big city.