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Remembering Donald Sutherland: A Tribute to an Acting Legend

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody today we look back at a long time actor who passed away this past week on June 20th, 2024. Donald Sutherland was born in Saint John New Brunswick in 1935. Sutherland started out his schooling in a one room school house something that was still common in those days in smaller areas. His parents had moved to Hampton for a short while until his father got a top job and moved back to St John Canada. There Donald would attend Victoria school and take…

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Remembering Willie Mays Hayes: A Baseball Legend’s Journey Through History

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody today we look back at an extraordinary man Willie Mays Hayes. Born in 1931 in Alabama, Mays was an all around great athlete. Both of his parents were also great athletes, natural traits he may have inherited through the gene pool. Mays who grew up in a more troubled time in our history luckily had Jackie Robinson who broke the color barrier in major league baseball and paved the way for new talent to be a part of the league. Mays was highly sought…

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A Tribute to Donald Messick: The Voice Behind Your Favorite Cartoons

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody today I’m taking a look at voice actor Donald Messick. Many of you may not know the name or face but you certainly know some of his many characters he voiced over the years. Messick was born in Buffalo in 1926 and worked right up till he passed away in 1997. Messick started out as a ventriloquist and did radio shows. One of his first characters he voiced was Andy from “The Raggedy Ann show”. In 1949 Messick got his first gig on television…

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Remembering Jerry West: A Legend of Basketball Who Defined multiple Eras

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody on June 12th 2024 basketball fans around the world mourned as news spread of Jerry West’s passing. Born in 1938 in West Virginia where he honed his craft on dirt courts and wooden backboards. From the moment he picked up a basketball, it was clear that he was destined for greatness. In high school, he shattered records and led his team to state championships, earning the nickname “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to deliver in the most critical moments. For those who truly understood…

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Gilligan’s Island Turns 60: Celebrating a Classic Sitcom and Its Iconic Cast

Hello everybody, the lovable sitcom Gilligan’s Island turns 60 years old this fall. Although the only main cast member still alive is Tina Louis who played Ginger Grant and turned 90 this year, the milestone for the sitcom will be celebrated by millions of fans who grew up watching the show. Gilligan’s Island was a staple show for me growing up. Although the show only ran from 1964 to 1967 the reruns are still playing today. When the show started it was in black and white and later turned to…

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Sports Season Extravaganza: From NHL and NBA Semifinals to Caitlin Clark’s Impact on Women’s Basketball

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody, it’s a great time of year for sports fans. The NHL and NBA are almost wrapped up in semifinals play and set the stage for their Finals showdowns. The French Open is in full swing, MLB is slowly taking shape, and the US men’s ICC take down Canada in the first ever US hosted Cricket World Cup games being held in New York, Texas, and Florida. I took an interest in Cricket back in 2008 after I watched Slumdog Millionaire, which cleaned up at…

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Honoring the Legendary Bill Walton: A Tribute to His Life and Legacy in Basketball

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody, today we pay tribute to one of the most legendary NBA players in history. Bill Walton, an iconic figure in basketball, passed away on May 27, 2024, at the age of 71. Renowned for his remarkable contributions both on and off the court, Walton had a distinguished career that spanned from his collegiate dominance at UCLA under coach John Wooden to his professional success in the NBA. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics, earning numerous accolades…

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Honoring Our Heroes: Remembering the Celebrities and Loved Ones Who Served on Memorial Day

Story by Mitchell Smith Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have served our country in the military. Many Celebrities we know served time and saw action. NFL player Pat Tillman is one that stands out as he lost his life in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan. God Bless Mr Tillman may he always be remembered. Golden Girl Bea Arthur served time in the Marine Corps during WWII, and Betty White was a WWII volunteer putting in her time to help in any way she could. Both were…

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Off the Rails: Reviewing My 12-Inch Indiana Jones Figures from 2008

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everyone. I’m Train and today I’m going off the rails with my two 12 inch Indiana Jones figures. These came out in 2008 when Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came out. These are fully articulated and have fabric clothing. One has a removable hat and the other does not. Both have his signature whip, pistol, and satchel. The one figure has a whip action with a whip sound when you press a button on his back. The other has several Indiana Jones sayings and his…

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The Timeless Appeal of Classic Cinema: A Reflection on Modern Viewing Habits

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in viewing preferences among audiences worldwide. A growing number of people are turning away from contemporary movies and TV shows in favor of classic films and television series from decades past. This trend raises an intriguing question: What is driving this nostalgic resurgence? Nostalgia for a Bygone Era One of the primary reasons for this shift is the sense of nostalgia that classic films evoke. These movies transport viewers back to a time that seems simpler and more straightforward. The storytelling,…

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Rediscovering a Classic: The Adventures of “BJ and the Bear”

Story by Mitchell Smith Well hello everybody. Today I’m taking a look at one of my favorite shows from when I was a wee lad. “BJ and the Bear”, is a series, which aired from 1979 to 1981, blended elements of action, adventure, and comedy, creating a beloved yet often overlooked gem of its time. “BJ and the Bear” followed the adventures of B.J. McKay, a charming and rugged truck driver, and his best friend, Bear, a lovable chimpanzee. Greg Evigan portrayed B.J., whose full name was Billie Joe McKay.…

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Revisiting ‘Short Circuit’: A Timeless Eighties Classic and Its Legacy

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody. Today I’m taking a look at one of the greatest eighties movies, Short Circuit. This 1986 film was directed by John Badham and featured 2 of the most popular stars at the time John Guttenburg and Ally Sheedy. Fisher Stevens added some great comic relief and Tim Blaney superbly voiced the beloved Johnny number 5. This is a great movie and had a sequel as well. I wonder if they will ever try to make a modern sequel with different main characters or if…

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Rising Stars and Courtside Drama: How Caitlin Clark and New Talents Are Transforming the WNBA

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody. Today I’m taking a look at the WNBA and the growth from 2023 to 2024 has basically exploded over night or over one off season. The past couple of years Caitlin Clark has had a lot of new eyes checking out women’s NCAA basketball. There has always been talented female players starting with the first draft class in 1997. Initially there were 16 players randomly assigned to the newly formed teams such as Vicky Bullett and Sheryl Swoops, then each team entered a formal…

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Reviving the Laughs: Exploring the Timeless Charm of ‘Taxi’ and Its Iconic Cast

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody. Today I’m taking a look at a classic sitcom from the 1980’s that is still entertaining today, “Taxi“. Taxi first aired September 12, 1978 and sported a stellar cast. The sitcom follows a group of New York City cabbies and the hilarious cast in a show that ran till June of 1983. The cast included stars like Tony Danza, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Judd Hirsch, Andy Kaufman, Rhea Perlman, Marilu Henner, and Carol Kane. One of my favorite characters is Iggy played by Christopher…

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Barenaked Ladies 2024 Tour

Story by Mitchell Smith Hello everybody. Back in 1988 Ed Roberts and Steven Page got together in Scarborough, ON and formed the band Barenaked Ladies. They added Jim Creeggan and his brother Andy, Tyler Stewart and Kevin Hearn who replaced Andy when he left the band in 1995. Page left the band in 2009 to pursue a solo career and everyone else remains. The band first had success in Canada with their 2 hits “If I Had A Million Dollars” and “Brian Wilson”. The hits kept coming for the band…

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