Neil M Kennedy

Woah

The world spins toward darkness and, in that, finds its way to the light. Good sleep old bean.

Ah so sweet. The fluffy paws are like little wings.

Photo of the white front paws of Yoda, an Alaskan malamute, all groomed and trimmed to show each great rounded toe.

@drleonj.bsky.social Big Yoda was at the groomer today. For a few lovely days afterward his usual giant hairy Dr Suess flippers are transformed into cute thick toes. I love it. #Dogs

Walter Johnson, River of Dark Dreams! Brilliant, evocative prose. Students love “the steamboat sublime” chapter.

Risible.

Hurrah!!

Dreadful. Good to have such a comprehensive new dossier like this. I hadn’t meant his ubiquity as a compliment, to be sure.

“Comet, it’ll make you vomit!” Wow that takes me back many years.

Oh just some things a colleague is working on, about which I knew little. No, heard of but not read. We had 50cm snow today, still chucking it down. Yoda tired from trudging. Took Mara snowshoeing along river and she had trouble even with long legs. Both snoozing now.

The mural was in a corridor that was only accessible to passengers arriving from other countries. Apparently one panel showed an image that looked like LBJ, who had his arm chopped off by a propeller and fell out of a dirigible. Don’t think I’ve seen anything written on this piece.

Greg Curnoe’s mural in Montreal airport was in place for only 2 wks when the RCMP seized several panels. Shortly later the dept of transportation removed the rest and sent it to the National Gallery for storage. Odd that the offence was that it was anti-American. Hardly a criminal matter in 1968.

It is quite a history. I've seen or read about photos there of Elvis, The Beatles, Einstein, Sinatra, Bo Diddley, Johnny Cash wearing a shirt that said "Gotta Get me Moose", etc. Spousal Unit has looked at the private pilot's apartments guest book, with multiple visits and accolades from jet setters

Black and white photo of Fidel Castro browsing in the gift shop at Gander Airport, a couple of lackeys and such hovering nearby.

Ha, the historical society have a photo of him in the gift shop! There is a great one of Marilyn Monroe sitting in the lounge, passengers walking behind unaware, but don't have it on hand.

Yes, several times as Aeroflot used to fly through there. But then so did every transatlantic flight before they had the range. Was biggest airport in world for a while. RCMP had a detachment there just for people escaping the Aeroflot flights.

Fidel Castro tobogganing in the snow outside Gander Airport, Christmas Eve, 1972, looking a little concerned, with a few bodyguards in Cold War disguise (that is to say, very obvious) and some grinning locals.

Huzzah! Quite right. "Crossroads of the world" it used to be called. The lounge is a fine modernist room indeed. The modernist private apartments for pilots are still intact, a favourite for the Tom Cruise, Travolta, types, judging from the zealously guarded guest book 😉. Change from Castro's days.

Talking to some old boys, your usual Newfoundland chat. The owners of Flyers Club at the famous Gander International Airport were cash short, so announced that Dean Martin was going to perform, and sold tickets. When the financial crisis passed, they announced that Dean couldn’t make it and refunded

Weiß jemand, wo man so ein Eichhörnchen zum Schneeräumen engagieren kann?

Splendiferous!

CFP: Colonial Hinter-Seas: A Conference on Subaquatic Resources and Waterside Lives from the Early Modern to the Contemporary, August 2026, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK networks.h-net.org/group/announ...

Artist De Strandharker, a Dutch creator known for large-scale beach rake drawings, give remarkable tribute to the victims of Trump's ICE (Renée Good and Alex Pretti) 🫶

Huzzah! Ordered

Many thanks, Matthew, much appreciated.

A large grey tabby cat named Captain Morgan lies down inside a picture frame sitting on top of a dining table, head perched on the edge, peering down at the dogs.

Pretty as a picture. I’m being framed! Etc etc. #Cats

My condolences for your loss, Francois. A towering figure indeed.

I recall riding my bike to campus during light dustings of snow in Williamsburg VA, past cars in the ditch. It’s an experience-based skill for sure. Stay warm!

Scratch that. Just looked out window and it’s really coming down now. He’s very happy. Currently looking for his toys under the snow.

He was well treated for sure. Not really, didn’t amount to much. Just a slick on top of the thin layer of ice, enough to make walking a challenge but not enough for snow shoes. You guys have some on ground?

Large hairy Alaskan Malamute mix lies outside at 6am in snowfall, his fur beginning to cover in snow, happy as Larry.

@drleonj.bsky.social Birthday boy does his own frosting. Forgot to say he turned four on Wednesday. #Dogs

@brookenewman.bsky.social #maritimehistory #earlymodern