WRONG-WAY LEADERS, RABBIS, AND ‘ERBS
In this issue of the Reader, your ever-alert correspondent writes about a bad day at work, pumping the rabbi for answers, bananas and hot tubs on wheels.
This week: a 5-minute read
CAREER HAZARDS
Those of you of a certain vintage will recall Wrongway Peachfuzz from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons of our youth. He was a navy captain who never seemed to know which way is up. Well, the news this week includes an item about the commander of a U.S. Navy destroyer who has been relieved of duty for much the same reason.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the commanding officer of the USS John McCain was fired because he was photographed in a firing stance while holding a rifle with the scope mounted backwards.
The officer, Cameron Yaste, was officially relieved “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided-missile destroyer” that's currently deployed in the Gulf of Oman. Unofficially, the photo, once it was published in the Stars and Stripes newspaper, brought the Navy considerable ridicule from the U.S. Marine Corps. And here we thought a bad day involved dropping a jar of peanut butter on your foot.
GET IT IN WRITING
Meanwhile, back in the States, the FBI is using the self-confessed writings of an author to lay charges against him for participating in the storming of the U.S. Capitol building in 2021.
According to podcaster Jason Koebler, Nathan Thornsberry, writing under the unimaginative nom de plume Nathaniel Matthews, recounted his experiences on the Hill in the Amazon book A Patriot’s Story. They knew Matthews was Thornsberry because the author’s Facebook post reads “Nathan Thornsberry (Nathaniel Matthews).” Oops. A previous book by Thornsberry, Dakota Black: Or ‘The Dragon,’ listed as its coauthor Herman Melville, the author of Moby Dick. Melville died in 1891.
PEEL THAT HERB
According to multiple reliable sources, the banana is an herb — or a herb, depending on where you live. In the U.S., the h in herb is silent, so it’s “an
‘erb.” In the U.K. the h is pronounced, sort of like Herb, your neighbour. So it’s “a herb.” In Canada, it seems to be both, which says a lot about why Canadians are always apologizing.
Personally, I find this business with indefinite articles more interesting than the bit about bananas.
HE HAD TO ASK
I came across this photo the other day. I took it when we lived in Palm Springs, California, where they have a weekly street fair called Village Fest.
The sign said I could ask the rabbi anything, so I inquired what was wrong with the Oilers’ defence. “My son,” he said, “you need to pair Nurse with a
partner that complements his game.” OK, maybe I made that last part up.
FROM THE MAILBAG
Re ‘’Mum’s the Word,’ Aug. 25. Terry, I remember your mum from across the street on Crawford Avenue asking me to return her book to the library where I worked as a high school student. I’m embarrassed to say I read it first. It was Peyton Place, pretty spicy for a 15-year-old! Joan Egervary, Tilbury Ontario
Terry, I just remembered when I was editor of the Tilbury Times getting a tip from your mother that the best stories were found in the classifieds. She’d noticed Sir Lawrence Olivier’s name in a wedding announcement. It seems a young Tilbury woman was getting married abroad and Olivier was among the wedding guests. I did a small human-interest piece and read the classifieds every week after that. Don Button, Lund, B.C.
Terry, thanks for the opportunity to enjoy your Sunday read. As we age and reflect on the years past, one of my greatest moments was reading the Tilbury Times arriving in the mail every Thursday. Your family’s newspaper
certainly captured the history of our town and kept us all connected and informed as a community. We so miss all of you. Donna Goodreau Lefaive, Wheatley, Ontario
Re ‘Simons Under Siege,’ Sept. 8. Terry, your Sunday newsletter is delightful. Thanks for the story about the banks. You are a wisdom-laden journalist and your views are exactly what is needed now. Adèle Fontaine, Edmonton, Alberta
What a nice surprise to find your newsletter, Terry. I’m looking forward to Sunday mornings now. Stella St. Pierre, Tilbury, Ontario
Good stuff, Terry. Highly enjoyable. Ian Stewart, Kelowna, B.C.
If you want to drop me a note (and risk me publishing it here), just reply to this email or, if you prefer send it to mysundayreader@gmail.com.
THIS WEEK’S SHAMELESS PLUG
Now, here's a message you don't read every day. I saw this on Twitter and it’s from a gentleman — an obviously enlightened and erudite gentleman — named Alex Murphy who lives in Niles, Michigan. If you keep up with your Michigan, you know Niles is near the Indiana state line between Buchanan and Edwardsburg. “You’re one fine Canadian author Terry, my man!” Alex tweeted. I just may have to put this guy on my Christmas card list.
By the way, if you’re wondering why we wax on so much about our books, it’s because no Canadian author whose name isn’t Margaret Atwood gets rich from this gig. After all, even Pierre Berton, one of the most prolific and
successful of Canadian authors, had a day job.
You can see for yourself what we have in our online book shop at terrymcconnell.com.
AND FINALLY …
It may seem weird to write this but apparently nowadays it’s necessary to point out. None of the content here is AI-generated, so there. I am a real person, and to quote the Bard from the Merchant of Venice, “If you tickle us, do we not laugh?” Well, I do anyway. And yes, I’m that ticklish. Try ticking a robot and see if you get even a smile.
