Musitorial - “Yer our boys”

musitorial noun, a mashup of musics, musings and editorials: music and song that evokes thought and commentary.

Hunter Biden, if you can believe it, wins my prize for “balls of the year” for his recent social media post (if you can believe it) recommending the Nobel Peace Prize for Republican President Donald J. Trump (DJT). The post makes it clear that DJT has now managed to stop 38 wars, a truly remarkable feat, though in truth we’ve all lost count.

’Course, it’s the same war. According to Biden, DJT had ended the war on Iran no less than 38 times (at time of writing, for that number is increasing almost daily), more than any other President, demonstrating that he (DJT) is not only worthy of the Nobel but, at the very least, of an entry in Guinness World Records for 2026.

Speaking of awards, I am pleased to announce that I plan to nominate Republican department of offences Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth for this year’s Darwin Award.[1]

I’m paraphrasing here, but since 1992 the Darwins have annually been awarded to a person or organization that exemplify a lack of understanding of the ways of the world, society and its evolution.

Like many evolution deniers, award recipients often refuse to accept that some ways of knowing and being are widely accepted by evolving human sciences.

After carefree consideration, Musitorial editors (me) have elected to nominate Hegseth in recognition of his uneducated and antisocial views of what it takes to be a man, to be a soldier, sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution and to defend the American people from oppressors. Demonstrating contempt for both, this man recently decreed that only biological males having acceptable levels of testosterone are suited for armed services.

I was reminded of an observation made by a high school friend that men like Secretary Hegseth believe that girls have long hair and boys play basketball. Full stop.

In my uneducated (I flunked out of high school) but avowed human view – and this is supported by social science – the most vociferous voices to reverse social change are from people most threatened by it (“it” being “change”), even if the change is for the betterment of humankind.

USA Republican president Trump stated unequivocally at his inaugural ‘look at me, I’m the king of the world’ speech that in the United States there are only two genders, male and female. Secretary Hegseth’s world assumes that men have testosterone and make babies, and women have hormones and carry babies. No doubt “gender” is a foreign  concept in that world unless you mean sex, but social science accepts that there are innumerable genders, no matter what the sex.

Even if one doesn’t really understand or “get it” (meaning understand it, not get sex), it doesn’t take testosterone to make today’s soldier. Yes, it takes balls, but not testes to be a brave, reliable (and pliable) soldier.

It’s no coincidence that current warfare engagement is via drones, for armies have always been about drones. Male drones. Mindless creatures whose sole purpose is to do battle at the behest of a higher order. Okay, maybe that’s over the top; national defence readiness has long been an accepted part of defending nations.

Of today’s musitorial, you may be expecting me to refer to “YMCA” by the Village People (Cruisin’, 1978, prod.    Jacques Morali, Casablanca), cited by many as a gay male anthem, but I’m not.

Instead, I’m recommending a clip from Arlo Guthrie’s timeless classic film, Alice’s Restaurant Massacree (1968, dir. Arthur Penn, United Artists) links to which are provided below. Enjoy!

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Link to the Darwin Awards landing page: https://darwinawards.com/

Link to The Hill report about Hunter Biden’s post: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5951873-hunter-biden-trump-nobel-peace/

Link to Wikipedia entry on Alice’s Restaurant Massacree (1968, dir. Arthur Penn, United Artists): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice's_Restaurant_(film)

Link to YouTube video of Alice’s Restaurant recruitment scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0a6iWHSWbA

Link to an Acıbadem International Group article on gender: https://acibademinternational.com/health-library/how-many-genders-are-there-here-is-what-the-evidence-says/

Link to Wikipedia entry on The Village People and “YMCA” (from the album Cruisin’, 1978, Casablanca): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y.M.C.A._(song).

Link to YouTube video of the song, “YMCA” (from the album Cruisin’, 1978, Casablanca): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k

 

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[1] “The Darwin Awards honor those who tip chlorine into our gene pool, by accidentally removing their own DNA from it during the spectacular climax of a 'great idea' gone veddy, veddy wrong” (https://darwinawards.com).

 

Musitorial – The Five Ws: who wears what, when and why.

musitorial noun, a mashup of musics, musings and editorials: music and song that evokes thought and commentary.

So, I’m stuck. I have no idea what’s “in” these days. I do know that almost nothing is “out,” but what’s considered “in”? What’s “camp” as they used to say.

I’m asking this so I can better prepare myself for July 15. What’s significant about July 15, you ask? It’s Camp Day, that’s what – Camp Day at Tims. The posters are everywhere!

I’m a frequent client and would like to have my own Camp Day T-shirt, and I think that if I can dress camp for the day – wear something really cool, really camp – maybe, just maybe I can get my own Camp Day 2026 T-shirt.

All kidding aside, July 15, 2026, is Tims Camp Day. “When you buy a hot or iced coffee, you’re helping youth from underserved communities access life-changing experiences with Tims Camps. […] Tim Hortons® Foundation Camps is a non-profit charitable organization…. [O]ver 50 years, Tims Camps has been a leader in youth development programming…. Through experiences both at camp and in the classroom, youth build resilience, leadership, and responsibility, empowering them to thrive in school, work, and life. Across North America, Tims Camps has provided life-changing experiences to nearly 350,000 youth—at no cost to them or their families. This is made possible through the generosity of Tim Hortons Restaurant Owners, guests, corporate sponsors, donors, and community partners” and me too! (Link below for more information.

Today’s musitorial celebrates summer camp. "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter from Camp)" written by Allan Sherman and Lou Busch, 1963, Warner Bros. Records, Jimmy Hilliard, prod.

Enjoy! Especially if summer camp was or is part of your family’s shared history.

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Link to Tim Hortons for more information about Camp Day: https://timscamps.com/about-tims-camps/)

Link to Wikipedia entry on the song, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_Muddah,_Hello_Fadduh_(A_Letter_from_Camp)

Link to Wikipedia entry on Allan Sherman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Sherman

 

Musitorial – See me?

 

musitorial noun, a mashup of music, musings and editorials, music and song that evokes thought and commentary.

Today’s musitorial has been inspired in part by Little Stevie Wonder’s oft-repeated parting words: “see ya!”

In truth, I don’t really know if it is or was repeated ‘oft,’ but he did say it at least once – on Bob Dylan’s The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1993, producers Jeff Kramer Jeff Rosen Don DeVito, Columbia) concert and double album. That album featured a long list of iconic musicians performing Dylan’s songs. “Little” Stevie Wonder did “Blowin’ in the Wind” (orig. 1963, Columbia Recording, John H. Hammond, prod.) – an unbeatable rendition at the end of which he (Wonder) signed off saying, “see ya!” Very funny. As everyone knows, Stevie wonder is blind since shortly after birth.

Little Stevie is not directly connected with my musings today, but seeing is.

I have long been perplexed, even perturbed by the oft-repeated parting words of radio hosts (and of regular columnists) who depart saying “see you tomorrow” (as the case may be).

Stop saying that – puhleeze!

No, you won’t see them tomorrow, or in the foreseeable future unless they will be in the studio tomorrow. No, you won’t see me tomorrow or in the foreseeable future either – possible never.

Am I being overly pedantic? Perhaps. But surely there’s at least one final space in the mediasphere wherein precision in language counts for something.

Not long ago, I heard an on-ait newsreader us the term “T-bone” to describe a traffic accident. Geez, is nothing sacred? When I log onto Facebook I am challenged to make sure I’m “not a robot,” but when I successfully pass the test, I am told: “I’m not a robot.” Surely it should say “you’re” not a robot?

Anyway, in recent years I’ve found it interesting that some language roles have shifted – even reversed. Where the aforementioned radio hosts are gradually losing language precision in favour of the colloquial, many previously down-to-earth and even inarticulate occupations have been increasingly pedantic. In particular, a new level of professionalism is evident among firefighters and law enforcement professionals.

This is not, I repeat not to denigrate those actors. Indeed, I am by no means perfect either, and at my advanced age I sometimes have to accept the first words that are closest to what I think I’m saying. However, I wish the firefighter next door didn’t have to say he and his colleagues “knocked down” a fire at a “domicile” that was the result of an “incendiary conflagration,” etc.

Just what am I saying? Is there a need for a grammarian version of language police, or should we let language-use evolve willy-nilly. I’m of two minds about that – or somewhere in between, I guess.

Of course language use should evolve. No question in my mind that, as our awareness and knowledge of our world evolves, words, definitions and ideas all evolve accordingly, rightfully. Just think of some of the words we now know are absolutely unacceptable but were in everyday use forty or fifty years ago and have been eclipsed by new understandings and sensitivities – a couple of which haven’t left my lips in decades.

I think my original point was more about precision in definitions and usage and whom should be the keepers of same. Well, one “whom” is school teachers. This is not to say that teachers ought to flog users of slang (as they once did), but they should be prepared to keep them in use.

The other “keepers” should be media, and I guess that’s where we came in. I wouldn’t expect that “The Little General,” Ronny Bourgeois,[1] on CKCW in Moncton, NB, should be careful to use biblical references during his broadcasts of 1960s commercial Rock and Roll hit parades, but I would prefer and request that our national broadcaster, CBC, be mindful of the difference. “See”?

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Link to Wikipedia entry about the venerable Little Stevie Wonder: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder

Link to Wikipedia entry about the song, “Blowin’ in the Wind”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowin%27_in_the_Wind

Link to Wikipedia entry about The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration double album: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_30th_Anniversary_Concert_Celebration

Link to Wikipedia entry on CKCW-FM (formerly AM): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CKCW-FM

Link to a Facebook post (Old Moncton Photos, Travis O'Toole, May 20, 2025) about “The Little General,” Ronnie Bourgeois: https://www.facebook.com/groups/20642950449/posts/10163506688065450/

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[1] Bourgeois also hosted the CKCW-TV show, Top Ten Plus, in the same era. My friend in those days (Ed Savard) had an “in” with The Little General, in that his older sister (Sharon) worked at CKCW, so Ed and I were among the privileged few to visit the station’s remote broadcast trailer when The Little General was on site – usually at the A&W drive-in on Mountain Road (Moncton). I was on the dance floor of Top Ten Plus once. I won a paisley belt that coincidentally matched one of my paisley shirts. Lucky me!