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Notes from a Garage

With John Gardiner

Skyping with the grandkids; living in a material world; and the big contest!!!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

You know, I’ve discovered a new piece of technology that I think I’m going to like. As most of you know, my daughter and her family have moved to Thunder Bay, which is a really long way from here. Yet the other night, I was talking to my daughter and my grandkids and there they were in living colour on my computer. That’s right, folks, I’ve downloaded a program called Skype and it turns your computer into a video phone where you can see the people you’re talking to. Wow! And I know I’m always railing away about the modern technology and the damage most of it is doing to society. But this Skype thing may just be okay. It was really great to have the chance to see everyone again….not quite the same as being there….but pretty good just the same. And now I’m looking forward to playing guitars with my daughter and doing all sorts of good things through this connection. Who’d’ve thought, eh? Seems like only yesterday that video phones were the stuff of science fiction and now they’re here….Can’t believe it….but I’ll use it just the same.

Was up to London for my first Greek Orthodox wedding over the weekend and while there got talking to a fellow who’d flown in from Greece for the big occasion. Of course, I started off by asking him how the Greeks could have been so smart 2,500 years ago, but seem to be struggling in the present time. I was also curious to know if young people in Europe are as caught up in all the new technology as our young people are on this continent. Yes, he answered – they’ve all got iPods, cell phones, lap tops and every other gadget that young people on this side of the ocean have. Europe, it seems, is as caught up in all this material crap as we are. And this is not a good thing. And the reason it’s not a good thing is because every person in the world now wants iPods, cell phones, lap tops, game boys and every other type of technology that we can manage to come up with. And why is this a problem? Because, my dears, there isn’t enough stuff on the planet to give everybody all that junk. Somebody’s going to have to do without – and who’s it going to be? I vote for the people in Africa – they don’t really need all that stuff. Or maybe I’ll suggest that the people in Asia shouldn’t have all this neat stuff. What are they going to do with big screen TVs and SUVs and computers and cell phones and iPods and al that other junk. It’ll just distract them from making all those great consumer goods they send us all the time. It was also interesting talking to the fellow from Greece in another respect. He asked me an interesting question. “Why is everything in your stores made in China?” He honestly asked me that question. And I told him it’s because we don’t make anything anymore in North America except hamburgers and French fries. How in the world did we let this happen? Anyway, just a few thoughts.

Was out with the Southwest Blues Review for a gig on Sunday and the Blues Review is currently gearing up for a big night of music in London in a couple of weeks. Our little band from Chatham-Kent will be travelling to the London Music Club on August 11 to battle it out with three other blues bands to see who gets to go to Memphis next February to compete in the big International Blues Competition. Should be an interesting night. Last time we entered a contest in London, we won the first night and got into the finals. This time, we’re in the finals and playing for the big prize the first time out….Don’t know who we’re up against and don’t really care. Playing with the Blues Review has been a real treat over the last four years. We suffered a real setback this past winter when our drummer Tony Meriano died unexpectedly, but we’ve managed to add Tom Trembley to the band and we’re starting to round back into form. With members from Ridgetown, Blenheim, Cedar Springs, Wallaceburg, and Chatham, we will truly be representing Chatham-Kent in the big contest. Looking forward to it….

Well, out of time for another week and hope everything’s going well for you. I’m a bit under the weather today and struggling to get the paper on-line….But I’ll try not to disappoint. Take care and remember….”Hew to the line; let the chips fall where they may.”



John Gardiner is a 25-year-veteran of the community newspaper business, but he is also a prolific writer of moralistic short fiction he refers to as "emotional thoughtscapes" or "adult fables". Samples of his fiction can be found at:

He has also produced a noteworthy piece of humanist philosophy which can be found at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~aboiten/ad502.htm He welcomes comments on his work.