Someone is having another birthday today - I'll give you a hint . . . there are 38 candles on his cake.
As is tradition, let's look back and see what was happening in Canada in the year Paul was born:
Canada started to introduce the metric system throughout the year (and after 38 years of the metric system I still don't naturally 'think' metric)
Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister
Television cameras are allowed to film in Parliament (Canadians, horrified by the undignified behaviour of their elected politicians started to tune out of the political process)
The beaver becomes an official symbol of Canada (causing Canada to become the butt of jokes worldwide)
The CN Tower was built, the largest free-standing structure in the world until 2008. After it was constructed people realized that it was rather phallic in shape. Opps
The Soviet Atlantic fishing fleet is banned from entering Canadian ports due to overfishing. Of course this did nothing to stop the overfishing and the fish stock collapsed 25 years later.
Ontario schools begin to teach exclusively using the metric system. A young student named Jerry DeQuetteville got lost in math and never caught up.
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, based in Sault Ste. Marie sinks. Had it not been for Gordon Lightfoot writing a song no one would ever remember the name of the ship.
The wearing of seatbelts is made mandatory in Ontario. Dirt bags protested the government intruding on their god given right to die young and stupidly if they want to.
The famous children's story Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang was written by Mordecai Richler.
Anne Murray and Oscar Peterson each win a Grammy Award.
Joni Mitchell - releases The Hissing of Summer Lawns. A bunch of other mediocre music that no one has heard of since was released as well.
Saturday Night Live, produced by Canadian Lorne and also featuring Canadians Paul Shaffer and Dan Aykroyd, premieres in the United States. this proves that it is possible for Canadians to be successful in the entertainment industry - if they leave Canada.
Michael Bublé, singer was born. How embarassing. Mind you, it is immensely superior to Justin Beiber having been born.. .
A list of people no one even remembers won the Governor General award. Well, I bet their family might remember but that is it.
In the middle of the oil crisis oil jumped to $ 13 a barrel and gas prices rose to 44 cents per gallon. people protested and gas panics ensued.
Believe it or not, "streaking" is the latest fad to seize North America. It involves running through a crowded room stark naked and at full speed. The object is to get in and get out as soon as possible, hence the name "streaking." mind you, once your inadequacies have been exposed to the world it doesn't really matter how quickly you run away, people have memories. Thank goodness we didn't have social media back then - can you imagine?
It is such a popular fad that Ray Stevens turns The Streak into a number one hit. A streaker even dashes across the stage at the Academy Awards.
The golden age of 60s music is over, and disco is still several years away. This is known as the music the world forget - deservedly so.
Something called the Arpanet has been set up by the American military to maintain communications in the event of a Soviet nuclear strike. Eventually, it will be opened to the public and re-named the Internet.
A belated happy birthday to Paul. I'm sure that there was a nice celebration for his special day.
Posted by: Karen (Back Road Journal) | July 03, 2013 at 09:21 AM
Paul says thanks for the birthday wishes Karen!
Posted by: JDeQ | July 08, 2013 at 07:03 AM
Alas, I am sorry to be late, but this Happy Birthday wish is no less sincere: Happy Birthday, Paul!
Posted by: Kayte | July 12, 2013 at 09:16 PM