"We All Play for Canada"

As promoted by Canadian Tire, during the current PyeongChang Winter Olympics

and previous Olympic Games, this fact is so true!

Although following the Games on my home television,

I played every 'end' in curling...

I 'leapt every jump' in ice skating...

I 'snow-skied' every mogul...

I attempted 'women's Giant Slalom' (but missed a gate)...

and in luge, I 'raced down the icy track'

(challenging myself as did all Canada's athletes themselves).

I cheered when winning a medal...and teared at every loss.

Yet I marvelled at the 'road travelled' by athletes to earn a berth for their country at the Games. Whether winning Bronze, Silver or Gold, each competitor in all events performed at the highest level of their ability while wearing the Maple Leaf on their hearts.

Yeah! I Played for Canada!

PyeongChang Winter Games

could be altered to read

We Belong when Rang out O Canada

as the Maple Leaf flag soared sky-high when medals were presented.

Hundreds and hundreds of young adults tried out for Canada's team...with only the best chosen to compete at the next training level. Not everyone has that superb athletic talent and competitive desire.

I recall when my niece in Goderich at age 7 or 8 yearned to ice skate; her parents enrolled her at the local skating arena to help her realize her dream. Sonia loved it but quickly realized, as did her parents and in-house coach, that she lacked the physical ability to proceed  further. As a teenager, she found her niche ~ teaching young children in the club to skate. And this gave her great satisfaction as a part-time job until she proceeded to Western University in London, Ontario.

Yes! She Played for Canada!

Eva Salem, Vice President of marketing at Canadian Tire said, “Over the years, the guiding principles of the retailer's platform ~ which launched as part of its Olympic partnership four years ago, have remained the same with heavy emphasis on the idea of inclusiveness, play, and the importance of communities rallying together.”

Isn't it amazing the heavy emphasis placed on the annual Super Bowl advertisements? The cost for each is phenomenal, hopefully netting much 'down-the-road' business. Yet, Canadian Tire says it best:

We All Play for Canada!

To date, The Number of Kids Helped by Canadian Tire Jumpstart

is approximately 1,500,000.

Canadian Tire is also Official Partner for City Kidz.

 The end result of both these organization is the groundwork development of sport qualities: courage...leadership...teamwork...confidence...pride...friendship and creativity 

 among Canada's youth.

Brian Orser's Contribution to the Games!

Born December 18, 1961, Brian is a former competitive and professional figure skater: the 1984 and 1988 Silver Medalist, 1987 World Champion and 8-time Canadian National Champion. Orser turned professional and skated with “Stars on Ice” for almost 20 years. Today, as a coach, he has led skaters to medals of gold, silver and bronze...including Javier Fernandez (from Spain) to a 2018 Bronze Medal in PyeongChang...and with 2015 and 2016 World titles. Highly respected he is, as coach to several competitors at the current Winter Games. Back home, he is a skating consultant at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. His heart and soul declare We All Play for Canada!

Canada's Maple Leaf Flag

Our flag is an icon ~ recognized everywhere in the world...from travellers wearing labelled back-packs to toques and jackets. Wherever we go, we represent and honour our country...and travellers 'on the go' always generating smiles and chats with us: Its significance is its design and colour.

Our 'Maple Leaf Flag' consists of a red field with a white field at its center

in the middle of which is featured a stylized red 11-pointed maple leaf.

It was adopted February 15, 1965. The red ends represent Canada's two coastal oceans.

Significant and colourful it is, when Canada's Maple Leaf Flag

is photographed against an azure blue sky...and recognized worldwide.

We should be so proud!

Hilary Clinton remarked:
Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.

And wouldn't she be amazed that at the current Winter Olympics,

is the largest representation, ever, of Women competing for medals in their specialized fields???

We All Play for Canada!

“Your talent is God's gift to you.

What you do with it, is your gift back to God.”

(Leo Buscaglia)

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

(Michael Jordan)

Scripted by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 17, 2018

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

PyeongChang, South Korea ~ Host Country of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games

This small city edging the Taeback Mountains and whose peninsula borders the East Sea, is home to several temples. It is about 180 kilometres southeast of Seoul, the capital city of The Republic ofSouth Korea. PyeongChang is also hosting the 2018 Paralympics. The city's elevation is approximately 700 metres (2,300 feet) above sea level. From my observation, PyeongChang was ready and waiting for the athletes and the thousands of visiting spectators ~ well ahead of Opening Day!

Although 14 hours ahead of our time zone here,

their warmest months are July and August

and like our coldest months of January and February.

High-speed rail opened from December 22, 2017 for the 2018 Olympic Games. Olympic venues and 'Dream Program' in preparation, the region has built facilities including hotels and a world-class ski resort named Alpensia. The 'Dream Program' (a legacy of the 2010 bid), has mounted its 5^th sports and cultural program inviting 123 participants from 31 countries who were invited because they live where there is no snowfall and have no opportunity to participate in the winter sports.

Trains, buses (including inter-city buses) have been increased as well as roads and expressways. What this small city of 43,703 (as of 2014) has done in preparation is amazing! At 700 meters above sea level, it is known as “The Happy 700.” Distance to the East Sea (known also as Sea of Japan) is 601 kilometres.

The Opening Ceremony, intrically assembled and all segments running like clock-work,

the 92 participating nations moved with enthusiasm from outside zero temperatures

into the main venue. Canada's 225 athletes: the largest contingent ever sent to Winter Olympics!

“Team Figure Skating Competition”

Heading into the last Winter Olympics (in Sochi, Russia),

Canada's figure skaters didn't know what to expect from the newly created 'teams event.'

It was uncharted territory ~ completely designed to award countries

for the 'depth of their talent' instead of just dishing out medals for top individuals.

10 nations in PyeongChang competed in this event.

Each of the 4 disciplines would be awarded 10 points for the winner, second place earning 9,

third with 8 points...and so on down to 1 point.

The four disciplines: pairs...single men's...single women's...dance pairs. Each participating country came with their selected contestants. After the first 2 disciplines, Canada was first. Not verified yet, it seems Canada won this event with 23 total points. An interesting event for all spectators!

Ten Memories to Last an Olympic Lifetime

In the Burlington Post's February 8^th edition, Steve Milton, a sport's journalist wrote:

“Out of a suitcase full of memories covering eight Olympic Winter Games,

I select 10 of the most indelible impressions.”

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean ~ Sarajevo, 1984: The ice dancers' superlative programs, it didn't really resonate until the first Winter Olympics held behind the Iron Curtain. Bolero, their single-themed, single-tuned, free dance was a masterpiece of interpretation, innovation and building to a musical and emotinal crescendo. It was the culmination of their brilliant amateur careers which would change the world of ice-dancing. They received 6.0 for artistic merit!

Brian Orser ~ Sarajevo 1984: After he finished 7^th in the compulsory figures, cynical Canadian media paid no more attention to him. Anyone who understood the new ranking system (few of whom were in the media), knew that he could still win a silver medal, which no other Canadian male singles skater had ever done at the Olympics. Orser then beat eventual gold medalist Scott Hamilton in both the short program and the 'free skate' to claim the silver medal. His 'free skate' was technically arresting ~ and he landed the first triple Axel in Games history.

Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan ~ Lillehammer, 1994: Today, it's sort of in the current movie, I Tonya. It seems somewhat humourous now, but the old reality is that someone assaulted an athlete with the intent of keeping her out of the Games. Kerrigan managed to train enough to win silver, but Harding skated poorly and had a skate-lace malfunction.

Ross Rebagliati ~ Nagano, 1998: It was a tremendous, multi-layered story to cover: the first men's snowboarding gold medalist ever ~ and he tests 'positive' for pot? His gold medal was restored on a technicality. Snowboarding and its mountain-culture kin have re-calibrated the Games. (Pot is now banned only during competition.)

Steve Bradbury ~ Salt Lake City, 2002: His win was so bizarre, his name is used as a verb in his native Australia. “To Bradbury” means to win against all odds. He captured Australia's first-ever Winter Olympics gold when all 4 men ahead of him in the 'short track' speed skating's 1,000 metres, fell on a crash at the very last corner. Bradbury, in 5^th and last place, 30 metres back, saw the opportunity to the finish line as the fallen skaters all slid to the boards.

Daniele Sauvageau and Patrick Quinn, in Salt Lake City 2002: Two of the greatest coaching performances, ever, as Canada ~ Gold-medal deprived for a half century of Olympic hockey, won two games within three days. With the help of loonies under center ice, Quinn's charges won (50 years to the exact day, after the Edmonton Mercurys won Canada's last gold medal.)

Sauvageau kept her team cool, focused and confident to win 3-2!

Shaun White ~ Vancouver, 2010: Shaun,the iconic snow-boarder and figure skater, Yu-Na were the most dominant athletes at these X-Games. Shaun scored 46.8 points (out of 50) on his first Vancouver run (clearly enough to win), but on his second run, did his famous Double McTwist 1260 to win his second halfpipe gold medal in two Olympics.

Sidney Crosby ~ Vancouver, 2010: Even some fans heard Sidney Crosby yelling, “Iggy, Iggy, Iggy” just before, to Jarome Ignia who got him the puck to send in alone on U.S.goalie, Ryan Miller, for the goal at 7:40 of overtime, which gave Canada the gold medal in the very last second of competition!

The Emotions ~ Vancouver, 2010: It happens at every Olympics where Canada won its first Olympic Gold Medal on home soil, but 14 of them. Two of the most memorable were Scott Moir, who'd just joined life-long skating partner, Tessa Virtue as the first North Americans to win the Olympic ice-dancing title! (Previously won by Russia and/or other European country.)

Laura Fortino and Marie-Philip Poulin ~ Sochi, 2014: Americans still can't believe they lost!!!

Hamilton's Fortino, playing defensively all tournament, heard team-mates yell, “Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!”with just 55 seconds left before a 'shoot-out'! It was one of the most dramatic hockey games in women's hockey...when the pass to Marie-Philip Poulin, scored the winning goal!

Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 11, 2018

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

True Love ~ a Real LIfe Story

From diary of Sayed Jaffrey ~ the famous 'bollywood character actor'

“I was 19 when I married to Mehrunima who was 17. As I grew up, I was fascinated by the British culture in colonial India. I learned to speak English fluently...wear suits with grace...and developed impeccable etiquettes. But Mehrunima grew up to be my complete opposite ~ homely, a typical housewife. All my advices and admonishments couldn't change her basic personality ~ an obedient wife...a doting mother...and a good homemaker. But, she was not what I wanted.

“More I tried to change her, more we drifted apart. Gradually, she metamorphosed from a cheerful affectionate young girl into a quiet insecure woman. Meanwhile, I started getting attracted to a co-actor of mine who was all what I wanted in my wife. After 10 years of marriage, I divorced Mehrunima, left my home and married my co-actor.

“I had ensured financial security of Mehrunima and my kids.

For about 6 to 7 months, everything went well.

“Then I started realizing, my new wife was not caring and affectionate. She was only concerned about her beauty...ambitions...her wants...and desires. Sometimes, I missed Mehrunima's caring touch and concern for my welfare. Life moved on. My new wife and I were 2 persons living in a house...not 'one soul' living in a home. I never went back to find out what happened to Mehrunima and my kids.

“After about 6-7 years of my second marriage, I came across an article on a Madhur Jaffrey, an upcoming famous chef who recently launched a book of her own recipes. The moment I looked at the picture of the smart elegant lady, I was stunned! It was Mehrunima! How could it be???

She had remarried and changed her maiden name too.

“I was shooting abroad at that time. She lived in US now. I caught the next flight to US. I inquired about her whereabouts and went to meet her. She refused to see me. My daughter who was 14 and son who was 12, told her they wanted to talk to me one last time. Her new husband was by her side. He was also my children's legal father now.

“To this date, I cannot forget what my children told me: that their new father knows the meaning of true love. He accepted Mehrunima as she was and never tried to change her into what he himself was...because he loves her more than he loves himself. He let her evolve at her own pace and never tried to force his wishes on her. He accepted and enjoyed her person as it was.

“And she bloomed into a confident, loving, affectionate, self-reliant lady

under her second husband's selfless love and acceptance.”

“Where, as my selfishness...demands...and non-acceptance of her persona had crushed her ~ and then in my selfishness I had discarded her.  I never loved her! I had always loved myself!"

”

And Those Who Love Themselves ~ Cannot Love Others!”

(My thank-you to Dilu for this true Love Story)

Secrets of a Good Marriage

“My wife has not so subtly reminded me, this anniversary marks 30 years of marrige!”

(wrote Paul Benedetti, a frequent contributor to The Hamilton Spectator)

“Because a lot of modern marriages seem to last about 30 minutes,

many people ask: Paul, what makes a good marriage?

First You Must be Considerate and Thoughtful in Your Speech! If people said whatever popped into their head, they'd be Donald Trump! Do not, under any conditions, say the first thing you think of!

Example: “Do you mind if Mom joins us on our Jamaica vacation?” (Your thoughts may be: Are you insane? I'd rather hang-glide into an active volcano!) Instead, you must pause and ask yourself:

What offers the lowest probability of death...

or a week of the silent treatment, which is like death, only it feels longer.)

Or she may ask, “Honey, do you like this scarf on me?” Should you answer, “I wouldn't like that scarf on Cindy Crawford; it looks like six-feet of old wrapping paper!” The proper answer is, “Honey, you make anything look great and did I mention, I love your mother!”

Secondly, Always be Prepared to Compromise! Early in your marriage, you're trying to decide where to have Christmas dinner and your wife says, she just loves having Christmas with her family. Then, a fair and equitable compromise is to have all Christmas dinners with her family for eternity.

When Making Large Decisions, Always Engage in Dialogue. Returning from work one day, your wife says she would like to paint the living room a bright tangerine colour. A reasonable course of action would be to rationally and calmly drive directly to the paint store and buy 2 gallons.

Of course, the most important advice is what doctors say about your health:

“Choose the right parents!” Same for marriage: “Choose the right spouse!”

When we were first married, and I would introduce my wife, who happens to be very beautiful, people would look at her, look at me, and blurt out, “Boy, are you in over your head!”

I should add, these people were not Donald Trump!

Simply put, she is extremely smart and nice. And if having a good marriage ~ is a 'crap shoot' ~ and maybe it is ~ then pass the dice, brother, because I've been rolling 7's for years. I've been lucky and I've continued to be lucky. Our 30 years together have not passed without challenges: sick children...lost jobs...lost parents...but it's mostly been filled with good things, good family and good times. So, next week we will celebrate ~ and on that Tuesday night, I will...or is it Monday?

Oh God, excuse me, I have to check a calendar!

Love is a Many Splendoured Thing

(as sung by Frank Sinatra)

Love is a many splendoured thing.
It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring

Love is nature's way of giving reason to be living

The golden crown that makes a man a king

Once on a high and windy hill, in the morning mist

Two lovers kissed and the world stood still

Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing

Yes, true love's a many splendoured thing.

Merle Baird-Kerr...scripted February 4, 2018

Email comments to: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

Valentine Quest

Emma Riley, reporting from The Hamilton Spectator

writes: PICTURE THIS: Two strangers walk into a room...spend an hour answering a prescribed set of questions...and fall in love! It seems impossible ~ but it's been scientifically proven to work. To coincide with Valentine's Day, roughly 20 Hamiltonians will have a chance to test out the theory for themselves in a real-life social experiment. The process, popularized by a column in the New York Times, stems from a study by psychologist Arthur Aron~ exploring whether feelings of intimacy can blossom between 2 people by having them ask each other a series of increasingly personal questions ~ 36 in total ~ broken into 3 different sets, each designed to be more revealing than the last.

The original participants in the study sat face to face in a lab,

answered the questions ~ and then stared silently into each other's eyes for 4 minutes.

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

Would you like to be famous? In what way?

Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

What would constitute a 'perfect' day for you?

When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

If you were able to live to the age of 90, and retain either your mind or body of a 30-year old, for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

Name the 3 things you and your partner appear to have in common.

For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

Take 4 minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

If a crystal ball could tell you about yourself, your life, the future, what would you want to know?

Is there something you've dreamed of doing, for a long time? Why haven't you done it?

What is the greatest accomplishment in your life?

What do you value most in a friendship?

What is your most treasured memory?

What is your most terrible memory?

If you knew that in one year you'd die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

What does friendship mean to you?

What roles do love and affection play in your life?

Is alternate sharing a positive characteristic of your partner? Share a total of 5 items.

How close and warm is your family? Was your childhood happier than most other people's?

How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

Make 3 true 'we statements' e.g. “We are both in this room feeling.......”

Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share......”

If becoming a close friend with your partner, what would be important for him/her to know?

Tell your partner what you like about them...things you might not say to someone you've just met.

Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

If you were to die this evening, with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?

Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find the most disturbing? Why?

Share a personal problem and ask your partner's advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you, how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.

Animals Express Their Love

Pause for a moment and think of the people you love the most. Has it been some time since some of you told them how important they are to you? Some say, “Love doesn't say words!” Many animals have the ability to 'express love' without uttering a single word. In your mind, picture the following:

“You Quack me Up” as one duck 'beaks' the cheek of his mate.

“A Hug from you is the world's best medicine,” as 2 lion cubs hug together, embracing with paws.

“We are Two Halves of one Whole,” signifying 2 swans standing beak to beak in shallow water.

“I'm always here to give you a shoulder to lean on,”  child giraffe reaches to touch Mom's long neck.

“Nothing makes you less beautiful in my eyes,”

as one hippo faces another, touching mouths and eyeing each other.

“I feel good just seeing you!” Two white dogs, facing each other, touching their black noses.

“We don't have to do something special to enjoy ourselves.”

state 2 tigers laying on grass and embracing each other.

“Even when things are tough, I'm always here for you.” Gorillas (orangutans) hold each other.

“I can never forget all the good you've done me,” chat 2 elephants, joining tusks and ivories.

Kitten, whispering to speckled-skin dog lying down, “After all, we were meant for each other!”

An orange tabby purring to a gray one, softly mews, “I promise to always watch out for you,” with hugging paws around each other in their silent love.

One holstein cow in the meadow to another, as though whispering in her ear,

“....because some secrets I can ony tell you.

Two beautiful and heavily plumed birds confide, “And no one knows me better than you!”

“We're different, but deeply connected,” states a tan-coloured rabbit to a gray one.

Two blue-eyed llamas with necks and faces touching,

“You give me strength to carry on.”

Mourning Dove to his female, coos, “You can depend on me ~ I'll be by your side

and raise our 'squats' together.

Herd horses, as stable-mates, agree as they neigh to each other, “You're may pal and friend...I love your flowing mane and tail. And she adores his white socks.

2 Camels lying nose-to-nose in desert sand ~ “Let's spend vacation time at the oasis.”

Lovebirds on a high wire, side by side with bills and heads touching,

muse ~ “You are the one for me!”

Beaver, while building his lodge, states, “I'll paddle the pond for you.”

Black Bear, preparing for winter, invites,

“Come ~ spend the winter and hibernate in my cave.

The Animals and Birds ~ All Say it Best!

Scripted by Merle Baird-Kerr...January 29, 2018

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com

Pandora's Box ~ Innocent Until Publicly Disclosed!

John Suiston's Opinion:

It is not a Pandora's Box that Science opens ~ it is rather a treasure chest.

We, humanely can choose whether or not to take out the discoveries

and use them ~ and for what purpose.

An ideal quote for today's perpetrators whose past escapades violate 'human rights'!

From Oklahoma: Former 2-term Republican state Senator, Ralph Shortey, accused of engaging in child prostitution entered his plea of 'guilty' to a federal charge of child-sex-trafficking...in exchange for dropping 3 child pornography charges against him. Wearing a GPS tracking device on his left ankle, Shortey faces between 10 years and life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for child trafficking.

Netflix Writes Accused Actor out of Comedy “The Ranch” Actor, Danny Masterson! Los Angeles police investigated sexual assault claims against him that date back to the 2,000's. He has denied the allegations by 3 women that were assaulted by him. Netflix said Monday was Masterson's last day on the show...and producers will resume next year without him.

Hoffman Grilled Over Sexual Misconduct Claims: Discussion of the film, “Wag the Dog” turned testy recently when moderator John Oliver confronted Dustin Hoffman about allegations of sexual harassment. Hoffman, defensive by the questioning from the host at HBO's “Last Week Tonight explained the accusation was 40 years old and maintained he did nothing wrong. Actress Anna Graham Hunter has alleged that Hoffman groped her and made 'inappropriate comments' when she was a 17-year-old intern on the set of the 1985 TV movie, “Death of a Salesman.” Hoffman stated that, “The incident is not reflective of who I am,” when Oliver seized on the opportunity and replied, “It is reflective of who you were!”

(The foregoing are excerpts from Hamilton Spectator Wire Services)

Analyst Zaun Axed by Sportsnet for 'Inappropriate Behaviour.' Baseball commentator, Greg Zaun has been fired due to 'Inappropriate behaviour and comments' toward female employees. Rick Brace, president of Rogers Media, said the company was terminating the contract of Blue Jay analyst effective immediately. “This type of behaviour completely contradicts our standards and our core values.”

Zaun, a former Blue Jays catcher, began a part-time broadcasting career with Sportsnet .

Fact: 90% of workplace harassment is never officially reported!

No Tomorrows for Today Host ~ This editional ran in the Winnipeg Free Press:

and published in The Hamilton Spectator December 5, 2017

The shameful rollcall continues. Another high-profile career has been brought to an end by allegations of sexual impropriety. NBC's 'Today' show took to the airwaves, Wednesday morning, with the startling announcement that host Matt Lauer had been fired from the long-running daybreak programs after network executives received a 'detailed complaint' from a co-worker about 'inappropriate sexual conduct.' The undoing of NBC's morning star reinforces the notion that we are in a new age:

a post-Weinstein age in which harassment and abuse and other misdeeds

of a social nature by people in positions of power will no longer be tolerated.

Those who have been wronged will not only be believed, they will be encouraged to speak their truths and be enbraced for having had the courage to do so.

Victims have been empowered.

Abusers have been exposed.

A long-awaited cultural moment has arrived.

One can't help wondering how many powerful people in how many corner offices and how many companies, industries and empires...go to work these days, sitting anxiously at their desks wondering, 'Is This The Day They Find Out About Me?'

The 'Silence Breakers' Who Started a Movement

(Excerpts from editorial by Doug Stanglin and Maeve McDermott ~ published in USA Today)

“Time magazine named “The Silence Breakers” ~ women who triggered a #Me Too national outcry over sexual harassment ~ as the 2017 Person of the Year.

“Editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal revealed the cover on Wednesday morning's Today show, which featured Ashley Judd, Taylor Swift, former Uber engineer Susan Fowler and a woman whose face is obscured (intended to represent women who haven't yet come forward).

“This is the fastest-moving social change we've seen in decades

and it began with individual acts of courage by hundreds of women and men

who came forward to tell their own stories of sexual harassment and assault,”

Felsenthal said.

“ActressAlyssa Milano and #MeToo creator Tarana Burke appeared on the Today show, (which recently experienced its own harassment scandal that ousted former anchor Matt Lauer), as well as Megyn Kelly TODAY to discuss the Time cover.

“Harvey Weinstein, whose scandal jump-started 2017's months of reckoning over sexual harassment,

looms large over the Time list, with Judd, one of the more than 80 women who have accused him of assault and sexual harassment, featured in the the story. Also included is Selma Blair, who accused director James Toback of misconduct, with Swift speaking out against Denver radio DJ David Mueller whom she prevailed over in court this past summer.

“Time's list cuts across the entertainment, media, tech and service industries

including an unnamed housekeeper at the Plaza Hotel.

“The short list included Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the Dreamers, Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Colin Kaepernick (the former NFL quarterback who launched a national protest against racism and police brutality), special prosecutor Robert Mueller and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

Heidi Stevens from Time Magazine Comments:

A magazine can't wipe out sexual harassment.

But to paraphrase, Dr. Martin King Jr.'s view,

“The arc of the moral universe is long...but it's starting to bend towards justice.”

“Women have had it with bosses and co-workers who not only cross boundaries that don't even seem to know exist...they've had it with the fear of retaliation...of being blackballed...of being fired from a job they can't afford to lose...with men who use their power to take what they want from women.

“These 'silence breakers' have started a revolution of refusal, gathering strength by the day and in the last 2 months alone, their collective anger has spurred immediate and shocking results: nearly every day, CEO's have been fired, moguls toppled, icons disgraced...and even criminal charges laid.”

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr: December 7, 2017

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com