Plenty of Nothing

Manmade

Sue Ogelsby

The Summer '08 Mount Allison Record bears the sad and frankly scary news that Susan Ogelsby Clarke has died. 

Susan (Ogelsby) Clarke died suddenly in July ’07 of complications from multiple sclerosis. She was on the mend after a flare-up and had a cardio-pulmonary embolism. She is survived by her husband Daniel Clarke, and her daughter Elizabeth and son Ronald, who live in Calgary. Her parents, Nancy and Jack Ogelsby, live in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. Sue led an adventurous life — traveling frequently and living in Cairo for three years. Sue always brought her insightful perspective to situations. Her optimism, humour, and faith in humans will be sorely missed.  (Written by Diana Sebera)

I'm close to running out of the fingers on one hand to count the undergraduate friends and acquaintances from that time who have died: Mark Marsters, Austin Algee and Steve Lisson spring immediately to mind.  Sue was the managing editor of the Argosy in 1980-81 and made me news editor, undoubtedly the worst personnel management decision of her career.  She green-lighted the original Cricket series.  I remember Sue as a capable boss, and pretty much perpetually amused.  Above is a sketch of Sue by an Argosy cartoonist. Below is a 1980 yearbook photo of Sue vamping it up, catching the punk or maybe Rocky Horror spirit of the time.  Douglas McLeod

July Hockey Roundup

When does Bob Mackenzie take his vacation?  Probably right about now.  The free agent frenzy has died down.  Training camps are a month away.  Late July is the perihelion of hockey.  But not at Plenty of Nothing.

Hayley Wickenheiser has signed with Eskilstuna Linden.

I was considering following Swedish club Hammarby IF in the coming season, but they've gone out of business.  This is a major blow, as they have won the Swedish championship eight times, though not since 1951.  The parent sports club still continues, so there is the chance of this Swedish "original six" hockey club returning at some point.  Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, hello, investment opportunity.

Four Scottish clubs, including Fife Flyers, will join two Irish sides in competition for the Celtic Cup this season.

Sydney Bears lead the Australian Ice Hockey League.  Botany Swarm sit atop the table in New Zealand.

Industrial Strength

Mcleodganj

Since 1959 the residence of the exiled Dalai Lama has been at a place named Mcleodganj in Himalayan India.  The town started out as a hill station in the days of the British Raj and takes its name from David McLeod, Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. I'd like to hear how the locals pronounce it.  Douglas

[Correction: Donald Friell McLeod.] [Raja of Beg Borrow Steal pronounces it McClodganj at 0:45 in this video segment.]

Lavender

Jet Fuel

I finished two books yesterday: Michael Ondaatje's Divisadero and Spent by Joe Matt.  Divisadero is unlikely to unseat The English Patient as Ondaatje's best-known novel, but it might be his most Ondaatje-esque work.  There are reminders of his earlier books throughout, and he satisfies the scar/river/dog requirement by page 17.  At one point I seriously expected Caravaggio to step into the action.  The structure feels especially diffuse, but there's a lot of doubling going on, and one character's dilemma will get picked up by another character in another time or place (or book).  Spent also sits in the middle of a group of other books, in this case graphic novels in which Matt, Seth and Chester Brown draw themselves hanging around together in Toronto.  Some day there will be a show about it at the AGO.  Matt is an R. Crumb devotee in style and content.  By coincidence both Matt and Ondaatje mention a Toronto coffee house, Jet Fuel.  Douglas

Purple Whatsits

Evangeline Brandt à Louisbourg

Day Lilies