JB's Warehouse & Curio Emporium

 Port Huron Times Herald. December 31, 1925. It's been a long time, hasn't it?  In its last incarnation, this site was primarily used for bonus features related to articles I've written, or as a workaround for Facebook's continuing ban on Canadian news websites. Since the last time I wrote on here, I haven't been in the mood to round up the extra stuff and I've abandoned FB for 12 million reasons.  This site has evolved over its two decades, from an online diary to testing writing ideas to placating tech overlords. Having been dormant for over a year, I feel it's time to properly resurrect it with yet another new direction. That new direction? Going back to the "curio emporium" aspect of the title by digging into the thousands of files on my computer and posting material I've collected for reasons ranging from cool artwork to potential use for future professional assignments.  As social media decays into forms I'm not in love with, maybe it...

  Buffalo Times, December 31, 1921. Warning: this post will mix historical material with working out some thoughts about the present.  After the roller coaster of 2021, this cartoon feels equally at home now as it did a century ago.  Brantford Expositor, December 31, 1921.  After digging through some of the New Year's sentiments and sketches from that era, it's stunning how many only require minor adjustments to reflect present-day concerns and feelings - in many cases, you can replace the continuing repercussions of the First World War with COVID-related issues.  Regarding this front page cartoon, we're still dealing with housing insecurity, while you could swap labour disputes for the changes brought on (hopefully for the better in the long run) by the pandemic within the current labour force, and business depression into the insecurities surrounding operations under ever-changing conditions. Buffalo Times, January 1, 1922. In short, don't lose your head when ...

  London Free Press, December 31, 1920 . But, like 2020, it feels like plenty of people were happy to see 1920 take his things and get out of town. Edmonton Journal, December 31, 1920. Forward the dates by a century, and much of this editorial could be used to describe the current transition from one year to another. Daily British Whig (Kingston, ON), December 31, 1920. San Francisco Examiner, December 31, 1920. Pacific Commercial Advertiser (Honolulu), January 1, 1921.

Hey folks, how did your 2005 begin? A glass of champagne? A memorable night out? An evacuation from a subway car? Mine started off like many others, with a round of champagne as soon as the clock struck midnight. Most were in good spirits at the party, drifting between the kitchen and living room. I had my fair share of booze...don't ask me to remember what I had. The crowd gradually thinned, going home or to other destinations. I was one of the last to go, hopping onto a deserted train at Spadina around 2:20. The first revellers hopped on at Osgoode. The driver came over the loudspeaker, chiding those on the station platform who dangled their legs onto the track. Cue maniacal laughter in my car. As the train filled up, the Osgoode crowd dangle from the handrails as if they were monkey bars. Nothing like piss-drunk kids for early morning entertainment. Around 2:45, the train entered the tunnel leading into Eglinton station. Suddenly, it stopped and the lights went out. Announ...