William Stephenson, Roald Dahl, and Ian Flemming: The Birth of James Bond 007

With the upcoming release of the twenty-third movie in the James Bond 007 series I thought it was time to finish the true life story of Winnipeg’s own William Stephenson the inspiration for the character of James Bond.

For the back story on Stephenson before World War 2 please read the my earlier posts – William Stephenson the quiet man that would inspire 007 and James Bond, Winston Churchill and Adolph Hitler – The Canadian Connection.

The morning of May 18, 1940 as recorded by Randolph Churchill: “I went up to my father’s bedroom. He was standing in front of his basin and was shaving with his old fashioned Valet razor. He had a tough beard, and was as usual hacking away.

‘Sit down, dear boy, and read the papers while I finish shaving .’ I did as told.  After two or three minutes of hacking away, he half-turned and said: ‘I think I see my way through.’ He resumed shaving.

I was astounded , and said: ‘Do you mean we can avoid defeat (which seemed credible), or beat the bastards (which seemed incredible)?’

He flung his razor into the basin, swung around, and said: ‘Of course I mean we can beat them.’

Me: ‘Well I’m all for that, but I don’t see how you can do it.’

By this time he had dried and sponged his face and turning around to me, said with great intensity: ‘I shall drag the United States in.’

The TRUE Intrepid. By Bill Macdonald. Page 69

You’ve lost Winnipeg, Manitoba…Really it’s not that hard to find.

OK people hold on tight cause I am on a rant tonight.

Where is Winnipeg?? No one seems to know!

Normally I don’t get my hair in a knot about people not knowing about where Winnipeg is because we are pretty laid back and just out of the way.
Except for the fact that we are in the center of the fucking continent people.  LOOK please just take a small break and look at a map.  If your reading me here you have good goggle something or other.

Winnipeg it’s right here!!

OK, everyone settled? Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin.

Mayor Ford, Toronto is still part of Canada is it not? We all see the same Maple Leaf flag flying high over us?  So what gives when you think that Windsor, Ontario is part of Manitoba?

We all know you’re not the sharpest knife in the roll, but for fuck sakes.  Pull your head out of your Southern Ontario ass and look around. Did you even realize that Ontario exists outside of the GTA?  There is another side to the Ontario map you know it includes places like Kenora, North Bay, Thunder Bay, Souix Lookout, and my home town of Fort Frances.  Also not in the view of Windsor (Not Winnipeg, Manitoba).

Next victim please.

CBS News I am going to go a little easier on you.
You’re American and I know that you don’t know much out of the way of Krispy  Kreme and Big Macs.

Don’t get me wrong I like you guys, much like I love a retard cousin, Unlike the excited states we love to read books, and more than often write books. So how do  you always get us wrong?? Discussion is more than just lies and partisan bullshit, and may I elate that our Canadian economy is kicking your ass?

Canadians like you say love to give, often the shoes off our feet.  We are a giving kind people.  So would it be so hard for you to get your facts right??
Your not Canadian so we don’t expect perfection so at least get the province right.

I would also like to send a direct message to Tucker Carlson, why are Canadians so hard assed and tough. Because we have to be, we have the largest and laziest economy right next to us. We have to be hard, we have to be tough. We don’t give up. America has stood on its laurels for half a century and gutted its economy overseas.  You have no resources, you are reliant for half the world for your own energy.

I suggest in the most Canadian apologetic terms that you please put down your Whoppers and pick up your boot straps. It’s going to be North America (Canada and USA) vs. Asia in very short order. I suggest you get your house in order.

Not so much to ask is it?

Playing for bronze.

 

I just finished watching the women’s soccer match today pitting an underdog Canadian squad vs the American number one ranked team.  No one expected much of a match from Canada.  Let’s face it we haven’t beaten team USA in almost a decade on the soccer pitch.

But let me tell you something just the same, today our women in white gave the Red White and Blue a run that they will probably never forget.  We held our ground in the middle and in the ends, we withstood horrible calls and still fought on.

Canada was not expected to show up let alone perform at these games and yet the courageous women on the pitch took one, two and three goals vs the American squad. Something that had not yet happened in these games.

Christine Sinclair flies on the pitch in London!

Corners, elbows and rough play became clear in the match as it became personal.  Words were exchanged, Canada struck first, then again and again. Only to be matched by the United States.

Extra time was called, and penalty shots loomed but still Canada persisted.
Like a pesky mutt chewing at your leg, Canada kept punching above its weight. Striving for a win and a hope for Gold.  We kept fighting and fighting and will yet again.

Alas in the last-minute of extra time America headed a shot into our goal.  But against all odds Canada stood tall and shoved back we did not go easily into the dark of night.  We will fight for bronze and we will give it our all, and if we play our best we will win.

After all for Canada it’s not about winning all the big matches, we are a big nation but a humble people.  It’s about punching the elephant in the nose when it’s about to roll over on the mouse.   It may one day squish us, but it’s sure going to feel sore about doing it.

Way to go, Christine, Melissa, and all the rest of you.  I watched you battle and I lived and cried with you all.
GO Canada GO!

Related articles

• Canadians lose heartbreaker to U.S. in women’s soccer semi (cbc.ca)
• Women’s Olympic soccer: Canada vs USA live (o.canada.com)
• Olympics 2012: U.S. women’s soccer team falls behind Canada in first half (aol.sportingnews.com)
• Canada loses 4-3 heartbreaker to Americans (insidehalton.com)
• Olympics: Monday’s U.S.-Canada soccer semifinal (staradvertiser.com)
• Canada falls 4-3 to the mighty Americans to miss out on gold medal game (lfpress.com)

 

Comfortably Furious

Ok.  Buckle up this is going to be a bumpy bumpy ride. I am off on a rant here, and you can be sure that is full of furious anger and righteous thunder.

Last night as I settled in to watch the evening news I was alerted that two of my family had been cut away from my morning routine.   Frank Andrews and Kathy “KK” Kennedy had been let go from my go to radio station.

For what reason, of course the radio talking heads were not at liberty to say.  Cost cutting, discipline reasons, conspiring with Alien Resources yet unknown to man?

Give me something give me a reason, I tuned in as a matter of course dutifully on my way to work this morning. Tom and Joe had nothing to say, the banter remained the same.  I do not blame them.

They are tried and true professionals. But when it comes to Kallously Kanning KK Please.  She’s just as much a legend as the boys. Hell she’s Miss Bingo Winnipeg.  She is the one who uttered EFF YOU CANCER on air.

The publicity and honor to sell  a metric ton of T-Shirts in honor of Joe’s late wife was in part hers.  I know this for a fact because I think that as a family we have bought a great deal of those shirts personally.  I have distributed them from the far end of Ontario to the end reach of Alberta.

If not for her  a great deal of money would not have been raised in Alanna’s name.

Now I am not a crusader, business is business. But if your going to can a person as iconic as Kennedy then at least give her a farewell.

These are not people we have taken into our hearts easily, we gradually accept them into our homes, our cars and then our hearts.

To Winnipeggers they are family.

Mr Rogers you and your company would be foolish to mess with a Winnipeg family.

I await your reply.

Robert Ogden

Authors Note: If you are with me COMMENT.  Even if it is a YES, or Hell YES.  Numbers mean one thing but adding your voice means something else entirely.

The Ghost of Tom Joad

I know it’s hard out there now, people living of soup crackers and ketchup packages.  I’ve been there too, day to day. Wondering if I wouldn’t put a knife to my throat cause I didn’t have gas in the tank or a hope for a place to sleep.

It’s hard for all the working folk out there that have been abandoned. I happen to work for one of those mega corps.  I don’t build bombers or death planes. But the guys that pay my rent do.

It’s hard for me, one that’s been in your shoes.  To just sit and do nothing, I give what I can. But that’s local.

For the rest of you please enjoy. Bruce and Tom.