I had been sending donations to Ensemble Ptashitsa in Russia for many years. After each of their Youtube livestreams, I would send 20 dollars or so. I always received an email of gratitude from Ivan, the leader of the group. When the Russia Ukraine event started, I got my Paypal account locked and my bank account was locked as well. I was able to get my bank accounts back, but to this day cannot link Paypal to my bank account. I could no longer send donations. Ivan released a statement about not getting deceived by stories in newspapers on Ukraine and Russia, used to divide us. It was a brave statement inferring media fakery. There were ALWAYS many Ukrainians in the livestream chats of Ptashitsa. These illusions of borders and countries could not be clearer. A year after my donations stopped due to this "war", I received a Ptashitsa calendar in the mail from Ivan, signed by the group. He said thanks for ...
I saw Gordon Lightfoot live when he was 80, a couple of years before he passed, and it was sad. I enjoyed it and the music was great, but his voice had obviously lost its timbre and depth from age and a fast lifestyle. The crowd was small, small venue, but he was sharp and interactive with the audience. Glad I went to the show, but it made me feel even more mortal than before the concert. I think he may have needed the money (on wife #3 I think at that point?), but seemed to really be enjoying himself the whole time.
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