Last Minutes With Oden by Eliot Rausch

I don't say this casually, but Last Minutes With Oden is in a very select group of YouTube videos that I've ever watched that have actually made tears roll down my face.  The simplicity and raw emotion behind a man saying goodbye to his dog seems to resonate in a way that anyone who has lost someone special can identify with.  It's a touching and powerful short film about love, friendship, and compassion.  Keep the tissues close by.

Vintage Movie Studio Logos

With so many movie studios hitting milestone anniversaries, I became a bit curious about how some of the logos had evolved over the years.  In 2010, 20th Century Fox celebrated 75 years, and this year, both Paramount and Universal are celebrating their 100th anniversaries.  What makes this even more fascinating is that many of these companies logos have been based around the same theme since their creation.

I went on a bit of hunt to find varying logo styles, but the specific years weren't easy to come by.  The selection of logos I've posted range from the 1920s up through the 1990s, followed by the recent milestone logos posted at the end.  Given the fonts and style of each logo it's not too difficult to guess the era it comes from.  If you're into classic films like I am, you've probably come across all of these intros before on DVD. For a bit more detail however, I found this interesting post showing some of the evolution behind the big Hollywood studio logos.  

WW2 Sherman Tank Memorial

One of the most recognizable tanks in history is the M4 Sherman, which served as the primary tank for the Western Allied Forces in the Second World War. Over 50,000 units were produced with numerous variations up into the 1950s, and even today it's still an impressive looking machine. This monument is in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  


Found in Riverside Park this tank was donated by the South Alberta Light Horse in 1967. As the plaque on the tank acknowledges, it serves as a memorial for those who served in WW2 and those who used this machine. 

This tank has been a permanent fixture in Riverside all of my life, and I'm sure many others share similar memories of climbing all over it as a kid. The tank and vintage trains, not to mention the park itself, have long been notable attractions for anyone visiting the downtown core. I may not have understood the significance as a child, but as an adult I'm glad that this Sherman Tank memorial exists and still serves as a proud example of our communities small role in a profound history.