50th birthdays

Today is my father’s 50th birthday, and though I try my best to keep the spectacularly dull details of my personal life out of this blog, I thought that this particular event was an appropriate exception. So, even though I don’t think he reads this, I thought I’d do a post on things that, like him, turn(ed) 50 years old in 2009.

Ben-Hur

Despite my objections to its overtly religious undertones (Its unofficial title is Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ), I can’t deny that this film is a Hollywood institution. It was released in 1959 and won 11 Academy Awards in 1960–a feat to this day equaled only by two other movies, 1997’sTitanic, and  2003’s Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. If you haven’t seen the flick, it’s worth it if only for the chariot race scene which I argue to be one of the sweetest chase scenes in cinema. Learn more here.

LEGO

Until I went to do the research for this post, I had no idea that LEGO was so old. But it is, and believe it or not, the toy has a really rich history. I won’t go into too much detail here but suffice it to say that I learned that there is an annual conference tailored to adult LEGO hobbyists. Furthermore, there is an official list of LEGO ambassadors, and a select few LEGO certified professionals. Yeah. So. I guess that’s…cool…

Alaska

I mean, its worth mentioning.  In 1867, America purchased it from the Russians for two cents an acre. In 1959, after numerous administrative changes (from land to organized territory), it finally became the largest state in the union (by area). It’s the least densely populated state (averaging 1 person per square mile), as well as the state with the highest male:female ratio (1.7:1). In areas outside the cities, this ratio can get as high as 5:1. It’s also about 7o% caucasian.  So basically, because of Alaska, Sarah Palin and a bunch of white dudes living in isolation are proud to call themselves Americans.

In all seriousness though, Alaska’s dramatic landscape and biodiversity is without comparison. If you’re interested in going, there are opportunities for all kinds of travelers, from crunchy backpackers to resort-types. If you guys like to ski, you should make it a life-goal to go to Alyeska. It’s sweet.

Mini

From its iconic British roots to BMW’s classy modern reinterpretation of the 1959 original, this is one of the most adorable cars ever put on the market. Interestingly, it’s the first car to be developed primarily as a fuel saver– it was originally launched in response to the fuel shortage caused by the 1954  Suez Crisis. What is the 1954 Suez Crisis? Uh, beats me. 

Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue

If you want to lead a happy and fulfilled life, you will go listen to this album, immediately. I’m not joking. Really, I’m not.

The St. Lawrence Seaway

The Seaway is is system of canals and locks that follows the St. Lawrence River between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The stretch of river has long been used for shipping, but legal, political, and logistical issues between the United States and Canada, building wasn’t approved until 1954. The seaway opened in 1959, having racked up a total cost of $470 million. 75% was payed for by the Canadian government, and 25% by the Americans. The two countries collaborated in the seaway’s formal opening, for which Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower took a short cruise aboard Royal Yacht Britannia after having delivered a joint address in St. Lambert, Quebec.

I’ll end by saying that it’s difficult to convey the connection that the Québecois feel with the St. Lawrence. Understand, though, that there is a deep and almost intrinsic cultural reverence for it. My father, born and raised in Montreal, is no exception– he loves the St. Lawrence so much that he often refers to it as “mon fleuve”, or my river. Seeing as it’s his birthday and all, I thought it fitting to finish with that.