David Yazbeck

Music - especially Canadian and local - art, community events, a hint of politics and more. I am also @labourlawyerott.

[CALL TO ACTIVISM @CalltoActivism]

Country singer Dolly Parton wrote the songs "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene" on the same night.
When the first song was at the top of the charts in 1974, Elvis wanted to record his own version of the song. Dolly was interested until Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' manager, said that it was standard procedure that when the king of rock and roll covered a song - half of the rights to that song would go to him in the future.

She refused it.

"I said, 'I'm really, really sorry' and cried all night. It was terrible for me, on the one hand, it's Elvis. People told me: "You are crazy." It's Elvis Presley...' but I just couldn't do it. Something told me in my heart not to do it and I didn't. I know he would rock with that song. But I couldn't. And then Whitney Houston came along with her version and I made enough money from the rights to buy Dollywood."

She grew up in severe poverty and no one famous has done more for the education of the poor than her.

In 1990, the percentage of students who did not graduate from high school in her hometown was over 30%. She introduced the "Buddy Program", where all high school graduates received a nice sum when they graduated. It wasn't just a waste of money, she personally came and explained the concept to them - everyone should find a buddy, and whoever doesn't succeed she will find one for them. Everyone had to sign that they will graduate and do everything in their power to ensure that their buddy also graduates. She taught young people about friendship and helping.

The number of school dropouts dropped to below 6% and has remained so until today.

When 900 families lost their homes in the 2016 fires, she paid each family $1,000 for the next five months. When she came to the bank to finish the paperwork, she gave each family another $5,000 to find. A total of nine million dollars.

Also, her work - Imagination Library from 1995, was inspired by her realization that young people in rural areas and poor families already fall behind when they start school and that this prevents them from pursuing higher education. The goal of her program was for every child in her district to receive one book, once a month, from birth to school, completely free of charge, without any conditions. It started as an initiative in her hometown and has spread to a huge number of countries around the world.

By 2018, over 100 million books were distributed in this way.

She is also known for her witty statements, at the beginning of her career she said:

“I'm not offended by jokes about stupid blondes because I know I'm not stupid... and I'm not really blonde either.”

[David Yazbeck @ThursdayBlend]

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Weathervanes,’ Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Prove They’re Playing the Long Game https://t.co/Eoc1d6BNJu

[PSAC-AFPC @psac_afpc]

Hey @MonaFortier, workers aren't asking for a "blank cheque," we are demanding fair wages. #pnpcbc #cdnpoli

[PSAC-AFPC @psac_afpc]

✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼

[PSAC-AFPC @psac_afpc]

ON STRIKE

Treasury Board and CRA members are on strike effective tomorrow at 12:01 AM ET April 19.

Please make plans to attend your closest picket line as early as you can: https://t.co/Th5Oeo1dVC

[David Yazbeck @ThursdayBlend]

Operation Ivy’s Jesse Michaels & Tim Armstrong reunite in Bad Optix, share first song “Raid” https://t.co/zIKLS7YFzV @brooklynvegan

[David Yazbeck @ThursdayBlend]

Madlib Says He’s ‘Finishing Up’ Estate-Approved Mac Miller Album https://t.co/xa1LmFjJHy

[David Yazbeck @ThursdayBlend]

https://t.co/S1oT23sSU4

[CBC News @CBCNews]

The Ontario government has officially done away with environmental protections for approximately 2,995 hectares of Greenbelt land despite consultations indicating "broad opposition" to the plan. https://t.co/ZsVDuTBYKO

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

NEW: The Ontario Liberals have received leaked Ontario Health data that shows the state of provincial hospitals this past August.

The data shows a majority of patients are waiting upto 33 hours for an inpatient bed -- 54% higher than Aug 2021.

#onpoli

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

BREAKING: CUPE, which represents education support workers, says 96.5% of its members voted in favour of a strike.

#onpoli #onted

[Whatever's Cool With Me @coolckcu]

On Thursday, I am going to celebrate 25 years of doing my show @CKCUFM . I'll give away a couple of prizes and playing a bunch of tunes from 1997. I hope you can tune in from 9:30-noon on 93.1 FM or https://t.co/qtKuScJVlm.

[CTV News Toronto @CTVToronto]

“I am in fact scared for the fall and winter because I don’t know how this collapsed health-care system will [handle] the volumes that are to come.”
https://t.co/pNQQE3KoCy

[MOONFRUITS @moonfruitsmusic]

Ottawa! Our hometown 'Salt' album release concert is Sep 10 @RedBirdLive1 with special guest Éveline & tickets are on sale now!
🎟🎟🎟
>> https://t.co/jAJKKLlYhN

[CKCU 93.1 FM @CKCUFM]

There's been a lot of research showing that listening to music improves our mental well-being and boosts our physical health in many ways.

Here are a few reasons to over-indulge in your music habits! Tune in to 93.1FM every day for a wide array of tunes.

#CommunityRadio

[CBC News @CBCNews]

#BREAKING: The federal government has announced that it will be resuming mandatory random COVID-19 testing for travellers arriving at four major airports next week. https://t.co/WiH1aaql1P

[CTV Ottawa @ctvottawa]

Ottawa health officials recommend using masks, even at outdoor festivals like Bluesfest. CTV’s Jeremie Charron reports. https://t.co/x9S1Aa3bYv

[MOONFRUITS @moonfruitsmusic]

✨c o m i n g . f r i d a y✨
🌘🌘🌘M O O N . C R A D L E 🌒🌒🌒
I don’t know about you, but I feel less alone when I look at the moon. We partake of the common when we look out at her, for she is, among other things, a receiver of common questions, a giver of common comforts.

[David Yazbeck @ThursdayBlend]

https://t.co/FAr7oBiuvf

[David Yazbeck @ThursdayBlend]

In their second incarnation, Racetraitor find a progressive movement ready for their politics - Chicago Reader https://t.co/8La12KBuGm