SILVER WHISPER from VANCOUVER to HAWAII

According to Wikipedia:

• The Silver Whisper is a quarter century old.
• Passenger capacity of 382, with crew of 295.
• Features teal balconies.

• 
  From Google AI:
• The Silver Whisper is a top-tier luxury cruise ship operated by Silversea Cruises.
• Complimentary caviar on demand.
• No children's facilities.
• A 14-minute tour of the ship.

As we depart Canada, maybe for the final time, but probably not because I still have a lot Canadian money, some golden summaries of Canadian entertainment masterpieces,  I asked Google AI to pick the top Canadian-related films of all-time:

Three of the most critically acclaimed and popular films with a strong Canadian connection are Titanic (1997), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), and Arrival (2016). While Canada boasts a rich catalog of completely homegrown indie cinema, its connection to global blockbusters spans legendary Canadian directors, prominent filming locations, and historic national events. [1, 2, 3]

1. Titanic (1997)

The Connection: Directed by Canadian filmmaking icon James Cameron.

The Details: While much of the movie was shot on custom water sets in Mexico, the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia serves as a major anchor for the production. Cameron spent significant time conducting historical research at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. Furthermore, Halifax holds a real-world connection to the tragedy, acting as the final resting place for many recovered victims of the sinking. [1, 2]

2. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

The Connection: Filmed and set entirely in Toronto, Ontario.
The Details: Unlike many Hollywood productions that use Canadian cities as a cheap double for American locations, this cult classic proudly celebrates its local roots. The film highlights identifiable, real-life Toronto landmarks as central plot locations, including Casa Loma, Lee’s Palace, the Baldwin Steps, and the iconic local grocery chain Pizza Pizza. [1]

3. Arrival (2016)

The Connection: Directed by French-Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and filmed in Quebec.
The Details: This highly acclaimed, Oscar-winning sci-fi drama was filmed largely in Montreal and the surrounding Eastern Townships of Quebec, standing in for rural Montana. Villeneuve, a Montreal native who has since helmed major global franchises like Dune and Blade Runner 2049, utilized local Canadian crews and visual effects studios to bring the surreal alien landscape to life. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Hollywood Reporter provides the 51 best Canadian films of all-time.

• Why the number 51?  Canadians keep getting reminded of President Donald Trump's intent to make this country his 51st state,
• None of those above films made this list, but that is because:

Canada has its own, independent cinema tradition and, in the spirit of good-natured retaliation, we present our 51 Greatest Canadian Films of All Time — one for every imaginary star on Trump’s reworked American flag. Defining what is and isn’t a Canadian film can be tricky. For simplicity’s sake, we’ve mostly excluded big Hollywood films directed by Canadians (so no Titanic, no Fiddler on the Roof, no Dune) in favour of earlier homegrown works.

The most memorable one on this list is The Fly.

1. Mind you, the original version was made in 1957.  This one starred Vincent Price and got 95/71 scores from Rotten Tomatoes.
2. The Canadian remake starred Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis.  Good 83/83 ratings from Rotten Tomatoes.

Stingray has a top 10 Canadian songs of all-time.

1. Summer of ’69

– Bryan Adams

2. New Orleans Is Sinking

– The Tragically Hip

3. Life is a Highway

– Tom Cochrane

4. Takin’ Care of Business

– Bachman Turner Overdrive

5. Tom Sawyer

– Rush

6. Working for the Weekend

– Loverboy

7. American Woman

– The Guess Who

8. Bobcaygeon

– The Tragically Hip

9. Roll on Down the Highway

– Bachman Turner Overdrive

10. Heart of Gold

– Neil Young

But these are all recent songs.  What about:

• O Canada?  Even Google AI agrees with me.

Yes, "O Canada" is widely considered the most popular and recognized patriotic song in Canada, serving as the country's official national anthem. [1]

• Also going back in time, Guy Lombardo--you hear Auld Lang Syne every New Year's Eve--and Percy Faith had numerous hits, like the 1952 Delicado and 1959 Theme from A Summer Place.
• I recall Moments to Remember by the Four Lads.

• 
  No Celine Dione?  Her 1997 My Heart Will Go On, for example, sold 18 million singles.
• Surely, Leonard Cohen's 1984 Hallelujah got to be way up there.

• 
  Rose Marie?  Everything took place in Canada.
• Music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart and lyrics for Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II.
• 1924 on Broadway,
• 1925, West End.
• 1928, silent film, with Joan Crawford.
• How can anyone forget the 1936 original with Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy and James Stewart?
• The 1954 version starred Ann Blyth, Howard Keel, Fernando Lamas, Bert Lahr and Marjorie Main, with choreography by Busby Berkeley.

• 
  Indian Love Call became the signature song for Jeanette Macdonald and Nelson Eddy.  And only Canada can have a Royal Mounted Police singing Rose-Marie.  Okay, many scenes were filled in Lake Tahoe, Nevada...but they were supposed to look like Jasper National Park.

Speaking of Rose-Marie....there is at this moment a triplet of hurricanes heading in the general direction of Hawaii, and one is named Marie.  Most of you won't be bothered by this combination of ocean storms, and perhaps Hawaii itself will be able to avoid them.  However, by the the time you read this posting, we will be on the Silver Whisper heading from Vancouver to Hawaii.   To quote that article:

On September 2, 2026, Tropical Storm Marie strengthened into a hurricane. This hurricane joins two others already spinning in the Pacific Ocean: Lowell and Karina. The last time there were three simultaneous hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean of any strength was in September 2015. Those hurricanes were Kilo, Ignacio and Jimena. They all became major Category 4 hurricanes.

According to Google AI:

In August and September 2015, a historic weather event occurred when NASA Science captured three simultaneous Category 4 hurricanes—Kilo, Ignacio, and Jimena—spinning across the Pacific Ocean. [1]  This was the first time recorded that three major hurricanes existed at the same time in the Central and Eastern Pacific basins.

So let's take a look at all three.  The one of real danger to the islands of Niihau and Kauai is Hurricane Lowell:

• See that right turn northwards?
• But note also that the usual path is north, and perhaps a little northwest,
• Hurricane Lowell is turning a bit northeast.
• And, of course, if he turns north a little earlier, even Oahu will be in grave danger.
• Lowell will then be a a Category 4 hurricane.
• The latest from the Star Advertiser.

Hurricane Karina.

Karina became a hurricane on August 30, and that day increased to 145 MPH, a Category 4.  Weakened down to 130 MPH on August 31, but strengthened to 140 MPH on September 1, then back to 145 MPH yesterday.  Today, down to 115 MPH.  Karina should have passed north of Hawaii by the time the Silver Whisper gets close to Hawaii.  But that is not certain.

Of greater uncertainty is Marie, which today attained hurricane strength,  The projection show that she will increase at least up to Category 2, but should weaken.  However, our ship and Marie are heading for the same spot in the ocean.  Our paths could cross.

Our path.

The Silver Whisper will be approaching Hilo on September 9.

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