May 22 - Last Day at Maple Leaf and Eagle Conference

 Today was another day full of thought-provoking seminars.

 We took the morning off to pack and to organize for tomorrow when we leave.

 

We met Fran for our last salmon soup at the Central Market place. Mark and Fran also split a reindeer hotdog, which they both relished - with relish.

Fran and Barbara went back to a seminar. The first topic was about the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa by ___. He has been working on a book about Hoffa. His main thesis was that Hoffa was, first and foremost, a labor leader, but, in death he has been linked more to organized crime. He talked about the public and the media's enduring fascination with a disappearance story and that the real man gets lost in the story.

    The second topic in that seminar was about the mistreatment of Therese Bonney, an American photojournalist who was in Finland during WWII taking photos of the Winter War. She was hired by the precursor of the CIA, but was left out to dry with accusations of being a Nazi agent- all unfounded. There was a lot to learn about the Finns during WWII which Barbara did not know. It was fascinating.

 

 Mark rejoined Fran and Barbara for the final seminar. The first section was about the AI images coming out of the White House and the major themes that D.T. promotes. So depressing. The presenter was someone we chatted with the evening before.

   Fran and Barbara popped in to see the University Library - another great reading room.

   The second lecture was by an economist predicting the possible economic ramifications for the mid-terms in November. He tried to be optimistic, but..... And, many in the audience found it hard to buy optimism. 

    It was an interesting last seminar to end the conference.

    The Canadians then hosted a wine reception (with Canadian wines, of course) and a keynote speaker who talked about the way Canadians and Americans view their separate "exceptionalisms."

    And, finally, there was an ending reception back in the main building of the University.

Mark came to that with herbs that we had bought and the cane that he borrowed. Barbara walked Fran home with them.

   Thus ends our Maple Leaf and Eagle Conference which we all enjoyed.