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Joe Diner: a lifetime of experience
By GERRY POSNER If you want to find a life that has had a series of twists and turns mixed in with a wide variety of experiences, look no further than Joe Diner. He has had a lifetime of what I would call rich experiences in many different places and settings.
It began simply enough as Joe was born in 1942 to Clara (Brenner ) and Lou Diner, the middle child of three boys (including the late Alex and Richard). Until Joe was nearly 12, he was raised in the north end of Winnipeg. In 1954 the family moved to 621 Waterloo Street in River Heights.
Joe went to Kelvin High School and later obtained a BA from Moorhead State in Minnesota. That might well have led to the start of a different path for Joe as compared to most of us. Who could have predicted what would follow?
His first job upon graduating was with the Department of Education on the Peguis Indian Reservation, where he was a teacher of an adult upgrading program. Before he could even blink, he was promoted to assistant to the supervisor. As part of his work he travelled to several reserves and, in fact, had a two-month assignment administering a new course in Churchill, Manitoba.
Joe wrote a social orientation programme; however, in doing that he ended up losing his job – at the behest of the then Minister of Education, because Joe had dealt with the Federal Government without authority.
Joe Diner was not afraid to speak up then or now. That firing prompted him to connect with a former professor from Moorhead State. Subsequently, that led to Joe’s going to New Orleans, where he had a teaching assistantship in a Master’s program in government.
While in New Orleans, Joe did what he has always done best: he made a series of connections that proved to be fortuitous. One summer in Louisiana he worked as a jockey’s agent for the renowned jockey, Esteban Medina, followed by doing the same with the then leading apprentice jockey, Harry Lee Patin, and others. How that came about surely is a story waiting to be told in greater depth.
Joe was even befriended by the famous breeder, trainer and horse owner, C. Wade Navarre, and the leading quarterhorse jockey, Leroy Miller. Joe had the opportunity through these contacts to take a champion horse by the name of Tru Tru to New Mexico for high altitude training prior to competing in the most prestigious of all quarterhorse races, the All American Futurity race, which had a purse of $ 1,000,000 – back when that was a lot of money! It is certain that Joe did not pick up those horse skills on Waterloo Street.
Soon thereafter, Joe accepted an offer to work as an assistant to one John W. Mecom, the king of deep sea oil well drilling. Mecom happened to be a very well known horse breeder and owner, as well as being the owner of an NFL football team, the New Orleans Saints. That job might have continued a long time but sadly, Joe was asked politely to leave the country, as he was living there on an expired student visa.
What might have seemed calamitous in fact created yet another twist and turn for Joe – and ultimately led to his finding his true vocation. He reached out to an old friend, Len Steingarten, who was the accountant for a prominent realtor in Winnipeg, J.J.Gibbons and it was not long before Joe was working for that firm. Joe’s friend, Michael Nozick, provided him with substantial business at the beginning of his career and that business has continued ever since for Joe. It’s allowed him, as Joe puts it, “to make it” in the real estate business.
That training period with Gibbons ultimately led to his purchasing (with some financial assistance) the former Aronovitch & Leipsic empire (a rather remarkable accomplishment) and later, to his becoming a member of the Canadian Commercial Real Estate Network. In fact, Joe suggested that all independent associates give up individual names and instead adopt the national name of JJ Barnicke Ltd. Sure enough, A & L became JJ Barnicke.
Joe Diner became very friendly with JJ Barnicke himself and was so well regarded within that company that he received the JJ Barnicke Lifetime Achievement Award. His success in real estate led to Joe’s acquiring such major clients in Winnipeg as Michael Nozick (Fairweather Properties), Monte Nathanson (United Equities-MPN Holdings), and Arni Thorsteinson (Shelter Canadian Properties).
As part of his work in real estate, Joe also became a consultant for both the Province of Manitoba and Government of Canada. One major assignment that he was given was an invitation to present a marketing plan for the redevelopment of the old CPR rail station. It was Joe’s idea to sell the station to Aboriginal organizations, which would then own, occupy and manage the site for themselves. Joe also was able to arrange financing for the project. Now that was an idea that was highly original for that time.
As anyone who has been to the site would recognize, Joe’s concept succeeded beyond expectations. In addition, Joe has been a part of major real estate shopping centre developments, including Madison Square, the Brick Centre, Leon’s Centre, and even the Eaton’s Warehouse Building, also the Free Press downtown building.
Perhaps one of Joe’s greatest coups was his work on a voluntary basis as agent for the Winnipeg Jewish Community when he engineered the acquisition of the present 13-acre Asper Campus site. He also aided the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Southeast Resource Development in several major acquisitions. In short, over a span of 40 years, Joe Diner was been a pivotal figure in the city of Winnipeg. You probably just didn’t know it.
However, Joe would consider his greatest project one he undertook for himself and his wife, the former Sandi Kraut, whom he married in 1980. In 1989 he purchased a waterfront lot on Salt Spring Island, BC, and some twelve years later, he finished the building of their home there. As Joe puts is so well, that is where “they live and smile today.”
Joe Diner has a been through a lot in his lifetime, but he would say much of what he did was because of what he learned and absorbed at the feet of his parents. Joe says that his mother Clara was up ever day at 7am, baking, cooking and cleaning, in addition to being very active in Hadassah and Meals On Wheels later on in her life. His father Lou, a former sargent major in the Canadian army during WWII, a founding member of Rosh Pina Synagogue, a councillor on the town council of Winnipeg Beach, a past president of the Maple Leaf Curling Club, and a supporter of many community causes, provided Joe with what might be called perspective in life by his appreciation for “having lived to see stage coaches across the west all the way to a man on the moon.” Based on what Joe told me about his life, I would say that he was a good student and learned his lessons well.
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BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege”
Reviewed by MURRAY BENDER “Thinking on your feet”—quickly defending a position in a coherent, persuasive manner—is a situation that many people find challenging and stressful. “If only I had said this.” or “Why didn’t I say that?” Hindsight is always 20-20.
Following the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, it has become increasingly necessary for diaspora Jews to “think on their feet” as they unwittingly face a barrage of tough, sometimes hateful, questions about Jews and their Israeli homeland.
Why is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Why doesn’t Israel return the land it has stolen from Palestinians? Why are Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian farmers? How is Israel different from apartheid South Africa? Why can’t I criticize Israel without being called antisemitic? Is it true that Jews control the world? The list of potential questions is nearly endless.
Engage or hide? This is the difficult choice that confronts Jews as they look to deal with anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli behaviour. Fortunately, author and journalist Melanie Phillips comes to the rescue with her practical and insightful book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege.
According to Phillips, the dilemma has no single answer. “People need to decide how to behave in accordance not just with the specific circumstances but also with their own attributes and limitations.”
Some regard engagement with their opponents as a sacred duty. “They believe it is a betrayal of the Jewish people not to uphold Israel’s case.” Ohers may be uncomfortable with such a direct approach, but “those who decide to keep their heads down and avoid any altercation may well find that this leaves them with a permanent sense of regret and even failure,” she says.
As a result, it’s probably a good idea to adopt some sort of balance. And that’s where Phillips’ 150-page handbook comes in.
She starts by providing context around the “crisis of legitimacy and acceptance” from which Jews are reeling post-October 7. On the basis of extensive conversations with Jews from across the U.S., Britain and Australia, the author found that many “were near stupefied by the terrifying hatred and irrationality that was unfolding around them.” Again and again, they asked: “What should we do? What can we do?”
In response, Phillips offers a pragmatic approach to help prepare for the inevitable conversations, including a number of key principles:
- Get smart rather than emotional
- Stop playing defence
- Find common ground
- Be positive and confident
- Keep physically safe
Based on these overarching criteria, she provides an extensive list of quick and clever retorts to a range of different situations, emphasizing that “it’s our duty to our children and grandchildren to fight for truth and justice.”
So, the next time it is necessary to “think on their feet,” diaspora Jews will be able to respond quickly and confidently to those difficult questions about themselves and Israel. And they can thank Melanie Phillips for coming to the rescue.
Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege by Melanie Phillips is available online from Amazon and Indigo.
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ESports Meets Casinos: Overview of Bet Sport Gaming
ESports has become part of the interactive entertainment of online casinos. In fact, many fans already have the opportunity to use Dragonia Casino Bet Sport options while watching the matches of their favorite teams. The hybrid entertainment model opens up many possibilities and increases audience engagement. When video games intersect with betting, it creates a unique collaboration where participants have the opportunity to get a completely new experience right in their own home. At the same time, you can continue to enjoy the usual viewing of familiar tournaments and competitions.
How ESports and Casinos Interconnect
ESports has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that attracts spectators. Traditional casinos are focused on luck. But now they are introducing additional methods of encouraging their customers. Among such options, eSports events deserve special attention. Such bet sport offers combine the usual excitement with an element of competition. The structure of the casino entertainment provides participants with the opportunity to test their skills and reveal their own hidden talents. There are several forms of integration of eSports mechanics into the structure of a classic online casino:
- Competitive betting. Online casinos provide the opportunity to bet on eSports tournaments, which is similar to the usual sports betting. In addition, the possibilities are significantly expanded compared to simple viewing platforms.
- Skill-based casino games. Games inspired by eSports encourage players to actively participate in what is happening on the screen. The games reward the player’s results with certain prizes.
- Interactive arenas. Some casinos broadcast eSports events in real time. This allows players to follow the games directly online, which creates a feeling of real participation in familiar entertainment.
- Cross-platform interaction. Online casinos are introducing eSports-style leaderboards and achievements to attract more participants.
Such innovations appeal to new participants. Cultural changes are part of the development of the infrastructure of the classic casino, and eSports fans find a new environment for entertainment and communication.
Growth of ESports Betting
Global eSports revenue in 2025 exceeded $1.5 billion. Each bet sport option has made a significant contribution to the development. Surveys show that over 60% of players will express interest in betting on eSports, which reflects the demand and the need to develop an updated infrastructure for participation.
ESports events attract 15-20% more new participants compared to conventional casinos. The eSports betting market will exceed $20 billion by 2027, according to analysts’ forecasts, which encourages new participants to more actively watch tournaments and participate in various types of activity.
Why Fans Choose ESports
Bet sport gambling is gaining popularity. This is due to several reasons. For example, large casinos in Las Vegas and Macau now host full-fledged eSports tournaments alongside traditional entertainment. Venues are also experimenting with separate fan zones where sports betting and classic gambling are available.
Some of the most popular eSports disciplines are League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some online casinos even introduce eSports mechanics into slots so that players can try something new.
In short, the intersection of eSports and casinos is a natural development of the industry. Competitive play and an optimized betting system create a comfortable environment for true fans who want to diversify their leisure time.
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Card Game Traditions: Complete Review from Casino Online Lolajack Experts
Card games have been around for centuries. They are constantly evolving and improving. For example, there are now many different formats of online games available. On sites like casino online Lolajack https://Lolajack.com/ca/, you can choose a title according to your preferences and skills. The traditions of card games date back to ancient times. To better show yourself, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these features. This way, you will gain experience, have a good time, and get acquainted with something completely new.
Roots of Card Games
Card games directly reflect cultural identity. They have a unique mathematical structure and thoughtful moves that make even professionals think. Depending on the tradition, the rules differ, but the basic principles always remain similar. Each game has a unique origin:
- Poker. It originated in the USA back in the 19th century. During its existence, many variations of gameplay have appeared. It combines risk, strategy, and psychology; therefore, it requires high skill from each player.
- Baccarat. This game has ancient origins. It appeared in the 15th century in Italy, after which it spread throughout Europe. Now it is the basis of any operator like casino online Lolajack.
- Rimmy and bridge. Card games require the cooperation of participants, so coordinated communication is important here.
- Blackjack. This is the perfect combination of skill and chance. The player needs to learn to make decisions quickly and monitor the circumstances.
Card games have their own origins and characteristics. Currently, they are an integral part of any online casino, offering a wide range of opportunities for participants.
Why Card Games Are So Popular
Experts from casino online Lolajack emphasize the importance of card games in many cultures. For example, poker remains the leader for a reason. There are more than 100 million active players worldwide who compete and work on their skills. Blackjack also does not lag behind the trends. The level of participation exceeds 40% of regular online casino users.
Every year, the level of online card games grows by 10%. This is possible due to digitalization and increased player awareness. In addition, seasonal events also increase the involvement of participants during peak periods.
Traditions of Card Games
Unique events attract the attention of fans. For example, the World Series of Poker attracts not only participants but also millions of viewers around the world. Sites such as casino online Lolajack also give participants the opportunity to try their hand and compete with professionals.
Baccarat is associated with high stakes. This is especially noticeable among the Asian audience, who like to put probability theory into practice. Blackjack also has an appeal among math lovers. The probabilities of the model and observations directly affect the decisions of players. Online casinos strive to ensure that participants have the opportunity to communicate and find an activity option according to their own preferences.
As a result, card games remain the true leaders of the gambling market. They not only entertain, but also develop attention, perseverance, and social skills. A large selection of various variations of classic games allows you to choose the version that suits your preferences. Developers do not lag behind trends and do everything possible to surprise fans.