What is your opinion worth? If it is in the comments section of an online news article, it is not worth much at all. No one cares what you think unless you insult someone’s entrenched point of view. In your Direct Messages or email or apps, though, you might think your opinion can actually help […]
As I watched the European Cup Final the other day, I couldn’t help noticing the hundreds of empty red seats directly opposite the television cameras at the centre line. I knew that there were throngs of people without tickets who were storming the gates, trying to get in and yet here were all these empty […]
When I was out for a walk yesterday I went further afield than usual. I wanted to check out the free-share offerings of a local resident. He has been giving away clothes, food, and miscellany to anyone who wants it for the last few months, and I wanted to see what he had and what […]
Trigger Warning: This essay includes information about the deaths of indigenous students in residential schools in Canada. Canadians are shocked and horrified to learn of the extent of the genocide of indigenous children which took place at residential schools. It is a story that must be retold if there is to be any justice. We […]
After a heavy rainfall a few weeks ago, I noticed that the stucco on the walls by the front steps had started to come away from the wood underneath. On the horizontal ledges, water had gone between the stucco and the wood and caused the stucco to buckle and break open. So, I contacted a […]
Google Maps thinks this bridge is called the Walter Dale Bridge, but they are wrong. It is named after the nearby neighbourhood called Walterdale and it, in turn, is named after John Walter who was among the early settlers here. He operated a ferry across the North Saskatchewan River at this location. The original bridge, […]
Here are three more books that I have recently read and my thoughts about each of them. They all involve some sort of mind control but in very different ways. End of Watch by Stephen King This is the third in a trilogy about police inspector Bill Hodges (retired), but it is a standalone story. […]
A few days ago, I expressed some frustration because I don’t know who is vaccinated. That makes me feel unsafe when I’m among strangers. I was worried about this because Alberta seems to have a high number of people who are vaccine-hesitant or resistant. In response to that blog post, Tildeb provided extensive comments for […]
OK, bear with me. This is a completely unbaked but possibly brilliant idea related to the vaccine-hesitant. I live in an area in which a significant minority of the population is refusing the Covid-19 vaccination. Their justifications are varied and often contradictory, but these vaccine resisters are a part of my community. You probably have […]
This week my eldest son said he had been harassed by someone in the street. He was happily walking along, minding his own business, when a man started taunting him. He asked if my son was sick, if he wasn’t feeling well. He wanted to know what his problem was, and why he was wearing […]
This is one of many houses near Edmonton city centre that have become old and disused. Some are a hundred years old. They would cost a fortune to renovate and retrofit, so they sit empty. The boards across the doors and windows are an attempt to keep out the homeless, but in a Canadian winter […]
Here are three more books that I recommend. They all explore the complications around belonging in a variety of circumstances: in a new country; in a small community; as descendants of immigrants; as refugees; in unanticipated roles. Each of these books presents with sensitivity, concern, and brutal honesty the challenges experienced by people we might […]
It has been quite a year, hasn’t it? We have all adjusted to new truths, new living situations, and new restrictions. As I look back on my year, and as I try to stay hopeful, I want to review what has changed in my life and how my life has changed me. I do this […]
A couple of days ago, I discovered something I wrote when I was in my twenties. It was an essay entitled “Why I Am Not A Feminist.” It represents a moment in time when I had mixed feelings about the women’s movement. I did not think about women’s rights when I was growing up because […]
Butter and eggs are basic foods, wouldn’t you say? Unless you are vegan, or have lactose intolerance, or are allergic to eggs, then you probably have either butter or eggs or both in your refrigerator. One or both of them gets used every day in feeding yourself or your family. Even if you just have […]
Here are three more books that may interest you. They are all mysteries, but each of a different type. One is a murder mystery, one is a missing person mystery, and one is a family heritage mystery. Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane describes itself as being a domestic suspense novel. In the Acknowledgements, the […]
About a year ago, my dentist offered me a choice. He could replace a missing tooth with either a Maryland Bridge or a flipper. He explained the disadvantages of each, and neither option sounded desirable, so I demurred. I remember saying at the time that I could not understand why he was explaining reasons for […]
I don’t dream. I can go for months or years, even, without being aware that I have dreamed. Once in a while I might be startled awake while dreaming, but after I have gone back to sleep I don’t remember the dream. I haven’t woken up in the morning remembering a dream for years, until […]
