I reflected on an article in a small community’s newsletter about a lady who was born on St. Patrick’s Day. This connection led her to a life-long interest in St Patrick and related historical folks. I thought I’d pull my own version of that alluring thread. I actually did this last February and am now…

I’ve had my rejections in life, as most people have experienced. It’s easy to take some comfort by putting the loss of a connection with me on the shoulders of the other. I drew a witch when I was about 8. Have faith. I’ll join the dots. The theme for this particular Saturday art class…

I ask the question while keeping my eye on the visioning of what my 7th generation yet to come would reflect on my current actions. Many Indigenous people worldwide use this concept when making decisions today about their relationships to the natural wonders around us. I don’t want to get into the selection of how…

I peruse different information sources than my adult children and my grandchildren. So occasionally, I like to try to amaze them, and that is no mean feat! Here’s my latest attempt – dark patterns. Dark patterns are digital design elements that manipulate users into making decisions they otherwise wouldn’t, often to a corporation’s benefit. A simple…

I am thinking about ‘loss’ in its broadest terms, especially in a pandemic. Without judging the relative impacts on anyone, the most common image when thinking about a loss is the passing of a loved one. I also include in the idea of loss, the loss of social options, the loss of freedom to think…

I’m sorry is the stereotypical Canadian response the world expects from me. Someone steps on my foot, and I’m the first to say I’m sorry. Then I laugh at myself. I wondered why I did that and realized it was more complicated than I first thought. ‘National Sorry Day’ is a day in Australia marking…

I, like many folks around the globe, look forward to the tradition and ritual of singing Auld Lang Syne at midnight. That got me thinking, which sometimes sends me down some unforeseen rabbit holes. Come down this one with me. What three songs would I pick as my all-time favourites, stuck on-a-desert-island tunes? By The…

I don’t mean funny as in ha-ha. But funny in how so many people appreciate Christmas from so many different perspectives. I compare this to plays by Shakespeare, written 500 years ago. I saw King Lear in Stratford, Ontario as a youngster. Instead of spears, the soldiers were carrying machine guns! It still works. Different…

I just finished watching a “Heygo” virtual tour of Hanoi at the time of this writing. So, first, let me get my personal Wow reaction out of the way. And there was more than one. I was feeling a bit at sea. Not quite bored, but getting there. I suggested that my wife find us…

I’m not promoting inefficiency be followed for all my time. But I think I am prone to try too many of life’s hacks to be more efficient to save time or make decisions easier. Netflix tells me what movies I’d like. Other services tell me what books I’d like to read, while another service recommends…