Here are a few common English words that are sometimes misused or misunderstood. Elegant - tasteful, graceful, comely, beautiful. It does not mean elaborate or ornate. An elegant solution is one that is ingeniously simple and completely solves the problem. The root meaning is carefully selected. Eloquence - fluent and effective use of language, persuasive speaking … Continue reading Useful words
Whimsy
The Pride of Man
Fifty-five years ago I bought Gordon Lightfoot's first LP record. Most of the songs were ones he wrote. One, The Pride of Man, was written by Hamilton Camp. The song is based on Biblical prophecies of the fall of Babylon. Every stanza ends with the line “Oh God, the pride of man, broken in the … Continue reading The Pride of Man
Soar with the eagles
Somewhere in Africa, a hunter returning home spies in a rocky place a large nest of branches on which lies a beautiful egg spotted with red. Still warm from the mother bird who will soon come back. Curious, the man examines the nest. Delighted at his discovery, he slips the egg into his pocket to … Continue reading Soar with the eagles
This has happened before
A careful observer who escaped the plague at Florence in 1617 describes the barricaded houses and empty streets, forbidden to all but food suppliers. Florence was dead: no business activities and no religious services — except for the odd mass which the officiant celebrated at the corner of a street and in which the people … Continue reading This has happened before
SPRING!
We heard, then saw, Canada geese this morning for the first time this spring. A reassuring sign that the wild things are carrying on as usual and spring is on its way.
He who is his own doctor has a fool for a patient
I have paraphrased the English proverb that says “He who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.” I think the medical version is appropriate for our present situation. For someone to self-diagnose themselves as having COVID-19 and then to proclaim to have cured himself through some novel procedure unknown to medical science … Continue reading He who is his own doctor has a fool for a patient
Return of the plastic grocery bag
Amazing new discovery! Reusable shopping bags may be good for the environment, but may also be dangerous to your health. Actually this isn't a new discovery, there are articles on the internet from up to ten years ago explaining that reusable bags can be a breeding ground for bacteria. I guess we are supposed to … Continue reading Return of the plastic grocery bag
Spring musings
Spring is coming, even here in the Great White North country. Nothing is green yet, but there's a lot less of the white stuff. No song birds yet, either, but our bird feeder isn't emptying quite so quickly, which means the birds must be finding something else now that the snow is receding. Our cats … Continue reading Spring musings
What isolation?
The world has changed, due to modern speed of travel a virus that first infected a human being in China a few months ago has now spanned the world. We are all in a crisis situation; we are asked to practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible. But the world has changed in … Continue reading What isolation?
A Puritan Preacher
“There is a narrow way that leadeth unto heaven and there is a broad way that leadeth into hell and many there be that go therein; the papists and protestants do meet in that way and may shake hands in hell.” From a sermon preached by Gabriel Sanger in 1634 in the parish church of … Continue reading A Puritan Preacher
Flatlander Faith 