Halfway through high school, it dawned on me that history is not a science like the others. Mathematics textbooks in Canada, England, France, Germany and the USA all agree that two plus two equals four. Textbooks from all those countries agree on the laws of geometry and that a mixture of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal … Continue reading History tainted by propaganda
Bad choices, happy ending
We left home yesterday morning for a shopping trip to Saskatoon, fully aware of the forecast of an Alberta Clipper, a fast moving winter storm that would pass through this area in the afternoon. The forecast of the time and the area affected were still a little vague in the morning and we though we … Continue reading Bad choices, happy ending
I am a Canadian, eh?
I am a Canadian. Je suis bien dans ma peau (that is an expression that wouldn't make any sense if translated word for word, but means I am content with what I am). For that reason: Find that little word eh, pronounced ay, to be quite useful, and much more elegant than huh? Oxford says … Continue reading I am a Canadian, eh?
The enemy within
The Israelites were witnesses to miracle after miracle in Egypt and for a few hours believed that it was really God's plan to lead them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. The evening of the first day they came to a road block, the Red Sea was in front of them, with no … Continue reading The enemy within
Thoughts on the craft of writing
Image by eroyka from Pixabay Here are some reflections after reading books that were interesting and others that could have been interesting if the writer had known how to tell the story. Read books of the kind that you would like to write. You can’t be a writer if you are not a reader.Research thoroughly. What was the … Continue reading Thoughts on the craft of writing
Best wishes for 2022
Image by MegLearner from Pixabay It was -35° yesterday evening. The brightness of the lights began to fluctuate around 11 PM and at 11:30 the electricity went out altogether. I started a fire in our wood stove (which doesn't look quite as nice as the one in the picture) and we entered 2022 to its warm glow. The … Continue reading Best wishes for 2022
Rest
An inspiring memorial from the daughter of Bill Sweeney that I want to share with all who face the loss of a loved one, or our own uncertain future. May we all know the rest that is spoken of here. "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the … Continue reading Rest
Weather complaints
Image by Nobis from Pixabay Have you noticed how apocalyptic weather reports have become? "Unprecedented Siberian cold blankets the prairies!" "High risk of frostbite and hypothermia." Those of us who are native to the prairies love to complain about our weather extremes. I used to tell people that when I was a boy we had days every winter … Continue reading Weather complaints
White winter morning
This morning our world looks somewhat like this. Oh well, at least the days are getting longer. Not so you'd notice it yet, though. Image by Pixaline from Pixabay It is -32° C outside, there is a fresh layer of pure white snow on the ground, 15cm of it. I have cleared the steps and walkways, plugged the … Continue reading White winter morning
Misunderstanding the Gospel
In 1655 the plague spread through London, killing a quarter of the population. The city was rife with reports of strange visions, prophecies and rumors. Daniel Defoe wrote about the happenings during the plague, writing in the first person although he was only four years old at the time. Nevertheless, the book is not fiction … Continue reading Misunderstanding the Gospel
Flatlander Faith 