Randy | May 18, 2020
Back in March of 2018, I published an article here titled Smoke, Mirrors, and a Soldier, the inspiration for which was summed up in its first paragraph: I read an article the other day written by Josh Makuch and published last Friday to Vice with the title, “I’m a Veteran In Favour of More Gun […]
Randy | April 10, 2020
March of 1994 came at the end of a bitterly cold winter practically devoid of snowfall. Every lake, still-water, and bog was frozen to a depth of 18 inches or more, and the bare ground in forest and field was stone hard. When spring finally broke over the flood plain surrounding New Germany, Nova Scotia, […]
Randy | March 27, 2020
“‘And it is also said,’ answered Frodo: ‘Go not to the Elves for counsel for they will answer both no and yes.’ “‘Is it indeed?’ laughed Gildor. ‘Elves seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill.’” ~ Lord of the […]
Randy | March 25, 2020
This morning I was consulted by an electrical contractor in the matter of Dorma 1800 Series door closers — devices designed to hold a fire door open, and trigger positive closure when smoke is detected. As we were reviewing the installation manual together on the phone, this cropped up, and it was lucky he had […]
Randy | March 22, 2020
The title of today’s piece comes from the pilot episode of the excellent, and now both late and lamented, television series Life. Specifically, it’s part of a greater conversation between lead character Detective Charlie Crews (played by Damian Lewis) and his partner, Detective Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi): Dani Reese: “I don’t exactly understand you.” Charlie […]
Randy | February 23, 2020
Literature is effervescent with the weaponry of Heroism, binding the bearer to the facing of perils unimaginable to the mere mortal he or she subsisted as before the day of chosenness. With this endowment comes a sacred duty to right ancient wrongs and rid the world of the darkest evils in a fight unto death, […]
Randy | January 24, 2020
There’s an old joke that goes: Q — “What do you tell a man with two black eyes?” A — “Nothing. He’s already been told twice.” There are some who might say that after what happened on my last trip, what you’re about to read should have come as no surprise. As aforesaid, I first […]
Randy | December 31, 2019
On the Long Winter’s Night of 29 December 2017 I proclaimed this morale booster. The Fire Without and the Fire Within By LFM It’s only just started, but coming to pass Is a Winter as cold as a well digger’s ass. Yet it’s still not extreme if the truth’s to be told, For it used […]
Randy | December 29, 2019
This Long Winter’s Night is dark indeed, coming as it does hard on the heels of yesterday’s preamble. Be warned that it will deal with extremely adult entertainments, the plurality of that word serving to set apart what follows from the distinctly singular “adult entertainment”, which term has come to define all things that are […]
Randy | December 28, 2019
A Long Winter’s Night is the perfect time for telling stories around the fire, and often those take a reflective bent on where things are, how they got here, and where they’re going in that handbasket. We’re doing that tonight to the chagrin of those younger members of the assemblage who suffer the stories of […]