Of Shit and Shinola

| July 31, 2013

Recently one of my Esteemed Friends had occasion to say “shit” publicly. He did not do so without justification and, to my mind, he owes no one any apology. The identity of said EF shall remain confidential for a variety of reasons, but he will know of whom I speak when I say this poem […]

In Ferro Veritas – Chapter the Third

| July 21, 2013

Greetings gentle reader! If you’ve made it here to these latest musings without reading Chapter the First and Chapter the Second of this series, I respectfully suggest that you do that before proceeding. To the left is a photograph that I personally took last week, in the bedroom of an 82 year old woman who […]

In Ferro Veritas – Chapter the Second

| July 18, 2013

There is a component of the population that, due to professional obligations, may be called upon to step in harm’s way at any moment, but most of us go about our lives with no intention or desire to ever do so. Yet the risk exists now, as it always has, of finding yourself in a […]

In Ferro Veritas – Chapter the First

| July 13, 2013

“The more I’ve studied the application of fighting arts and delivering lethality, the more I came to eschew the posturings of “toughness” and implied violence. I always laugh at the old saying that you should never fight with an old man because if he’s too old to fight, he’ll just kill you. It carries a […]

A Wee Scottish Toast

| July 6, 2013

On Day 7 of last year’s Dark Sentiments, I published an article titled Grief that attracted a lot of spirited, heartfelt, and much appreciated commentary. I invite you today to read or reread that in support of our Friend Peter Thompson who is observing a bittersweet anniversary today – that of the death of his […]

Musings on Tragedy and How to Stop It

| July 5, 2013

On Tuesday, 2 July 2013, a 16 year old girl was reportedly sexually assaulted in Langley, British Columbia. According to an article posted to the CKNW website: … mid day on June 22nd, a 16 year old girl was waiting for a bus at 42nd Avenue and 204th Street. A man pulled up next to […]

The Thorn Defends the Rose

| July 2, 2013

Amid my growing assemblage of favourite quotations is this gem penned by an unknown source, and that found me decades ago: The thorn defends the rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict. Whoever can take the credit, be they alive or dead as I write this, they can rest assured that as […]