Staying Home in Style — A Historical Precedent

| March 30, 2020

“The pleasure you find in traveling around your room is safe from the restless jealousy of men; it is independent of the fickleness of fortune. After all, is there any person so unhappy, so abandoned, that he doesn’t have a little den into which he can withdraw and hide away from everyone? Nothing more elaborate […]

Messages Mixed and Missed

| 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 […]

If You Resemble This Remark ….

| March 25, 2020

I don’t always agree with everything old Pastor Joe Fox has to say on his Viking Preparedness YouTube channel, but I can’t argue anything he put into the clip you’re about to see. He’s in the United States, but his observations are decidedly broad spectrum, and apply perfectly to my stomping grounds.

Pro Tip!

| 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 […]

Numbers Looking for a Fight

| March 23, 2020

Our title today comes from something Mrs. LFM said last night in reference to statistics in general, and the way they are being presented in daily government COVID-19 briefings specifically. A state of emergency was announced yesterday for the Province of Nova Scotia, where we live. The details of its scope and perceived application can […]

In a World Crying Out for Hand Sanitizer … (read in the voice of “that guy” from the Xena intro)

| March 22, 2020

Recent headlines reveal that distilleries all over are turning their facilities toward filling the gaps in the world supply of hand sanitizer. Not least of these hereabouts is Ironworks Distillery, which fine establishment is a client of ours, and located in the Town of Lunenburg, a mere 20 kilometers east of our base.

You Don’t Have To Understand Here to Be Here

| 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 […]

May You Live in an Interesting Age

| March 15, 2020

“Some years ago, in 1936, I had to write to a very dear and honored friend of mine, who has since died, Sir Austen Chamberlain, brother of the present Prime Minister, and I concluded my letter with a rather banal remark ‘that we were living in an interesting age’. Evidently he read the whole letter, […]

EDC — TMI

| March 7, 2020

“EDC is a current era initialism for “Every Day Carry”. As used in the common vernacular, and at its most basic, it unsurprisingly refers to accoutrements and items of equipment and associated accessories an individual may find it necessary, be called upon, or simply want, to carry daily — spectacles, wallet, watch, keys, mobile phone, […]

EDC — The Appetizer

| March 1, 2020

EDC is a current era initialism for “Every Day Carry”. As used in the common vernacular, and at its most basic, it unsurprisingly refers to accoutrements and items of equipment and associated accessories an individual may find it necessary, be called upon, or simply want, to carry daily — spectacles, wallet, watch, keys, mobile phone, […]