Radiation – Let’s Get It Straight

| March 20, 2011

Yesterday’s article, Bullshit Alert – Since 11 March 2011, If You’ve Ever Even Heard of Japan, You’ve Been Exposed, introduced this and the article that follows, and explained my motivation for writing both. If you haven’t yet read my intro, please go and do so now before coming back here and moving forward. Media coverage […]

Bullshit Alert – Since 11 March 2011, If You’ve Ever Even Heard of Japan, You’ve Been Exposed

| March 19, 2011

As the late unpleasantness in and around Japan continues to unfold, I’m seeing more and more media coverage that has a net information content of zero. On at least two cases, rather than informed, I actually felt stupider after listening to it. The constant soothing wordage and disclaimers like “slightly radioactive material” and “a small […]

Spring

| March 6, 2011

Oddly enough, this poem was born from an intention to write something with a pretty beginning that set the reader up for a funny punch line involving the way Spring unveils just how much frozen dog shit has been slumbering under the snow and ice in our yard, and that blessed day when Nature does […]

Miss Ann and Me

| March 2, 2011

From the deep dark LFM family archives comes this little goodie. 1961 was a passionate year for me, and here I am with the second of my great childhood loves; Ann Wilson, professionally known as “Miss Ann” of Romper Room. Born Ann Ramey in Kentville, Nova Scotia in 1928, she hosted the Atlantic Canada version […]

The Skrælingibók – Wendigo Lore

| February 17, 2011

What follows is a character development for the most important role in my present work in progress, Skrælingibók – A Skræling’s Saga. After all, without the Wendigo what would be the point? If you don’t yet know the concept of the story, click here for enlightenment. Lore holds that the Wendigo is a spirit. While, […]

On This Date in 1982

| February 9, 2011

On the 9th day of February in the year 1982, a baby girl was born in the city of Wroclaw, Poland. She was one of many girls born that day, both in Poland and all over the world, but the birth of this one was special because the event marked kindling of a spark that […]

Vikings

| January 17, 2011

In the course of my research for the Skrælingibók, I have turned up a number of excellently rendered documentaries, one of which I’m presenting here for your viewing pleasure. Made in 2004, the 40 minute documentary Vikings: Journey to New Worlds was directed by Mark Fafard, co-written by Mark Fafard and Jonathan Hock. My thanks […]

A Group Worth Watching

| January 4, 2011

In another one of those moments of serendipity I’m famous for, a few days ago I discovered Aston, an Australian group that does incredible covers of pop songs using traditional classical instruments. This is NO circus trick! Not only are they unbelievably talented, they’re hot by every definition of the term, and make it obvious […]

A Call to Arms

| November 20, 2010

“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein, Beyond This Horizon, 1942 ~ If you follow me here, then you know I regularly encounter subject matter that’s too big for one article to hold. Well, I’m at […]

Lest We Forget – Poland 1939

| November 11, 2010

Peace, n. In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting. ~ Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary As a student of military history I have long been aware of the German shenanigans with respect to Poland that finally dragged British Prime Minister Nevil Chamberlain kicking and screaming into a declaration of war […]