Randy | January 28, 2014
“Storytelling has a special place in indigenous culture. It’s a cultural torch passed from one generation to another, and from it flows teachings, lessons, and continuity. Storytelling is a powerful force for cultural survival and it can be many things – funny, profound, educational, a force of resistance, and a tool of reconciliation.” ~ Shelagh’s […]
Randy | January 25, 2014
On the subject of that famous Christmas confection called fruitcake, Johnny Carson once said, “The worst gift is fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.” He appears to have had little of the sort to say of The Haggis, and that was wise of […]
Randy | January 23, 2014
Do what thy manhood bids thee do, From none but self expect applause; He noblest lives and noblest dies Who makes and keeps his self-made laws. ~ Sir Richard Francis Burton ~ If you’ve never heard of Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890), then you have been denied exposure to one of the greatest minds in […]
Randy | January 12, 2014
Once Wendell Phillips and a young friend were sitting by the fire. It was a memorable evening. Recollections had flushed the cheeks of the veteran campaigner. Memories of former heroic days had loosened his tongue. He had completely lost himself in the thrilling recital of the past. The young visitor sat enthralled. At last, when […]
Randy | January 5, 2014
“I will not stand for trivializing the sacrifices made by those who fought and often died so I can sit hear speaking the truth as I see it, and to my mind the title of “Hero” is thrown around entirely too easily these days. There are times and situations in history that few of us […]
Randy | December 22, 2013
Written words are visual guides to the making of sounds that, when uttered aloud, convey meaning. An example is the word “label”. A label can be a physical object that, when applied to another object, conveys important information about it. What it’s made of, how to use it, how long it may be kept, and […]
Randy | December 11, 2013
Going Postal By LFM I killed a man the other day, He’d just himself to blame. First my patience emptied Then my pistol did the same. Disposing of his carcass Was an easy thing to do. So simple that you’ll wonder why It never came to you. I bubble wrapped and boxed him up And […]
Randy | November 11, 2013
“It takes no more than one generation of removal in time to distance human understanding from any heretofore common experience, no matter how horrific, and history has shown that people can function through pretty much anything, using it as a motivation for improvement (As Winston Churchill said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”) […]
Randy | November 2, 2013
This past Hallowe’en, a seance was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia in keeping with a long standing tradition: “Each year since his death 87 years ago, a séance has been held somewhere in the world on Halloween in an attempt to contact Houdini. This year it was held in Halifax. “Organizers said about 85 to […]
Randy | October 30, 2013
Of all the peoples in all the lands, none harbours such a brooding darkness as the Irish, and of the history of their nation, there is none anywhere dark enough to compare. Even the national drink is impenetrable. Today we have the tale of a hapless traveller serendipitously gifted with an encounter that will leave […]