Randy | December 29, 2013
“I am a product […of] endless books. My father bought all the books he read and never got rid of any of them. There were books in the study, books in the drawing room, books in the cloakroom, books (two deep) in the great bookcase on the landing, books in a bedroom, books piled as […]
Randy | December 26, 2013
Nova Scotians complaining about the state of the province’s roads in the wake of Sunday’s winter storm should be careful how much they grumble. An old law still on the province’s books can order “all physically fit male persons” between 16 and 60 years of age to shovel out highways made impassable by snow. At […]
Randy | December 23, 2013
Winter, in latitudes where sub-freezing temperatures can occur, brings with it harsh realities that only frantic and organized preparation in the months prior can meet with any hope of success, leading to the passing down of parables such as the story of the ant and the grasshopper, and the legend of the Wendigo. This is […]
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 21, 2013
Winter begins today, and those of us who understand the joys of travelling dark forest trails can walk slower tonight, for there is more darkness to enjoy. As I recall, the last time we all gathered here for A Long Winter’s Night, we were staring down the barrel of yet another ending of the world. […]
Randy | December 7, 2013
In the wake of my 5 December 2013 reminder of Krampusnacht, I dedicate today’s ever so timely homage to my Esteemed forensic investigator Friend Martin. He, and you, will understand why when you get to the end of the poem, and I’m sure he, of all people, will consider this good advice indeed. Krampusnacht By […]
Randy | December 6, 2013
Today’s title comes from something once said to me by my all time favourite plumber; Wilson Richards of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia: “I don’t get why people want a canopy over their bed. I have a can o’ pee under mine.” As an only slightly related aside, there’s also this from the Helm Forge blog on […]
Randy | December 5, 2013
Tonight, even as Swiety Mikolaj (Saint Nicholas) bestows his annual sugar buzz on the Children of Poland, Krampus stalks the land on his annual punitive expedition, hell bent on plying his own particular brand of “teaching a lessonry”. Nothing like a good birching among fiends! I’ve written of Krampus in past episodes, and for clarity, […]
Randy | November 24, 2013
News coverage of the so called “knockout game” should have your blood boiling by now. This was inspired by it, although you are cautioned not to take it as a template for, or recommendation of, vigilante justice. Just stay aware and always strive to ready yourself to do what needs doing, in all things. The […]
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.”) […]