Lest We Forget – A Parting Shot

| November 11, 2010

Quite a while ago I mastered singing the song titled The Green Fields of France. It’s been recorded by many, but my favourite arrangement is this one by The Fureys. Not only do I enjoy the arrangement and the voice of the man singing it, but there’s one line in particular that always held a […]

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 […]

Lest We Forget – Family Ties

| November 11, 2010

“I will not stand for trivializing the sacrifices made by those who fought and often died or worse 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 […]

Dark Sentiments – Day 27

| October 27, 2010

Some sentiments are dark because they come of ignorance which is the darkest sentiment of all. Remember the words spoken to Ebenezer Scrooge by the Ghost of Christmas Present when the spirit exposed the two wretched, grasping urchins huddled beneath his robes, “This boy is Ignorance, this girl is Want. Beware them both, and all […]

Dark Sentiments – Day 15

| October 15, 2010

“Witch hunt” is a well entrenched term in the English language, meaning actions undertaken to root out anyone who you are hell bent on blaming for whatever ails you. If you’re powerful enough you can play this out for centuries and use it as a tool to whip a population into line simply because they’re […]

Dark Sentiments – Day 11

| October 11, 2010

Nature doesn’t care if you live or die. She only cares that, moment by moment, you keep proving your worthiness to remain breathing, and as in the theatre, you’re only as good as your last performance. In this day of instant gratification and miraculous cures, an unfortunate majority live in a 911 mindset, ill prepared […]

Dark sentiments – Day 10

| October 10, 2010

“Russian roulette is not the same without a gun, and baby, when it’s love, if it’s not rough it isn’t fun.” ~ Lady Gaga ~ Most men live their lives in daylight, And when darkness wraps its claws around them, they are blind. But embrace the darkness, my cherubs and you can see. Most men […]

Being in the Wild: The Original Control/Alt/Delete

| August 27, 2010

I’ve never been one to become bored by my own company. I was quite young when I realized that being alone wasn’t boring, and that to truly know boredom I had to be in the company of other people. For most of my childhood, and all of what has so far passed as my adult […]

“The End of the World” As We Know It

| June 27, 2010

Lately I’ve found it impossible to swing a dead politician without hitting something that refers to the 2012 apocalyptic deadline. Apparently there’s no point in hand wringing over rogue asteroids any more because it’s all pre-determined. If you’re diagnosed tomorrow with a condition that will make your life unbearable in three or four years, forget […]

The Spirit Lives On

| June 12, 2010

As related in my 30 May 2010 article titled Scout Leading Revisited, I was once tapped to fill the post of Publicity Chairman for the Lunenburg District Scouting Commission. Among my duties was the writing of a weekly column that appeared in both the Lunenburg Progress Enterprise and the Bridgewater Bulletin in space generously donated […]