In Ferro Veritas – Chapter the First

| July 13, 2013

“The more I’ve studied the application of fighting arts and delivering lethality, the more I came to eschew the posturings of “toughness” and implied violence. I always laugh at the old saying that you should never fight with an old man because if he’s too old to fight, he’ll just kill you. It carries a […]

A Wee Scottish Toast

| July 6, 2013

On Day 7 of last year’s Dark Sentiments, I published an article titled Grief that attracted a lot of spirited, heartfelt, and much appreciated commentary. I invite you today to read or reread that in support of our Friend Peter Thompson who is observing a bittersweet anniversary today – that of the death of his […]

Musings on Tragedy and How to Stop It

| July 5, 2013

On Tuesday, 2 July 2013, a 16 year old girl was reportedly sexually assaulted in Langley, British Columbia. According to an article posted to the CKNW website: … mid day on June 22nd, a 16 year old girl was waiting for a bus at 42nd Avenue and 204th Street. A man pulled up next to […]

The Thorn Defends the Rose

| July 2, 2013

Amid my growing assemblage of favourite quotations is this gem penned by an unknown source, and that found me decades ago: The thorn defends the rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict. Whoever can take the credit, be they alive or dead as I write this, they can rest assured that as […]

The Bear Tribe – Required Reading for the Man Tribe

| June 30, 2013

In the wake of writing my 15 May 2013 article in the Worldly Wisdom Wednesday series, titled Bear Necessities, I was inspired to start rereading Warrior Poet Sid Marty’s exquisite 2008 book, The Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek. If you have an interest in the Way of the Wild, I highly recommend that you get […]

Worldly Wisdom Wednesday – Teachers

| June 26, 2013

When one sets forth to learn an Art, whatever that Art may be, one begins with an interest in it as well as some degree of presupposition about its nature. This presupposition will often differ to some degree from the Truth that reveals itself as training in the chosen Art progresses. A student who prefers […]

Wordly Wisdom Wednesday – It’s Not This Knows, It’s THIS Nose!

| June 12, 2013

As far as a Dog is concerned, every foray into the world outside the household door is a hunt to be engaged in as the nature of its breed dictates, and in this it will operate in the certainty that the handler is at one with the objectives of the mission. To fight this instead […]

Worldly Wisdom Wednesday – Wise Is as Wise Does

| June 5, 2013

Attitude and actions – of the two, which is more important? I would posit that actions, being a physical manifestation of attitude, are what truly matters. If you are smart but pretend to be stupid, then to the rest of humanity, your net effect on the world is that of one who is stupid. Thus, […]

Essential Supplies

| May 30, 2013

But though this was a wild country, where it was unlikely that we should meet any living soul, there was always the possibility of a stray prospector or a hunter, and a dry garment in a wet time is a temptation which should not be put in any man’s way. Neither that nor the liquor […]

The Deep Unknown

| May 26, 2013

Near the end of August back in 2010, I published a piece here titled Being in the Wild: The Original Control/Alt/Delete. While I make no pretense that my meagre efforts are on a par with those of the worthy Albert Bigelow Paine (10 July 1861 – 9 April 1937); friend, companion, and biographer of none […]