Conform, reform, reconcile, denial
So many emotions, none of them good. We’ve had just over two weeks of eye-opening revelations and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. I’m afraid, as humans, we’ll become insensitive to the horror of what will be “unearthed” over the next weeks or months and years. For certain, someone thought the horror […]
Almost Cut My Hair
“Almost cut my hair…” That was the first line in the dirge performed by David Crosby on the 1970 album Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, It spoke of the hippie’s existential crisis—that he would even contemplate cutting his shoulder-length hair was a sign that things had gone badly wrong. Mr. Crosby—who today sports long white […]
With Glowing Hearts and Fireworks
Yep, it’s Father’s Day as I write this week’s column. As fathers go, I had a pretty good one. He worked hard. He loved his kids. He loved Mom. He loved to swim. He loved a camping trip. He loved skating and playing hockey. He loved drawing and planning on paper. He had a big […]
Burst my bubble
Sunday. Yes it is. Almost half past June, too! I didn’t expect I’d get used to living in a pandemic world. My younger brother suggested that some people are cut out for this type of living. This morn- ing it feels as if that has happened to me— the getting used to it. I’m comfortable […]
Inspecting a Jewel
I’ve always loved country and western music—up until about 1980, when it accelerated its slow slide into a derivative rock music style combined with predictable lyrics drawn from the unholy trio of alcohol, trucks and loose women. What I love about it more particularly is its ability to paint a complete emotional picture in under […]
Who’s on first?
I’ve dealt with so many First World problems this week. But all of those issues make me feel grateful for what I have. My lawn is overgrown— but I have a lawn, weeds and all. My new pool deck isn’t finished and it’s almost pool season. I have a pool, a deck and a pool […]
Entering a World of Deepfaking
The New York Times reported a few weeks ago on a couple of potentially dangerous developments in the world of deepfaking—using artificial intelligence and machine learning to produce images that can’t be distinguished from originals, and manipulating old images to give them a digital afferlife. The first development involved a Tom Cruise impersonator, who worked […]
We’re on the Road to Nowhere
I am a fan of travelling and I am a fan of maps. I own a few maps, but I’m what you’d call a collector. I’m not a fanatic about it, but if I see an old road map (the kind companies like Texaco sponsored) in a shop, chances are it’s coming home with me. […]
The Smell of the Wonder Dogs
Can you get dogs to sniff out COVID-19? Absolutely yes, say British researchers. And they can do it better and quicker than most other ‘scientific’ tests. Claiming an accuracy rate of between 82 per cent and 94 per cent, researchers in England were able to expose dogs to T-shirt samples, some of which were ever […]
Hiking along for Hospice
Did you know Prince Edward County has a Hospice? Sure you did. You did know, right? And, did you know the Hike for Hospice is happening this year? Betcha didn’t give it a second thought because, “How can you have a Hike for Hospice if we’re locked down, told to stay home and not supposed […]