The current "credit" crisis would be absolutely fascinating if it were not so terrifying. How did we get here? Somewhat like the wily coyote, we are suspended over a precipice, slowly coming to the realization that the road we were on ended abruptly, some time ago.

And how are our politicians and captains of industry ...read more

It's an incredible feeling to be able to relate the news that my mother seems to be doing great, at least as well as could be expected. Her specialists are very optimistic. She is undergoing prophylactic radiation therapy to avert possible metastasis to the brain, but it appears that the lung tumor is no longer detectable, after five rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Mom is still dealing with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, but seems to be responding (slowly) to treatment.

If you know anyone who smokes - plea...read more

Today is Rememberance Day here in Canada, and I've been thinking about "war and war's alarms", to quote Yeats. One of the books I've been dipping into a lot lately is Thomas W. Körner's wonderful The Pleasures of Counting (also availabl...read more

While we were driving past Ladysmith on our way to Victoria last weekend Pamela spotted a new little restaurant, right on the main highway, next to Ladysmith City Hall.   Yesterday we thought we'd try it out, and we we...read more

Going greener can be a whole lotta fun, as well as saving money and helping the environment. So I've discovered after buying a second hand 2004 Volkswagen Golf TDI.

We'd been talking about buying a smaller, more fuel efficient, safer, more reliable car for about a year.  Recently rising gas prices, as well as some mechanical difficulties with our existing car (the latest was a leaking water pump) had been adding some urgency to ...read more