It is past my bedtime, and I should be cooking rather than blogging, but this may be my last chance to write in several weeks, so I'm going to bite the bullet. Many months ago, when I started this blog, I had intended to write an entry about conversations that I had had with strangers in downtown Toronto (and KW). Most of these stories came from ( Read more... )

In two days it will be Remembrance Day, our national memorial for the Great War (and similar events) that is widely and consistently recognized by Canadian citizens, but that somehow doesn't warrant a statutory holiday. I wasn't alive for the Great War, and I have never spoken with someone who was. Although I have relatives who were alive during ( Read more... )

I recall reading from Nietzsche a critique of Darwinism that ran somethings like this... Those arguing that the diversity and specialization of the species was driven by a need for survival (what Nietzsche called the "Will to Life") have it wrong. They have it wrong because where life is possible, it does not merely exist or get by: it thrives to ( Read more... )

I was on my way home this evening when I came across a guy lying on the ground. This is not unusual in downtown Toronto, but what was unusual was that this guy was bleeding, groaning quite loudly and not moving all that much. I stopped and asked him if he was ok. It was a stupid question, because he was clearly in need of medical attention. ( Read more... )

When I began blogging last Summer, I stated that this would not degenerate into a journal. A journal is the lowest form of blog, in my opinion, because it has a very small potential audience. At worst the audience can be as small as one: the author. Nonetheless, I am at present desperate to believe that someone might read what I have to say and ( Read more... )

My last post was made about a week before I began working my first permanent full-time job. The experience has been a bit of a downer. I enjoy my work,even if I spend a large portion of each day swearing. But work puts a huge dent in my time and energy. The last month has been especially bad, because I have also been moderately ill. Without ( Read more... )

...and how many times in life have I passionately sought what I did not need and been despondent over failures which were successes.

- A. Solzenitsin (horribly out of context, with the emphasis on 'horrible')

It has long seemed to me that there are a lot of very damaging beliefs floating around about intimate relationships. In today's post I aim ( Read more... )

I have on occasion mentioned Canada's First Nations. The topic of indigenous peoples in North America is not one to which I feel I can do justice. Partly, of course, this is because I have been indoctrinated to believe that it is not my story to tell. To some extent, however, I do have a story. I am not native myself, as my friends will know, ( Read more... )

..wait, no, that doesn't seem very plausible ( Read more... )

I recently read the book The Natashas by Victor Malarek. I had been aware of it for almost two years before I went out and grabbed a copy. I learned of the book from an interview with Malarek that I hit while channel surfing; I recognized Malarek because he had spoken to my high school about some of his earlier work. The interview (of which I ( Read more... )