The idea that you can wall build walls and create quarantines is as ridiculous as it is dangerous
When we carefully examine fear, we can see that it’s mostly irrational. Legitimate fear is a good thing, however, because it pushes us to eliminate actual dangers to our well-being. During the Cold War, the threat of a nuclear Armageddon was very real. Many of us took up the task of changing global conditions by…
From Congo Bill to Zorro, they were fertile ground for a youngster's imagination as we waited for next week's derring-do
Because my lifelong affair with the movies began at the tail end of the film serial era, I missed most of what’s been described as the genre’s golden age. But I did experience the thrill of watching a story evolve week to week. It was great stuff, or at least that’s how it appeared at…
Here are some gear choices that will protect your tablet and make recording or presentations easy and safe
If you plan on using your tablet to stream Facebook Live or Instagram, or collect footage for your next viral YouTube video, make absolutely certain it’s properly secured before you hit record. I’ve seen too many people watch in horror as their precious iPad, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire or other tablet tumbles to the ground…
A building like the great cathedral casts us moderns, who think we’re so smart, in a pallid light
Fire destroyed much of Notre Dame de Paris on Monday. The loss is impossible to calculate. Whatever rebuilding efforts the French government and the Catholic church mount, the building will never be what it was. It’s almost best that they leave the ruins as they are. But rebuild they must. I visited Notre Dame once.…
With early intervention and the right supports, children with autism can learn and thrive. But too many doors are closed to these children
“As soon as I mentioned the ‘A’ word, I knew she would not be calling me back.” This was what one of the parents I met at my preschool told me it was like trying to register her son with autism in a non-specialized local community program. Once the registrar heard the word autism, they…
Don't underestimate the importance of having a plan in place for when the inevitable happens
Every day, we make financial and health-related decisions and often don’t give these decisions a second thought. But how – and by whom – would these decisions be made if we’re suddenly incapable of making them for ourselves? You can’t underestimate the importance of having a plan in place for when the inevitable happens. And it…
It gets average grades for performance and features, but users have had a variety of problems
Kia had a landmark year in 2010. As well as dramatically increasing its sales and becoming a legitimate contender in the marketplace, it opened a manufacturing plant in the U.S. – West Point, Ga. The debuting model was the mid-size 2011 Sorento SUV. There are two engine choices: a 2.4-litre four cylinder and 3.5-litre V6,…
How do you deal with unhappiness at work? You find meaning and value in what you do
A recent study said 47 per cent of Canadians are unhappy in their jobs. Many cite lack of pay as the main reason but it’s not the only factor. Many find the work environment difficult or say their work lacks meaning. Of course, leaving a job isn’t necessarily a good thing. It can take significant…
True competition means the pursuit of excellence in partnership with your opponent
As a member of a sports reform organization, I usually write about problems and issues in sports, and how to address them. But today I’m celebrating the beauty of sport at its best. Monday’s men’s U.S. college basketball championship game was a terrific example of passion, hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork, resilience, family and true competition.…
Some familiar buzzes, croaks and tweets and a new cat-like cry as the turning of the seasons teaches anew
My British Museum 2019 Diary proclaims the vernal equinox arrived on March 20 this year, with a cryptic little note: “Spring begins.” At Skelhp, we already knew. In fact, I think spring began on Sunday, March 10, when we descended artfully on the deer-fenced garden with pruning clippers to shape some apple and cherry trees.…
Life is all about choices so if you're continually frustrated, you have chosen to remain that way
Have you ever been frustrated? Probably a time or two! Frustration isn't actually a problem for most people; it's what we don't do about it that's the problem. Frustration frequently leads to worry, anger, inaction, and stress. So who needs frustration? No one. While you probably can't avoid frustration, you can do something about it.…
Driver input these days, it seems, is decreasing incrementally
It all started with cruise control. It was, arguably, the first modern automotive convenience readily available to buyers that didn’t fundamentally involve the operation of the vehicle. When it became readily available – in the 1970s, initially in the RV industry – it was something of a sensation: a feature that allowed you to drive…
Because they enjoy feeling powerful and they like it when their targets don’t stand up for themselves
I was once asked if it was true that 68 per cent of bullying is same-gender harassment. What a great question. I’ve always contended that girls can be more vicious than boys in many ways, especially when they are in middle school and high school. Unfortunately, it’s pretty much the same when they leave the…
We’re all born with a unique and inherent capacity to do good. The trick is to put it to use
As we go through life, we’re given many pieces of advice. Those that are most truthful tend to survive the test of time, and the best advice brings enduring happiness and a sense of peace. At an orientation social before I began my first assignment as a young teacher, I sang a song for an…
What does an illegible scribble say about the writer? Certainly more than it tells anyone trying to decipher those disjointed lines
I once worked with a man who took everything slowly. His coffee. His work. Even stuffing an envelope took a day and a half. It had to be just so. The man’s excruciating deliberateness in everything was annoying and seemingly pointless – except when it came to his handwriting. He carved museum pieces with his…