Category Society

What Is This?

I came across this log lying on the ground with what appears to be notches cut into it. But why? The bark has been removed, the branches trimmed and it was just lying there. For what purpose? I’m curious to see if you can figure it out. I’m not sure if these are really clues, […]

Thoughts On Mothers’ Day

It’s not an official holiday, but today is indeed Mothers’ Day in both Canada and Germany. Elsewhere too I presume. For me, it is only the second May since my mother’s death, so the day stirs up conflicting emotions. Normally I would be calling my mother, given that she would have been in Canada and […]

Unexpected Consequences

It seemed simple enough, especially in the US, where the populace is politically divided and everyone has an opinion. Build workplace harmony by banning political discussion. That’s what they did at software company Basecamp. Employees at the water cooler could still argue religion or the merits of their favorite sports team – only politics was verboten. […]

Beautiful Weeds

Saw these dandelions growing at the edge of a vineyard yesterday. Given their location, I guess they are just as much weeds here are they are in Canada. Which is strange when you think about it. People eat the greens and drink a wine made out of dandelion – why does this flower fall into […]

How Many More?

I had decided to skip the anniversary this year, to not re-post anything about the 1970 Kent State killings. Then last night I changed my mind. The deaths of four student protestors at Kent State University in Ohio, USA, at the hands of the American National Guard on May 4, 1970, changed me. More than […]

Against The Law?

Who knew it was against the law? Good thing I’m not French. These days I work from home, so I don’t eat my lunch at my desk. When I’m hungry I walk down the hall to the kitchen, make my self something to eat and sit at the dining room table. But when I worked […]

Around The Maypole

There was a break in the clouds before church this morning, so I dashed out and grabbed a quick photo of the maypole in the market square. Seems a little hazy to me – and the rain started up again right afterward. It’s a sign of spring that I remember from children’s stories of my […]

Great View At The Top

Time to end the work week with a flashback, some thoughts forma 2015 trip to a most unlikely tourist destination: Iraq. This post was first published in December 2015. The Peshmerga guards ask if we would like some tea. I don’t drink hot drinks, but I know it would be culturally insensitive to refuse such […]

Dreaming Of Athens

One day we will be able to travel again. Where do you want to go then? Athens is high on my list. I was there for half a day in 2019, which is definitely not long enough. I visited the Acropolis, Mars Hill and a museum. I figure I need another week, just to scratch […]

Starting With A Smile

I had a post ready to go for today, but it was about government ineptitude. I thought it was perhaps a little depressing, so we’ll save it for another day. The next option was a post about government censorship. I probably should get to that one soon – before they manage to censor it. But […]