Author Archives: Brendan

Political ideologies explained!

Consider this a work in progress. Democracy: – The government takes some of everyone’s money and puts it in a great big pile. – Then we all vote on who gets to be in charge of the pile. – Those … Continue reading

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Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I used to go walking in the Gatineau Hills National Park almost every day, in the summer and fall. Since the snow fell, and since I was raised to full-time at the college again, I haven’t been in it much. … Continue reading

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Too many people, or too much misanthropy?

Back in 1968, Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb. In a chapter called “A Dying Planet” he listed a number of threats to the stability and diversity of global ecosystems, and then concluded that: the causal chain of the deterioration … Continue reading

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Just for fun: Put a Pagan in the Papacy!

This morning, the news broke that Pope Benedict XIV is resigning, due to old age and poor health. Fair play to him for resolving what was, I am sure, a difficult decision. After I heard the news, I posted the … Continue reading

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The Will to Dwell in an Enchanted World

Let’s look upon the world with new eyes. Let’s listen to things with different ears. Let’s ask some unquestions and dig for nonanswers. We have learned that the worship of the gods is not what matters. But why did we … Continue reading

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The worship of the gods is not what matters

“The sacred, I shall say, is that which acts as your partner in the search for the highest and deepest things: the real, the true, the good, and the beautiful.” — Circles of Meaning, Labyrinths of Fear I don’t normally … Continue reading

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One of my best friends died today.

It is not the first time in my life that someone important to me has died. But for some reason, the news of the death of my friend Jane Estelle Tromblay is affecting me very deeply. Jane and I were … Continue reading

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Bren’s Adventures in Self Publishing

In January of last year, I decided that my “theme” for 2012 would be “the year that I re-invent myself.” And I decided to use self-publishing to do it. Back in the last months of 2011, I re-opened a novel … Continue reading

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Review of Autumn Violets by Nuala Reilly.

“Autumn Violets” by Nuala Reilly is a romance novel about the long and measured courtship of Moira and Jack, the former a small bakery owner, and the latter an advertising designer. Both of them begin with cynical attitudes towards relationships. … Continue reading

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Some thoughts about Chief Theresa Spence

People do not go on hunger strikes for fun. Keep that in mind as you read the following. Today I visited Victoria Island, in the Ottawa River. That is the place where Chief Theresa Spence, of the Attawapiskat First Nation, … Continue reading

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