In Tim we trust
      You've landed on Mars and are negotiating the rugged terrain and electrically charged dust storms in your allpurpose, sustained-environment SUV. It's time to radio in for directions. "How do I get to the Helias Basin?" "Keep going straight to the Olympus Mons volcano and hang a right. You can't miss it. It's right across from the Tim Hortons.
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Dipping Into the Past
Town council heard competing proposals to supply electricity
      100 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 5, 1907 • At its meeting Monday night Shelburne Council heard competing proposals from John McMurchy, the Electric Securities Co. Ltd., of Toronto, and Canadian Fairbanks Co., of Toronto, to supply power to the village.
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Half way back
      Afriend who is a bit of a philosopher reminds me that in the upcoming gift-giving season most people need above all else the gift of appreciation and encouragement. He tells about a colleague who, à propos of nothing in particular, sent an email to ten friends. It said, "Congratulations on a good year. Well done".
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It's all about the money again
      Early last month, our so-called "national broadcaster" the CBC, was accused by critics of buckling under to pressure from the Chinese government in delaying the airing of a documentary on China's outrageous persecution of the religious sect the Falun Gong.
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Speakers often find themselves in trouble
      For the first time in history, a Speaker of the Ontario Legislature has lost his job because of allegations that he favoured his own party, but many others have been threatened.
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The Future. Shades of the Past - Changing the Structure of Society
      The Long Emergency! James Howard Kunstler (2005) has written about our possible recovery from the threat of the suburbia syndrome. The American dream following the second world war was to escape from the city, hence creating urban sprawl. The strategy? Concentration of services, Long commutes to work. Bigger, centralized schools and hospitals.
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Requiem for Dennis
      Afew weeks ago I wrote about Dennis' fantastic stories and his sudden death. I wrote from a dispassionate stance, including none of my feelings. The article engendered a great deal more than the usual feedback, most of it positive, which is to be expected. It feels good to compliment.
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Ready, Set, SNOW!!
      Despite the fact that December 21st, the official first day of winter, is nearly three weeks away, the amount of wind and snow that we have experienced in Dufferin County leaves little room to wonder that winter has indeed arrived.
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