Be honest with me: how serious are you about the serial comma? Do you wade into discussions on language forums and social media brandishing citations from your favourite authorities? Do you dismiss dissenting authorities as heretics? Are there style and usage guides on your bookshelf with sticky notes and bookmarks
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wmtc: housekeeping in progress: apologies for possibly sending old posts
For a very long time, old links on this blog have not worked. This has always bothered me. It’s bad enough that I lost many thousands of comments (2006 through 2019). I live in hope that this may change, if Blogger fixes the import/export issue, but as time goes by,
Continue readingScripturient: Godaddy Broke My Blog 1
I apologize to readers who have been wondering what happened to my blog. It seemed to go haywire, with an old, out-of-date theme showing and no posts since Nov. 18. Well, the answer is simple: Godaddy — the company I use to host my blog and websites — broke it.
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: commemorate remembrance day with a good book or three
Celebrate and commemorate Remembrance Day with a good book or three Readers have told me they enjoy the themed booklists I’ve shared. Remembrance Day is an occasion to share another list. The Great War, as it was known at the time, has inspired countless authors, poets, playwrights, and screenwriters. Many
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: halloween is spooktacular at your library
Halloween Is Spooktacular at Your Library Halloween is almost here, and with almost everyone in the North Island vaccinated, be exchanging their everyday masks for spooky ones, making costumes, and trick-or-treating again. Your library is part of the Halloween fun. Haunted Vancouver Island for Kids (author reading) Tweens, teens, and
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: back-to-school: your library can help
Back-to-School: Your Library Can Help With the kids back to school, both parents and students need all the help they can get. Your library has a wealth of resources to help families succeed. The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) has a wealth of e-resources that will come in handy for
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: literacy skills are essential in our world
Literacy Is All Around Us September is Literacy Month, a time to recognize and celebrate all the many ways literacy improves and enhances our lives. As you go about your day, you use different forms of literacy all the time. Looking on Google Maps for directions. Following a recipe. Planting
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: great things are happening at your libraries
Great Things Are Happening At Your Libraries Our North Island branches of the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) are back to our full pre-covid hours, and back to normal – or better. Port Hardy new hours and programs Have you heard the good news? The Port Hardy Library is now
Continue readingwmtc: from the archives: all over the world, i tell people where to go
On our recent trip to Oregon and California, I made a note every time someone asked me for directions. That may seem like an odd thing to track — unless you’re well-established as a magnet for The Lost. Not the spiritually lost. The physically lost and uncertain. On this trip,
Continue readingwmtc: chuck close, rest in peace
The artist Chuck Close died last week at the age of 81. He was an incredibly talented artist, a progressive thinker, and a diehard New Yorker who was often seen around town, especially in museums and galleries. I had the good fortune to interview Close at his studio in 1998.
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: summer reading fun for all ages
Summer Reading Club is back, and it’s not just for kids. Children, teens, and adults can all find fun reading challenges – and prizes – at your library. Even infants and toddlers can get in on the fun. SRC is all about motivating kids and their families to read during
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: stress reduction one of the top 10 benefits of reading
A regular reader of this column asked me, “I spend a lot of time reading, then I feel guilty because I’m wasting time. ….” Reading is many things, but it is never a waste of time! Here are the top benefits of reading. 1. Reducing stress. We live in stressful
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: celebrate asian heritage at your library
As I mentioned here, I’m posting three of these columns each week until I’m caught up. May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) invites you to celebrate. People of Asian heritage have lived in Canada since before Confederation, and have contributed to every aspect
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: more favourite e-resources, always free with your library card
More Favourite E-Resources, Always FREE With Your Library Card The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) offers so many “e-resources,” it can be difficult to remember them all! That’s why I’m always reminding you about the treasures hidden in your library card. Everyone with a VIRL library card has access to
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: booklists: we could use a laugh
As I mentioned here, I’m posting three of these columns each week until I’m caught up. Booklists: We Could Use a Laugh I have one last booklist for you before I write about other things for a while. As the pandemic enters its second year, we could all use more humour
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: booklists: hidden gems of historical fiction
Booklists: Hidden Gems of Historical Fiction Here’s a booklist you may want to save: historical fiction. This genre brings history to life, by letting readers view it through the eyes of ordinary people. Sometimes there’s a romance or mystery set against a backdrop of an earlier time. Often there’s a
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: booklists: hidden gems of fiction
Booklists: Hidden Gems of Fiction Here’s a list of 10 so-called literary novels. These are great reads that will move you, make you think, and maybe make you sad when they end. Here are ten novels that could be called hidden gems. Title: White TeethAuthor: Zadie SmithA big mix of
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: booklists: meet amazing people through reading
As I mentioned here, I’m posting three of these columns each week until I’m caught up. Booklists: Meet Amazing People Through Reading In my last column, I suggested ten travelogues that might tempt you. Today I’m highlighting ten memoirs – great writing by fascinating people with a unique view of
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: book lists: travel the world by book
Book Lists: Travel the World by Book In my last column, I promised you lists of books on various topics. I’ll highlight ten books in each column. You might want to clip and save them! Travelogues The pandemic put all our travel plans on hold, but we can always travel
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: happy new year and happy book lists
Happy New Year and Happy Book Lists 2020 was such a difficult year. Most of us were not sorry to see it go! Your library is here for you, dreaming of a time when we can open our doors wide and welcome everyone back inside. Do you ever wonder what
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