Stories of Love and Geography: One about Linnaeus
Another one of the photos behind Desire Lines: Stories of Love and Desire. This is Sara Elisabeth Morea at the time that she married Carl Linnaeus. Not such a pretty…
Mary Soderstrom
Saturday Photo: What’s Behind a Story
Ordinarily I use only pictures that I’ve taken for this feature, but today I’m pirating (well not really, they’re bot WikiCommons pix) two photos taken by other people as the…
First Copies of Desire Lines Arrive!
And there is singing and dancing chez les Soderstrom! Lee, who hadn’t seen the cover, says, somewhat hopefully, that maybe it will be considered pornographic and will sell well. I…
Looking for a Scary Story: Check This Out
Just in case you’re looking for a little light literature, here’s a link to a story I revised and read last night at the Drawn and Quaterly Haunted Bookstore event:…
New from the Harper Pizza Shop
Maclean’s blogger Aaron Wherry quotes from Hansard today. He says that Stephen Harper’s Parliamentary Secretary Paul Calandra likened the Senate expense scandal to stealing from a pizza shop till, but…
A Little Pause While We Played with Jeanne and Thomas
Elin and Emmanuel were in Winnipeg over the weekend, taking part in the activities commemorating the 275th anniversary of Fort Rouge and the French presence in Manitoba. This meant that…
Snow in the Air? Finally It’s Getting Cold
This morning we turned the furnace on and when I went out walking it was shiveringly cold. I think that fall is finally upon us, and winter is not far…
Getting in Right in Municipal (and Other Politics): Bill de Blasio in New York City
Corruption, integrity, and transport are all being mentioned a lot as the Montreal municipal election winds toward its close, Nov. 3. But I’d like to hear a lot more talk…
The Sorry Result of 400 Years of Colonialism
The UN Reporter who just investigated living conditions in Canada’s Native communities found some pretty sorry stuff. Makes me very sad to read about the lack of sanitation and clean…
Saturday Photo: Repeat Performance
I’ve posted this photo before, but here it is again, because I like and because today is exactly like this.
Fiscal Crisis in US and the World Over? Should We Get Happy?
Like many folks I breathed a sigh of relief when the Republicans ever so reluctantly agreed to step away from the precipice on Wednesday. But we’re not out of danger,…
Day to Get Rid of Stuff: A Trip to the Eco-friendly Dump
Got rid of three dozen old batteries, a Mac that dates from 1995, several cans of paint and paint thinner, a dozen rotten planks that Lee took out of the…
Women to the Rescue? In the US Female Senators Come up with a Plan
There certainly are examples of women leaders who are just as tough, misguided and unsavory as their male counterparts: Sarah Palin, Margaret Thatcher and Bev Oda are examples. But sometimes…
SOS: Reverse Dixiecrat Solution Needed
As usual Krugman comes through: “The question for the next few days is whether plunging markets and urgent appeals from big business will stiffen the non-extremists’ spines. For as far…
Saturday Photo: Getting Ready for Thanksgiving at Jean Talon Market
Spent most of Saturday and all of Sunday either preparing for and eating our annual Thanksgiving feast. For maybe 12 years we’ve had friends and family over for a buffet…
The Urban Gardenener: Foraging in Kansas City and in the Woods
Great story in The New York Times today about serious use of invasive and otherwise normaly uncultivated plants for cooking. Linda Hezel supplies several trendy restaurants in Kansas City with…
Well, Not Really Flying Down to Rio, But Something Similar
Went this morning to the Brazilian Consulate in Montreal to apply for my visa to go to Brazil in November. I wont’ be flying down to Rio–won’t go anywhere near…
Saturday Photo: Self-Censorship
This is the photo that I’m using on the hardcopy invitation to my book launches for my new collection of short stories, Desire Lines: Stories of Love and Geography next…
Required Reading:Don’t Let Anyone Run on Your Left
Great opinion piece in the Vancouver Sun (the Vancouver Sun!!!) that compares the recent BC election and the New York City Democratic primary which saw the front runner crumble before…
US Shutdown: You’ve Got to Laugh if You’re Not Going to Cry
The New Yorker’s Andy Borowitz has been posting daily about the ridiculousness of the tragedy unfolding South of the Border. What about this: “In a special Sunday radio address, House…