By The Numbers

Mark Twain once said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Statistics is the science of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data. A problem with statistics is that numbers can hide the truth, mislead people with bad data, and mix up cause with effect. About 60% of the world’s population is…

Remote Access

For many years I would often visit a member of my Masonic Lodge who was in a nursing home. Sadly, he recently passed. D was 83. During one of my visits he told me that his TV remote had gone missing. I searched throughout his room but to no avail. He told me that he…

By The Numbers

Mark Twain once said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Statistics is the science of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data A problem with statistics is that numbers can hide the truth, mislead people with bad data, and mix up cause with effect. About 60% of the world’s population is…

Turtle Farmer

My daughter had a horse. Its stall was in a tractor barn behind the house. We also had turtles. From spring till fall they lived in an outdoor enclosure with a small pool and rocks and grass and shade. They were located near the barn. For several years, our hay-guy was a school bus driver…

Many Moons Ago

Recently I ran into a fellow I hadn’t seen in 20 years. He had been a bus driver serving the school for which I was the principal. He asked if I remembered asking him to bare his buttocks while on the bus. I replied, “Ah, no. I don’t recall that.” He reminded me that I…

Taking A Back Seat

For several years I taught in a rural high school. During my time there, and given my teaching assignments, very few students graduated without being in at least one of my classes. One fall I looked at my homeroom list. I had taught most of the students. The list included a few characters. I knew…

My Connection to King Charles III

I am directly connected to King Charles; at least, I like to think so. In 2012 the then Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited Saint John, New Brunswick. My sea shanty group was invited to perform. We didn’t sing for the royal couple, we were the opening act and sang as audience members and dignitaries…

Location Is Important

A teacher brought 2 boys into my office. They were in grade 3. She reported that they had been fighting. I had forgotten about this incident until recently. I am a bit foggy on the details; after all, it took place twenty-six years ago. I recall one of the boys claimed that the other had…

Fine Girl You Are

The Irish drinking song The Holy Ground started out as a sea shanty. It was sung by sailors as they were bringing in the anchor. My teaching career started in Newfoundland. While there I helped form a 3-member folk group. We focused on Newfoundland and Irish pub songs together with a number of sea shanties.…

Put A Lid On It

Recently I attended a live musical event. My 11-year-old grandson was on stage with a local theatrical group. It was a cast of 80 youths, ages 4 – 18. I was seated 6 rows back from the stage. Before the show began I looked to my right and scanned 90 degrees back toward the stage.…