[Ken Gray] I have long admired the writing of Barbara Kingsolver. From her debut novels The Bean Trees and Pigs in Heaven, her early non-fiction essay collection High Tide in Tucson, her novel The Poisonwood Bible, and most recently the epic Pulitzer and Women’s prize winning Demon Copperhead I have enjoyed her intelligent and insightful... Continue Reading →
Trump didn’t dismantle democracy. He rewired how we participate in it—and what we expect from it. James B. Greenberg on Substack Jul 04, 2025 Donald Trump didn’t just bend the powers of the presidency to his will. He reshaped the cultural ground it rests on. The transformation wasn’t limited to policy or institutions. It reached... Continue Reading →
Reposted from Jim Hodgson on 2nd Jul 2025 In a new document, Catholic church leaders from across the Global South blasted the “openly denialist and apathetic stance” of “so-called elites of power” in the industrialized world who pressure their governments to back away from much-needed mitigation and adaptation measures. Preparing for the next United Nations... Continue Reading →
[Ken Gray] Yesterday on Canada Day I suggested that a core part of Canadian identity is a desire for, and an experience, of freedom. Already thinking along such lines I appreciated this following post from the Centre for Action and Contemplation (Richard Rohr) on the act of freedom. When freedom becomes more than a concept,... Continue Reading →
"Where are the Canadian carrots?” Kathie asks. “They’re still in the ground” I reply. As for lettuce, we can access local supply from Okanagan Falls back home, while on holiday options were more limited. We snatched some American cucumbers from the stalls by the store entrance but later exchanged them for some Canadian veg we... Continue Reading →
Reposted from James Greenberg on Substack. Jun 27, 2025 -- As always, excellent and timely analysis from James Greenberg, Anthropologist and Social Ecologist How Market Logic, Structural Scarcity, and Political Abandonment Are Hollowing Out the Future The old promises are collapsing. Growth no longer lifts all boats—it lifts yachts. Progress no longer means shared prosperity—it... Continue Reading →
Now fifty years since I graduated from Victoria’s Oak Bay High School I have fond memories of wood shop class. Lacking an eye for detail coupled with insufficient powers of concentration I particularly loved making bowls on the wood lathe. I likely created more shavings than bowls, but it was wonderful fun. When invited by... Continue Reading →
It was a pleasure to visit my former congregation, the Church of the Advent in the parish of Colwood and Langford a few days ago, not only to enjoy lively worship, music, preaching, and community. I attended in order to acknowledge the leadership of a young Anglican, Taylor Gossman. I did so in my capacity... Continue Reading →
[Reposted from Anne Lamott on Facebook] I said to the kitty as we were getting up this morning, “I wish I had better news for you.” I didn’t want to get out of bed, but I had to let the dog out. And I turned on the news: Shock and awe again, same old same... Continue Reading →
This is a repost from Timothy Snyder's Substack post published Thursday June 19, 2025 It was a thrill to march at the No Kings Rally in Philadelphia on Saturday with friends and about a hundred thousand people. On the stage, I led a chant of "no kings -- freedom," and I tried to explain three... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 