[Ken Gray] This past week has been a horror show of personal technological challenges. I am normally pretty good at solving glitches, at creating digital workarounds, at reaching out to support systems when necessary. This past week, however, was different. In preparing for a funeral I needed to edit a Youtube video. Easy-peasy I thought.... Continue Reading →
Not my usual Sunday Sermon
I am away from church today, a rare space of rest from preaching and presiding. On such days I have more time to read and write. I am currently reading "East West Street: On the Origins of "Genocide" and "Crimes Against Humanity"" by Philippe Sands. It is a memoir and history of the origins of... Continue Reading →
Stephen Colbert’s Tonight Show fades to black TONIGHT
The Trump critic and satirist has also been one of the most thoughtful, funny, and genuinely decent people on television Reposted from Robert Reich May 19, 2026 Friends, Stephen Colbertโs last show is this Thursday evening. CBS refused to renew his contract, and you know exactly why: He mocked and criticized Trump. CBS says itโs... Continue Reading →
I would love to see this exhibit myself
Driving School' was shot by Fred Herzog in 1959. Photo courtesy Equinox Gallery/Estate of Fred Herzog Brendan Kergin at Vancouver is Awesome.com A Colour Legacy is the name of a recently published book and incoming exhibit celebrating Vancouver's most famous street photographer. Later this month, the show will open in Vancouver with more than 60... Continue Reading →
Call the Midwife — Kindness on full display
Credit: Neal Street Productions/BBC Posted by Michelle Collins on May 12, 2026 via NPR SOME SPOILERS โSometimes, our new beginnings have been yearned for. We have chosen them. Others lie in wait...โ Jennifer Worthโs words (as spoken by Vanessa Redgrave) kick off the season finale. This final episode offers a deeply moving look at what... Continue Reading →
This looks so interesting, and beautiful – ‘Silent Friend’ will change the way you see the trees
May 8, 2026 - Review published on NPR Fresh Air by Justin Chang Some movies will forever change the way you look at plants. Unsurprisingly, many of them are thrillers and science-fiction films, like Little Shop of Horrors, The Day of the Triffids, or, more recently, the mind-controlling flower freakout Little Joe. You could probably... Continue Reading →
Genius in a frame
What is it about a painting? One image in two dimensions, a snapshot in this age of streamers โ how can it compete for our attention? One answer could be the simple fact of genius compressed into a frame. The quote above, from a newsletter from The Observer, has me thinking about the photographic task,... Continue Reading →
Such a good news story
Reposted from The Independent Sunday 19 April 2026 NPR (National Public Radio/US) received its largest-ever donation from a living donor this week when billionaire philanthropist Connie Ballmer gave $80 million to the media organization. Ballmer โ a former member of the NPR Foundation's board โ told the Wall Street Journal that she poured money into... Continue Reading →
Literary guardrails in an AI world
Ken Gray, with materials from CBC News, Apr 12, 2026 Jenna Benchetrit explores AI implications for writers. โHi; my name is Ken.โ โHi Ken.โ โI occasionally use AI.โ โWow; did you make that up yourself Ken? Or did AI help? And if it did, how did AI help you?โ โNo I did not use AI... Continue Reading →
โGod does not listen to the prayers of those who wage warโ Pope Leo XIV
How the first American pope is reclaiming Christian values from the Trump administration By Christopher Lamb at CNN Flying to Algeria at the start of his landmark tour of Africa on Monday, Pope Leo had a choice. He could ignore Donald Trumpโs extraordinary overnight social media tirade against him, or he could tackle it head... Continue Reading →