By Bill McKibben — This article appears in the January/February 2026 issue of Sojourners Magazine — Subscribe A no sweat, no hills, planet-loving bicycle seems pretty heavenly to me. THERE ARE A few things that seem like magic to me. One is ice—when water freezes, suddenly you can glide across the surface of the earth.... Continue Reading →
What will they think of next? Can’t people just let dogs be dogs? Oh no. For some folks it’s not enough to just select a breed, find a good breeder, and invite a new dog into a household. Worked for me, so very well, for many years, and still does. No need for imitations; just... Continue Reading →
A short story by Ken Gray From a distance, the amber box on the shelf before me tells no story whatsoever. A beautifully crafted box of coloured strips is no mere bookend. Someone had taken a lot of time to assemble something beautiful for . . . God? Possibly hollow, I have no idea what... Continue Reading →
Posted by Heather Cox-Richardson In his newsletter, Krugman noted that renewables have grown explosively in the past decade, spurred by what he calls a virtuous circle of falling costs and increasing production. That circle is the result of subsidies that made renewable energy a going concern in the face of fossil fuels. Today, he points... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/2creIhQvRLw Political Primate on YoutubeTranscription and highlights, KJG The clock is ticking—and our planet is sounding the alarm louder than ever. From raging wildfires to devastating floods, climate change is no longer a distant threat; it’s a global emergency happening right now. Ah, climate change. Behold the great paradox of our age. Ours is the... Continue Reading →
I am Washington — neither the city nor the state. I am not a character in the novel which bears my name. (For the record, I am white, not black.) I am a brand name, almost brand new washing machine. I am one of a generation of household appliances replete with special features, but sadly... Continue Reading →
Bill Cunningham at work (and play) Two photographers, one living, one no longer with us, documenting our world, brilliantly. It has been some time since I have blogged on photography. It has been however one of my priorities since launching takenote.ca. Today however, I return to photography. Two recent news articles highlight the work of... Continue Reading →
Amongst other gifts and duties, deacons preach in congregations as they connect us with the wider community In fact, no sermon at all today. As I now only preach on the first and third Sundays of each month today is truly a day of rest. Instead I share a reflection on sermons as an art... Continue Reading →
[Ken Gray] As General Synod 2025 draws to a close I was delighted to learn of a conversation around disability and inclusion. As one who has lived with legal blindness since birth, and given recent acute hearing loss with a subset of arthritis challenges, I am interested to learn of this initiative. Society as a whole,... 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 →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 