From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. There are times when we might want to despair over living in a world of selfishness. This week isn’t one of them. That’s because the first week of…
The age of the grandparent
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. There’s been little to do during this winter’s days of chilly grey overcast. So I’ve taken to thumbing through stacks of photo prints that have been gathering dust…
What’s with our winters?
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. Canada is winter country and we Canadians are winter people. So, I’m concerned about what is happening to our winters. Is the current one of above average temperatures,…
Lots of noise about little
From Shaman’s RockBy Jim Poling Sr. When you go to a 10-pin bowling alley you have to put up with a lot of noise.That’s why Prince Harry’s book Spare, released this week, seems so appropriatelytitled.…
The realities of 2023
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. The celebratory shouts of Happy New Year! are but faint echoes now, pushed into the past by the realities of today. Today’s realities unfortunately remain the realities of…
O Holy Night!
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. (This column is a story I have written and told many times. Christmas without it again would not be Christmas.) --- Fresh fallen snow protested beneath the crush…
Our roadside garbage pits
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. What the world needs now are more dog walkers like Row Iliescu. Iliescu is the Toronto woman who spends a lot of her time picking up litter while…
Winds of Change
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. The wind off the lake is furiously slapping the flag on the pole anchored in the little flower patch out front my place. There’s nothing noteworthy about a…
Who will stop the Russians?
From Shaman's Rock By Jim Poling Sr. IF I THROW stones at my neighbours relaxing on their backyard patio, other neighbours witnessing the crime will rush in to stop me. If I take wire cutters…
Fixing social media
From Shaman’s Rock By Jim Poling Sr. Whenever I read about global problems, I note climate change, serious pandemics, wars-military conflicts, poverty and hunger always top the list. I’d like to add one: social media.…
Finding a new way of living
By Jim Poling I’m not one for rewatching a movie, no matter how good it might have been. Especially if it is a remake. I made an exception recently and ordered up the 2021 remake…
Following a convoy of courage
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's RockI am proud to report that I was one of the journalists covering that heroic highway convoy. It was a courageous event that demonstrated the strength of human spirit. It happened…
Hooked on SUV
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock I have a confession to make: I am an addict. Not tobacco. Not drugs. Not alcohol. I’m addicted to a television show. It’s odd, because I’ve never particularly liked…
Learning to live in the future
By Jim Poling Sr. From Shaman's Rock The kids are back in school, which is a good thing. Excellent education without COVID-19 infections is the hope of all. Canada has good education systems with teachers…
Dreaming of life without digital
By Jim Poling Sr. From Shaman's Rock How sad that the sweetest dreams never last long, or come true. Just the other night my fantastically happy dream evaporated into the shrill ring of my mobile…
Surviving lives in the forest
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock There was no finer sight for a New Year’s morning. At the edge of a freshly snow-covered clearing behind my place stood a whitetail doe and her fawn. The…
O Night Divine!
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman’s Rock (This column is a story I have written and told many times. I’m repeating it because for me Christmas without it would not be Christmas.) --- Fresh fallen snow…
That other pandemic
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock There’s another pandemic infecting Canadians, and millions of others around the world. It’s a pandemic-within-the-pandemic and medical experts say it will continue long after COVID-19 is brought under control.…
The problems of economic growth
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock I’ve been struggling with a problem that many older cottage owners are facing. Cottages used to be family heritage items passed from one generation to the next. Passing them…
Have you arranged snow clearing yet?
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock If you managed to find regular snowploughing for the coming winter, it likely wasn’t easy and you likely are paying more for it. Snowplough operators big and small have…
Thatta boy, Will!
By Jim Poling Sr.From Shaman's Rock Suddenly, the Royal family no longer bores me to tears. I’ve yawned through years of watching the Queen deliver stultifying television addresses with her cut-glass upper-class accent. And, one…