Perceptions, sex, and the need for change (2)

The reform-minded Pope Francis tackles sexual abuse, and we give a longer perspective on it.

Perceptions, sex, and the need for change (1)

This two-part article will conclude with the problem of clergy sexual abuse. But first: love in a golf cart.

From bad to verse: 2. Reason to believe

The story of Rita MacNeil [photo from Rita’s concert “Songs my mother loved” — at Sarnia, Ontario where my wife and I spoke with her.]

From bad to verse: 1. The holding environment

First impressions and bad starts do not always decide outcome. The story of Alden Nowlan, poet.

Women in the remote north (2)

The second installment about life far away from “the civilized south.”

Women in the remote north (1)

Women have lived in the far northern regions for thousands of years without writing about it. But author Mary Winchell found herself on the windswept Aleutian Islands by the Bering Sea, a contrast to the warm Caribbean where she had wanted to go — yes, “found herself.”

Handles, frames, and oddly popular interests

Many people, as I’ve found out, help their mental health (knowingly or unknowingly) by their interest in various aspects of history, often surprisingly so. Following on from last Friday’s post, we see how this works for them.

“We are there when you need us”

One of the positives in my life is a weekly get-together with a number of men for social interaction, discussion and mutual support, often in a room behind our fire-fighters hall.  One of the guys recently talked about coping with life, and I have added some things to that for today’s blog post.