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K. Snippets of Gratitude

With a grim nod, W.S. slipped around me to withdraw a book from the mahogany bookcase. “This–– this was my late sister-in-law’s child.” He handed it over. ‘Ribbons of Steel: The Story of the Northern Alberta Railways.’ I leafed through. The photos were sharp, and the paper was high-quality. On the overleaf of the dustjacket…
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I. Soundtracks (con’d)

Like many Canadians of my generation, I became a devotee of Saint Leonard from the first hearing ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen.’ Through the mid-1970s, I eagerly awaited the release of each of his albums. I was never disappointed in his music until ‘Death of a Ladies Man’ (1977). The excuse that the nearly unlistenable record…
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J. Of Beauty and the Bestial (con’d)

As in an art gallery, one could keep moving along the cordons or momentarily linger before the galleries. The models were arranged on softly lit pedestals–– each accompanied by a description of the biological functions displayed. Some models were stripped down to artfully reveal a particular bodily system (circulatory, digestive, skeletal et. al.). Exhibits that…
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J. Of Beauty and the Bestial (intro.)
Introduction: With apologies to real scholars–– the title of this set of thematic pieces was derived from a rudimentary reading of Aristotle’s ‘Metaphysics’: In it, he referenced ‘kalon’ [beauty] as that which reflects harmony and symmetry. Such harmony and symmetry are most readily manifested in the natural world. For example, in beholding a beautiful landscape one can…
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I. Soundtracks (intro.)
What could be more joyous than the smell of honeysuckle and sour mash whiskey along with sinful fornication on the bank of the baptizin’ creek? -‘Highlights of a love-hate affair’
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G. Travel Vignettes (intro.)
Before entering a pit, our group was to ascend half-way up the mountain overlooking Potosi, which at 4,050-meter altitude, is itself one of the highest cities of the world. The tour promised a glimpse inside a working mine with an incredible history: over four centuries, the ‘rich hill’ had produced more silver and possibly more…