Recording Language on Shorthand Machines
Back in August 2024, my Northern Wilds article “Shorthand Writing: The Cryptic Code of the Past” talked about the hand-written shorthand systems of the past...
Elle Andra-Warner
Tales of Lighthouse Keepers
Lighthouse keepers had their fair share of shipwreck rescues and riding out storms. But many of them had good tales to tell, too. Here’s a...
Breaking Tradition with Christmas “Away”
Years ago, a Thunder Bay colleague told me they made a point of going away each Christmas to avoid the stress and hustle-bustle of Christmas,...
Thunder Bay’s Parade of Lights Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Thunder Bay has a great way to kick off the holiday season that’s held on the first Saturday of each December. This year, that falls...
Coincidences: Guideposts, Flukes, or Myths?
In his book, The Best Travel Writing 2010: True Stories From Around the World, editor-writer Michael McGee had an interesting observation. He wrote, “When travelling,...
Ghost Tourism: Haunted Sites, Ghost Tours & the Paranormal
Interesting conversations come about whenever someone asks “Have you visited any places you could feel were haunted?” Or, “Have you ever seen a ghost or...
Quirky Sayings Have Strange Origins
Many of us have used or heard the phrase “Holy Mackerel” when expressing surprise, excitement, wonder or disbelief. But why that fish and not “Holy...
Shorthand Writing: The Cryptic Code of the Past
It is thanks to the shorthand reporters of the ancient past—speedwriters of language—that the world has a record of historic speeches, parliamentary debates, dialogues, and...