THE CURSE OF PETTY BUREAUCRATS.

If I hadn't been there myself, I would scarcely believe that adults in charge of disabled children could be so feckless and corrupt. Yet it did happen and I'm not the only one who witnessed the climate of inbred mistrust at Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind. From a report by an anonymous supervisor at my dorm, here's his conclusion regarding the abuses of the public's trust which these individuals committed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- To conclude, these are the questions that we try to give an answer to, in order to console the Resident boys and girls who are so bewildered. The trampoline should not be used, as Mr. Freemantle was angry; the Bowling Alley has been closed because Mr. Armitage has said it must be closed; you must give 'your urine because Mr. Freemantle has said so, and it is wanted for some tests (one blind boy asked me whether this would mean that they were going to have an operation). What is the real reason for the snacks ending? Why has Mrs. Pearson got all the keys to the Tyler House Boys' lockers, when they should be in the hands of the appropriate Instructors? Why are the drawers of the boys gone through regularly when nobody is present or on duty? Why should the children be made to walk on the paths, though there are acres of available grass? WhY is there so much resistance in letting the kids go on regular camps? One of the reasons is that Mr. Bryce complains he's not the bus driver. ----------------------------------------------------------------- I wish I had this shocking report when I wrote my Deliverance from Jericho: Six Years in a Blind School memoir. It filled in many blanks and explained a large number of arbitrary decisions made by the administrators. Please check my book link for more information regarding my memoir of those times. You're welcome to e-mail me directly with your questions or comments.

EMERGENCY PLANNING TIPS FOR PETS.

No matter where we live, disasters strike with shocking suddenness. When preparing for eventualities such as quakes, floods, blizzards, or fires, remember to locate a place where your pets can be cared for during the emergency. Shelters for people generally won't allow evacuees to bring their dogs, cats, or other animals with them. Though many residents of northern Alberta lived in fear of grass fires eleven years ago, I had additional worries on my mind. I mentioned them in my When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies memoir. Here's an excerpt from that paperback which shows the additional difficulties I faced from a prairie fire raging out of control some miles away. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The spring of 2001 was extremely dry. There were numerous forest fires around the Redwater area. Some people lost their houses to the fire and one church member's farm was partially destroyed. Given that I had a great deal of trouble getting Gideon to the vet, I worried about how I'd evacuate with two rabbits. Emergency shelters don't allow pets of any kind. That meant I would have to either leave the bunnies behind or find a friend to keep them for a while. I prayed hard in those days that the fire wouldn't come near my home. After weeks of fretting about the possibility of my house burning, the firefighters got the blaze under control. ----------------------------------------------------------------- When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.

THE LOVEABLE TROUBLEMAKER

The season which rabbit shelter volunteers and rescuers dread is almost upon us. Parents, many warned by news stories about not buying a bunny for Easter, bring in their rabbits, which once seemed so cute, to the shelters. Unless a person is prepared to clean up occasional puddles, rabbit-proof the house, and take time to research the needs of bunnies, they would be much better off buying their children stuff toys. From When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies, here's an excerpt showing both the frustrations and joys of living with a house rabbit. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Neutrino started giving me problems again that spring. I walked into the library to get something from the desk and I stopped suddenly and sniffed. There was a bad odour in the room and I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. After searching for a while, I noticed a large, dark stain on the carpet next to the door. Neutrino had been wetting there regularly and I'd been too busy to notice. I realized it hadn't been just a one-time-offence after all, so I placed a litter box over the spot, hoping my bambino would get the hint. He just wet next to it. People told me that rabbits hate strong scents, so I used some after-shave on the spot. Neutrino ignored it. Even vinegar didn't deter him and I knew of no other solution, so I mopped up his messes, hoping that things would get better. Naturally, the little guy also gave me pleasure along with problems. One day, I decided to fill his cardboard tube full of junk such as empty aerosol cans, crumpled newspapers and plastic lids. Neutrino enjoyed clearing out the tunnel. To him, it was like having a warren and he took his excavation duties very seriously. He'd push out the junk and I'd stuff it in behind him. I can't say for sure if he disliked me doing that. However, his tunnel stuffed with toys sure kept him occupied. ----------------------------------------------------------------- When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.

THE HIRELING

Have you ever been under the authority of a person who was just doing his or her job? I had that experience many times, particularly in May of 1968. While attending Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind, a supervisor took us boys to the Pacific National Exhibition. Instead of enjoying the outing with us, as the grade five teacher did a few weeks earlier, he just did his duty. In Deliverance from Jericho: Six Years in a Blind School, I related the events of this excursion and how it lacked the warmth of genuine care. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Moiarty brought us to the exhibition as well during May. This was no sacrifice for him, compared to Mr. Lao's generosity, since Jericho funded the outing. Even so, we did have fun and the weather was warmer than when we went with Mr. Lao. This fairground visit also had its troubles. I made the mistake of wedging my brown Hush Puppy shoe toes under the roller coaster seat in front of me. When I stepped out of the car and glanced down, two black blotches covered my toes. Dread filled my mind since I knew Mom would yell at me the minute she saw that. At supper time, our supervisor bought us each a hot dog and fries from a stand. Though I ate mine slowly, the meal seemed inadequate. "Could I have another hot dog, please?" I asked. "Be glad you got those," Mr. Moiarty barked. "People don't owe you a living, you know." I shut my mouth and tried to put the half- empty feeling in my belly out of my mind. The sun had set when our supervisor decided we should return to the dorm. Just as Mr. Moiarty was ready to walk us to the bus stop, Jimmy thought he would have one last ride on the roller coaster. While our supervisor's back was turned, he sprinted through the gate and onto the ride. It pulled away from the platform before any of us noticed Jimmy was on it. When Mr. Moiarty discovered that he was one boy short, he ordered everybody to stand next to the ride until it ended. The whole group was upset at Jimmy when he stepped off the roller coaster. "Do you realize you made everybody wait while you took one more ride than everybody else?" Mr. Moiarty glared as Jimmy mumbled an apology. That was only the start of our dorm mate's mischief. On the bus home, Jimmy decided to steal a fist-full of Buzzers, the transit company's newsletter. Fortunately, our supervisor was able to flag the bus and return the stolen papers. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Deliverance from Jericho abounds with vignettes of what from poignant experiences of homesickness to hilarious incidents of mischief. Please feel free to click on the link to my books or contact me directly for more information about them.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST.

What is this "mark of the beast" that so many preachers talk about? It comes from Revelation 13:16-17 which reads, "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." The host of The Bible Answer Man radio program, Hank Hanegraaff, recently explained that this mark was a metaphor of character, not some sort of RFID chip or tattoo as many teachers claim. This interpretation makes logical sense as John's letter, which is the last book of the Bible, was written to seven first-century churches. It has no prophetic relationship to twenty-first century believers, with the exception of Christ's return. In my upcoming How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity memoir, I wrote about the erroneous explanation that the minister of the house church gave us and how it frightened me in May of 1974. ----------------------------------------------------------------- As with that explanation, I accepted everything else which Brother Herald taught as gospel. During one Bible study in Revelation, he informed us about the mark of the beast beginning its advance. "My son, Brian, was approached by some promoters of the mark at his job in Fort McMurray," he began. "They wanted him to sell their tattoo banking machines for them." He opened his Bible as he continued, "It says in Revelation, chapter thirteen, verse sixteen, that no man may buy or sell unless he has the mark in his hand or forehead. These machines tattoo a person's right hand with numbers which glow in ultraviolet light. It's pretty hard to misplace your hand, whereas credit cards are easily lost or stolen." While we absorbed that, he continued, "Brian informed me about this and I told him it was nothing less than the mark. He told those men never to come back with their satanic machines or he'd bust their faces." A chill of fear shot through me. "Will it come to Edmonton soon?" I asked. "I believe it will, and it will come quickly," Brother Herald replied. The chain stores will soon own every aspect of food supply. The banks already want people to use the MasterCharge cards so it will condition them to accept the mark. This is why we must save up food for the day when we can't buy it in the stores." ----------------------------------------------------------------- How I Was Razed is the testimony of how God revealed his true character to me after charismatic house church elders misled me for more than fifteen years. You're welcome to contact me directly for more information about this upcoming paperback.

AN OLD BUNNY WITH SPRING FEVER.

Like us, animals slow down as they age. They also are subject to many of the same diseases which restrict and afflict us in our senior years. From When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies, here is a touching vignette about the time a seven-year-old bunny showed me he could still frolic like a youngster. By the way, "binky" is a term that some rabbit lovers use for an ecstatic leap of pure pleasure. ----------------------------------------------------------------- One May evening, I decided to lie in the living room doorway with my camcorder. I watched Neutrino and wondered what my bambino would do once he noticed that the door was open, even though my body was blocking the way. As I aimed the camcorder, Neutrino began dashing back and forth along the runners. Then he started binkying for about ten minutes. After his frisky spell ended, Neutrino flopped contentedly by the sink. How sweet that my darling mischief-maker could express his joy so freely. I hadn't seen him that excited in ages. It was like having a young bunny again and that gladdened my heart. ----------------------------------------------------------------- When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.

GASTRO-INTESTINAL STASIS: a valid reason to panic.

Have you ever had a rabbit who refused to eat? Chances are that he or she suffered from gastro-intestinal stasis. Since bunnies die in a few days from this digestive malfunction, they need immediate veterinary attention. In When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies, here's what I wrote about the time when my beloved bunny, Gideon, seemed to have gastro-intestinal stasis. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Gideon gave me quite a fright in May. He hadn't eaten much and his droppings were only about two millimetres in diameter. I called the Redwater Vet Clinic in the morning and asked if I could bring my fur-clad bunny lad in. Then I began the frustrating process of trying to get a lift into town. Most of my church friends had day jobs, so they couldn't drive me. I asked Pastor Wayne if he knew someone who could help and he had a hard time thinking of anybody who would be available. I finally found a ride into Redwater. Gideon was highly unimpressed at being stuffed into Harry's carrier. I had to use that one because the door on the purple carrier was broken and I didn't get it fixed in time. And off we went to the vet. I was in a bit of a panic because the doctor had to go to an emergency call and he wasn't sure when he'd be back. Luckily, the vet was there when we arrived. I left Gideon in their care and went shopping to make use of my trip. When I returned to the clinic, my bunny wasn't quite ready yet. I waited for the vet to finish checking his mouth and the doctor discovered that Gideon had something, he didn't say what, stuck between his incisors. No wonder the poor dude hadn't eaten his pellets or hay for the past three days. The vet had to anaesthetize Gideon in order to examine his teeth. When we arrived back home, Gideon was very pleased when I let him out of the carrier. As soon as the anesthetic wore off completely, he went to his bowl and ate some pellets. Then he hopped into his litter box and munched on some hay. After a few minutes, he drank some water. I was relieved that he was eating again. Though the visit cost me about sixty-four dollars, it was well worth it to have my little prince eating normally. ---------------------------------------------------------------- - When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.

WOLVES DISGUISED AS SHEPHERDS.

How cruel can people be? In my life, I've had certain individuals say many hurtful things to my face or behind my back. One of the cruellest lies came from a man who I once trusted with all my heart to tell me the truth. In my upcoming How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity memoir, I recalled the evening in May of 1974 when i asked the minister of the cultic house church I attended why I was born with poor sight. Below is his heartless and unbiblical explanation. ----------------------------------------------------------------- This most recent failure of my faith nagged at me day after day. When Brother Herald invited our questions at the end of the next mid week Bible study, I burst out, "Why did I have to be born with bad eyesight?" He drew a deep breath and explained, "God gave you a choice of where you would be born, but going through the birth canal erased your memory. This is why we don't remember our pre-birth existence. God showed you the two choices you had and this one seemed better to you. We all were given an opportunity to be born in a different family." "You mean I could have been born somewhere else?" "Yes, and perhaps in another time. You chose to be here in this age. You could have been born with sight, but in a different country and time. You could have been one of those starving Third World babies we read about which die in the bondage of their religion. You could have been one of those Muhammadans in the Middle East. Your sight wouldn't help you to be saved, you know." ----------------------------------------------------------------- How I Was Razed is the testimony of how God revealed his true character to me after charismatic house church elders misled me for more than fifteen years. You're welcome to contact me directly for more information about this upcoming paperback.

DANDELIONS ARE DANDY BUNNY FOOD.

To most folks, they're a noxious weed. These aggressive plants grow everywhere, even in sidewalk cracks. I'm told by certain people that dandelions also emit a poisonous gas that kills the surrounding vegetation. Whether or not that's true, the broad leaves of these weeds steal precious sunlight from neighbouring plants. Provided that they haven't been sprayed with herbicide or have parasite larva from animal droppings hidden within their leaves, dandelions are healthy for bunnies to eat. Of course they need to be given in moderation as they contain a large quantity of calcium. This mineral causes sludgy urine which might lead to urinary tract problems. Rabbits also can have runny stools if they eat too much of those greens. From my When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies memoir, here's a cute vignette of one bunny's joy at receiving freshly picked dandelions. ----------------------------------------------------------------- I couldn't help but laugh when I gave Neutrino some spring dandelions. He was thrilled and he dragged the entire plant out of his cage and ate the weed there instead. He eyed me warily whenever I stood too close. "I'm not going to steal it from you," I admonished. I noticed that Neutrino only acted that way with exceptionally good food. He never once ran with hay in his mouth. What made me most happy was that those goodies didn't cost anything. ----------------------------------------------------------------- When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.