Author: Derek

How did you feel when you learned the Chinese had built a railroad to Lhasa? For myself, I was astonished by the sheer engineering prowess of the project. The railroad rises to 16,000 feet above sea level, as high as light...

With the political distintegration of Canada periodically appearing a very real possibility, Canada Day has become an occasion for those in favor of national unity to promote their cause. July 1 each year is the Canadian...

It looks like my first attempt at political punditry has gone horribly wrong. The four-way split in the vote (Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Quebecois, and New Democratic Party) that existed when the election was called in December...

Comparisons with U.S. presidential elections are inexact because Canadians are voting, not state by state, but riding by riding for representatives in the House of Commons. Still, some idea of the broad regional differences in...

[From the diaries by susanhu. Wonderfully clear write-up, Derek. Thank you from a sadly ignorant U.S. neighbor.] “Battle of Marston Moor, sixteen-forty-four!” our high-school history teacher would chant, grinning in...