So, what's this then?
Where this author, reformed journalist and retired consultant waxes on with cringe-worthy yet occasionally humorous personal anecdotes, the odd essay (emphasis on odd), short videos, favourite tweets and Facebook posts, shameless plugs for favoured projects, and whatever else tweaks his fancy. There might even be the random free giveaway, depending on how the budget holds up. If you subscribe to My Sunday Reader, a new edition will be coming to your inbox every Sunday. The best part? It’s free! Please subscribe and feel free to share... widely.
This week: a 4-minute read
When right is right
We’re going to share this story with you as proof you are going to read stuff here you’re not likely to find anywhere else. So, here it is: this year, Sweden marks the 57th anniversary of Dagen H.
If you’re wondering right about now what the hell we’re on about, bear with us. Dagen H is short for “Högertrafikomläggningen” (try saying that fast five times) or H-day for short.
That was the day in 1967, September 3 to be precise, when Sweden’s motorists switched from driving on the left-side of the road (as in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the odd Caribbean island) to the right-side (as in everyone else.)
Here is a photo of what ensued which, as you might surmise, was not a lot of fun:
So why do it? Well, almost every country where drivers are on the left side is also an island, which means they don’t share a border with, well, anyone. Sweden was not like that, which meant when Swedish drivers crossed the frontier into the jurisdiction of right-side neighbours—Norway, Denmark, Finland—much confusion ensued. Being organized, clean and pleasant folks, the Swedes couldn’t have that.
However, according to Wikipedia, there is another explanation for why. Scandanavians are the modern-day descendants of the Vikings, who fashioned a fearsome culture from such activities as pillaging their neighbours and violating their women. As most people are right-handed — about 90 per cent of the population — driving on the left meant your typical Swedish driver’s dominant hand was free to hold a weapon: an axe, for instance, or in modern-day Sweden, a hockey stick. That wouldn’t be right … or left.
Dems fightin’ words
Speaking of drive-by violence, I had this conversation with my lovely wife the other night while we were watching TV:
ME: “Do you feel that if I said, ‘You sound like your mother,’ that would be the worst thing I could say to you?”
HER: “Quite possibly.”
ME: “I can think of something to say that would be even worse.”
HER: “What’s that?”
ME: “’You sound like my mother.’”
HER: “Yeah, that would be worse.”
A period of silence ensued.
Ear ya go
This pic was sent to me by my cousin Doug in Mississauga, Ontario. It’s not terribly political, unless you wish to consider it a commentary on Donald Trump’s tone-deafness. However I do believe even Vincent van Gogh would approve.
Shameless plug follows
The book ‘Lethbridge: A Tale of Love in a Time of War’ is my labour of love, available in digital, paperback and audiobook format via the website lethbridgetale.com. The digital book is on sale for just 99 Canadian cents. That is a fine deal and I believe an even finer read. I respectfully ask for your consideration.
