Nov 28 1974  Nechako Chronicle “Sense and Nonsense” Recently I have heard some interesting stories about fish. The first thing I learned was a lot of them are not really fish at all. For instance the starfish is really an echinoderm and would be highly insulted if it knew that people referred to it…

The Good Old Days by Doris Ray [Fraser Lake Bugle Mar. 17, 1982] In the 1930’s the main source of employment was hewing ties for the railroad. Roy Foote was one of the local lads who headed into the bush with a broadaxe. “I hewed ties when I was sixteen. I made ties for Alf…

February 24, 1982 Archives of Fraser Lake Bugle: “The Good Old Days” by Doris Ray In the winter of 1919-20 the first moose ever shot in the area hung up on exhibition in the woodshed at Fred Braaton’s “bachelor restaurant” in Endako. The restaurant was located next to the railroad station, and the building was…

Mar 6,1975  Sense and Nonsense Turkeys are strange birds. They remind me of one of Al Capp’s creatures in the cartoon strip Lil’ Abner. This little animal was called a shmoo. In appearance it looked exactly like the nogoodniks, which dwelt in the land of Lower Slobbovia. But the shmoos were much more obliging than…

Feb 27, 1975  Sense and Nonsense I used to be a Science Fiction nut. At the time I believed these books to be way out imaginings of the writers and in no way predictions of the future. Now I am beginning to wonder if some of the authors weren’t clairvoyant. One book I recall reading…

June 26, 1975  Sense and Nonsense Many people that you meet at house-parties seem to be musically inclined, A few are more inclined than musical but most can play a musical instrument to an extent or else are able to sing on key. At some house-parties there seems to be more musical instruments than people.…

May 29, 1975  Sense and Nonsense Almost everyone is buying lottery tickets these days. They all believe it is their turn to win and many have special rituals they perform to influence their luck. My turn has not come because I have yet to buy a ticket. There is nothing so depressing to watch than…

1974-76  Sense and Nonsense Knock, Knock Jokes, are being revived by the younger set. Who can forget the classic routines of an earlier generation of children. “Knock, Knock” had to be answered by “Who’s there?” The answer sometimes was “Jimmy”. The punch-line for that one, accompanied by appropriate giggles, was, “Jimmy a little kiss.” Hysterical….?…

1974 – 76  Sense and Nonsense Electricity bewilders and confuses me. It also scares me silly if I allow myself to think about it. The fact that all that energy is zigzagging throughout my house all day, every day, harnessed only by very small wires is something I’d rather not think about. I have been…

February 6, 1975  Sense and Nonsense This is the time of the year when the virus reigns supreme. Even six-foot-plus people are being struck down by the flu and cold bugs. In fact everyone you meet strikes up their conversation with a cough, a sneeze or at the very least a sniffle. Some people seem…