Other Contributors

The concept is old. The label dates from the ’80s. But the scope and relationships of “outsourcing” are changing as the trend is growing. Another term is “contracting out.” That has negative overtones for some people but the practice supports the growth of new businesses and greater specialization. Activities that […]

I have always admired these working giants, and I am glad they are making a comeback on the farm. I suppose my feelings are, at least in part, nostalgia. I quite easily can recall, as can many of you, when the really heavy work was done by a horse, or […]

The Thunder Bay Regional Hospital is required to have a plan for providing French language service. It does, and the board recently expressed its support. But is that what we need to serve our future population best? In Canada, according to the 1996 census, 59.2 percent of the population cited […]

The Trends Research Institute in Rhinebeck, N.Y., regularly examines over 300 trend categories. Each year, it picks the 10 biggest changes in social, economic, and political structures. This year’s group is: Several of these have moved up in rank from previous years; others are new. Personally, I would like to […]

In the midst of rampant concerns about our health care system, here is some good news experience. First, I’ve had a chance to facilitate planning for the Northwest Health Network, a regional association of care facilities’ boards and staff. They are working hard to ensure high-quality, “seamless” care in Northwestern […]

Each new year reminds us to look back, and ahead, to get a sense of “the bigger picture.” The dilemma is always whether to try predicting the long term, which becomes an exercise of wild imagination; or the short term, which is an extension of what already exists. Here are […]

The “mood” of the fish–aggressive, neutral, negative–is a major consideration in successful ice fishing. Good ice fishermen will find a way to trigger neutral fish into biting, and the best of them can trigger some negative fish into doing so. Jigging walleyes is the most deadly method of all, if […]

It recently has come to our attention that the Northwestern Ontario Recycling Program is in danger of cancellation, and this concerns us greatly. The information we have received is that the Ontario government, under Mike Harris, had made a commitment to fund 50 percent of the cost of operating the […]

Well, here we are. In the year AD 2000, Anno Domini 2000, in the year of our Lord 2000. Some of us wondered what the changeover might bring. With many still scratching their heads about the outcome of “Y2K,” let’s make it a year to remember nevertheless. So much will […]

Every new year brings us the chance to cast off something old and troublesome; to look for, and in, new directions; and to make a fresh start at something good and worthwhile. Every decade seems to develop its special character. This century’s achievements have crowned those of at least the […]

Walleyes are, without a doubt, the most sought after game fish in the U.S. Midwest in the summer. But now’s a good time, too. Walleyes are often considered to be schoolers but under the ice, they seem to disperse into loose associations. Pinpointing them is often difficult but catching one […]

Over the last 1,000 years, ice fishing has changed very little. But as we near the next millennium, we are on the edge of a virtual revolution that will start the next ice age for the angler who prefers ice fishing. The problem with ice fishing, in many cases, is […]