Adam Smith, an appeal to ourselves

This is an interesting quote I came across from Adam Smith. "It is not the soft power of humanity, it is not that feeble spark of benevolence which Nature has lighted up in the human heart, that is thus capable of counteracting the strongest impulses of self-love. It is a stronger power, a more forcible motive, which exerts itself upon such occasions. It is reason, principle, conscience, the inhabitant of the breast, the man within, the great judge and arbiter of our conduct. It is he who, whenever we are about to act so as to affect the happiness of others, calls to us, with a voice capable of astonishing the most presumptuous of our passions, that we are but one of the multitude, in no respect better than any other in it; and that when we prefer ourselves so shamefully and so blindly to others, we become the proper objects of resentment, abhorrence, and execration. It is from him only that we learn the real littleness of ourselves".

nature

This is a naturally occurring flower along the Ottawa. Isn't it just remarkable how beautiful nature really is - all by itself? That this type of beauty exists, quietly and discreetly, without any desire to be seen or noticed by Man, is truly remarkable. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

push off (July 2007)

As we set off for our most recent trip, we couldn't help but be taken by the wonderful natural beauty of the area. Aside from a few local motorboats, the river was peaceful. Natural beaches were everywhere. Rocks breaking the surface of the calm water. Birds. Fish. And beautiful flowers. What a great view. (Photo by Janey Marshall)

Ian, Keesh, Ottawa River Trip, July 2007

Taking a break from the paddle. Ian and I had no idea that the upper Ottawa was more like a lake than a river. beautiful, yes - but slow going. (That all changed when we hit the whitewater! Photo by Tom Marshall)

Face of the world

I rarely cut out photos from any newspaper - but this one from the Globe and Mail, I thought, was one of the most beautiful I had ever seen. I would love the orginal colour photo of this one, but the idea captured by this photo still shines through.

Janey's mushroom photo collection

Janey and I were thinking of interesting photo ideas when she came up with the great idea of phtographing mushrooms from the local area. She loves mushrooms - or anything nature-like, and I like to take photos! Great mesh. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Janey Cooking

Now I know some think Janey could kill with a kitchen, but the truth is that she is really a great cook. I can honestly say, I have never been sick, nor have I ever not wanted to eat anything she has ever made - it all tastes great! (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Kool Cat

Josh is a good sport when it comes to tough situations, and this trip we took in 2002 was no different. Four days on the Grand River in early April. Night times dipped well bellow freezing, and days peeked in the low single digits. This photo was taken just after Josh flipped the Kayak in just-above-freezing water temps. Instead of helping him out of the water though, I felt my services might better be employed in the documentation of the event (for historical reasons) - on film. Though I will not publish it here, I have a great photo of Josh in the process of seeing his ship to the bottom. Ah, a true captain at heart. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith

I am, as some of you know, in the middle of getting down to work on my thesis for my Masters of Laws degree. But I cannot help but pick up good books when I need a break from Aboriginal issues. Currently, I am at the start of a book I have always wanted to read - The Wealth of Nations. Interestingly, I was given a wonderful copy of this book by my father, who came across a 1911 re-publication of Adam Smith's greatest contribution to the study of political economics. I will, in due course, let you know how the book strikes me. Until then, and perhaps not until after my thesis is completed, we will just have to wait.

Lets go

Canoeing is not a solitary activity, but it does bring some solitude to my restless soul. At times we talk, or laugh. And yet at other times we simply drift in utter silence - our words taken by the sheer majesty of the spectacle around us. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Photo Tips

I recently went on a great canoe trip on the Ottawa with Ian and Keeshia. Janey and Sacha stayed at a campsight down the river. Ian and I set off from Deep River Ontario and I have to say, the natural beauty of the landscape was amazing. It wasn't 15 minutes and both of us had our 35mm Canons out. Check out this great website on Photography Tips www.slrtoday.com/categories/Photo-Tips-&-Tutorials

On the edge of the watershed

This is the point where all waters flow North. Where freedom reigns.  

The Quebec side of things, Ottawa River, July 2007

This is what we saw from the front of the canoe - not bad for a sunny afternoon, don't you think? (Photo by Ian Clark)

Nightfall on the Ottawa River, July 2007

Just before rock and sky become one, transformed by the night...(Photo by Ian Clark)

looking back

Keeshia and I looking back at the route we had just taken - isn't the view just about perfect? (Photo by Ian Clark)

The view from Camp Alfa

So, this is where we set in for the night - on the Ottawa just south of Deep River. The river was beautiful, with mountains hugging the banks most of the way to Petawawa. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Janey and Dave On the Ottawa River, July 2007

We didnt run this Class IV, but we did spend the rest of the day running Class II and Class III rapids. (Photo by Ian Clark)

Ice Falls

Being under this ice fall to get this photo took some planning. Everything was covered in ice and the day had been warmer than usual. Everything was starting to melt and come apart - but I survived. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Day becomes night

Because the Moose River runs into the James Bay, Hudson's Bay, we had to pull the canoe up further than normal - to avoid the tide. If the boat had been swept out, it could have been weeks until someone would have found us. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Pooched

A few cold nights, and hours on the water had us all tired out. Sacha took up her post outside the tent to secure the area. Good girl. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Standing tall

Janey's brother, and his daughter. Sept. 2006

Preparations

Preparing for the Moose. On the Moose, we ended up with some nights going as low as -10c. Cool nights made good gear key to our survival. In mid-trip, we were 300 miles from any other humans - now that is isolation. (Photo by Janey Marshall)

JMLE

Josh, braving the winter winds. We decided to climb this mountain on a whim. What we thought would be a simple one hour climb turned out to be a tough three hour one. Josh, like a trooper though, and only in jeans, made it to the top for this photo. (Photo by Tom Marshall)

Ice flows

Ian and I took our cameras out to the park to photgraph these amazing water falls. What had been, earlier that year, a raging water fall, was now a silent sheet of ice. Only the wind in the background let us know that time too, had not been frozen (Photo by Tom Marshall)

On the Grand

The two fellows in the boat are Ian M. and Adam A., lifelong friends of mine. Good buddies, and good fellows to have in a canoe. Both are very able outdoorsmen.

China locks up

The interesting thing about a place like China is that it keeps you on your toes. You wake up one morning and the buildings beside yours are gone - replaced by some new, more modern, version of what was already there. When SARS hit Shanghai however, this normally fast-paced city grounded to a halt. And the sensitive SARS issue was made worse by the fact that, for the first time in Chinese history, the government was having an extremely difficult time controlling the spread of information. In the age of the Internet, and mobile phones, nearly anyone could tell another person, either within China, or around the world, what was going on at that moment. The article to the left describes how one owner of a 'net cafe' dealt with the government's feeble attempts to control the dissemination of information in order to keep his business from becoming yet another victim of the SARS outbreak.

SARS in China

Moving to China to teach and learn Mandarin was undoubtedly the best decision I had ever made - up to the point of choosing to marry my wonderful wife, of course. I loved the unique culture and fast-pace tempo of Shanghai - but when SARS hit the headlines, things changed rapidly. At the time I was a student at Hua Dong Shifen University taking intermediate Chinese language courses. SARS changed everything. Overnight most of the international students had boarded planes back home. The streets were - all of a sudden - deserted, and those who did venture out, did so under the protection of facemasks. The People's Government, fearing unrest, clamped down on everything and everyone. Doors were locked. Walls were erected. And rumors of riots in the countryside were rampant. It was a tense time to be living in China. I remember writing this article in the middle of the night, rushing to get it out by morning for the Canadian press. Tense times indeed...

Letter to the Editor Fall 2006

As the leadership race began to heatup, so did I. Outraged by some of the things said by the leadership candidates, i wrote this letter to point out some of the more obvious blunders in legal/political double-speak...
Following this politian's argument to its logical conclusion would lead to unintended and perhaps undesired results.

Volunteer Review, Ottawa Mission, Spring 2007 (front page)

Josh and I were featured in the spring 2007 Volunteer Review. Please feel free to have a read, just click on the picture to enlarge.

Volunteer Review, Ottawa Mission, page 2

Both Josh and I volunteer at the Ottawa Mission in the addictions service's Lighthouse program. This program helps reforming addicts get back on track. Josh and I, each Friday, teach a cooking class that aims to give clients the conceptual tools needed to make good food choices. Cooking with these fellows has been one of my greatest experiences this year!

Once upon a time

Ian Clark shot this photo. He has an eye for the extraordinary in the everyday ordinary, don't you agree?

Raise a glass

A little snow

Photo by Tom Marshall

Marshall Arms

Ian and I on the Ottawa River

Me and my sisters

In uniform

My wife

Running wild

Brad and Dave, Hainan, 2002

One of the best men I know

Josh and Ian, Grand River, and the Grunmen

Kid Gloves

Grand River, April 2004

The Boys

Stumped

Me, Hayd, and Ranks

the english crew

These are the people that made my experience at Sheffield Hallam Law all the more fun. The two ladies in the photo just recently (2007) graduated with excellent marks from SHU Law with their L.L.B.s with Honours. Congrats!

MJ

This here is my Kitty. Janey and I found him in second year (1998). MJ loves the farm, eating, and sleeping - ok, mostly sleeping...he is a cat after all!

Brad, Adam, and me

Brad was one of the greatest helpers prior to the wedding, the very best of men... If you have ever had one of those friends that is always there for you, then you already know what Bradley is all about.

Hunkering Down as a storm sets in...

Adam and Josh, on the Grand River, April 2004

A long Stroll

At the Hermitage

Spring 2007 Moose River Trip

Me, watching the Pike swim upstream. Earlier that day we had also seen, up-close, a beautiful Beaver. Ah the north