Ginny Hostetler

Zanzibar’s ‘solar mamas’ are trained as technicians to help light up communities Around half of Zanzibar’s population of 2 million people live unconnected from the electricity grid.

Global nonprofit helps train women to become solar power technicians. apnews.com/article/tanz...

Today is the first day of Advent, and in an attempt to renew my childhood faith, I recently bought 'Frequencies of God: Walking through Advent with R.S. Thomas' by Carys Walsh, which has a poem from the great man (with subsequent commentary) for every day of this holy season.

Book cover: a woman sits on the roof of a yellow camping van, along with a dog. Title of the book: Between Two Kingdoms

Which book(s) would be on your list? 👓 📖 📚

This Physicist Says We Don’t Take COVID Seriously Enough | The Tyee We downplay the virus at our peril, warns Yaneer Bar-Yam. And children are more at risk than we thought.

This Physicist Says We Don't Take COVID Seriously Enough. Every infection increases the risk for heart disease, strokes, diabetes, dementia, de-regulating the immune system, and more. Via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...

Thank you. I think these principles could apply to other shared spaces as well.

700 times, boy with autism ran from class. He wandered one final time from home. Children with autism can be prone to wandering and are often drawn to water. Parents are often faced with the burden on their own.

wapo.st/4n0d5XC

Toronto hospital housing model ‘a gift’ to residents as ER visits reduced by half Every time Jason Miles walked out of prison, he would be bigger, stronger and meaner.

Humane and cost-saving
www.cp24.com/local/toront...

Merriam Webster NEW 12th Edition Collegiate Dictionary

We have some words for you.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

The NEW Twelfth Edition.

Made of paper.

11.18.2025

www.merriam-webster.com/collegiate-d...

If my writing about autism does anything, whether it be in my books, my columns or my reported stories, I hope it advances the idea that autistic people are whole human beings as they are with legitimate needs and inner lives that deserve to be told the same as other stories.

Quote: Not one of us was here when this house was built. Our immediate ancestors may have had nothing to do with it, but here we are, the current occupants of a property with stress cracks and bowed walls and fissures built into the foundation. We are the heirs to whatever is right or wrong with it. We did not erect the uneven pillars or joists, but they are ours to deal with now. And any further deterioration is, in fact, on our hands.

Multi-use pathway through Rockway Gardens a community concern The City of Kitchener's plans to extend a multi-use trial through Rockway Gardens is drawing criticism from frequent users.

A planned multi-use path extension could forever change Kitchener's Rockway Gardens.
kitchener.citynews.ca/2025/09/18/m...

The summer (and fall) of our COVID discontent We still aren’t doing enough to mitigate the spread of the virus

The summer (and fall) of our COVID discontent. COVID-19 is still sickening people in surprising large numbers and we are doing little to mitigate risks of the airborne virus, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/0fc7a92... via @theglobeandmail.com
(gift link)

Father making promises in Portuguese: "Daddy's going to change your diapers. Daddy's going to give you baths."

Connections
Day 2 of perfect results!
Puzzle #802
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Connections
Puzzle #801
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Come minister to me! 😉 😊

Enjoying a "slow documentary" series called Tripping, produced by TVO. The shows take the viewer on meditative journeys through Ontario's waterways. No narration or music, just the sounds of nature. Tonight's episode features the Rideau Canal.
TRIPPING | TVO Today share.google/2PDvstb509e0...

Opinion | The Insidious Creep of Trump’s Speaking Style

Oh no! (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...

fortify inside why spiritual practice matters during the rising authoritarian tide

And we each must have something that keeps us fueled through this— something that nourishes the deep parts of us.

Could be meditation or prayer. Could be making art or cooking, long walks in trees— hell, parenting will do it if you show up with the right lens.

Concrete ideas & suggestions here:

Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.

“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”

It costs a lot less to house people.

At the top, a green button reads: “Take Action.” Below it: Canada is on the verge of adopting a national standard for universal respirator use in healthcare. Subtext: For the first time, N95s would be expected for all healthcare workers, patients, and visitors — unless equally protective substitute measures are in place. Final paragraph: To our knowledge, this is the first national standard of its kind — anywhere in the world. In the background is a faint image of a CAN95 respirator. The WHN logo and a row of six colored dots appear at the top.

Headline in bold: If this CSA standard is finalized, it sets a critical precedent for other countries to follow. Followed by: It can shape global policy for decades on: • Clean air in healthcare • Pandemic preparedness • Protection of the most vulnerable Final sentence: This is about making healthcare safer — for everyone. Background includes a faded image of an N95-style respirator. The WHN logo and six colorful dots are at the top.

Bold headline: Every single person can help. Subtext: The CSA is accepting public comments until August 19. You can help make this a reality — by submitting your comment. A dark green button reads: “See caption for details.” Faint background shows a close-up of a CAN95 mask. Top shows the WHN logo and colored dots.

Canada is on the verge of adopting a national standard requiring N95s in healthcare—and your voice can help make it happen.

Connections
Puzzle #760
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Green and purple before yellow—that doesn’t happen often for me.

I'm still always shocked at the inability so many of us have to see the other person as a person, as a human being. And for so many Christians, the inability to see the other person as created in God's image and loved by God.

Stop. Use your imagination. Empathize. Show compassion.

YouTube video by 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 † The Nicene Creed in Old English — From Catholic Monk Ælfric of Eynsham (992 AD) #shorts

An ancient creed, in Old English. youtube.com/shorts/ytp36...

Attention, book nerds! 📚

Children wave down a steam engine train

One of my favourite childhood books!

Reminds me of the children's book The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit. The kids always waved at the train, and one day the passengers all waved back! 😊

Graphic showing a stained glass window, with light streaming through in shades of red, orange, pink, brown, blue, and other colors. There is a red shape of a cross at the center of the window. The text reads, "The Sick Times. Churches are ignoring the Long COVID crisis. Some say it’s at odds with Christian values. By Céire Kealty."

A series of three pie charts, representing survey responses. The chart’s title is: “COVID-aware Christians feel left behind by their religious institutions.” Text below the title reads: “These charts reflect answers from 58 respondents to a Sick Times reader survey who identified as Christian.” Answers mostly fall into the category of “Yes,” represented with light purple, or “No,” represented with dark purple. The first chart reflects responses to the question, “In the last 5 years of the pandemic, did your place of worship acknowledge the risks of COVID-19?” 60% of respondents answered “Yes,” 17% answered “No,” and 21% answered “Initially, but dropped it” (represented with a teal chart slice). The second chart reflects responses to the question, “Is your place of worship currently acknowledging the risks of COVID-19?” 83% answered “No,” 17% answered “Yes.” The third chart reflects responses to the question, “Has your place of worship’s attitude towards the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your religious participation?” 84% answered “Yes,” 16% answered “No.”

In my less integrated moments, I think, ‘I don’t want your soup; I want you to wear a respirator.’ - Rose, Episcopal priest who developed Long COVID after her first infection with COVID-19 in 2022

Christians with #LongCOVID and those still taking COVID-19 precautions feel abandoned by their religious institutions. In a Sick Times survey, the majority of respondents reported their churches are failing to acknowledge Long COVID. Some are creating their own spaces in response. bit.ly/4dRQZn7

Yeah but... the other person needs to a actually pay attention to the notifications. 😜