Ron Thompson

Such Potential Roger often thought about the band, and what they could have been, if creative differences hadn’t derailed them. They always argued over  ev...

The moral of the #drabble: less talk, more work.

Welker to Lavrov: "Here are the facts. Close to 50,000 civilians have either been killed or injured in this war. Russia has hit maternity wards, churches, schools, hospitals, a kindergarten just this week. So either the Russian military has terrible aim or you are targeting civilians. Which is it?"

The Art of the Bluff He took another peek. A 7-2 offsuit, a really raw deal. He’d have to bluff on it. He glanced around the table. Emannuel looked smug, but he ...

Sometimes international summitry is like a poker game. Those who bluff in a spot like that don't know what they're doing.
#drabble #100words
Story at drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...

The Gate in the Middle of Nowhere Off-road, we encountered locked gates, and we had to hand our bikes across to another rider, then climb over ourselves. On one two-metre gia...

The first rule of Bike Club is you don't talk about Bike Club... What goes on on the fence stays on the fence. True story, in a hundred words.
#drabble #100words #truestory

Blurry Memories In my prairie hometown, on a Saturday night, there was often not much going on, and we teenagers sometimes crashed wedding parties. These ...

Two helpful rules for leading your life: Dance like nobody's watching. Drabble like nobody's reading. Well, here goes:
#amwriting #100words #drabble

To the Bitter End Some years ago, I watched one of those human-interest stories with which (after doling on the day’s many disasters) they close newscasts. It...

Reflections on the toll of an active life. My latest drabble with the Exquisite Corpse writing crew.
#amwriting #100words #drabble

drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2025/06/to-b...

When Winning is Everything (Econ 100 Concluded) Assume one country is better at producing a particular “good” than others because of its “factor endowments,” or its use of technology. In s...

The final installment of my 3-part crash course in Economics. Crash being the operative word. (I'm looking at you, tariffs.)
drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2025/06/when...

#amwriting #100words #drabble #Economics

A Win for The Wind From All Directions The Canadian Nautical Research Society (CNRS) has announced its selection of The Wind From all Directions for its 2024 Keith Matthews Award, with Honourable Mention for a “Book Deserving Special Re…

Very pleased that the Canadian Nautical Research Society has bestowed its Keith Matthews Award on my novel, The Wind From All Directions. It is the first time that CNRS has recognized a novel for the award.
ronaldthompson.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/a...

Economics 100: Inequality Today’s hundred-word seminar is about how to create income inequality. First, cut taxes, and make sure the rich get 90% of the benefit. Seas...

ron.thompson.3139
My latest #drabble is Part 2 of my 3-part crash course in economics. You too can earn a university degree from the comfort of your couch.
#amwriting #100words on #Economics

drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2025/05/econ...

An Historic Encounter on Spanish Banks While visiting Vancouver recently, I did some cycling in preparation for a coming trip. One day I rode along the south shore of Burrard Inlet past Kitsilano and Jericho Beach, then onto Northwest M…

Remembering an historic encounter on the Spanish Banks, off modern-day #vancouverbc

ronaldthompson.wordpress.com/2025/05/02/a...

The world is waiting for Donald Trump's tariff announcement today. All eyes will be on him. And, narcissist that he is, he would have it no other way. Perhaps that says it all about the real purpose of this policy.

#tariffs

Birding in the Kalahari We drove along a sandy track, skidding occasionally, but mostly riding the spoor like a ball in a bowling lane gutter. Rounding a curv...

True story from the African veldt, in a hundred words.

#drabble #africa
drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2025/03/bird...

The Happy Place I’m not sure why, because it wasn’t part of my upbringing, but art makes me happy. It doesn’t happen at first sight. For my first half...

In art there is hope. A hundred words about the soothing of the savage breast.
#art #drabble #100words
drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-...

Tariff Warfare Today the government of the United States of America declared economic war on Canada. We have been attacked without justification, on false and flimsy pretenses. The facts simply do not matter to o…

Our response to the US tariffs must be resolute. Vimy, not Vichy.
rgt112015.wordpress.com/2025/03/04/t...

It's as clear as the light of day, and yet his base and minions choose not to see it.

Another example of the media sane washing Trump's dangerous nonsense - and by the public broadcaster. Shame on you, CBC.

Canada annexes 4 Nations Championship BOSTON, MA – The Canadian men’s hockey team has successfully seized the Four Nations hockey championship from their American opponents, completing their annexation of the trophy nearly halfway through...

Canada annexes 4 Nations Championship

Speak Truth, Stand Tall With callous and sadistic pleasure The tiny-handed king will savour The chaos, the hating The dog-whistle baiting The cruelty ...

Been reflecting on these. uhm, disruptive times; and how to respond. Could it be worse? I put to verse. In case you wondered, the word count is hundred.
#amwriting #drabble #100words:
drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2025/01/spea...

Democracy: The Musical I hear their tinny, amplified voices across Kraków’s Main Square, and wander over to see what’s happening. They are young Ukrainians, singin...

It's NOT a one-hit wonder; and its revival will be especially sweet. I hope people everywhere show up for it.

Democracy: The Musical
#amwriting #drabble #vss #100words #DemocracyMatters

Ron Verzuh reviews The Wind from All Directions, by Ron Thompson Ron Verzuh reviews The Wind from All Directions, by Ron Thompson (Toronto: Double Dagger Books, 2024) $22.99 / 9781990644900

Pleased to start 2025 with a new review of my novel, The Wind From All Directions, in The British Columbia Review:
"A captivating historical novel” says the reviewer, saying the book offers readers “something special”

#HistoricalFiction #RoyalNavy #seastories #BCbooks
thebcreview.ca/2024/12/31/2...

Toronto - I know you're in there...

#toronto #to #december

Global Logistics for Carefree Consumption It was produced in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, and on April 26 it began its journey towards its end-user, travelling 215 kilometres to CNE Ex...

Tis the season for consumption. We are WAY too hooked on instant gratification. Mea culpa. Here's a true story about how my shipment came straight from the factory in China. Much ado for empty calories.
#amwriting #drabble #100words #TrueStory

drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2024/12/glob...

My publisher's timely plug on Instagram, based on reader feedback.
Other reviewers' takes:
"Naval history meets Indigenous voices... groundbreaking... engagingly told..."
“Vividly portrayed... highly recommended..."
"a fast-moving adventure..."
#historicalfiction #seastories #royalnavy #doubledagger

You're welcome. I appreciate your work.

The Wind From All Directions The Wind From All Directions is a story of conflict and courage set at the edge of the known world. 1792. British naval lieutenant George Vancouver, on a mission of exploration, arrives in the Paci…

Vancouver’s diplomatic mission and his encounter with Spanish commodore Bodega y Quadra is the subject of my novel, The Wind From All Directions

#NavalFiction #RoyalNavy #HistoricalFiction #nauticalfiction #pnw #NootkaSound #TWFAD #BodegaYQuadra #Quadra
ronaldthompson.wordpress.com/the-wind-fro...

The fleet sailed to confront the Spanish navy while peace negotiations dragged on in Madrid. Finally the Nootka Convention was agreed, & Lieut. George Vancouver was dispatched to conclude its terms with the Spanish in the #PNW, in the course of an ambitious voyage of exploration.
#navalhistory

Refining the Impressment As press gangs terrorized British harbors, some sought alternatives for recruiting seamen.

This is an excellent piece on press gangs by @heart-of-oak.bsky.social.

In 1789 a confrontation between the Spanish navy and British traders led to the #RoyalNavy's mobilization. Much "ungentle recruitment" ensued to ready the fleet for sea.

#navalhistory
heart-of-oak.org/2024/12/06/r...

Thanks, Erin!

Reality 24/7 Unrestrained by the wise, abetted by toads  The Day-One dictator will soon have the codes He’ll knock allies, break treaties, he’...

My latest #drabble on Exquisite Corpse is a #poem about dumpster-fires and our inability to look away. One for the #politics of our time.
#amwriting #100words

drinkthenewwine.blogspot.com/2024/11/real...

Have a good flight. Do you see a silver lining yet to this bleak month and what's in store?