Neil Orford

President, Recovering History Teacher/Story-Teller, Fan of Reason & Thinking. Thoughts here are all my own...well most of them.

[Mike Bechthold 🇨🇦 🇺🇦🌻 @mike_bechthold]

Nick Lloyd published a very moving tribute to Tim Cook on the one year anniversary of his passing.
💔💔💔

[Historic Vids @historyinmemes]

“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.”

- T.E. Lawrence

Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888–1935), famously known as Lawrence of Arabia, was a British soldier, archaeologist, and writer whose influence extended far beyond the battlefield. Born in Tremadog, Wales, he grew up in Oxford and developed a passion for history and archaeology. Before World War I, he participated in excavations at Carchemish along the Euphrates River. When war broke out, he became a British intelligence officer and worked closely with Arab forces led by Prince Faisal during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire. His experiences in the desert would profoundly shape his life and literary legacy.

Lawrence was also an accomplished author, known for his introspective, poetic, and deeply personal writing style. His most celebrated work, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, published in a limited edition in 1926, documented his experiences during the Arab Revolt while exploring the psychological burdens of war. An abridged version, Revolt in the Desert, followed in 1927. He also translated Homer’s Odyssey in 1932, while his memoir The Mint, describing his experiences in the Royal Air Force, was published after his death in 1955. Throughout his writing, Lawrence frequently examined the conflict between personal ideals, political realities, and the struggle to understand one’s identity.

Despite his military achievements and growing international fame, Lawrence remained a complicated and often conflicted figure. His accounts revealed the emotional toll of warfare, the difficult political compromises that followed victory, and his own uncertainty about the role he had played in history. While many admired his strategic brilliance and literary talent, others questioned how much of his legendary reputation was shaped by his own storytelling.

Lawrence’s life ended tragically in 1935 when he died following a motorcycle accident in Dorset, England. Nearly a century later, his legacy continues to inspire debate among historians, military scholars, and readers. He remains both an admired wartime figure and a controversial historical personality whose actions and motivations are still examined.

Ultimately, Lawrence’s story is about more than military victories or personal fame. His writings offer a powerful exploration of ambition, identity, loyalty, and the lasting consequences of war. Through Seven Pillars of Wisdom and his other works, he left behind a deeply human portrait of a man caught between extraordinary historical events and his own internal struggles.

[CSPAN @cspan]

Former Canada Prime Minister Jean Chrétien: "I have message for American friends...never mistake our generosity for weakness. Never mistake our tolerance for lack of determination. And never, never mistake our kindness for softness...We bow to no one."

[Captain Canadian @furmsies]

Fun fact: The last time the Canadian Dollar was on par with the American Dollar, was when Mark Carney was running The Bank of Canada.

[Neil Orford @neilorford1]

@TheDailyShow Please come do a week in Toronto. You could probably fill a Stadium!

[Neil Orford @neilorford1]

This was @ShelburneTown at 1:40EST today…😳
@weathernetwork

[Susan Delacourt (real) @susandelacourt]

This is amazing. I rarely make predictions, but glad the one in this column https://t.co/4JKuDuaRnG turned out to be true. It's a gift link and many thanks to Jims (Cuddy and Byers.) #cdnpoli

[Mark @lebatardshowfan]

My favorite clip of Dolly.

[Neil Orford @neilorford1]

@JohnLorinc Maybe Rename it Lake Melania so we know he’ll leave it alone 🤷‍♂️

[Piya Chattopadhyay @piya]

One of the smartest Canadian reporters telling Americans what’s what.

[Scott Robertson @sarobertson_]

Wab Kinew: "History will not be kind to Donald Trump, so we should never appease him. And we should fight back, which is what Canada is doing today."

[Christine Hardie 📚 🏳️‍🌈❤️ @MrsCHardie]

Remember when Doug Ford made a big announcement on TV about $750 for classroom supplies in #OntEd ?
Yah, no one has gotten that and school starts in a few weeks.
#Liar

[Neil Orford @neilorford1]

@TheDHTaylor Your wonderful editorial in the @TorontoStar about the ‘Seven Grandchildren’s Teachings’ definitely lifted our spirits in this home! No moral dilemma with those pearls of wisdom….just joy!

[Neil Orford @neilorford1]

I couldn’t agree more!
@JohnFraserOS should be the permanent @OntLiberal Leader… time to start the draft!

[Dapper Millenial @realcdnrhetoric]

Leaderless OLP. Jon Fraser should just run for leadership at this point

[TDot Resident @TDotResident]

OMG this is amazing

[Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx @CraigBaird]

If you are in the Shelburne, Ontario area tomorrow night, I will be giving a talk about my interest in history, the 17,000 km journey around Canada I am taking and more!
Free to attend, 7-9 pm!

[Neil Orford @neilorford1]

@AlexanderGlista Asked before, will there ever be suitable economic conditions to bring GO / Metrolinx regional rail transit to #orangeville ?
Still smarting over loss of the #OBRY

[Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions @mynamesnotgordy]

Local government says they will be watching the school children’s attendance very closely while local government is in session 53 days a year.

https://t.co/5icA4CWpiQ

[Neil Orford @neilorford1]

@toddtaylorr70 @acoyne Couldn’t agree more.
Can we characterize it as an ‘authority’ streak as opposed to ‘authoritarian?’