Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

The other day, the phone rang here at home, nothing unusual about that, except the call display read Port Loring, Ontario. Now, folks around here will know, Port Loring’s not exactly teeming with people, and I can just about name everyone who’d likely be calling, and this wasn’t one of them.

Still, curiosity had me, so I let it go to voicemail first. Sure enough, it was one of those scam recordings:
“Someone has made a $700 purchase on your account. We’ve put it on hold. To fix this, press one.”

Right then I knew it was a scam.

But here’s the part that gets me. They’d spoofed a local number, making it look like this call was coming from right here in our little town. That’s the trick these scammers are using now. They know we’re more likely to trust a local call, and maybe pick up out of habit.

Truth is, they can make any number show up on your phone, whether they’re sitting in a basement in another country, or running a scam mill somewhere else. It’s all automated. The town name showing on your screen doesn’t mean the call came from here, or that your phone line’s been hacked.

Now here’s the real danger: if you do press one, or talk to whoever they transfer you to, they’ll go to work fast.

They might say they’re from your bank or credit card company, and ask for your name, card number, security code, even your PIN. Some will ask you to download something to your phone or computer to “fix” the issue, which gives them access to everything on your device. Others might tell you to move money around, saying it’s part of a fraud investigation. The truth though, it’s all smoke and mirrors, and it’s all aimed at getting your money or your identity.

And here’s something new, and a little scary. Scammers can now record or mimic your voice. That’s right. Just a few seconds of you talking, even saying something simple like “yes” or “hello”, can be enough for them to build a digital copy of your voice. And it should be noted, that once they have that, they can use it to fool voice-activated systems, impersonate you on phone calls, or even trick your family or your bank.

So here’s my bit of advice:
If you get one of these calls, hang up. Don’t press any buttons. Don’t talk to the voice on the other end. If it sounds like a serious bank issue, hang up and call your bank directly, using the number on your card or their official website — not the number the scammer used.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Lately, we have seen a lot of statues toppled, monuments defaced, and books pulled from classrooms, all because some say they represent the wrong things. The latest act, vandalizing the National Holocaust Monument in downtown Ottawa with hateful graffiti, feels like another reminder of how some people want to erase or rewrite what once was. In saying that, though, I think it is only a select few causing this destruction.

The thing is yes, many of these statues or books remind us of times that were wrong, unfair, and harsh, but tearing them down or hiding them away does not fix the past. In fact, it risks losing the very lessons those things were meant to teach. Just like the books we remember from school, these monuments and statues stand as markers of history …. sometimes painful, sometimes uncomfortable, but always important.

Another point, I believe, is that our powers that be should also not be the ones deciding to erase these reminders. Instead, they should stand firm, ensuring these pieces of history stay where they belong in public view as reminders of what was and warnings for what must never be again.

We do not have to celebrate the wrongs of the past, but we do have to remember them.

Because forgetting history is the surest way to repeat it. That’s my take on the subject!

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

So Carney’s planning to hit that NATO spending target this year, two percent of GDP. Or at least, that’s what the sources are saying. Now, I’m still leery of the man for a few reasons, but I’ll admit this could be a step in the right direction if he follows through and if the money actually goes where it’s needed most.

Truth is, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do, especially when it comes to our Armed Forces. Our air force has been working with jets that are older than most of the folks flying them, and that’s not just a figure of speech, it’s the plain truth. We even bought eighteen used F-18s from Australia not long ago, and some of them weren’t in great shape either. Truth is, half the fleet is often grounded, just waiting on parts or repairs. You can’t protect a country with aircraft that can’t get off the ground.

Now, in saying that, Canada finally did commit to buying eighty-eight brand-new F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. That deal was made back in 2022, and it’s worth around nineteen billion dollars. The first batch won’t show up until 2026, and even then, it will take time before they’re fully ready. But that’s something, and I know our pilots and the rest of the air force will sure appreciate having real equipment they can count on.

But it doesn’t stop with the air force. Our navy’s been struggling too. We’ve got coastlines on three sides, but our presence on the water has thinned out over the years. Up North especially, where Russia’s been sniffing around the Arctic, we’ve been far too slow to respond. We need more than just talk, we need proper ships that can handle the ice, working radar, and enough trained sailors to run them without burning out.

Then there’s the people themselves. The men and women who signed up to serve. They deserve better. Better pay, better housing, and proper support, not just for them, but for their families too. You can’t build a strong defence on worn-out gear and promises that don’t get kept.

So yes, Carney’s announcement might sound good on paper, but I’ll hold off on the applause until we see where that money actually goes. Two percent is just a number, what matters is what gets done with it.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

You know, when we remove books from schools or libraries….

Well, here is how I see it: Books, and the history they hold, should not be destroyed or hidden from readers. The thing is, what was written years ago carries value, no matter the language used. or how people were portrayed at the time.

Yes, some words and ideas from the past do not match today’s thinking. That is understandable. However, those books reflect the way things were. They teach us about times gone by and help us see how far we have come. Erasing them because they no longer fit modern views is both wrong and short-sighted. Bottom line is, we lose lessons from the past if we pretend it never happened.

Books such as Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and those written by Laura Ingalls Wilder showed life as the authors witnessed it. There is nothing wrong with keeping these books in our libraries, in fact, it is important that we do.

I also believe that many who push to remove these works are not thinking clearly about what they are doing. Some may be trying to draw attention to themselves rather than serve the greater good.

As someone who has written and published short stories for over 30 years, I can tell you this. Words matter. History matters. Books matter. And if we begin erasing them, we risk losing understanding, insight, and the truth of how life once was.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

You know, I have been around this world long enough to know that people often get stuck thinking the same way. They wait on the experts to tell them what can be done, or they figure if something has not happened yet, it never will. That has never made much sense to me.

My mind works a bit differently, as I do not live in a world of equations or fancy reports, truth is I live in a world of hands-on thinking, building things, fixing them, working the land, and watching how life fits together. I have always believed that a person should look beyond what others say is possible, and trust their own good sense. That kind of thinking has served me well all my life.

Lately, though, I have been thinking about the idea of finding new Earth-like planets. We already know there are some out there, places where life could take hold, or maybe already has. The closest one we know of is called Proxima Centauri b, about four light-years away. That sounds far, but I believe it is within reach if we start preparing now.

Actually, some folks are already working on ways to get there. They are building what are called light sails, large and thin, that can ride the push of laser light and send a ship across space at great speed. There are also plans for fusion engines that could use the power of the sun itself to propel a ship toward the stars.
Of course there are other pieces that will be needed too. One is building strong protective shields on the front of these ships to handle bits of space dust that could cause real damage at those high speeds. Another is giving the ships a way to steer themselves and stay on course, using smart guidance systems. And… they will need to send information back to us here at home, which can be done through powerful laser signals. All of these parts are already being worked on by good minds today.

I believe we need more than just scientists working on this. The thing is, sometimes, the best ideas come from the mechanic in his shop, the farmer who knows how things fit together, or the woodworker who understands how to make something strong and lasting. People like that are not afraid to try new ideas, or to see beyond old limits. That kind of thinking brought us across oceans, up into the skies, and to the moon. And now I believe it can take us even farther.

Now don’t take me the wrong way, as this is not about giving up on Earth, actually we need to care for this home more than ever. But we also need to be wise enough to look ahead and prepare. If we start now, if we dream and work with purpose, I believe we can build ships that will take us to new worlds.

Yea, I know, I may be an old dreamer, but life has taught me that the future belongs to those who are willing to see it before it arrives. And I plan to keep seeing what might be possible.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

I farmed for a lot of my life right here in Canada, and like a lot of old timers, I worked the land, raised my family, and lived by the values this country was built on. Fairness, freedom, respect for others, and doing an honest day’s work.

Now, I’m not against immigration, never have been, as I believe folks should have the chance to come here and build a better life. But here’s what’s bothering me more and more, some come here wanting to live just like they did back home. They don’t want to fit in. They want Canada to change for them.

Well, I say that isn’t right. Canada became what it is because of how we’ve lived here for generations, not by trying to become something else. It’s not supposed to be ten different countries inside one. It’s supposed to be one country, with room for everyone, as long as they respect what this country stands for.

And I’ll tell you, it’s not just us old timers noticing this. I hear the same thing from immigrants who do want to be Canadian. They see others trying to bring the old world here, and it makes them upset, too.

So here is what I believe should be done: If you want to live in Canada, then live by Canadian values. Be proud to be here, and proud to stand with your neighbors, not apart from them, that’s what makes a strong country, that’s what made Canada. And that’s the Canada I want to see stay strong for my grandkids.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Lately, I have been watching all this news about immigration protests, both down in the U.S. and here at home in Canada, and it has got me to thinking.
We all know immigration can be a good thing when it is done properly. The trouble starts when folks think anyone and everyone should be allowed in, no questions asked, and no plan in place. That is just not common sense.

Now, as I see it, a lot of these protesters out in the streets might already be here illegally, which makes their message a bit hard to swallow. And here’s the thing, when they take to the streets thinking they will get noticed, they do, but for all the wrong reasons.

So what should be done about it? Here is what I think. If there are big demonstrations, the authorities could use that as an opportunity to sort out who is here legally and who is not. As for the protests themselves, I would send in the troops to contain the area. Let the protesters speak their minds if they want to, but do not let anyone turn it into a riot. When it is over, let folks leave in peace, but hold the troublemakers accountable.

From what I have read about what is going on in Los Angeles, things started with chanting and signs. Then some people crossed the line, lighting fires, throwing rocks, and hurting officers. That is not free speech. That is plain old violence. In that kind of situation, sending in the National Guard makes sense to me. You cannot let the streets burn or innocent people get caught in the middle.

Now, do not get me wrong, I believe in fair and lawful immigration. It has built many of our countries, and it still can. However, it has to happen in the right way, at the right time, and with the right supports in place. When it is rushed or out of control, it hurts everyone, including those already living here.

In short, let us be fair about immigration and let us keep our communities safe. When it comes to protests, they should remain peaceful or not happen at all.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Up here in the north, we know smoke, as we see it hanging low on the horizon, like a warning or a memory, depending on how you look at it. And we’ve sure seen more of it these last few years, fire after fire, hotter, wilder, burning faster than anyone seems ready for. Folks ask, “What can we do?” but maybe the better question is, “What did we used to do?”

You see, I’m an old timer. I’ve watched the land change, the seasons shift, and I remember when fire wasn’t such a villain. Back when I was a boy, there wasn’t much we could do when a wildfire broke out way out past the cutlines which wasn’t a bad thing. The forest burned, then came back greener. It was part of the cycle.

But long before my time, there were people here who knew fire better than we ever did… the Indigenous peoples, or as some still prefer, Native American Indians or First Nations, depending on the region. They understood fire not as an enemy, but as a living force. A teacher. A tool. Their communities practiced what’s now called cultural burning, setting small, cool fires in the early spring or fall to clear underbrush, bring back berries, open up hunting paths, and reduce the fuel that leads to the monster blazes we see now.

These weren’t random fires. They were careful, respectful, and tied deeply to the land and the seasons. Firekeepers would walk the ground, listen to the animals, smell the wind. They knew where to burn, how hot, and when to stop. And it worked, as the land stayed balanced. The trees weren’t so choked with brush, and the fires that did happen stayed low and manageable.

Then came the government bans. Fire suppression laws, mostly pushed in the early 1900s, outlawed traditional burning. Fire crews were trained to put out every flame. Planes, chemicals, bulldozers, all tools to fight something that maybe shouldn’t have always been fought. And sure, some fires had to be stopped. But by putting out every fire, year after year, we built up a problem: thick forests, dry dead fall, layers of fuel just waiting for one lightning strike or careless spark.

Now the fires are bigger than ever. They jump highways, climb trees like ladders, and send smoke across provinces. Our policies, made with good intentions maybe, but not much listening, have helped create conditions where fires don’t just burn, they rage. We traded slow, healing burns for uncontrollable infernos.

The sad truth is, we’re relearning what some communities never forgot. Indigenous fire keepers… the knowledge holders, are still out there, often unrecognized, still willing to teach if we’ll bother to ask. Some provinces are starting to invite them back to the table. It’s a start.

So no, I don’t think we should just sit back and let it all burn. But I do think it’s time we stop fighting fire with fear and start working with it, like we once did. It’s not about going back to the old days exactly, but about remembering the parts that worked. Letting fire breathe, in the right time and way, might just save our forests and us.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Right now, here in Canada, we need to stop all immigration — unless someone brings something this country truly needs, like doctors, skilled trades, or professionals we’re short on. The thing is, we don’t have the infrastructure to support who’s already here, let alone more people. Hospitals are overcrowded, housing is limited, and basic services are stretched thin.

More so, anyone here illegally should be sent back. That’s not harsh — it’s common sense. If you come in the right way, fine. But if you break the rules, you don’t get to stay. We need to get back to enforcing the laws we already have.

We need to focus on rebuilding first, bring jobs and industries back home. Make sure people can see a doctor, find a place to live, and afford to feed their families. Only then should we even consider opening the door wider — and only if it makes sense for Canada.

We’ve been taken advantage of by a system that no longer serves the people it was built for. If we don’t fix it now, we risk heading toward collapse — rising crime, worsening healthcare, and more people left to suffer on the streets.

The new Strong Borders Act is a small step in the right direction as it targets fraudulent asylum claims and holds people accountable. That’s what we need more of, a smart, firm action that puts Canadians first.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Governments do not do what they should. Never have, never will. They look out for themselves. Trillions of dollars are wasted, far as I can tell, on things that do not matter to the everyday person. And along with that, big corporations have been pulling the strings since the beginning of time. They hand out just enough to keep folks quiet, then carry on doing what benefits them, not us.

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. First, they brought in marijuana. Now you can find alcohol in just about every store on every corner. And while they claim it is all about choice and freedom, the truth is, if you use that stuff too much — and many do — it kills brain cells. That is no secret, and in my mind, that is exactly what the powers that be want. Keep people dulled down, foggy, and easier to control.

Now take street drugs. In some areas, they are handing out free drugs and needles, saying it saves lives. That doesn’t sit right with me, all it does is keep people hooked. And if you ask me, the ones pushing that message, acting like it is some kind of great, life-saving solution, well, they sound a lot like the ones profiting from it. That is how I see it. What they should be doing is getting these folks into proper places to dry out. Give them a clean slate. Help the ones who still have their minds find a job and build a life. The money they are spending handing out drugs and needles would more than cover the cost of doing it the right way.

Then there are our laws. Too many of them cause more harm than good. I have seen police worn down and fed up. They put their lives on the line every day, arresting criminals, only to see the courts turn around and let them walk. All that work just tossed aside. Makes you wonder where this country is really heading.

And taxes, that’s another biggie. The powers that be saying, that they are necessary, but most of that money, in my eyes, is wasted again on things that are not needed. We should be bringing business back home, right here to Canada. Stop relying on other countries to carry us. Put our people back to work. That would make us stronger, but not if everything else stays broken like it is.

Schools are another mess. They say they need more teachers, but then they turn around and make it, so kids do not even have to write exams at the end of the year. What kind of learning is that? Truth told, a lot of these kids are not being taught much of anything. Just another waste of the working person’s money.

And like I have said many times, if we want this country to flourish, we need to stop taxing the working man and woman’s paychecks. Not a single cent should be taken. That money was earned by them, not the suits sitting in offices drawing a salary off the backs of folks who do the real work. All those government buildings, all those salaries, millions and millions spent just to keep it all running. That is where the waste is.

Truth is, I believe half or more of those government jobs could be done away with and things would run just the same, maybe even better. I would wager a lot of them do not contribute much of anything all year long, except figuring out new ways to take more of the working man’s wages. The thing is, we have more people in government jobs that are not needed than we have soldiers in the entire military. No wonder we cannot meet our goals at the UN.

I will be honest. I do not know where we are heading anymore, and that is the part that worries me. Not only that, but I believe deep down the powers that be want regular folks to stay uneducated. Because if people ever got a clear head and a good education, they would see exactly what is going on. And when that day comes, the ones in charge will not last long. Folks would finally wake up, and those same suits would be out of a job.

Anyway, that is how I see it. I go by what I have lived and what I have seen. My gut has served me well for over seventy some years, and I trust it more than anything I hear coming out of their mouths.

“Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive.” GW

By GW Only On The Walters Post!

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

The other day, I was sitting here at my computer reading an article, about that strange new signal coming from deep space. Fifteen thousand light years away, can you believe that? Regular as a heartbeat, two minutes on, forty-four minutes off. It wasn’t noise, not something random, and it felt like a rhythm. Like something alive.

Scientists are scratching their heads. Some think it’s a magnetar, others figure it might be a star system caught in some strange dance. But none of them can explain why it’s so steady, or why it sends out both radio waves and X-rays. They’ve never seen anything quite like it.

The moment I read it, I thought of Grey Wolf.

He was an old friend of mine, a native man who used to spend his summers in a small cabin tucked behind our farm. He never said much, but when he did, you listened. Occasionally we would sit by the fire, with him watching the flames, and me watching him.

One night, I asked him what he thought life was all about. He didn’t answer right away, just poked the fire with a stick and then said, “We’re energy, we were sent here to learn. We come from it, and we will eventually go back to it. This place, this life, it’s just part of the lesson.”

Another time I asked if he believed there were others out there. He gave a small smile and said, “You think all this sky is for just one world?” Then he looked up, real slow, and added, “There are many fires burning, some just burn quiet.”

I’ve never forgotten that.

Anyway, reading more about that signal, I started to wonder if maybe it’s not a message the way we think of messages. Maybe it’s not trying to talk to machines or telescopes, maybe it’s more like a pattern. A quiet nudge, not shouting for attention, just letting us know we’re not alone.

Grey Wolf believed in balance. He said everything had its place, and that some things were felt, not explained. He respected science, but he also knew its limits. Not only that, but he said the deeper truth doesn’t always come with answers. Sometimes it comes with a feeling you can’t shake.

That’s how this signal from a distant planet feels to me.

We’ve been told Earth is special because we’re the only ones here. But what if it’s special because we’re one of many? One stop in a much larger journey, and what if that signal is just the first knock on the door?

Grey Wolf used to say, “The Great Mystery doesn’t speak in words, it waits to see if we’re ready to listen.”

Well, maybe now we are.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

Well, here we go again. President Trump’s back in the spotlight, and this time he’s doubling down on tariffs … 50% now on Canadian steel and aluminum. That’s a hard pill to swallow, especially for the folks in Ontario who rely on that work to keep food on the table.

At first glance, this looks like trouble. And truth is, in the short term, it is. Companies will hurt. Some jobs might be on the line. Things could get tight, no doubt about it.

But here’s the thing , I don’t think it’s all bad. In fact, if we’re smart about it, this might just be the nudge we needed.

Doug Ford says we’re going to onshore every widget we can. And you know what? I agree with him. We’ve been too reliant on the U.S. for too long. We’ve seen this movie before, remember when they cut us off from masks during the pandemic? That was a wake-up call. And now, here we are again, being reminded that we need to start looking after ourselves.

We’ve got the resources, we’ve got the workers, and we’ve got the know-how. Why are we shipping aluminum south, only to have it turned into cans, marked up, and sent right back? Makes no sense. Let’s build the can plant here. Let’s melt our own steel, make our own beams, and keep our people working.

This won’t be easy. But long term, it could make us stronger, more independent, and better prepared for whatever comes next.

Sometimes, it takes a good shove to get us moving in the right direction. This might be one of those times.

Until the next time:
Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW