What’s Next? by John Caverhill New Year’s greetings to you all!
with their various alphabets, the Hindu-Arabic number system is used around the world. The day may be coming, if it hasn’t already arrived, when the Hindu-Arabic system will replace languages and their alphabets as the single most important development of the human mind. Your chronological age has much to do with how one is regarded by society. If, for instance, throughout life, you insist on doing or having certain things in a specific fashion, from birth to the end of your teenage years, you will be considered “stubborn”. From early adulthood through your working career, you are considered “determined” or “strong-willed”. During your retirement/ late adulthood, you will once again be considered “stubborn”. Thus, you begin life as a stubborn little kid and conclude life as a stubborn old goat. It doesn’t take long to realize the truth of the saying “The buck stops here.” when living alone. You, and only you, are responsible for getting things done, whether it is as basic as taking out the garbage or filing your income tax on schedule. Memory or lack of also becomes more prominent when you are alone. Using today’s terminology, I am memory-challenged. For example, when preparing to go grocery shopping, I make a list, then set it along with the car keys on the kitchen table, and then do a few jobs before leaving. Ready to leave, the list and the keys are on the table, but the wallet is missing. After a frenzied search which is accompanied by some sulphurous language, I find it on the shelf where it is kept when not in use, or some other equally unbelievable place. (The less said about the time I found it in my trousers pocket the better.) It’s a good thing to have a pet, whether it is a dog or cat is immaterial. It’s nice to have someone else to blame for misplaced articles and pets can’t answer back. Something to think about at the beginning of the new year. Many faiths have their version of the Golden Rule: Brahmanism : This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause pain if done to you. Buddhism : Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Christianity : All things, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Confucianism : Surely it is the maxim of loving kindness: Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you. Islam : No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Judaism : What is hurtful to you, do not to your fellow man. That is the entire law, all the rest is commentary. Taoism : Regard your neighbour’s gain as your own gain and your neighbour’s loss as your own loss. Zoroastrianism : That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself. Considering the state of the world today, it might be a good thing if members of all faiths would not just talk the talk, but walk the walk.
This is my first article of the new year and being unable to choose a topic suitable for the occasion, I have decided to put down a few reflections, not necessarily related, as they come to mind. Another year has passed and despite the extra day in 2024, I am not one minute wiser. The only way I will see eighty again is on a speed limit sign. Like an antique car, it takes a lot of maintenance to keep me running. I have a desk pad calendar and at first glance, it looks like the upcoming month will be a continuous round of social gatherings like one sees on the social media ads for retirement homes. A closer look, however, reveals an ongoing parade of appointments, all designed to help keep this antiquated relic rambling down life’s road.
JANUARY 2025
SUNDAY
FRIDAY
TUESDAY
MONDAY
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
SATURDAY
30
31
29
2
4
1
3
8
10
6
7
11
5
9
12
16
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
28
26
27
29
30
31
HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES: 1: NEW YEAR'S DAY, 20: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY, 20: INAUGURATION DAY
MondayMandala.com
Page 12 Ilderton and Area Villager • January-February 2025 A system you can count on One of the most outstanding creations of the human mind is the Hindu-Arabic number system. Using only ten different symbols or numerals (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) any number from zero to, in theory, infinity can be represented either on paper or digitally. Our technological achievements are all based on this system; indeed, they would not be possible without it. It is marvellously simple and efficient. Using the four operations; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, it can solve problems and develop theories of unbelievable complexity. We have our lives immersed in numbers. Our daily series of activities and their length of time are expressed in numbers: Rise at 6:30, breakfast at 7:00 (two slices of toast, one egg, one cup of coffee with two spoons of sugar), at 7:45, leave for work, buy 50 litres of gas at $1.45 per litre that total $72.50, keep an eye on the speedometer to make sure you aren’t driving 70 kms in a 50 km/h zone… Unlike the many different languages
John Caverhill is the younger son of the late Ernest Caverhill and Susie Boyd of Lobo Township. John’s writings often reflect his experiences and observations of growing up on the family farm, attending the one room school, S. S. No. 7 Lobo (Bear Creek School), and Vanneck United Church. John’s sense of humour and story-telling skills are legendary. His keen observation skills have augmented his repertoire .
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