MSI Press Blog

  Ask ten Canadians to name a national hero, and you may receive ten different answers. Canada's history, geography, and cultural diversity have produced heroes of many kinds: explorers, athletes, soldiers, scientists, artists, humanitarians, and advocates for justice. What unites them is not fame alone, but their contributions to the nation and the example they set for others. Heroes Who Helped Build a Nation Some Canadian heroes are remembered for shaping the country itself. Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, played a central role in Confederation. While historians continue to debate aspects of his legacy, his influence on the formation of modern Canada is undeniable. Others, such as explorer Samuel de Champlain, helped establish early European settlements and laid foundations for French Canadian culture that continue today. Heroes of Courage and Service Canada has produced countless heroes through military and public service. During times of war, individua...

  Mystics are unique because they seek not merely to know about ultimate reality, God, or the divine, but to experience it directly . Across many religious traditions, mystics often report certain common characteristics: Direct Experience Most people approach religion through beliefs, doctrines, rituals, or sacred texts. Mystics emphasize personal encounter. They often describe moments of profound union, presence, or insight that feel more real than ordinary experience. A Sense of Oneness Mystics frequently speak of transcending the usual boundaries between self and the world. Christian mystics describe union with God. Other traditions may describe unity with all existence. While the interpretations differ, the experience often involves a deep sense of interconnectedness. Difficulty Putting It Into Words One hallmark of mystical experience is that people struggle to describe it. Mystics repeatedly resort to poetry, paradox, symbolism, and metaphor because ordinary language seems i...

    Recently, An Afternoon's Dictation (Greenebaum), reached #296 on the Amazon bestseller list of books in ecumenism Christian theology. The book has been on bestseller lists many times.  Book Description:  In 1999 Steven Greenebaum felt he'd hit the wall. Fifty years old, he could not make sense of his life or the world around him. For several months he angrily demanded answers from God, if God were there. One afternoon, an inner voice told him to get a pen and paper and write. Steven then took dictation - three pages, not of commandments but guidance for leading a meaningful life.   An Afternoon's Dictation grapples with, organizes, and deeply explores the revelations Steven received and then studied for over ten years. His sharing is NOT offered as the only possible way to understand it the dictation. It is offered, rather, as a start. The book's sections include deep explorations into "The Call to Interfaith," "The Call to Love One Another," ...

If you forget a word 24 hours after learning it, that does not mean you failed. It means your brain is normal. The real question is not  "Why can't I remember vocabulary?"  It is: "Am I trying to learn vocabulary in a way that fits how my mind works?" Many learners assume there is a universal method. There isn't. Different learners remember words for different reasons. Some learners are "field sensitive." These are the people who seem to absorb language effortlessly. They encounter a word repeatedly in stories, videos, conversations, or articles, and somehow, it just sticks. They often develop large vocabularies through exposure and context. They tell those who ask, "I don't know. I just picked it up." If this is you, extensive reading and listening may be your most powerful vocabulary tools. Some learners are more field independent. These learners are excellent at pulling language apart and examining it. They notice patterns, word fa...

  If you share your home with a cat, you've probably experienced it: the unmistakable sound of retching at 3 a.m., followed by a resigned search for paper towels. Cats vomit often enough that many owners find themselves wondering whether it's normal or a sign of something serious. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Occasional vomiting can be part of life with a cat. Frequent vomiting is not. The "Probably Just Tuesday" Category Many otherwise healthy cats vomit from time to time for fairly benign reasons. A hairball every few weeks is usually not alarming, especially during shedding season. Cats may also vomit shortly after eating too quickly, particularly if they compete with other pets for food or gulp down a favorite meal. Some cats have sensitive stomachs and occasionally react to a dietary change, a rich treat, or something they should not have sampled. If your cat vomits once, then immediately returns to normal behavior, eats well, drinks normally, and acts...