Cole's Notes - The Sunday Journalist

In the world of Patrick O'Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series, Stephen Maturin is a man of many layers—naturalist, spy, and skilled physician. But for those of us who dive deep into the historical mechanics of his life, one detail has always invited curiosity: Why did he need two different universities to complete his medical education? While previous posts explored the scattered fragments of Stephen's childhood, tracing his path through the medical wards of the late 18th century proved to be a much more complex puzzle. It required looking past the fiction and into the shifting sands of the French Revolution and the strict religious barriers of Trinity College Dublin. In today's post, we're "walking the wards" of 1780s Paris and the delivery rooms of Dublin's Rotunda Hospital to organize Stephen's training timeline. From cheering the fall of the Bastille to earning the right to wear the scarlet robes of a Doctor of Medicine, this is how political upheaval an...

I need a break Rather than a 2025 roundup of stories and posts on Cole's Notes and my Facebook page, I've decided to make some changes to my publications. Mainly evaluating what the Blog is for - and how I want to move forward. For  January, I am revising and streamlining my systems for the  Cole's Notes  and  View from the Plateau  Substacks, and  cleaning up a backlog of email across multiple platforms. I will return on  Sunday, February 1, 2026 , and will respond to your message then.

The Daily Wire - Breaking News, Videos & Podcasts – Amanda Harding Exposé On Discrimination Against White Millennial Men Goes Viral, Inspires Outrage Dec 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM Gemini 3 image A lengthy exposé highlighting the adverse effects DEI has had on white males, in particular millennials, has gone mega viral on social media. The Compact piece "The Lost Generation" by Jacob Savage goes into detail about how white men have been discriminated against over the past decade, especially in the fields of entertainment and academia. The statistical truths laid out plainly have struck a chord with the general public, leading to the article being viewed on X more than 11 million times. Beginning in 2014, prestige industries decided they urgently needed to diversify. They didn't purge established Boomers. Instead, they did everything possible to avoid hiring white millennial men. This is the story of a generation derailed by DEI. https://t.co/kUfmpHfaMH — Matthew ...

Black Friday Cole's notes: 50 Years ago today - I was a junior photographer for the Calgary Herald working this story. The photos are by John Colville, Bill Herriot, Roger Pierce, myself and others. 40 years ago Black Friday transformed Calgary policing Officially it was the last day of fall, cool with little snow around. It was the last Friday before Christmas, a pay day. And December 20, 1974 was the last day of Calgary Detective Boyd Davidson's life. Author of the article: By Brenton Harding A Christmas season shooting shook the city of Calgary 50 years ago today, while also providing the impetus for the Calgary Police Service to form its own tactical team — a key resource in dealing with high-risk events in the decades since. The tragic incident led to eight police officers being shot, one fatally, as a glue-sniffing convicted rapist let loose a barrage of bullets that changed the face of policing in our city forever. The day became known as "Bla...

Cole's Notes - Sunday Editors Review From: The Daily Wire - Breaking News, Videos & Podcasts – Joseph Loconte Tolkien, Lewis, And The Battle To Save Western Civilization Nov 16, 2025 at 3:05 AM It was quite possibly the most remarkable literary friendship of the 20th century.  As young men, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien both endured the utter devastation of trench warfare during World War I. Then, as unrivalled evil once again ravaged the European continent during the 1930s and '40s, these two Oxford professors produced epic works of fiction, masterpieces imbued with moral purpose and beauty. Like many lovers of the classics, Joseph Loconte shares a lifelong fascination with Lewis and Tolkien. As a professor and scholar, Loconte marvels at how the writers produced their most beloved works in the dark crucible of World War II. So, why are their novels — and the films they inspired — still considered among the greatest of all time? Glad you asked. This excerpt from Loco...