Features
How a book I began writing 40 years ago just ended up on Amazon
By MYRON LOVE In my nearly 45 years as a journalist, I have rarely been one to make my writing all about me. Rather, I enjoy telling other people’s stories. However, this is a heartwarming story which actually very much includes myself.
As some JP&N readers may recall, last spring, my daughter, Avra, published her first book of short stories on Amazon. Over the past few months, I have been her unofficial marketing agent. I am happy to report that, thanks to family and many friends – as well as a few complete strangers, we have been able to sell over 100 books.
For my most recent birthday in August, Avra and my younger daughter, Elena, surprised me with a very special present. Usually, I receive chocolate and gift certificates to Chapters – which i always appreciate. This year, the present from my daughters was the draft copy of my first book which they arranged to also publish on Amazon.
I actually began working on “The Wrong Time and The Wrong Place: Canadian Airmen Land in Buchenwald”, more than 40 years ago – shortly after I began my career as a journalist.
The gist of the book is the true story of 24 Canadian airmen – part of a larger group of 168 Allied flyers (only one of whom was Jewish) – who experienced first-hand the horrors of the Nazi concentration camp called Buchenwald.
The trajectory for all of them began with their being shot down over France shortly before or after D-Day, rescued by the French Resistance, betrayed to the Germans and imprisonmened in Fresnes prison just outside of Paris. Just before the Allies liberated the French capital, the Nazis emptied out Fresnes, transferring all the prisoners in sealed boxcars to Buchenwald.
After two months in Buchenwald, the POWs were moved to a regular POW camp.
I first became aware of this story again early in my writing career when I was introduced to Harold Bastable. Harold was a devoted member of the Royal Canadian Legion (St. James branch) and he was also friendly with several of the guys who belonged to the largely Jewish General Monash branch of the legion. Through the Monash friends, I was told about Harold’s experience in Buchenwald.
I interviewed Harold for the Free Press (for which I was freelancing at the time). He told me about the other airmen – he had the names of all of them – and that they were planning a reunion in Victoria.
I immediately saw the opportunity for a book about the Holocaust from a different perspective. I (perhaps naively) believed that non-Jewish witnesses to the horrors might sway some of these Holocaust deniers (who were all right wing extremists at that time).
I paid my own way to that reunion in Victoria at the Empress Hotel – where I met and interviewed many of the Buchenwald group who were still alive. (Several had already passed away.) I interviewed by phone those I had missed at the reunion.
Then I began writing their story.
It took me several years to write the book. Recall that this was before computers. I was working with an electronic typewriter with one page of memory.
As well, I couldn’t afford to take off a block of time from my day job as a journalist to work on a book which was not likely to provide much financial benefit. (I have interviewed enough authors over the years to know that generally you are not going to get rich from writing a book.)
I was also getting busier as a journalist as the number of magazines I was contributing to continued to grow.
I did apply early on – unsuccessfully – for a Canada Council grant. I thought it might be helpful for me to actually visit Fresnes prison and Buchenwald.
By 1989 or 1990, I had finished the book and was ready to try finding a publisher. I figured that being a successful journalist, I would have no problem getting the book published.
I figured wrong.
I received a number of rejections from publishers noting that they only published one or two books a year and good luck. One publisher’s comment about the book was “too long for an article, too short for a book.”
A couple of publishers offered to publish if I came up with $5000 towards publishing costs. I didn’t have the money nor did I think I should have to pay for publishing.
So there it sat. Until now.
“The Wrong Time and the Wrong Place” is available on Amazon for $10 for the E-book version, $15 for the soft cover copy and $25US for hardcover.
Or interested readers can contact me at myjolove1@gmail.com or 204- 334-4961 about buying a copy.
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Volatility, Hit Frequency, and RTP: Why the Number Casinos Advertise Is the Least Useful One
The return to player percentage looks clean as a casino data point. It gives players a neat number, usually around 94% to 97% for many online slots, and that number feels easy to compare. A 96.5% game appears better than a 95.2% game. The problem starts when players treat RTP as a forecast for their next 50 spins or one evening.
You may find the RTP listed on slot pages on a leading online casino in Ontario, but the number only tells part of the story. Two games can share the same RTP and create different sessions: one may return small wins often, while the other may drain a balance before one bonus round changes everything.
The RTP Trap
Return to player (RTP) measures the theoretical share of total wagers a game returns across a very large number of rounds. In plain terms, a 96% RTP slot returns about $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. That does not mean one player who deposits $100 should expect $96 back.
The trap sits in the word “theoretical.” RTP comes from the game’s math model. It works across huge samples, not personal sessions. A player can finish far above that percentage, far below it, or with nothing left after a short run of poor results.
Is it useless then? No, RTP can still help. It gives a baseline cost of play. Lower-RTP games cost more on average than higher-RTP games. Still, once a game passes a reasonable threshold, the next question matters more: how does it distribute that return?
Hit Frequency: The Number That Shapes Session Feel
Hit frequency tells you how often a game produces a winning outcome. This often misleads players because any win can count. A spin that returns $0.10 on a $1 bet may still count as a hit, even though the player lost $0.90 in real terms.
A game can feel active because symbols connect often, sounds play, and the screen keeps celebrating small returns. The balance may still fall. In many modern slots, “win” does not always mean profit on the spin.
Hit frequency answers one practical question: how much silence can you tolerate? Some players dislike long dry spells. Others accept quieter sessions because they chase bonus rounds or larger payouts.
The educational site Get Gambling Facts gives a useful distinction: RTP concerns the percentage of money returned over time, while hit frequency concerns how often a machine stops on a winning combination.
Volatility: The Risk Label Players Need More Often
Volatility, also called variance, describes how unevenly a game pays. Low-volatility games tend to return smaller amounts more often. High-volatility games hold more value in rare events: bonus rounds, premium symbols, multipliers, or jackpots.
Here is where RTP becomes less useful on its own:
- A 96% low-volatility slot may give modest returns and longer play from the same balance.
- A 96% high-volatility slot may burn through funds quickly unless the player hits a strong feature.
- A progressive jackpot game may look exciting, but it often places more value on rare top prizes.
The same RTP can hide very different risk profiles. Players who ignore volatility often blame the casino or the game when the session follows its math design.
Why the Same RTP Can Feel So Different
Picture two slots with 96% RTP. Slot A pays small wins on many spins, has a modest top prize, and rarely creates dramatic balance swings. Slot B pays less often but offers a large max win and volatile bonus rounds. The advertised return matches, but the experience does not.
Slot A may suit a player who wants a slower bankroll drop and more regular feedback. Slot B suits someone who accepts sharper losses in exchange for a shot at a heavier payout.
A Better Way to Read a Slot Page
Most slot pages give players more clues than they notice. The trick is to read the details together rather than chase the highest percentage.
Start with RTP. If two games look similar, the higher number has better long-term value. Then check volatility. If the game uses terms such as high, very high, or extreme variance, lower your bet size or expect shorter sessions. Next, look at the paytable. A huge max win usually means the game saves a lot of its value for rare outcomes.
A sensible pre-play check looks like this:
- RTP: What is the average long-term return?
- Volatility: How rough can the session become?
- Hit frequency: How often will the game show any wins?
- Paytable: Where does most value sit?
To Conclude
Casinos advertise RTP because it looks objective, tidy, and easy to rank. Players should read it, but they should not give it more authority than it deserves. For long sessions, volatility may matter more than a small RTP difference. For comfort, hit frequency may explain the feel better than the payback rate.
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Features
The Popularity of Simpler Slot Games in 2026: Review From Casino Online CrazyTower Experts
Online casinos now fill their libraries with numerous video slots that have dozens of functions, long bonus rounds, complex mechanics, and so on. Interestingly, despite this huge range of modern options, many Canadian visitors at sites like Casino Online CrazyTower here https://crazytower.com/ca/ no longer want complicated gameplay that requires constant attention and long explanations.
Simpler slots now attract a wider audience because they save time and create faster sessions. So, let’s figure out why this change happened and reasons for the popularity of simpler machines.
Why Many Players Are Returning to Basic Gameplay
Modern websites like Casino Online CrazyTower pushed complex video slots for years, but many people now prefer classic formats again. Simple gameplay has fewer interruptions and is simpler in terms of budgeting, which is important when you gamble for fun.
These are a few potential reasons explain why simpler slots became popular again in 2026:
- Faster rounds. Symbols appear quickly, and rounds continue without long animations or extended bonus sequences.
- Easier controls. Most classic slots have simple menus and familiar layouts that don’t confuse new visitors.
- Smaller feature lists. Simple slots usually have standard wilds, scatters, and multipliers instead of dozens of random mechanics.
- Better session flow. People spend more time on gameplay instead of reading explanations about symbols and special functions.
- Lower visual pressure. Simpler slots use calmer designs and shorter effects that don’t overload attention.
Classic gameplay also suits mobile devices better because shorter rounds work well on smaller screens. Plus, many visitors now prefer games that start instantly and explain their mechanics within seconds.
Features That Make Simpler Slots Appealing
Simple machines at Casino Online CrazyTower and similar websites continue to attract attention because they have a high gameplay speed. Many classic titles also replicate older casino machines that people already know from physical casinos.
However, these aren’t the only factors that attract gamblers. So, check out this list:
- Short bonus rounds. Free spins and multipliers finish quickly instead of interrupting gameplay for several minutes.
- Common and standard paylines. Traditional layouts help people understand payouts without long explanations.
- Faster loading times. Simpler graphics reduce waiting time on phones, tablets, and older computers.
- Stable gameplay pace. Long cutscenes and constant pop-up notifications don’t interrupt the session.
- Traditional themes. Fruit symbols, bars, sevens, and classic casino designs still attract large audiences.
- Smaller menus. Important information appears immediately without complicated tabs or hidden sections.
Modern video slots often contain too many mechanics in a single game. Developers now combine expanding reels, random modifiers, mission systems, tournaments, and multiple bonus levels in one title. Many visitors lose interest because gameplay turns repetitive and overloaded with constant interruptions.
Compare this to a session when you get results immediately and aren’t interrupted. These still have free spins and even mini risk games, but not as loaded as innovative titles.
Conclusion
Simple slots usually create better replay value because people understand the mechanics immediately. Common and standard gameplay doesn’t cause frustration and allows faster decisions during casino sessions.
Many classic slots also function better during short breaks because rounds finish quickly without long bonus interruptions. That’s why simpler slots became popular again at many casinos, including Casino Online CrazyTower and such.
