Bell Let’s Talk Day was held recently. That’s where we were asked to join in the conversation about mental health with friends, family, and co-workers, to start breaking down the stigma around mental health issues. I’m all about anti-stigma, but I’d like to address the symptoms and not throw a band-aid on it. It is nearly impossible to have solid …
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Enough is enough: the gun laws have to change
When a child dies, we all grieve. It’s not just their parents, teachers, friends, and family that have been trespassed upon emotionally; we all hurt. As a society, we sigh deeply, and ache somewhere deep inside because we know that the natural order has been broken. Parents aren’t supposed to outlive their children. Children aren’t supposed to be slaughtered. Innocence …
Of Mice and Boys
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, or catch a mouse In the latest tale of mice and men, the score could be construed as mouse 0, man 1. However that wouldn’t tell of the sad fall from grace of my partner, Steve, nor would it describe my search for a better mousetrap. I should start at the …
How smart are we if we continue to agree to pay for smart meters?
In my last column I expressed my opposition to the PUC’s application to recover smart meter costs from us through an increase in our delivery charges. Not surprisingly, Brian Curran, president and CEO of PUC, wasn’t a big fan of my column. Curran replied in a letter in which he let people know that smart electrical meters were mandated by …
We didn’t ask for smart meters, so why tap us for cash?
The PUC wants to increase delivery charges starting May 1, “to reflect the recovery of costs for deployed smart meters.” Did we ask for those meters? Are they of any benefit to us? No and no. Last Thursday’s paper had a very large ad: “Notice of application for an electricity distribution rate change – PUC Distribution Inc.” If approved, the …
Time is not on our side with Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time is one of those common practices that seems to defy common sense, but yet, no one does anything about it except complain. Daylight Saving Time (DST) refers to moving clocks forward one hour in the spring and back again in the fall. Depending where you are reading this, you may or may not be subject to this …
Cancer rears it’s ugly head: Blog is raw, funny and informative
I check my email more often than I need to because, for me, it’s like buying a lottery ticket — there’s hope in it every time. If I get a soulful message from my better-half I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot. The very name of some of my friends and relatives in my inbox makes me positively giddy. My …
Arm yourself with knowledge before you become the next scam victim
In my last column, I warned readers about a somewhat convincing scam where someone cold-calls you to help “fix” your computer. I worried that it might trick less savvy citizens into giving out their personal information and/or credit card numbers to supposed Microsoft or Windows staff, and I wanted to warn readers to protect themselves and their friends. Yet, I …
It’s not rude to hang up on someone who is trying to steal from you
For months now, friends have been telling me about a telephone scam in which supposed Microsoft people call to help them fix their computers. Not until last week, did I get the call. I played along, and actually found some of what they said mildly believable, so I decided to warn you of what they say, what they want, and …
Some advice for Santa to ensure he’s around for another long while
A recent QMI poll stated that men would rather scrub the toilet than go to the doctor. Knowing how many times I’ve seen said toilet scrubbed by a man makes me worry for our favourite men’s health. Those who do see their physician are often told to make lifestyle changes: eat better, exercise more, quit smoking, etc, but fewer and …