Did we need a bigger Walmart? Was anyone complaining that the old one was too small? Are bigger, faster and more always better? Life’s trappings have us in such a choke hold that I am wondering who is in control. More and more often, I am feeling strangely uncomfortable. It is a difficult sensation to pinpoint, but I feel it …
Put those who have chosen a life dedicated to others on pedestals
Why do we put celebrities on pedestals? Is it fair to them or us? Seems to me that the second you put people on a pedestal, they become awfully hard to reach. They also get left there by many, which can lead to a lonely existence for them, and a questionable one for us. The mere act of elevating someone …
Snow shovelling brings back memories of childhood and community
I found myself saying something terribly unexpected today: “Snow shovelling is great.” Granted, it is still early in the season and pushing snow is generally more fun when it is new, but none the less, I found myself enjoying the task for many reasons. Perhaps this is an elaborate self-brainwashing exercise that I will have to reread when I am …
Consumers should ask questions about products and their marketing
I spend a lot of time in my kitchen. I love to cook. I love to eat. I love to share my love for food with others. It is no surprise then that my kitchen would be the subject of a lot of my thoughts. While stirring a homemade sauce, I find my mind wandering and my eyes settling on …
Our students should not be schooled in shortcuts and slacking off
Does quantity now trump quality for high school graduates? Does our educational assessment system now pander to the lowest common denominator? I’ve never been a proponent of quantity over quality and perhaps I’m being negative here, but I’m worried. Should we be happy with September’s report from the Ministry of Education that 67 per cent of Grades 3 and 6 …
Remember our fallen soldiers and focus on peace, humanity and unity
This week, we are asked to remember. The Veteran’s Affairs ( www.vac.gc.ca) website says to remember the First World War, Second World War, and the Korean War. There is nothing there about Afghanistan — yet so many have died there. Do conflicts not count? Do the families of those killed there not deserve to have their kin remembered on Nov. …
Get out from under a rock and attend some of our great local shows
This month I made it to three excellent community events. Two were part of the Algoma Fall Festival and one was the opener to the Over the Rainbow Children’s Entertainment series. There was one thing in common at all the events — lots of local volunteers and sponsors, without whom these events would not happen. This is no small point. …
Perhaps the handshake should go the way of the Dodo bird
Please don’t shake my hand. It isn’t that I don’t believe in social pleasantries. It isn’t that I’m not happy to make your acquaintance. I simply don’t want your germs. I am not a clean freak, nor do I use antibacterial soaps or cleansers in my house, but I don’t want to expose myself to germs unnecessarily. I would prefer …
Treat OLG fairly
Are the executives and staff at Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. being treated fairly? Is part of their salary package hazard pay? The media coverage has broad-brushed OLG employees as pigs at the public trough for outrageous spending. The story has been in the headlines for weeks, a very one-sided attack on the minutia of every-day expenses. I can’t help …
Get into the back-to-school atmosphere and learn something new
COLUMN: A time of change and new beginnings September, for me, has always been a time of change; a time of learning. Whether grabbing my lunch off the counter, stuffing a duffel for university, or packing my child’s backpack for her first day of school, it is a different bag, but always representing a new beginning, a new opportunity. I …