January 2014

The Itch to B*tch

I’ve always had a knack for complaining effectively. Companies have sent me all sorts of stuff over the years to make up for their mistakes. I once got an entire Weekender wardrobe after one of my outfits developed pills following one wash. Remember Weekender?   …

Rights Can be Wrong

This is a sticky story that gets me a little fired up. It’s about accommodating for someone’s special situation, such as a disability, and it seems to me it’s getting out of control.  A Hamilton mom is proving it with her human rights complaint.   …

Dry Your Swoobs

First there was cleavage. Then came side-boob. I’ve also heard of top-boob. But did you know there’s now a thing called swoobs?  It’s sweat on your boobs.  …

Missed Target

I like Target stores. I’m unashamed to admit that! And as soon as they opened in Canada, I stopped making treks to Port Huron to visit them. But you have to wonder why major retailers can’t keep customer information safe.  …

Brandt’s Randt – Cynics Need Not Apply

Before I left 680 News, legendary political reporter John Stall and I had a discussion about cynicism.  He made a very good point.  Being a cynic is a barrier to growth.  Even when it comes to the Mayor of this city where unemployment and closing companies are issues and he says what we need is a gondola ride over the Thames. At least I thought about it before I dismissed it as dumb!  So I randt.  …

Suspended Coffee

I love, love, love this idea that started locally in a Windsor coffee shop.  Instead of buying for the person behind you, who can obviously afford their own coffee, you pay it forward for someone who can’t.   …

Blow up That Bridge

NOTE: I have learned that this is a hoax. Or at least, it started that way. It was meant to inspire exactly the kind of discussion I’ve started here. So life imitates art. Read on: Perhaps you’ve heard of the thigh gap. It’s the determination to be so thin that your thighs don’t rub together. It’s ridiculous and in many cases, unsafe to pursue this stupid fad. But that’s not stopping some teen girls from making it their goal. And it gets even better. Or in this case, worse. …

Out of This World

This week I discovered that a former colleague from CHML Hamilton is in the final 1,000 who want to travel to and settle Mars.  The trip taking four semi-pro astronauts one way is scheduled to leave in 2023.  More than 200,000 people applied to take the ride.   …

My Biggest Challenge

Every year it’s the same. There’s a point where I become simply perplexed why I continue to live in this country – that I love – when this season has us in its grip. I look on the bright side, find ways to cope and endure, sing a happy song until I hit a virtual wall. And my nose is pressed against that wall right now.  …

Tough Advice

Occasionally I’m asked to read the writing of someone I don’t know very well.  They occasionally approach me to ask for my opinion and I’m loathe to say no because it’s difficult for them to do. This isn’t a problem if they have talent but there’s no way to know at the start.  And it’s just awful when the writing is terrible.  By terrible I mean an inability to tell a story, not just bad grammar – an editor can fix that.   …

Fluevog = Happy

Some time ago I mentioned my desire to own a pair of Fluevogs. It’s not like they’re totally out of reach price-wise but I wanted to wait until I got a deal. There are very few Fluevog stores in Canada so I’d have to make an online order.   …