We Remember
Poppy sales and donations are up this year and it’s not hard to figure out why. The murders of Cpl. Cirillo and Warrant Officer Vincent put faces, families and tangible heartache on the vague, “people who serve our country”. …
General
Review: Wish You Were Here 4
This month of Movember, when men are sprouting ‘staches and raising research dollars and awareness to fight prostate cancer, has taken on a life of its own. And around the time Movember started to spread around the world, a 20-year-old Londoner named Jesse Hildebrand-Nestor was losing a number of people he knew to the disease. Â …
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Brittany Maynard is my Heroine
She didn’t sell a single record, appear in a movie or TV reality show, or post selfies to Twitter. But Brittany Maynard is a superstar in my view. The 29-year-old with terminal brain cancer ended her own suffering on the weekend by taking a lethal dose of drugs. Day by day, she could feel herself slipping away and losing the basic ability to think and she refused to let the process drag out for up to six excruciating months. …
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Tasting Tomorrow
When I moved out on my own, I asked my Grandma to send me some of her favourite recipes. I still have the cards, with ingredients and instructions in blue ink, in her identifiable scrawl, detailing things that, sadly, I will never make. Spiced tomato relish. Sweet pickles. Dishes I identify with her but don’t particularly enjoy. But I’ll never throw out those cards. I couldn’t have known that we would lose her so soon after I left home. …
Cheating Death on Halloween
Say what you like, it’s really just all about the candy! …
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Journalists Imploding
It is municipal election day but I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that last week’s sad events in Ottawa are overshadowing the delivery of democracy in Ontario cities and towns today. Oh we’ll vote, but there are bigger things on our minds. Â …
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A Fact is a Fact
Seems to me a good laugh is warranted at the end of this particularly challenging week. This comic strip reminds me of one of my favourite exchanges among many in the TV show Friends. Ross Geller, the paleontologist, is trying to explain evolution to Phoebe Snow, the air-headed, mystical musician. Phoebe challenges him and says, “it’s just an opinion”. Â Ross is nearly out of his mind with frustration and responds, “It’s a proven fact!” Phoebe retorts, “And that’s YOUR opinion!” Â …
Getting to Know Ebola
There is no need to panic. But there’s no cause to dismiss Ebola either. Â …
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The New Law of the Land
You have to have a carbon monoxide detector in your house now. The bill was passed last November but the law came into effect this week. And manufacturers are ready with scads of them to choose from. You can have a warning light, a warning alarm, and probably one that sprays confetti if that’s what you want. …
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It’s Good to be a Skeptic
Like most other radio morning shows, we had some fun with the three-breasted Florida woman.  I immediately called foul, and didn’t believe it was true. Several news sources claim to have dug up a report the woman wrote about lost luggage that included a “three-breast prosthesis”. …
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Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you have a wonderful day, however you spend it. Â I will be sticking close to home, working with a voice coach (everybody needs a coach!) and eating turkey leftovers. I leave you with this grin. Â …
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Wings Over America
Have you ever consumed Red Bull?  Did it give you wings?  Of course not, but that ad slogan is costing the company millions of dollars. …
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Pa-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum
Today, my birthday (shameless attempt to receive birthday wishes!) I will take stock of my life. What have I done in the past year? Where am I compared to where I want to be in life?  All of those things.  And perhaps the best thing I’ve done for myself, besides topping up my contributions to the company pension plan, was starting drumming lessons. What follows may seem like a bit of a downer but that’s not how I’m choosing to view it. It’s just a pause on the road to becoming the best John Bonham I can be. …
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A Time of Change
Derek and I emceed a fundraising walk and run last Sunday: The Learning Disabilities Association of London’s Going the Distance 5K. The weather was perfect and even though the turnout wasn’t tremendous, an elf and his canine sidekick made it special. …
Hope, Fun and Food
A big, clean, sparkling kitchen with the latest appliances and plenty of room to work – who doesn’t want that? On Friday night we got to wander through several different but equally stunning working kitchens in the new GCW showroom and plant in St. Thomas. …
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Smartphones for Dummies
Apple finally convinced me that it’s time to move on. My iPhone 4S is now obselete with the release of the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, that came out on Friday. Bigger screen, thinner body, faster processor – blah, blah, blah. Thanks for the free U2 album, Apple, but I’m out of here as soon as my contract makes it possible. …
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Cookies for Breakfast!
You have until Sunday to buy a Smile Cookie at Tim Hortons and help fund children’s health charities in your area. Your Smile Cookie dollars stay in the community where they’re spent and you can even order the treats by the dozen for your office or for home. I’m told they freeze well. Â And at only a buck a piece they’re quite a bargain. …
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Conspiracy Theories
It’s certainly possible that Elvis is alive, JFK was shot by his own government, the moon landing was recorded on a soundstage and the twin towers were brought down by the US administration. Anything is possible. But I don’t believe that any of those things happened. …
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