I took some heat from fellow BJs – Broadcast Journalists – last week for a tweet I put out after Kathleen Wynne held a news conference to announce the changes to minimum wage.  You’re likely aware that minimum wage has been frozen at $10.25 since 2010 and it will go up in June to$11/hr. The province will also table a bill to tie future increases to inflation. …
The Issue at Hand Read More »
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. …
Brandt’s Randt – Cynics Need Not Apply Read More »
This week’s randt has nothing to do with this website and everything to do with those that specialize in news coverage. Â As one of the administrators of our site at work I am privy to the unapproved comments and they make you give your head a shake. Â …
Brandt’s Randt – Hiding and Tossing Darts Read More »
Well bravo to China for sending a spacecraft up to the moon. They know we’ve already been there, right? …
The News in Brief Read More »
I just can’t believe that someone in charge of the welfare of children was dumb enough to think that an asthmatic child’s inhaler should be put under lock and key.  But that’s what happened last year at a Staffordville school and a student paid for it with his life.  So I randt. …
Brandt’s Randt: Stupid Dumb Idiotic Policy Read More »
Kellogg’s is closing its London plant after 90 years, blaming low cereal sales. More than 500 full-time workers, including one of our dearest friends, will be out of work. They made 27 cereals and the aroma around the factory has been a wonderful part of driving down Dundas St. East. It’s like driving through a cloud made of Froot Loops. …
So Long, Tony the Tiger Read More »
Toronto, London, Montreal, Detroit – I have the solution to your  Mayor woes. Just listen to this randt!
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Brandt’s Randt – I’ll Take Care of Your Mayor! Read More »
Some things are so simple. Â But for some people, they’re not simple enough. Â Today’s randt was inspired by our Mayor’s desire to revisit the garbage pickup schedule because he’s tired of hearing from constituents who are “confused” and “frustrated” by the current rotation. Â In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “Who arrreeee these people?” Â And I randt. Â …
A Slightly Condescending Randt Read More »
I’ve always found it frustrating that people don’t seem to care about city politics. Unless there’s a scandal, and London’s council has provided a lot of them this term, most people don’t pay attention to the level of government that has the most direct effect on their lives. Â …
How Low Can They Go? Read More »
Russell Brand is very funny. He’s also a bit of an idiot, a former drug addict, ex-husband of Katy Perry and hard to take seriously for long stretches of time. …
A Brilliant Perspective from an Unlikely Source Read More »
Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether something is right or wrong, it’s just how it looks. This week the Ontario Ombudsman ruled that London city council was in the wrong, though, when 7 of them met for lunch in a back room of a restaurant prior to a budget vote. …
Brandt’s Randt – It’s About The Optics Read More »
Dr. Tarek Loubani and John Greyson are home. They landed at Pearson airport last night. Talk about giving thanks – there’s no one more grateful for freedom than these men. …
Home for Thanksgiving Read More »
So much fuss about a whole lot of nothing this week when London Mayor Joe Fontana called a slow process, full of red tape, “bullshit”. Â It’s not that I think conversation in political meeting should be as loose as it is on a loading dock. Â It’s something else entirely. Â And I randt about it! Â …
Brandt’s Randt – Swearing in the City Hall HorseshoeRead More »
Brandt’s Randt – Swearing in the City Hall Horseshoe Read More »
London Police get a rough go in this city.  Sometimes it’s warranted. Sometimes not. When a crowd is allowed to assemble and it gets out of control, as in the infamous riot here a year and a half ago, police get the blame.  When they break up a big mob, they get criticized. …
Brandt’s Randt – You Can’t Always Believe Your EyesRead More »
Brandt’s Randt – You Can’t Always Believe Your Eyes Read More »
You’re likely aware of the plight of Dr. Tarek Loubani and John Greyson.  But depending on where you live they’re known as “two Canadians” jailed in Egypt without charges for more than a month. Here in London, Dr. Loubani is one of our own. He’s a Western grad and ER doctor at University Hospital. He’s got a heart of pure gold and uses his vacations to travel to Gaza to train doctors there on the front lines of a decades-long conflict. …
We Aren’t Doing Enough Read More »
What’s the matter, US? Haven’t been involved in war lately and feeling the itch? The US is inching toward getting involved in a military conflict again and it’s pure B.S. Â …
Brandt’s Randt – This is Syria-s Read More »
I’m not a pot smoker but I have done it in the distant past and I did inhale and hold it. Â It made me paranoid. Â I remember sitting in the corner at a Halloween party long, long ago, convinced everyone there was talking about me! I’ve never been a big fan of huge house parties anyway but that one was possibly my worst experience. I don’t ever plan to get acquainted with a joint again. …
The Tide Turns on Weed Read More »
You’d think former journalists would know better.  Apparently not. …
Way to Go Pam and Mike Read More »