One thing that sets us apart in the animal kingdom is our memory for sound sequences. The birds may have it all over us in the ability to reproduce a “song”, but we win Name That Tune every time.
posted in media | Comments Off on But it sounds so familiar | 267 words
Since the government already has all my money, I want some back. This is not the cry of a Liberationist. Rather, it’s the low moan of a Canadian taxpayer. Our office is gearing up to generate all the necessary paperwork to allow hundreds of us to begin that most unbecoming of actions; begging the taxman to have a little mercy on our souls.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Too keen | 359 words
Go ahead, tell me that it’s really tasty. I don’t believe you. I come from a land where anything from the sea goes through three distinct processes; catch, clean and cook. Now I live in a city that thinks it’s “turning Japanese” like some bad pop tune from 1980. What’s my beef? Sushi
posted in health | Comments Off on Catch, clean and cook | 290 words
My transit day has two distinct populations. On the morning show, we have early risers, on their way to save their respective worlds. Pensive, but awake, ready to hit the street at a full run in a few minutes time. On the evening show, we have a full slate of students, often asleep within the first few hundred metres of the autoroute.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Sideshow | 278 words
No baseball fans at our house, but I can see how a doubleheader would have appeal to the real afficionado. My tastes run to something more eclectic. Think of another competition that carries hits, misses, errors, stealing bases. Focus. Foul balls. And once in a while, things go straight out of the park.
posted in Idol | Comments Off on Doubleheader to start the season | 224 words
Sometimes small incidents provoke great responses. Today, what was an insignificant gesture in the “bigger scheme of things” has forced me to become a true environmentalist. We’re going beyond tree-hugging. We’re now a family that must recycle 100%.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Recycling is now VERY important | 307 words
No doubt in my mind; it’s the strange news that sells. Nobody cares about the bird that was seen on my lawn. If, on the other hand, the bird was an albatross or a kiwi or a bluewinged yellow-throat robin, the news outlets would be all around the place. I exaggerate, but only a little.
posted in media | Comments Off on And then things went from bad to worse | 236 words
Homer: What about bacon?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Ham?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad! Those all come from the same animal!
Homer: [chuckles] Yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal. …
posted in environment | Comments Off on Wonderful magical animal | 304 words
With the rest of the family out of the house for the evening, it was time to try something new. We don’t have a home theatre, which is why the Happy Gang went to the local cinema. I, on the other hand, have a radio which tunes in CBC and the Randy Bachman show. Guess who gets more value for their dollar?
posted in computing | Comments Off on Whether it’s nice someplace else | 311 words
Another question raised about the course of study in our school deals with the hairy topic of basic skills. How many times has the “Back To Basics” been a rallying cry through the ages? Do our children receive an education equal to our own?
posted in politics | Comments Off on Lessons in education, part 2 (two… too) | 243 words
