COVID19 In Our Rear-view Mirror

It’s so close you can almost touch it. But not just yet. I refer to the time when the COVID19 pandemic will be, like Lubbock, Texas in the Mac Davis song, in our rear-view mirrors. I can’t imagine what Mac had against Lubbock, but he was sure pleased to be leaving. Things are getting better

Small World; Small Bookshop

To say I am a creature of habit would, at least when it comes to places of residence, be an understatement. My wife and I moved into our current apartment almost 18-years ago. Prior to that I had lived in another unit in this building for 18-years. To further illustrate my home-body trait, the building

Pro Athletes And The Media

To talk to the media or not, that is the question. At the French Open, Japanese player Naomi Osaka has opted to give media interviews a swerve. She will not be talking to the members of the press during the tournament. Just one problem; according to the Grand Slam Code of Conduct, she – and

Why Use Risky Vaccine When Alternatives Exist?

I did not know Francine Boyer. The Quebec woman passed away recently from cerebral thrombosis, a blood clot, some time after having received her first shot of the AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine. A rare but devastating side effect of the AZ product. People are quick to explain that the chances of this are infinitesimal – 0.001

Hooligans Besmirch Montreal Protests

People have always protested. To publicly express one’s objection to an issue, law, or decision is one of the most important elements of a democracy. Assuming it is done peacefully and in accordance with proper regulations. Even those who would protest said regulations – the securing of a permit being chief among them – must

Waves: Good and Bad

The usual use of the word wave in popular culture has a positive twist to it. Harnessing the power of a big wave on a surf board. Or riding a wave of good luck. But when it comes to yet another wave of the Coronavirus, there is nothing positive about it. As if to emphasize

Movies Without Popcorn

While the government of Canada warns people not to travel during the upcoming spring break, threatening strict quarantine measures upon returning to the country, the government of Quebec is attempting to provide some activities for kids during the week-long March break. What can reopen, beginning this Friday, are movie theatres. However, the selling of food

Why I Should Be Canada’s Next Governor General

The Canadian Governor General (GG), Julie Payette, has resigned amid a scandal that revolves around what has been called a toxic work environment. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist – and Ms Payette is, in fact, an actual rocket scientist and former astronaut – to realize that the position of GG is perhaps the most

Sane Media Wakes Up, Smells Coffee

I have never been fond of the term ‘mainstream media/news’. I prefer to refer to it as the sane media/news. Like Trump’s phrase ‘fake news’, it makes no sense. If it’s fake, it’s not news. The fabrications broadcast on several far-right outlets are not deserving of the ‘news’ classification. If it’s fake, it’s not news.

A Micro View of COVID’s Burden On Hospitals

In the immediate aftermath of the 2020 year-end holiday season, the COVID-19 statistics in Quebec continue to be at alarmingly high levels. Both the number of infections and the number of deaths attributed to the virus rise every day. It would appear more folks went a visitin’ during the festive season than are admitting it;