Articles

The Flip Side of Puritan

There are certain things that I once enjoyed, but could now happily go through the rest of my life without ever having to experience again. This steadily lengthening list includes dill pickle flavoured potato chips, watching Friday the 13th films while ripped on acid, karaoke fuelled by peppermint-schnapps, listening to Foghat’s Slow Ride while making… Read more »

The Changing Family

Now that I have reached the mature age of fifty plus, I wonder about the word “family.” In today’s society, the word family conjures up many more images than it did in the 1960s when my family began its gradual disintegration. As a result of this new version of family, I believe there will be… Read more »

Click On This – TalkTalk – fun links about language and writing

Shakespeare’s Lists – http://www.lomonico.com/bookindex.html A collection of lists pertaining to items found in, or inspired by, the writings of The Bard – including words first found in his work – like “advertising.” The Apostrophe Protection Society – http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk/index.htm Ah the poor apostrophe; so misused and abused. This site makes correct apostrophe usage easy. Very handy…. Read more »

When Health Food Goes Too Far

Anybody who knows me will tell you that if there is anything more amazing than my modesty, it is my profound sense of personal wellness. In fact, there is nothing I am more committed to than a healthy, wholesome lifestyle. I am, in fact, somewhat of a guru in this area, being the very first… Read more »

VOICE WRITING CONTEST, 2005 – Fiction winner!

After an unavoidable delay, The Voice is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2005 Voice Writing Contest, Fiction Category, has been selected. Two honourable mentions have also been awarded by our panel which consisted of Anthropology tutor, Carole Benner, Health Studies tutor Lori Beresford and Communication Studies tutor Holly Dougal, who filled as… Read more »

Canada Day in England

Nobody flew a flag, painted their faces with maple leaves or even wished me Happy Canada Day. As night falls I do not look forward to any fireworks, CBC concerts from Ottawa or drunken revelling on the streets. What a shame. I feel lonely today. It’s not even about nationalism, as such. Just because I… Read more »

Promises, Promises

I’m scrambling to keep a promise of sorts, a promise I made to myself that I’d forgotten had to begin today. So, left with so little time, I haul out the tools of a trade in promises and set to work. I wonder about promises sometimes, about the little words we set so much store… Read more »

Women You Should Know

June 2, 1890 – Hedda Hopper, actress and columnist, was born as Elda Furry. She began her career as a chorus girl on Broadway where she met and married stage matinee idol, DeWolf Hopper. Hedda Hopper starred in over 120 films, but is best remembered as a gossip columnist in Hollywood. June 26, 1890 –… Read more »

Here’s What They’ll Tell You

We value your business. We know who you are. Your call is very important to us. We can make you smell better. You can’t be too careful. The price of freedom is the eternal vigilance of closed circuit video cameras and private security forces. It’s dangerous to stand out in the crowd. Everything was better… Read more »