Columns

The Study Dude—Twelve Traits of Highly Successful Students

Have you ever noticed we’re all missing a piece when it comes to success? The overachiever may lack close friendships.  Or the overachiever with friends may wind up chronically ill.  Or the genius may put in next-to-no study time and fall miserably behind. We’ve all got weaknesses.  The key is to overcome them.  That’s what… Read more »

Dear Barb—The State of the Neighbourhood.

Dear Barb: I moved into a new home about four months ago, just before the coronavirus and I really cannot stand my neighbors!  They have five kids, who are all at home, running the streets yelling and fighting with each other.  At times they knock on my door and I know it is them so… Read more »

The Study Dude!—How to Write the Perfect Essay

What is smart, beautiful, and perfect?  Your next essay, of course.  Here are tips to help you to write a work of art as your next essay.  This guide works mostly for first- or second-year undergraduates, but a graduate student may discover a few tidbits, too. Ready to write? Tip #1: Logical flow begins with… Read more »

Homemade is Better—Grilling Season & Burgers

It’s grilling season! You can smell it in the air on a hot weekend, someone cooking on their outdoor grill.  I call it grilling for two reasons.  One, grilling is a high heat, a quick outdoor cooking method where we sear grill marks into our food.  And two, BBQ (which we sometimes use interchangeably with… Read more »

The Creative Spark—Simple Tricks to Sweeten Dialogue

If you’ve ever been tasked to write dialogue, you’ll likely stumble at first.  But once you know the rules, your dialogue will excite and rouse readers.  If you’re a student, I can’t stress enough how writing frees the soul.  Writing can cause you to self-publish, position yourself as an expert, and make some extra cash…. Read more »

Course Exam—LGST 369 (Commercial Law)

LGST 369 (Commercial Law) is a three-credit, upper level business and administrative studies (legal studies) course that is designed to inform business people and those dealing with businesses of the core legal principles, laws, and institutions which govern trade and commerce in Canada.  It will help business people to anticipate and, if possible, avoid legal… Read more »

Dear Barb—Boss Accountability

Dear Barb: Hi, I am a junior accountant at a small accounting firm.  I’m willing to do many tasks since I’m at the bottom of the totem pole.  The problem I am having is with my boss.  I feel like I am invisible to him, or maybe he doesn’t like my work.  I do journal… Read more »

The Creative Spark—Shakespeare’s Guide to Dialogue

Okay, so Shakespeare didn’t write this guide.  Nor did Chekhov, Tolstoy, or Mama June.  Didn’t Mama June publish?  Regardless, if any of them wrote what follows, they’d be beaming. With that said, here is Shakespeare’s guide to character dialogue: Tip #1: Hey, have you tried cutting out words? Cut out words, even if it hurts…. Read more »