Columns

The Fit Student – Open up to Optimism

Even if you don’t see yourself as an optimist, you might do so after a read of Southwick and Charney’s book Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges. Southwick and Charney show that you can look to life with optimism even while facing challenges. And optimism provides many benefits, from goal achievement to better… Read more »

The Study Dude – A Theory Stuffer

There is nothing more that The Study Dude wants for you than to stuff your interview into a theory. Well, in these articles, as The Study Dude, I’ll try to give you the study tips you need to help make your learning easier. I’ll also give you straight and honest opinions and personal anecdotes?even the… Read more »

The Writer’s Toolbox – I, Internet

A few months ago I got exciting news that I eagerly shared with one of my authors: “The AP is finally lowercasing Internet! Can I get rid of all those capital letters?” Her response was equally enthusiastic?heck yes! She thought the convention was stupid anyway. The AP’s decision was announced at the American Copy Editors… Read more »

From Where I Sit – You’re Welcome

It’s probably time for a topic round up again. This is a corralling of diverse stories that got so much mainstream media attention that no back-story or context is required. If I talk about the Pulse nightclub massacre, you know exactly what I mean. Two CBC TV items give me hope. The Sunday Talk panel… Read more »

Dear Barb – Distance Difficulties

Dear Barb: I am in my early thirties and have been working at a low paying job for about 10 years. I thought about returning to school, but I couldn’t afford to quit my job and go full time, so I decided to try distance learning. I applied to AU last year and I’m already… Read more »

In Conversation with Nat Birchall

Jazz saxophonist Nat Birchall from northern England is largely self-taught, crediting Jamaican dub music for launching his love affair with music. Iconic British DJ Gilles Peterson calls him one of the best musicians in the UK. Recently the Mindful Bard recommended his latest album, Invocations, a rhapsodic jazz album that bears up well under infinitely… Read more »

Music Review – A Tribe Called Red

Band: A Tribe Called Red Single: “Stadium Pow Wow ft. Black Bear” Starting the summer festival season off with an epic track, A Tribe Called Red just dropped their latest single “Stadium Pow Wow ft. Black Bear”. This track follows their widely successful EP Suplex released to an eager audience last May. Since their founding… Read more »

The Study Dude – An Angry Committee

There is nothing more that The Study Dude wants for you than for you to defend yourself against a hostile thesis committee. Well, in these articles, as The Study Dude, I’ll try to give you the study tips you need to help make your learning easier. I’ll also give you straight and honest opinions and… Read more »

From Where I Sit – Make My Life Easier

My collection of business cards irks me. Because I’m a bona fide card picker-upper the pile is getting out of hand. Depending on the day I may have two, three, or four to remove from my purse. They are then dumped on my desk. If I need to follow up in some way they stay… Read more »

Dear Barb – Down on the Farm

Dear Barb: I grew up in a farming family, three previous generations of farmers. So it was always expected that me and my brother would become farmers. My brother is heading in that direction, but I chose to go to university instead. My parents are heartbroken that I did not choose farming. I can tell… Read more »