The doctor opens his file and reads the sperm count aloud with resounding indifference. Across the room, the stunned non-father staggers into a void; the first scattered thoughts he is able to gather involve his rather rudimentary understanding of science and mathematics. He does not hold a medical degree, but he is quite certain that… Read more »
As the Globe and Mail pointed out this week, Canadian taxpayers ?shelled out nearly $270,000? last July for the change-of-command ceremony that bid farewell to General Rick Hillier, the country’s former chief of defence. Details of the expenses include $4,035 for a 21-gun salute, $23,101 for an aerial display by the Canadian Snowbirds, and $3,137… Read more »
Who Needs a Massage When there’s a Grocery Aisle to Roam? I recently spent 10 cold minutes huddled over a freezer full of turkeys probably left over from last Thanksgiving, agonizing over the merits of a 12- versus 18-pound bird. I’d had my heart set on a 15-pound one, and choosing anything else was one… Read more »
Moral outrage is spewing across America like some kind of pecuniary Vesuvius. In the face of foreclosures, job losses, and a desperately unstable economy, everyone from plumbers to the president is calling for heads to roll at A.I.G. Not just the heads of those who pleaded for a government bailout and then handed $165 million… Read more »
In a poor economy, it seems that the only businesses doing well are those promoting survival in a poor economy. Everywhere I look, I see the same advice on how to lower your grocery bills: clip coupons, clip coupons, clip coupons. Here’s a twist: I’ve also got tips on how to save a lot on… Read more »
I love technology. I love the fact that MRI machines can provide astonishing images of the human body, helping physicians diagnose illnesses. I still marvel at the concept of air travel; as one comic puts it, ?sitting in a chair in the sky.? And when it comes to communication, hook me up to high-speed and… Read more »
Last week, we brought you the winning fiction entry in the 2008 Voice writing contest, ?Snowmaggedon? by Pamela Wagner. This week, we’re pleased to publish the non-fiction winner, ?Shut My Mouth? by Adam Thackeray. Entrants in the non-fiction category were asked to write about any issue affecting freedom of speech. In ?Shut My Mouth,? Adam’s… Read more »
Our court jesters, from Rick Mercer to Jon Stewart and beyond, serve society well. They dare to expose the imperfections of the court, pointing out when the emperor’s pants have fallen down?or when he isn’t wearing any at all. Admittedly, the joke sometimes backfires, as in the recent shambles of a mock interview by Geri… Read more »
It’s a funny thing about setting government policy in a democracy: most of the time, citizens expect their leaders to live up to the standards that they set. Which makes it especially interesting that a couple of recent events have hit the news so close together. The first is that the Tories are going to… Read more »
With all the great submissions in the 2008 Voice writing contest, the judges had their work cut out for them! The decisions are now in and we’re pleased to announce that the winners are: Fiction ? ?Snowmaggedon? by Pamela Wagner Non-Fiction ? ?Shut My Mouth? by Adam Thackeray Each of the winners will receive one… Read more »