At least our man isn’t Donald Trump

May 11, 2011
At least our man isn’t Donald Trump

Canadians like to complain that Stephen Harper is a cold fish, a man so devoid of personality and charisma he wears an earpiece operated by a real live human who tells him when to smile—or so I’ve heard. Yes, it’s true his staffers had to force him to drink a sip of champagne for his victory night photo op. Yes, it’s true he shakes his own son’s hand before school. But we already know all that. Harper has always been like that awkward math...
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One last chance for poor decisions

May 4, 2011
One last chance for poor decisions

I have made a few poor decisions in my life. Like that time I sent my banking information to the nice Nigerian man I met through email. Or on Monday night, when I sent all those expensive “Atta Boy, Iggy!” balloons to the Liberals’ celebration party. Talk about awkward. At certain points in his life, a man needs to exercise his right to make bad decisions. And at no time is that more important than at his bachelor party. Relax — I’m not talking...
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Losing sleep over balls and strikes

April 20, 2011
Losing sleep over balls and strikes

It’s well past 11 p.m. on a Friday night, and I’m pacing the room, throwing nervous glances at the TV screen. I’d tried to walk away earlier, pretending to do the dishes, but I could still hear it. The howl of 37,000 people screaming bloody murder over the questionable eyesight of a man in a navy blue suit. Then I’m back on the couch, staring again, tapping my foot nervously. “Throw a strike, dammit!” I have problem. It’s an obsession, really. It’s called baseball....
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Web pranks reveal ‘new’ dirty side of politics

April 13, 2011
Web pranks reveal ‘new’ dirty side of politics

The internet has brought us many wonderful things. Cheap music. Scantily-clad women. Free electronic mail delivered by tiny elves. But one of its greatest gifts may be what it reveals about our politicians, although not always in ways they’d hope. Once there was a time when we had to form our opinions of candidates based on scripted public appearances, news stories, or – heaven forbid – their platforms. Anyone in politics today knows the web can be an incredibly powerful thing, a low-cost way...
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Want election drama? Move to Haiti

April 6, 2011
Want election drama? Move to Haiti

Call Canadian elections boring all you want. But I’ll take them over a Haitian campaign any day. Last week, I was in Port au Prince reporting on the work of the St. Joseph’s International Outreach Program, a medical aid group that has sent more than 100 volunteers to Haiti from around the region, including Guelph, since the earthquake. When I left, Haitians were still bracing for riots many expected would break out once the results of a long-delayed presidential runoff were released. We love...
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Maybe the Begging Bear attacked first

March 23, 2011
Maybe the Begging Bear attacked first

Before we gather up the horses and send out a lynch mob for the young men who hauled down Guelph’s beloved Begging Bear statue, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. I’ll admit the facts, on the surface, seem stacked against them. Last Friday night, witnesses saw a group of about 10 young men climbing on top of the famous bear, which has stood since 1999 in front of the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre at the corner of Gordon Street and College Avenue....
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