Politics
I like to joke that there’s only one man I put a helmet on for, and that’s true enough. I don’t do any ring fighting anyone, except with one friend who’s earned the privilege through grit, discipline and good cheer. In 2015 I was a second-degree
Urbanism
When the colossally stupid three-days-in-the-office federal policy came into effect in September I occasionally saw in my various social media feeds complaints from people who couldn’t find parking downtown. I thought it was weird. Difficult to believe, even. Aren’t there six thousand gazillion places where one can temporarily
Culture
Some weeks writing a column is fun and some weeks it’s even funner. This week I got to talk with Canadian comedian Ron James, live from his Toronto condo. He’s coming to Ottawa for a show at the Meridian next week (buy tickets!) and what better opportunity to
Urbanism
There are weeks when it seems there are no limits to the number of zany ideas people come up with, including (in no particular order), digging a tunnel under the 401 in Toronto to add lanes of traffic because there’s no way the existing 20 or so are enough,
Politics
Like her or not, Kamala Harris is a woman who knows who she is and works hard to do what she thinks is best and if there is anything that sets toxic men’s teeth on edge it’s a woman who doesn't need their approval for, well,
Urbanism
Labour Day weekend is here and in addition to the yard work I didn’t do all summer I’m planning to finish reading two books and finally get around to spring-cleaning the front closet. You could say I’ve had a busy 2024 so far, and not just because
Politics
What a week, my lack of god. It’s been difficult to focus on what’s happening here given the excitement of the big convention in Chicago and the sense that finally we’re getting over the doom and gloom of having two very old white dudes fighting for a
Gender
Any time someone is dumb enough to get into an argument with me about gender-affirming care it ends in stunned silence when I point out that if we are to ban it we’ll have to start with boob jobs, penile implants and Viagra. Oh yes, it totally is the
Urbanism
It is indecently hot and sticky this week and no, that didn’t stop me from running and kickboxing and frisbeeing and generally sweating buckets. It’s vacation time for many people and as we head into the August long weekend (who cares what it’s called or why?) and
Politics
In the Ottawa Citizen this week I go back to that unfortunate episode where the people managing the Carp Agricultural Society got hoodwinked into renting some space to nasty right-wing extremists. And I say it’s up to all of us in the mainstream political space to occupy as much
Politics
A shorter post this week as everyone including self is hard at work preparing to spend some of the weekend resting, in-between various house and back yard chores. Vacations, a wise friend once said, is just a reorganization of when the work happens. It doesn’t make the work disappear.
Urbanism
Showing my age with this one, no doubt. But what better time to discuss snow and winter safety than in the middle of a scorching heat dome of a heat wave? Also the Northern Pikes are among the most under-rated bands this country ever produced. Fight me. But seriously: I