UCP policy proposals revealed!
The United Conservative Party is holding its annual general meeting this weekend, where party members vote on policies they would like to see enacted, from important to trivial to ‘what,…
Maurice Tougas
A paen to Peanuts, and good ol’ Charlie Brown
“Well, here comes ol’ Charlie Brown … Good ol’ Charlie Brown, yes, sir! … Good ol’ Charlie Brown … How I hate him!” The greatest comic strip of all time…
Here’s why couples don’t have kids anymore
My wife and I raised three sons, with reasonably successful results. Today, in our early dotage, we are witnessing the raising of our first grandchild, Johnny. I thought it wouldn’t…
To repair or not to repair, that is the TV question
Last Wednesday, my wife woke me with four words nobody wants to hear. “The television doesn’t work.” I’ve heard this before. My 65” Samsung, with its various boxes attached, can…
It’s back to spending time!
So, parents… have you done your back-to-school spending spree yet? Did you get little Axl that spiffy new backpack? Did you get your darling Olivia that new T-shirt that she…
All the news that’s fit to ignore
I am a newshound. Always have been. When I was a kid, the highlight of my day was when the newspaper was delivered (sad, I know). I have an urge…
A visitors guide to Edmonton
Since going to the U.S.A. is now unCanadian (sorry, Spokane, maybe next year) Alberta tourist destinations should be having a banner year. But where to go? Jasper is lovely, just…
We already know the answers to this ‘survey’
As a public service to my reader(s), and in the interests of saving us all a lot of time, this week I will present the highlights of the provincial government’s…
Boy oh boys, what has happened to boys?
Being a teenage boy used to be so easy. Get a haircut when needed (basically when your dad told you to get a haircut), wear the same ratty old clothes…
The blog is MADE IN CANADA by a CANADIAN
So, watch any hockey lately? Of course you have. Watching at least some of the Stanley Cup playoffs is almost a requirement of citizenship in this country, and Canadian companies…
Is it too late to bring Justin back?
I miss Justin Trudeau. Seriously. I desperately wanted him to lead the Liberals to an all-time election catastrophe. After ten years of running this country into the ground, the least…
Canada says bye bye Bay
Canada is in the process of saying a long goodbye to the Hudson’s Bay Company, a symbol of this country since before we were even a country (HBC was founded…
The original climate change crisis: Fahrenheit to Celsius
Fifty years ago, Canada made its first tentative but still monumental step towards adopting the metric system. On April 1st, 1975, Canada officially switched from Fahrenheit – the only temperature…
Maple Leaf madness sweeps the nation
“The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear, the maple leaf forever! God save our Queen and heaven bless, the Maple Leaf forever.” Those of you of a certain age (old) may…
Bye bye Justin. Thanks for nothing.
To paraphrase that great orator, U.S. President Gerald Ford: our long national nightmare is (almost) over. Ford was speaking after the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974. But Watergate was…
And the winner is … who cares?
The Academy Awards are on Sunday! To which I say … what else is on? I’ve been a movie buff since child hood, when I would force myself to stay…
Dry January was easy. De-Trumping will be hard
Last month, I decided to go the ‘Dry January’ route and abstain from alcohol. It really wasn’t that hard, since my alcohol intake consists of one reasonably priced beer a…
Baby girl names, from Aad to Zyra
Last week, we looked at Alberta boy names for 2024. This week, let’s look at the girl names, but be warned. This may take a while; more than 7,500 different…
The great Alberta boy names list, from Aad to Zyx
It’s that time of year again, dear readers, for my annual dive into Alberta’s wide world of baby names. This week, it’s boy names, or for the more woke amongst…
Some reading suggestions for the new year
Welcome, dear reader(s) to my annual look at the best books I read last year. I do this not to brag about how many books I read (22, but who’s…