Category Archives: Lifestyle

Reading Between – and Outside of – the Lines

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By Jason Menard

Sometimes the best stories that a book can tell aren’t found in the text – it’s what’s in the margins that makes for the most interesting read.

I have a thing for old books. It’s one of the reasons why I don’t own a Kindle – there’s something about physically holding a book, turning its pages, brushing off the dust, and inhaling the familiar old-book scent, that an electronic version will never be able to match.

The one thing a Kindle will never do is give you the story behind the story. Continue reading →

Barroom Breast Exams Highlights Need to Apply Common Sense

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By Jason Menard,

Some may believe there are no absolutes in life – that everything is a shade of grey. Well, that’s absolutely wrong. There are a few things that are absolutely not true: there are no African princes just itching to give you millions for the right to borrow your bank account; there are no nubile young Russian women who just happened upon your Facebook page and think that your personality is so dynamic that they must talk with you.

And any breast exam that occurs in a bar is not on the up and up. Continue reading →

An Engaging Way to Shine a Light on a Forgettable Monarchy

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By Jason Menard,

For many, yesterday’s announcement of an engagement between Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton was an unforgettable moment; for me, it was a reminder of just how forgettable the monarchy is in our modern Canadian lives.

You see, Canada’s a part of the Commonwealth, a group of independent member states (54 in all), most of whom were part of the British Empire. Queen Elizabeth is head of that organization and is also Canada’s Head of State. So the monarchy is a pretty big deal for many Canucks – and royal watching is a spectator sport.
Continue reading →

A Holiday How-To Guide to Avoid Becoming a Ho-Ho-Hosebag

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By Jason Menard,

Too much of a good thing can ruin any experience. The celebration of the Christmas holidays can be saccharine enough by its very nature, but our more-is-better mentality can leave you feeling like you’re in a diabetic coma before the first gift gets unwrapped.

Today, at work, the cafeteria was decorated for the Christmas season. There’s a tree in the corner, garland abounds, and it’s a pre-winter wonderland. Now there is a reason, as we’re starting a charitable holiday drive, but regardless of the motivation, Nov. 15th is a little early to start getting in the festive mood.

So, without further ado, here are my rules so that you don’t become a Ho-Ho-Hosebag! Continue reading →

Halloween Should Be Child’s Play

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By Jason Menard

Apparently, without knowing it, I dressed up last night for Hallowe’en. My costume? A curmudgeon.

It didn’t start out that way. In fact, I inadvertently dressed up as something else Sunday evening – a popsicle. And apparently the cold had an impact on the trick or treaters, or lack thereof, on the evening.

As we were accompanying our eight-year-old daughter through the streets on her mad candy grab (she was determined to hit as many houses as possible), we noticed a marked lack of younger children on the streets. Only a handful of babies, a few toddlers, fewer still children my daughter’s age, and a smattering of pre-teens braved the sub-freezing temperatures.

But there was one group that seemed to be out in full force – the teenagers. Continue reading →