Category Archives: Lifestyle

He’s Still There — So Why Doesn’t Anyone Care?

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By Jason Menard

The truth has come out and, as many expected, Joaquin Phoenix’s bizarre behaviour over the past two years was nothing more than a piece of performance art for a mockumentary filmed by his long-time friend, and brother-in-law, Casey Affleck.

This revelation was prompted by less-than-stellar reviews of the film, I’m Still Here. It seems that audiences and critics alike haven’t been getting it — at least not the way the filmmakers intended — so Affleck has felt the need to explain the duo’s intentions behind making it. Continue reading →

Sad Commentary

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By Jason Menard

It’s too bad that so many people use the term free speech when it’s clear that they have absolutely no understanding that it isn’t, in fact, free — it’s paid for through responsibility.

Not to vilify the Internet, but the anonymity it provides gives people a sense of invincibility — emboldening them to say things they would never, ever say in public, with their faces and names attached to their commentary. Continue reading →

Blunting Our Greatest Tool

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By Jason Menard

Language is a wonderful thing. The very thought that you can string together completely random symbols and not only have them form a very real image in your mind, but all share that image with someone else is absolutely awe-inspiring.

After all, I can write c-a-t and you’ll probably have a fairly solid idea of the animal to which I’m referring. I can write those letters in seconds, yet convey a fully formed image. My other option would be to try to draw that animal. Maybe you’d get it right — chances are you’d be saying, “What’s that? A giraffe? A mongoose? A cowboy eating a hamburger on a pogo stick?” Continue reading →

And We’re Back…

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I’d like to welcome you to the M-Dash — my new Web site dedicated to exploring the best and the worst of business communications, sports, politics, and everything else life has to offer!

I invite you to check out the “Categories” section to view an archive of over 300 columns from my previous Web site, Menard Communications. You can also keep up-to-date with my work on Hockey’s Future and the corporate blog North of the 49th.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or send me an e-mail to jaymenard@gmail.com.

You can call it a blog. I won’t be offended. But these curiously long posts are less bloggy and more columny in nature. No matter what you call it, I hope you find something entertaining, informative, evocative — or, preferably, all three. And you can click on the “About” link to learn more.

Thanks for joining me!