By Jason Menard
There’s an interesting species of bird that’s taken root in the Forest City. It appears benign and works, but left unchecked its territorial obsession can serve to prevent other areas from flourishing.
The species? Parrotus Downtownicus. Continue reading
By Jason Menard
I hate politics.
Let me clarify. While I love the potential of my government institutions, I hate politics and what it does to people.
You might want to lower that “fight the power” fist and hold off on that “hear! hear!” — because my issues, in large part, aren’t with the politicians. In fact, I may just be talking about you, dear reader. Continue reading
By Jason Menard
In the interest of informing its citizens, It may not only be time for London’s municipal government to join the party — but it may also be time for potential ‘guests’ to send in their 2014 RSVPs early.
Though I’m generally opposed to party politics, I’m not so naive to think that there aren’t like-minded councillors representing wards in municipalities across the country. So maybe it’s time to ‘out’ the factions at the beginning of the process and afford London’s citizens the respect they deserve by giving them the information they need.
It can be argued that the municipal level has the most day-to-day impact on our lives; yet it’s also the level of government that many know least about. Being up front and honest about pre-existing affiliations at the municipal level would help citizens make a more informed decision. It would behoove citizens to know not only who’s drinking which flavour of Kool-Aid, but — more importantly — who may be spiking the punch bowl with potentially biased information. Continue reading
By Jay Menard
I’ve lived in London more than I haven’t. This, I feel, is a good thing. Obviously, having lived here for over half my life, I’ve seen a lot and have experienced the best and worst this city has to offer. And having lived elsewhere (Montreal) for almost half my life, I’ve had the advantage of stepping out of this bubble and seeing things from a new perspective.
I moved to this city in my youth and spend my teen years here. I left this city in my early 20s, like many others my age, leaving behind a London that we felt offered nothing to people of my age. I returned a few years later, older, hopefully wiser, and more appreciative of what the Forest City had to offer. Continue reading
By Jason Menard
We know too much.
There’s a price to be paid for this wonderful instant-info world we live in. We literally have the world in the palm of our hands – a wealth of facts, opinion, and counter-opinion just a click away on smart phones, tablets, and laptops.
But that information isn’t free. It has cost us our ability to marvel, it’s robbed us of our sense of wonder, and it’s rendered us chronically dissatisfied. The days of wonder are long gone – and those looking for inspiration are doomed to never again find it. Continue reading
The M-Dash by Jason Menard 