By Ryan Pike
The Canadian Olympic Committee headed into the 2010 Vancouver games with high hopes. After utter disappointment in the medal standings at the 1976 Montreal summer games and the 1988 Calgary winter games, the COC took the bull by the horns after the announcement of Vancouver as host — boldly claiming that Canada would own the… Continue reading Canada gets pwned on the podium
In late October, a boy was born in Rocky Mountain House. His umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and, by the end of the 40-hour labour, the baby needed to be flown to Edmonton to be placed in neonatal intensive care. Over two months passed before doctors determined that the boy — Isaiah James… Continue reading Baby Isaiah should be allowed to die
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last several years, allow me to fill you in. It’s 2010, and the Vancouver Winter Olympics are but a day away. The impending games have been drawing a great deal of media attention since they were announced back in 2003. Although the real figures aren’t… Continue reading Vancouver’s streets ain’t made of gold
The Olympics has a bad reputation. With its nationalism, its history of human rights being sidelined wherever it goes — Vancouver included — and the incredible amount of money spent, thinking the entire thing is unjustified is a defensible position. In spite of these problems, there is one upside to the Olympics that is often… Continue reading Can the games solve Canada’s weight problem?
By Kim Nursall
In light of Tiger Woods’ recent infidelities, companies such as Gillette and Accenture have reneged on sponsorship contracts with the golf superstar. Because these companies claim that an affiliation with Tiger Woods will adversely affect product sales, they have severed ties to the supposedly discredited sports icon. Companies acting thus send the message that people… Continue reading Eliminating society’s celebrity obsession
Our writers are dying. In many ways writers of modern literature are dead as soon as their last work is published. Unlike the music and movie stars of today, the author silently puts their thoughts to work, remaining out of the public eye; the invisible hand behind the most important aspects of the thinking world.… Continue reading Remembering the life and words of J.D. Salinger
By Ryan Pike
The pie has an important place in Canadian society. Pies are delicious, nutritious and, as has been made evident in recent years, they are a wonderful tool for political activism. But members of the political establishment are seemingly opposed to using a pie for protest purposes. Last month, federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea was the… Continue reading Pie: the creamy bastion of democracy
I’ve begun to think the Calgary Stampede might be behind this proposed tuition increase. Jay-Z holds the key to my insight. The latest issue of Esquire magazine carries an article about the astounding crossover success of the rap magnate. In it, writer Lisa Taddeo details that the most important feature of Hova’s ability to succeed… Continue reading Jay-Z, the Stampede and tuition hikes
There is a difference between freedom of speech and freedom from taxation. This difference makes it possible to retain the former without being able to claim the latter, but not everyone sees it this way. In October the King’s Glory Fellowship Association, a protestant church, was alerted that they would be losing their charitable status… Continue reading Stop giving tax breaks to religious groups
By Ryan Pike
Controversy reigned in Toronto over the holidays, but for once it wasn’t about the sub-par Toronto Maple Leafs or a garbage strike. On this occasion, Torontonians were all riled up about naps. Toronto Transit Commission fare collector George Robitaille kicked up the controversy several weeks back when he was photographed napping in his ticket booth… Continue reading Don’t be hating on the Toronto Transit napper