Public safety measure or outright cash grab? — For some time now, I’ve been wondering how the City of Ottawa is going to pay for such white elephants as Lansdowne and its dysfunctional light rail transit system. Clearly, the proposed property tax hike of 2.5 percent will do nothing to solve the current $3.5 billion debt. I think…

And not in a good way — Last year, in an effort to keep the peace during the dumpster fire that Thanksgiving family gatherings have become since that fateful day a former real estate mogul rode down a golden escalator and into infamy, I wrote an article suggesting five creative ways to change the subject when uncomfortable…

Why are more and more people rude and disrespectful? — Horn blaring, an SUV zoomed into the intersection, almost colliding with me. This happened earlier today. Now, in full disclosure, he had a green light. I didn’t. I was going through a red light. But… I was part of a funeral procession. And the procession was going through the light…

Especially the ones who try to guilt me — I’ve had it with charities that utilize aggressive marketing techniques. I do make annual donations to several charitable organizations but there are a number I have put on my personal blacklist. A few years back, I was almost duped by a door-to-door canvasser for the Humane Society. I said I…

It’s been…different — Everyone knows that Americans are addicted to automobiles; this has been the case since the first Model T rolled off Henry Ford’s assembly line. Turn on your local TV station (does anyone watch local TV anymore?) and you will see three types of commercials, two of which are car-related: ads…

They’ve hung around far too long — To say that Halloween has become a major holiday is a massive understatement. What was once a one-night candy grab for pint-sized ghouls and goblins is now a 31-day celebration of all things supernatural that, for many, rivals the Christmas season. If you think that’s an exaggeration, a couple of…

It’s time to bring back manners and good behavior — There was a time — not that long ago — when most Americans knew how to behave in public. And that included behaving properly when they would go to the movies. It would seem that the times are indeed changing. And not all for the better. A recent article in…

Maybe she was nice before the goo got her — Why do I go back to this same passport office every time? Knowing the woman behind the window was exposed to the evil goo from Ghostbusters. Am I a sadist? Do I enjoy being scolded? Do I savor being treated like a complete idiot? Apparently — because as soon as…

All politics is local — We are 13 months from the presidential elections in the United States and every news story lately seems to be about the fact that no one is happy with the two likely nominees. In true American fashion, we will wring our hands over questions of diminished capacity due to age…