Social tippling
The easiest and most social method to develop one’s taste buds, of course, is to join a formal (or informal) wine club. The former debate and deliberate on the merits of a particular wine from a specific region. The latter is usually a group of like-minded folk who tend to enjoy wine for wine’s sake. […]
Lifestyle voting
There was an interesting piece in the Toronto Star the other day by provincial affairs columnist Martin Regg Cohn. Cohn was taking to task Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer for the limited scope of his proposed solution to persistently low voter turnouts—below 50 per cent in the last Ontario election. The solution proposed by the CEO […]
The real job bank
I don’t know. I just don’t know. On a cold, early spring day, the Royal Bank of Canada fills out a pile of Records of Employment for 45 of their Canadian staff, probably using Reason “K” because we know it isn’t Reason “A”, for issuing the documents. Then RBC human resource officials turn on their […]
5 o’clock in the parlour
The sign along Greer Road reads: ‘Simpson Farms, Since 1947’. I stop to ask permission to scavenge lumber bits from a nearby burnpile. I figure the bits to be ideal to build a tree house for my son. I’m directed to the hired hand. I follow through a complex of outbuildings toward a concrete structure […]
Coming down the home stretch
The season began in mid- January. Since that time, neither the fans nor the players have had time to catch a breath. Because of all the crunching done to the season following the lockout, teams have had to play far more games in a shortened season than they would have normally. For the contenders, nothing […]
Nice yeasty nose
Last week I described the most common (and possibly the simplest to detect) bottling flaw: corked wine. Keep in mind, however, that defects do not always originate at the vineyard. Extreme temperatures during transport of imported wines, or improper bad storage within the licensed establishment, are factors beyond the control of the winemaker. Here are […]
Ready for a takeoff?
Sometimes, life’s opportunities seem so blindingly obvious that, when you spot one, you worry that you’ve missed something everyone else has understood. Take Porter Airlines—the one with the racoon, and ever-present seat sales—and its plan to add 10 new Bombardier Q100 jets to its inventory, with an equally ambitious plan to serve more southern destinations. […]
POOCHed
I have, until now, avoided writing about the erosion and potential disappearance of our local hospital. I’ve skirted the big issue, not because I don’t care, but because I do care and I don’t want to misstep. Do you know what I mean? My reasons for maintaining and supporting our local hospital as a vital […]
Corked
What do you do if—after you uncork a bottle of wine —you suspect it is flawed? The initial tasting will tell whether the wine is correct. If you bought the wine in the L.C.B.O, they have a decent return policy. If you are dining in a restaurant, do not hesitate to inform your waiter. Restaurants […]
Let the playoffs begin
The regular season has concluded; the playoffs have arrived. The Florida Everblades of the ECHL have begun their quest to repeat as champions of the league. Last May, in overtime, they defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers to win their first Kelly Cup. For team owner Craig Brush, it was a relief. The team struggled through […]