Day 651: When The Whole World’s Watching

originally published October 12, 2013 A couple Sundays ago, over the course of 75 minutes that some of us are still trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to wash out of our brains, Breaking Bad aired its series-concluding episode. 10.3 million people tuned in, scoring a 5.2 share – a phenomenal success, considering the previous season’s finale (the […]

Day 650: There Once Was A Law About Naming…

originally published October 11, 2013 There once was a thought for a game: To write about laws about names. And just for a gimmick, To write it in lim’rick Though some will turn out rather lame. It’s been quite a while since I tried A full kilograph longer than wide. I could do so much […]

Day 649: Looking For That Lucky Number

originally published October 10, 2013 For the record, should anyone feel to compelled to keep such statements in some sort of record, I do not believe I will ever win the lottery. I say this with the utmost confidence and a wry awareness that the universe has gone out of its way to prove me […]

Day 648: A Legend With An Asterisk

originally published October 9, 2013 It is quite possibly the single most iconic moment in sports history. More so than Gretzky scoring his 50th goal in 39 games, more than Tiger winning his first major, even more so than David Tyree’s helmet-catch that helped the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in Super […]

Day 647: Les Youths En Revolt

originally published October 8, 2013 During my recent studies at the University of Alberta, the level of student activism was remarkably low. I’ve told the tale before, of how an organized protest against rising tuition costs was thwarted when the school handed out free ice cream outside the Administration Building. This didn’t bother me as […]

Day 646: The Inescapable Laugh Track

originally published October 7, 2013 Though it hasn’t yet been accepted as fact by the Western medical community, there is an adage that claims that laughter is the best medicine. But what if laughter is the disease itself? Somewhere amid the musty grey pages from the hard-to-reach file of wacky medical history lies the Tanganyika […]

Day 645: Luscious, Lovable Licorice

originally published October 6, 2013 As I twist off the wrapper of my final Candy Week installment, I quietly hope my sweet tooth has been suitably sated. In actual fact, the only time my words brought an unconquerable craving to my lips was the night after my Kit Kat piece. I felt no guilt in […]

Day 644: Unwrapping The Unwanted – Worst Candy

originally published October 5, 2013 When it comes to candy, taste is truly in the tongue of the beholder. There is no Wikipedian compendium of the world’s worst candy, as there is for the worst movies, TV shows and music. My daughter, my own flesh and blood turns up her nose at the coveted Coffee […]

Day 643: Forget The Romance, Just Give Me The Sugar

originally published October 4, 2013 So as the alleged flu in my gullet has evolved to a full-blown infection in the neighborhood of my poor tired uvula, I find myself still bed-bound and bored. Luckily I have reserved the opportunity to spend a few hours every day this week in the company of candy. Not […]

Day 642: Whose Broad Stripes And Bright Bars…

originally published October 3, 2013 With the cold claws of a vicious flu scraping against bone through my unguarded skin, I find that only the visions of the sweet satisfaction of treats long past can de-throb my head and un-ache my sedentary muscles. Though it’s true, my innards are craving only some tea, soup, and […]