The missing Olympic boycott
By Alison@Creekside
Thirty years ago in 1980, Canada joined the U.S. in a 64-country boycott of the Moscow Olympics to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. On Feb. 15, under cover of wall-to-wall Olympics news, Canada joined 15,000 coalition troops in Obama’s assault on the town of Marjah in Helmand province, the biggest offensive since the [...]
Alone on Valentine’s day? Boo-frigging-hoo.
By Jodi A. Shaw
Most romantic holiday of the year, hey? Valentine’s Day is more like the Paris Hilton of holidays: It’s there, we all observe it, and aside from the potential for an anti-climactic sex tape, it’s pretty much useless.
I’m not anti-love, romance or grand gesture. I’m a [...]
Not so kissable lips
By Jodi A. Shaw
According to this perky little item, lipstick sales are up 40% since the start of the recession. Apparently the same thing happened after the 9/11 attacks, leading the chairmain of Esteé Lauder to coin the term “lipstick index,” to account for the phenomenon of glossy sales during bad times.
Women would be well-advised [...]
What about the kids?
By Bev Schellenberg
Now here’s a thought: According to the crown prosecutor in the case of Christopher Pauchay, the father of two children who froze to death while in his care, it’s important that people care for the children they have. Marylynne Beaton says the three-year sentence handed down on Friday, March 6th, sends an important [...]
Book clubbed
By Jodi A. Shaw
“Oh, what book club are you in?” the librarian asks.
“I’m not.”
“So, you’re just reading this on your own time?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.” The librarian then tells me to read the book, The Time Traveller’s Wife, in the given three weeks, as I will be unable to renew it. I explain to her that I [...]
Alberta delivers on midwives’ potential
By Jodi A. Shaw
I prefer not to know the finer details of child birth. Instead, I’d rather wait my turn to experience it, and find out the good, the bad, and the ugly of pregnancy and delivery. A pregnant co-worker, however, has been spoiling some of the secrets for me . . . and [...]
Loonacy
Bev Schellenberg
A few weeks ago, I helped an elderly woman at a public lavatory. Her distinguished male companion helped her through the main door but then stood awkwardly, carefully remaining on the outside of the women’s bathroom. I asked him quietly if I might be of assistance, and he agreed. His female [...]
I am not an incubator
By Jodi A. Shaw
I got married a year ago. I get asked on a regular basis when we are going to have kids. It didn’t start recently; it began only weeks after the ring was on my finger. “When are you going to have kids? When are you going to have kids?” At first I [...]
When Mommy is a Grandmommy
Marni Ko
In 1993, a 59 year-old woman gave birth to twins. It wasn’t a miracle of nature or Act of God. She found another woman willing to donate her eggs, a doctor willing to experiment with in vitro fertilization, and her partner kicked in some sperm.
Another Grandma made the news in late May. Frieda [...]
Enough of Israeli spin
Let me be clear: I am not anti-Semitic. Let me be very clear: I am completely opposed to the current state of Israel. It is not democratic. It is oppressive. It is criminal, both morally and in its refusal to comply with United Nations resolutions.
Let us all be very, very clear: speaking strongly against the [...]