Transitioning out of COVID II: The Taste of Popcorn Aroma
Stupid me, I dropped one of my devices and broke a hinge. Off to the Dollarama I went to buy Krazy Glue to repair it. On my walk, I slow down as I near the Landmark cinema in Jackson Square. The movie posters are new and anything which…
Coupons Work? Getting People to the Jackson Square Food Court
COVID is severely impacting downtown Hamilton with government workers absent and private offices mostly closed. The number of people Downtown is a fraction of pre-COVID, and not many people live in the central business district. The Jackson Square food court primarily serves the office crowd. On Tuesday, Thursday,…
Transitioning Out of the Pandemic I: Attending Mass
It was a challenge finding a seat at the beginning of Mass this evening as I arrive a few moments late for what some of us jokingly call “Last Call for Redemption.” My parish hosts the latest Catholic Mass in Hamilton each Sunday at 7:15 pm; it is…
Jon Stewart, 9/11, Trust, and COVID
What events, and which people, influence public opinion regarding COVID? This is a question being widely research by various university labs. In a recent discussion with a graduate student, I suggested that Jon Stewart’s rant on The Late Show in mid-June will likely be the single most significant…
I Welcome The Reopening, Even If I Must Wait Until Mid-August
The COVID reopening is good news. Starting this coming Friday July 16, nearly all indoor activities resume. For me, it will create challenges as my vaccination cycle will not complete until the middle of August. I live in Hamilton’s L8R postal code and am in 30s age bracket.…
The Almost-Normal Days of The Second July of COVID
Who knew it is the second Friday? I thought to myself, looking at the pop-up sellers on James Street North during my Friday walk. Life is quickly returning to some semblance of pre-COVID patterns. There are only a handful of pop-ups this Friday night, a few selling knick-knacks,…
An Rare Typical Day
Without realizing it until now, today was my first day of normality in nearly two years. I enjoyed a breakfast sandwich at a cafe, sitting outside as I did before COVID times. I read agendas on the porch for the rest of the morning, into the early afternoon…
Council Speeches are Important: Blathering is Not
The problem of Council blathering cannot be solved by telling them to blather elsewhere. In fact, speeches at Council are more valuable than ever – including the theatrical/preformative aspects. The historical record they create cannot be replaced by tweets, podcasts, and other forms of communication. The following are…
On COVID Fatigue
The COVID third wave is the most demoralizing of the pandemic for me. In the first wave, during the early days when it was a crisis, I was too busy responding on campus, moving others out, and then moving myself out. It was the most exhausting, I managed…
Media Criticism, "Celebrity" Candidates, and Covering the Issues
Andrew Yang is a celebrity candidate and the media is adapting to lessons learned from a certain celebrity candidate who became president, argues New York Times media columnist Ben Smith. Being a media criticism column, Smith approaching Yang’s candidate with a eye on what his candidacy means for…