Everyone is Don Quixote (Part I)

The most famous madman in the history of storytelling has more to teach us about ourselves than you might think

By Matthew Furlong | Jan 26, 2012

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Once upon a time ... “In a village in La Mancha, the name of which I cannot quite recall, there lived long ago one of those country gentlemen or hidalgos who keep a lance in a rack, an ancient leather shield, a scrawny hack and a greyhound for coursing” (25). So begins Miguel de Cervantes’ celebrated Don Quixote (1605), which is perhaps the most famous, and also perhaps the first, novel ever written. Cervantes describes the titular hero: “Our hidalgo himself was nearly fifty; he had a robust constitution, dried-up flesh and a withere...

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This I Believe

Can a stay-at-home mom be a feminist? This one is...

By Fiona Cunningham | Jan 25, 2012

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There was a popular radio show in the 1950’s called This I Believe. Now it’s an international organization, featuring over 100,000 essays online from people writing and sharing their statements of truth with the audience: a declaration of the core values in their daily lives. I was discussing my invitation to write this column with a friend of mine, outlining my trepidations and fears, and wondering how on earth would I go about writing an introductory piece. She suggested I take a look and perhaps begin there. I Am Fiona and This I Believ...

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Two Whales Coffee Shop

A touch of magic in Port Rexton reveals a model for the future

By Laura Nelson-Hamilton | Jan 24, 2012

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The Two Whales Coffee Shop in Port Rexton is not your ordinary roadside restaurant. Standing in front of Robin Hood Bay, it could be any old home with a view, save the sign that hangs on one side, which hints that it is open, but only mentions coffee. Pausing to speak with me in between tourist seasons, owner and operator Sue Asquith verbally shrugs off the business’ increasing popularity with a modest “I suppose three years down the line it must have been noticed that we haven’t poisoned anyone.” Of course, there’s more to the bu...

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Mekong jungle adventure

Adventures are fun...until they're not

By Sherrie McCarthy | Jan 23, 2012

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After Angkor Wat, riding along the Mekong was the next step in our 'Ride Asia' dream. The cool thing was that if you had asked us this time last year whether we would now be riding along the Mekong in Cambodia we would have told you that it simply did not fit into our plans. This has become one of our favorite games to play on this trip: variations on the question “Who would have thought this time last year that we would end up in Asia on little Hondas after selling our big BMWs?” It’s one of the best aspects of motorcycle travel: you r...

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A Balancing Act (is coming)

In talking about Senate reform, people are missing the point. In fact, most of the points...

By Brandon Pardy | Jan 19, 2012

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In my fortnightly column I want to have a little yarn about the recent Senate appointments. Actually, I want to have a little rant about the Senate as a whole. I know the Senate is a thoroughly discussed issue and people are pretty sick of hearing about it for the past decade or so. In fact I’m pretty late to the discussion about the perceived snub to Labrador, especially considering the recent colour change to the electoral map in the land that God gave to Cain. I’d feel bad about coming late to the discussion if there were many people al...

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A son of Labrador in Kyoto

A Labradorian looks back on his home with mixed feelings, and reflects on what Japanese and Newfoundlanders/Labradorians can learn from each other

By Ted Bonnah | Jan 18, 2012

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My name is Theodore Bonnah, but folks call me Ted. I was born in Goose Bay, but moved to St. John’s when I was ten and grew up there. I now live in Japan, and have done so on and off since my first trip here in 1996. I’ll always be proud to be a Labradorian and Newfoundlander, but have made the transition from one cold Atlantic island home to a warmer Pacific one. I am as comfortable eating fish and chips at my gramps’ cabin in Brigus as I am dining on fresh caught raw squid with my in-laws in Karako, and as uncomfortable crammed into ...

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Breaking news: Ontario has good idea

Ontario publishes the salaries of its highest-paid public employees. Why don't we?

By Hans Rollmann | Jan 17, 2012

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Ontario may be a confusing and disheartening mess of privatized services, underfunded and decaying schools and racial profiling, but they’ve managed to hit on one good idea that other provinces would do well to emulate. In fact, several provinces already have. But not ours. That idea is the Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act. Under this law – dating back to 1996 – salaries of all public sector employees who earn over $100,000 must be made public. It covers a wide range of employees - in universities, municipal governments,...

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