A few winters ago, in a fit of Christmas cheer, I offended the gods of common sense by giving away a practically new, all-metal-construction snowblower. Had I lived in Fort Lauderdale, my soft-hearted gesture might have seemed merely unnecessary. But I didn’t live in Fort Lauderdale. I lived in Moncton. I still do, and over the years of record-breaking accumulations, …Continue Reading

When David Alward’s Tories assumed the leadership of New Brunswick more than a year ago, they promised to reconfigure NB Power as a competitive commercial enterprise. But three measures in their recently released, ten-year Energy Blueprint strongly suggest they are farther away than ever from this goal. Under the new plan, the utility – a provincial Crown corporation – will …Continue Reading

It was confusing, unappealing and just plain goofy. And when the New Brunswick government, under Liberal Premier Shawn Graham, selected “Be. . .in this place” as the province’s new slogan in 2008, the wags had a field day. I, myself, could not resist the temptation to jab away. After all, anything would be better, including and in no particular order: …Continue Reading

Now that KISS frontman, merchandising genius and reality show icon Gene Simmons has, after 28 years, made an honest woman of his long-suffering companion, actress and singer Shannon Tweed, one presumes the former’s days and nights of carousing with nubile acolytes of the fairer sex are over. But a Moncton-based gaming studio is betting that the couple’s famously televised tribulations …Continue Reading

Protesting real, perceived or anticipated abuses of power is rapidly becoming a recreational pursuit – like vegan cuisine and alternative energy – for many who may not fully appreciate the ramifications of their ignorance. Or, at least, it seemed that way the other day when a visibly irritated Brad Woodside, Mayor of Fredericton, confronted two anti-fracking advocates in council chambers. …Continue Reading