Acting: The Craft of Deceit to Get to the Truth

 Acting and poetry saved my sanity as a teen. At 13, I auditioned for the role of  Juliet – Shakespeare’s daughter. I was in grade nine, and I was up against grade 13 gals. I'd never taken an acting lesson, but I got the part. Getting up on that stage

Ode to Ottawa

 This city is one of the most beautiful to behold. As a poet, I am inspired by how our gracious capital harmonizes urban man-made structures with nature's creations. At every turn, I see vistas of green, picturesque pathways bordered by flowers and water, water everywhere. What other city can boast

Part Three: Horse Sense & Government Nonsense

 Public-Private Partnerships Are Not Subsidies The Ontario government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetracks Program has a detrimental effect for Ontario’s vibrant horseracing and equine industries. The McGuinty government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetracks Program has become a political football which has been kicked back and forth between the OLG, the

Part Two: Horse Sense & Government Nonsense

 Public-Private Partnerships Are Not Subsidies The Ontario government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetracks Program has a detrimental effect for Ontario’s vibrant horseracing and equine industries. This is a serious problem with major ramifications. Dennis Mills, the former Liberal MP whose web site Racing Future builds awareness of Ontario’s horseracing and equine industries,

Shakespeare in Ottawa’s Great Outdoors

 Every summer, local theatre enthusiasts gather in parks around the city to experience productions by A Company of Fools. As part of Torchlight Shakespeare, the company has presented an outdoor production during the summer season since 2003. Scott Florence is the artistic director of A Company of Fools, which is

Part One: Horse Sense & Government Nonsense

 Public-Private Partnerships Are Not Subsidies The Ontario government’s decision to end the Slots at Racetracks Program has a detrimental effect for Ontario’s vibrant horseracing and equine industries. THE COMEDIAN GROUCHO MARX ONCE COMMENTED that: “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – The Rocketeer

 For all of human history, mankind has been fascinated with the idea of flight. Stories that involve human beings taking to the air continue from the ancient Greek myth of Icarus to modern films and video games. Although aircraft have made flight possible and even commonplace over the last century, people

Homes: Beam Me Up

 WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT Star Trek here. Take a look up and marvel at the architectural use of beams in an interior environment. My clients had a vision. They wanted their home in Westboro to have an overall rustic organic feel of a cottage get-a-away mixed with the tailored

Get out there and explore: Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast

 By now, you may have seen the great ads that have just hit the airwaves showcasing the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) as a place for all Canadians. If you’re looking for a way to really enjoy the outdoors this summer, take in some breathtaking views, learn some Canadian history, experience

“Changing the Conversation”: Campaign Distractions on the Road to the White House

 In an episode of Mad Men, the popular series set in the early 1960s, Madison Avenue advertising executive Don Draper offers this advice to a colleague: “If you don’t like what is being said, change the conversation.” This dictum is not limited to the realm of advertising. Last week’s coverage of

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Lasers

 From the Original Star Wars films to the latest releases in the Halo series, laser weapons are some of the most commonly used devices in science fiction. Although they are very commonly used in both science fiction and the real world, the way in which lasers function is rarely addressed.

Thirst impressions: Summer’s Here & the Time is Right for Wine and the BBQ

 I have a few selections for you based on the July 21 release, but there are also a couple that come from previous releases you might want to still search out as they offer great value for the taste buds. Let’s start with a new wine into Vintages from an

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Cyborg Continued

 In my last blog, I talked about the exciting advancements being made in the field of medical cybernetics, and the future possibilities cybernetic implants and replacements offer for those who's bodies have been damaged. Medical cybernetics are being designed to replace damaged body parts, but the cybernetic systems used by

Live Performance Is Not Dead

 Do you  ever feel like it’s just too much effort to go to see a live performance when you can stay at home and watch whatever you want on your numerous devices? You'd have to get out of your ratty bathrobe, leave your house, turn off your cherished cell and

Pia Ashley Rocks the Ottawa Music Scene

 If you have not yet heard of Pia Ashley, you soon will because this local singer/songwriter is rocking the Ottawa music scene. Pia began writing and singing at 12 years old and became completely hooked once she got her first guitar at 16. Now 28, she has performed at The

Rail on the Rise: Getting Products to Tidewater as Efficiently as Possible

 Canadian rail continues to extend and expand its network to encompass the entire world. “Our railways have worked diligently with customers to improve service,” said Michael Bourque, president and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada (RAC). “They have signed service level agreements with many shippers and collaboration agreements with

Vive la France!

 The best surprise of the Normandy trip was the pleasant drive through the rolling hills and dotted farm houses that encapsulate the entire region. In six days of driving though Normandy we had only one day of overcast skies and rain. Otherwise, it was sunny with not a cloud in

Summer Sizzlers: Summer Loving in La Vie en Rose

 La Vie en Rose’s summer swim line channels 60’s Hollywood glam fused with the influence of an exotic getaway. Brittania Beach is the perfect back drop for summer romance in La Vie en Rose’s flattering, fun and fashionable swimwear. Stylist: Katarina Kuruc Assistant: Stephanie Vizi Photographer: Quame Scott (Q3 Studio) Models:

Travel: Arras, Lille & Normandy, France

 Vive La France! (PART 1 OF 2) We arrived at Charles de Gaulle/Roissy International Airport in Paris and transferred to the Train à grande vitesse (high-speed train) for Arras, Nord Pas de Calais. Arriving in Arras, opposite the railway station, is the War Memorial, which depicts a French WWI soldier

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Cyborg

 DC Comic's Victor Stone, also known as Cyborg, is one of many superheroes who had his powers thrust upon him without warning. Victor was visiting his parent's laboratory when an accident occurred, killing his mother and leaving him severely maimed. In order to save his life Victor's father rebuilt his

Fable Dinner at Sidedoor

 By Dalal Saikali Photos by Alessandra Gerebizza We set out to write a critique of a culinary event that we attended. We expected to be able to write: "each delicious part of the duck was utilized to its best potential." "The noodles were perfectly done." "Flavours were especially selected to

Dressing for the Season

 Fashion can be many things to many people: creativity, self-expression, lifestyle, professionalism and image. Regardless of how one perceives clothing, the single underlying influence that binds all looks together is seasonality, which has specific criteria for the Spring and Fall. Within the two seasons that dictate the ebb and flow of

From Keys to Strings

 From keys to strings, a musical adventure begins! Friends never ask why I took up the piano. Not so with the banjo! When they discover I devote time to the banjo rather than the piano, they panic: “Stick with the piano; it’s a much nicer instrument! Women don’t play banjo!

Disabilities in Public Life

 Fifty-two years ago, in 1960, Massachusetts Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy threw his hat into the ring as a presidential contender. In November of that same year, at the age of 43,  Kennedy would be elected as the United States of America’s 35th president thanks to a combination of his father’s

Piano Plight, Fright and Delight

 I love traveling, but there’s always this snag that comes up. As a pianist, I get antsy if my fingers can’t find a piano to play. I become irritable; my skin breaks out. My obsession to locate a piano when away has led me into some weird and wonderful places,