Losing a plane in the 21st century

After Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was reported missing at 2:40 MST (Malaysia Standard Time), I feel I asked myself the same question thousands of others around the world did as well. How, in 2014, can we simply lose a 63.7…

Categories: Opinion

Man, I’m so depressed

I’ll be honest. When I’m stressed about an upcoming exam that I’ve hardly read any of the relevant material for, or when I’m looking outside and see storm clouds in the distance, or when I’m generally just bummed out one…

Categories: Opinion

Boston bombing calendars: Monetizing a tragedy

I was just leaving a meeting with Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19) on April 15th, when, as I always do, I decided to check Twitter. It wasn’t quite sure what had happened, all that was known though was…

Categories: Opinion

From a non-user: Legalize weed

I’m not going to take up time by bouncing around the topic. I honestly think it’s about time marijuana was legalized in Canada. To be quite honest, I don’t see why it isn’t yet. I’ve never personally smoked (or otherwise…

Categories: Opinion

The travelling Canadian

It seems I’ve had a whole collection of life experiences that I’m able to turn into newspaper-worthy stories, including one that happened to me August 11, 2013 – one of the last amazing days of my summer. As odd as…

Categories: Opinion

Is O-Week still cool?

Orientation week last year sort of let me down, but in its defense, it may be partially my fault. I mean, it was cool seeing Shawn Hooke and Down With Webster. That day in O-Week was my first concert ever,…

Categories: Opinion

NDP leader visits Brantford egg carton factory

Federal New Democratic Party leader Thomas Mulcair visited Brantford Tuesday, August 27, 2013 to tour the innovate Hartmann North America egg carton factory, along with Federal NDP candidate of record for Brant County Marc Laferriere, and local United Steelworkers director…

Categories: News

What is TV teaching your kids?

I swear, shows I watched growing up in the 90’s had so much more depth and life lessons than the ones my nine- and ten-year-old brothers are watching these days. I’ll admit, I only started watching Boy Meets World this…

Categories: Opinion

Beauty is a beast

I think a lot of people were pleased, as was I, with Disney’s decision of making one of their latest princesses a little different than the “traditionally beautiful” previous ones. Now, I know that sounds weird, seeing as they’re cartoon.…

Categories: Opinion

Female politicians aren’t “cute”

I’ve had the chance to do some pretty extensive journalism, which has been both enrapturing and informative. Some of the stories I have been able to hear, and some of the people I’ve met impress me still to this day.…

Categories: Opinion

Welcome back, Joseph Ratzinger

A picture spread around the world. Some had seen it before, but the press hardly ran it. It depicts a young German boy with a grim look on his face, and a bird-bearing swastika on his lapel. Later, the name…

Categories: Opinion

Long speech short: Inaugurating President Obama

January 21 was a day that brought in strong winds to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. It also brought in a crowd of over a million people. All eagerly waiting to watch the inauguration of their newly reelected President Barack…

Categories: Opinion

Standing against rape

Collectively, the movies A Clockwork Orange, Gran Torino, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo earned roughly $529 million at the box office. Besides a wide fan base, these films, which have release dates ranging from 1971 to 2011, also…

Categories: Opinion

Realism and resolutions

When the clock chimed midnight on December 31, the 2012 ended. It was the year of the apparent Mayan apocalypse. The year Felix Baumgartner jumped from the edge of space. The year of the Summer Olympics in London, and once…

Categories: Opinion

Canadian Youth Revolts

In Canadian history, youth run protests have had an effect. But have they ever reached their intended goals? In the spring of 1947, after the end of WWII, a small community on Vancouver Island was about to fight again. Children…

Categories: Opinion

Guest lecturers: they could change your life

  “I think sharing your own personal experiences and stories is essential to modern education,” says Marc Laferriere, part owner of The Brant Advocate, Brant NDP MP Candidate of record, and recurring college and university guest speaker. I have to…

Categories: Opinion