Getting Broken

I write for many reasons. The idea of this blog in particular was to write to break moulds. To write about people breaking moulds, and the experience of breaking them. But what happens when we are the ones who get broken instead?

COMIC: Campfires In Heaven

Tonight I’m “breaking the mould” of what this blog is normally about to post something completely different. The world became a little dimmer today when Stringy’s light went out. Stringy, aka Daniel Rempel, was… well, you’ll see. This story is dedicated to him, as well as all his former campers, fellow staff and volunteers whose hearts are […]

The Google Heart

I recently attended a talk by writer/artist/designer Douglas Coupland where he mentioned offhand – as though it were common knowledge – that Google is becoming sentient. As he describes, Google the company is currently sending out its minions to collect information on anything from anywhere to add to “Google” the online entity, because it apparently expects “Google” to […]

On Fresh Starts and New Year’s Neurosis

I’ve always been a little skeptical of the status quo, a skepticism which is probably an inherent pre-requisite to mould breaking. So what of New Year’s Resolutions? Every year, it seems, people return to this practice en masse, often making the same resolutions year after year, failing to fulfill them sooner and sooner each year. My […]

Shopping Cart Girl

Clang Clink Clang Clink Clang… I wince with every rattle of the shopping cart at first. The sound seems to reverberate off the storefronts announcing my presence. Could it possibly be any louder? Clink Clang Clink CLA CLANG!!! Okay, yes it can apparently, thanks giant sidewalk gap. If everyone wasn’t staring at me before they certainly are […]

So This Is Canada: 12 Unguarded Observations of a Returning Canadian

Reverse culture shock is an interesting beast. It’s been six weeks that I’ve been back in Canada after living in Japan for four years, and I am in a weird headspace. People ask how the adjustment is going; it is certainly bewildering. I feel that I have not actually adjusted a single bit, but that I have […]

Notes From The Afterlife

I have been absent from this place for a good long while, and some of you may have thought I’ve dropped of the face of the earth, which wouldn’t be strictly false. I’ve gone on a journey of sorts, one I can never return from. A journey to the afterlife. The life after Japan, that […]

Don’t Mess With Me, I’m From The Ghetto

I grew up in the ghetto. At least, that’s what I tell people when it works to my advantage. It’s a defense mechanism, maybe, but one can never have too many of those. Especially in the ghetto. “I’m gonna kill every G* D* person in this F*ing neighbourhood,” shouted our next door neighbour, as he […]

Forget Vigilante Justice, We Need Vigilante Mercy

The Internet. Possibly one of the greatest social experiments in the history of our civilization. The Internet is many things: a network of information. A community of people. A platform for ideas. A forum for conversation. The Internet is a powerful, adaptable, by-us-for-us tool… but for what? While the Internet has been used as a […]

On The Fear Of Becoming a NEET

Dear Ms. Weibelzahl, Excuse the abruptness of this correspondence. I’ve heard all about you and your upcoming move to Ottawa. As it so happens, my organization is based in Ottawa, and we are in need of someone with your qualifications and experience. I have already reviewed your profile on LinkedIn, and believe that you would […]