Opinion

Valley Trail courtesy Let me paint a picture for you — a gorgeous Tuesday afternoon, walking along the Valley Trail with my four-legged companion.

"The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community." - American author/philosopher William James Whistler's 2011 municipal election was all about change.

With some of the most expensive cell phone and wireless rates in the world, the federal government and CRTC are justifiably concerned that Canada will fall behind in the high-tech economy.

"When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek the new. The restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and seek the mountain view." - American poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox It was a beautiful afternoon. The air was warm, but not uncomfortable.

Grateful for a lively plaza

Recording artist" used to be a term reserved for musicians contracted to record companies. This was before the music industry was eviscerated by Apple, and others, and made plastic discs with recorded music on them as essential as buggy whips.

I've got my headphones on from the minute I'm up to the minute I go to bed I've got my headphones on every day of my life, I'm going to wear until I'm dead.

" My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." - Mark Twain I lost my mom last week. Poof — just like that. One day she was there, the next she was gone. Died in her sleep, they told us. Probably felt no pain.

Seeking assistance

As it happens, I was in Detroit this month. I went to see the art and the architecture, domains in which Detroit is still one of the richest cities in the United States. It's broken, and it's broke, and now it's officially bankrupt too.