One thing for sure, it’s not bowling — It may not be the burning question of the day but it is important, at least to me. That question is: “What is a real sport?” I submit that a real sport involves players who are in peak condition, possess outstanding physical skills, and can perform at an exceptional level…

There’s a bloom midst the doom and the gloom — As we age, there’s a tendency to gripe and complain about our various deficits and ailments. Whether it’s a sensory decline or a physical limitation, it’s easy to be pessimistic about growing old. But there’s also an upside in the incessant march towards death. …

More advice from Washington’s favorite columnist — An occasional advice column for Washington-based readers: Dear Ms. D.C. , Once upon a time, I was the CEO of ExxonMobil and respected throughout the business world. Then I became Secretary of State and got little or no respect from my yellow-haired boss. The next thing I know I was…

The U. S. is not the only place where democracy is under threat — Looking south of the border, we Canadians may have become a bit smug about the deterioration of democracy in the United States. Between discriminatory voting mechanisms like gerrymandering and voter suppression and widespread false beliefs in fraudulent elections, confidence in the fairness of the American voting process is at an…

Communicating with my four-year-old daughter — Many years ago, when my daughter Sarah was a four-year-old, thirty-five-pound dynamo, her every third sentence was “Why?”. I expected that, of course. I’d read all the parenting books and seen all the instructional videos. I knew that little kids are supposed to try your patience with endless queries about…

As envisioned by Donald Trump — One of Donald Trump’s key campaign promises was to reform the immigration system, but in his first term, he accomplished little on this front. However, rumor has it that he has a concrete proposal for his upcoming presidential campaign, a proposal which includes a brand new U. S. Citizenship Test: …

On beyond sustainability — As we rapidly destroy more and more species of plants and animals, here’s what fine dining might look like two generations from now: THE MICHELIN GUIDE — 2069 edition ** Le Grainery — Los Angeles, California Chef Thomas T. Thomas lovingly experiments with the planet’s three remaining grains. From his achingly sparse soupe au blé to his delightfully unsauced three-grained pasta, Thomas’s menu…

My ongoing war with the parking bureaucracy — Dear Municipal Parking Department, I pride myself in seldom having to pay for on-street parking and in Ottawa that is a major challenge. It’s not just that you folks are diligent in limiting the number of free spots in the downtown area; it’s also that you go out of your…

What happened to my conversational skills? — As I advance through my seventies, I expect new ailments and declines. My hair is graying and receding, I have less energy, and my sleep pattern is no longer regular. I have two new hips, a handful of root canals and crowns, and an impressively enlarged prostate gland. There are…