Category: Guest Columnists

  • A Strained Relationship

    A Strained Relationship

      By Jonathan Pollard “Far from idleness being the root of all evil, it is rather the only true good.” – Soren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher & founder of existentialism It’s damn time we face this one unavoidable reality, and this may sting a little: It’s good to be lazy. Truth be told, laziness is boredom’s tortured…

  • Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Cleaning Gardeners’ Hands

    By Reena Nerbas Painting a Fridge Dear Reena, We own a white refrigerator; it has the “rough” coating on the front with some black marks that have been imbedded into the material. Cleaning doesn’t seem to do the trick; I think I have to paint it. The hardware store wasn’t very helpful and told me…

  • Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Uses for a Wooden Spoon

    Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Uses for a Wooden Spoon

      By Reena Nerbas Cleaning Plexiglass Dear Reena, I have a terrible time cleaning the glass on my cabinets. They smear excessively. I think that they are Plexiglass; I really need help! Thank you! Kitty Dear Kitty, Plexiglass is highly susceptible to scratching and permanent etching due to chemicals such as ammonia glass cleaner. Use…

  • Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances

    By Reena Nerbas Reaching Back Hello Reena, Do you have a solution for how one can apply lotion to one’s back when nobody else is at home? Thank you, Leonore Dear Leonore, The easiest application method for applying lotion to one’s own back is to squirt the lotion onto the back of a wooden spoon.…

  • Reel Reflections ~ Easter Eggs in the Golden Age of Film

    Reel Reflections ~ Easter Eggs in the Golden Age of Film

    By E.P. Whinters Reflection on: Hail, Caesar! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Hail, Caesar!, the Coen Brothers’ most recent film. Their past projects have been varied and often eccentric, but one thing they always are is humourous, even if the humour is black. Comparing my exposure to them in the past, Hail,…

  • Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Wonders of Washing Soda

      By Reena Nerbas Potato Chips Dear Reena, I was given several boxes of potato chips from my ex-husband. Other than stuffing my face with them or giving them to friends. What can I use them for and do they ever expire? Do they last longer if you freeze them? Why are potato chip bags…

  • How Liquidity Impacts Your ETFs

    How Liquidity Impacts Your ETFs

    By Kim Inglis The independent research and consultancy firm ETFGI confirms 2015 was another banner year for the global ETFs/ETPs industry, with US$372.0 billion in net new assets – a 10% increase over the 2014 record of US$338.3 billion. Global assets under management grew from US$2.784 trillion to US$2.992 trillion; the number of ETFs/ETPs increased…

  • Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Fridge Tips

      By Reena Nerbas Foot Odour Dear Reena, I have a big problem with excessive foot odor. The odor overwhelmed my cubicle and I am in an embarrassing situation each time someone comes to my cubicle. I wash my feet twice a day every day, before bed and before going to work, sometimes I soak my feet…

  • Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Simple Solutions in the Kitchen

      By Reena Nerbas Restoring Fireplace Hearth Dear Reena, I have a brick hearth and left a freshly sawn tree trunk cut side down on the brick for 3 months. When I picked it up there was a 3 inch circle on the brick. Do you have a suggestion on how to remove this darker…

  • Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Hiccups and Stuck Lids

      By Reena Nerbas Smelly Drain Dear Reena, The overflow drain in my bathroom sink stinks really badly. Wondering what I can use to clean it out and get rid of the smell? Colleen Dear Colleen, The first step in getting rid of sink odors is to plug the sink. Fill the sink with 2-4…

  • Reel Reflections: My Guesses for Oscar Night

    Reel Reflections: My Guesses for Oscar Night

    By E. P. Whinters Best Picture The Big Short Bridge of Spies Brooklyn Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Room Spotlight I felt these were all excellent films, each exemplary in their own way. My gut says that The Revenant is going to take Best Picture this year, but I can’t say that…

  • Planet Waves: Tales from the Other Side of Astrology

    Planet Waves: Tales from the Other Side of Astrology

    Note: This is an article Eric wrote in October 2011 Being an astrologer is sometimes like being a metaphysical minister. People assume we have a connection to the other side, and many of us do. Practicing astrology helps people enhance their subtle senses. There is a need to reach a little beyond the obvious, into…

  • Reel Reflections: The Power of Focus

    Reel Reflections: The Power of Focus

    By E. P. Whinters Spotlight and The Revenant Like last week, in viewing movies back-to-back, it is inevitable to seek a common theme, and when that common theme is a driving force in each film, reflection is easy. This last week, viewing perhaps the two top contenders for the coveted Best Picture Oscar, I was…

  • Solutions & Substitutions by Reena: Old Books and Dry Skin

      By Reena Nerbas Cleaning Musty Old Books Dear Reena, I have many old stinky books; some are treasures and 100 years old. I wipe them off but would like to know how to care for them. I really need your advice. Gwen Dear Gwen, It is true that over time the ink, glue and…

  • Are you a writer screaming to get paid? How’s that working for you?

    Are you a writer screaming to get paid? How’s that working for you?

    By Tanya Jones (original post) In the last couple of days there’s been an awful lot of noise on social media about people who create things getting paid for those things that they create. The position that these articles are taking actually cause me, as both a writer and a publisher, a bit of concern…