Raise the Hammer
Hamilton: A Love-Hate Story
No place can meet every need all the time. Better to embrace the adventure of the inconvenient and learn to love our less-than-perfect neighbourhoods than to fly in search of the elusive perfect place.
by Michelle Martin
Published March 10, 2010 in Belonging (9 comments)
Walkability? We Can't Manage Driveability
Making changes to improve walkability and liveability would go a long way to ward improving driveability, too.
by Michelle Martin
Published February 20, 2010 in Belonging (32 comments)
On Writing for Online Publications
Newspapers whose online versions are not much better than electronic versions of what was delivered to houses won't be able to attract letter and commentary writers, and readers of same, who are interested in discourse.
by Michelle Martin
Published February 06, 2010 in Belonging (1 comment)
Mark Zuckerberg's Visiting Card
Since no one pays a monthly fee to use Facebook, it must be recognized that Facebook users are paying some other way.
by Michelle Martin
Published December 28, 2009 in Belonging (8 comments)
When Sharing Goes Bad: Student Cooperation in the Age of DRM
Can you claim that you did your homework if you got help with it? If you help someone else with theirs, is that cheating?
by Michelle Martin
Published September 16, 2009 in Belonging (1 comment)
The New Purveyors of Received Wisdom
Common sense has its place, and indeed a valuable role to play, in our day-to-day existence.
by Michelle Martin
Published August 25, 2009 in Belonging (4 comments)
Jane Austin and Jar-Jar Binks?
All is not lost, you teachers and parents of teenage boys. Simply look up the actors and actresses who play in popular sci-fi movies and stories and find out their more, well, highbrow roles.
by Michelle Martin
Published August 08, 2009 in Belonging (0 comments)
A Lesson From Laundry
Our very competence as parents, as employees and as citizens is judged in large part on our appearance - but at what cost?
by Michelle Martin
Published July 06, 2009 in Belonging (14 comments)
Bicycle Routes Support Healthy Child Development
Council would do well to remember that a healthy city makes it possible for growing children and teens to do interesting and productive things as independently as possible.
by Michelle Martin
Published June 18, 2009 in Belonging (16 comments)
Technology and Trust: How Families Can Balance Supervision and Personal Responsibility
As heart-rendingly difficult as it can be to respect your child's legitimate and age-appropriate personal freedom, the concept behind it isn't rocket science.
by Michelle Martin
Published June 16, 2009 in Belonging (2 comments)
On Belonging
We go places, we see things, we do stuff – and sometimes we complain about what we did or saw. But are we really engaged?
by Michelle Martin
Published May 29, 2009 in Belonging (2 comments)
Clogged Drains and Emo Swoops: A Family Tracklist
I thought David Bowie was cool always and everywhere, but apparently opinions are divided.
by Michelle Martin
Published May 25, 2009 in Belonging (4 comments)
On Being at the Mercy of Your Online Profile
The internet has many wonderful aspects and uses, but the inclusion of a little more wisdom, and respect for human dignity is surely a good and necessary thing.
by Michelle Martin
Published May 07, 2009 in Belonging (11 comments)
Natural Justice and School Safety
Bullying needs to be dealt with immediately, forcefully, with the full weight of school board policy and law - even in its earliest stages, even if it hasn't yet become physical.
by Michelle Martin
Published May 04, 2009 in Belonging (9 comments)
Let Yourself Be Moved
In this economic climate we may not be able to afford major concert tickets, but we can sure get out in the community and listen to our talented neighbours.
by Michelle Martin
Published April 21, 2009 in Belonging (11 comments)
Stay On Top of Your Online Profile
Managing your online profile involves more than a simple matter of watching what you say and do, which in simpler times was good enough.
by Michelle Martin
Published April 09, 2009 in Belonging (3 comments)
Shelter-Mag Porn and Hieronymous Bosch
The advent of the credit crisis and the evidence of what rampant consumerism has done to the environment have given us wordly reasons not to fall into the trap that religion has always warned against.
by Michelle Martin
Published March 27, 2009 in Belonging (12 comments)
Snark, Impatience, and Urban Living
A generous give-and-take among citizens, a willingness for us to make excuses for each other is even more important that an aesthetically pleasing cityscape.
by Michelle Martin
Published March 11, 2009 in Belonging (7 comments)
Quebec's Lessons for Hamilton
There is no reason why our fair city cannot be almost as much of a tourist magnet as the oldest city in Canada.
by Michelle Martin
Published September 11, 2008 in Belonging (4 comments)
The Air Conditioning Trap
We really tried to tough it out and do all we could afford to do to avoid the air conditioning trap, but smog and asthma made it impossible.
by Michelle Martin
Published July 07, 2008 in Belonging (3 comments)
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