Columnists

Vancouver Canucks’ JT Miller. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

THE MOJ: For Canucks to dig themselves out of this mess, sacrifices have to be made

Big, long-term contracts need to be offloaded, even if you have to pay to do it

Vancouver Canucks’ JT Miller. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
FILE – The Ocean Cleanup project’s latest iteration of plastic-collecting technology, the System 002, will leave Victoria and heads to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Cleanup/ Twitter)

OPINION: Court case could kill progress on plastic pollution in Canada

‘The world is beginning to act to reduce the plastic crisis’

  • Mar 6, 2023
FILE – The Ocean Cleanup project’s latest iteration of plastic-collecting technology, the System 002, will leave Victoria and heads to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (Photo courtesy of the Ocean Cleanup/ Twitter)
Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange as the Federal Reserve makes an announcement regarding interest rates in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Seth Wenig

PAINFUL TRUTH: Finance has become very weird

Financial engineering is where the money’s at, even if it doesn’t make sense

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange as the Federal Reserve makes an announcement regarding interest rates in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Seth Wenig
Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, back right, listens as general manager Patrik Allvin responds to a question during an end of NHL hockey season news conference, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

THE MOJ: Trade deadline once again dashes the hopes of Canuck fans

Jim Rutherford and his team did what they said they’d do: retool, not rebuild

Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, back right, listens as general manager Patrik Allvin responds to a question during an end of NHL hockey season news conference, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The jerseys and logos worn by the Vancouver Canucks — and, consequently, their fans — have seen several drastic changes in the four decades since the team entered the NHL, and pretty much all of those iterations can be spotted in the throngs of people out celebrating the playoffs in recent weeks. In this April 29, 2007 file photo, Vancouver Canucks' Markus Naslund celebrates after scoring against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL playoff hockey game in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Lam

THE MOJ: Revisiting a snap deadline trade done in minutes that changed Canucks history

Franchise legend Markus Naslund was picked up with no advance warning after a last-minute phone call

The jerseys and logos worn by the Vancouver Canucks — and, consequently, their fans — have seen several drastic changes in the four decades since the team entered the NHL, and pretty much all of those iterations can be spotted in the throngs of people out celebrating the playoffs in recent weeks. In this April 29, 2007 file photo, Vancouver Canucks' Markus Naslund celebrates after scoring against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL playoff hockey game in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Lam
Snow drops are a tell tale sign that spring is coming soon. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

LANGLEY GREEN THUMB: Spring is getting closer

Despite Arctic winds and snow of late, perennials are starting to pop up

  • Feb 28, 2023
Snow drops are a tell tale sign that spring is coming soon. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
A Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle is displayed during the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 50th Anniversary Technology Symposium and Showcase in Riverside, California, on Thursday, May 17, 2018. Bloomberg photo by Dania Maxwell

PAINFUL TRUTH: Best technology is boring

Cool, sexy technology turns out to be mostly an annoyance

A Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle is displayed during the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 50th Anniversary Technology Symposium and Showcase in Riverside, California, on Thursday, May 17, 2018. Bloomberg photo by Dania Maxwell
As the cost of food continues to rise, grocery chains in Canada are reportedly making record profits. It’s time for the CEOs of these companies to explain themselves, says the federal New Democratic Party. (Unsplash photo)

OFF TOPIC: Bread or cake, the rising cost of food is giving me indigestion

How do grocery chain CEOs square skyrocketing prices with massive profits?

As the cost of food continues to rise, grocery chains in Canada are reportedly making record profits. It’s time for the CEOs of these companies to explain themselves, says the federal New Democratic Party. (Unsplash photo)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans (9) makes a pass during second quarter CFL Eastern semi-final football action against the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday, November 6, 2022 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

THE MOJ: Dane Evans move shows the Lions commited to winning in 2023

Former Hamilton starter to back up Vernon Adams Jr. giving the Leos an intriguing option

Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans (9) makes a pass during second quarter CFL Eastern semi-final football action against the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday, November 6, 2022 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
FILE - Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy addresses the media during an NFL football news conference at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., in this Jan. 23, 2020, file photo. Bieniemy has become the cause celebre when it comes to minority assistants who have been denied the opportunity to become head coaches in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

THE MOJ: Case of Eric Bieniemy drawing eyes to the NFL’s lack of black head coaches

In a league where more than 60% of players are black less than 10% of teams have black head coaches

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy addresses the media during an NFL football news conference at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., in this Jan. 23, 2020, file photo. Bieniemy has become the cause celebre when it comes to minority assistants who have been denied the opportunity to become head coaches in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
The invasive plant called water hyacinth, otherwise referenced as the “toothless crocodile” is a problem around much of the globe, including in Nepal, where California State University prof Anil Shrestha snapped these pictures. Thankfully, it’s not a problem here, yet. But it has potential with climate change. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

GREEN BEAT: Toothless crocodiles still bite

Langley prof marks invasive species awareness week by talking about dangers of water hyacinth

  • Feb 21, 2023
The invasive plant called water hyacinth, otherwise referenced as the “toothless crocodile” is a problem around much of the globe, including in Nepal, where California State University prof Anil Shrestha snapped these pictures. Thankfully, it’s not a problem here, yet. But it has potential with climate change. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
Maybe if we painted double-decker buses red it would help? This bus was used to promote the film “To Sir With Love” at a previous St. George’s Motoring Show held by the Langley Area Mostly British (LAMB) car club at the historic Fort Langley Community hall. (Langley Advance Times files)
Maybe if we painted double-decker buses red it would help? This bus was used to promote the film “To Sir With Love” at a previous St. George’s Motoring Show held by the Langley Area Mostly British (LAMB) car club at the historic Fort Langley Community hall. (Langley Advance Times files)
Chefs should be knowledgeable about optimum guidelines for preparing food, but ultimately, it should be up to the consumer of the dishes to decide their own taste preferences – steak being just one offered as example by Chef Dez. (Metro Creative Services)

ON COOKING: Don’t be bullied by culinary snobs

Chef Dez encourages people to be proud of their food preferences, and own it

  • Feb 20, 2023
Chefs should be knowledgeable about optimum guidelines for preparing food, but ultimately, it should be up to the consumer of the dishes to decide their own taste preferences – steak being just one offered as example by Chef Dez. (Metro Creative Services)
Hundreds of people march along Yale Road near Hodgins Avenue during a so-called Fraser Valley Freedom Rally on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

OPINION: The staggering socioeconomic costs of COVID anti-vaxxer behaviour

COVID-is-a-hoax crowd caused thousands more deaths, hundreds of millions in hospital costs: report

Hundreds of people march along Yale Road near Hodgins Avenue during a so-called Fraser Valley Freedom Rally on Saturday, April 3, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)
NBC Sports NFL Analyst Chris Simms played the role of Nostradamus on the Northwest Tank Lines Super Bowl show. (courtesy Bob Marjanovich)

THE MOJ: the coach, the offensive line and why the Chiefs are champions

Credit Kansas City, but there will always be a ‘yeah, but’ tied to this Super Bowl

NBC Sports NFL Analyst Chris Simms played the role of Nostradamus on the Northwest Tank Lines Super Bowl show. (courtesy Bob Marjanovich)
Canada’s Connor Bedard carries the IIHF Championship Cup while celebrating winning over Czechia at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Halifax on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Connor Bedard keeps packing arenas in Western Canada after his electrifying performance at the world junior men’s hockey championship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Canada’s Connor Bedard carries the IIHF Championship Cup while celebrating winning over Czechia at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Halifax on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Connor Bedard keeps packing arenas in Western Canada after his electrifying performance at the world junior men’s hockey championship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

THE MOJ: Canucks predictably dwindling their way down to season’s end

Looking at the draft all fans have, as Tocchet’s record with the Canucks drops to a dismal 3-6

Canada’s Connor Bedard carries the IIHF Championship Cup while celebrating winning over Czechia at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Halifax on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Connor Bedard keeps packing arenas in Western Canada after his electrifying performance at the world junior men’s hockey championship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Canada’s Connor Bedard carries the IIHF Championship Cup while celebrating winning over Czechia at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Halifax on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Connor Bedard keeps packing arenas in Western Canada after his electrifying performance at the world junior men’s hockey championship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Office towers, condos and apartment buildings are seen in downtown and the West End of Vancouver, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

PAINFUL TRUTH: The internet made us small

Being online is a new way of feeling alone in the crowd

Office towers, condos and apartment buildings are seen in downtown and the West End of Vancouver, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Bob Marjanovich poses with podcast co-host Chris Burns and legendary quarterback Joe Montana in Phoenix ahead of the Super Bowl. (courtesy Bob Marjanovich)

THE MOJ: In a drastic shift, the NFL is gambling on a new way to make money

As for the Moj, his money is on the Eagles in this weekend’s big game

Bob Marjanovich poses with podcast co-host Chris Burns and legendary quarterback Joe Montana in Phoenix ahead of the Super Bowl. (courtesy Bob Marjanovich)
A COVID-19 test. Island Health workers are being urged to not get tested. (Black Press Media file photo)

CAMPBELL: Some sick B.C. health workers urged by bosses to not test for COVID-19

New Vancouver Island memo seems to run counter to provincial policy on isolation

A COVID-19 test. Island Health workers are being urged to not get tested. (Black Press Media file photo)
File - In 2023, are celebrations such as Black History Month still needed? This writer weighs in. Picture shown is an event promoting Black history month at the The Nanaimo African Heritage Society in lieu of their second annual online gala. (News Bulletin file photo)

HITCHINS: In 2023, yes, Black History Month is still important

Recognizing accomplishments by those of African origin vital to identity

File - In 2023, are celebrations such as Black History Month still needed? This writer weighs in. Picture shown is an event promoting Black history month at the The Nanaimo African Heritage Society in lieu of their second annual online gala. (News Bulletin file photo)