When Chris Hadfield returned from serving as Commander of the International Space Station he could have taken any job in Canada that he wanted. He is so popular, respected and admired that he holds us in the palm of his hands. …
Review: An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris HadfieldRead More »
Review: An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield Read More »
They mean well, they really do, but celebrities aren’t always the best ad-libbers. This week a couple that offered some hyperbole with a capital HYPER caught my attention. And so I randt. …
Brandt’s Randt – Smart People Saying Dumb Things Read More »
I’ve always had a knack for complaining effectively. Companies have sent me all sorts of stuff over the years to make up for their mistakes. I once got an entire Weekender wardrobe after one of my outfits developed pills following one wash. Remember Weekender? Â …
The Itch to B*tch Read More »
This is a sticky story that gets me a little fired up. It’s about accommodating for someone’s special situation, such as a disability, and it seems to me it’s getting out of control. Â A Hamilton mom is proving it with her human rights complaint. Â …
Rights Can be Wrong Read More »
First there was cleavage. Then came side-boob. I’ve also heard of top-boob. But did you know there’s now a thing called swoobs?  It’s sweat on your boobs. …
I like Target stores. I’m unashamed to admit that! And as soon as they opened in Canada, I stopped making treks to Port Huron to visit them. But you have to wonder why major retailers can’t keep customer information safe. …
There was a puzzling problem with a voice-over I did late last week. The client could hear faint music in the background. I could not. But as we know, my hearing isn’t top-notch so I checked with a couple of other people and they couldn’t hear it either. …
Studio Issues or How I Became an Amateur EngineerRead More »
Studio Issues or How I Became an Amateur Engineer Read More »
Before I left 680 News, legendary political reporter John Stall and I had a discussion about cynicism.  He made a very good point.  Being a cynic is a barrier to growth.  Even when it comes to the Mayor of this city where unemployment and closing companies are issues and he says what we need is a gondola ride over the Thames. At least I thought about it before I dismissed it as dumb!  So I randt. …
Brandt’s Randt – Cynics Need Not Apply Read More »
I love, love, love this idea that started locally in a Windsor coffee shop. Â Instead of buying for the person behind you, who can obviously afford their own coffee, you pay it forward for someone who can’t. Â …
NOTE: I have learned that this is a hoax. Or at least, it started that way. It was meant to inspire exactly the kind of discussion I’ve started here. So life imitates art. Read on: Perhaps you’ve heard of the thigh gap. It’s the determination to be so thin that your thighs don’t rub together. It’s ridiculous and in many cases, unsafe to pursue this stupid fad. But that’s not stopping some teen girls from making it their goal. And it gets even better. Or in this case, worse. …
Blow up That Bridge Read More »
Long ago I reformed any shopaholic ways I may have had. Â …
Clutter and Consumerism Read More »
People often ask me what the secret is to writing a book. I always say, there’s no secret, you just do it. You have to actually put in the time and the fingers to the keyboard. That’s the big secret! Â …
Secrets to Success Read More »
This week I discovered that a former colleague from CHML Hamilton is in the final 1,000 who want to travel to and settle Mars. Â The trip taking four semi-pro astronauts one way is scheduled to leave in 2023. Â More than 200,000 people applied to take the ride. Â …
Out of This World Read More »
This week’s randt has nothing to do with this website and everything to do with those that specialize in news coverage. Â As one of the administrators of our site at work I am privy to the unapproved comments and they make you give your head a shake. Â …
Brandt’s Randt – Hiding and Tossing Darts Read More »
A robber in southern Spain got a shock this week when he went through the loot he took from a home burglary. …
Honour Among Thieves Read More »
Every year it’s the same. There’s a point where I become simply perplexed why I continue to live in this country – that I love – when this season has us in its grip. I look on the bright side, find ways to cope and endure, sing a happy song until I hit a virtual wall. And my nose is pressed against that wall right now. …
My Biggest Challenge Read More »
Occasionally I’m asked to read the writing of someone I don’t know very well. Â They occasionally approach me to ask for my opinion and I’m loathe to say no because it’s difficult for them to do. This isn’t a problem if they have talent but there’s no way to know at the start. Â And it’s just awful when the writing is terrible. Â By terrible I mean an inability to tell a story, not just bad grammar – an editor can fix that. Â …
Some time ago I mentioned my desire to own a pair of Fluevogs. It’s not like they’re totally out of reach price-wise but I wanted to wait until I got a deal. There are very few Fluevog stores in Canada so I’d have to make an online order. Â …