Turf war
Once upon a time, an overgrown lawn was a sign of a neglectful homeowner. Now, back-to-nature grass is celebrated as a sign of environmental responsibility. Marcus Gee challenges the idea that grass is a water hog hooked on toxic chemicals that has no business being in our cities.
The smell of summer
More and more perfume-makers are launching hot-weather editions of their more popular fragrances. The Globe and Mail sniffs out the so-called ‘flanker’ phenomenon.
Panoramic Panorama
Which Central American country is less rustic than Costa Rica, but not as overdeveloped as Miami? The answer to this geographic riddle? Panama, a country in the midst of a revival.
Franglais lessons
Canada has strong connections to our two official languages, but the case for bilingualism in school and at work remains hard fought. In honour of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, a special look at whether bilingualism is still relevant in an age of multilingualism.
Run, North America, run!
After decades trailing the pace set by the world’s elite long-distance runners, North America’s athletes are using new techniques to finally catch up.
The risks of being risk-adverse
When Gerry McCaughey took the reigns at CIBC in 2005, his first task was to clean house. He delivered, transforming the bank into a conservative lender focused on safe, domestic banking. But playing it safe comes with considerable risks.
‘Having it all’: the debate that needs to go away
Women continue to torture themselves about “having it all” - the corner-office job, the well-behaved kids, the perfect marriage. As Elizabeth Renzetti argues, women have to adopt a new measurement of satisfaction: not having it all, but having just enough.
Aaron Sorkin can’t handle one Globe reporter’s comments
An innocent (and, okay, one not-so innocent) comment from Sarah Nicole Prickett puts Aaron Sorkin, writer of A Few Good Men, on the edge. And as his new HBO series The Newsroom attests, so does the eclipse of an era in which all-powerful male iconoclasts held the reins of America the good.
Canada’s ‘lost generation’ of Somalis
For the ‘children of the snow,’ the Western dream has become a nightmare. The children of Somalis escaping war in their homeland sought prosperity in the oil patch, only to end up immersed in the drug trade – and, often, bloodshed.
Finding lessons in a cringe-worthy moment
HBO’s Girls has some pretty graphic sex scenes. And it’s safe to say Lena Dunham didn’t write (and perform) them to be watched by fathers and daughters. But when Ian Brown found himself in the viewing company of his 19-year-old daughter, he found it was a learning (if uncomfortable) experience.
