Series: Fall 2004

Trans fat is tasty, common, and, according to some experts, poison. Found in cookies, French fries, and even some baby formulas, it is suspected of causing everything from clogged arteries to Alzheimer’s. But if you’ve been watching television stations like CTV or reading newspapers like The Globe and Mail in the past year, you already knew that. You probably… Continue reading Trans Fat: Exposed

On May 9, 2004, during the 26th annual Canadian Association of Journalists’s awards ceremony in Vancouver, Health Canada received one of the CAJ’s most illustrious awards. While all the nominees were worthy, said CAJ vice-president Michelle MacAfee during her presentation speech, it was Health Canada that truly went above and beyond the call of duty in… Continue reading Shh!

On June 15, 2004, the online music magazine Pitchfork published a review of the Beastie Boys’s 2004 release, To the Five Boroughs. It was written by Brent DiCrescenzo, one of the site’s regular contributors. More than 2,000 words in length, the actual CD review was buried under a disjointed and confusing chronology that moved between Milan and Manhattan… Continue reading Fork in the road

“Family Fashions for Spring!” reads a bold headline in the April 2005 issue of Homemakers. The page’s layout is similar to countless others in consumer magazines: visuals with captions, columns, and service-oriented blurbs about the latest in fashion trends. But there’s a crucial difference – the story wasn’t put together by Homemakers, but Levi Strauss and Wal-Mart.… Continue reading Redrawing the line

When I walk into Ellie Tesher’s office at The Toronto Star building, I feel I’ve entered a therapist’s lounge. I spot a blue couch to the left and picture individuals waiting their turn to spill their guts to the woman known to most readers simply as Ellie. I follow behind her slender 5’6″ frame into her personal… Continue reading An Ellie Column a Day Keeps the Woes Away