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JB's weekly newspaper column can now be seen on SpeakFree
ARTICLES ONLINE NOW

NOT A GAY KISS, BUT A CHEATING CELEB -- OUTRAGED? -- Adam Lambert's kiss at the AMAs shocked, but what about Tiger Woods's affair?
KISSED A BOY AND HE LIKED IT, ABC DIDN'T -- TV networks respond to Adam Lambert's AMA performance.

WHOSE MONEY IS IT, ANYWAY? -- We pay for cable or we pay for TV or is there even a difference? The networks and cable companies continue battle

MY $10 LIST -- A couple wins $50 million in the lottery, but says it used its last $10 to buy the ticket. What would JB do with $10?

IS IT A DRUG PROBLEM? -- Since Michael Jackson's death, many people talk openly about their frequent drug use.

WHY DOES LOCAL MATTER NOW? -- The Canadian TV networks are tugging at your emotions saying they can't continue to provide local programming. What is the local programming, anyway? AND, see bad CTV SPELLING!

CRYING WOLF ALL THE WAY TO JAIL? -- Balloon Boy's family got lots of attention but it landed them in hot water.

WE DON'T VOTE, SO WHY? -- Does a provincial campaign mean anything when the people don't vote?

WHERE'S OUR MONEY GOING? -- Troubled economy, there's no better way to spend than to build a human rights museum nobody understands or wants.

FALL IS HEATING UP -- Summer came a little late in 2009.

CANADIAN AMERICANISM -- Honouring Canadians that are Americans.

A LOVE-HATE OR A HATE-HATE? -- Readers share their thoughts about government.

THINK BEFORE YOU TOSS -- People are quick to throw out a lot of things: garbage and even friendships.

PLANNING MY FUNERAL -- Have you thought about dying? JB has ideas for his own funeral.

WATCHING REALITY TO ESCAPE IT -- TV viewers are addicted to reality shows but is their own real life being forgotten?

KILL THE KILLERS -- Many people think the way to stop violent crime is to do away with the criminals. Good idea?

JUST STAY HOME? -- New restrictions, documentation and hassle are enough to make some people stay put.

WE LOVE DEAD CELEB SCANDALS -- Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith: will they ever rest in peace?

DID SPANKING MAKE ME GOOD? -- A freak out in a public place has witnesses discussing spanking

QUIZ ME ALL YOU WANT, I STILL LOVE CANADA -- Every Canada Day citizens are quizzed about the country, but who cares what you know?

LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD -- They're there. The eyes are watching what you do online.

IT'S TV'S FAULT -- Does TV affect crime rates in the neighbourhood?

BLAME US ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT? -- Is it voter ignorance that makes a bad government?

FLIP FLOPPING AT ITS FINEST -- The government all of a sudden decides your birth certificate is invalid. Does that mean you're unborn?

I'M A PROUD LOSER -- JB was a nerdy kid but at least he didn't wind up dead.

WHOSE LAW IS IT, ANYWAY? -- Don't you just love when people justify breaking the law?

DO YOU WANT MY BLOOD, TOO? -- Are businesses getting too greedy these days?
GIVE A DOG A HOME? NAH, GIVE US YOUR MONEY -- And what about charitable organizations? Really out for the best interest of animals or just money hungry?

APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED -- Will the demands for apologies to first nations ever end?

ADMIT SHE'S GOT TALENT -- Susan Boyle wowed them and it's best not to judge a book by its cover.


WE SUPPORT THEM, SO WHERE ARE THE TROOPS? -- Where are the men and women in uniform when Manitobans need help during spring flooding? Oh right, they're overseas.

WHO DOESN'T CARE WHO THEY'RE WEARING? -- The Juno Awards featured many Hollywood questions in Canada. It just didn't seem right.

THINK BEFORE YOU IGNORE -- It's easy to pretend you didn't get that text or email, but not responding is like staring blankly at someone in front of you.


BEING NICE GOES A LONG WAY -- Imagine what a kind gesture or nice word can do for someone.

WHAT A REPUTATION! -- Murder capital? Car theft capital? That's something to write home about!

CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG? YES! -- Will the relationship between Canada and the U.S. change with a new president?


LEAVE US ALONE, DRONE -- There's something watching you and it's flying back and forth. No, not a Google Street Car!

HAPPY DAY-OFF DAY, MANITOBA! -- There's a new holiday but does anybody really understand the meaning?


I HAVE A SHORT ATTENTION... LOOK WHAT'S ON SALE! -- You just have to read it!

KEEP BAGGIN' IT -- Grocery clerks, your jobs are safe with JB around.

THEY WANT IT NOW, BUT WON'T GIVE IT BACK QUICKLY -- Companies take your money immediately, but have you noticed how long it can take for you to get it back?

I AM AMERI... UH, CANADIAN -- A Canuck getting caught up in the American election.

MAN'S BEST COMEDIAN -- He doesn't even have to tell jokes, what is the funniest guy around doing?

KARMA RHYMES WITH WITCH -- A week after lecturing people about staying warm for winter, a funny thing happened to JB.

DRESS UP, IT'S COLD -- With winter here, now's not the time to be a hero. Dress up, moron!

HOLIDAY PARANOIA -- Scared to say Merry Christmas? You're not alone.

OOPS, WE DID IT AGAIN -- For the second time in a row, Canadians were divided.

I AM A BAD CANADIAN -- What did JB do that makes him feel American?

DOES THE MEDIA GO TOO FAR? -- What should and shouldn't be aired?

CANADIANS ARE JUST NICER -- Don't get lost in the United States. But Canada, well, that's a different story.

NO NUDITY, BUT LET'S SEE MORE MURDERS PLEASE -- It's strange what people want to see on TV.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING... JUST NOT WHEN COPS ARE AROUND -- Capturing live news is OK, except when police tell you otherwise.

ESCAPED CRIMINALS ON THE LOOSE, DON'T PANIC: GOV'T REP -- It's comforting to know we're safer in a jail since criminals run the streets.

PROUD ARMCHAIR POWER WALKER -- It speaks for itself: really getting into the Olympics.

TALKING WITH THE MONSTER -- The infamous Phelps family was going to protest a funeral, JB talks with the ringleader.

FEELING BAD TOGETHER FEELS GOOD -- Mourning somebody you've never met helps others.

FAILIN' PALIN -- Was Sarah Palin the reason McCain isn't president? And where does Palin go from here?

BEING BLACK COULD GET HIM KILLED? WHAT YEAR IS THIS? -- It's sad to think a president could be a target because of his skin.

JUDGING IS UNNEEDED HATRED -- Jumping to conclusions about strangers on the street is low.

WHY DO I HAVE STUFF? -- Everything that can fail me, fails me.

WHAT IS HEALTHY THESE DAYS? -- Eat this, don't eat that. Do we really know what's good for us anymore?

AM I BUSY OR JUST LAZY? -- Have you given the excuse that you're busy just to get out of doing things around the house?

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY OR GET FIRED -- A young man questions why he lost his job.

BE A GOOD EMPLOYEE, USE YOUR OWN STUFF -- Employees are using company property like it's their own.

I'M NOT COOL OR YOUNG ANYMORE -- Being a teenager is totally different these days.

MOTHER NATURE IS PUNISHING US -- Is the world's wacky weather just a coincidence?

PINK IS FOR ME -- Having never worn pink before, JB proudly supports the fight against breast cancer

CAN YOU SPOT ME A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS FOR A NEW CELLPHONE PLAN? -- Canadians are getting taken for a ride when it comes to charges and fees for having a cellphone.

LEAVE SUNDAY ALONE! -- JB responds to comments that Sunday should be a day of rest for everyone.

WE HAVE NO CONTROL -- You can't shop when you want to, you can't drink when you want to.

GIVE ME SOME (TAX) CREDIT -- Parents with active kids get a tax break, why doesn't an adult buying fitness equipment?

LET ME PEE IN PRIVATE! -- Everywhere you look there are ads. Bathrooms are no longer safe.

IF YOU DON'T MAKE ENOUGH, GET A NEW JOB -- When minimum wage goes up, those earning it still complain they don't make enough money.

HOCKEY PARENTS TOO ROWDY -- Parents wanting to see their kids be violent. Is this what hockey is all about?

SWIMSUIT TIME AGAIN... AT LEAST FOR WALKING -- Spring means everything is melting and muddy... especially pedestrians.

I THOUGHT I HAD PATIENCE, BUT... -- A new puppy can really test your nerves.

SOCIETY HAS MADE ME AFRAID OF GERMS -- Be careful what you touch and how many times you wash your hands.

REFUSING TO BE A CORPORATE WHORE -- JB takes a stand against displaying corporate names and logos.

DISPLAYING AND MENTIONING THE UNMENTIONABLES -- Don't pack anything too embarrassing if you have to go through customs.

THE LITTLE HARMLESS LIES -- We all tell them. Do we put much merit behind the fibs we tell?

CUBA CHANGED ME -- An eye-opening experience for JB made him think about what life is really like in Canada.

DENYING IS LYING -- Call it what you want but when you deny something you're still withholding the truth and that is lying.

NEW CALENDAR FOR NEW MURDER TALLY -- Every January we start a new calendar and count down the days 'til a new year. We also keep a tally of murders per year.

THIS YEAR I'M GOING TO... AH, FORGET IT -- Can you keep a New Year's resolution longer than it takes you to read this column?

REALITY SHOW REALNESS -- Real life is mirroring reality shows. Isn't that what this kind of TV was doing all along? Now we're really doing what we see on TV.

THE WORLD WITHOUT TV -- How did you cope with the writers' strike?

THE ANNOYANCE OF CELLPHONE IGNORANCE -- Learn when to put away the cellphone and not answer it.

I'M NOT A HATER, BUT... -- Cancer is something everybody MUST hate. JB tells you why.

SECURITY OBSERVES MORE IN WASHROOMS -- Are officials watching more "private" matters than actual security threats in airports? Should their attention be focused elsewhere?

MY BLOOD RUNS BLUE... UNTIL MONDAY -- The most unlikely football fan, JB cheers on the local CFL team.
BLUE AS A BOMBER; ONLY PITY PARTIES AFTER THE GAME -- When the local team didn't win, it was exceptionally difficult for some.

OH, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND -- People can read minds when they can tell you what you do and don't understand.

EATING SHOULD BE FUN -- Losing weight isn't bad, but if you make eating a chore, that's when it's a problem.

DOLLAR UP, SPIRITS DOWN -- Everyone was excited when the Canadian dollar's value went up, and as it continues to rise is it really a good thing?

IS IT ABOUT THE DOG? -- Ellen DeGeneres has made a scene about a dog adoption gone wrong. Is the whole thing really about the pet?

JUST THROWING OUT LOVE -- We love this and we love that. But is the true meaning of the word getting lost?

AM I THE ONLY ONE DISTURBED BY VIOLENCE? -- Watching violence is becoming trendy. Is JB the only one bothered be seeing fighting?

FINALLY, WE'RE WORTH MORE! -- It's about time the Canadian dollar is equal to the American.

SCHOOLS CRAMPING STYLE -- Schools are making it hard for kids to look cool by banning the latest trendy accessories.

STRIPPING DOWN FAIRNESS -- When it comes to being comfortable in the summer, who gets more freedom: men or women?

BREAKING THE SILENCE -- Motorcycles can certainly ruin a quiet summer day.

SELLING A SCHOOL -- Corporate America may be running your child's school.

WILL I BE A 'NO FLY'-ER? -- With Canada's new "no-fly" list in order, many are left wondering what it means to those wrongfully on the list.

IT'S RIGHT TO BE WRONG -- If you're wrong, admit it and stop trying to be a know-it-all.

TAKE OUT A LOAN, FILL UP THE TANK... THE LONG WEEKEND IS HERE -- You know it's a weekend for travelling when the price of gas conveniently goes up.

I LOVE LOVING LIFE -- It's great to be happy. JB questions his own happiness.

QUESTIONS ABOUT GOVERNMENTS -- Recent news stories have JB questioning the motive governments have.

REASONS TO NOT VOTE -- Just like the title implies!

MERRY ELECTION DAY -- An election is just like holidays with the family from hell.

WANT THE NHL BACK?  VOTE IN ELECTION -- Promises, promises. Politicians are promising to bring back professional hockey in Manitoba.

WALKING IS SO OUT OF STYLE -- It's a hobby that not many people have -- walking. Why are we too lazy to travel this way?

I'M SCARED OF PARENTS, NOT TO MENTION THE LAW -- JB was terrified of getting his parents mad, let alone getting in trouble with the law. These days, youngsters don't feel the same way.

CHANGING THE CHANGING OF TIME NEEDS TO CHANGE -- Does anybody know when to change clocks forward or ahead anymore?

WHEN NEWS GETS TRASHY -- It all started with one word and it set JB off on a rant while watching TV news.

WORKING OUT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN... -- Pumping iron and getting healthy but cancelling out all that work with one little thing.

HONOURING TWO HEROES -- Firefighters killed on the job, a country mourns. JB was at the memorial.

WHY CENSOR THE NEWS? -- Are gruesome details of a murder trial too much for the public to handle?

JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! -- In a 24/7 world many of us would feel lost if we couldn't be reached any time of the day. Or would we?

DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR EVERYBODY -- E-mail scams are happening all the time. Find out how to recognize them.

BOXING DAY SALES MAKE PEOPLE GO NUTS -- It's not even 24 hours earlier people were loving and nice but the next day, watch out for those bargain hunters

DON'T JUDGE A COUNTRY BY ITS LEADER -- People elect the government but is it a good representation of the people who live in that country?

"BIG MONEY" KEEPS GETTING BIGGER -- Remember the time when people went nuts for small prizes on game shows?

IT'S ABOUT TIME WE SEE PAGEANT CONTESTANTS AREN'T PERFECT -- All of the scandals finally show us these women aren't as perfect as they appear to be

CUSTOMER SERVICE AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE -- Things have really changed with the way companies deal with their clients. Are things getting better? You be the judge.

TRYING TO SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER -- A lot of people don't celebrate the holidays and don't want to be "merry" or "happy".  So what do you say to them?

HIDDEN CHARGES EVERYWHERE -- Things aren't always as they appear. Don't believe that? Check your bills next time.

DON'T SHOW US THE SPEED -- Car commercials show us vehicles whipping around corners and going great speeds. We also read headlines of high-speed chases with police. But that's how we were shown to use the car.

LEFT OUT IN THE COLD FOR THE HOLIDAYS -- While most of us enjoyed the warmth of family and friends for the holidays, many others spent cold nights alone.

POINTING OUT THE IRRELEVANT -- Headlines are supposed to give a brief snapshot of the important story details... but do they always?

BATTLE TO BE "ENGLISH-ONLY" -- Many people are open to multiculturalism... but not when it comes to an official language of a country.

TV SHOWS SCARIER THAN HALLOWEEN -- Is reality such a scary place when you look at what's on primetime TV?

WHAT'S THE FUSS ABOUT BABIES? -- People do strange things in the company of babies. JB has made some observations.

GENDERS CAN'T ALWAYS MIX -- A legal case about girls playing on boys sports teams made headlines. The argument was about equality. Is that the real reason?

OVERREACTING AND POINTING FINGERS -- Many times people jump to conclusions before knowing all the facts. Is being overly cautious a problem?

WHAT IS A HOLIDAY? -- A holiday used to mean a day of rest. What does it mean now and how has the meaning changed?

PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE STUPIDEST THINGS -- Does it really matter what the prime minister ate for Thanksgiving or what time the president goes to bed?

IT'S NOW YOUR "15 SECONDS OF SHAME" -- Websites now act as a broadcasting tool for people... from their own bedroom. It's believed what used to be 15 minutes of fame has now changed. 

BOOSTING COMMUNITY SPIRIT JUST BY MEETING -- A block party brings people who, previously were complete strangers, close friends.

FIGHTING TO LEGALLY BE UNHEALTHY -- An argument over being allowed to smoke indoors is overshadowing the message that cigarettes are unhealthy.

BIG BROTHER WATCHING ON THE INTERNET -- They see what you're doing. Internet service providers are monitoring what you look at.

'NO CHOICE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO', SIGN ME UP FOR THAT JOB -- A job where you have no say and are ordered around. Is it worth it?

HOW TO GET TAKEN OFF THEIR LISTS -- Some creative ways to get removed from telemarketing lists.

ARE YOU JUST HEARING THE MESSAGE OR ACTUALLY LISTENING? -- "Blah, blah, blah" is what we hear when we're told something we don't want to believe.

COUNTING PENNIES BECAUSE OF LOWER GST -- We might pay less in the federal tax but does it make a difference when we spend?

TO HIDE OR NOT TO HIDE? -- It's just easier to avoid a person rather than repond. But is it helping in today's world?

BEHEAD THE PM?  HA!  BOMB THE CBC?  NO! -- A strange reaction from Canadians when a terror threat toward the prime minister and the public broadcaster were targeted.

STORE POLICIES SCARE SHOPPERS -- New rules established by some retail outlets could deter people from buying life-saving items.

LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE REST IS FOR WIMPS -- It literally is a 24-hour world and that means that some people work, work, work on a 24-hour clock.

CAN'T HANDLE THE STRESS?  STAY OUT OF THE CLASSROOM -- Some teachers are now able to take a year off from work to "de-stress".

FAKE FEELINGS CAN HELP OTHERS -- Even if you don't care, sometimes appearing as though you do may help someone in need.  But how does it make you feel after?

FLOOD FORECASTERS MUST BE PSYCHIC -- Are they just guessing when they come up with provincial flood forecasts? If you've lived there long enough you know what's going to happen.

I DON'T GET "BABY ON BOARD" SIGNS -- What do those things mean? People who have them in their vehicles can sometimes be the most crazy drivers.

SOCIETY FEELS TOO SAFE ON THE INTERNET -- We would never have given out so much personal info before... why now?

THE END OF HUMAN CONTACT? -- In the time of computers we have less actual human contact. What does that mean for us?

BLOOD PRESSURE UP LIKE THE PRICE OF GAS -- Gas prices are soaring all over the world. Is it really necessary? Find out what JB thinks it is all about.

TROUBLE BREWING OVER CUP OWNERSHIP -- What do you do if you can't roll up the rim of your coffee cup? Don't ask someone to help! Find out why in this article.

UNDER THE TABLE GUM-STICKING IS SLIMY -- We've either done it or been the victim of leaving it behind. Gum under the table leads to a sticky situation.

'NET SAFETY NOT A CONCERN, TEACHER VISITS PORN SITE -- A teacher is able to access information that most parents wouldn't want children to see. Other websites on the Internet get blocked. Find out what happened.

COLD MEDS BAN WILL LEAD TO DISCRIMINATION -- Retail staff now can make decisions about who can and can't buy certain cold and flu products.  Is this a smart move?

CELLPHONES NOT THE ONLY DISTRACTION -- Cellphones have come under fire for being too distracting. Aren't there other things getting in the way of drivers?

DEATH BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN US -- After the death of a family member, many people react in different ways. Find out what JB recently learned about himself.
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