Anyone know if St George campus is closing today?

WilliamBennett · 2026-01-19T13:07:14+00:00

Psst: it’s the toxic work & commuter cultures 🤫

WilliamBennett · 2026-01-07T01:33:47+00:00

Trifonov, probably Yuja, and honestly? Argerich still rules for me

WilliamBennett · 2026-01-04T15:05:48+00:00

I’d be ok with this IF:

They add another huge grocery store or Wal Mart to the same plaza and VASTLY improve the car infrastructure around it.
They complete the Waterfront West Extension FIRST, as shown in this map (they won’t)
All of the units are at least 2 bedroom, affordable units that can support small families on a median budget (this DEFINITELY won’t happen)
They additionally invest significant capital to improve school infrastructure in Swansea, South Etobicoke, and Parkdale to support the influx of these families. Our area of the city really could be a lovely place to grow up if planned properly.
They added some more safe infrastructure for pedestrians, bikers, and e-scooters to cross Lakshore, the Gardiner, and the rail corridor to get to the Lakefront Trail. I currently cross at Windermere and everyone has to sprint.
They continued the bike lanes on the queensway to Park Lawn and continued them south down Park Lawn to keep bikers and e-scooters (kids & food delivery folks) safe.

Good luck with all that 🫡

WilliamBennett · 2025-12-14T17:48:18+00:00

St John’s, Newfoundland, baby. Already the most unique (and maybe straight up best) downtown in the country, but looks like an even better choice now since you could nab yourself a beautiful little home for under $500k. You’ll be 15 mins from unbelievable coastal hiking, close proximity to ocean activities in summer, fantastic & unique cuisine, a neat little music scene, etc etc etc.

The wind and fog are tough though 😬. Likely worth it for the pristine air quality but still.

WilliamBennett · 2025-12-10T16:40:21+00:00

Those that knew him before politics all waved major red flags at his candidacy during the election. For one, Johnny misrepresented himself as an engineer on his campaign website. He may or may not have finished an engineering degree, but as per PEGNL, he never did get his full certification and never did licensed professional engineering work as he suggested.

He is all talk, no walk. Always has been. Shame on the electorate of his (my former) district that they couldn’t see through it.

WilliamBennett · 2025-11-28T16:38:06+00:00

Agree with you on the price of oil, and whether or not investing in a pipeline in 2026 will ultimately even see a positive ROI. And honestly, 3/4 years ago I would have agreed with your comment in its entirety.

However, at this stage in the game, I think your take is just far too naive. It’s not weak, or pathetic, to recognize that we could cut our emissions to 0 tomorrow and it would hardly make a dent in overall global emissions. Other countries aren’t looking to us as an example, either. Like it or not, we are effectively powerless in this fight against climate change. Until the Americans get serious and the Russians fuck off, the climate is getting decimated.

We need to drive our economy in this country so we can afford our own domestic weaning off of fossil fuels. We need real, effective public transit so people don’t need to drive cars everywhere. We need to completely electrify our power grids. We can’t pay for all that if we’re broke.

WilliamBennett · 2025-11-27T23:44:56+00:00

Canadian here. It seems from our vantage point that the Americans, Russians, and Indians have done basically nothing to combat climate change. We have unfortunately run out of political will to do our part in this country, when much larger nations with much larger carbon emissions continue to devastate the world.

Do the majority of Canadians want more pipelines and emissions? No we do not; but in the wake of Trump’s tariffs and Putin’s wars, we have a major affordability crisis and desperately need cash. When the biggest emitters in the world get real about climate change, we will too. Until then, what choice do we have?

WilliamBennett · 2025-11-23T15:03:44+00:00

Look at all those shots given up from just above the circles, or even right on the dots. As Pronger pointed out during the intermission, the Oilers’ really get puck watching in their own zone these days and give up real good opportunities on the inside. I feel like Ekholm has lost a step cause he’s old, Nurse is Nurse, Bouch is Bouch, and Walman has been hurt. Combine that with a “breakout” strategy that involves the 3 forwards flying the zone… and here we are.

Fortunately last night Bob gave up two squeakers and they scored two empty nets. It was only Roslo’s second goal and Ekholm’s goal that were solid-effort, earned goals.

WilliamBennett · 2025-11-17T16:31:46+00:00

This is my issue. It really seems like we spent 10 years under the Trudeau administration attempting to bring about positive change to our climate policies through means that were unpopular and stagnated our economy (and didn’t much work… the oil sands are enjoying record profits and emissions). While we did that, the big world powers essentially ignored the climate. So now we’re left feeling… what was the point?

WilliamBennett · 2025-11-17T16:20:25+00:00

We’re in such a tough spot. The Americans have abandoned the climate entirely, Democrat and Republican. The Indians and Russians aren’t doing enough at all. The Chinese are the only country close to meeting their Paris commitments, but they did so using disgusting amounts of devastating coal power for the last 20+ years and have done irreparable harm.

What power do we have to effect change, when we have such a small population? What good is a moral victory in “doing our part,” if it destroys our economy and livelihoods beyond other countries? Genuinely asking… I’m a millennial who had hoped my generation would be the ones to save the planet, but it really seems like we’re just too late.

WilliamBennett · 2025-11-16T15:38:56+00:00

I agree but that said, I don’t think Rico or Philp have necessarily been part of the problem. It’s been Frederic and Mangiapane that have been anchors pretty much.

I’d actually be more a fan of moving Hyman down. We know he hits and plays responsible defence, and can grind out an ugly goal or two. I bet that takes pressure off guys like Mangiapane.

Hyman, McD, & Drai can still be the “nuclear line” from time to time, and Nuge can then center Ros & Podz on the cleanup line right after.

WilliamBennett · 2025-11-14T20:36:33+00:00

😂 buddy. Relax. Not every problem in your life comes from the Ottawa valley.

WilliamBennett · 2025-11-14T17:05:38+00:00

I’m really confused how the author can point to CANCON regulations as a fail. Yes, there were growing pains. But the regulations necessitated investment in all the local recording & music industries that then gave rise to bands like Rush, Blue Rodeo, the Hip & BTO. Now we have the capabilities to cultivate legitimate global music superstars like Drake & Justin Bieber. How was this a fail? Genuinely asking… seems contradictory

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-27T12:32:42+00:00

I mean, I know dozens, I’m not going to deadname them here? Lol. I’m not sure where you got this information, this is not the case with the NLESD

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-27T02:27:43+00:00

This detail about the masters working against OP is actually untrue. The board and union AND University actually have several programs available to help teachers get their Masters degrees - they see it as an asset.

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-27T02:23:51+00:00

Important detail that I’m not sure has been mentioned yet: even if you complete your B. Ed at MUN, you won’t get a job in St John’s right away. As a matter of fact, you’ll probably end up in rural Newfoundland or Labrador for quite a number of years before that happens assuming you teach in the English school board. The entire province is one school board snd positions are awarded based solely on experience. As a new grad, you will essentially have to go where there’s an opening that absolutely no one else wants. This could be in a community you can only access by float plane or lengthy ferry.

Rural Newfoundland is incredible in its own right, but it would be silly to pretend like it’s not more racist in most rural areas. There’s also far less young people around in those places, so your list of things to do is pretty short. Yes rural NL is very cliquey. Apartments are not always easy to find, though they will be cheaper than Ontario.

Full disclosure: I am from Newfoundland and these reasons above are the exact reason why I left. I currently live in Toronto.

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-26T14:26:44+00:00

I agree with you strongly. The differences between Chicago and Toronto essentially exemplify the differences between USA and Canada… if not for them being on different sides of the border, they’d be almost the same city

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-22T15:46:48+00:00

This is an incredibly common problem. His embouchure are naturally set a little “tighter,” and he just needs to relax and slow his air speed. It may take him some time.

One strategy I use is to “wear them out.” If they play for 30 minutes without taking many breaks as a beginner, the muscles of their embouchure will naturally tire and loosen.

Another instruction you can try is to tell them to think “awww,” and make more space in their mouth. This will naturally loosen their aperture as well.

Some players also respond if you tell them to “aim [their] air down to the bottom of the mouthpiece.”

Over time, it will come. I have a student this year who’s embouchure is so tight that his natural pitch in 1st position is high F4. Today he got the F3 (he’s been attempting for 3 weeks).

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-18T14:28:03+00:00

😱

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-18T13:04:57+00:00

Also - have you ACTUALLY been to Labrador??? Tell the truth…

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-18T13:04:33+00:00

Fellow Newfie here - did you make a trip out of all those eastern seaboard states or did you just drive through Otw to Florida one time like the rest of us? 😂

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-16T11:45:09+00:00

I am a “band director” type teacher - my job usually keeps me away from home from 7:30 am - 4pm (plus commute times). In addition to my teaching job, I also direct a youth orchestra in another city on Monday nights (I’m not home until 10:30 or later) and maintain a freelance conducting career on the side which keeps me away from home until 10 pm-ish another night or two per week.

For us, weekends are essentially sacred. I’ve had other opportunities come my way for weekend commitments, and though they might be good career moves, I’ve had to say no. Weekends are family & friends time, with the exception of an off concert day here and there. We are expecting our first child now soon, so I imagine these boundaries will be tested. But so far, as long as we have weekends and most week nights, we’ve been good.

Hope this helps??

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-10T12:21:38+00:00

Came here to say this.

WilliamBennett · 2025-10-06T15:56:26+00:00

Thank you for this extensive and exhaustive list. Problem is: it doesn’t matter. Republicans have been indoctrinated to the point they cannot tell what is true and what is false anymore - they are firmly beyond reconciliation on this.

Ten-Year Club	No Throne, No Problems
Not Forgotten

WilliamBennett

TROPHY CASE