The French existentialist, Gabriel Marcel, asserted “Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be experienced.” Nevertheless, scientists remain intent on figuring it out. The cells in our bodies are susceptible to damage. A sunburn is a visible example. Ultraviolet rays scorch skin cells, causing rapid death. Damage occurs at a slower pace from poor diet,...

I was never a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. My dislike of the Leafs started in the 1960s. I was a Gordie Howe fan as many from the Saskatoon area were. Howe led me to being an avid Detroit Red Wings supporter. One of my cousins was a Leafs fan, and Stanley Cup after Stanley Cup win, he rubbed it in...

A new study conducted at McGill University shows that 75 per cent of Canadians had been infected by the COVID-19 virus, of whatever variant, by spring of this year. According to Dr. David Buckeridge, professor of global health at the Montreal university, infection-acquired immunity increased faster among younger people and in the western provinces during Omicron. Does this surprise you?...

When Ken died in February 2021, we had an outpouring of messages from readers, with many telling us how much his columns meant to them. In light of that, we thought we would go back through our files and re-publish some of them. Ken would be flattered by the kind words readers expressed. We miss him as a friend and...

Saskatoon Folkfest has announced that 17 pavilions will collectively showcase the diversity within our community on Aug. 17-19. Folkfest 2023 will immerse festival patrons in multiculturalism through dynamic local performances, displays, activities, and incredible flavours while they discover and explore the traditions and history that make Saskatoon a vibrant and welcoming city. Folkfest is delighted to welcome the Iranian community...

If an unseeded player like Marketa Vondrousova can shock the tennis world and win the women’s singles at Wimbledon, if eighth seeded Florida Panthers can make it all the way to the Stanley Cup final, then there’s no reason why Canada’s women’s soccer team can’t win the FIFA Women’s World Cup. For the sake of Christine Sinclair, perhaps the world’s...

In 2018, an international organization found that 67 per cent of medical errors were the result of miscommunication. Another study from the U.S. showed that 1/3 of people with chronic illnesses underused medications because of cost and did not inform their caregivers. Half of people leaving hospitals could not identify their diagnoses or names of the medications they were given....

Ask any singer what they detest the most and they will say, “People who cough at concerts.” So, how do you tell if your annoying cough is due to getting older or being a little out of shape? Is it a common cold? Or could it be a life-threating condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? It’s estimated that...

Rain is drumming gently on the skylight directly above my head. Before last night (it’s the third week of July), I was starting to wonder if it would rain again this summer. After several dry weeks, I get like that. Kind of panicky, you know. Still, the skies only delivered 2.2 millimetres after dinner. It was nice to know it...

It’s that time of year again … the sun is out, the temperatures have warmed up, and we get outdoors. Gardening is an outdoor activity that is a great form of exercise and an excellent way to boost our mood. During the winters we tend to be less active, then when spring and summer hits, we get to work on...