Peter Behrens, 1/27/12

Bestselling Author

Instead of competitive fedora'd gunsels from the Plateau Mont-Royal hustling truckloads of illicit booze through the New England night, and tommy-gunning each other on the approaches to Rutland, this time it's TransCanada's Keystone project threatening spillage and spoilage of precious ecozones in Nebraska.

Peter Worthington, 1/28/12

Co-founder of the Toronto Sun

Just how "good" at his job U.S. President Barack Obama is remains unclear. What isn't in dispute is that he can be lucky. At the moment his luck is spelled S-E-A-L.

Jessica Pearce Rotondi, 1/27/12

This week brought A) a "Sh*t ______(s) Say(s)" that celebrates women and B) a "Hey Girl" that imagines an awesome woman spouting feminist theory to get you into bed. Happy Friday.

Anne Day, 1/28/12

Founder, Company of Women

Women are more patient and are prepared to wait before finalizing the sale, which men would likely argue is not time efficient. But if in the long term it nets the same result, who is to quibble over the strategy to getting there?

Yoni Goldstein, 1/27/12

Writer

One worries what Harper's health care edict will do to the collective Canadian psyche. If we are indeed on the road to more privatizing of medical care -- a process that, perversely, might actually offer more health care equity across the country -- Canadians are destined to lose one of the key pillars on which our identity rests.

Seth Shostak, 1/27/12

Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute

In a movie it's important to have aliens whose gestures and facial expressions can be "read" by humans. But come on! Are two eyes, four appendages and an upright posture really essential?

Richard (RJ) Eskow, 1/27/12

Consultant, Writer and Senior Fellow, Campaign for America's Future

The GOP presidential candidates continue to play their parts in an implausible story of a world that could never exist, acting out nonexistent conflicts while delivering dialog that insults the intelligence. That's not because they're stupid. It's because they think you are.

Gavin Charles, 1/27/12

International Relations student, news junkie, Debate Mate mentor

if we're going to take the position that our governments are responsible for the future fates of all those who enter our countries, the deportation process should be streamlined so that decisive factors such as risk of torture are established earlier, before large amounts of time and money are spent on legal hearings.

Alex Callahan, 1/27/12

Ontario NDP Strategist

Don Drummond should be insulted that his report is going to be little more than political cover for the Liberals. It's going to be a convenient straw man for the party, giving them the option to lay any unpleasantness at the feet of an unaccountable third party.

Pay Chen, 1/27/12

TV host, writer and producer

When the Canadian version of The Bachelor hits the air this fall and your hairdresser's cousin's co-worker's son's teacher is on the show, will you be watching? I will. And with my team of real and pretend online friends, we'll have plenty to say.

Simone Katerine, 1/27/12

Author, Skinny Dip

In my 20s, I feel like I just let life happen to me. I said "yes" to so many things that I felt like I was Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole towards whatever new self-created chaos awaited me. Eventually I learned that being alone felt so much better than having to deal with the fallout of my bad choices.

Margaret Weinberg, 1/25/12

17-year-old high school senior in Vermont

Throughout my childhood social studies classes, I was told that we study history so we can learn from our mistakes and successes. To not pursue space exploration is to spit in the face of this lesson.

Shayna Zamkanei, 1/26/12

Earlier this week, Orthodox male suspects who attacked an Israeli women for dressing "immodestly" were released. The aggressors argue that women's modesty must be preserved in public. Clearly, this form of misogyny is a problem that extends beyond manners of dress.

Evan Shapiro, 1/27/12

President, IFC

Each year, there are a few great films that get Park City buzz, only to disappear into a sea of megaplexes and blockbusters. I submit that many of these would have fared better on TV.

Douglas Anthony Cooper, 1/26/12

Novelist, Amnesia

You are as likely to have your head removed against your will in my town -- Oaxaca -- as you are to be murdered by roving, machete-crazed gangs in Martha's Vineyard. In fact, you are a whole lot safer in the state of Yucatan than you are in Canada.

Ingrid Newkirk, 1/26/12

President and co-founder, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

The annual bloodbath that comprises the largest kill off of marine mammals in the world, the Newfoundland seal "hunt" (a misnomer if ever there was one), is scheduled to start within weeks.

Gillian McEachern, 1/27/12

Deputy Campaign Director for Environmental Defence

The hearings into Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway tar sands pipeline and tanker project kicked off with a diversion tactic to avoid talking about the danger the proposed pipeline poses for our climate, water and land. Now it's time to get back to why Canadians will continue to voice our objection to the project.