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The Soapbox

A rotating stable of community members share their thoughts on anything and everything, the only criteria being that it be thought-provoking. Got something on your mind to share with readers in Greater Sudbury? Climb aboard our Soapbox and have your say. Send material or pitches to [email protected].  

The Soapbox: Who’s Afraid of the Big Box Store?

The Soapbox: Who’s Afraid of the Big Box Store?

You wander in wonder, you gander and tarry. All around you are shelves to the ceiling full of embiggened goods … . In goes kegs of ketchup, crates of eggs, sledgehammers, hammocks, generators, three-litre jugs of vanilla extract’
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The Soapbox: A letter for a daughter (and anyone else who needs the advice)

The Soapbox: A letter for a daughter (and anyone else who needs the advice)

Regular Soapbox contributor Douglas Miller shares some useful thoughts many young people could put to use
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The Soapbox: Hoping to remain useful in the world of AI

The Soapbox: Hoping to remain useful in the world of AI

In 2023, Sudbury.com published a letter from Douglas Miller about the new emerging artificial intelligence tools then available. Now, Douglas is back with additional thoughts on how the whole AI thing is going
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The Soapbox: An ode to the backyard pools I remember

The Soapbox: An ode to the backyard pools I remember

Douglas Miller climbs on The Soapbox in the sweltering summer heat to wax poetic on the time-travelling waves of chlorine-clear water
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Opinion: MNR has fixed the moose tag allocation system … not

Opinion: MNR has fixed the moose tag allocation system … not

Retired moose biologist Alan Bisset has a few thoughts on how the Ministry of Natural Resources is going to fix the system (hint: he doesn’t think it’s going to work)
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The Soapbox: Elbows up not the best definition of a Canadian

The Soapbox: Elbows up not the best definition of a Canadian

In his latest submission, D’Arcy Closs climbs on the soapbox to question how to define a Canadian in the face of increasing tension with ‘our increasingly oligarchical neighbour to the south’
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Bisset: Good year for aerial surveys, not so good for moose populations

Bisset: Good year for aerial surveys, not so good for moose populations

The Ministry of Natural Resources really stepped up its game in terms of aerial population surveys of moose this year, retired moose biologist Alan Bisset says, but the reasons behind the province’s dwindling moose numbers aren’t being addressed
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The Soapbox: Don’t be held hostage by your one sock burden

The Soapbox: Don’t be held hostage by your one sock burden

‘Life was not meant to pine for the return of gallivanting hosiery’
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The Soapbox: I’m pretty sure I heard Santa Claus

The Soapbox: I’m pretty sure I heard Santa Claus

Douglas Miller shares a tale of Christmas magic from his childhood when the four-year-old version of himself was convinced Santa Claus was just down the stairs
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The Soapbox: My ability to make a first impression is just peachy

The Soapbox: My ability to make a first impression is just peachy

Douglas Miller had to rush out of the house for a quick meeting. He should’ve kept his eyes open when navigating his shampoo choices
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