John Oliver Smith
Bio
Baby, son, brother, child, pupil, athlete, collector, farmer, photographer, player, uncle, coach, husband, student, writer, teacher, father, science guy, fan, grandpa, comedian, traveler, chef, story-teller, driver, gardener, regular guy!!!
Achievements (1)
Stories (126)
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The Alberta Government Strikes Again
At coffee this morning, there was some rather vibrant talk around the table of the Alberta Government and its latest dealings with teachers in the province. This discussion led, of course, to a replay of a conversation held on a previous date around the same coffee table in the same restaurant. If I recollect correctly, I think it all went something like this.
By John Oliver Smith18 days ago in Journal
Rule Changes in CFL Football
Wow, practically every governing body for every sport in the world has altered rules to make that sport better, faster, more exciting, etc. That is, with maybe the exception of soccer, which is so mired in what is thought of as necessary tradition that it will never move into the 21st century or beyond. Volleyball, badminton, baseball, hockey, NFL football, basketball, curling and so many more have all made changes to rules that served to improve the games for participants and officials but especially for spectators of the game. Even chess has evolved versions of its game to include speed chess (blitz chess) and matches including multiple opponents and combinations of the two and resulting in games lasting less than one minute.
By John Oliver Smith18 days ago in Unbalanced
Anyone Can Become the President of the United States. Content Warning.
Preface – Recently, I saw an international news broadcast where a collection of grade school-aged kids were asked the question, “What steps would you have to take to become the President of the United States?” Based on the results of past Presidential elections in America and the endless barrage of chaos so witlessly (or perhaps purposefully) produced by the winners of those elections, it is safe to say that, “In the United States of America, it is possible for absolutely anyone to become the President!” Deploying the formula that certain leaders of that country appear to have used, I have put together a totally fictional instruction manual suitable for use by anyone who aspires to be the next (or any future) President. What I mean to say is, “If this guy or that guy was actually elected, then maybe these measures and practices, characteristics and behaviors really could work for anyone!!” Please realize also that this, being a fictional piece, any and all statements made and which appear to be references to actual people are purely coincidental. No such references are intended.
By John Oliver Smith18 days ago in Fiction
Getting Serious About Comedy (Part I). Top Story - January 2026.
If I were asked to remark on my life and the childhood that paved some road leading me to this point, I would have to say something about all the funny people who surrounded me for the last 26,872 days (and counting). Somewhere along that road, I became a big fan of laughter and the comedy that spawns it – and, I mean not only my own laughter, but the laughter of others, some of which I have actually been responsible for inducing.
By John Oliver Smith24 days ago in Humor
The Year the Toronto Blue Jays (Almost) Won the World Series
We are family!! A full 48 hours has passed since the third out in the bottom of the eleventh inning of game seven in the 2025 World Series of baseball between the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers and our favourite Toronto Blue Jays. The game spelled the end of the Blue Jays magical 2025 Major League Baseball season. As an aside, that third out also put an end to the Los Angeles Dodger’s season, and an end to the Major League baseball season in general. That "end" however, did mark the beginning of some bright things to come in future editions of the Toronto Blue Jays.
By John Oliver Smith3 months ago in Unbalanced
Carol and Harry Go to the Cinema
It was a cold and rainy evening in Vancouver – the perfect kind of night for just staying home and nursing a cup of hot chocolate with one’s slippered feet up on a soft, cozy ottoman in front of a crackling fireplace or watching a Hallmark Christmas television show or something. But, even though the weather outside was bordering on frightful, Harry suggested to his partner-in-sublime, Carol, that perhaps they should venture out into this miserable nocturne for a hardy adventure and head to a movie at the cinema. Surprisingly, Carol thought the suggestion to be of honor and heart and thus she agreed. So then – a movie it was to be.
By John Oliver Smithabout a year ago in Humor
Turtle Crossing
Bob and Marg were two medium-sized Red-eared turtles. The terrarium they used to live in, was pushed off the table by the two boys, during an impromptu hockey game at the Mackenzie house, one night when the parents were out partying and the baby-sitter was making out with her boyfriend in the Rec-Room in the basement. They somehow made it out of the house and were now living in the wooden foundation of the mailbox located on the front lawn near the curb of 85 Minto Place in suburban Providence, Rhode Island. One day they decided, as only turtles can, that they should make a FAST (and I use that term somewhat loosely) break for the yard across the street. This is the story of their adventure.
By John Oliver Smith2 years ago in Petlife
Lovin’ the PWHL. Top Story - March 2024.
The inaugural season for professional women’s hockey is well underway and I, like many North American sports enthusiasts, have cottoned on to the excitement of the games and the fanfare. Most of the women playing are relatively well-known through previous media exposure during Olympic games, World Championships and Rivalry matches between Canada and the United States. Yesterday, March 8, being International Women’s Day, I decided that I would pay tribute to the women of the world in my own little sports-minded way, and watch a PWHL game between the teams from Toronto and Montreal. Casually observing the new teams since the start of the season, I had suspected that the Women’s league was somehow different from the NHL and other men’s hockey leagues around the world. Sometimes these differences don’t show up during the Olympic games or World Championships because of the media focus on winning gold medals and the like. However, during a regular season hockey game, be it a men’s game or a women’s game, one gets a chance to really notice what the respective games are all about. I would therefore like to weigh in on what have formerly been suspicions but now are being seen as true differences between men’s and women’s professional hockey.
By John Oliver Smith2 years ago in Unbalanced
