The snark, formally referred to as the point d’ironie, deserves serious consideration for a punctuational revival. Originally used in the 16th century, and more recently in 1899 when French poet Alcanter de Brahm suggested its return, the snark signifies what it’s name suggests - sarcasm.

Come to think of it, there are a lot of punctuation needs that have emerged through our increased use of the written word for day-to-day social and professional interaction. It’s not a need to clarify wording, but the need to convey the intended tone.

I would love a visual cue I could use for the follow up email, something that emits the feeling of being desperate to know when you’ll get what you need, understanding of the difficulties the other person faces, but clearly and politely running out of time.

I don’t know what that would look like, but if it’s anything like those ridiculous sideways winky happy faces, forget it. When I was a six year old girl I didn’t dot my i’s with hearts and I’m not about to start now.

So bravo to Henry Hitchings, who, in the Wall Street Journal, suggested revisiting lost and struggling punctuation candidates from the recent and distant past. We need linguists, graphic designers, bored desk jockeys and keyboard manufacturers to suggest and deliver snarks, interrobangs, their cohorts and their offspring to add depth and contrast to the monotone landscape of texting and email.

:) place snark here.

Folklorama? There's an app for that. So you're sitting at the Scotish pavilion at Folklorama eating your haggis and savouring your second three finger scotch and thinking to yourself, "Rrrright. I wish I could tell all ma frrrriends aboot the grrreet time ahm a havin'." when two things dawn on you. Number one, you can now rate your Folklorama experience with this nifty new iPhone app. And number two, you wonder why you're affecting a terrible Scottish accent (a la Mike Myers in So I Married and Axe Murderer) while you're neither Scottish or actually talking.

That's right. Now you too can think and speak in horribly put-on accents while rating your favourite pavilions on the brand new Folklorama app developed by the fine folks at Honest Agency. The app gives the user the ability to look up show times and descriptions, get directions to pavilions, view ratings from other people, as well as post experiences to Facebook. It's so good it makes me want to yell "OPA!" and smash a plate across my monitor.



 

Well, it's official – The White Stripes are no more. 14 years, 6 albums, countless tours and millions of fans vanished up in smoke this past Thursday, leaving many die-hards with a giant, colour co-ordinated hole in their hearts. That's not to say you can't find your fill of Jack White (et al) elsewhere. In fact, I'll be the first to tell you to run out and pick up Consolers of the Lonely, crank up the volume and listen to the sweetness that is Carolina Drama. I will just as willingly tell you to send the neighbours packing for the weekend so you can enjoy Sea of Cowards as loudly as your speakers (and eardrums) will possibly let you. Although these are great records, and there are more that have and will be recorded by Third Man Records, I once again can't help but feeling a part of my past has disappeared. 14 years is a helluva long time. 6 albums, each one great in it's own right, is no small accomplishment either, and has been denied by many a great band. But knowing the Stripes have run out of tricks to tell and songs to sew leaves me pining for more. It's rare for a group to come out with as much passion, respect, longevity and importance as the Stripes, and one wonders how long it will be before the next authentic (insert debate here) thing comes along. Perhaps Neil Young had the right idea. Perhaps it truly is better to burn out then to fade away. I don't know, you tell me.

It seems ironic that this past weekend I entered a conversation regarding the status of Zellers. In a roundabout conversation a group of us wondered aloud when Target would make their move on Canada. It seemed almost surprising that in 2011 the shopping giant had yet to knock on our door. Well, it seems as though a polite knock was too Canadian of an expectation. This morning our door was officially kicked in with the announcement that Target will begin their takeover in 2013, with the intent to phase Zellers out in the years that follow. For some reason I can't yet put my finger on, this news pulls at my heartstrings. Corporate takeovers are nothing new in this day and age, so I shouldn't be surprised. I can't place the blame on American culture, because Canadians share just as much guilt in the consumption department (located next to the pantyhose). They say tens of thousands of jobs are going to be created – so we should accept this and be thankful. No, I believe it's the realization that it's not really Zellers I will miss, but my youth. A rose-coloured time when Woolco, Kmart and Zellers were the players, before even bigger dollars started rolling in and we began losing our self-identity to our neighbours to the South. A time when mass consumerism had not yet fully arrived, and family shopping trips were a matter of necessity, not gluttony. Target, I offer you an icy Canadian welcome, because that is what is expected. Zellers, I bid thee farewell, you will always have a fond place in my heart.