Ahead of Canadians casting their ballots on April 28, Ross Robinson covers his attempt to tune into the French-language federal leaders’ debate last week — writing about the trials for English-speaking Canadians in achieving “functional bilingualism” and confusion abound after the last-minute time change of the debate.

“Last week was the 89th playing of the Masters. Has there ever been a final day with more drama, more class, and more great and bad shotmaking? Rare double bogeys were not so rare, and emotional swings became almost too much for both spectators on the course and those of us watching on television to handle,” writes Ross Robinson.

“If we want conveniently located hospitals, schools, libraries, recreational facilities and the like, all affordably priced, we absolutely positively need much higher population densityIf we want conveniently located hospitals, schools, libraries, recreational facilities and the like, all affordably priced, we absolutely positively need much higher population density,” writes Ross Robinson, covering other topics including changes to Tourism NOTL’s strategy and an intriguing proposition for a new speedrail system in southern Ontario.

“Should so many Canadians have worked themselves into a lather regarding this unfortunate circumstance? Suggesting that a winery be renamed, writing graffiti on walls and defacing an iconic statue in Edmonton. Can we call a truce and come to our Canadian senses?” writes Ross Robinson.

“Reading between the lines of The Lake Report, I could feel big doses of anger, crankiness, know-it-allness, frustration and shortness,” writes Ross Robinson, using his recent trip to Vietnam to reflect on what it means to be happy and kind in a world full of strife and sadness.

“If the new U.S. president proceeds with his threatened tariffs, it will certainly be his biggest financial gamble since he took a lead role in Atlantic City casinos. History teaches us the results could again be dire, costly and uncomfortable,” writes Ross Robinson.

“The desire for non-single-family accommodation continues, so it behooves NOTL to somehow grow and densify. Like bonsai, let’s plan our growth and appearance,” writes Ross Robinson.

“So much of life is controlled by our reactions, especially when something beyond our control has affected us. Even the smallest thing can be remembered and can have a positive or negative influence on the rest of our lives,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Standing at the back of the room in the St. Davids Fire Hall, from what I could understand, competing interests seem to be pointing fingers at each other. He said, she said,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Yes, Donald Trump and I both want to get rid of the annually challenging concept of daylight savings time. If you’ll pardon the pun, it’s time,” writes Ross Robinson, going on to share, however, some of his less-than-complimentary views of the president-elect.

“I am not a betting man, but my numerous trips to France, and my year living in Strasbourg in 1979, made me confident that the rebuilding of Notre Dame would take decades,” writes Ross Robinson, commenting on the official reopening of the historic cathedral in Paris this past weekend, after its five-year closure.

“Yes, we are lucky to live in Canada’s prettiest town, but let them know they are lucky to call their hometown home, too,” writes Ross Robinson. “You will have made a random person feel better. You will have been kind, which is a very good thing.”

“Until my 24-year-old daughter Carrie recently provided her précis version of Taylor Swift’s life and contributions to society, I hadn’t really paid much attention to the Swiftieworld. I now believe she is bigger than Elvis and the Beatles,” writes Ross Robinson.

“Did we learn the necessary lessons? Only two decades after the end of the First World War, the war to end all wars, we decided to do it all again. Young men who didn’t know each other fighting the wars for men who knew each other. Why?” writes Ross Robinson.

“Event planning takes talent and desire, but the per-person price can be very fair due to the shoulder season timing. The town’s business people win, and the visiting groups win,” writes Ross Robinson about off-season corporate retreats.

Back in the day, many of our mothers and fathers told us to avoid talking religion and politics. But frequently, we would have interesting and respectful conversations at school and on the streets,

“There can be no good excuse for not reading books here in our Niagara,” writes Ross Robinson, beginning this week’s Ross’ Ramblings with a shout-out to Old Niagara Bookshop on Regent Street.

“I have argued for several years that weeknight Halloween is unduly stressful for parents, grandparents and school teachers. And oh yes, young children and students too,” writes Ross Robinson.

“What worries me is not that Premier Ford threw this cockamamie idea out to the press and the people,” writes Ross Robinson about the proposed tunnel for under Highway 401. “I find it frightening that his most trusted and wise advisers would come up with such garbage.”