Spreeder is a useful little web application that you can use to train yourself to read faster and more effectively. It does so mainly by doing what it calls “silencing subvocalization.” “Most readers have an average reading speed of 200 wpm,” the site explains in its introduction, “which is about as fast as they can […]

Yesterday morning, I used this space to tell you all about the Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy. I promised it would be one of a number of organizations and programs I’d mention here who are doing great work for the cause of literacy in Toronto. Well, the Book Ends program at the Toronto Public Library […]

Last night’s edition of Strong Words was a great night indeed, an excellent fifth anniversary with five terrific readers on the bill. For me, it was also a great note to end on. I realized last night that I’d been with the series for longer than I’ve held any actual job, and I’ll certainly miss […]

Yeah, I guess it’s a little bit shifty to give an award as prestigious as the Link of the Day to my own reading series. But after out fifth anniversary reading tonight, it won’t really be my reading series anymore. After five years, the time has come to hand things over to curators Gillian Savigny […]

Today is Camp Day at Tim Hortons locations across Canada and the United States. Every cent from coffee sold today will benefit the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, which will help send tens of thousands of children to one of the foundation’s six summer camps. It’s a great way to do something really positive before your […]