Nerazzurri on brink of 21st Scudetto… not that anyone’s talking about it

Inter Milan will likely win its 21st Scudetto on Sunday. And if not Sunday, then next Saturday. And if not then…well, it will have.

Should Napoli and AC Milan lose to Como and Sassuolo, respectively, it would even be champions before kicking off against Parma at San Siro (1:45 p.m., FuboTV).

Typically, an imminent title would be the main talking point — and by some distance — in the days before that title is won. It would also be expected that this Inter group would get its flowers, what with the next few weeks being a sort of last hurrah.

Goalkeepers Yann Sommer and Raffaele Di Gennaro, defenders Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard (who has spent this season on loan to Marseille), wing-back Matteo Darmian and playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan are all out of contract in June. Federico Dimarco and Hakan Çalhanoglu have another year remaining on theirs, but the latter will almost certainly depart at that point, if not before.

Use Christmas to cure the isolation

My wife is worried about me. She is concerned that I spend too much time by myself, and that I haven’t stayed in contact with many people I had good relationships with prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A civic lesson: Citizenship means co-operation

The No. 1 reason — by far — that people come to Brandon University is to gain the skills they need for a career. While here, they also gain a sense of community and the importance of citizenship.

The state of the province, or the state of the government?

It’s called a “state of the province” speech for a reason. It’s what the audience expects to hear. So, why not give them what they expect?

Don’t believe the spin, greatness can’t be broken

Earlier this week, I wrote a column that discussed the five-minute video recently released by Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre. The video begins with him asking this question: “Do you ever feel like everything’s broken in Canada?,” but is devoted mostly to his perception of the addictions crisis that many Canadian cities are experiencing.

Urban sprawl comes with costs

You have probably heard this argument before: owners of newer homes on the edges of Brandon pay much higher property taxes than the rest of us. They are subsidizing the rest of the city, and deserve to have greater influence at city hall.

Throne speech offers election hints

On Tuesday, the Manitoba government’s final legislative session before the next provincial election began with a speech from the throne in which the lieutenant-governor outlined many of the policies that the government plans to implement during the session.

Turning our ear to community

There’s nothing more music to my ears than actual music.

Last chance to get aquatic facility we want

As you may have read earlier this week in the Sun, the City of Brandon has issued a public notice that says it “is exploring preliminary options for the development of a new outdoor aquatic centre in Brandon.”

Great ideas starting to flow

Last week, I wrote about the widespread perception that our city’s political leaders lack the vision to guide Brandon into the future. I also reminded readers that we all have the opportunity — the responsibility even — to participate in that process.

Does Manitoba need a provincial police service?

Has the time come for the establishment of a Manitoba provincial police service? I expect this question to get an increasing amount of attention in the next 12 months.

Inflation eating away at Thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving is this weekend. With the price of food these days, we’re all wondering how most of us will cope.

For stronger economy, leaders must lead

This is what it feels like to be treated like second-class Manitobans in Manitoba’s second-largest city. This is what it feels like to be left behind.

It begins with a question

When I went to law school at Dalhousie University in Halifax, I would regularly read the Halifax Chronicle-Herald. It’s one of the oldest newspapers in North America, and I remember that the bottom of the editorial page of each day’s edition asked this question in large, bold print: “What have you done today for Nova Scotia?”

Splett brings ideas to Richmond Ward campaign

If this is the beginning of a serious, thoughtful conversation about the future of our city, then it’s a good start.