I once mourned our lost friendship but as it turns out, you were dead weight. The life I have created is full of wonderful and inspiring people there is no longer room for you. For a “free spirit,” you were judgemental fake and materialistic. Some friendships are not worth the fight. Thank you for your passive aggressive behaviour it made moving forward much easier.  —No Room For Negativity Please!

Being a woman (over 40) who loves men and everything about them I date. Sometimes I date more than one man at a time (gasp, oh my petticoats), don't worry I am honest about it.  Sometimes I date couples, bi men, straight married men, kinky men. I am in it for the experience, and maybe eventually a partner.

Being a responsible person I use condoms, all the time, but sometimes accidents happen.  So I go to the walk in clinic, tell the doctor I have multiple partners and I would like to be tested.  The doctor being a very gracious, wonderful woman who does not care about my sexual preferences gives me the swab for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and the blood requisition for the rest.

Today I am told by the blood lab that they will not process my swab because I am a woman over 40, apparently women over 40 don't have sex. If I were a man, I would not be receiving this call. WTF. Ohhh, my Irish temper...

In the past I have gotten my testing done at my family doctor and she always had to write "unfaithful husband" on the lab work, which at the time was true, and I honestly thought this "women over 40" need an excuse thing was just her and the blood lab she dealt with. But I hated it because the receptionist, who was my next door neighbour, and the blood lab technician, who has kids that same age as mine always saw this on the paper.  It was embarrassing. So I thought I would try the walk-in, in the city where I didn't know anyone.

Apparently, this is a province-wide requirement at blood labs, they do not process STI testing for women over 40.  Where to start on that one...discriminatory, sexist, violation of privacy, ignorant, downright stupid, everything the Canadian health system should not be. —L

Can anyone tell me why a man who killed his mother and two grandparents in 2015 has been granted unescorted day passes into the community after only three years of incarceration?  My friend who got caught selling weed and contraband cigarettes was jailed over five years ago and he's still in there, but you let a murderer out after killing three family members?  Our justice system is fucked!
—Hide Yo Grandma

You want to increase transit ridership in this fucked up town? How about increasing the number of bus shelters, benches and trash cans at bus stops? Waiting for the 72 Dartmouth Crossing on Commodore this afternoon (March 8th), I wondered why there is no bus shelter there. There is a concrete pad for a shelter, it’s been there for years but still no shelter erected. Why? No benches either, but by a miracle there is a garbage container. I’ve seen benches in various places around town where no one goes??? It’s quite stupid not to mention a waste of taxpayers money. Put benches where they will be used and appreciated, AT BUS SHELTER’S!!!! Oh yeah there aren’t many of those. What a gucked up town we live in. Sigh! —Standing in the wind and rain waiting for the 72

What does a friendly parrot have to do to get some media attention around here? The Coast is fixated on a boring old tortoise who doesn't even have beautiful rainbow feathers! Share the love a little, I promise not to squawk about it if you do. —Cracker Lover

I know this is a huge cliche, but where did the people in this city learn to drive? Has anyone ever heard of defensive driving? Do they all forget what snow is every year?

I moved here last summer and have had more close calls than the last 5 years where I was living previously. I watched a guy almost kill a woman and her kids blowing through a stop line and into a crosswalk at a red light. I was almost hit the same way walking on Agricola. I had a bus miss me on my bike by about two feet after moving into traffic, from a stop, without signalling. I had a guy stop at a T-intersection, look both ways, then proceed to turn into my path anyways. To top it off, I was stopped on my bike single file (as the signs all say to do) waiting to enter a roundabout, behind two cars, when the guy behind me decided I was somehow holding him up. He revved his engine, and accelerated toward me twice, as if to run me over. I have no doubt he would have if I hadn't gotten out of the way. He then almost hit another car after burning it through the roundabout.

Finally, please for the love of god do not stop for jaywalkers. No, it is not polite, it's stupid, for so many reasons. Just don't.

As driver, pedestrian, and a person who often commutes by bike, it feels like I'm taking my life in my hands every time I go out in this city. And no, it's not the narrow streets, it's the people behind the wheel. Get your head out of your ass, pay attention, and drive defensively. And use your fucking signal lights.
—Driving Is A Privilege

What difference does it make?  I ditched you because you're an asshole and a user.  Not to mention the lousiest lover I've ever had in my life. Not for any other reason that you drummed up in your pea brain. —I’m Not The Asshole, You Are

I haven't been in the dating game for five years and what a rude awakening—times have changed!! I feel like I am drowning in a hopeless pit of Haligonian men who can't even commit to a date let alone a relationship! It's so disheartening that this is the state of our society. Apparently even in their mid-30s these men can't get it together. —Single Now and Maybe Forever

Why can't women see a beautiful well put together woman and compliment her? Are you that insecure? Why do you go out of your way to be nasty? She is not looking at your man nor does she want him! Stop giving stink eye and say wow you look good, or I like your dress.

We should be nicer to each other and say positive things. Women who are curvy and bigger look great too. Tell her so the next time you see her. We all can't be skinny. Let us embrace each other for what we are. —Stop Judging Me

You think I’m exotic because I look different. I’m not a snake, a tiger or some sort of foliage. I hurt, I cry and feel pain just like anyone. If you ever see me again, just remember I am as good or better than the next person you will ask out. I am me, not a shade of pale or dark but accept who I am. The mystery is over, it was meaningless so just keep walking and pretend you never met me. —Meaningless