Copywriter, technical writer, translator (FR>EN, ES>EN, IT>EN), journalist

TechnoZen

The first conversation with a client

This business-focused blog post serves to set up a technology-focused one I’ll publish in a couple of weeks. I’m always grateful when I make contact with prospective clients. (I’m especially grateful when they contact me!). The feeling of gratitude quickly gives way to a desire to learn

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Are you ready for the next big thing?

Check out the trends that might affect your supply chain operations Few phenomena in Canadian history affected business like the 1970’s victory of the Parti Quebecois and the legislation that government enacted. The timing was good for John Boyd Jr’s father, who founded site selection consultancy The

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Braving winter and technology in the 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

Driving on a wintry highway with my girlfriend asleep in the passenger seat, I took my hands off the wheel. The vehicle approached the right lane marker. Suddenly, the steering wheel turned itself to bring us back into our lane. I let the vehicle keep going steadily to the opposite lane

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Productivity Tips for Busy Professionals

Last week, I joined a panel with two other professionals to talk about productivity with a number of freelance writers. The Professional Writers Association of Canada (pwac.ca) Toronto chapter (pwactoronto.org) hosted me, Dustin Meneses from cloud accounting provider Freshbooks and professional organizer Susannah Coneybeare. Have any questions about

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Thoughts on smart speakers

When I walk into my office, I like to listen to classical music streaming from a commercial-free station. To do this, I used to fire up iTunes on my computer, go to my favourites and start the music. Now I stream classical music in my office by pressing the play

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Losing a door on the 2016 Hyundai Veloster Rally Edition

It’s odd for a vehicle to be a coupe on the driver’s side while offering two doors on the other. I explored this distinctive feature, among others during my week with the Hyundai Veloster Rally Edition. First impressions

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Remote control light bulbs

Nobody says “there’s an app for that” any more, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. The mobile app revolution has affected just about everything, it seems, right down to the light bulb in my study lamp. Does LED technology really help reduce electricity bills? My condominium board

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Cut down the amount of time spent on searches

Robert Drake figures he spends about 15 hours each week searching for information. “Fifty years ago, I think the entire bar would only have knowledge of six cases in an area of law,” says Drake, an associate at Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber LLP. “Now there are

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The snarl of the 2015 Jaguar F-Type S AWD

Driving down a busy Toronto street, my girlfriend suddenly said: “Wow, this car really turns heads!” That about sums up the first impression this car makes. Complete strangers approach you with compliments and questions. And it only gets better when you slide into the driver’s seat, fire up the willing

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Workforce planning: Finding the right workers for your distribution centre—human and machine

Distribution centre managers know the challenges of managing a temporary or part-time workforce. Some of those challenges are unique to this “not-full-time” subset of employees. “Many part-time employees want to be full-time, they want to have stability in their lives,” says Ryan Parry, a distribution centre manager

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