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From the archives

Between Words

Anne Carson’s new book-without-a-spine, and the spiritual experience of centrelessness

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

A postmodern elegy from our most original writer

Boredom as a Political Weapon

Saul Bellow fought banality—and taught us to look hard at the world

Ira Basen

Ira Basen is a long-time CBC Radio producer and documentary maker.

Articles by
Ira Basen

Stop the Presses!

When no news is good news December 2025
How big a role does the news play in your life? Is being well-informed an important part of how you think of yourself? It was for Edward McCann, a Canadian lawyer and university professor, who died in April at the age of eighty-four. “He found joy in watching and coaching sports,” his obituary read, “spending time with his wife and…