Reprographic Magazine
Algonquin by Dan Rios
the worst football game ever played by Dan Rios
I
t is considered one of the worst NFL games ever played. With the score tied at three with only a couple of minutes left in the fourth quarter, a muffed punt by the Bills led to a game winning field goal for the Browns. It was a frustrating effort by two impotent offences. Derek Anderson, QB for the Browns, went 2 for 17 on the day, watching his hapless receivers drop easy passes. The Buffalo faithful—and they are endlessly faithful—have suffered for a long, long time. This game was just par for the course. A season over before it begins, a series of unfortunate injuries, and a team incapable of putting together a winning season. They’ve been here before. And yet, they come every Sunday. By putting on their jerseys they transform themselves. They become part of the team—collectively they are the twelfth man—and replace their individual identities with those of their favourite players. They are the Buffalo faithful and they come every single Sunday.
this canadian life
Madawaska
by Dan Rios
G
oing to the cottage is a most Canadian thing. A weekend up in the wild, away from the various stressors and considerations of one’s usual life. Our destination was a quaint cottage on the shores of the Madawaska River, near the bustling metropolis of Griffin, Ontario (population 300, but they do have a sushi bar). Wide open skies, red hot bonfires, and a deep sense of peace pervade the weekend. Floating in the freezing cold September waters of the Madawaska, it is easy to feel like a single leaf: once part of a bigger whole, but here, alone, so insignificant you may as well not exist. It is an experience that we are lucky to have. One of arrival, stillness, natural beauty, and endless warmth on the coldest of nights. We sink into this massive landscape and forget ourselves completely. And watch the mighty Madwaska trickle by.