This was one of those times when you knew there was some kind of theme in there, but you just couldn't put your finger on it.

Then, it occurred to us, this issue is all about departures of some sort, whether it's leaving old ways, escaping government interference, defying preconceived notions or coming of age.

So this, the third edition of The Scavenger deals with escapes, endings and alternatives.

In “Moveable dirt,” Stephan Boissonneault tracks down a man who has thrown off the chains of modern society to live as a sovereign citizen ... of his own world.

At the other end of the freedom spectrum, in “Life on the outside,” Zach Howe talks to men who did time in some of the toughest prisons in the country. They say life on the outside is almost as scary.

What's it like to be an Edmonton high-school senior who seems to be the recruiting target of half the major college football teams in the United States? Zach Mueller spent some time on "Hubbard's journey" finding out.

Many Canadians see their country's TV as usually dull, often pompous and always second-rate. With "Universal realities," Sierra Bilton documents the unlikely success of Blackwood, a low-budget series set in an indigenous community, which has won fans around the world.

In “The price, the puck and the payoff,” Courtney King charts Scott Langkow's journey from Alberta to the NHL, to European hockey and back to his home province.

Lucas Provencher’s “Point and shoot” takes us inside the minds of modern-day vigilantes who call themselves Creep Catchers.

With “Crafted by hand,” Marc Kitteringham shows that biking isn't all spandex, wrap-around sunglasses and $10,000 racers, that a little effort and imagination can bring a classic back from the grave.

For “Resistance is fruitful” Chris Berthelot set out to track down Ezra Levant and found that Canada's favourite publicity hound is more elusive than one might expect.

In “Tales of a city in flames,” the city is Fort MacMurray and the flames are last summer's forest fires. Maria Silva spoke to two survivors of the fires, and one person who felt compelled to help.

For “A song of survival,” Ana Holleman talked to some musicians who have decided to tough it out in a place where chances of success can be as bleak as the climate.

“Taxi Driver! Uber! Alles! is our cheeky way of pointing out that the future for cars for hire will likely embrace everyone in the business. But, as Jibril Yasssin found out, the road is still going to be a rocky one.

–Brian Gorman, Associate Professor, Communication Studies