WINDSOR, Ont. — Whenever Melanie Hesketh’s kids get a hankering for junk food, all she has to do is point to the kitchen counter.

That’s where she keeps an unwrapped cheeseburger that turns one on Thursday, and it looks pretty much the same as the day it came off a McDonald’s grill.

Mould, maggots, fungi, bacteria — all have avoided the tempting meal that sits in plain view.

“Obviously it makes me wonder why we choose to eat food like this when even bacteria won’t eat it,” said Ms. Hesketh.

The meat patty has shrunk a bit, but it still looks edible and, with a faint but lingering greasy, leathery odour, she said it “still smells slightly like a burger . . . it hasn’t changed much.”

The meat I could understand living that long, but no mold on the buns after a year? Quite impressive. Good reason not to eat them.

The article (which was later linked to by the Drudge Report and rehashed by the UK Mirror and Mail tabloids) insinuated an illicit relationship between the CEO of TWiT, Lisa Kentzell, and me. This revelation which was clearly intended to cut me to the quick was, in fact, as limp as a soggy Christmas cracker.

Had Gawker asked I would have told them that my wife, Jennifer, and I have been amicably separated for nearly a year. (We’re still great friends and have been travelling together this week to visit our daughter in Stockbridge.)

Lisa and I started dating some months ago. I don’t talk about it on the air because, although I prefer to live in public, I don’t ask that of my family and friends. Unfortunately Gawker has decided for them.

Business ethics and personal ethics: they're one in the same. Much of what you can apply in business also applies in your personal life. And vice versa.

One can question Leo's judgement about being involved with his CEO. Obviously the fortunes of both TWiT and his love life are now tied together. Is that a bad thing, though? Who is to say?

Since Leo is separated from his wife on good terms, I don't see what the big deal is. Assuming no one is getting hurt, what two consenting adults do in private is their own private business.

Gawker took a story and, like a number of so-called "journalists," didn't get the whole story. They just published it, knowing they'd get page views out the wazoo. All about them page views so they display more ads. Just like any other media outlet. Shame on Gawker indeed.

For the small number of you who have lost respect for Leo over this incident and want to boycott TWiT, enjoy your TWiT-free life. Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to listen to the great podcasts on TWiT.

Our parents’ generation has balked at the tough decisions required to preserve our country’s sacred entitlements, leaving us to clean up the mess. They let the infrastructure built with their fathers’ hands crumble like a stale cookie. They downgraded our nation’s credit rating. They seem content to hand us a debt exceeding the size of our entire economy, rather than brave a fight against the fortunate and entrenched interests on K Street and Wall Street.

I am the product of my parent's irresponsibility, though you wouldn't know it by how I live my life. Within my means and mindful of my responsibilities. Quite the opposite from those in the "free love" and "decade of excess" generation, it seems.

I learned long ago to look at my parents as fine examples of what not to do. I also learned long ago I don't need heroes to make a difference in the world, either.

Clearly, some people need heroes. To them, I say: be your own hero. Or if you really do need one, look amongst your peers for one.