There’s nothing inherently evil about the celebration of Halloween in our time
Is there any harm in participating in the annual celebration of Halloween? Some think so. I first encountered the opinion that Halloween may be spiritually dangerous when my children were young. I was surprised when a friend announced that her children would not be dressing up and trick-or-treating. She objected to the pagan roots of…
In shoulder season on the Gulf of Mexico coast in Texas, you can catch your fill of fish, enjoy the locals – or you can just sit back and relax
Padre Island is a long spit of sand dunes guarding mainland Texas from the destructive tornadoes and winter storms that pound in from the Gulf of Mexico. Between this narrow barrier island and the mainland lies Laguna Madre, a shallow hyper-saline sea renowned for sensitive sea grass – and world-class kite surfing, birding and fishing.…
Don't waste your energy on something that is not worth wasting your energy on
You don’t have to love them, but life is so much easier when you are polite to people, regardless of how they behave toward you. Have you ever had to deal with offensive customers, or colleagues? It can be a real challenge to keep your cool when your inner voice is screaming, “You’re a jerk!…
By supporting cherished freedom of expression, Silver may have cost the league billions of dollars. It's a rare and welcome example of standing true to your principles
What more do people want from National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver? It seems nearly everyone – from the far right of the political spectrum to the far left – is upset with the NBA’s response to China’s hissy fit over Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's support of Hong Kong protesters. Just days before…
We don’t take pain into account when assessing where to invest health sector research and delivery dollars. That needs to change
Pain is a difficult topic for Canada’s health care sector. It can arise from many diseases, but not always. For example, arthritis in a joint can be visible on X-rays and not cause any pain; but it can also be so painful as to completely disable an individual. Pain is subjective, so sufferers can be…
One of my favourite egg dishes is my crustless Kale, Mushroom & Onion Quiche,which I make in my French ceramic bakeware pie dish by Emile Henri. This dish is easy-to-make and suitable for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner or anytime you prefer to go meatless. What you’ll need: • 4 eggs • ¾-1 cup cheese…
Combining the best of both internal combustion engine (ICE) and battery electric (BEV) technology
Just when you think you’ve settled on the perfect mate for your daily commute, a new love interest shows up. Canadians have slowly started to accept that electric vehicles (EV) will replace good old fashioned gasoline-powered cars as their daily driver. But industry leaders say EVs could eventually be eclipsed by a more convenient technology:…
International conflicts are dominating the news; China is vying for power in the Pacific Ocean, and in most other parts of the world; Russia is causing trouble wherever it can, and the Middle East remains tense as it has always been. Meanwhile, another international dispute is going on in our own backyard right before our…
From creepy Halloween graveyard scenes to praying for the dead, our subconscious is trying to gain mastery over our fears about dying
Each year from Halloween on Oct. 31 to All Soul’s Day on Nov. 2, we give death a cultural nod. Does this fulfil some deep-seated need? We don’t have to be historians to recognize that Halloween is connected with death and dying. Just walk around any neighbourhood in the days preceding Halloween and you'll notice…
The Canal Grande Hotel in Venice, Italy, offers all visitors a free trip from its canal-side breakfast balcony to the Vetreria Artistica glass factory Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. It's all part of the seduction. A sleek mahogany-hulled water taxi pulls up to the hotel, and the interested guests are carefully guided by the…