Zeitoun

I’ve just finished reading Zeitoun, Dave Eggers’ latest book. I’ve an ongoing habit of alternating reading one fiction, one non-fiction book. I keep meaning to write about some of them here, but never get around to it, but am taking the time for this one. Zeitoun tells the story of one family’s experience immediately preceding, [...]

BC’s coming HST

I’ve been giving some thought about the upcoming HST, which will harmonize the 5% federal GST with our existing 7% PST into a single 12% tax. From what I understand, this is a boon to capital-heavy large business, particularly in manufacturing – the savings there can be immense. So I understand the point of it [...]

Gathering of Clan Tannock

My grandmother, an amazing woman, is making the trip from the UK to Toronto. I’m not sure if by coincidence or plan, my sister and her family are also in Toronto. Given that my grandmother is 94, and I’m not likely to get o the UK anytime soon, we west-coast Tannocks are off to Toronto [...]

The Bead

Yesterday, Leah and Liam sat down and made a bead-phone with this bead-art craft kit we have (you stick little rubberized beads on a mat with little posts in a pattern, then iron the beads so that they melt together and stick, so you can then remove the art). Liam took his newly made phone [...]