Dec. 6 & 7, 2025 Show Notes
Victoria Christmas Lighted Truck Parade / Sidney Boat Parade / Sidney & Kelowna Christmas Parades / Weekend Edition
🎙️ Show airs live
Saturday: 10:05am-Noon PT
🔁 Rebroadcast
Sunday: 1:05pm-3pm on C-FAX
🎧 Podcast
Anytime
Your crew this weekend:
Aitan Roubini
Guest Co-Host
Victoria Mac and iOS User Group (VMUG) President and MacZen.ca owner
eMail: Support@MacZen.ca
iPhone +1 250-813-1323
1) To prevent your identity from being stolen, convert the SIM card in your phone into an eSIM, or add a SIM PIN
Ashleigh in Calgary recently got a call from someone who said he was with Rogers, offering her a new phone and a lower-rate plan if she would switch carriers. She agreed, and he said her current carrier would send her a text confirming she was switching companies, and she just had to reply YES.
She did that, and within minutes, she lost service on her phone. The scammer had taken-over her phone number, inheriting all her texts. But that was just the beginning.
The scammer then went through her texts, and began triggering password reset emails so he could get into her various accounts, including her bank accounts, and change the password so she was locked-out. The overseas scammer initiated an international wire transfer which her bank flagged as suspicious and blocked. But when the scammer initiated more wire transfers, the bank phoned her to check, but she no longer had access to her phone number, and so the bank approved the transfers (which they should not have done),
Within a day, her bank account was emptied, more than $300,000, gone.
The scammer also used her banking info to max out her credit card, and applied for a new credit card (changing her address) before Asleigh went to the bank and had them lock down all her accounts.
Here's how you can prevent this from happening to you:
1) NEVER authorize a change of phone companies over the phone. Always do it in person at the store or kiosk of the carrier you're switching to. If you ever get a text message from your carrier about a request to release your number, and you're not doing that, immediately call 611 and have them flag your account to only allow a carrier change if you show photo ID.
2) Convert the SIM card in your smartphone into an eSIM, which is a digital SIM stored electronically in your phone.
That way, if someone steals your phone, they can't remove the SIM card and pop it into another phone and take over your phone number.
iPhone: Settings → Cellular → SIMs, and scroll down to Convert to eSIM. Follow the instructions acrefully, and be aware that it can take a minute to convert, and then to activate, your eSIM.
Android: On most Android phones, you can go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → [your SIM] → Convert to eSIM. On Pixel phones, Settings → Network & internet → SIMs. Samsung phones: Settings → Connections → SIM manager.
When you're going to replace your phone, your new phone will have an option to transfer the eSIM from your current phone, but that can only be done when the current phone is unlocked, so a thief can't do that.
3) If your phone doesn't support eSIM, you can also lock the physical SIM behind a SIM PIN, which will prevent the SIM card from being used by anyone other than you unless they know the PIN.
If you do this, it's essential you remember the SIM PIN you choose, because you'll need to enter it every time your phone is restarted after an update.
iPhone: Settings → Cellular → SIMs → SIM PIN.
How to Enable SIM PIN on Android
Steps vary slightly depending on your device brand (Pixel vs Samsung), but the flow is similar:
On stock Android phones (Pixel, Motorola, etc.):
- Open Settings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy.
- Tap SIM lock.
- Toggle Lock SIM card on.
- Choose a PIN (4-8 digits)
On Samsung Galaxy phones:
- Open Settings → Connections → SIM manager.
- Tap More SIM settings → SIM card security.
- Toggle Lock SIM card on.
- Choose a PIN (4-8 digits)
- Default PINs: Carriers often ship SIMs with a default PIN (commonly
0000or1234).
- Wrong attempts: Entering the wrong PIN three times will block the SIM. You’ll need a PUK code (Personal Unblocking Key) from your carrier to unlock it.
Final thought on this: if you want, you can contact your carrier ank ask them to put a note on your account, requiring photo ID to be presented anytime a SIM or eSIM is being changed.
However, if you do this and your phone is lost or damaged, you won't be able to regain access to your phone number without going to the store of your carrier. If you're travelling outside Canada, (and that's when a lot of phone thefts occur), you'll be cut off from your number till you return.
You're better off to switch to an eSIM.
2) Watch out for scam texts offering well-paying online jobs
Scam job-offer texts are not new, but what is new, as shown in these screenshots, is that they're being sent as text-filled pictures, to make it harder for spam filters to detect and block them.
The texts come from a variety of senders (often from gmail email addresses), but they all have one thing in common: they offer great pay for flexible part-time work from home with the money paid to you each day…
If you're interested, you're encouraged to send a text or WhatsApp message to a number in the USA.
There are three potential scams here:
1) You'll be encouraged to complete an online application form, which they'll review, and then within a day, you'll be 'approved', but in order to be hired, you'll have to pay an up-front 'processing fee', and if you do, you'll never hear from them again.
2) You'll fill out a simple application and quickly will be 'hired', and will get paid for your training. But, in order to get your money, they'll set-up a crypto-currency account for you. They'll deposit your 'pay', but then advise that you have to keep a minimum amount in the account to keep it active, and theyu'll ask you to deposit money to reach that minimum. If you do, they'll scoop that money and close the account and you'll never hear from them again.
3) You'll be asked to download an employment application, but if you do, you'll actually be downloading malware which harnesses the power of your computer (if it's powerful enough), for crypto-mining.
NEVER respond to job-recruitment texts like this! They're all scams.
3) Do not reply to innocent texts from what appear to be wrong numbers — they're a scam
We've all received texts from numbers we don't recognize, asking a simple innocent question, as shown in the screenshots.
As polite Canadians, our reflex action is to reply and advise them that they've texted the wrong person.
Don't. These texts are, unfortunately, scams.
If you reply back, you'll get a quick reply thanking you for taking the time to do that, and then the sender will try to strike up a conversation with you.
These replies are being written by an AI engine!
Eventually (it could be after several days of texting back and forth), they'll tell you about how they've made a lot of money investing in crypto-currency using a particular platform, and will encourage you to follow their lead.
Sometimes, they'll share with you how they quit their job and started working online from home, and are now working far fewer hours but making way more money. They'll 'offer' to connect you with the firm they work for, which is another way of hooking you into one of the 'work from home' scams.
In both of these cases, and other similar ones, even if you don't fall for the scam, they'll also sell your name and phone number to other scammers, who will text you to see if you'll fall for their scam.
NEVER reply to texts that appear to be for someone else. Delete and report as Spam or Junk.
5) Freedom Mobile is the latest firm to have customer data stolen by hackers
Quebec-based Freedom Mobile says it suffered a data breach earlier this year, resulting in hackers accessing “limited' personal info of customers.
Freedom says it detected “unauthorized activity on [its] customer account management platform” on October 23, though it did not disclose exactly how many customers were impacted.
“Our investigation revealed that a third party used the account of a subcontractor to gain access to the personal information of a limited number of our customers. We quickly identified the incident and implemented corrective measures and security enhancements, including blocking the suspicious accounts and corresponding IP addresses,” the company explained in the notice.
Freedom stresses that neither payment info nor passwords were accessed, but did note some personal info was accessed by hackers, including:
- First and last name
- Home address
- Date of birth
- Phone numbers (home and/or cell)
- Freedom Mobile account number
Freedom says it has “no reason to believe that this information was misused,” but also encouraged customers to be cautious and take steps to protect themselves.
For example, Freedom warned customers to be wary of unexpected messages asking for personal information or directing customers to a website to share personal info. The carrier says it will “never ask you for personal information such as credit card numbers, banking information, passwords, or PIN codes by email or SMS.”
It also warned people not to click links or download attachments from suspicious emails or texts, and to monitor their accounts for unusual activity.
Tech News Of The Week
Items start at #10, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more security items above!
Tip: if an item in these Show Notes has the icon on the right in the upper-right corner, you can click/tap on it to make the additional info open in a new tab.
10) CRTC has ordered Bell to stop locking smartphones
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has ordered Bell to stop selling locked phones “immediately” after the carrier went against the Wireless Code and started locking phones to reduce store robberies.
Bell started locking smartphones sold by it and its flanker brand Virgin Plus back in April, claiming at the time that the move was to address an increase in robberies at its stores. Bell locked smartphones to its network for 60 days, though it still offered to unlock phones for customers who contacted the carrier or used its online tool within the 60-day period. However, some Bell customers complained on social media that the company failed to unlock their phones within the 60-day window.
The CRTC updated the Wireless Code in 2017 to prohibit the sale of locked phones, mandating that all new devices must be unlocked going forward. The Code also banned unlocking fees.
In a stern letter to Bell, CRTC Secretary-General Marc Morin has directed Bell to stop selling locked phones, ensure future phone sales comply with the Wireless Code, unlock any phone still locked to its network because of the policy, and notify affected customers when the process was completed.
11) If your Outlook Mail app won't open, you're not alone: Microsoft has issued an update that's broken it for some. Here's a workaround.
Some of the millions of people that use the Outlook Mail app on a Windows computer have found that it will no longer open.
This appears to be the result of a flawed app update released on Friday.
Microsoft is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. In the meantime, here's a workaround:
- Open your web-browser and go to Outlook.com and sign in there.
- In Microsoft Edge, click on the three dots ( … ) in the upper-right corner
- Scroll down and click on More Tools
- Click on Pin to Taskbar, and confirm in the pop-up that appears
- Until an update is released to fix the problem, click on that new icon to access your email
12) Freedom Mobile has activated its first 5G+ tower in the Victoria area, and is rolling out $24/month 5G wireless home internet
Quebec-based Videotron bought Freedom Mobile from Shaw two years ago as part of the deal that saw Rogers buy the rest of Shaw's services, and since then, has been building-out its 5G network in western Canada, replacing the former Shaw 4G LTE network.
As part of the deal, Freedom customers get to roam seamlessly at no cost onto Rogers or Telus/Bell towers when they're beyond the range of a Freedom tower, which eliminates the coverage issues that plaged Shaw Mobile.
Now, Freedom has activated their first even-faster 5G+ tower in this region, in the Glanford area of Saanich.
Using the new 3800 MHz spectrum, it'll give Freedom customers who have 5G-capable phones download speeds up to 1GBps, and can also handle connections to many more phones without speeds being reduced by network congestion.
More 5G+ towers are on the way as the equipment they use comes available, and eventually, they're replace the 5G towers that are being installed.
The deployment of 5G and 5G+ towers has now enabled Freedom Mobile to start offering wireless home internet at prices significantly below what Rogers and Telus are offering…
Freedom promises up to 100Mbps download speeds and up to 10Mbps upload speeds, and says the $24/month price won’t increase as long as customers keep their Freedom mobile plan.
100Mbps is great for basic internet users, but likely wouldn't be fast enough for homes with multiple people using the internet at the same time, especially if they stream shows and movies a lot.
Freedom says their new 5G Home Internet service is being offered initially by invitation only, in areas where they're confident service will be robust, but if you're interested, you can ask to be notified when it's available where you live.
13) Neighbours helped set-up Ben Driesen's spectacular Christmas display in Dean Park Estates after "Mr. Christmas" passed away
If you only see one outdoor Christmas display this holiday season, make the trek to see the one on Fairfax Place at the corner of Sansum Park Drive on Mount Newton in Central Saanich…
Bob Driesen, ("Mr. Christmas" to his neighbours) for years spent weeks each November creating the spectacular display on their huge corner lot, adding to it each year, but sadly passed away in June. Knowing what he wou;ld've wanted, his neighbours got together last week to help his widow assemble the amazing display again, and held a special lighting tribute in his memory on Nov. 29th.
We encourage you to visit the display one evening (type 1751 Fairfax Place into the Maps app on your phone), and marvel at Bob's legacy, and the dedication of his Dean Park Estates neighbours.
14) Updated again: if you use a credit card to buy gift cards or lottery tickets, many credit cards now treat that purchase as a cash advance
I've had to update this topic regularly for the last few weeks, as we've learned new info, and as the rules have been changed! Here's the latest, updated Dec. 5…
Most gift cards are now being treated by many credit card companies as a "cash advance", and cash advances incur a hefty daily interest charge until the amount is paid off. Some also incur a surcharge of $2 to $5.
It turns out this is also true if you buy lottery tickets at stand-alone lottery kiosks, but not at grocery stores or gas stations.
Several of you has advised that you've recently paid for gift card purchases with your credit card and have not incurred a cash advance fee, so I've done more homework, and we've also now heard from London Drugs, after they did some homework of their own (see Dec. 5 update below)…
The latest bottom line: most gift card purchases are being treated as cash advances when paid-for with many credit cards. Some banks do not do this on some credit cards, but do not on other cards. CIBC and AMEX appear to be the ones that do this the most. (FYI, credit card companies sometimes know when you use their card to buy a gift card, because that's part of the "L3 category" metadata they get from some merchants; it's how they know how how much we spend via our cards on clothes, makeup, tools, booze, etc.)
You can research this for yourself by using AI engines like Copilot (screenshotted below) Google Gemini, Meta AI, or Grok, and they'll show the sources including RedFlagDeals.com and Reddit.
If you use a credit card to buy a gift card for a chain store at one of their stores (such as buying a Thrifty Foods gift card at Thrifty's, or buying a Home Depot gift card at Home Depot), in most cases, the purchase will not be treated as a cash advance. I say 'most' cases, because some chains have farmed-out their gift-card handling to a third-party company like CashStar, and those purchases are often treated as a cash-advance purchase.
Dec. 5 update from London Drugs (we thank them for reaching-out):
- Our Point-Of-Sale system (POS) does not classify gift card purchases as cash advances. Our finance team reviewed recent transactions and confirmed that none of the credit-card transactions processed through our POS have been classified as cash advances.
- Our processor agreement doesn’t allow it. Under our agreement with Moneris, London Drugs is not permitted to process cash-advance transactions. Our IT team also confirms there is no such configuration set on our POS; we’ve asked our service provider to verify flags on their side as an extra check.
- Program partner perspective. Our gift-card program partner (InComm) reports they have not seen fees applied to third-party gift card purchases at other retailers, and that card networks typically don’t receive basket-level item detail that would identify a third-party gift card in the first place.
At most merchants where gift cards bought with a credit card are treated as cash advances, if you use a credit card to buy other items as well as a gift card at the same time, you usually will not have the gift card purchase treated as a cash advance. Some Canadians have, though, reported having a gift card purchase listed separately as a cash advance purchase on their credit card statement.
So, if you're buying gift cards (or lottery tickets at a Lotto kiosk), with the exception of London Drugs, the only way to guarantee you don't incur any extra fees is to pay for them with cash or with your debit card.
And remember: if someone emails you or texts you and asks you to buy gift cards for them as a favour, it's a scam!
16) Wireless earbuds sold at Giant Tiger stores (none in BC) are being recalled because they were sold with faulty charging cables
Health Canada has issued a recall notice for more than 17,000 pairs of True Wireless Earbuds which were sold at Giant Tiger stores between July and October. (the nearest one to us is in Calgary.)
According to the recall, the USB cable used to charge the earbuds was made with the wrong wiring material, which could lead to overheating when plugged in, posing a fire risk.
The affected units have the barcode 774223568363 and the SKU 1545426. Both are on the packaging. Any earbuds purchased before July 17 or that have a label with a lot number of 11012025 are excluded from the recall.
If you do have an affected model, Health Canada states that you should “immediately stop using the recalled product and return it to a Giant Tiger store for a refund.” You can also contact Giant Tiger Stores by calling +1 833-838-4437 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT, or email CustomerService@GiantTiger.com
recalls-rappels.canada.ca
True Wireless Earbuds recalled due to burn and fire hazards - Recalls, advisories and safety alerts – Canada.ca
The USB charging cords were manufactured with the wrong wiring material, and they may overheat when plugged in for charging, posing a burn and fire hazard. As of November 27, 2025, the company has received 3 reports of incidents in Canada and no reports of injuries.
17) Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $100 billion CAD in a deal that, if approved, would be a seismic shift for the entertainment industry
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion USD ($100 billion CAD) — a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
But the deal poses seismic shifts to the entertainment industry and the future of moviegoing, and may get blocked by US anti-trust regulators. Cinema United president and CEO Michael O’Leary says it poses “an unprecedented threat to the global exhibition business.” He added: “Regulators must look closely at the specifics of this proposed transaction and understand the negative impact it will have on consumers, exhibition and the entertainment industry.”
Buying the owner of marquee franchises including Game of Thrones, DC Comics and the Harry Potter franchise would further tilt the power balance in Hollywood in favour of the streaming giant that built its dominance without major acquisitions or a large content library. Warner Bros. has produced several best-picture winners at the Academy Awards historically, including Casablanca, My Fair Lady, Unforgiven and The Departed.
It'll likely be at least early 2027 before a decision whether to approve the deal is made.
CBC
Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $72B US | CBC
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
18) Teens under 16 in Australia will be cut off from social media starting this coming Wednesday
Social media platforms YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, X, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick have reluctantly agreed to comply with a new law in Australia that, starting this coming Wednesday, bans young people in that country from having an account on those platforms until they turn 16.
Under-16 Aussies who currently have accounts on any of those platforms, are supposed to have their accounts deactivated by Dec. 10th.
But that doesn't mean they can't continue to access most of the platforms: most, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Reddit, will let under-age Aussies see a fair bit of content without an account, although they all insist the most harmful stuff will remain hidden. Perhaps the key difference is that logged-out users won't be fed content that's been optimised to keep them glued to their screens for hours on end, in many cases by learning their preferences and ruthlessly exploiting their insecurities.
Politicians love to say that platforms must comply with the laws "or face $50 million fines" but compliance doesn't necessarily mean catching every single user under-16. The law only says that platforms must take "reasonable steps" to prevent under-16 Aussies from holding an account. If people bypass the ban, it's not a fine-able offence. As for what constitutes "reasonable steps", it boils down to a platform checking every user's age, or being confident they don't need to, which you could argue is the same thing.
The ban is being challenged in court, with two teenagers alleging the law is unconstitutional as it robs them of their right to free communication.
15-year-olds Noah Jones and Macy Neyland - backed by a rights group - will argue the ban completely disregards the rights of children. "We shouldn't be silenced. It's like Orwell's book 1984, and that scares me," Macy Neyland said in a statement.
The University of Sydney
What is Australia's under-16 social media ban? The world-first law explained
What will Australia's groundbreaking social media age ban mean for teenagers? Australia bans social media for under-16s from 10 December 2025, including platforms Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Twitch, Kick, Roblox, X, Reddit, YouTube, Snapchat and more. University of Sydney Experts discuss mental health benefits, the impact on youth mental health, online safety, age verification challenges and enforcement concerns, and digital parenting.
19) Russia is now blocking use of FaceTime as it tightens control over apps and communication to minimize the spread of dissent
Russia has cut off FaceTime over unproven terrorism support claims, a move that reflects a trend shared by governments worldwide that push for access to encrypted communication.
Russian authorities say FaceTime helps criminals plan attacks and commit fraud across the country, but haven't provided any case data or examples that could support those claims.
FaceTime uses end-to-end encryption that prevents intermediaries from viewing call content. Russian agencies can't easily monitor conversations routed through the service, which likely influenced the decision.
The government used similar arguments when earlier restricting WhatsApp, VPN services, and Telegram's calling features.
The ban arrived as officials promoted MAX, a state-backed calling app that critics say lacks Apple's privacy safeguards. Many worry it could expand state surveillance because the service follows Russia's data rules.
20) AI-generated 'video slop' is everywhere, but can you tell which is real and which is AI-generated? Take NPR's test…
You're lazing around the living room after a big holiday meal, when your uncle starts flipping through vertical videos. "Did you see that one of the cat snatching that snake out of a dude's bed?" he asks.
"We're being overrun by slop," said Mike Caulfield, a co-author of the book Verified: How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online. "It just floods the zone and at some point your mental faculties are just exhausted."
But Caulfield and other experts say you don't need to give in to despair, at least not yet. There are a few simple dos and don'ts you can use to try and evaluate the authenticity of what you see online.
Take NPR's test and see if you can tell which video clips are real, and which are AI-generated slop, and then learn how to tell…
21) iPhone 17 sales fueling a record year, pushing market toward higher prices
A new smartphone forecast shows Apple powering nearly all growth in 2025, though a looming memory shortage threatens to erase the momentum soon after.
Worldwide smartphone shipments are expected to reach 1.25 billion units in 2025, which means 1.5% year-over-year growth. The International Data Corporation (IDC) credits the stronger outlook to Apple's performance during the holiday quarter, a rebound in China, and healthier demand in key emerging markets.
Apple is on track for the strongest smartphone year in its history. The company is forecast to ship 247.4 million units in 2025, a 6.1% increase from the prior year.
IDC attributes growth to strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup, which leads in many regions. China is crucial, with Apple's share surpassing 20% in October and November 2025.
The upbeat story stops in 2026. IDC has revised next year's forecast from slight growth to a 1% decline in global shipments, which means fewer devices will reach store shelves. A worsening memory shortage sits at the center of the problem. Components that handle storage and system memory are expected to become harder to find and more expensive to buy.
22) Pantone's 2026 Colour Of The Year is 11-4201 Cloud Dancer (also known as white)!
Pantone says PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection…a billowy white imbued with serenity, that encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation.
23) Babbel has put out its list of 2025's most mispronounced words
Every year since 2016, Babbel has partnered with TV captioning groups to identify the words that newscasters, politicians and other people in the media had the most trouble with. These mispronounced words spotlight the names and moments that shaped the conversation this year, even if part of the conversation was “How do you say that?”
In 2025, the list features medication to iconic actors and more. This assortment of words is united by their strange consonant combinations, and the fact that many of them originate from other languages.
Note: there are actually two lists: one for the USA and another for the UK. Here they are…
24) How to stream A Charlie Brown Christmas without a subscription
The Peanuts gang discover the true spirit of the season in the timeless classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas" — and fnext weekend, you'll be able to stream it for free on Apple TV.
This beloved movie will be free to stream worldwide on December 13th & 14th.
You can watch the Peanuts specials and other Apple TV shows in several ways. This includes Apple's official apps, such as those on the iPhone. You can also tune in through the Apple TV set-top box or most smart TVs. For those without Apple devices, modern browsers provide the easiest way to stream Apple TV content.
How to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on Apple TV without a subscription
- In any modern web browser, go to TV.Apple.com
- Log into your iCloud account or make a new one
- Find the show and press Play
- Watch it on your computer or stream it to a TV set of your choice
If you want to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" closer to the big day, you'll need an Apple TV subscription. Apple offers a free, three-month trial when a first-time watcher buys a qualifying device, such as an iPhone. There's also a free seven-day trial, after which the monthly cost is $15/month or $129/year.
27) We've also started compiling a list of our favourite phone apps
The "Our Favourite Apps" list — which will have a lot more added in the coming weeks — is on our home page, and you can also get to it by going to Tech-Talk.ca/apps.
Homework videos (a.k.a. "time well wasted"!)
Check out our YouTube Favourites playlist, which has more than 4800 videos:
Videos start at #40, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more tech news items above!
40) Watch former NASA/JPL engineer Mark Rober create the world's fastest robot goalie to challenge soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo…
41) Watch Ramy reveal the world's largest remote-controlled Boeing 777X model airplane (it's the length of a small bus!) and take it for its maiden flight…
42) Watch an acappella arrangement of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" that examines how commas can change meanings, often with unintended results…
42) Watch Tony DeSare perform 21 versions of "Jingle Bells"…
43) Watch Paida sing a Japanese version of "All I Want For Christmas Is You"…
44) Watch France native Éros Brousson hilariously talk about eating a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in Texas…
Éros Brousson on Instagram: "WHAT DID Y’ALL EAT FOR THANKSGIVING?? 🙏🏽🇺🇸"
The sweet potato casserole, a staple of American Thanksgiving, has left this foreign visitor baffled. With its mix of sweet and savory flavors, topped with marshmallows, it's a culinary experience like no other. In this humorous account, a non-American recounts their experience with this unique dish and the cultural insights it offers.
Our two Grade 10 international homestay students — Natsuki from Osaka in Japan and Sofía from Madrid in España (Spain) — are building their first-ever Gingerbread Houses…
They also now have their first Christmas stockings. which they've hung up, waiting for Santa Claus…
…and they have special Advent Calendars — an Anime one for Natsuki, and a Cosmetics one for Sofía…
Earlier this week, we and our froend Zack took in the popular Oak Bay Village Christmas Light-Up…
…and then we toured the Gingerbread "Home For Everyone" Showcase at the Hotel Grand Pacific, and each voted for our favourite, by making a donation to Habitat For Humanity…
This was my favourite, and I still find it hard to believe it's 100% edible…
This weekend, we're taking the girls to the Sidney Boat Parade, the IEOA Lighted Truck Parade, the Sidney Sparkles Parade, and the Touch of Salt Spring Christmas Craft Fair at the Saanich Fairgrounds!
…and finally, our "Sign Of The Week"…
…from Eric who listens to us in Middletown, Delaware…
And so it goes…