december 2017 - ISSUE 16

sh rt fuse Winter is coming.

Nothing says “I just peed a little at that last icing call,” than the classic, hand-held coffee urn - the Big Tim. Created solely for hockey and ringette tournaments, this monstrosity ensures moms and dads can maintain a state of constant agitation for an entire weekend.

Fun fact: Every automobile in Canada contains at least two snow brushes... the one with the crappy brush and the one with the broken scraper.

Listen to your mother. Wear a scarf. Rock salt is great for keeping the driveway free of ice. It’s also handy for rimming giant margarita glasses.

Ever wonder what a guaranteed trip to the chiropractor looks like? Despite ergonomic innovations in handles, scoops, shapes and sizes, the snow shovel is still the leading cause of death in Canada.

While ski-masks are warm and toasty, good luck riding a bus in Quebec with one of these festive faves on.

100 %f re e!

fuse approved winter prep kit!

Ever wonder why light jackets don’t have inside pockets but winter coats do? Humans have been warming themselves from the inside out and sterilizing bullet wounds for generations with flasks of hard liquor.

If you’ve never injured yourself by jumping a ramp on top of one of these bad boys, you need to build a bigger ramp.

Only amateurs stop at four Christmas albums. What’s your excuse, Rita?

How about giving a non-gift this year? BY ANGELA MCINNES

Waking up to a pile of brightlywrapped gifts is easily any child’s favourite part of the holidays. But as we get older, the meaning of the season becomes more complex. This time of year calls both secular and non-secular groups to care for their communities and reflect on the importance of personal relationships. Instead of toys and trinkets, the gifts we give ought to show our appreciation and match the needs of the people around us.

Sometimes, this means thinking outside the bow-covered box. A non-gift gift will enrich the recipient’s life in the long term, and should be especially tailored to their unique tastes. A music lover, for instance, will enjoy front row tickets to see one of their favourite artists, while an avid reader will adore a year-long magazine subscription. The point is to make the gift more experiential than materialistic. Other examples of non-gift gifts you

could consider include: • • • • • •

•

Season passes to a community theatre Donations made on behalf of recipient to their favourite charity Tickets to sports events Memberships to athletic clubs Taking recipient out on a Geocaching adventure Subscription to an “Of the Month Club” service, e.g., Coffee of the Month Pre-paid lessons in a new skill or, better yet –

•

Spending one-on-one quality time to teach some of your own skills

The recipient of a non-gift gift may be surprised by its unconventionality, but they’ll see in the long run how much thought went into its selection. By creating opportunities to foster relationships, or even rekindle them and start anew, non-gift gifts such as these can help us embrace the deeper meaning of the holiday season.

London Fuse 24 bathurst Street, London ON, N6b1n7, londonfuse.ca