The family is committed to this as a cooking day. Daughter prepared food for the cook (me) to use as snacks. Lemon curd and ginger snaps, and chocolate bark.

New Year's Celebration is not so much about welcoming 2026. It is more about killing 2025 with fire and dancing on the ashes.

New cookbook, new fancy ingredients. And it is cool to go to a market where many ingredients are only labeled in Mandarin. But I’m starting with the basics.

Geez. Patti Smith is 79 years old today. But she is timeless. Horses is still a great album 51 years later.

I am planning ahead and have my NYE sweatpants and hoodie picked out. A high-end fit. Also, spot on the couch reserved. Snacks ready. Totally ready for the holiday. (and yeah, I am not staying up til midnight).

Indie is not fond of the ice everywhere. So now she can catch up on her sleep. 18 hours a day is not enough. A ball of fluffy cuteness.

Detroit goal! Scored by Simon Edvinsson with 03:14 remaining in the OT period. Detroit: 3 Toronto: 2 #TORvsDET #LGRW #LeafsForever

How you know you have an awesome nurse: I assume I need to cut out alcohol on chemo —No. You can still drink. But…your taste will be affected so buy the cheap stuff. It will taste the same to you as your high end stuff. Thanks for the pro tip, Elisa.

End of year shoutouts to Bloosky folks who are relentlessly brilliant and inspiring: @abeba.bsky.social @irisvanrooij.bsky.social @olivia.science @kevinmking.bsky.social @djnavarro.net @devezer.bsky.social @iqmcgrew.bsky.social

You ever bite your tongue so that it is bruised for several days. And each little bit of discomfort is a reminder that you are such an incompetent being that you cannot successfully manage the workings of your own mouth. Just me? Fine.

The Winston Churchill daily agenda seems like a good lifestyle for 2026.

Underestimate.

Ok, since this has come up four times in the last three days: REPUTABLE LITERARY AGENTS WILL NOT CHARGE YOU MONEY. IF A LITERARY AGENT WANTS TO CHARGE YOU FOR AN "EXPEDITED ACCESS PACKAGE" THIS IS A SCAM.

I’m not from Sudbury, but I can still represent the fictional Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs. Also, the first 2 episodes of this season of Shoresy were outstanding. Favorite show on TV.

A very Happy Boxing Day to those who celebrate.

Christmas dinner: duck breasts, spinach, purple carrots, mashed taters, and stuffing.

I’m not saying sous vide duck breasts resemble lungs—but I’m not not saying that either. They will look great after finishing.

Ugh. Ran out of butter. But...I have an extra pint of cream and a stand mixer. There will be butter.

I am working on a French omelet. About 75% of the time (consistency is all) it is quality--creamy, buttery, eggy goodness. Chef Andres says the perfect omelet is 1 egg, 1 tbs mayo, and a little butter whipped then microwaved (!?) for 45s. No way! But, dang, it is really good and foolproof.

Joyce only went to conferences w/me in SF. We always had a least 1 meal at the House of Nanking. At least 15x over 20 years. I once said to Peter Fang—your brown sauce is magic I would love to learn how. He smiled a small smile without looking up—You can’t. Secret magic. He wrote a cookbook!!!

Yay. It’s a touching Christmas miracle. Al can kill people again. <sniff>

A favorite Montreal tradition. The pink house is decorated. And it’s a mystery who does it (we probably know, but enjoy the mystery).

Decorating ninja cookies. In photo 2, you may note that one of the colors is not a color, but a Manhattan. Tradition.

I would like to be a movie actor, but I want to specialize as the guy who says, “Seize them!” or “Set up a perimeter” or “Read him his rights.” Seems like that would be stable work.

Presents wrapped, food prepped, time for the holiday tradition.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

Time for my semi-annual knife sharpening. Needed to wait a bit due to chemo-induced neuropathy in my hands. But I’m ready now and I find the task therapeutic.

The two modes of Indie. Grouchy chill dog and rabbit chasing snow dog.

HOW BOUT THESE #REDWINGS?! #LGRW

Family discussion: which fictional dystopia are we most moving toward right now? We have tasted so many in this dumb era. We landed on The Uglies and Hunger Games with a whiff of Handmaid’s Tale and Brave New World. And hints of a dozen others. Designated Survivor and Brazil are not off the table.

Christmas double header movie: Carol (great movie with my two favorite actors) and Home Alone (just because). With pizza—traditional (in my house) Christmas Adam dinner.

Indie enjoys going full cocoon mode on cold days.

My mind is blown by anti-vaxxers. Vaccines must be in the top 10 human invention clusters in history. With the wheel, sewage and water management, transistor, and other giant things. Entire diseases and so much suffering eliminated. But...nah, they're evil because charismatic grifters tell us so.

Five real global health wins in 2025 1.HPV vaccination scaled faster than expected; 2. measles/rubella eliminated in several countries; 3. long-acting HIV PrEP (lenacapavir) approved; 4. progress on TB vaccines/diagnostics; 5. A promising new antimalarial. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

I am sick. But I am not discouraged. We got this, folks.

The AI trend has fired up my oppositional side and embracing my basic skills: sharpening my own knives, making weekly chicken stock, writing with internet off, and handwriting (cursive) messages. I am this close to moving to the woods, hunting and growing my own food, and raising chickens.

Coffee is important for maintaining hope. But I cannot help but notice that the cost of hope is skyrocketing.

Happy Festivus to those who celebrate (I recommend observance of this holiday)

Zoe is perplexed by this weird carrot weave found in our “ugly carrot” local farm delivery.

Such a great old face.

It has been called Canada's Favourite Confection. This no-bake dessert grew in prominence following the Second World War and became famous nationwide thanks to Expo 86 and Nanaimo's mascot Nanaimo Barney. This is the story of Nanaimo Bars! 🧵 1/9

Tonight’s countdown calendar of Christmas movies: The Holdovers.

McGill is hiring scholars from outside Canada! The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) Program is designed to attract world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. Review of applications begins 1/16/26. www.mcgill.ca/research/res...

I get bothered that when the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes that it is not identified as a medical emergency.

Holiday meal: fried oysters, Parmesan smashed potatoes with bacon and a little truffle aioli — bougie af small dinner.

Yawning sleepy old friend.

Excellent trailer. I’m totally here for talking sheep crime solvers. m.imdb.com/video/vi4121...

Happy belated birthday, Keef. Still awesomely weird at 82.

Awesome opportunity! Please share broadly!

This includes Canadian PhDs & Postdocs looking to return to Canada 🍁 #PsychSciSky #neuroskyence