Q. How do the words we use affect our impressions of people, places, ideas or things that are ‘old?’ . A. Kintsugi. It’s a gorgeous word used to describe the Japanese practice of repairing broken ceramics with gold-dusted tree sap lacquer. No tossing that vase because it’s broken in half.

Q. Happy Valentine’s Day! And prosperity, happiness, and good health to you as we usher in the Year of the Dragon. What are some signs of good fortune to mark Lunar New Year? . A. One of the most commonly offered symbols of good fortune and abundance is the orange,

Q. It is hard to know what to make of massive cemeteries with row after row of identical, machine-polished, brown headstones. Everything is so perfectly ordered: not so many people hanging about, not so many markers to distinguish one gravestone from another. Where can we find cemeteries rich with artful mementos designed

Q. What’s your favourite kind of milkshake? If you’re looking to make a deluxe version at home, you can find all sorts of ice-cream filled drink tutorials online, and they have more than 3 million views. How did we find our wise way from plain old milk to marvellous milkshakes?

Q. For we the excitable klutz kin, tripping is a weekly (daily?) occurrence. Left foot, right foot, a labradoodle puppy!.. splat. What kind of global lore swirls around the act of tripping? . A. We’ll get the bad vibes out of the way… i. If, when exiting the house, you

Q. Hurray for travel; bring it on! But let’s just poof there. No airports, no airplanes. Twitch your bewitched nose, Samantha Stephens. Hold our hands and apparate us there, Dumbledore . There is much to love about exploring new places, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures. As the soft-focus

Q. If you live in Canada, can you identify your province’s tartan? And what about your provincial fish, gemstone, mammal, and tree? . A. Wait, we have provincial tartans? Apparently. Here is B.C.’s: . . Victoria’s Earl K. Ward designed the official tartan of B.C. in 1967; it was officially

Q. Victorians were nothing if not colourful with their slang. A sampling? . . A. Here’s a few gems from James Redding Ware’s 1909 ‘Passing English of the Victorian Era’, with definitions tweaked in our own words … . Barber’s cat A man who is thin Born a bit tired

Q. You have to listen to one TV theme song, twice a day, for a year. Which one will you pick? Which TV theme songs and pieces do people hold most dear? . A. As of writing, Ranker has over 21,000 voters choosing their favourite TV theme songs. The winners?

Q. Why is the smell of bread baking so enticing? . A. There is the anticipated deliciousness, of course. After hours and hours of aromatic torture/bliss, we can finally saw our way through the satisfying crisp of the crust into the steaming crumb. Next step: drizzle on that sizzling butter.