Features
NHLer Zach Hyman Speaks Out Against Anti-Semitism
It’s been a breakout NHL season for both Zach Hyman and the Edmonton Oilers. For the first time since the 2005-06, the Oilers are playing in the Stanley Cup final.
At the outset of the season, if you were someone who bet on sports online, you probably wouldn’t have backed the Oilers to be in the Cup final series. Then again, if you were going to bet on an Edmonton player to enjoy a 50-goal season, Hyman wouldn’t have been your first choice, either.
That both outcomes would occur in the same campaign is truly remarkable.
Hyman, who netted a career-high 36 goals for Edmonton during the 2022-23 season, followed up with a 54-goal output this season, making NHL history in the process. He’s the first player of Jewish descent to record a 50-goal season ever in the NHL, a league that’s been playing games since 1917.
“I’m very proud of who I am,” Hyman told Sportsnet. “I’m proud of being Jewish. I’m proud of growing up in the Jewish community . . . and I’m proud of where we come from.”
Raised in the Jewish community of Toronto, Hyman is the grandson of Holocaust survivors. He was schooled in Judaism from kindergarten through Grade 12.
Hyman, though, is more than merely a spectacular hockey player. He’s someone who will always be willing to stand up for his people. When antisemitism reared its ugly head in Canada, Hyman didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the pulpit professional sports affords him to speak out against such intolerance.
Hyman: Antisemitism Must Be Eradicated
Hyman looks at what’s going on around the world and most significantly, in the areas where he and his family reside and is justifiably alarmed. There’s been a rapid escalation in antisemitic acts since the conflict between Israel and Palestine began in October of 2023.
In the USA, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 337% increase in hate crimes against Jews between October-December 2023 from the same time frame in 2022.
“Antisemitism has been rising for years, and it’s now reached the point where . . . it’s scary,” Hyman said. “It’s very clear that antisemitism as a result of what’s going on has been on the rise. Jewish people . . . don’t feel safe. There are attacks on synagogues. My high school [in Toronto] has had two bomb threats. This is just for being Jewish. It’s just because you’re Jewish. There’s no other reason.
“We live in Canada, in the US, where these things shouldn’t be happening. And we can’t turn a blind eye to it. Being a Jewish person doesn’t feel comfortable right now, and that’s a scary feeling.”
As much as he worries for his fellow Jews, Hyman believes that everyone of all faiths should be extremely alarmed at the hatred being directed toward his people.
“Even more so for people who are not Jewish, it’s important to recognize the rise in antisemitism, and to speak out and say, ‘Hey, no matter what’s going on in the world, there are Jews in North America who have nothing to do with what’s happening elsewhere, who do not feel safe.’ Hyman said.
“And that’s not OK. That should not should not be the case. And it’s on full display.
“Full display.”
College Protests Also Alarming
Hyman played US college hockey. He looks at what’s taking place on US college campuses, where some protesters are calling for Jewish genocide and he is utterly shocked that such talk is not being condemned by the university hierarchy.
“I went to the University of Michigan,” Hyman said. “I was a Jewish student athlete. If I was on campus and my president was not able to say that [a call for genocide] is not OK, I wouldn’t want to be at that school. It’s outright scary.”
Hyman worries about what the lack of de-escalation of such protests could lead to if they continue unchecked.
“This is a clear wakeup call,” he said. “The people who are going to those schools are the next generation of leaders in the United States. For representation to not be able to speak out against genocide, to say ‘This is not OK . . .’”
It’s not merely Jews that Hyman fears for if the slide down this slippery slope continues unabated.
“We need to protect not just our Jewish students, but all students against hate speech,” Hyman said.
Talking The Talk And Walking The Walk
Hyman’s pride in his Jewish faith assures that he’ll never shy away from the chance to speak out about issues that are impacting his fellow Jews.
He feels a responsibility to do so.
“As somebody that young Jewish kids look up to — not just an athlete, but as a proud Jewish person — I think it’s important that when things are really tough, a community binds together,” Hyman said. “It sticks together and fights antisemitism.”
He can draw upon evidence within his own family tree as to what horrors can result if such hate crimes and hate speech continue without resistance. As a youngster, Hyman knew that his grandfather walked with a limp, but didn’t know why.
As he grew older, the answer was explained to him. Hyman’s grandfather had been shot in the leg by German soldiers when en route to a concentration camp during World War II.
“A lot of my friends growing up have very similar stories,” Hyman explained to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector. “Grandparents who have gone through the same thing.”
Those events took place nearly a century ago. Society allegedly has evolved since that terrible time in the existence of humanity.
“We’re in the year 2023,” Hyman said. “It’s supposed to be getting better. We are supposed to be trying to eradicate hate, racism, antisemitism . . . any type of prejudice.”
Features
Why Fitness Routines Fall Apart — and How to Rebuild Yours
Every spring, gyms see a flood of hopeful faces. New shoes, fresh playlists, unwavering intentions, by mid-summer? Half of them vanish into the fog of abandoned routines. The story repeats year after year until it starts to feel almost scripted. Why does enthusiasm evaporate? The easy answer involves willpower but that explanation misses the point. Habits don’t fail because people are weak. Life stress, boredom, and monotony ruin routines. Timely lever pulls can change narratives. The hardest part is persevering when motivation wanes.
Mistaking Motivation for Momentum
Most chase that opening surge, the lightning strike of motivation, but then stop searching once enthusiasm fizzles. A scroll through sites like PUR Pharma (pur-pharma.is/) or a glimpse of an influencer’s progress triggers a burst of action: new workout gear ordered, plans scribbled in planners destined for dusty drawers. Yet momentum fades when small setbacks pop up (a late meeting here, rainy weather there). Real progress comes from building systems stronger than any fleeting pep talk. Those who frame fitness as something owed to motivation end up back at square one every time life interrupts, which it always does.
Overcomplicating Everything
It’s tempting to turn wellness into a science fair project with spreadsheets and specialized equipment lined up on day one. This is the allure of complexity disguised as seriousness, a new diet paired with seven types of supplements and four color-coded bottles. Simplicity gets lost in the noise almost instantly. Most successful routines rely on two principles: keep it simple and keep showing up even when everything else is chaos outside those gym walls. Anyone insisting that perfection is required before taking step one has already constructed an excuse not to begin at all.
Forgetting Fun Completely
Who decided exercise must hurt or look like punishment? Somewhere along the line, fun got swapped out for grind culture and “no pain, no gain.” That isn’t just unappealing, it’s unsustainable over months or years. If sessions feel like torture devices borrowed from medieval times, nobody should be surprised when commitment falters fast. Seek activities that actually spark some joy or curiosity, a dance class instead of yet another treadmill session, maybe, or play a pickup game rather than slogging through solo circuits again and again.
Ignoring Recovery (and Reality)
Sleep deprivation, disguised as discipline, fools anyone, except perhaps uncritical Instagram followers. Ignoring recovery turns ambition into tiredness faster than any missed session. Because bodies break without rest, routines must breathe with owners. Cycling, real leisure, and honest self-checks regarding weekly goals build endurance, not continual pushing.
Conclusion
Change rarely arrives by force alone but usually grows quietly from patterns repeated imperfectly over time, even if last month looked nothing like this week so far. Drop the hunt for nonstop inspiration. Instead of breaking behaviors at the first hint of stress or boredom, build habits that last. People who rebuild methodically after every stumble or detour make progress, not those who peak and then fall.
Features
How DIY Auto Repairs Can Help You Cut Costs—Safely
Regular maintenance and minor repairs are the greatest approach for many car drivers to save money without sacrificing dependability. DIY repairs can save you a lot of money over the life of your car since most of the expense is in the labour. DIY helps you learn how things work and notice tiny issues before they become costly ones. Every work requires planning, patience, and safety.
Test Your Talents with Safe Limits
DIY solutions succeed when one is honest about their talents. Wiper blades, air filters, and occupant filters are beginner-friendly. With the correct equipment, intermediate owners can replace brake pads, spark plugs, coolant, and brake fluid. Pressurized fuel, high-voltage hybrids, airbags, and timing components are risky. Only professionals should manage them. Limitations protect you and your car. Drivers trust sources like Parts Avenue to find, install, and schedule manufacturer-approved work.
Set Up a Reliable Workspace and Tools
Good tools pay for themselves quickly. Ratchets, torque wrenches, combination wrenches, heavy jack stands, and wheel chocks are essential. It is advisable to engage specialists for specific tasks. A clean, flat, well-lit, and open space is essential. Please take your time. While working, keep a charged phone nearby to read repair instructions or write torque patterns.
Find the Problem before Replacing the Parts
It may cost more to replace something without diagnosing it. Instead of ideas, start with symptoms. OBD-II readers detect leaks, sounds, and DTCs. Simple tests like voltage, smoke indicating vacuum leaks, pad thickness, and rotor runout might reveal failure. A good analysis saves components, protects surrounding parts, and fosters future trust.
Maintenance That Pays off is Most Crucial
Jobs compensate for time and tools differently. Prioritize returns and maintenance. Change the oil and filter, rotate the tires, evaluate the air pressure, replace low brake fluid, clean the coolant with the right chemicals, and replace belts and filters before they fail. These items extend automotive life, stabilize fuel efficiency, and reduce roadside towing issues that can take months to resolve.
Do as Instructed, Utilize Quality Parts, and Follow Torque Requirements
Understand the service. Set the jacking points, tighten the screws in the appropriate order, and use threadlocker or anti-seize as suggested by the maker. Rotor wear can cause leaks, distortions, or broken threads. Choose components that meet or exceed OEM requirements and fit your car’s VIN, engine code, and manufacturing date. Cheap parts that break easily cost extra.
Test, Record, and Discard Carefully
Safely test the system before patching. Check under the car for drops, bleed the brakes again, and check fluid levels after a short drive. Note torques, parts, miles, and repair date. Photo and document storage for car sales. Properly dispose of oil, filters, coolant, and brake fluid. Controlling hazards protects your community and workplace.
Know When to Seek Professional Help
Self-employed individuals recognize their constraints. If a task is challenging, requires special instruments, or involves safety, consult an expert. Collaboration makes cars safer, cheaper, and more efficient. Selecting, planning, and implementing processes properly improves performance, lowers costs, and ensures safety.
Features
What It Means for Ontario to Be the Most Open iGaming Market in Canada
Ontario is the most open commercial iGaming market in Canada, having been the first province to open up to commercial actors in the online casino and betting space since 2022.
Since gambling laws in Canada are managed on a provincial level, each province has its own legislation.
Before April 4th, 2022, Ontario was similar to any other Canadian province in the iGaming space. The only gaming site regulated in the province was run by government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, also known as OLG. However, when the market opened up, numerous high-quality gambling companies established themselves in the province, quickly generating substantial revenue. As the largest online gambling market in Canada, it’s now, three years later, also one of the biggest in North America.
The fully regulated commercial market is run under iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. These licensed casinos and online sportsbooks are thus fully legal and safe for players to play at, while at the same time, the open market allows companies to compete and offer different products and platforms as long as they all fit within the requirements set up by the state of Ontario.
This means that Ontarians have a wide choice of licensed sites, whether they’re interested in sports betting, live dealer games, or slots – all with strict consumer-protection rules that keep them safe while exploring the many options. (Source: https://esportsinsider.com/ca/gambling/online-casinos-canada)
There are many benefits to online gaming, especially in a country that’s as sparsely populated as Canada, leaving physical venues often few and far between for those living outside the biggest cities.
Even before Ontario launched its own gambling sites, online gambling had been common among Ontarians. Regulating the market and offering alternatives regulated by the province has often added safer and more controlled options.
Since 85% of Ontarians now play at regulated sites, the initiative of opening up the market seems a clear win in more than one way.
Despite the huge success of the Ontario market, most provinces in Canada haven’t changed much in the iGaming sector in the past few years. Some provinces keep Crown-run monopolies, while others limit activity to a single government-run platform. This often leads Canadians to seek offshore alternatives instead, since the options are so few in their own province.
But 2025 marks an important change. The provinces seem to have noticed that Ontario picked a winning strategy, and Alberta has clearly been taking notes.
While the province of Alberta has previously opted for controlled gambling through one government website, the province is now opening up the commercial online gambling market. The Alberta iGaming Corporation will be in charge of licensing and inspecting actors that operate in the province. This will mean many more options for players, coupled with consumer protection and a high level of safety.
Meanwhile, the Ontario iGaming market continues to prosper, grow, and develop. Now that a second province is following in its footsteps, it seems more likely that other provinces will also start following the trend.