Opinion

At the end of 2008 I decided to do what a lot of tech reporters do at the end of a calendar year and make a bunch of predictions for things that would happen over the next 12 months.

"The snowboarder, who was on a family vacation with his family and other relatives, went missing on late Friday afternoon. He was last seen by a cousin around 3:00 p.m. near a tree'd section of [Blackcomb] mountain." - Vancouver Sun, Dec.

Reduce; don't grow I am prompted to write after reading the Bruce Thom letter published in the Dec.

At this time of year we usually afford ourselves a nostalgic look in the mirror at what has transpired in the previous 12 months.

While it's always nice to unwrap a present, it's the thought that counts.

A Christmas to remember... I think it would be an amazing tribute to Nodar Kumaritashvili (and every single athlete) if there were to be a day that our community would gather to commemorate the memory of an athlete that believed in the Olympic dream.

Most of us like to think we're generous, giving people, particularly at this time of year. We take the time to consider gifts for friends and family.

"But he isn't wearing anything at all!" said the little boy. "Shhh," warned his elders. "He might hear you and banish you from his realm...

While video games - handhelds and consoles, PCs and game-playing smart phones, discs and downloads - promise to be big holiday gift items this year, there are a lot of other high tech gift options to explore.

"Creative thinking may simply be the realization that there is no particular virtue in doing things the way they've always been done." - Rudolph Flesch, Educator He made it look easy.