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My Accidental Introduction to Web3 (and Why It Might Matter More Than I Thought)

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It all started with an Instagram ad. I wasn’t looking to get into blockchain, crypto, or any of the buzzwords that usually come with them. But the ad caught my attention. A few clicks and a little research later, I ended up with a Web3 domain — not something rented through a traditional registrar, but one I actually  own , recorded permanently on a blockchain. Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash That domain is thomaspaul.x — and it’s mine, forever. Even stranger? I now have a basic website hosted on a decentralized, peer-to-peer network. Not on a server or hosting plan, but on something called IPFS — the InterPlanetary File System. If you're using a Web3-compatible browser like Brave, you can view it directly at thomaspaul.x . If not, you can still access it using a regular browser here: 👉 web3.thomaspaul.ca While I’ve explored crypto and blockchain before, the idea of owning a domain on a blockchain — and hosting content across a decentralized network — was totally new. I’m st...
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Opinion Piece Response: The Real Value of Skilled Maintenance Engineers in

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After reading Ashley Nunes’ opinion piece, “ WestJet mechanics make only $109,000 on average. Oh, the humanity ,” I feel compelled to point out how short-sighted and unhelpful this opinion is. Photo by  Steve Harvey  on  Unsplash The author expresses shock at the salary aircraft maintenance engineers earn, framing it as excessive compared to the average Canadian income. However, this perspective ignores the significant expertise, responsibility, and risks associated with aviation maintenance. The claim that higher wages for aircraft maintenance engineers are unnecessary ignores the realities of the current market demand and the critical need for skilled labour to maintain the safety and reliability of air travel. In fact, WestJet has acknowledged the need for a better contract to remain competitive during a time of growth. Nunes suggests that if aircraft maintenance engineers believe their labour is worth more, they should seek employment elsewhere, implying that their cu...
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Rethinking Team Dependency: A Blueprint for Volunteer Organizations

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In many teams, a common yet often unintentional pattern emerges: a heavy dependence on individual members rather than on the collective team and its processes. While this might seem manageable in the short term, especially during transitional phases, it’s a risky and unsustainable strategy in the long run. This is particularly true in volunteer environments, where organizational structures and resources are typically more limited, making it crucial to avoid such dependencies. Photo by  Marvin Meyer  on  Unsplash Are You at Risk? A Thought Experiment Imagine this scenario: a key member of your team is unexpectedly off for a month starting tomorrow. They haven’t shared access to their email or cloud files, and their physical notes are out of reach. How significantly would this impact your team’s operations? It’s an unlikely situation, sure, but similar unexpected events can and do occur. The time to address this potential issue is now, not when it becomes an unavoidable pro...
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Can aviation achieve net zero by 2050?

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The year 2050 is only 26 years away! That’s not much time to achieve the ambitious goal of net zero. The industry, represented by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has committed to this significant goal, but the question is: how do we plan to get there? Photo by  Matthew Jungling  on  Unsplash The challenge For perspective, according to the  International Energy Association (IEA) , between 2000 and 2019 total CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in aviation rose from 675 Mt to 1,036 Mt. There was a significant reduction during the pandemic, but levels have since risen to 784 Mt in 2022. Additionally, travel demand is expected to continue growing from 4.6 billion passengers in 2025 to over 10 billion in 2050. What is net zero? Net zero does not mean the industry is emitting no emissions. What it means is when you take the industry’s total emissions and subtract its offsets and carbon removal, you end up at zero. There are arguments that carbon o...
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How to survive hotel germs, bedbugs, noise, & light

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Ah, hotel rooms—a home away from home where you can make a mess and someone else will clean up after you. But it’s late, and you need a good night’s sleep for that big meeting tomorrow. Geez, let’s hope that sea of kids in the tiny hotel pool isn’t on your floor. As someone who spends 120+ nights a year in hotels, here are some tips to make it through. Photo by  Marten Bjork  on  Unsplash Cleanliness Hotel rooms take a lot of abuse. Hundreds of people could use the same room in a year, and we don’t exactly treat hotel rooms like our own homes. Even with the best cleaning staff, rooms build up grime, dirt, and germs. I’m not a germaphobe, but I do get a little squeamish about “hot spots”—like TV remotes, light switches, door handles, and phone handsets. And don’t forget the glassware. I’m all about being green, but from hotel friends, I know that glassware sometimes doesn’t make it to the dishwasher. I stick to the paper or plastic cups provided. I don’t blame the cleaning...
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