On New Year's Eve

It's easy to get carried away in the excitement but securing a safe ride home is just as important as the event itself.

(Nutcracker performance at Place-des-Arts, Montreal)

On Recipes

Although some may appear simple, a few seconds can mean the difference between delicious dessert and burnt sugar.

(My simple yet delicate almond brittle)

On Evil Eyes

Don't let people ever accuse you of being evil just because you have blue eyes.  

(Evil eye souvenirs scattered on a tree in Capadoccia, Turkey)

On Desperation

Some people will do almost anything to get their fix. 

(Warning sign at the Kuwaiti airport)

On Snowstorms

No job is worth leaving home for when 40cm+ snow is expected. 

(Large accumulation of snow in my backyard)

On Boxing Day

There's no point rushing to spend money as sales usually last well into the new year.

(Galleries La Fayette in Paris, France)

On Holidays

Whether Christmas is a holiday you celebrate or not, there is always something good about being near trees on a day off.

(VAIO Sample photo)

On Christmas Decorations

It's better to have a tree full of unique, memorable decorations than sets of uniform balls.

(A personal Peanut Christmas decoration)

On Overnight Parking

In some places 7cm of snow in a given day means no parking on ANY street, even as snowplows block access to your own driveway. 

(Unbreakable snow in front of my apartment)

On Bridges

Just because something is bolted to the ground, doesn't mean it can't be stolen.

(Bridges in Prague, Czech Republic - one of which was recently stolen)

On the Mayan Apocalypse

If the end of the world is all everyone is going to talk about today, learning the facts is crucial. 

Prezi Presentation: The Rational Person's Guide to the Mayan Apocalypse

On Art

Including a canvas, paint, clay, and some glue can make for a very interesting lesson on art among friends. 

(Artwork done by myself and five people on a unique Saturday night)

On Team Spirit

Buying overpriced merchandise in support of a sports team does not make them perform any better. 

(Three random children at a Montreal Canadiens game)

On Christmas Trees

The benefits of real Xmas trees far outweigh those of fakes ones, both environmentally and economically.

(One of our real family trees)

On Globalization

Sometimes humor is the best medicine for international differences.

On Winter Tires

December 16th is perhaps not the best time to make a long distance trip without winter tires. 

(Montreal Olympic Stadium under snow)

On Gun Control

It would be so much easier to point to an answer if violence was actually going up, but it's way down, even with guns. It's mass shootings that are way up at the same time as gun violence goes down. And even gun ownership is down. I think the only thing to do it treat guns like cars and have strict testing, licensing and checks for signs that one is prone to violence.

(Justin Pierce Baldwin Gerald)

On Forest Fires

Not smoking while camping is a good way of ensuring that the forest doesn't go up in smokes.

(Service station in Boston, Massachusetts)

On Audism

Like racism and sexism, it is a form of discrimination against people who are deaf or have difficulty hearing.

(Audism lecture at Bob Rumball Camp for the Deaf)

On Paintball

Some people take it very seriously so make sure you're properly protected to avoid mass body bruising. 

(A well-protected friend of mine who bruised me)

On Furniture

Buying furniture before moving out of your parent's home is a great idea as long as you have a good place to store it.

(A friend's furniture being stored in parent's basement)

On Being One With Nature

A true outdoors-man needs no shoes.

(Locals in Kastellorizo, Greece)

On Comedians

If they ran the political scene, there would be world peace in no time.

(Muslims and Jews performing together for Kosher Days for the Halaladays)

On Leonard Cohen

Just because you're pushing 80, doesn't mean you can't put on a flawless, energetic 3-hour show in front of 9000 fans.

(Cohen performing at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa last night) 

On Pomegranates

They are delicious, healthy, and only available a few months per year, so make sure to get them in season. (a.k.a. Now)

On Women's Right to Education

Malala Yousafzai and Shannen Koostachin are great examples of women who fought for rights to education and remind us why we should never forget the lessons of December 6, 1989.

On Public Displays of Affection

Nobody likes to watch anything over a minute of that so be respectful of others and stay private. 

(Random couple kissing at the 2010 Montreal Jazz Festival)

On Wisdom

Paying $100 to see the Dalai Lama on the big screen does not necessarily make one any wiser. 

(The Dalai Lama speaking at the Montreal Bell Center in 2010)

On Airports

Make sure to charge your camera and bring a book or some kind of entertainment when stuck in transit for several hours.

(Waiting 6 hours to board a KLM flight last summer)

On Christmas Parties

Don't expect to get a fancy Christmas party just because you work for a multi-billion dollar company.

On AIDS

It is not yet a disease of the past, so should be considered more than just one day a year. 

On Shamelessness

Some businesses will do whatever it takes to succeed even if it means using something familiar from the competition.

(Batrick Restaurant in Salmiyah, Kuwait)

On Selling

Don't sell something that will potentially be worth a lot more in 50 years just to make some fast cash.

(My old NES, sold for a mere $50)

On City Signs

Never grab a city sign; even one that has fallen over and been trampled on.

(Random parking sign outside the Hippodrome last year)

On Yoga

It's a wonderful form of low-impact exercise that allows your body to stretch in ways you never thought possible.

(A friend pulling some jaw-dropping moves in Bora Bora)

On First Snow

It's easy to forget that grounds might be slippery so wear proper boots when going outside.

(Snow accumulation in my backyard last winter)

On Garbage

Some birds will go through garbage no matter what the season, so don't leave a garbage bag outside for several days just because it's winter.

(Crows outside my house last winter)

On Celebrity Sightings

They are not as exciting as one might expect and generally leave one feeling quite shallow.

(Rihanna and Drake at the 2011 Grand Prix in Montreal)

On Gender Equality

Women may still be far behind in certain domains, but ads like this often do more harm than good.

On Discussion Topics

Be careful who you discuss race, religion, or politics with. It often leads to nothing but trouble.

(Discussing politics with John A. MacDonald in P.E.I.)

On the Acadian Expulsion

It is a shameful part of Canadian history but one that should definitely not be forgotten.

(Deportation Cross in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia)

On Tuna Cans

Eating no more than one can of tuna per week will keep you within the FDA-approved norms of mercury levels.

(Aquarium in Ceske Budejovice)

On Christmas Music

People will always complain no matter how early it starts playing but it can be uplifting no matter your religion, so quit complaining and enjoy.

On the NHL Lockout

It is a blessing in disguise. Find creative ways to channel that saved time. 

On Perspective

"My philosophy is that things can always get worse; you can always be colder, wetter, or more miserable than you are right now, so appreciate your current conditions."

(By Sergeant Alexandre Sicard)

(Part of downtown Seoul, Korea)

On Gas Prices

Complaining will not reduce the prices, so use a bike and your legs until mankind figures out other ways to fuel vehicles. 

(Ultramar Station somewhere between Montreal and Toronto)

On Gun Safety

A country in the top 10 firearm-related deaths should perhaps rethink such store concepts.

(A gun shop outside Boston, Massachusetts)

On Ethnomethodology

It is a legitimate qualitative research approach that analyzes routine behavior on a daily basis.

(Pre-programmed Microsoft photo)

On Juicing

It takes longer to wash the machine than to make the juice itself so only invest in a juicer if you have a profound love of health AND cleaning.

On Inspiration

Sometimes there is no one to inspire you but yourself so read items like "The Holstee Manifesto" and stop making excuses!

On Veterans

An easy population to ignore, but one that deserves the most respect. 

(Rick Mercer Report)

On Remembrance Day

It is already one of the least commercialized holidays, so try to drop more than a penny when picking up a poppy this year.

(A web image of a poppy painting)

On Leftover Garlic

Instead of throwing it out, add some to green tea for added flavor and nutrients.

(Delicious garlic tea chez moi)

On GM Foods

Whether people vote to label genetically modified foods (Prop 37) or not, awareness of the issue is what really counts. 

On First Nations

Not all Aboriginals are stereotyped unemployed alcoholics. Some live right around the corner and are making sure you don't forget who was here first.

(Random Inuksuk in suburban Ottawa)

On Voting

If you are not going to vote, don't complain about the state of affairs of your country for the next four years. 

On the 5th of November

If you don't know why it's important to remember this date, you have clearly never been oppressed.

(Guy Fawkes mask based on V for Vendetta)