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.