Jogging Pants Friday

You know how there are casual Fridays, where people dressed in normally in suits come dressed in business casual - and people normally dressed in business casual can come dressed in jeans and a polo shirt?

Well I think it's not casual enough. I think Fridays should be Jogging Pants Fridays...

Jogging pants are so comfortable - and think how much better productivity would increase because employees are comfortable!

Another playoff classic....

How about this triple overtime goal by Gary Roberts against the Senators in 2002....



What a playoff year that was for #7!

Land of the Seven Moles

Oaxaca (however you pronounce it) is known as the Land of the Seven Moles.

There's a place called Juquilita Restaurante Oaxaqueno in south San Jose to which JoJo, Pat, Yen, Fran, Betty and I went. They serve Oaxacan food...mmm mmm good!

The sauce (Mole) is supposed to be very well known, and here are some pictures of the deliciousness:







What I recommend is the cheese Empanada with Mole Amarillo - unfortunately, we didn't snap a picture, but this Empanada is definitely good stuff!

The Sampler

If you're ever in Sonoma valley, you should try out the Russian River Brewing Company Pub. You can get a Sampler - that's 14 different Beers with two ounces each to try - for only 50 cents per two ounces....you can't beat a deal like that!

The best six minutes anyone's ever played...

Doug Gilmour of the Toronto Maple Leafs played the best six minutes of hockey ever against the LA Kings during Game 1 of the Campbell Conference Finals.

Take a look!

Tides of Life Ocean View Home in Aptos - Zelda Sims

Perhaps you're considering traveling to the Santa Cruz area, and you are going with a bunch of people. Maybe you're looking for a cozy ocean view home to stay at while you're there.

Perhaps you've come across an add for the Tides of Life Ocean View Home owned by Zelda Sims, and are thinking of renting it as a vacation home for some time....

Well, think again!

This is a terrible choice! Zelda Sims is one of the most petty, unorganized, unfriendly people you'll ever meet. The views are overrated, and coordinating with Zelda to get enough towels, toiletries, etc. in the house is a big pain in the ass.

In fact, Zelda Sims herself is a pain in the ass....

So don't rent this house! It would be a big mistake....BOYCOTT!!!

Good ol' Burgers

Sometimes a good ol' fashioned American-style burger is just what the Doctor ordered....

Here's a picture of a delicious double double In N' Out burger, prepared animal style.


We were fortunate to try some In n' Out Burgers (twice) during our California trip....which is where most of the In N' Out stores are based. Mmm, burgers....very good.....very tasty....

Dad's words of wisdom

When I was in Philadelphia in 2008, I met up with my sister, my mom, and my dad. My dad, of course, wise as he is, takes many opportunities to impart immortal words to his kids....words of wisdom that we should take seriously, to ensure that we live our lives to our full potential.

During our trip to Philly 2008, the wise words of advice were: Go Pee.

Over the Christmas/New Year's of 2009/2010, I met up with my sister and my parents again, this time in California. Hoping to gain from that fountain of precious knowledge that my dad possesses, we asked him again for more words of advice...

This time they were: Don't be stupid

Important words to live by!

Peruvian Goodies

On January 2, we were in San Francisco with Betty, Mom, and Dad, and we went to meet Helen and her husband Ronald (and her son as well).

Ronald is Peruvian, and along with Helen, they took us out to a Peruvian restaurant called Fresca.

Here is a picture of the Lomo Saltado

consisting of wok fried tenderloin steak strips, onion, tomato, cilantro, soy, french fries, and steamed rice.

Another great dish is the Pollo a la Brasa

that is, peruvian style rotisserie chicken, french fries, green salad, creamy cilantro dressing

...mmm mmm good....

Weird Street Names....

What a weird street name! This sign can be found driving on US Interstate 15 between Las Vegas and Barstow....

Train Pushers - the evidence of Japanese weirdness!

Only in Japan, do we find such weird things occurring.....



Yup, Japanese train pushers! Employees of the rail company!

What a weird country.....

The Dynasty Falls to a Wildrose?

Big news reported in the National Post today. It may be the end of a dynasty in Alberta.

Alberta has been a province that likes to keep parties long in power, but sweep them away to oblivion once every generation or so. The Liberal party ruled from 1905-1921, followed by the United Farmers of Alberta from 1921-1935. They were swept away by Social Credit from 1935-1971. The current dynasty is the Progressive Conservative Dynasty since 1971.

But opinion polls show that the Wildrose Alliance is in first place with 39% of voter intention if an election was held today. PC support has collapsed to 25%. Moreover, the Wildrose Alliance is ahead in every part of the province. In the cities, the Tories are in 3rd place, even behind the Grits, and in rural Alberta the Alliance enjoys up to 44% support.

Ladies and gentlemen, this may be the end of the Tories in Alberta. Interesting times, considering that these events are once per generation, it seems....

The Unfortunate Capitalistization of Christmas

One of the things that I really find amazing is the corporate brainwashing of North American society with regards to Christmas. I have never seen a society so obsessed with a holiday before. And their obsession has nothing to do with the meaning of Christmas, which is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Rather, North American society has taken upon itself to obsess about buying presents for everyone you know. Department stores put up Christmas decorations at the end of October so that these decorations are there 2 months of every year....that's 1/6 of the year that there are these stupid decorations. Lights, and trees, and stockings, and mistletoe - everything that has nothing remotely to do with the birth of Jesus is used to celebrate Christmas.

North Americans obsess about sending out Christmas letters and cards to all the people they know. They have to buy presents, etc, put up their own Christmas lights, trees, decorations around their house. And of course, they have to obsess about buying a proper turkey for their Christmas meal.

The excesses of capitalism are most evident at Christmas time. And it's an even bigger shame that no one cares about the child born in a manger that told us to be happy with the things God has provided us with, rather than turn into greedy, capitalist, narcissistic people, who know nothing about Christ, but seem to believe that they know everything about Christmas.

Christmas caroling...

Going Christmas caroling? Try this classic!

Funny college football play!

Man, I haven't visited this blog in a long long time. Good thing my bro updates it pretty regularly!

Here's a pretty funny football play from the Florida vs FSU game this year...

Celebrities in Tana

So in August, I was in Madagascar - it was a great trip! It's a beautiful country with very nice people.
Another nice surprise is that the food was excellent there! Great authentic French cuisine that costs 5-10 times less what one would have to pay in France.

Because I was attending a conference, I stayed 8 nights at the Hotel Sakamanga in Antananarivo. The restaurant at this hotel was quite good - in fact here's a picture of myself with others dining at this restaurant.



Even Dustin Hoffman enjoyed Madagascar!

Juno Beach

Here are some photos of Juno Beach. This is where Canadian soldiers stormed in on June 6, 1944 (D-Day) to regain a foothold on France and liberate it from occupying Nazi forces. Many sacrificed their lives as they came under enemy fire from well fortified German positions. But Canadian bravery and determination allowed them to overcome.

We owe our Canadians soldiers a huge debt for their sacrifice and suffering as they fought for freedom and liberty. A salute to Canadian heroes and their defence of freedom - may we never forget their sacrifice.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Get rid of the penny

There are some advocates for the $5 coin in Canada. They say that coins are much more durable and cheaper in the long run than bills, which deteriorate quickly, and are counterfeited often.

I think such advocates have a point. However, a $5 coin will really make Canadian pockets heavy - 1 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent, 25 cent, loonie, toonie, and $5 coin pieces.....it's just too many coins!

So I think that this $5 is not a bad idea, but before it comes into being we need to abolish the penny!

What a useless coin it is, this penny of ours! Just get rid of it!
If we could live with the penny as the lowest denomination 40 years ago, surely we can live with the nickel as the lowest denomination now, since a nickel now is worth less than a penny was 40 years ago!

Banks would still be required to calculate interest to the penny, and a penny that is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint costs much more than 1 cent!

So I haven't yet heard a good argument for keeping the penny...

The Republic of Canada

In this nice opinion article by the Globe and Mail's Jeffrey Simpson, he argues that when Queen Elizabeth departs -long may she reign! - that we should look into making Canada a republic.

I fully agree. Especially I don't want to see Prince Charles ugly face on Canadian currency!