Clean That Colon!

I was having a bout of insomnia the other night/morning, so I was flipping through the channels trying to find something good to watch. Well, at such an ungodly hour you can imagine some of the stuff they have on t.v. I came across this one infomercial though that I thought was interesting. It was about a product that would help you lose weight and trim inches off of your waist. It didn't do it my making you lose weight necessarily, but by cleaning out your colon.

Apparently, considering some of the foods we eat, our digestive systems have a hard time completely digesting everything. This results in debris being left behind, which breeds bacteria, that in turn produce gases that cause abdominal bloating. Sounds logical enough. As I was watching this infomercial, my eyes slowly drifted down to my own abdomen. No matter how many crunches I do, it's never enough. Maybe it is time for a Colon Cleanse.

That brings me to another product called Oxy-Powder, which claims to be "a scientifically formulated, all natural oxygen colon cleanser used to safely aid the body in relieving the irritation and constipation associated with a toxic colon". I don't know about having a toxic colon myself, but I have always had the suspicion that I have irritable bowel syndrome. Maybe this could help my situation?

According to the website, "an unhealthy digestive system impacted with mucus, toxins, and impacted waste can trigger a host of health issues". Of these they list things like weight problems, bad breath, backaches, lack of energy, constipation, and bloating. Oxy-Powder claims to help restore and maintain regularity, eliminate waste clogging your colon, promote a healthy immune system, and promote maximum absorption of nutrients, among other things. I wonder what it's mode of action is. For more information check out oxypowder.com.

Mushu Update

I haven't updated on my Arowana Mushu in such a long time. I was trying to get a good shot of him earlier for the next photohunt. This week's theme is narrow, so I was trying to get a good shot to showcase his narrow body structure. I ended up removing half of the glass cover for his tank so I could get a good shot. That probably wasn't such a good idea, because he twice tried to jump out. Both times, about a quarter of body actually left the confines of his tank. This is probably the best shot of him that I got... Gotta keep trying...

Australian Credit Cards

I used to be so resistant to credit cards way back when, now I don't know what I ever did without them! Every time I would go to the bank, back in the day when most of our banking was actually done with a teller. Do people these days even know what a teller is? Anyways, as I was saying, they would always try to get me to look at all the credit cards they were offering and sign up for one. I could never be bothered with looking at all those different features, rewards, and perks, so when I finally did sign up for a credit card, I just chose the most basic one. Boy what a waste that was, considering I could have signed up for a dividend card and gotten money back at the end of the year.

Well, if you are in Australia and are looking for a credit card, whether it's your first one or whether you just want to add to your collection, then I found a great website that will help make the decision easier for you. At CrediCards.com.au, they will help youCompare Credit Cards so you can come to a faster and more informed decision as to which credit card suits you. Apart from searching and comparing credit cards, you can even apply for the one you want online. You can compare the cards based on the type of card, or the its features, or based on the card's fees and interest charges. They even boast a comparison chart that has a comprehensive list of all credit cards available in Australia.

The Met

Anyways, I went back to have my 2nd look at Metropolitan. It was for one day only but if you apply there, going for an observership would be possible as long as you apply early, and have someone to vouch for you. They were all saying the importance of knowing people when applying for residency. I know that I wouldn't have gotten that interview without my cousin's friend. Otherwise, one consultant said during our rounds, that I would just be a nameless number on paper on a stack of thousands. He was saying how competitive things have been now. To think that I've done residency and have publications, I would have been a great catch before and would have gotten tons of interview. But now a days, almost all applicants have the same or even better qualifications. Exam scores will determine whether you pass the first screening and would determine whether they take a second look at my papers. The Program Director was so nice. Thats what she said as well. She told me to apply to Preliminary also aside from Categorical in her program. She said, "I guarantee you, you will get either one (Categorical or Preliminary) unless all our American Graduates choose us, but that has never happened". Fingers crossed

Looking For Your Soulmate?

I have never gone on one of those online Dating Sites, but I've heard a lot of good stuff about them. I don't know whether I trust those t.v. commercials of happy couples who found each other on eHarmony though, or whether you can trust what they're saying on those lavalife commercials either. After all it's all about the marketing right? Unfortunately for me, if I were to go on one of those sites, Ann would kill me. She'll probably kill me for even writing about them, but I couldn't help it. I found a site that actually thoroughly tests those dating services and then describes them in detail, so you can actually shop for the service that suits you, and that you may trust more. The site is called primedatingsites.com. You'll find reviews to the top dating services like Perfect Match, eHarmony.com, Lavalife, Matchmaker.com, and much more. Hey you never know, if you're searching for that perfect somebody and you're tired of the old bar scene, maybe it's time to put this internet thing to work. So what are you waiting for? Your soulmate could be just a click of the mouse away.

New Camera

I really want a new camera, but I think I should just hold off and try to be a little more patient. I've really made up my mind and will be buying the Nikon D40. From what I have read and heard, it seems to be the best first time DSLR on the market. I have been scoping the different stores, and the best prices from the US stores are around $460-$480. But in Canada the best price I've found is $515.

I just read that Nikon will soon be announcing the release of their new D60, which rumor has as a replacement for the D40x. I'm thinking that after they release it, the price for the D40x will probably go down, and hopefully the price for the D40 as well.... I just need to be more patient...

Great Glasses

A couple of years ago they opened a new Superstore next to my house. It's a great grocery store/ department store with good prices, but what really impressed me was that they had a great optical department. I never thought I would buy glasses from a grocery store, but they had such good prices. I made friends with the sales guy there, and he even gave me a family and friends discount. To make a long story short, I was able to buy a great pair of glasses for twenty bucks!

The first time I wore my glasses to a public event, was our office Christmas party. I don't wear my glasses at work because it would've confused the patients, so when one of my optometrist friends saw me, she commented. She asked me if my glasses were Armanis! I said if you think they're Armanis, then Armani it is! My point is that expensive doesn't always mean better. I found another place with an even better deal than $20 glasses, Zenni Optical: Sell Rx Glasses $8 with case! Now that's a deal, if you're looking for glasses you should check them out. You can do it all online. They have a huge selection of frames, with single vision lenses, sun-sensor (photochromic) lenses, tinted sunglasses, bifocals, and progressive lenses.

Lotus Project Update

I haven't updated on the Lotus Project in a long time. As of today, the inventory of lotuses that have survived is seven.

Of the original three, Lotus #2 and #3 have survived, although #2 appears to have died back. I'm hoping that it has just gone dormant, and has not actually died. You will recall, that Lotus #2 was the earliest and fastest grower. It was scarified by opening up the blunt end of the seed. I decided to transfer it to the southern aquarium so that it could get direct sunlight, as it appeared to be dying off back in December. Unfortunately, it continued to die back until it started producing very tiny leaves that sometimes never even unfurled. I have a suspicion that the water in the southern tank is infected with that soil fungus that has been killing off all the new seedlings. Lotus #3 is also slowing down in growth. I am hoping that this is just a natural process wherein they are going into dormancy. We'll see come spring whether or not they come back to life.

Of the second group of lotuses, only one has survived, Lotus #4. I transferred it into a larger pot and it seems to have grown more vigorously then its counterparts #5 and #6. However, it is also showing signs of slowing down in growth.

Of the seeds in Lotus Project III, only two of the red lotuses from Thailand have survived. They are actually very vigorous, and produce strong stems and very large leaves....I keep this one in the northern exposure, under the fluorescent light bulb, the other one, I've placed in the southern exposure, with direct sunlight (when available) during the day and a fluorescent light bulb at night. As you can see it appears only slightly more vigorous.....I have been starting new seeds here and there, trying to get some successful germinations of the pink and white lotuses from Thailand, unfortunately, only two of the pink ones have taken to seedling-hood. None of the whites have taken. In total, the seeds remaining are as follows: originals=3, red=5, pink=3, white=6. I will save them for germination sometime in the spring. I am hoping that the warmer and sunnier conditions will allow for better germination and growth outdoors. I am convinced that the southern aquarium is infected as is the soil when soaked in that aquarium.

Executive Recruiting Firm

It's always tricky business trying to hire the right person for the right job. It would help tremendously if you had the expertise and long time experience of a firm that specializes in recruitment, behind you. That's where A.E. Feldman Associates, Inc. comes in. They have maintained a high standard of service and commitment in the recruiting field since 1967. With a consistent record of successful placements of top-quality candidates with their industry-leading clients, they bring extensive knowledge, contacts and experience to enable them to make the best matches between candidate and job, whether it be a position in middle or executive or even top management. This executive recruiting firm specializes in financial and risk management services, legal and legal support services, communications and technology, human resources consulting, and luxury products. If your company is looking for that perfect candidate for the job, let A.E. Feldman Associates put their experience and expertise to work for you.

Scan's Done

Alright, I just finished scanning the computer with the newly installed Norton Anti-Virus Scan, and it came up with only three items that need to be dealt with. That's a lot less than what I was expecting considering I had not updated the McAffee in so long. All three were of low risk. There were two instances of Adware.Starware and the third was a tracking cookie. The Adwae.Starware was described as a program that facilitates the delivery of advertising content to the user, and may gather information from the user's computer. It affected 276 registry entires, 110 files, and 2 processes. Sounds kind of scary. The tracking cookie, which is self explanatory occurred two times. I'm glad to be a little cleaner.

Save on Super Bowl Tickets!

I didn't really watch that much of the National Football League up here. Apart from Super Bowl Sunday, I think Toronto is more of a hockey town. If we do watch football loyalties require me to say that it would have to be Argos football. But when I was down in New York, there was Giants mania all over the place, it was hard not to get swept up in the excitement. I'm pretty excited with the coming Super Bowl. The Patriots have always been one of my favourite or should i say my favorite team, but the game last Sun between the Giants and Greenbay, was awesome. Probably one of the best games I've ever seen, so like my New York cousins, I'm going into Giants mode now! I have the tendency to root for the underdog too. Plus, Eli Manning is a solid player. My cousins are planning to have a Superbowl party, so we gotta go buy party supplies. If you're lucky enough to be able to afford actually going to the game, then you need to check out TicketsNow. They have just announced that you can save $500 on a pair of super bowl tickets by simply text messaging “NFL” to 26220. Once your text message is received, you will receive a code that you can redeem at www.ticketsnow.com. You can also call (800) 927-2770 for your code. Good luck and Go Giants!

Chimps in Entertainment

I was watching a Fifth Estate piece on the use of chimpanzees in the entertainment industry, and I can't look at a show or commercial with a chimp in it the same anymore. I didn't realize how much violence was required to train them to do even the simple things we see them doing on T.V. and in the movies. Jane Goodall was saying that even if the training was done "nicely", the fact of the matter is that chimps used in the entertainment industries are babies. They need to be trained from a very young age because they are very difficult to control after one or two years old. Essentially, she was saying that it is cruel to separate baby chimps from their mothers, no matter how well the trainers treat them. And seeing the footage of what trainers have to do to keep the chimps in line was heart-breaking. Chimpanzees, being our closest cousins, have such a human quality, that it's hard to watch them being physically and mentally abused just so we can be entertained. I don't think I'll ever watch a commercial or movie with a chimp the same ever again.

Rogers and Norton

I saw this piece on the news today about new computer viruses and trojans that steal your financial information, and passwords, so it got me worried. I ended looking into installing the Norton Anti-virus that Rogers offers for free. I found out what my Rogers user number was and I was able to find out what my username and password were. They had already been set up, I had just forgot what it was. Anyways, I had been using McAfee for the longest time, but it finally ran out or something, and I hadn't taken care of updating it. My computer was un-protected all that time. Geez, I hate to think about it.... Andy Roddick's penis enlargement pills

Are You Ready for Valentine's Day?

Well, Christmas time has come and gone, it's a new year and that means that the next big holiday is fast approaching! That's right lovers, Valentine's Day is coming, do you have your special somebody the perfect gift yet? Well, remember back around Christmas time when I blogged about CouponChief.com? They're the website with loads of online shopping coupons from a wide variety of stores? Well, they can help you for Valentine's Day too! They've got coupons from great stores like Old Navy, and Best Buy. Heck, maybe I'll pick something up for myself while I'm at it! Happy shopping.

Some Heat at the End of the Frigid Tunnel?

I'm so very ready for some warm weather. I mean seriously ready. I feel this cold to the depth of my bones, it's so cold. I've got a space heater running and the furnace is going full blast, but I just can't seem to get warm. Maybe there's something wrong with me? Let me go grab a nice warm cup of coffee.... Here is the forecast for the next few days.... I hope there's some sun in it, I'm also in desperate need for some ultra-violet light before I spiral into a depression....

Sun, Mon,Tues look good....

Friday Jan 25 Saturday Jan 26 Sunday Jan 27 Monday Jan 28 Tuesday Jan 29 Wednesday Jan 30 High -4°C -2°C 1°C 2°C 3°C -3°C Condition Cloudy periods Light snow Variable cloudiness Light snow Scattered showers A few flurries P.O.P. 10% 80% 30% 80% 40% 60% Wind W 30 km/h S 15 km/h W 25 km/h SE 15 km/h E 10 km/h W 20 km/h Low -12°C -11°C -5°C -10°C -2°C -6°C

First Rate SEO

I've always wondered how the search engines determine the rank of a website in deciding how high up in a search a particular website should appear. I didn't realize what complicated business it was. This blog of mine "Ponderings" just recently got updated to a page rank of 2 from 0. I guess the previous Google downgrading was finally undone. How and why it happened, I'm not sure. I don't really care, but it's great for me now, because my blog can now get more opportunities for blogvertising.

This blog of mine is just small potatoes in the big old world wide web, but for commercial websites and other blogs that want to go big time monetizing their blogs would benefit from some professional search engine optimization. That's where First Rate comes in. First Rate specializes in online direct response marketing. They offer services in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and more. Their team of online marketing consultants in Australia and New Zealand also provide their expertise in Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Email marketing and email advertising, Performance ad networks, and design and development of your website. They also have a media tracker that would help in target marketing. They have many big name companies as clients, so if you're looking to boost your website's earning capacity, then check out First Rate!

Morphologic Changes in MI

I don't know how many times I've read it, but I still can't seem to get it into my brain. I think it's a very important concept to know for exams in pathology, but I just can't seem to remember the timing of the evolving morphologic changes in myocardial infarction. Maybe if I blog it, it will stick!

Reversible injury occurs at Time 0-1/2 hr, in which case there are no gross features, and no light microscopic features. Under the electron microscope, relaxation of myfibrils, glycogen loss and mitochondrial swelling can be seen.

At 1/2-4 hrs, there are no gross changes, and usually no light microscopic changes. The electron microscope will reveal sarcolemmal disrubtion, and mitochondrial amorphous densities.

At 4-12 hrs, there will be gross occasional dark mottling, and the light microscope will reveal the beginning coagulation necrosis, edema, and hemorrhage.

At 12-24 hrs, there will be gross dark mottling, and the light microscope will reveal ongoing coagulation necrosis, pyknosis of nuclei, myocyte hypereosinophilia, marginal contraction band necrosis, and beginning neutorphilic infiltrate.

By 1-3 days, there will be gross mottling with yellow-tan infarct center, and light microscope will reveal coagulation necrosis, with loss of nuclei and striations, interstitial infiltrate of neutrophils.

By 5-7 days, granulation tissue will be appreciated.

At >2 months, scarring will be complete and the light microscope will reveal dense collagenous scar.

I hope I remember that now.

pathology MI, morphologic changes in myocardial infarction

Online Degree from CSU

I have blogged so many times about getting an education online. Sometimes your situation is just that it would make earning a university degree so much more feasible if you could do so online. There are a lot of stay at home parents out there who could earn a degree on the side so to speak. I mean why not elevate your education level, or add to it by studying something new, if you have the time. But even more so valuable, for busy professionals where earning a degree or upgrading their current level of education could mean a higher salary. That's where Columbia Southern University comes in. They have designed their online university programs for busy professionals. They offer a wide variety of accredited online degrees such as Associate Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees, Master's Degrees, and even a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration. The programs are designed so that you can complete your work in the comfort of your own home or office, at a time that is convenient for you. It's truly amazing how the internet has made the world of academe so accessible, it's literally at our fingertips. Check out Columbia Southern University now and learn how you can earn an online accredited degree.

Nikon or Canon?

I have been debating which Digital SLR to buy. I thought that it was about time I graduated from the point-and-shoot cameras and try to learn some real photography. It's come down to a choice between the Nikon D40 and the Canon Rebel XTi. They're both in the same price range, and I think either would make for a great starter camera.

As a member of , one of the great resources available to you is the camera finder feature. You can check out the pictures that other Flickr members have taken with whichever camera you are interested in. Check out these great shots....

First lets look at pictures taken with the Nikon D40....
Camera Finder / All / Nikon / D40

Frm JibboFrom B'RobFrom .Shari.

From The Visions...From bebedas

From RobK1964From Sommer...From doc18

From 2minutesFrom Jofre FerrerFrom weirenaFrom atransweFrom revlimitFrom fastcatFrom hendimion /...From BluAlien

From Hameem the...

Now the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi....

Camera Finder / All / Canon / EOS Digital Rebel XTi Also known as EOS 400D, EOS Kiss X

From ~مبـــــارك~...From [London...

From Toni DuarteFrom Arjenfoto

From ƒόĠ Ήąthä Ёŀ...From Grendizer...

From Bonnie...From Madra Rua...

From adettaraFrom shadyezzFrom redmann

From DJC7From [Miss Dior]From stev1eb

From *Jonina*From vodkamcv

From elusive...

Hmmm.... tough call, they're all great shots.... Kudos to the photographers! I think I'm leaning towards the Nikon though? Even with only 6 MP with the Nikon vs. 10 MP with the Canon, I think I like the Nikon pics and price better. Any suggestions and or opinions?

Nikon vs. Canon, Flickr, pictures taken with Nikon D40 vs. Canon EOS Rebel XTi

Yee-Haw Las Vegas!

Hey, I've been blogging about heading down south to Mexico or the Caribbean, then about going to Iceland, but I've snapped back to my senses and decided I want to head south to escape this terrible winter weather. Somewhere like Cali or Nevada maybe? Hey Las Vegas is always good for a great time!

There are the casinos of course, but then again, I'm not much of a gambler. Then there are the shows, hmmm definitely not Celine Dion. Well, what about the Professional Bull Riders World Finals (PBR Finals) then? Hey sign me up for that! Sounds like a great show. Just imagine the wildest professional bull riders from the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, Brazil, and around the world ride, balancing on dangerously thrashing wild bulls! Sounds like an awesome show to me! Each rider is awarded a score depending on how long they can stay riding the bull but hey, get this, even the bull gets scored for its moves. What a cool sport!

I heard that they will be coming back to Las Vegas in early November 2008, but in the meantime, you can get tickets to the Professional Bull Riders from TeamOneTickets and watch them in competitions in New York, California, Missouri, Virginia, Texas, Illinois, etc. Saddle up folks!

Communists!

Speaking of Ann being in Vietnam right now, I have a theory. The theory is that the communists over there are screening our text messages to each other! At first our messages were going through to each other in a matter of minutes or even seconds. But then all of a sudden, they started slowing down, and we started receiving messages delayed for hours. Then, when I texted here that I thought the communists were blocking our messages, they stopped going through. I just received a message a whole day later than when it was actually sent. They must be downloading our messages having them translated then sending them through only if the messages are kosher.... I hate communists....

Free Credit Card Machines!

I didn't realize until I met Ann and learned about her store, that credit card companies charge the businesses that accept their cards a fee. I know, I'm so naive when it comes to stuff like that. That's why, despite their catch phrase, a particular credit card company whose name I will not mention, is not accepted in so many places, because they charge the businesses that accept them higher rates compared to the other credit card companies.

Anyways, even those credit card machines don't come for free. But now, Total Merchant Services (TMS) is placing free credit card processing equipment into most businesses including both the Hypercom T4100 retail credit card machine and the wireless Nurit 8000 credit card machine, with no additional hidden costs such as annual fees. They will also provide, in addition to the credit card terminal, free debit pin pads, check imagers for check guarantee and electronic check conversion, and free contactless payment devices for busy check-out stations. They will even replace any defective credit card processing equipment within 24 hours should it become defective. They will even cover the costs for shipping and return shipping! Sounds like a great deal to me, I'm gonna go tell Ann. If you're store needs a new credit card machine, then be sure to check out TMS!

Phone Visa?

With Ann over in Vietnam right now, I decided to buy some of those international phone cards so I don't go into debt with all the long distance calls. You know the ones, they come in $2, $5, $10 and more I think. You can get some reasonable talk time with them, so I headed over to my friendly neighbourhood convenience store and asked "Shin" what phone card he would recommend. He pulled out a chart that listed the amount of minutes you would get depending on the country you were calling. It said that with a $2.50 "Phone Visa" card you could talk for 20 minutes to somebody in Vietnam, and with a $5 "Phone Visa" card you could talk for 40 minutes to somebody in Vietnam. He said not to believe it though, in his words "there's a lot of cheating going on" with these phone cards. Well, I tried it and at first the automated voice told me that I had $10 and 2 hours of talk time to Vietnam, but it ended up being about only an hour. Ann and my conversation was cut off mid-sentence. The automated voice did give a one minute warning though. Anyways, I'm going to try the $2.50 card, and I'll try other brands as well... I'll let you know which is the best phone card....

phone visa, phone card

Iceland Vacation

All this talk about needing to head somewhere sunny for vacation in the midst of all this cold Arctic air, and now I'm asking the question "Planning a trip to Iceland"? But actually, I've always wanted to travel to Iceland or Greenland and see the icy sights. I've always thought of going to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut too, to see the Northern Lights, the Polar Bears, and maybe even get to sample some Inuit cuisine. I have always been fascinated by those documentaries on Inuit hunting where, after catching something, they just pull out those curved knives and start eating the seal raw. But hey Iceland, Greenland , or even Denmark sound interesting too!

I've never really seriously looked into planning a trip to Iceland, Greenland, or Denmark, but here are some tips for hotels and flights somebody tuned me to. Check out these Cheap Hotels in Iceland, or these Cheap Hotels in Reykjavik. How do you get there you ask? Well, you should check out Iceland Express and Icelandair. Iceland is easily reached via air and the international airport is Keflavík, in the southwest of the country about 40 km from Reykjavík.

Iceland Express and Icelandair depart from Denmark and Copenhagen or London Stansted or Heathrow. They say that the Keflavík airport is "quite boring", so if you need to stop a long time for a connection you should make sure to bring some entertainment. There is an airport transfer bus service (called the FlyBus) between and Reykjavík and the airport bus terminal via various hotels. You'll probably pay about 1100 Kr (1200Kr from 01 Jan 07), and it takes about 45 minutes. Paying for a return trip is 300 Kr cheaper than if you pay for 2 singles. There is also the option of taking the bus which stops at the "Blue Lagoon" before getting to Reykjavík. They don't really advise taking taxis because they are expensive. They could cost 9500 krona (approximately US$150) , which is crazy!!

Icelandair also offers a "stopover flight" where you can stopover in Iceland for up to seven nights at no additional airfare on your way to or from Europe. That sounds pretty interesting, you could get two trips for the price of one! Hmm.... maybe I'll fore go the sunny Caribbean or Mexico for now and try Iceland? I'm already acclimatized to the icy weather so this is probably the best time to do it. Or maybe I'll just look into a flight to Denmark. Here are some Cheap Hotels in Denmark and Cheap Hotels in Copenhagen. Or maybe do a stopover in Iceland on the way to Denmark? Wow lots of options. All I know is that anywhere is better than here! Boy Voyage! Or should I say Góða ferð!

Power Options

You know what they'll say when it comes to investing right? Diversify, diversify, diversify! Sounds simple enough, but when I look at stocks alone, the options are so diverse, diverse, diverse. Don't even ask me about RRSPS, bonds, etcetera, etcetera. What's a person to do when they want to invest in stock options? Well, they could start by checking out PowerOptions. PowerOptions provides the essential data you need to invest with stock options. They'll show you the best way to find, compare, analyze, and make money on stock options trading. With their patented decision support technology, "SmartSearchXL", they can help you identify the highest return option trades. With PowerOptions you will have the convenience and control to automatically sort, filter, and analyze 2,900+ optionable stocks and 190,000+ options online to find investments to meet your profit goals. Check out their 14-day free trial, and check out their easy online User Guide to get you started on your stock investments!

Winter Pond Update

I just came from the backyard, I was checking up on the pond. Like I mentioned earlier, it's been so cold that the tube carrying water from the pump to the waterfall has frozen and is now blocked up. I turned off the pumps to prevent them from breaking down trying to force water through a plugged up tube. The ice on the surface of the pond looks pretty thick, maybe a couple of inches. I took a pick ax and made holes above where the pumps are, and was relieved to find that the entire pond has not frozen solid. I've been concerned because this is the first year that I've left the pumps running, and the first year that there have been fish and plants overwintering. The pond is only about 18" deep, so I've been trying to feel my way through this first winter. Usually a pond should be at least 24" deep, and in this part of the world 3-4' would probably be a safer bet. So far, it seems to be holding up against these frigid temperatures. When I made a hole, I found that there were actually two layers of ice....When the waterfall started to freeze over, it started shooting a spray of water over the surface of the pond. I think that's what is responsible for the thinner upper layer of ice. I was also relieved when the pumps started working when I plugged them in. Hopefully they'll hang in there for the rest of the winter.

Can Dollar Woes

I've been keeping an eye on the Canadian Dollar, and it seems to be gradually falling from par with the United States dollar. I see it as a positive thing. So much of our economy depends on trade with the United States, and a high Canadian Dollar just does not bode well for our exports to our largest trading partner. Another important aspect of trade with the United States would have to be our already dwindling tourist trade with our southern neighbours. Finally for Hollywood North cities like Toronto and Vancouver, a high Canadian Dollar is not going to attract those big US productions if it will be more expensive to film up here. I mean the reason that Hollywood North even exists is because it was much cheaper for them to film up here. This is important in light of the new FilmPort being built in the Toronto Portlands. If you build it will they come.... if it's actually more expensive to film up here? I think not.... Also I need to exchange my US dollars in my PayPal account, and it sucks when I end up with less Canadian dollars than US dollars... ha!

I'm Going To DisneyWorld

Speaking of wanting to go away on vacation, I still have not been to Disney World. I've been to Disney Land, but never to Disney World. I'm thinking I would've been more enthusiastic about going to Disney World when I was a kid, but now I'm thinking that I would still like to go. I'm pretty sure that I would still actually enjoy it. I think I'd appreciate it in a different way, compared to when I was a child. Anyways, there's so much more to do down there in Florida than just Disney World. There's a bunch of other theme parks I'd like to visit. A vacation down there would sure come in handy right now, considering this frigid arctic cold snap! If you're like me and are looking for Walt Disney World Tickets, then check out Orlandofuntickets.com. It's the ultimate source for discount tickets for Disney World and all Orlando theme parks, dinner shows and attractions. They'll take away your fears of expensive and intimidatingly endless options for Disney World tickets, with their “Disney Magic Your Way” approach to planning your Disney vacation. So if you're looking for the lowest prices on all discount Disney tickets, then check them out!

Blue Monday

Has anybody else heard of the term "Blue Monday"? Today while watching Breakfast Television, they mentioned that today is "Blue Monday". Apparently, today is the day that people will most likely call in sick. They mentioned it because most of the Breakfast Television staff was away this morning. Luckily in the States, or some the States anyways, it's a holiday today in honour of Martin Luther King Jr. So those people will not have to call in sick. Anyways, hope you had a great Blue Monday, whether you called in sick or not!

Googleing Ponderings

It always amuses me to find out how people are directed to my blog through Google. Here are a few of them. Some are actually pretty good, but some are hilariously weird and ridiculous that they actually point to my blog:

1. headstone picture for Kris Kringle (what the?)
   
2. at par with (how random)
   
3. interesting facts about the CN Tower (kewl, I came in the top 10)
4. medicine book Angelo 2006 (what the?)
5. ghosts of UC College University of Toronto (I came in 6th)
6. milestones for language, social development (13th for this one)
7. strong glasses (huh?)
8. lest old acquaintances be forgot auld lang syne (I actually came in 1st for this one? weird)
   
9. gross developmental milestones (I came in 3rd)
10. ornamotion (22nd place, still pretty good?)

Vacaciones For Mi!

Wow, I look back at the picture of the frozen waterfall and I think.... qué frío! Necesito vacaciones, preferably somewhere muy caliente! Ya this frigid arctic air is crazy cold, and it looks like it will be sticking around for the rest of the week! The problem is that even places in the Southern United States are even cold too. Like Florida, usually I would have thought about going to Florida first, but they're having unusually cold weather too. Need to go even further south like Mexico and the Caribbean. Ya that sounds good right about now, a warm beach in Mexico or the Caribbean........ okay snap back to reality. If you are a Spanish speaker in the United States and would prefer to make your vacation plans in Spanish, then you should check out hotels.com en Espanol. They'll help you find the right hotel room at the best price, making the process easier for Spanish-speaking travelers with their new comprehensive site, or their dedicated customer service center (800-316-4145). Buscar por Vacaciones Hoteles? Then search no more got to hotels.com en Espanol!

MLK Day

We don't observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day over here in Canada, but I think we should. I watched the CNN special about him and his life, and I've been inspired anew. There is probably only a handful of human beings I consider idols or role models in the way they lived their lives to promote peace, faith and endurance in the face of injustices and despair. I've just realized that he should have been one of those for me all along. He paved the way to allow us to live in the unsegregated society we live in today. We take these things for granted. I can't even imagine a world where segregation even existed. Sadly, that dark era of history has not been completely snuffed out. Those people who perpetuated that way of thinking have not all died off. In fact they have spread their spawn to continue to infest American society today. When they are all gone, the dream will finally be realized.

Compare Credit Cards

I remember when I used to be so resistant to the idea of a credit card. Somehow I thought that once I would get one I would be so undisciplined that I would just go nuts and end up having some store person cut it up in front of me, you know like they do in the movies. But even worse than the retail humiliation would be the fact that I would be in debt up to my ears. Well, it really hasn't come to that. I mean I am in debt with the pesky things, but not up to my ears. At least not yet. I've learned to be smart and shop around for credit cards with perks, before I sign up. My favourite one is the dividend card, which gives you money back at the end of the year depending on how much you spent. I also signed up of a card with my Alma Mater only because I wanted a card with a picture of Convocation Hall on it. I thought it was silly at the time, but it turns out, because I wasn't really using it, they offered to do a balance transfer at only 1.9% interest. Couldn't have come at a better time. Anyways, if you'd like to do some research into which Credit Cards offer the best perks, then check out CreditCardSearchEngine.com. It's one of the Internet’s longest running sites for online credit card comparison. It allows you to compare and apply for all types of credit cards, from low interest and reward cards, to cards for people with bad to average credit. You can find offers from companies like J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank and leading brands Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card. So don't fight the credit card, check out which one suits you at CredCardSearchEngine.com!

At Par No More!

Yes, finally! I just checked my PayPal account, and the US dollar finally has a higher exchange rate than the Canadian dollar! I hate all this at par business. Sure it's great if you want to go buy stuff down in the states, but then you have to declare it anyway at the border. It's going to affect Canadian exports, and tourism etc. eventually. I'm also happy because if you're making US dollars then converting it to Canadian dollars sucks! There is one good thing that came out from all the at par business, "Canadian pricing". At least they claim to reduce Canadian prices to US prices. But then again, magazines have gotten around it by not printing the US prices on them anymore, cheaters.... anyways, that is all...

Insomnia

I've been having terrible, terrible insomnia lately. I guess I've had a lot of things on my mind. With the holidays, and all the responsibilities and expectations that go along with it. Plus the ending of another year, and the start of new one. I can't help but contemplate what I've done over the past year, especially where I've gone wrong so far in my life. Why these thoughts haunt me so much more when I'm trying to fall asleep, I don't know. Where am I going? That is another question that weighs heavily on my mind, again mostly when I'm trying to fall asleep. Life is so uncertain. So many times I've been so sure about something, and then BAAM, I realize I was wrong. Or is it just that I am an eternal optimist, that I just tell myself that I have no reason not to be sure about whatever it is I'm so sure about? I don't know, but if you're reading this then maybe you can understand why I have terrible, terrible insomnia!

Refinance Loans While the Rates are Low!

I think everybody's been watching the markets with a little bit of nervousness lately, with the whole sub-prime mortgage fiasco, the falling dollar, and falling stock markets. Bush just announced a package to help the economy along. Well, I'm sure all of us would appreciate a little bit of a break on our loans. That's where DollarBlvd.com comes in. They are a website that allows lenders to compete to provide you with the best refinancing rate for your needs. Whether you are considering a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage, they can help you find more options, at no obligation. It's free and fast, you get up to five free quotes, and there is no credit check and no social security number necessary. Apart for Refinancing, their site also has information of Mortgages, Home Equity Loans, Debt Consolidation, Payday Loans, Auto Loans, and more. So whether you're looking for a Florida Mortgage, or a mortgage anywhere in the states, then check out DollarBlvd.com.

Looks Like a Cold Snap

Wow, I was thoroughly enjoying the great double digit temperatures last week, that I almost forgot that is January, and the winter's not even half way finished! Oh well, it sure feels like winter again, and it looks like it will stay like this for the rest of the week. The thing that gets me even more aside from the biting wind, is the total lack of sunshine this whole week. Luckily today, the sun decided to peek out from behind the clouds even for just a few hours. I was starting to feel a little bit ultra violet deprived there. Which made me think of that recent study about how the darker your skin tone, the more prone you are to developing vitamin D deficiency during the winter months. Anyways, I decided to brave those biting winds to get a little bit of the good old ultra violet light. It'll help to shake off this cabin fever I've been experiencing....

Comparop.com Project

I just got a call from my Grandmother in California the other day regarding refilling her prescriptions. She likes to do her medication shopping over here in Canada because of the cheaper prices. Well, now that the Canadian Dollar is at par the United States Dollar, she was wondering whether it would be worth it to continue to buy her medications over the border. I just came across a website for the Compareop.com project, which is devoted to the comparison of various online pharmacies. It got me to thinking about how different online pharmacies are from offline pharmacies, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Compareop.com project focuses on the the research of online pharmacies selling Phentermine, Acomplia and other drugs proven to be effective weight loss pills. Phenteramine is also known as ionamin , which is an appetite suppressant used along with diet, exercise, and behavior therapy for the short-term management of obesity. Comparop.com provides an excellent resource for people who use Phenteramine. Apart from providing a very useful comparison chart for different online pharmacies that dispense Phenteramine, the site also has valuable information about alternatives drugs, like Acomplia. The site also has a customer forum, online pharmacy news, a blacklist of online pharmacies, recommendations for choosing the best online pharmacy, and useful information for patients with excess weight. If you are a user of Phenteramine, and obtain your supply from online pharmacies, then this site may be very useful for you.

Dinos Are Back?

I just saw a commercial on t.v. for the ROM that the dinosaurs are finally back. They've installed all the dinosaur bones in the new crystal since December 15. I am considering going today after 4:30, but I just checked the new prices and it costs ten dollars now, whereas before it was only five dollars and even before that it was free! Well, I guess they need to make money to pay for that crystal monstrosity. I'm now considering just signing up for a membership which costs ninety dollars for the whole year. I figure, with all the new exhibits that will be popping up in the new crystals, that'll be nine Friday nights, but better because I would actually be able to stay the whole day if I so desired.... probably not, but at least I could if I wanted...

Capella University

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Are you looking to expand your horizons and earn a degree, but just don't have the time or the money to be a full time student? Have you heard about capella university? Just imagine earning your degree online in the comfort of your own home, at your own schedule. Capella is an online university that offers graduate online degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, public health, public safety, and psychology. They also offer bachelor’s degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Founded in 1993, Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). They serve nearly 20,000 students in all 50 states and in 56 countries. They are headquartered in Minneapolis and are committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence. Don't wait any longer to improve yourself and earn a degree. For more information, please visit their website or call 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552).

Museum Reunion

I'm not really that into art. I mean I like looking at perty pictures as much as the next guy, but I can't really say that I would recognize a particular painting or who the painter was. I just like looking at the perty shapes and colours. Well, you can't go to New York City without enriching yourself with a little bit of culture. This city is packed with museums, galleries, an theatres, it inevitable that you'll find yourself in one sooner or later. I'm personally more partial to the Museum of Natural History, but I thought I'd expand my horizons. I've always wanted to visit the Museum of Modern Art one day, so when Sun and P invited me to hang out with them at the MoMA, I said yes. More so to hang out with my former neighbours than to see the perty pictures though. It was a great reunion....

Thesis for an Experiment

Remember how I blogged about Ann and I going to the murder mystery dinner? Well, I had to leave Zoom-Zoom at home because I don't like the feel of the alignment. I think I really burned it out driving back and forth from here to New York. I mean I've done the trip twice, back and forth, once in November then again in December. Not much of a rest for my poor little Mazda 3. So anyways, my point is that we ended up taking Ann's Rx350 and using her Garmin. It did a good job navigating us, it took us down the same route the Omnitech would have, i.e. they both keep insisting on taking the collectors instead of the express on the 401. Anyways, maybe it's because I'm used to the Omnitech, but I didn't like the Garmin anymore. It didn't tell you ahead of time whether you're going to be making a right or left as clearly as the Omnitech does. Anyways, the real point of this post is that I will trying an experiment where I will drive around with both Omnitech and Garmin and compare and contrast their performances. My thesis is that the Omnitech is better haha...

Takkle

Are you in high school, and involved in sports? Or do you have kids in high school that are involved in High School Sports? There's this new website Takkle that's like a facebook, or friendster, or myspace but for high school sports. It's a social network for high school sports to help high school athletes succeed. You can join up with different groups, or keep track of your practice schedules, and even post videos and pictures, just like the rest of the social networking sites.

Apart from providing a resource to the athletes, Takkle can also prove to be a helpful resource for the coaches. With the site, coaches can organize game and practice schedules and communicate efficiently and confidentially with their team members. Furthermore, Takkle allows for college sports recruiters a one stop site to scope out the prospects. High school athletes who are looking to land that college sports scholarship should consider signing up. You could be discovered online. Takkle allows full access to complete game statistics. They will also post photos and videos for thousands of athletes and teams from across from the country. All the recruiters want to know will right at their fingerprints.

I also like the fact that fans of high school sports will be able to track the progress of their favorite players and teams with Takkle. They can even receive up-dates on stats and games, check profiles of players, view videos and photos from recent games, and even post their own comments, and ratings too. Sounds like an excellent resource, move over facebook, for high school sports be prepared for a....

On the Bus

Okay, so there was this 5' plus girl and this 6' flat guy that hop on the Q44 bus, swipe their cards, sit down and start talking.... the girl gets up and asks driver to tell them when they get to the subway station.... driver tells them to get off, cross the street because they're heading in the wrong direction.... he gives them a newcard and writes "wrong side"...

Same girl and same guy, on the right bus this time, get caught up in their conversation about revenge.... they miss their stop because their conversation was so good....

Still the same girl and same guy get on the Q65 bus.... "wrong side miss".... not again?... the guy looks hungry and tired....

BadCreditOffers

With the whole sub-prime mortgage fiasco going on, there must be droves of people in the U.S. with bad credit nowadays. I found a great site for bad credit loans, where visitors can compare dozens of bad credit offers from major lenders and find the best offer that fits their needs. BadCreditOffers.com is there to help those people with bad credit get back on their feet financially. From credit cards, to home loans, to auto loans, to personal loans, and even credit repair, BadCreditOffers may be able to help you. So don't wait a minute longer, check them out today.

Omnitech Signal

Well I took the Omnitech with me to New York/New Jersey, and I would say that I was pretty satisfied. I was disappointed with the walking mode though. I tried it in New York City and it didn't seem to be so accurate, or perhaps I just couldn't focus on it because of the large crowds. Plus, it seemed to take a long time to acquire a signal after getting out of the subways. Maybe I'll try it out in Toronto and get back to you.

I also found that the signal would get lost when passing through tunnels or bridges and even when the buildings were really tall. Most of the time the signal would be re-acquired pretty quickly once I was out of the tunnel or off the bridge. Problem was that I missed the proper exit when I was getting off the George Washington Bridge. Then it seemed to get stuck in a loop as it kept repeating "recalculating" over and over again. I had to reboot the whole thing and drive around the city for about a couple of minutes while it got its bearings back. No harm done, but I realized I should have studied the maps before, instead of just following the GPS blindly.

Another signal problem I experienced was coming out of a multi-level parking garage. The first time, I left the GPS on while inside the parking garage. When I came out, I didn't know which way to turn, and it took forever to re-acquire the signal. I must have been driving around for about 5 minutes or more before I decided to just re-boot the whole thing over. The second time I came out of the parking garage, I tried keeping the GPS off until I was actually outside. It seemed to acquire the signal quicker that way.

Still though, it was a huge help navigating those crazy New Jersey streets!

gps, omnitech gps, omnitech gps signal

Massage Chairs? Yes Please

My back has been acting up on me lately. I think its from digging outside in the backyard, plus carrying that big safe from Ann's car, plus the fact that my bed is probably too soft. I was just telling my friend Ghee in Japan how I couldn't possibly feel comfortable sleeping on a tatami mat, no matter how good it would be for your back. I think that I'd rather just go for a nice back massage. Too bad Ann will be leaving the country for more than a month! Who's gonna give me massages? I guess I'm going to have to look into getting myself one of those Massage Chairs! Have you heard about the massage chairs by Human Touch? They replicate proven techniques used by professional massage therapists and chiropractors providing back pain relief while combining state-of-the-art massage technology with style. They actually use advanced robotic massage technology and systems in their chairs, how cool is that? They combine this robotic technology with the treatments used by leading massage therapists, chiropractors and physicians, leading to the development of the most advanced Robotic Massage® systems ever devised. They claim that the massage chairs replicate the rolling, kneading, compression and percussion techniques of massage professionals. You can even have a full-body massage that follows the contours of your spine and body from neck to foot. You can even program your chair to customize the massage area, intensity and techniques used. Okay, I'm sold where do I sign up?

Murder Mystery

Ann and I went to a murder mystery dinner last night at Mysteriously Yours, and it was hilarious! It was called "It's a Wonderful Death". I guess you can guess that it was based on the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life". They even got the Jimmy Stewart "accent" right. At first I thought that it would be a play on the stage, but the actual performance takes place among the audience. After dinner, the actors came out and mingled with the audience at our tables. They gave out lines for some of us to say during the performance. I had to say "hot dog!" at one point. At the end of the performance you had to try to figure out who he murderer was and write it down on a card. They randomly chose five of the people that solved the mystery correctly to be the winners. They won a hat. My favourite part of dinner however was meeting Gord and Jo who were seated at our table. They used to own the land that Ann's subdivision now rests on. What a small world eh?

Lap-Band with Journey Lite

I've blogged about the LAP-BAND System before, it's the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure, it's the only adjustable and completely reversible weight-loss surgery available in the United States today. Sometimes when diet and exercise fail, some people are good candidates for LAP-BAND surgery. The procedure will not only improve appearances, but also will lessen the deleterious effects obesity has on general health. If you’ve struggled with your weight and no amount of dieting and exercise has worked, then check out JourneyLite, they emphasize your utmost comfort before, during, and after application of the lap-band. If you think you may be a good candidate for this procedure in then don't let the health benefits of reducing obesity pass you by another minute, and visit the folks at Journey Lite.

Across from Ground Zero

Across the street is St. Paul's Chapel, built in 1766, it was undamaged during 9-11 thanks to the trees that front the Chapel. They shielded it from the debris from Ground Zero. It became the rest and refreshment center....for the rescue workers. This whole area used to be plastered with memorials, and signs of family members searching for missing loved ones. They covered the gate outside and the church walls, pillars and pews. There are a few of those memorials still left up inside the church...I also remember the area surrounded by vendors selling pictures and other memorabilia of 9-11. Those are all gone now, I think I even saw a sign prohibiting those kinds of vendors. Despite everything appearing normal outside and the fact that six years have passed, the inside of the chapel still invoked those same old feelings. I stopped for a quick moment of prayer and reflection, but decided to leave when a group of little girls stood at the sanctuary and started singing "The Star Spangled Banner", it was too intense in there for me..... Good thing my friend called my cell phone to tell me the meeting time and place for our reunion with the rest of the classmates, so I headed out to find the nearest subway....

Medical Supplies

Being a physician by degree, I get a lot of questions about medical problems from all my family members. From pediatric to geriatric, I'll get all sorts of questions. A lot of times the solution to a medical problem involves some special piece of equipment, like a glucometer, a sphygmomanometer, special orthoses or what have you. Luckily there are places like AllegroMedical.com which provides a wide variety of medical supplies online. Apart from the usual things like Diabetes Test Strips, pediatric nutritional supplements like Pediasure, blood pressure monitors, shower chairs, or heart monitors and defibrillators, AllegroMedical has also moved into products such as Exercise & Fitness Equipment, Nutritional Dietary Supplements, Maternity/Baby Supplies and Outdoor Gear. Check them out, they offer 55,000 products, under 50 categories and hundreds of sub-categories. You can shop by category, by brand, or even by condition. Check out their Free Allegro eCatalog offering serious limited time specials and discounts to anyone who signs up.

Lost

In an attempt to test my theory that New Yorkers are actually nicer than Torontonians, I did not hesitate to ask directions from a variety of New Yorkers from little old ladies to gangsters and thug-like looking individuals.... none of them disappointed me.... little old lady even ran after me as the subway door almost closed on her hand to tell me to take the 2 line.... gangster guy was kind enough to indicate to me that we were arriving at the station I had asked him about.... they probably could tell from my accent that I was just a lost Torontonian and felt sorry for me....

Windy

It is crazy windy outside today. I actually woke up in the middle of the night from the howling, it was so loud. I was having this weird dream.... it was like a dream within a dream within a dream. In my dream, my dad had chopped down the cherry tree that my aunt had planted and replaced it with a pear tree or something like that. I remember being disappointed coz the cherry tree was so big already and the pear tree was so tiny.... then I woke up and realized it was all a dream. I got out of bed and when I looked out the window, the cherry tree really was gone! There was no pear tree to replace it though.... I told my friend who was staying at my place how I had dreamed about it. Then I realized that I was actually still dreaming.... this time when I woke up, my friend had bought sushi for breakfast.... and the cherry tree was still at the front of the house.... after this I really woke up.... the cherry tree was still there, and my friend was not here... she's in NY.... what a weird dream. I must have been subconsciously worried that the wind would blow things down. The funny thing is that when I looked outside to check the cherry tree (this is in reality now) one of those trellis things that the vines grow on, was knocked down.... weird....

Wholesale Flowers

Sometimes sitting in Ann's store, I get glimpse of how stressful planning a wedding is. Then when I hear her stories of all the bridezillas she has to deal with, it makes me not want anything to do with a wedding, whether it's somebody else's or mine. That is, I don't think I want to ever get married. I can totally see Ann as a bridezilla. Just think about all the things you have to plan out and think about. There's the church, the reception, the invitations, the photographer, the dresses, the tuxes, the flower girls, the ring bearer, did I forget anything.... oh yeah the flowers. Oh and speaking of flowers, I always thought flowers meant roses, but apparently there's a whole myriad of flowers to choose from too. Of course you've got your roses, but then there's calla lilies, rose petals, gerbera daisies, hydrangeas, peonies and many other flowers and even greens too! And what's more, these things aren't going to come cheap. Luckily there's FiftyFlowers, you can get wholesale flowers with them, and save a whole lot of money. The flowers are cut fresh, processed and bundled then shipped overnight express from the flower farms. They are then delivered directly to the doorstep of the bride, event planner or location within 2 or 3 days of being cut. So if you want to cut out some of the stress and the money for your wedding, then think about getting your flowers wholesale with FiftyFlowers.com.

Back

Just got back from Jersey and boy am I pooped. I left there at 6:30AM and got home at 2:50 PM, so if you do the math, that is eight hours and twenty minutes. I stopped 3 times to pee on the Interstate 81 and two or three times on the Interstate 90. I had to find a gas station about four hours into my drive, because I noticed that my left front tire was a bit... actually a lot.... flat. Luckily, there was a gas station at the next exit. When I measured the tire pressure, it was all the way down to twelve. It supposed to be at thirty-two! It must have been all those potholes in Jersey City. Anyways, luckily my trip was un-eventful. I'm so tired, I need to rest my legs.

Interesting

Finally, something interesting... the 7 train stops at the 52nd street station, the doors close and suddenly the booming voice of a young man is heard.... "Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention for a moment... I'm not selling these chocolates to benefit a school sports team or any charity.... I am selling these chocolates for myself.... If you could help out and buy some, I would really appreciate it.... it will help me stay off the streets".... That was the jist of it.... the lady two seats to my left found his speech convincing enough to buy a bag of M&M's for $1.... I admired his honesty, but not enough to shell out a US dollar.... which incidentally is only 99c Canadian now.... how the mighty have fallen....

Sitting across from me on the 7 train heading to Flushing is an elderly Chinese gentleman.... he's how my friend Jerome will look like when he's older I think to myself.... incidentally, I was heading to Flushing to see my friend Jerome....

Chinese lady who looks like my friend Young asks elderly Jerome something.... the conversation starts in English, but quickly turns into Mandarin.... apparently, she got on the wrong train and was heading in the wrong direction.... she looks to me with a questioning smile.... she probably thinks I'm Chinese.... don't look at me lady, I think to myself, I'm probably more lost than you are..... trust elderly Jerome, if he's anything like my Jerome then he's pretty smart.....

Pragma Systems

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Subway Scences

I recently hung out with my old soulmate in N Y C. She told me that she used to read my friendster blog and particularly enjoyed reading about the "scenes from the subway". I told her that I stopped writing on that blog because I thought nobody really read it. She said that she thought I would stop writing if I ever found out she was reading it.... go figure.... Nevertheless, she inspired me to write once again, but this time I write about scenes from the New York City subway.....

My first few rides on the N Y C transit system were surprisingly un-eventful.... I mean c'mon! This IS New York city, where are all the interesting scenes that I could write about? Considering all the interesting happenings on the Toronto Subway, I was half expecting that I would encounter some doozies once I stepped foot in a N Y C Subway car.... But alas, soulmate and I had to make our own interesting scences.... however, they were interesting scenes for the other passengers.... get your minds out of the gutter.....