The Chronicles of Montreal

Montreal: Elio Pizzeria

2012-02-03T00:30:00.000-05:00

Elio Pizzeria is kind of in the middle of nowhere, but I'm glad that I tried it out. Went for some Osso Buco and it was pretty good. It was very tender and tasted like a nice home cooked meal. The almond cake for dessert was also a nice tasty surprise. Service was so so, and the casual atmosphere is ok...But still I'd go back again for the food.

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Canadian Tire: Tire Warranty

2012-01-29T16:41:00.000-05:00

Just found out that when you buy a tire at Canadian Tire (I assume it's the same elsewhere?), only the outer part of the tire (the part that makes contact with the ground) is covered by warranty (if you want more coverage you have to pay extra). If the inner part of the tire is damaged, then it's tough luck. I found out the hard way, when my car got a flat tire.

Australian Open Ball Girl and Bug

2012-01-21T10:50:00.000-05:00

This is funny...I like the slow motion replay they showed to the crowd, just to put the spotlight on her a little more lol.

Why SOPA is a Bad Idea

2012-01-21T10:26:00.001-05:00

A good TED presentation explaining why we are (or should be) fighting against things like SOPA/PIPA.

Montreal: Toque! Restaurant Review

2012-01-14T19:05:00.001-05:00

Lots of reviews about Toque! out there already and I think they are almost all good. It's a place I've been looking to try out for some time and yes it's a very good restaurant.

But, at the same time in some weird way...I was expecting more; especially given the prices. I had the lobster (first course), Atlantic halibut (main course) and chocolate tuile (dessert). I probably should have went for the foie gras (which others did enjoy). In any case all were very good, but I'd definitely order something completely different next time around.

A 30-story Building in 15 Days

2012-01-08T14:39:00.000-05:00

A hotel prototype built in 15 days...Wow.

What can you accomplish in 360 hours?The Chinese sustainable building company, Broad Group, has yet attempted another impossible feat, building a 30-story tall hotel prototype in 360 hours, after building a 15-story building in a week earlier in 2011.

You may ask why in a hurry, and is it safe? The statistics in the video can put you in good faith. Prefabricated modular buildings has many advantages over conventional buildings.

Higher precision in fabrication (+/- 0.2mm).
More coordinated on-site construction management.
Shorter construction time span.
Lower construction waste.
Also many other health and energy features are included in Broad Sustainable Buildings (BSB)

It's mostly put together from factory built modules...Not something I've ever seen here in Montreal.

LEGO Starcraft Siege Tank

2012-01-04T10:48:00.001-05:00

This is pretty awesome for all you Starcraft players: A Siege tank made out of LEGO....Cool.

NBA: Jeremy Lin Claimed by Knicks

2012-01-01T16:55:00.000-05:00

Here's something that hasn't happened in over 50 years:

Lin is a Bay Area native who played in 29 games last season as a rookie with the Warriors, becoming the NBA’s first Asian-American player since 1947. (link)

Google: Let It Snow Easter Egg

2011-12-21T09:34:00.000-05:00

Type in "let it snow" into a Google search bar (or just click here) and then watch what happens...Pretty awesome huh?

In case you missed it: After searching for "let it snow", watch for the snow to begin to fall, then watch your screen fog up and finally you can then "draw" on it with your mouse cursor (as if you are wiping the condensation off the screen). Cool easter egg if I say so myself...

Montreal: Big In Japan Restaurant Review

2011-12-18T18:36:00.000-05:00

There seems to be a 50/50 split on reviews of this place, which had me somewhat concerned...But I took a chance anyways.

Dropped in at Big In Japan restaurant on St. Laurent for a light bite on a weekday night (was mostly empty). They label themselves as serving "classic Japanese comfort food", but I have no idea if that is an accurate statement or not. The decor is not as trendy looking as say Imadake—It's a casual place with food court style seating.

As for food, I tried the following: Fish cakes (entree), spicy beef & eggplant on ramen and sesame stewed pork salad (both mains). Nothing really blew me away, but they were all pretty decent for the price. If I am in the area I would go back and try something else...But, it's probably not worth a special trip.

Green Eiffel Tower

2011-12-11T13:24:00.001-05:00

Having seen the Eiffel Tower on my trip to Paris just a few weeks ago this article caught my eye. I think it's a cool idea, it would definitely give it an organic look...I don't think there would be anything in the world that would look like this.

Android Apps For 10 Cents!

2011-12-06T20:25:00.001-05:00

A good time to be an Android user, the Android Marketplace is having a 10 cent sale to celebrate their 10 billion app downloads! Smart marketing to get people buying stuff on the Android marketplace; since at that those price it's nearly impossible not to buy stuff...

Sample of a full game for 10 cents a pop...

Montreal: Cacao 70 Restaurant Review

2011-12-01T23:48:00.001-05:00

Cacao 70 is a new dessert/hot chocolate place that has been getting some word of mouth lately. The concept is similar to Juliette et Chocolat whose restaurants seem to be quite popular and crowded most of the time (even though the service is quite slow every time I go). It was easy to get a seat on a Tuesday night and I tried the Vocano (sic) and Champurrado hot cocoa.

The Vocano was fine although the brownie was not even warm which was disappointing. You'd think something called Vocano (a play on volcano perhaps?) would be hot in some way...But no such luck.

The hot cocoa was fine as well although the portion you get is quite large...You really have to be in the mood for a hot chocolate to finish this off (maybe that's why it's ~$7-$10 a cup?). You could take it home afterwards if you cannot finish it, which is cool.

I'd probably try something else the next I'm in the area, but I wouldn't make a special trip to try it out. But, as with all new restaurants, they can always improve their offerings down the road.

Montreal: Les 3 Brasseurs Restaurant Review (Old Port)

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Went the 3 Brasseurs in Old Montreal to watch some hockey and grab a bite. The food was ok, nothing really special. I had the L'Alsacienne pizza which sounded better than actually was: German sausage, sauerkraut, caramelized onions and Québec gruyère cheese. If you are curious about the German sausage, I can save you the trouble; it looks and tastes like a regular boiled hot dog...Disappointing I know. I did finish off the pizza, but I wouldn't try it again.

And of course I had dessert: Sweet Flammekueche with bananas and ice cream. It was fine, think of a thin beaver tail (not a crepe) with ice cream on it. It's one of those places for watching hockey games on TV and drinking beer...But, for food I'd pass.

Paris 5-Day Trip Review

2011-11-23T07:28:00.000-05:00

Lots to see in Paris, but this is rub down of my 5-day stay in Paris...

Arc de Triomphe: Pretty much what I expected. Slightly larger than I thought it would be.
Eiffel Tower (at night): Lights up which is cool. Also flashes for a couple of minutes at times.
Louvre: Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Napoleon Apartments etc. Lots of people, but luckily no lineups at this time of year.
Notre Dame de Paris: Free entry, no lineups either.
Champs-Élysées: Kind of boring, not a whole lot to see here if you ask me.
Chateau de Versailles: Get to see how royalty lived back then...Gardens of Versailles were pretty impressive. Quite a sight to see. Biggest backyard I've ever seen.
Shopping: Personally I thought it was better and easier to shop in Barcelona.
Food: My experience was that if you choose a random restaurant in Paris, it'll likely be better than one in Barcelona.
Weather: Quite cold at night...I was caught off guard at how cold it generally is in Paris at this time of year. It was warmer in Montreal last week.

Barcelona 3-Day Trip Review

2011-11-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

There are lots of Barcelona tour guides online, but I'll just list the things I managed to do there in the three days.

Ramblas street: Overrated if you ask me...Not much to do there but get ripped off by bad restaurants
Shopping: A couple of blocks east of Ramblas street are many shops that have a much better selection of clothes than Montreal does (even if we have the same chain stores here at home)—I learned that Montreal is not very good for the fashion-minded and there is a great opportunity here to beef up your wardrobe
Barcelona Bus Turistic which a good and easy way to explore the city without killing yourselves by foot: Saw Gaudi's works (church, park and his other buildings), FC Barcelona soccer stadium and visited the Castell de Montjuic by cable car
Etapes Restaurant is worth a special trip

Barcelona: Etapes Restaurant = Great Food

2011-11-16T19:25:00.000-05:00

From one of the worst restaurants to one of the best in Barcelona: Etapes. A small restaurant that was mostly reserved before we arrived; and filled to capacity minutes after we were seated (the waiter even had to turn people away). I feel fortunate that we were able to get a table without a reservation. Note: Now I must warn you that their phone number does not seem to work. I tried calling numerous times to make a reservation, but no one ever picked up the phone...Weird.

Service was quick and efficient. The appetizers were probably the best I've ever eaten in any restaurant before. They were good enough to make up for the mixed up order—I asked for cod, but received a duck burger instead. The waiter acknowledged his mistake and offered to go back to the kitchen; but I decided to stick with the nice looking duck burger. It wasn't as good as the appetizers but it was still interesting to eat. Dessert was a simple, but still nice brownie. The chef also came out to see if we were all satisfied with our meals.

Looking back, I'd say that the strength of the three appetizers we had were what put this restaurant way ahead of the game. Price-wise it's very affordable; not expensive for the quality of food that you get. Too bad we don't have this kind of restaurant in Montreal...It's a real shame.

I'm missing some pictures, but here are what I managed to take a photos of:

Appetizer: Foie Gras, pomegranate and some sort of biscuit

Appetizer: Ravioli, and so many other flavours I don't even know where to begin...

Main: Sea bass

Main: Duck burger

Dessert: Brownie

A small restaurant run by a small team when I was there (Google Street View is out of date).

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Barcelona: Julio Verne Restaurant = Tourist Trap

2011-11-14T18:29:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately, now I know firsthand what a tourist trap is like, thanks to this absolutely horrendous Barcelona restaurant. It single-handedly started off the entire Barcelona experience on the wrong foot. The food was really disappointing and expensive...For "dessert" they had the gall to serve us American style Swiss Cake Rolls (I actually saw them take it out of the plastic wrapper).

You don't expect to see this for dessert at an expensive restaurant...

I've read that Ramblas street—a popular Barcelona street (although I'm not even sure why it's that popular)—is full of tourist traps, but when you are starving and tired you'll take a chance on any restaurant and that's how they get you. `

On the bright side I was MUCH more selective on the restaurants after this place, and ended the trip at one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at in my life (which I will write about at a later date). Stay tuned for that review, and avoid Ramblas street (and especially Julio Verne Restaurant) if you are hungry!

I think this is where the restaurant is now...Google Street View is a little outdated.
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PC Suisse Swiss Milk Chocolate

2011-11-08T21:53:00.000-05:00

When I go grocery shopping and see the various President's Choice products (which often look great), somewhere in the back of my mind I wonder if it's actually any good. I'm not usually one to experiment much with PC brands, but when I do I'll post my discoveries here on my blog.

The one that comes to mind is the PC Suisse Swiss Milk Chocolate with Honey Almond Nougat. It'll probably remind you a lot of Toblerone chocloate bars...But, it's not nearly as expensive and I actually prefer the PC version as it's less "sticky" and doesn't get stuck on my teeth as Toblerone tends to do for me.

TED: How Language Transformed Humanity

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

Watched quite a few TED talks lately...This is a very interesting one...

Biologist Mark Pagel shares an intriguing theory about why humans evolved our complex system of language. He suggests that language is a piece of "social technology" that allowed early human tribes to access a powerful new tool: cooperation.

TED: A robot that flies like a bird

2011-10-31T13:18:00.000-04:00

Pretty cool robot...

Montreal: Halloween Costumes at PartyMart.com

2011-10-26T00:57:00.000-04:00

Looking for a Halloween costume at the last minute around Montreal? If you are, then there's a nice option I recenty discovered for Montrealers: PartyMart.com. They have a pretty solid looking web site, and the bonus for Montrealers is that since they are based in Montreal...You can pick up your order the same business day like I did!

I looked around at other Halloween shops, but they may not have what you are looking for (even though they do have a decent sized catalog of costumes). Luckily for me I was able to find a Halloween costume I wanted online at PartyMart's Canadian web site, purchased it on their web site in the morning (marked it for Pick Up) and then called them to let them know I was picking it up myself the same day (saving on the shipping cost, and ensuring that I would get it on time). All in all a good experience, especially considering that Halloween is only days away.

A costume that looks pretty cool...

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Preview

2011-10-23T15:36:00.001-04:00

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is essentially an expansion of the original game. But the news here for Starcraft II players are the new/tweaked units and old ones that are being removed (no more Mothership or Carriers!). The article I read was here but I'll summarize it quickly below.

Terran:
+ Battle Hellion (Hellion can transform into more powerful robot mode)
+ Warhound mech
+ Shredder radiation robot

Zerg:
+ Ultralisk Burrow Charge
+ Corruptors Syphon buildings (minus Corruption)
+ Viper replaces Overseer (plus Blinding Cloud and Abduct ability)
+ Swarm Host (artillery unit)

Protoss:
+ Tempest (anti Mutalisks)
+ Oracle (building harass/spy unit)
+ Replicant (can morph into any non-massive unit, like Siege tanks)
+ Nexus gets new abilities
- Carriers
- Mothership

Trailer...

Montreal = Worst City for Parking in Canada

2011-10-17T20:32:00.000-04:00

Once I saw the headline for this article: "The 20 worst cities for parking in the world" I immediately knew I had to look for Montreal. And sure enough it did not disappoint, as Montreal made it to #16 (unfortunately). Montreal is actually the worst in Canada and I cannot say that surprises me at all. The poll found that Montreal parking officers have a quick "trigger finger", and unfortunately I can confirm that this is true, as I have enough parking tickets over the last couple of years to prove it.

Always Wear Your Helmet

2011-10-13T16:19:00.000-04:00

Another good reason to wear your helmet when riding a bike...An antelope might jump out of nowhere and ram your head with his antlers...He'd be in major trouble if he was not wearing his bike helmet...

From Yahoo:

He and another teammate helped Van der Spuy up and took him to the medics. Van der Spuy was diagnosed with a minor concussion and whiplash, but his helmet was destroyed.

Montreal: Oro Toro Restaurant Review (Lunch Menu)

2011-10-09T10:10:00.002-04:00

Oro Toro is a fairly new restaurant that's at the end of a strip mall...It's kind of in the middle of nowhere and easy to miss...That's probably why they've been advertising pretty heavily for a restaurant (as I've seen them sponsoring news segments on television and on the radio as well). It's kind of like Baton Rouge, but with much more variety and not as expensive (probably since it's not part of a chain). It's a pretty nice looking place, won't break your wallet (ie. at lunchtime, otherwise it's somewhat pricey) and you can get a pretty good lunch out of it these days.

If you've been there during the first six months that they were open you probably didn't like it...The service was slow all-round, no lunch menu at all (important for lunch people like me) and food took a long time to get out (I mean really slow, like no where else I've been to).

More recently, having been there for lunch a few times, I feel that I can recommend it (even with their recent cut backs). I've tried their chicken, braised beef (really tender), ribs (which are like Baton Rouge ribs) all off their new lunch menu. However, they've been tweaking their lunch menu lately to keeps costs down I imagine. In the early days, bread variety used to be 'Wow' (four different kinds of bread), and dessert used to be top notch (gone are the thin slices of cheesecake, now just a square of regular cake). The bread cut backs are fine, but why the dessert too? It makes the lunch experience, end on a weaker note in my opinion. Hopefully, they don't start cutting back elsewhere or this review will be outdated...

Dec. 14, 2011 Update: Went there again and the lunch menu has changed once more (lemon chicken, and the braised beef are off the lunch menu). Luckily the baby back ribs are still there, and still a good choice (although baked potatoes are now off too). Personally, I'd go for the ribs over the flat bread or sandwich lunch options.

It's where the Pier1 Imports store used to be...

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Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet

2011-10-04T20:39:00.002-04:00

For some reason the Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet seems to interest me...It seems to be able to do pretty much do everything an iPad can do but at a fraction of the cost. You can buy three Kindle Fires (and have left over cash) for the price of one 64GB iPad (that's based on US pricing).

Price is obviously a huge selling point, but this 7-inch tablet seems to be quite capable for the right type of user. I know for a fact that I don't need storage space (my 16GB iPod Touch has never even gotten close to 8GB), and don't really need many apps (although a few popular apps would be nice). The smaller size also appeals to me, as it seems easier to carry around with one hand (roughly the size of a DVD case it looks like).

I just need something quick and basic to occasionally surf the web at home or on the road (which is why I got my iPod Touch three years ago). I'll have see what the reviews are like, and hope they don't decide to rip us Canadians off like so many others enjoy doing.

Montreal: Europea Restaurant

2011-09-24T17:02:00.000-04:00

Went to Europea Restaurant to try out a few dishes. While it was kind of interesting and things were generally fine to tasty...Unfortunately, nothing really blew me away. I was kind of expecting more from a restaurant of this caliber and price range. No photos since it was too dark for my smartphone camera, but nothing that was crazy out there. I cannot say that I will be running back there any time soon. Oh well, at least I tried it.

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Montreal ComicCon 2011

2011-09-18T14:08:00.000-04:00

Ended up at the Montreal ComicCon on Saturday to check it out for the first time. It was fun to see the costumes, props (Old Batmobile, Back to the Future car) and even Star Trek actors Worf and Deanna Troi hanging around. It's not a huge event, but hopefully it gets bigger each year...Its something different to do on a weekend afternoon. The show ends today.All pictures below are from my trusty LG Optimus One cell phone.

View from the second level

Masquerade stage

R2D2 which beeps and moves via remote control...Pretty Cool!

Stormtrooper outfit

Homemade Halo-Style Armor

Old Batmobile

Back to the Future car

Chewbacca

Update: Some ComicCon videos at the Masquerade courtesy of Randy here..

Dead Island Trailer

2011-09-15T20:28:00.000-04:00

This game trailer seems to have received more buzz than the game itself...Some people say they have even cried during the trailer (although I felt no such urge)..Anyways, I watched it to the end...Update: They are actually going to make a movie based on this trailer...Wow.

9/11 New York Memorial in Google Earth

2011-09-11T22:15:00.002-04:00

With a $500 million budget the 9/11 Memorial in New York is most expensive public memorial ever created on US soil. It does look pretty impressive from what I've seen on television. You can see it now on Google Earth it seems.

Montreal: Tong Por St-Laurent Micro-Review

2011-09-07T12:06:00.000-04:00

Been to Tong Por St-Laurent on separate occasions to eat dim sum (parking lot was packed) and a late dinner (not so packed...like at all). Kind of in the middle of nowhere, but the food is pretty good (lobster yum!). I'll be going back.

Update: Seems that people really like that place from what I hear from friends...I guess I am not alone.

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Google Maps Live Traffic

2011-09-03T12:01:00.001-04:00

Google Map keeps getting better and better...Now they have live traffic updates on their maps...Good way to plan out your route before going somewhere...

The map is mostly green since I took this screenshot on a Saturday morning...It turns mostly red as you would expect on a weekday during business hours....

Real Life Terminators

2011-08-29T21:25:00.000-04:00

Thanks to CBC's HD OTA digital channel I happen to catch this documentary about killer robots...It's not fantasy--it's real and it's already being used today. Check out the whole 45-minute documentary about military robots when you have some free time. It's crazy...Some of this stuff you thought only appeared in movies. It's scary to think what we'll see in the next 10-20 years.

Hurricane Irene in Montreal

2011-08-26T05:30:00.000-04:00

Looks like Hurricane Irene is going to have an impact on us, even up here in Montreal--and it's going to "hit" us, as soon as Sunday/Monday. New York City is being forecasted for a direct hit from the hurricane (should be downgraded to a tropical storm by then) and are likely to call for evacuations. So get ready for some strong winds and rain soon...

CBC-HD OTA in Montreal

2011-08-22T04:56:00.000-04:00

I was always able to pull out (generally weak) analog signals out of the air, but any digital signal just eluded my antenna. For whatever reason I could not get a digital signal with my antenna...Until now.

So a huge kudos goes to CBC-HD for being able to deliver an amazing HD signal to me (unlike cable or satellite which compresses the HD signal down to a manageable size)...And best of all it's FREE! I don't know what they did lately, but whatever they did I am grateful for it.

It's almost feels like I'm watching TV from my Seiki BD660 blu-ray player...I'm still in awe of the image quality...Wow, it's really something else...I actually might start watching some TV again.CTV and Global are supposed to also go digital OTA by the end of this month (CBC just did it sooner)...So I am hopeful that I can receive some more free HD channels...

Daily Show: Poor Americans

2011-08-19T04:02:00.000-04:00

I caught Jon Stewart's Daily Show the other night which I find funny...Worth a watch about American politics. If you thought Canadian politics were bad...Wow, it's a whole different level of politcs across the border...

Do It Yourself Science Tricks

2011-08-15T07:34:00.002-04:00

Some nice tricks that are pretty easy to do...

Ouch...

2011-08-11T10:33:00.000-04:00

Don't drink and drive or else your Corvette might end up looking like this...

Awesome Hockey Goal

2011-08-05T22:39:00.000-04:00

A great goal that you have to see in slow-mo to really appreciate it...Wow, what a goal...

And after I saw that goal, I found a nice collection of sweet looking goals too...

Montreal: DNA Restaurant Micro-Review

2011-08-01T09:07:00.000-04:00

Not too many reviews about the DNA restaurant in Old Montreal I went to recently. However, the reviews I saw were good, so I decided to give it a shot. In short, I'd probably give it another go.

It wasn't a busy night, so I suppose it gave the service team an opportunity to shine. They would even fold your napkin for you if you ever stepped away from your table. As for the food, (no pictures, oops) I felt it was a step above the food at Leméac. My only gripe was the pork which had a lot of fat...I guess it's for people who like to eat/chew the fat. Just my two cents.

Montreal: Leméac French Bistro Micro-Review

2011-07-28T21:46:00.001-04:00

Well I finally got around to checking out Leméac the French bistro, and went for snails and beef tartare for appetizers, veal (Pan seared veal chop, tomato and fresh mozzarella) and finally dessert; the last two which were recommended to me by the waiter. Visually it all looked pretty normal except for dessert which I took a photo of. The food was good, but I did expect more for the price...I'm not in any rush to go back.

French toast with maple caramel and milk jam ice cream

Google Maps on Android...Offline!

2011-07-23T22:47:00.001-04:00

This is an amazing app for Android users...Google Maps without a data plan (sort of)! I tried to see if I could get it for my iPod Touch but no luck...Only for Android users it seems (for now anyways).

Just make sure you get the latest update of Google Maps and search for a place; from there you can save a map area ten miles around it. Then you can carry that map area with you, even without a data or internet connection. It's sweet and handy to have, but it seems that you cannot search for a place when not connected which is a shame.

George Carlin "American Dream..."

2011-07-19T22:10:00.001-04:00

I thought I posted this before, but I guess not...So here it is...Lots of swearing as usual...

Nice Magic Trick

2011-07-15T20:53:00.001-04:00

A trick that can even fool a magician...

U2 Concert in Montreal (Saturday)

2011-07-10T17:33:00.009-04:00

I was wondering if the Saturday show would be different from the Friday show and...Yes it was! I had to do some Googling, but beside the tweaked set list some other notable things that night:

Concert audio is streamed live on U2.com
Audio quality is amazing for the show
Bono sings a bit of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah
Bono adds the improvised 'shine like stars' coda at the end of With Or Without You...Apparently this is "rarely" sung in recent tours (first time this year it seems; it's almost like an Easter egg), which is why it was a hot topic on Twitter...
Julia Roberts is at the show
Annoying teen in front me jumping like a nutcase is also at the show
And no rain! Perfect concert weather actually...

Update: Decided to help people a bit since, a number of people are stumbling on this post...The only Julia Roberts in Montreal picture I found online (of the back of her head) was not at the show, but at a private U2 after party from a (French) news site. At least it confirms she was in town. Apparently Colin Farrell was also at the show, according to the article.

I also posted another video (the black truck blocks the view of half of the "stadium") of the crowd and a couple of pictures from U2's Saturday concert.

Google+ and U2 Concert

2011-07-10T09:58:00.005-04:00

So how are Google+ and U2 related for me? Well I got the Google+ Beta invite and went to their concert the same day! Google+ still needs some work/features it seems to me, but I've never been a huge social networking person so maybe I'm the wrong person to judge...A major thing I noticed, is that there is no "Wall" to write on if you want to write something on someone's profile.

In any case, I must say that the Google+ app works quite well on my LG Optimus One Android smartphone. It was the first time I really used my phone camera in the field and it's REALLY easy to share pictures and videos from your phone to Google+. After taking a photo or video, it automatically uploads them for you (kind of like how Dropbox does it). Later on you can simply choose what you want to share.

So for my first Google+ post, some U2 concert pics and a video instantly went up with just a couple of clicks. Again it's truly super easy for Android users...I almost never share pics and videos on Facebook, but since Google+ is still in private Beta...it's like I didn't share them anyways (at least for now).

So for this post, I'll put up a shaky phone camera vid from the U2 concert...The sound system was impressive for an outdoor show like this was...

Pre-Paid Telus LG Optimus One Smartphone

2011-07-05T19:45:00.000-04:00

I've officially retired my nearly 4-year old LG 8600 Chocolate Flip cell phone. It was starting to break down, with the odd button not working (not major, since there were workarounds) and more recently some strange graphical glitches. It still mostly works fine, but it's definitely on its last legs.

I wasn't going to get a smartphone at first, but the LG Optimus One is priced so competitively with "regular" phones I decided to go for it. The fact that it was an LG phone also helped, since I had a good experience with my last one.

There's no point running down a checklist of features, since there's thousands of reviews out there already. All I wanted was something that works reliably for texts, calls, has wi-fi and operates on a pre-paid Telus plan (this was important for me). After a few days of use with this entry-level phone, I have to say it does the job just fine.

I have to admit that an Android smartphone like this, does take some serious getting-used-to if you are coming from an iOS product (iPhone or iPod touch in my case). But, if you're ready to learn Android 2.2 like i was, it's not bad; even though it really felt unintuitive at first (sorry Google!). There are some cool Android features of course, but this is not an Android review...Anyways, I'm going to play the full Angry Birds games for free now on my LG Optimus One Android smartphone :)

Montreal: F Bar (Portuguese Restaurant)

2011-06-28T04:11:00.008-04:00

Went to F Bar (which is run by the same guys behind Ferreira Cafe) recently and tried out the "Duck magret, spelt, mushrooms, honey/green aniseed pineapple". The place is nice enough, good decor and pretty good looking food as you can see in the picture. But, personally I did expect more...Maybe they have their B-team on Tuesday afternoons...

A number of dishes are served in these metal "cans"...

Montreal: Assommoir Restaurant Bar

2011-06-24T13:22:00.000-04:00

Assommoir is a cool place for some drinks...The thing that makes me remember it, is the crazy flaming shot that they had on display (should have asked for the name).

Here is how it works:

The shot glass seemingly has three layers of alcohol: something chocolate coloured, then white and then blue curacao. They light each one on fire and at the same time the bartender takes a shot and then spits/sprays it on all the shot glasses lighting the entire bar surface on fire (for a few seconds). Right after it dies down, you grab a straw and gulp down the shot glass. Interesting.

Free X-Men Cartoons

2011-06-20T00:15:00.000-04:00

These cartoons bring back some memories...And now you can watch them all for free! Nice!

Canada Post Strike: Xpresspost Incompetence

2011-06-16T19:17:00.003-04:00

I Googled it and could not find the answer to this question anywhere:

Does Xpresspost deliver during the Canada Post strike?

Well, the short answer is this: Xpresspost mail does NOT get delivered during the Canada Post strike. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way.

So here's my latest encounter with grossly incompetent workers...Recently, on a work trip, Air Canada delayed my baggage. I had to go out of my way to buy some basic essentials just to get by on my work trip. Air Canada then said that I could have some interim expenses which I could claim back by mail. Fine. I only had 21 days to mail it in or else I cannot claim anything. OK.

Fast forward to today...Thanks to the unions, Canada Post AND Air Canada are both on strike...Outstanding!!!

However, the strike (oops strikes) is not even my main beef in this post. Earlier in the week on Sunday (before the strike in Montreal), I knew a strike was looming. So when I went to the Canada Post office (corner of St. Catherine and Guy), I specifically mentioned the upcoming strike and asked for a GUARANTEED delivery product. A delivery that would not be affected by the strike. I repeated it to the clerk at least twice...GUARANTEED I wanted. So he told me to use XpressPost which means it would be delivered by Tuesday. So I said "fine" and paid a premium for it.

Today is Thursday and it's still not delivered (I checked the tracking number that Xpresspost gives you). What an incompetent Canada Post employee (whom the union is fighting for)...I just gave Xpresspost (i.e. Canada Post it turns out to be) ten dollars to have my mail sit in their guaranteed-even-if-a-strike-happens delivery bin. What a farce this is...But, honestly, I cannot say that I'm surprised. It's no wonder people are looking elsewhere to handle their mailing business. I'm going to do the same.

Get More Dropbox Storage...Free!

2011-06-14T12:36:00.001-04:00

Everyone like free stuff, and although it's not exactly 'free' (you have do a couple of minor things, like following them on Twitter etc.), it's totally worth it if you ask me...

Check out Dropbox's free page here (you have to already have a Dropbox account and login).

Montreal: Chandelier Restaurant

2011-06-11T09:38:00.000-04:00

Ate at Chandelier (web site is not even working as I write this post) on Grand Prix Friday and without getting into too much detail (I'm not a fan of trashing places), that was my first and last time. Maybe they had a new cook for the busy crowds, cook was sick/had a bad day or who knows what...But, I think I've already said enough and will not be returning again.

Montreal: Fun Desserts at Chez L'Epicier

2011-06-06T00:59:00.003-04:00

A cool-looking dessert at Chez L'Epicier in the Old Port area, that tries to look like a club sandwich. The "fries" are particularly well done (it's actually fried pineapple). And this time I have pictures with my almost 4-year old cell phone camera :P

Chocolate club sandwich, pineapple fries and creamy melon salad with fresh mint...

Dessert that's supposed to look like a work of art...

Montreal: Imadake Japanese Restaurant

2011-06-03T09:13:00.004-04:00

Tried Imadake for the first time after passing by another ridiculously long lineup at Kazu. It's only a short walk away (about two blocks) if you don't feel like waiting an hour in line at Kazu.

We got a seat easily on arrival, but it filled up quite soon afterwards. It's a nice enough casual Izakaya place and about three times bigger than Kazu.

The black cod and eel soup thingy (there's no chance of me remembering their names on the menu) were the tastiest dishes. The black sesame ice cream was also a nice change for me (something I've never tried before).

Price-wise it's in the same range as Kazu (maybe slightly less expensive). I'd definitely go back for seconds and try some of their other menu items.

November 2011 Update: Been there a couple more times and it seems to be even busier each time. It's quite loud and rowdy now. Hard to have a conversation sometimes. The last time I went, I thought the food quality dipped a little—something to keep in mind.

January 2012 Update: Added some pictures.

Octopus, actually quite tender.

Black cod

Salad

Développements TGB = Bad Montreal Condos

2011-05-30T11:11:00.003-04:00

This fairly long Montreal condo article about Développements TGB Inc. is an eye opener.

Out of the three TGB has built since 2002, all of them have turned into nightmares for the owners

It's definitely worth a read if you are looking to buy a condo in the Montreal area. You have to wonder about a developer that doesn't even have a web site. It sucks big time for all the people who ended up getting scammed by them...So I'll do my bit, and try to get the word out...Buyer beware!

Also, from the Montreal Gazette article:

One owner, Jay Mann, who paid $495,000 for his condo, said in a court declaration that he and his wife have waited five years for the terrace to be completed. He said the project had been sold as “luxury condos” with promises of high-end cabinetry, wood flooring and private terraces. He said he didn’t get any of that. He said the cabinets he got were so badly marked he had to pay to have them refinished. He also had to replace toilets that clogged and insulate noisy plumbing. He claimed water leaked into the underground parking area and he has had to spend $876.25 to repair body damage to his car caused by the narrow parking spaces, which he said don’t meet the building code.

He said owners at the Waterman condos have been unable to sell their units, which he claimed are essentially worthless in their present condition.

Believe it or not, that story is from one of the lucky owners...His condo is not in the process of a total collapse like other TGB buildings. Even the "New Home Guarantee" government program is pretty useless...It's like an insurance company who doesn't want to pay up when things go wrong.

Do your homework and go with a developer who has a track record and is trustworthy (whatever that means these days). TGB, is definitely not one of them.

Apple Breaking with Your Hands

2011-05-27T10:05:00.004-04:00

This is a pretty cool way to "cut" apples with your hands...I won't really have a chance to do this, since I don't like apples, but it's still cool...

Montreal: Suite 701 (Terrace) : Lunch Review

2011-05-22T10:46:00.000-04:00

Went to Suite 701 for lunch on their rooftop terrace and it's fine; the food is on the good side, but nothing mind blowing. I'll be generous and say they were understaffed for this nice sunny day (I mean who would expect people to show up for the first warm sunny day in Montreal in months, right?)

I expected the view to be better, even though you have line of sight to Notre Dame church a block away. Haven't tried the resto/lounge/bar at night yet, but it's supposed to be popular...

How to Cook Fish and not Overcook it

2011-05-19T11:20:00.023-04:00

Finally found a nice chef cooking tip on how to cook fish and not dry it out.

With room-temperature fish, get a pan really hot, add a little butter/oil and salt and put the fish in it. Sear it quickly on one side so it gets a little crust then immediately turn off the heat, leaving the fish in the pan.

I have to say it seems to work! The fish I cooked using this tip was probably the most "perfectly" cooked as I've ever been able to achieve so far. However, I made a slight tweak...I used a fish straight out of the refrigerator, turned off the heat almost as soon as I placed the fish in the frying pan, and then flipped it over after three minutes...Still seemed to do the trick.

Koko Restaurant and Bar

2011-05-14T07:19:00.000-04:00

Checked out Koko Restaurant and Bar on a Saturday night. It's one of those restaurants that at night transforms into a night club (minus the dance floor). Didn't eat here so cannot comment on the food, but it's a nice place to hang out, lounge or drink cocktails with friends (again not really for dancing). Not sure if I'd go back though...Maybe it's because the music wasn't to my liking...

View Larger Map

Don't Fall on a Snowy Mountain

2011-05-10T07:55:00.000-04:00

Wow, so this is what it looks like if you happen to fall off your jet ski at the top of a mountain...

Motoneige 0 - Montagne 1

Montreal: Restaurant Kazu Review

2011-05-05T07:28:00.003-04:00

Finally, I made it in here after walking by it on numerous occasions; and not going in because of the crazy long/slow lineups. The place literally seats a maximum of 25 people by my guess...and that may even be pushing it!

I'm just too impatient to wait in line (for anything really), and I can confirm that it'll be over an hour of standing in line to get in here on a Saturday night (yes, I know what a dumb move that was). Supposedly, weekdays at lunchtime is a much better bet from a lineup standpoint.

Anyways, the hype and lineups only make expectations higher and for someone who has never eaten in a Japanese Izakaya-style restaurant...I must say it's good! Definitely worth a try, if only because...well there's nothing in Montreal like it. It's not an inexpensive place to eat and there's generally not a whole lot of food to chew on...But they can still easily open a second restaurant and fill it up.

Even though they had some unique and really tasty things (48-hour pork, BBQ Pork Neck, Cod Head Salad I tried) I don't know if I can muster up the patience to stand in line that long again. But I'm glad I tried it...I'd go back for sure if the lineup is not so insane.

Some good Kazu foodie pics from people...Yummy.

Restaurant Canari used to be there it seems...Google Maps is a bit outdated in this case...

View Larger Map

Weird Urinals

2011-05-03T07:26:00.000-04:00

This is a weird one...Heat-sensitive urinals with feedback (changes colours)...Never thought about that one huh?

Los Angeles Pictures

2011-04-29T07:40:00.003-04:00

A last round of pictures, to finish off my Los Angeles review post...

Hollywood sign

Sunset

Korean BBQ

Santa Monica Promenade

Gretzky statue at Staples Center

Oldest operating McDonald's

Los Angeles Review

2011-04-28T06:38:00.032-04:00

I don't really know where to start, so I'll rattle off a few things randomly...But you know it was a good trip when it feels too short.

Some observations:

Exchange rate is great! Even after Visa takes their cut, things cost less than what is marked when exchanged into Canadian dollars; what a nice change for once!
Driving is pretty much of a requirement; the car pool lanes do help. Hardly saw anyone on foot around our hotel.
Restaurants are noticeably less expensive (around ~20%) when compared to Montreal. There are plenty of places to eat and many restaurant television commercials too to remind you to eat. I can see how it's very easy to gain weight, when restaurant food is so much more affordable and in your face all the time.

What we did:

Walked down Hollywood: Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Parking meters only allow a maximum of one hour, which is annoying...
Drove through Long Beach (saw Queen Mary cruise ship)
Visited Chinatown for a look
Had lunch in Koreatown for some all you can eat Korean BBQ yum! (which unfortunately, does not exist in Montreal)
Visited Compton which was name 8th most dangerous city in the US for some southern food
Went to Kress at night
Santa Monica Promenade and pier (wanted to go on the beach but was too windy/chilly)
Watched the San Jose Sharks eliminate the LA Kings in Game 6 (as you'd expect hockey tickets are waaaaaaaaay easier to get in L.A. than in Montreal). Was a pretty good game after a slow start. They actually do have some hockey fans in L.A. but the Lakers are the top dog here
Went to the oldest operating McDonald's restaurant

It was a good trip, although at the end we were struggling to find things to do (theme parks were out, since it's something that I've done many times are already in Florida). Anyways here are a few more pictures, tomorrow I'll post a couple more and then leave it at that.

Embassy Hotel

Good Mexican restaurant chain that we don't have in Montreal

Walk of fame star...

...and also while walking on Hollywood Blvd.

Back from Los Angeles

2011-04-26T21:54:00.001-04:00

Just got back from Los Angeles and will post a quick review of things I did there. But I will say this right now...You'll have to do lots of driving in Los Angeles, which is too bad since it means that you'll end up spending so much time in the car...I'll also throw up a few widescreen pix right now for the fun of it...

Montreal: Restaurant Cafeteria

2011-04-19T23:29:00.000-04:00

Checked out Cafeteria Restaurant on St. Laurent and it's a nice restaurant bar. Didn't really eat a whole lot, but the drinks, portobello hamburger and St. Moritz cake was pretty good. It has a nice atmosphere and decor...I'd check it out again.

Hands Free Faucets = More Bacteria

2011-04-12T06:05:00.000-04:00

Contrary to what you may think, waving your hands to turn on a sink faucet has more germs than your regular faucet...Who would've thought that huh?

From Gizmodo

The reason is hands-free faucets have more components than traditional ones, and bacteria was found to thrive in these parts in particular.

George Carlin: We (Americans) Like War

2011-04-07T07:10:00.003-04:00

This show was performed 20 years ago, but the material still rings true today if you ask me. It's actually quite shocking how things have not changed (remember this is from 20 years ago!); even the names of the people he mentions are the same. (Warning: Lots of profanity)

Good Reporter Question...Not

2011-04-01T07:40:00.004-04:00

I wonder which 5-year-old thought of this question...And I wonder which reporter thought it was a good question to ask the President of the USA...

Neil Pasricha: The 3 A's of awesome

2011-03-29T09:15:00.004-04:00

Saw this TED talk, and it's a good one...

A Japan Road Six Days Later

2011-03-26T09:05:00.018-04:00

Wow, this image from a Jalopnik post shows just how quickly roads can get fixed in Japan...Not quite the same as how roads and the many potholes in Montreal get fixed is it?

Captain America Movie Trailer

2011-03-23T23:57:00.000-04:00

Looks pretty decent to me...

Nelly - Gone ft. Kelly Rowland

2011-03-20T10:38:00.000-04:00

This is the "sequel" to their other song Dilemma which if you can believe was released about nine years ago...Wow time flies by...

And here is the Dilemma video from nine years ago...

Montreal Would Crumble in Major Quake

2011-03-13T19:13:00.000-04:00

Montreal is in an active earthquake zone, and if we ever get hit by a big one we're screwed. I don't think anyone would be surprised by that since things here seem to fall apart by themselves anyways...

In Montreal, half of all structures predate stringent 1971 building codes that include standards for seismic protection. And the fragile nature of the province’s infrastructure has also become evident even without an earthquake — think overpasses that collapse.

The Quebec government, for example, decided last year to close a hospital in Baie St. Paul, northeast of Quebec City, because it wouldn’t endure even a 6.0 magnitude earthquake. (Just FYI, there were 19 aftershocks, each of them greater than 6.0 after the big one in Japan recently)

B.C. is spending billions to earthquake-proof every school in the province along with other public buildings. Quebec is just starting to think about it.

Tsunami in a town...

2011-03-12T12:31:00.000-05:00

I'm guessing this is much further inland, where the tsunami is much smaller and people are off the streets and seem to know it's coming...Still causes major chaos and damage though...

Tsunami Caught on Film...Wow

2011-03-11T22:56:00.004-05:00

Just insane...A wall of moving water...Just wow...

I actually had a post about an article I read about life in Japan...But I don't even feel like posting it anymore...Just doesn't seem like the right time...Hopefully things will get back to normal over there...

Yeh! Frozen Yogurt Review in Montreal

2011-03-09T21:51:00.000-05:00

Yeh! is kind of a fun dessert place that's hard to miss (it's got a brightly lit pink decor). I went to the downtown location and was pleasantly surprised; especially since I don't even like yogurt (I know it's not the same as frozen yogurt).

Anyways, it's an self-serve ice cream...oops I mean frozen yogurt place. You take a cup (or larger tub) and fill it up with any flavour of frozen yogurt you want. The dark chocolate frozen yogurt stood out for me...They also had some interesting ones like cheesecake and tiramisu. But overall they were all pretty good.

You can also add in any combination of fruits and toppings that you want (I didn't since I like to eat it "pure"). It's all up to you. Then at the end they weigh it and you pay for it accordingly. Obviously, the more you fill it up the more you have pay. I'd guess that it's roughly $6-8 to fill up a cup for a single sitting...I can eat ice cream (I mean frozen yogurt) like water, so even though I left wanting more, maybe most people will be satisified. It's worth trying out at least once.

Montreal Parking Meters

2011-03-04T19:28:00.000-05:00

If you've ever wondered when Montreal parking meters are generally in effect you can check out this web page. But, for those too lazy to click a link and read more text, here's a general breakdown:

Monday to Friday: 9 am to 9 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 6 pm
Sunday: 1 pm to 6 pm

Rate are from $1 to $3/hour, see map here.

Yes, I've run out of material...Maybe next time I'll write about how it's cold in Montreal during the winter...Or just read one of my other posts this month, which are likely more interesting than Montreal parking meters (which are known to steal your coins, by the way...Use a credit card, it's safer).

Montreal Macarons: Boutique Point G

2011-02-28T09:07:00.000-05:00

Macarons are one of the tastiest treats I've ever eaten...These cookie/pastry-like sweets are not for those who do not like sugar. Maybe a little on the pricey side (essentially $1.50 per mouthful), but it's so good...mmmm, sugar. I've tried the ones at Point G, and they do not disappoint those who have a sweet tooth.

Wikipedia:

A macaron is a sweet confectionery made with egg whites, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond, and food coloring.

And here's a chart of the flavours that Point G has...

The Sagan Series

2011-02-24T20:13:00.000-05:00

From Wikipedia:

Carl Edward Sagan (English pronunciation: /ˈseɪɡən/) (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and science popularizer and science communicator in the space and natural sciences.

He died a few years ago, but this is still a series that I am looking forward to seeing more of...

The Sagan Series (Pt 1) - NASA The Frontier Is Everywhere

The Sagan Series (Pt 2) - Life Looks for Life

Montreal: Pekarna (Pepsi Forum/Atwater Dessert)

2011-02-20T22:03:00.000-05:00

Pekarna is a place that I walked by countless times not giving much thought at all. But, now having been there a couple of times, I must say I like it! There's a nice variety of (mostly) cakes, pies and other desserts. It's in downtown Montreal (convenient location is always a plus), open late enough (another huge plus, as not many dessert places are open late) and of course the desserts are tasty...I give it a thumbs up.

Comedy Song: I Just Had Sex (feat. Akon)

2011-02-17T04:11:00.000-05:00

Seems like a "normal", hip-hop Akon song until you listen to the lyrics more closely. Funny in a Weird Al Yankovic way...

Apple building smaller, cheaper iPhone: report

2011-02-13T17:12:00.002-05:00

I always thought the iPhone and Android smartphones were just too big for their own good. My reasoning (and personal preference): I have enough things to carry around in my pockets as it, and upgrading to a smartphone that is twice the size of my old LG Chocolate Flip phone didn't make a lot of sense to me. But, it seems that a new half-sized (and half-priced) iPhone is on the way...That could make things interesting...Now I wonder if other phone makers will follow suit...

Free Internet Music: Grooveshark

2011-02-13T15:42:00.002-05:00

This Grooveshark web site was a nice find...You can just search and play music right off the internet in a nice "iTunes-like" interface ((I don't like iTunes, but free is free). Or just hit up the popular song list, create a playlist or just play them all with a click. Nice and easy.

Far East Movement

2011-02-08T07:56:00.020-05:00

Their #1 hit Like a G6 was a first for a unique reason I was entirely unaware of:

From Wikipedia:

Far East Movement also has the distinction of being the first Asian-American group to earn a top ten hit on the Mainstream Pop charts in America

And I like their latest single "Rocketeer" even more. Actually, their whole album is quite good, if you like that kind of music...

Super Bedbug

2011-02-04T08:40:00.000-05:00

Another thing to worry about when you travel: Super bedbugs. They're becoming immune to the normal ways of dealing with them...Especially the ones in New York City. Not a good thing...Not a place I'd want to travel to anytime soon.

And what a pain it is if you have to do this (below) when you travel...

Montreal: Rayan Seafood Restaurant Review

2011-01-31T09:39:00.000-05:00

I was hungry and in the mood for seafood. Heard about Rayan Seafood and went for it. Got there and right away you can see that it's a very basic and casual looking place (you can even say it's cafeteria-like). It doesn't look like much (just like their website), but there's more than meets the eye.

The seafood counter at the back of the store is out in the open like you would see at a grocery store. It was actually quite confusing at first for me: Do I go to the front desk? Do I sit down at a table first? Do I wait for someone to take us to a table? To save you the trouble, the answers are: No, no and no. Confusing, huh?

You actually go to the seafood counter where all the raw fish are. That's where you place your order. To make things even more interesting, there are no menus to help you out either. And you have to select some food by weight (i.e. "I want 1 lb of calamari, 1/2 lb of Black Tiger shrimp", just like you would say at the grocery store). Then you decide how you want it cooked: fried, grilled, garlic sauce, rosé etc. Interesting experience for me to say the least.

I went with the calamari (fried), Black Tiger shrimp (garlic) and Tilapia (fried). Maybe it was because I was hungry, but wow the food was great! Prices are very reasonable and you can even do takeout, if you prefer eating in the comfort of home. I'm going to go back for sure one day. I'm glad I gave it a try.

Smooth Criminal Cello Cover

2011-01-28T23:14:00.000-05:00

This is pretty cool stuff. 1.6 million views on Youtube so far...I have a feeling it's going to go up a lot more...

Polk Audio CS1 Series II Center Speaker Review

2011-01-25T09:25:00.000-05:00

Picked up the Polk Audio CS1 Series II Center Channel Speaker from NewEgg.ca (see my review) and it's a big improvement over the speaker I had from my home theatre package. It's much larger than I expected (about the size of a receiver!) and you really get a lot of value for your dollar. Definitely a good pick up for your home theatre.

Funny Music Video (If You Like Tennis)

2011-01-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

Just stumbled upon this music video and ended up being entertained by it...But likely, only tennis fans will enjoy it though...

Black Swan Review (Not Really)

2011-01-18T01:54:00.001-05:00

I ended up watching this at an old movie theater and was not very impressed. I found it fairly predictable and wasn't really surprised by it very much. But, this Saturday Night Live skit summarizes much of the movie for you; in a funnier (and more entertaining) way if you ask me. (I'd watch the clip before it gets removed...But really I think it's only funny if you've already seen the movie...)

What Mcdonald's Chicken Nuggets Really Contain

2011-01-16T12:22:00.000-05:00

Just figured this could be an interesting follow up to one of my previous chicken nugget posts on a viral picture that went around a while ago. Joe Schwarcz director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society has this to say on the matter: "What Mcdonald's chicken nuggets really contain"

Montreal From Space

2011-01-14T08:46:00.013-05:00

This is a pretty cool picture of Montreal from space (really 600km from the ground) courtesy of NASA. It's always cool to see these kind of things...

“This astronaut photograph of the city lights of Montreal illustrates the extent of urbanization,” the website explains. “Major roadways and industrial areas are traced by bright white lighting, while the adjacent residential and commercial lands are characterized by more diffuse yellow-gold lighting. Rivers and other water bodies appear black, while the surrounding countryside is faintly illuminated by moonlight. Blurry areas at image top and bottom right are caused by cloud cover.”

Montreal: Restaurant Laloux

2011-01-10T22:10:00.021-05:00

Checked out Restaurant Laloux for the first time a week or two ago, and I must say it's a good one. Everyone enjoyed their meal and gave it two thumbs up. Portions are small in this kind of place I suppose, but the quality is great. The menu changes each day apparently, and I had the Beef strip sirloin which was recommended to me when I asked the waiter. I wasn't even in the mood for red meat, but still went for it. I'm glad I did—It was so tender I didn't even need a knife to cut it. I'm no food expert, but I'd definitely go back and give it another go.

Micorsoft Xbox Kinect Sales Hot

2011-01-06T21:57:00.000-05:00

Looks like Microsoft has a hot product on their hands with the Xbox Kinect, as they have already sold 8 million units of hardware. They better not let us down, by not delivering more good games for it.

As I've already mentioned in my own Xbox Kinect micro-review, it doesn't surprise me that it is doing well—especially if Dance Central is the game that people get to try first. I've seen it being a hit with anyone adventurous enough to move their body. On the flip side, you'd be surprised to see how some people are extremely reluctant, uptight or self-conscious (take your pick) to give it a serious try...even just among friends.

Another challenge is the perception among people that it's the "same" as the Nintendo Wii...I think they couldn't be more wrong about that, but that's Microsoft's challenge to overcome.

Klipsch Synergy 12" Down-Firing Subwoofer (SUB-12)

2010-12-31T19:30:00.000-05:00

Decided to pull the trigger on this subwoofer on Boxing Day (in and out in 30 mins, employing the same strategy that I used last year). For someone who is used to having an 8" subwoofer, I can say there's a pretty noticeable difference when going to a 12" model like this one.

I'm not a hardcore audiophile (which makes me start to wonder why I even bought it in the first place), but it's quite large physically and even on the low settigs it's got plenty of power to spare for my room. Admittedly, I'm not using most of its potential at this point; I will need a bigger room to really take advantage of it true power. At least I don't think I'll ever need a bigger subwoofer than this one for a very long time.

Banana Republic (Rockland)

2010-12-23T08:24:00.010-05:00

My last Zellers post reminded me to write about a good shopping experience I had at Banana Republic on a Friday. It was the first time I ever stepped foot in there, and walked out with a lot more new clothes than I had bargained for. Helpful staff and being informed of additional discounts on items that were not even marked for sale is always a good thing. You cannot really compare the shopping experience between here and a place like Zellers–but no matter where you shop you don't expect a store to charge you more than the advertised prices.