Quote from J.K.Rowling

 A home library is a place of endless journeys.-J.K.Rowling

The cleanliness of streets in Japan

 In Japan,it's common to notice how clean the streets are despite the lack of public trash bins.People usually carry their waste with them until they can dispose of it properly whether at home,convenience stores,or designated bins,reflecting a culture rooted in respect,discipline,and shared responsibility.

         People in many countries around the world do not have the same discipline as those in Japan.Litterbugs are not punished in most countries.

Why streets stay clean in Japan

 In Japan, public trash bins are surprisingly scarce,yet the streets stay incredibly clean because people simply hold on to their waste until they find a proper place to throw it away,showing how everyday habits are shaped by a deep sense of respect and responsibility.

Challenged

 Physically challenged -euphemism for disabled.

Tool

 Not the sharpest tool in the shed-Euphemism for unintelligent.

A small town with no road signs in Texas

 Bug Tussle is an unincorporated community in South-eastern Fannin county,Texas,with a population of approximately 15 people.It has gained national attention because of the rampant theft of its quirky road signs.

             As of March 2026,the Texas Department of Transportation has officially stopped replacing road signs for Bug Tussle.Over the decades,more than 70 signs have been stolen by souvenir hunters.Currently,there are no road signs or markers identifying the town.

The only commercial that Elvis Presley ever made

 Q.What was the only commercial that Elvis Presley ever made?

Answer.The only commercial Elvis Presley ever made was a radio jingle for Southern Maid Donuts on November 6,1954

Elvis Presley's twin brother

 Jesse Garon Presley was Elvis Presley's twin brother.He was stillborn.Because of his twin brother's very premature death, Elvis grew up as an only child.

Burglaries

 80% of burglaries are committed by people aged 13 to 21.

Strange habit of ocean sunfish

 Ocean sunfish often float on their sides at the surface, allowing seabirds like gulls and albatrosses to remove and eat parasites from their skin in a symbiotic cleaning interaction.

Another African proverb

 The tree that refuses to let another grow nearby  will stand alone against the storm.-African proverb 

African proverb

 Nobody hates you more than the person who tried to spoil your name but couldn't.-African proverb 

A notable Dutch cultural norm

 It is a notable Dutch cultural norm to have large,uncurtained windows,often keeping interiors visible from the street.This practice is rooted in a combination of Calvinist beliefs that honest citizens have nothing to hide,a desire for natural light during dark,rainy months ,and a cultural tradition that values openness  over strict privacy.

Taking care of the floor

 You can't take care of the floor if water is coming in through the roof.

Homes in Netherlands

 Most homes have no  curtains  in the Netherlands.

Tokyo

 Tokyo was once called "Edo."

Quote from a song by Cameron Whitcomb

 You're never quite alive as when you're shaking hands with the devil.-Line from the Cameron Whitcomb song 'Options.'

Wildflower innovation in Denmark

 Denmark installs floating wildflower islands in harbors ,creating urban safe sanctuaries for birds and bees where habitats have disappeared.

Smellfungus

 Smellfungus (noun)-a habitual complainer who constantly finds faults and criticizes everything.

Example:The smellfungus ruined the mood.

Another example of lookalike flowers

 Lunaria(commonly called Money plant) and Dame's Rocket are not the same plant,though they are often confused.Both are in the mustard family;both look similar from a distance.

The beautiful flowers of lunaria

 The lunaria plant is one of the most beautiful spring flowers that you would find.Lunaria is also called 'Honesty' or 'Money plant.'

              Lunaria annual is also frequently called moneywort.

Mother rabbits

 A mother rabbit carefully prepares a nest using grass,leaves and materials,lining it with fur from her own body to keep her newborn babies warm,protected,and safe during their first days.

First baby born in Antarctica

 Q.Who was the first baby born in Antarctica in 1978?

Answer.Emilio Marcos Palma.He was from Argentina.

Eating heavy meals at night

 Eating heavy meals at night forces the liver and pancreas to work when they should be resting.

Constant snacking

 Constant snacking keeps blood sugar high and stresses the pancreas.

Too much sugar

 Eating too much sugar makes the liver store extra fat.

Sitting most of the day

 Sitting most of the day reduces blood flow to major organs.

Drinking too little water

 Drinking too little water thickens blood and slows the body's cleaning process.

Using painkillers

 Using painkillers often puts extra strain on the k liver and the kidneys.

Reliance on desalination for drinking water

 Several Middle Eastern countries rely heavily on desalinated seawater, with Qatar getting about 99% and Kuwait around 90% of its drinking water from the sea.

A song from Mariah Carey that I love

 One Sweet Day -song by Mariah Carey,Boyz II Men.

Lapidify

 Lapidify (verb)-to turn into stone.

Mustard powder and its health benefits

 Mustard powder acts as a laxative.

         When I eat food with mustard powder I often notice I get a good bowel movement the day after.Mustard powder is known to help alleviate constipation.

         Mustard powder is also a rich source of selenium and magnesium.

A song from 2010 that I love

 Meet Me In The Basement (2010)-song by Broken Social Scene.

Timmins

 A resident of  Timmins, Ontario is known as a Timminsite.

       Timmins was founded in 1911 by Noah Timmins in Northeastern Ontario,and serves as a major regional hub for mining and forestry.

Sudbury

 A resident of Sudbury, Ontario is called a Sudburian.

       Sudbury is a major mining hub located in northeastern Ontario.

Timmins

 Q.On what river is the city of Timmins, Ontario?

Answer.Mattagami river

African proverb

 An elephant that kills a rat cannot be considered a hero.-African proverb 

Russian proverb

 There are no bad ships at all,there are bad captains.-Russian proverb 

The only country

 Did you know?

The Netherlands is the only country in the world where the average male is over 6 feet tall.

Black beans that I consumed in March 2026

 In March 2026 I bought and finished consuming a 398ml tin can of ILIOS -Organic Black beans

-BPA Free

-GMO Free 

-No Added Salt.

-Product of Italy 

-www.iliosfoods.ca

-Ingredients: Organic black beans,water.

-Www.ILIOSFOODS.CA

-Nutrition Facts:

Per 1/2 cup(125ml)-% Daily value 

:Calories-90

: Protein -5g

: Potassium -10%

:Calcium-4%

:Iron-11%

A song from 1986 that I love

 Concrete And Clay(1986)-song by Martin Plaza.

A somewhat ignored song from the eighties that I absolutely love

 Slice Of Heaven-song by Dave Dobbyn.

Journalist Susan Bonner is retiring from the CBC

  Long-time stellar journalist Susan Bonner is sadly retiring from the CBC at the end of March 2025.

            Susan Bonner has worked for the CBC for over 40 years;she is the host of CBC radio newscast The World At Six at the time of her retirement.Susan Bonner has worked as a reporter and guest host for the Popular CBC show As It Happens.  She has hosted The World At Six newscast for well over a decade.

  Susan Bonner was born in 1963 in Montreal and grew up in Montreal;she studied journalism at Ryerson University.

                I have listened to Susan Bonner's evening newscasts religiously for many years;I will miss her warm voice.

             

Chick peas that I consumed in March 2026

 In March 2026 I bought and finished consuming a 398ml tin can of AURORA -Ready to Eat-Chick peas.

-High source of fibre.

-Product of PORTUGAL.

-Ingredients: Chickpeas,water,salt .

-Www.auroraimporting.com

Nutrition Facts:Per 1/2 cup (125ml)-% daily value

:Calories-160

: Protein -8g

: Calcium -1%

:Iron-14%

: Potassium -7%

Romano beans that I consumed in March 2026

 In March 2026 I bought and finished consuming a 398 ml tin can of AURORA -Ready to Eat ROMANO Beans(High source of Fibre)

-Product of PORTUGAL.

-Ingredients: Romano beans,water,salt.

May contain:Traces of lupine.

-Www.auroraimporting.com

-Nutrition Facts:

Per 1/2 cup(125 ml)-% Daily Value 

*Calories-100

:Protein-7g

:Calcium-3%

:Iron-6%

: Potassium -10%

Zoilist

 Zoilist(noun)-A fault-finding critic.

Lumbago

 Lumbago-Lower back pain.

A song from Little River Band that I liked

 The Night Owls -song by The Little River Band.

A song from 1993 that I like

 The Power Of Love(1993)-song by Celine Dion.

He was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario

 Alex Trebek,Tv game show host(1940-2020) of the famous show JEOPARDY was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario.He died on November 8,2020 at his home from pancreatic cancer,surrounded by family and friends.

The surname Pataki

 The surname 'Pataki' is of Hungarian origin and means someone who lived by a brook or stream.

Another song from Celine Dion that I like

 I'm Alive -song by Celine Dion.

A song by Celine Dion that I like

 It's All Coming Back to Me One-song by Celine Dion.

A song from Celine Dion that I love

 Beautiful Boy -song by Celine Dion.

A great Portuguese proverb

 Brackish water is sweet in a drought.-Portuguese proverb

African proverb

 Don't take every elder's advice.Even fools grow older.-African proverb 

A song from Mariah Carey that I like

 We Belong Together -song by Mariah Carey.

A song from Erasure that I like

 A Little Respect-song by Erasure.

What some poor people in Haiti eat

 In Haiti's poorest areas,some people eat sun-dried clay " mud cookies" mixed with salt and fat to ease hunger.

       People living in affluence in North America should not take food for granted.

Portuguese proverb

 Truth and oil come to the surface .-Portuguese proverb

The mixed background of American forest ecologist Nalini Nadkarni

 Nalini Nadkarni, American forest ecologist and forest canopy researcher was born in Bethesda, Maryland on October 13,1954,where she grew up.Her father was Hindu,and her mother was Orthodox Jewish from Brooklyn,New York.

Polish proverb

 Running away makes you guilty.-Polish proverb

Irish proverb

 Cleaning the house will not pay the rent.-Irish proverb

African proverb

 An ant on its feet can do more than an elephant lying down.-African proverb

Quote from Margaret Atwood

 You can think clearly only with your clothes on.-Margaret Atwood

Missing Facebook page of Robert Kaplan's quotes

 I have been following Robert Kaplan's Facebook page of literary quotes and inspirational quotes for years and love it.His Facebook account had more than1,00,000 followers .But since the last 10 days or more,his Facebook account and Instagram account have either been deleted, disappeared or suspended.

              I really miss the account Robert Kaplan@robslitquotes.

          I really hope his Facebook and Instagram accounts with those awesome quotes will be restored soon and the whole archive from many years back will be once again accessible and viewable.

A song from Fleet Foxes that I like

 Ragged Wood-song by Fleet Foxes.

A song from Serena Ryder that I love

 What I Wouldn't Do-song by Serena Ryder.

This major artery in Montreal used to be a two-way street

 Did you know?

St.Catherine street in Montreal used to be a two-way street.

 On September 23,1966 it was converted from a two-way street to a one-way street.

An attention-getting female conspiracy theorist theorist in Canada

 Romana Didulo(born 1974)is a Canadian conspiracy theorist and the self-proclaimed "Queen of Canada" and "Queen of the World."Originally from the Philippines,she moved to Canada in 1990.She emerged as a prominent figure within the Q Anon movement and leads a group known as the'' Kingdom of Canada."

               She is anti-establishment.She rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic,protesting public health measures and calling for the "arrest " of police officers and health care workers.

                  She issues pseudolegal '' decrees" to her tens of thousands of online followers,often instructing them to stop paying taxes,utility bills,and debts,claiming they are illegal under " natural law."

                 For nearly two years,Didulo and her followers occupied a decommissioned school in the small village of Richmond,Saskatchewan,causing significant tension and leading to a police raid in September 2025.

         Romana Didulo is a colorful personality on the fringes and has gotten quite a bit of national media coverage in Canada.

Word about kissing

 Basorexia (noun)-Strong urge to kiss someone.

      It is a great word.

Portuguese proverb

 To make an error is human; pushing the same error is dumb.-Portuguese proverb

African proverb

 If your brother teaches you how to fish, don't  fish in his pond.-African proverb

African proverb

 An egg shouldn't be deceived by the hardness of its shell;it cannot challenge a stone in a fight.-African proverb

Quote from Dave Ramsey

 You can't get out of debt while keeping the same lifestyle that got you there.-Dave Ramsey

Blue jeans

 Blue jeans were originally made for miners and laborers.

Quote from Kofi Annan

 Books build bridges between cultures.-Kofi Annan

Saturnism

 Saturnism is the old medical term for lead poisoning.

A song from 1988 that I love

 Wild,Wild West(1988)-song by The Escape Club.

Intriguing shift

 Inventor Nikola Tesla (1857-1943) became a vegetarian in his later years,living on only milk, bread,honey and vegetable juices.

             With time Nikola Tesla gradually shifted toward a pescatarian diet and eventually went fully vegetarian.

A song from 1984 that I love

 No More Lonely Nights(1984)-song by Paul McCartney.

The vegetarianism of Nikola Tesla in later life

 Inventor and scientist Nikola Tesla (1857-1943)became a vegetarian in his later life,adopting a plant-based diet for both health reasons -specifically to manage prostate issues and combat uric acid-and ethical concerns regarding animal slaughter.His diet evolved from consuming meat rarely to relying on vegetables,milk and warm milk,and he frequently advocated for vegetarianism.

Mining

 Mining is one of the biggest contributors to climate change.

Sleep habits of Nikola Tesla

 Did you know?

Nikola Tesla apparently never slept more than 2 hours per day.He slept 15 minutes every 4 hours.His lack of sleep may have contributed to his hallucinations,fueling his creativity.

White kidney beans that I consumed in March 2026

 In March 2026 I bought and finished consuming a 398 ml tin can of AURORA -White Kidney beans.

-High source of fibre.

-Product of PORTUGAL.

-www.auroraimporting.com

-Ingredients:White beans,water,salt,sodium metabisulphite.

-Nutrition Facts:

Per 1/2 cup(125ml)-% Daily Value

:Calories-100.

:Protein-8g

: Potassium -10%

:Calcium-1%

:Iron-6%.

German proverb

 A bad penny always comes back.-German proverb

Romanian proverb

 A great ship asks for deep waters.-Romanian proverb

Philogynist

 Philogynist -A person who admires women.

Ripsnorter

 Ripsnorter -A person or thing that is extraordinary.

Logomachist

 Logomachist -A person who argued about words.

Querist

 Querist-One who asks many questions.