Eidetic memory

 Eidetic memory is the ability to vividly recall images,sounds or objects with high precision after only a short exposure,often described as a "photographic memory."

Pretending to work in an office job

 In China,some "pretend work"offices let job hunters pay about $4 to $7 a day to sit at a desk and look employed.For that fee,they get Wi-Fi,meeting rooms and sometimes even staged office check-ins,all while keeping a daily routine and avoiding family pressure as they search for real jobs .

         Kind of sad that many people feel the need to hold office jobs for status.

Quote from Edmund Wilson

 No two persons ever read the same book.-Edmund Wilson

Prison on Alcatraz Island that was shut down

 The prison on Alcatraz Island was shut down in 1963,not because of escapes,but because it was too expensive to operate,costing nearly three times more than other prisons due to its isolated location!

         Its isolated location meant supplies,water and fuel had to be shipped in,making it much more expensive than prisons on the mainland!

Quiddler

 Quiddler -Someone who wastes time on trivial matters.

A song from Minute Taker that I love

 Losing Self-control -song by Minute Taker.

A song from Chumbawamba that I love

 Tub Thumping -song by Chumbawamba.

A song from 2000 that I love

 Who Let The Dogs Out(2000)-song by Baha Men.

A late-blooming fashion designer

 Vera Wang,an American fashion designer,started designing wedding dresses at age 40 and is now in her 70s,becoming one of the world's most famous bridal designers.

Spice you bought and consumed in 2026

 In 2026 I bought and consumed a 71g plastic bottle of PRIMA Gourmet Spices-Freshly Ground Gourmet Black Pepper.

            This pepper was very good.

Abecedarian

 Abecedarian -A person who is just learning(a beginner).

He won the French world Scrabble Championship despite not speaking French at all

 In 2015,Nigel Richards won the French World Scrabble Championships,despite not speaking French at all,after reportedly spending nine weeks studying the French dictionary .He memorized the French dictionary.He won it again in 2018.

                       In 2024,Nigel Richards accomplished a similar feat by winning the Spanish-language World  Scrabble Championship.

                  Nigel Richards (born 1967) is a New Zealand player of Scrabble.He became the World Scrabble champion in 2007,and repeated the feat in 2011,2013,2018 and 2019.

                   Renowned for his eidetic and mathematical abilities,Richard has been described as a reclusive personality and has rarely been interviewed.Nigel Richards is truly a genius,an enigma.

Vafrous

 Vafrous(adjective)-sly,shrewd and crafty.

To wear sackcloth and ashes

 To wear sackcloth and ashes-to show deep remorse or guilt.

Quote from Brooke Hampton

 Children still need a childhood with dirt,mud,puddles,trees,sticks and tadpoles.-Brooke Hampton 

Irish proverb

 There is no use in carrying an umbrella if your shoes are leaking.-Irish proverb

Persian proverb

 When a stone hits glass,the glass breaks.When glass hits a stone,the glass breaks.-Persian proverb

When a healthy person donates a kidney

 When a healthy person donates a kidney,their other normal kidney will increase in size to compensate for the loss of the donated kidney.

A song from 1998 that I like

 If You Could Read My Mind (1998)-song by Gordon Lightfoot.

A song from Lady Gaga that I like

 Shallow -song by Lady Gaga,Bradley Cooper.

A song from Lady Gaga that I love

 LoveGame-song by Lady Gaga.

An obscure old country song that I like

 Draggin' The River -song by Feeling Husky.

Ab initio

 Ab initio (meaning)-from the beginning.

Example:The contract was void ab initio.

A song from The Tragically Hip that I like

 It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken -song by The Tragically Hip.

Another African proverb

 No matter the quantity of pepper you put in the soup,the fish will not close its eyes.-African proverb

African proverb

 No matter the quantity of pepper you put in the soup,the fish will not close its eyes.-African proverb

A song from Lady Gaga that I like

 Bloody Mary -song by Lady Gaga.

Negaholism

 Negaholism -The condition of being habitually negative or optimistic.

Mustard powder is a diuretic

 Mustard powder is traditionally considered a diuretic ,meaning it is believed to help urine flow and relieve water retention.

Too many decluttering blogs

 Too many decluttering blogs are cluttering up cyberspace.The proliferation of decluttering blogs and influencers can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed,turning a pursuit of simplicity into another source of stress.Many people report that the sheer volume of "minimalism gurus" and conflicting advice makes them feel guilty ,or that they are doing it wrong.

         Decluttering blogs in many cases are going too far in pushing people relentlessly to discard good stuff,regardless of its effect on the environment.

         For several people the minimalist aesthetic takes precedence over everything else.In a world of so much pollution and climate change why is aesthetics more important than the environment?

Zoilist

 Zoilist -A fault-finding critic.

What elite athletes often suffer

 Elite athletes often suffer mistreatment: psychological abuse, sexual harm,physical harm,neglect,racism, discrimination,bullying and hazing.

            Not always enviable to be an elite athlete.

Avenue Emile LeGrand in Longue Pointe,Montreal

  Hayes Avenue in Longue Pointe,Montreal in the Mercier-Hochelaga Maisonneuve district is named after Dr.Emile LeGrand(1898-1949),a prominent neurologist and pioneer in modern psychiatry.He worked at the Hospital Saint-Jean -de-Dieu (now Hopital Louis-H. LaFontaine from  1926 to 1947.

          Dr.Emile LeGrand died prematurely at the age of only 51;he operated under the shadow of poor health for most of his adult life.

A song from Lady Gaga that I like

 Million Reasons -song by Lady Gaga.

A song from Lady Gaga that I like

 Applause -song by Lady Gaga.

Fletcher Avenue

 Avenue Fletcher in the Tetreaultville neighborhood of Montreal is named after James Fletcher(1839-1910).He was a local farmer and served as a councillor for the municipality of the parish of Longue Pointe between 1888 and 1890.

                   It is refreshing for me to see an anglophone street name in a traditionally very French-speaking neighborhood like Tetreaultville.

Retinoblastoma

 Retinoblastoma -A rare, malignant eye cancer developing in the retina, primarily affecting children under age five.It has a 99% survival rate in developed countries with early treatment.

Actor Johnny Depp

 Actor Johnny Depp is blind in his left eye and nearsighted in his right,a condition he has had since childhood.

He lost his eye in a car accident

 Singer Sammy Davis Jr lost his left eye in a car accident in 1954.

Sarah Palin has a son with special needs

 Former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has a son with special needs.Her youngest son,Trig Paxson Van Palin,was born in 2008 with Down Syndrome.

Weeds

 A weed is just a flower out of place.

Gonthier Avenue in Tetreaultville

 Avenue Gonthier in Tetreaultville,Montreal is named after George's Gonthier.He was one of the developers involved in land subdivision in the area in the early 20th century.

Quote from Sangeeta Rana

 Fill your cup with beautiful memories of yesterday.Peaceful experiences of today.And exciting plans for tomorrow.-Sangeeta Rana

Quote from Laura Bush

 Books are the heartbeat of a home.-Laura Bush

Liisianthus

 The Lisianthus flower is also known as Prairie Gentian,Texas Bluebells,Eustoma or Poor Man's Rose.

Joe Pye Weed

 Joe Pye Weed(Eutrochium) is commonly known as Queen of the Meadow or Trumpeters.These tall,late- summer blooming perennials are native to North America and are frequently found in meadows,marshes and roadside ditches.

Rue Liebert in Tetreaultville

 Rue Liebert in Tetreaultville is named after Philippe Liebert(1732-1804),a prominent French-born Montreal sculptor,painter and cabinetmaker.

Rue Taillon in Tetreaultville

 Rue Taillon in Tetreaultville,Montreal is named after Sir Louis-Olivier Taillon(1840-1923).He was a lawyer and served as the premier of Quebec twice-briefly in 1887, and then from 1892 to 1896.

Hector Avenue in Tetreaultville

 Avenue Hector in the Tetreaultville neighborhood of Montreal is named after Hector Viney(1877-1953),a local farmer ,builder and landowner.

A song from Bryan Adams that I like

 Tough Town -song by Bryan Adams.

Komodo dragons

 Komodo dragons dig burrows to regulate temperature during the hottest hours.

How Bengal tigers cool themselves

 Bengal tigers cool their bodies by lying in shallow forest pools during heat spikes.

African proverb

 A rich man's crime is called a mistake while a poor man's mistake is called a crime.-African proverb

Another song from Metric that I like

 Breathing Underwater -song by Metric.

What vinegar can do

 Vinegar can dissolve eggshells in 24 hours.

A song from Metric that I like

 Help I'm Alive -song by Metric.

A song from The Tragically Hip that I love

 Twist My Arm-song by The Tragically Hip.

Rue Joseph-Nolin in Montreal

 Rue Joseph-Nolin in Tetreaultville,Montreal is named after Joseph Nolin(1863-1948),a prominent dental surgeon and co-founder of the Universite de Montreal's faculty of dental surgery in 1904.

Academic anhedonia a driving factor

 Academic anhedonia may be a driving factor in the elevated high school dropout rate in Quebec and many places.

           Many students find academics boring and are more interested in sports ,cars or entertainment.As artificial intelligence replaces more jobs in the workplace an increasing number of students may also question the value of formal education in this day and age.

Academic anhedonia

 Academic anhedonia refers to a significant loss of interest, motivation or pleasure in educational pursuits,commonly manifesting as apathy,boredom and reduced effort in studies.Often driven by high academic pressure,burnout,or mental health issues,it creates a cycle where previously enjoyable learning feels draining,leading to lower academic performance.

Mansuetude

 Mansuetude (noun)-gentleness,tameness or mildness.

This lawyer died unusually

 Garry Hoy,a 39 year-old Toronto lawyer fell to his death in July 1993 after throwing himself against a 24th-floor window to prove it was unbreakable -a stunt he had done many times before.The glass held,but the window frame popped out.

Iran's national bird

 The common Nightingale,Iran's national bird is famous not for its appearance but for its incredibly rich,melodious song.So powerful that it has inspired centuries of Persian poetry,where it's often portrayed as a devoted lover singing to the rose.

A song from Mariah Carey that I like

 Dreamlover-song by Mariah Carey.

Lawyer fell to his death while doing a safety demonstration

 On July 19,1993, Garry Hoy(January 28,1954-1993),a well-known Toronto lawyer died after falling 24 stories from the Toronto Dominion Centre.The 39 year-old was the strength of the building's glass to law students,a stunt he has performed previously ,but the entire window frame gave way.The glass did not break,but the frame failed,causing him to fall.

African proverb

 If you praise a blind man too much,he may end up throwing away his guiding stick!-African proverb 

A mammoth candy heist

 In March 2026,someone stole an entire truck carrying 413,793 kit kat bars -12 tons of chocolate somewhere between Italy and Poland.The truck,the thieves,and every single bar are completely missing as of April 1,2026.Nestle responded by saying " We appreciate the criminals' exceptional taste." Nobody has been caught.The world's most delicious heist remains unsolved on April 2,2026.

Indian Americans in the motel industry

 Indian Americans own about 40% of all hotels and motels in the US in 2025.Most owners are from Gujarat,India and 70% share the last name Patel.This is why it is called " the Patel Motel Cartel."

When capybaras are relaxed

 Capybaras allow birds and monkeys to sit on them as part of relaxed social tolerance.

Matamata turtles

 Matamata turtles resemble fallen leaves so convincingly fish swim directly toward them.

Streets I walked on Wednesday, April 1,2026

 On Wednesday,April 1,2026,I walked along the entire length of tiny rue Guilbault from rue St.Urbain to rue St.Dominique,passing Clark street and Boulevard St.Laurent.Rue Guilbault is lined with several vintage houses and a couple of beautiful vintage buildings at the intersection of Clark street.Then I walked on rue St.Dominique from rue Guilbault to Duluth Avenue.All in Plateau Mont Royal.

Retired gardener discovered a massive treasure trove

 In 1992,retired gardener Eric Lawes went out with a metal detector to help find a lost hammer.Instead,he uncovered the Hoxne Hoard,a giant Roman treasure trove with about 14,865 coins,later received $1.75  million for the find,shared it with farmer Peter Whatling,and yes,the hammer was found too.

        Sometimes people stumble upon a bonanza when they go looking for something else.Always keep your eyes peeled.

Arable land is scarce in the Middle East

 In many Middle Eastern countries,only about 4% to 7% of the land is arable.So whenever you see green farms, they're surviving in a place where heat,deserts and water shortages make growing food really difficult.

The Middle East is not that crowded

 The Middle East may look crowded,but with just 450-500 million people in 2025, it's far smaller than India alone which has more than 1.4 billion people.Nearly three times more people in a single country.

A song from 1998 that I like

 Never Say Never(1998)-song by Brandy.

In Hong Kong

 In Hong Kong,some residents live in extremely small "coffin-sized" apartments.The cost of living is very high in Hong Kong.

Quote from Ray Bradbury

 Books turn walls into stories.-Ray Bradbury 

Russian proverb

 Every sandpiper praises his own swamp.-Russian proverb

Rwandan proverb

 The rich man never dances badly.-Rwandan proverb 

Portuguese proverb

 The sooty oven mocks the black chimney.-Portuguese proverb 

Filipino proverb

 A clear conscience is more valuable than wealth.-Filipino proverb

Persian proverb

 With a sweet tongue of kindness,you can drag an elephant by a hair.-Persian proverb 

Quote from Jane Austen

 Books are the comfort of quiet evenings.-Jane Austen 

Infomania

 Infomania (noun)-Excessive enthusiasm for gaining knowledge.

A song from Magic that I like

 Lay You Down Easy -song by Magic.

The two faces of snapdragons

 Snapdragons look soft and beautiful when they bloom.But when the flowers fade,they leave behind tiny skulls.Hollow eyes.Bone-like faces.A quiet little reminder that even nature has a dark side.

         Faded snapdragons can sure look eerie;hence their name.

Proverb about dog

 A dog that has been missed by the stone barks more loudly than the one that has been hit by the stone.-African proverb 

African proverb

 80% of women escape poverty through marriage and 80% of men enter poverty through marriage.-African proverb

A wise African proverb

 He who wears another man's crown must walk with a careful neck.-African proverb

African proverb

 The tree that has survived many storms knows why its roots are deep.-African proverb

Rwandan proverb

 The most extensive land is the human belly.-Rwandan proverb

Persian proverb

 He whose heart is aroused by love will never die-Persian proverb

African proverb

 He who chases two rats catches none.-African proverb

Another African proverb

 The one who climbs the tree of lies will fall when the truth shakes the branches.-African proverb

African proverb

 When you depend on someone to feed you completely,you have given them power to starve you.-African proverb 

Valetudinarian

 Valetudinarian -A person obsessed with their health.

Peregrinator

 Peregrinator -A person who travels from place to place.

Misologist

 Misologist -A person who hates reasoning or arguments.

About moose

 Moose,the largest deer,can reach 2 metres and dive underwater for aquatic plants.

Quote from Stephen King

 A home library is a daily escape.-Stephen King

Russian proverb

 Envy sees the sea but not the rocks.-Russian proverb