underground city
it was amazing to watch the thunderstorm from our cafeteria on the 18th floor today. it also gave me extra incentive to figure out the way from the bell tower to les halles de la gare via the underground city. what is normally a 2-minute walk across the street (I needed to get a stamp at the post office) took … Read More
bipedal
I’ve finally gotten my act together and have started biking to work. but let me explain a special characteristic of where I live: it appears that no matter where I go, it’s an uphill bike ride there AND back. for example, it’s about a 40 min ride to work, the first 25 being uphill. and exactly the same on the … Read More
dictionary of finance terms
SHARK REPELLENT: measure undertaken by a corporation to discourage unwanted TAKEOVER attempts. Also called porcupine provision. For example: 1. fair price provision requiring a bidder to pay the same price to all shareholders. This raises the stakes and discourages TENDER OFFERS designed to attract only those shareholders most eager to replace management. 2. GOLDEN PARACHUTE contract with top executives that … Read More
hard candies
there is a plant my mom gave me that I never knew sprouted flowers–and the strangest flowers I’ve ever seen. They’re kind of… hard. and fuzzy. and they have such a strong perfume that it smells like candy!
restaurant jolee
after playing badminton, ran into K in the metro. was getting quite late so we just grabbed some hoppers and this über spicy shredded coconut thing (which strangely looked exactly like the dried shredded pork you can get at chinese grocery stores) at restaurant jolee on victoria. couldn’t really go wrong at $3.50 for food that will last both of … Read More
uyghur resto hotpot
back at that xinjiang restaurant on st-laurent in chinatown. the hotpot was pretty good as far as what I’ve had in montreal. interesting because it was spicy with a reminder of that flavouring they use on 羊肉串 (lamb kebabs)–probably just cumin, but still makes it taste vaguely exotic. or addictive. or whatever. [did I ever mention the urban legend of … Read More
chinesepod
I love this chinese podcast that hm directed me to–I’m somehow drawn in enough by the people conversing (they’re in shanghai, and include at least an american and brit whose chinese is pretty good, as well as a chinese who learned english abroad), that I want to know more about them! it’s pretty sweet that they have different levels too. … Read More
because the world should be black or white
compare this ad, of a typical variety found all over asia: …with this one, which is currently displayed in most metros in montreal: it’s really funny, the poster says, “picture yourself tanned!” and includes a mirror that’s tainted very very yellow. but more like a dirty colour rather than anything remotely pleasant. from the new york times: a vision of … Read More
lingling is dead
put to sleep yesterday (monday) evening. she almost made her 17th birthday.
bike!
just got my bike fixed! had to have the rear derailleur replaced and went to VB cycle on victoria. ended up with a shimano alivio to replace the shimano deore lx that I had. no idea how different they are though. I wish I knew more about bike parts… off to test it out! wheeeeeeeee(l)