Quotes of the Day

Seeking to understand requires consideration; seeking to be understood takes courage. [2004] - Stephen R. Covey

Throwing in a false time constraint (I'm in a hurry, so I can't talk long) works anywhere, not just on public transit. It puts her at ease, letting her know you won't necessarily be taking up much of her time if she isn't interested. You can actually extend the conversation as much as feasible. In fact, the longer it is the better, since if it is flowing naturally and she's enjoying herself, her interest in you will rise, the time constraint will be forgotten, and she will feel more comfortable about giving you her contact information. [2012] - Christopher Gray

Dietary acid is in many of the most commonly consumed foods and drinks, even though you probably don’t know it’s there. It’s in canned and jarred soups and vegetables especially if they’ve been pickled, marinated, or fermented. It is in all carbonated beverages and industrially produced fruit juices. It’s present in every product that contains high-fructose corn syrup, even in items that don’t seem to be sweet at all. This ubiquitous and overused sweetener is produced using sulfuric acid and you’ll find it in the most unexpected places, such as in condiments, barbecue sauces, cocktail sauces, spice mixes, even baby food. You’ll find dietary acid in breads, salad dressings, juices, yogurts, and candy bars. [2017] - Jonathan Aviv

Investing 100% of your savings in paying down a mortgage can be a winning strategy, especially for those who do not want any stock market risk. Applying all long-term savings to mortgage paydown means giving up the potential that stock market returns will exceed your mortgage 'investment' returns (your mortgage rate) over time. Given that mortgage rates are so low, it won't take much for the stock market to outperform. So, some combination of mortgage repayment and tax-sheltered stock investments (in TFSA and/or RRSP) probably makes sense for most Canadians. [2018] - Larry Bates

There are several professional designations for property appraisers in Canada. The most common national designations are AACI (Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute) and CRA (Canadian Residential Appraiser), both awarded by the Appraisal Institute of Canada. [2006] - Douglas Gray