felix's daily starfish and waffles

indochina dreamer

2011-12-04T17:55:00.000+01:00

Twenty-three stories over Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, from the open-air skybar atop the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers. (2011). *** We touchdown in Saigon late on a Saturday night. Amidst a swirl of neon lights and diesel motorbikes, the city is alive with fervor as our cab whisks us out of the tropical air towards our riverside hotel. It wasn't very long ago that the prospect of

the view from here

2011-10-02T21:10:00.000+02:00

The view from here. Edmonton, Canada. (2011). Camera: Panasonic Lumix DFC-GF2. Lens: Lumix G 14mm f2.5 ASPH Pancake. *** With new job, new apartment, and, ostensibly, new outlook after a summer of sea changes ... here we are, back again. Looking around, this seems to be a dangerous time for many reasons we won't get into now, but in typical starfish and waffles fashion, we'll take comfort

the instant life 2

2011-06-05T00:26:00.002+02:00

Just pictures. All instant.Hey, June.Tricycle riders. (2011).Vintage Broadway. Saskatoon, Canada. (2011). Superheroes. (2011).Heaven is a playground. (2011).Princess of suburbia. (2011).Castle green light. Saskatoon, Canada. (2011).Lazin' about on Sunday morning. (2011).

remember, we're parked under the sunsphere

2011-05-14T23:58:00.000+02:00

Alpha-Peanut. (2011). The editor's so famous even cereal knows his name!***May days, yeah, okay!(I think it's rather obvious the fact that I could get away with writing that is because the editor decided to take the weekend off).Time to quit while I'm ahead. But before I do, I'll leave a few recent pictures that I kind of like.See you out in the sun.Cheemosaurus. (2011). The best cheetah in

six starfish and waffles

2011-04-10T14:22:00.001+02:00

The timeless editor of felix's daily starfish and waffles.***And today, felix's daily starfish and waffles turns six.Six years is a long time. A lot of people have come and gone, and whether we're still here is a mark of resilience or a sign that life's pageantries have passed us by remains an open question.Maybe, the answer is, it's a little bit of both.Pictures and writing grow sparse in the

john chaney's march madness

2011-03-27T12:39:00.002+02:00

Five years after the retirement of John Chaney, the longtime coach of the men's basketball team at Temple University, I never did get around to posting my thoughts on the legend like I said I would here. I had started to write many times, but in the end, I guess I just didn't feel like my words did the man the justice he deserved.Worth reiterating: with John Chaney, it wasn't never just about

兔年运程 (^o^)

2011-02-13T11:23:00.003+01:00

Happy (Chinese) New Year. Singapore, Singapore.***When I take a step back and reflect, I marvel at the incredible progress we have made as a civilization. I mean, at what other time in the history could one be so terribly Chinese illiterate and yet be able to steal enough script over the internet to construct this Sino-themed post? Exactly. What an age we live in!So, in this freshly minted

in the eye of the storm

2011-02-02T23:59:00.000+01:00

Blue skies, calm surf. South Mission Beach, Australia. (2010).***Blue skies, calm surf. When we visited last July, weather conditions in North Queensland were certainly a bit more pleasant than in the last 24 hours or so.To our friends in the area who just bore the brunt of Cyclone Yasi's Category 5 fury: way to hang in there. Our thoughts are with you as you begin the daunting task of cleaning

the instant life

2011-01-30T01:45:00.002+01:00

In 2011, the esteemed editor of felix's daily starfish and waffles is still king. (2011). Original photo properties: Fujifilm Instax 210 instant camera, Fuji Instax Wide film.***The last weekend of January leaves me a little light-headed ... weary of work, winter, and the unsurity of what's next. I guess that's life, in 2011.Outside, it snows. I lose myself in intangibles ... coffee, tea ...

happy christmas

2010-12-30T23:03:00.001+01:00

Happy Christmas from all of us at felix's daily starfish and waffles. Saskatoon, Canada. (2010). ***Sorry, ananas fans: no Christmas pineapple this year. (We got hungry and ate it before we could get the camera). So instead, we humbly offer you a simple holiday message: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!See you in 2011.

syndicated starfish and waffles

2010-11-28T11:33:00.003+01:00

Well, kinda. The memo: we've recently retooled starfish and waffles lite to replay some of our favourite felix's daily starfish and waffles photos from over the years. So please do, click through to the new site, take a look, and tell us what you think. Yay!The familiar, friendly, furry face of starfish and waffles worldwide. (2010). In addition to the newly revamped starfish and waffles lite,

six ways from sunday: the law of small numbers

2010-11-21T23:52:00.004+01:00

The legendary editor of starfish and waffles enjoys the season's last slice of watermelon in this authentic Polaroid re-creation of maybe what's my favourite home photo. Edmonton, Canada. (2010). ***The law of small numbers states that observations made from small samples don't necessarily reflect reality at large or the larger reality ... yet, live through enough of these cold and dreary

rip the universe

2010-10-31T17:22:00.001+01:00

Delighted with Takashimaya fish pastries. Singapore, Singapore. (2010).***Blistering heat, blinding sun, and Yan and Sherm, good friends from another time, meet my arrival in last stop Singapore. Carefree exploring on foot of southeast Asia's crossroads city-state follow. These are simply happy days, but unbeknownst to me at the time, they'll turn out to be the summer's last.In the three

hello, stranger

2010-09-30T20:59:00.001+02:00

Malaysian royalty. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (2010).***After Australia, retracement of old footsteps continues on, to Malaysia. This is the homeland of both my parents, and breaking a personal 18-year absence from the equatorial tropics is important for different reasons, not the least of which are related to family.Customary visits and non-stop food headline, while heat and humidity remain

the city

2010-08-16T01:23:00.000+02:00

Night skyline from Darling Harbour. Sydney, Australia. (2010).***And ten years to the day, I return to Sydney.While the city is still undoubtedly world-class, the circumstances are different this time and, consequently, so is the feel.I see the Opera House here and the Harbour Bridge there, but the awestruck wow of the backpacker from a decade ago is replaced instead by a quiet appreciation of

time machine

2010-08-08T23:55:00.003+02:00

Coconut palm. South Mission Beach, Australia. (2010). ***I leave western Canada on a rainy Monday night ... and arrive in tropical north Queensland late on a Wednesday afternoon. Long flight, maybe, but what I really think is that I've discovered the elusive secret of time travel!Julian is there to pick me up from the airport of the future in Cairns. I've come all this way for his wedding and

opera

2010-07-31T02:30:00.000+02:00

Sydney Opera House. Sydney, Australia. (2010).***It's pouring rain the day Kim drops me off at the airport. It's pouring rain the night she picks me up. I suppose if I were sharper, I would've seen some kind of omen in that, but I'm not, so I don't.As it happens, tonight is the last time I get to hold her the way I want to. Sobbing, she walks away while I watch, and she doesn't look back.This

reach for the sun

2010-07-12T17:00:00.001+02:00

Two for the sun. Devon, Canada. (2010).***Just as things at home begin to heat up, it's time to hit the road again. Ironic, no? Ahhh, well. Good things come to those who wait, and travel to the far-flung corners of the South Seas provides opportunity to see people missed and reflect on life's unexpected directions.We'll see you in a little while.

the light brigade

2010-06-29T07:16:00.001+02:00

Follow the leader at the Canadian Road Nationals 2010. Edmonton, Canada. (2010). ***High noon, high June ... outside under the hot, summer sun. The 2010 Canadian Road National Cycling Championships are at my doorstep, and the editor has me on assignment for a report.The race itself: 180 kilometres (112 miles) on a difficult, hilly course produces little separation and there's a sprint to the

it's a small world after all

2010-06-13T23:23:00.001+02:00

Small kryptonite. Devon, Canada. (2010). A Malachite butterfly (Siproeta stelenes) drinks the nectar from some tiny flowers.***At long last, sunny rays beam down and warm the days of June - maybe, even in time, to mend the crumbling story (hope?) of the bigger picture. Somehow, we've been here before, and acting surprised doesn't quite seem to be the better course of action.I turn in and

snap!

2010-05-29T18:33:00.000+02:00

For felix's daily and starfish's superstar editor, only a classic camera like the Olympus Trip 35 will do. Edmonton, Canada. (2010). ***May 29 and it's snowing outside. Probably best to just stay in today.The upshot: to the delight of the editor, I finally have some time to update and revamp our dedicated photo website, dingobear photography at Zenfolio.Click here, to take a look.No inclement

almost famous

2010-05-25T01:20:00.000+02:00

Still chasing rabbits. Edmonton, Canada. (2010).***Late in the day, legs tire and concentration fades.Crack!Another tee shot, into the trees.Oh well.At least the sun's still warm as we quietly walk in our back nine, far over par as the case may be. I guess there just isn't much to say, but it doesn't mean that quiet time spent isn't time worth spending.Halfway up the hill behind the 17th pin,

through the eyes of henri le sidaner

2010-05-02T22:21:00.004+02:00

The art collection of Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza is widely considered as one of the most important in the world. Picasso. Canaletto. Monet. Matisse. Le Sidaner. Goya. Dalí. Degas. Dingobear?Clearly, one of these names doesn't belong and we're talking slightly in jest here, but look at this ...Through the eyes of Henri Le Sidaner in 1928 (left) and the lens of my camera 80 years

six ways from sunday: sayonara, salaryman

2010-04-25T23:43:00.002+02:00

Inching ever-closer to karōshi, there's little time for commentary this Sunday. Just let the music play, says the editor - and let the chips fall as they may.Wish me luck.Buffalo stance. Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Canada. (2009).**Six Ways from Sunday is felix's daily starfish and waffles' resident music column. Your mix tape with a theme, clicking on the active links below lead you to

take five

2010-04-10T23:58:00.000+02:00

April 10, 2010, marks five years online for felix's daily starfish and waffles. I guess this means we've been at this racket for awhile now, which is more than reason enough to raise a glass and celebrate with a cold one. Even better, if said glass is filled with sugary drink poured from a bottle with the editor's famous furry face right there on the label.Happy 5 years, Mr. Editor! At long