Heh – even “Macgyver” is affected by the recent stock selloff…

May not play properly outside US but it worked for me.

When it comes to my friends, it seems more shoot Canon than Nikon, I seem to be in the minority. Anyways, Gosha’s been using his 30D for a while and here is his photoblog.

Tucked away on the east side of Bloor Street, away from Yorkville, is this small sushi spot. It is a modest size and located along the IBM building at Bloor and Church. It was recommended by my friend and I’ve returned twice since going there initially.

The sushi is very nice and fresh. Most of the rolls are more authentic than my staple, Sushi Inn. There is a large appetizer menu that offers everything from the best Gyoza’s I’ve had to tempura and edamame. None of the dishes stand out as being really creative, but their preparation and freshness really make this a great place to go to.

Because of it’s location, Ichi Riki is not as busy as some of the Yorkville hot sushi places. However, its size means that it can still pack up and on a Thursday night, all the tables were filled at 7pm. This place is now one of my “go-to” sushi places.

Remember the last federal budget? I barely do, but I do remember that we are getting a tax-free savings account starting next year – and that’s just two-and-a-half months away. Tax-free growth is a pretty wonderful way to invest as millions of Canadians take advantage of this in our RRSP’s every year.

All the major institutions are creating these types of accounts – they will be available to us January 2, 2009. However, it’s best to start saving now so you have the $5000 available to put into the account next January. You won’t get the tax-deduction like your RRSP’s, but the money is not locked away and you can withdraw without being taxed.

Yes, it sounds crazy to consider investing in a new investment account now, but consider this – investors that put money in in 1929 and 1987 all made quite a bit of gains in the following years – why would this be any different? It’s a great benefit to even the risk-adverse investor.

Here is information for TD’s new tax-free savings account.

We certainly live in uncertain times. With jobless rates creeping up and companies definitely nearing the bottom of a business cycle, more and more professionals find themselves out of work. After being let go from a company, you should find out more about the benefits that are available to you after paying into the employment insurance system in Canada for so long.

Service Canada has a good summary of EI benefits and how to get them. In general, if you have paid fully into the system you are eligible to get up to $435 a week after your vacation/severance finishes.

Digital Photography Review (DPReview) is my “go to” site for camera reviews. They have just finished a full 37-page review of the new Nikon D90 camera.

Ever since Facebook 2.0 came out, a lot of people have been saying that it’s harder to control your privacy and many options that were easy to use are now hidden. One of the biggest ones I’ve heard about is having friends that have limited access to your profile.

When you get a friend request, you are given the option to “Add to a friend list”. In that drop down box should be a friend list called “Limited” and if you add them to that list, you should get the same experience as Facebook 1.0 – your friend will only be able to see limited details on your profile.

Now you have to go into your Privacy Settings. If that link doesn’t work, here are the manual instructions:

• Press “Settings” on the top right hand side
• Choose “Privacy Settings”
• Select “Profile” from this page to customize the access of your “Limited” group.

For each section in this page, select “Customize” and there is a red area called “Except These People“. Choose the “Limited” list in this box in order to prevent them from seeing certain things on your profile.

Don’t forget to save your settings. Now you have blocked “Limited” friends from seeing your drunken party pictures :)

Cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving? Defrost it a bit earlier and soak it in a brine. Brining a turkey will add moisture and flavour and prevents it from drying out. To make a brine, add a cup of salt into a gallon of water. Make sure the salt is all dissolved then you can add flavoring. The flavouring can be almost anything from peppercorns, sugar, spices, garlic, herbs, etc.

Let the turkey soak in the brine for at least two hours and overnight if possible. In the fridge make sure it’s submerged so that the turkey doesn’t dry out. If you cannot fit it, cover the unsubmerged turkey so it doesn’t dry out.

For the longest time I’ve stopped using Google Maps. This is because Microsoft’s Live Search Maps has much better coverage of the GTA and is more accurate.

For instance, their Bird’s Eye view i find is much more useful than Google’s Street View and Street View is not available in Canada.

As well, the maps in Live are more up to date. At the corner of Bay and Yorkville, the old Mr. Sub building is still standing in Google Maps, while Live Maps shows the new Four Season’s Hotel/Condo Showroom. Live’s maps are in much higher resolution, as shown below:

Update: Twice this week I’ve looked up addresses on Google Maps only to find out that the location was WRONG. I find this really bad and worse is that there’s no easy way to tell them to make a correction on their site.

This Starbucks is at Yonge/Bloor, but Google Maps puts it way up in Rosedale, almost a full km away from it’s actual location.

When I went to Audi Mississauga, it placed the marker way in the middle of a neighborhood instead of on the side of Mavis where it is really located:

As I posted before, the new 2009 Audi A4 is here. This week, I got to test drive the new car thanks to Alex at Audi Mississauga.

If the new A4 looks familiar, it’s because you’ve seen it already in the form of a coupe – the Audi A5 and S5. Like the coupes, the new A4 differ from the previous generation of Audi’s by having wheelbase lengthened and engine put behind the front axle for better weight distribution. It also features LED daytime running lights similar to the Audi R8 and bolder styling.

My last Audi was a 98 Audi A4. Driving the 2009 reminds me about how far technology has become. The engine is much more powerful and at the same time, more economical and fuel-efficient. The new A4 comes powered by a newer 2.0 litre turbo with direct injection or a 3.2 litre V6.

Driving the new A4 is quite a treat. The new engine has more torque than the outgoing model although drivers of smooth flat-sixes will probably be annoyed by the buzzy engine at high rev’s. However, only by driving like a maniac will you reach such engine levels as both the Tiptronic and manual transmissions are six-speeds and can keep the revs at a nice, comfortable level.

One of the newest features is Drive Select, which has three programs for the variable steering, throttle response and suspension dampening. The comfort mode had a perceptible difference on the highway, however it is quite subtle. The dynamic mode made the most difference and made the little Audi quite a fun drive.

I wouldn’t buy any Audi without quattro all-wheel drive and as such, the base model with quattro starts at $41,200. The premium package is a “must have” since it includes many features found in other models, and it is a $3,800 option package. The Drive Select feature is a nice option, but too pricey and I cannot recommend it for all but the most die-hard of drivers.

Overall I recommend the Audi A4 to someone that wants a small, efficient luxury car and not wanting a speed demon. It’s stylish and comfortable, a perfect entry-level luxury sedan.