Doug Nix

A comic strip titled "Ozzie's Gratitude Journal." Ozzie sits at a table writing, with a dog barking "Arf" nearby. In the next panel, the gratitude entry simply reads "DOGS.

Doug Nix

Canadian Badge

2025 Federal Election – Do you know Matt Strauss?

2025 Canadian Federal Election

What being Canadian means

The video and the image below nicely sum up what being Canadian means to me. Jeff Douglas’ passion for our core values and the differences between Canadians and Americans rings true for me.

We Are Canadian by Jeff Douglas, 2025

Pierre Elliot Trudeau was one of Canada’s great Prime Ministers. His words, spoken in front of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress in 1971, are still valid. Ironically, he said these words to this group of people, many of whom had fled the Soviet Union to escape the Holodomor in the 1930s. Canada has again accepted many Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war being waged on them by Russia. Canadians help people in need. It’s what we do.

Pierre Trudeau's Remarks to the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress, 1971-10-09. "Uniformity is neither desirable nor possible in a country the size of Canada. We should not even be able to agree upon the kind of Canadian to choose as a model, let alone persuade most people to emulate it. There are few policies potentially more disastrous for Canada than to tell all Canadians that they must be alike. There is no such thing as a model or ideal Canadian. What could be more absurd than the concept of an "all-Canadian" boy or girl? A society which emphasizes uniformity is one which creates intolerance and hate. A society which eulogizes the average citizen is one which breeds mediocrity. What the world should be seeking, and what in Canada we must continue to cherish, are not concepts of uniformity but human values: compassion, love, and understanding."
Pierre Trudeau’s Remarks to the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress, 1971-10-09.

Social Media

Here are some other places you can find me on the web.

The Mastodon Word Mark Logo. A stylized purple mastodon head with a white eye is partially overlayed with the word "Mastodon" in modern black characters.
The Friendica logo rendered in yellow and blue. The logo is two interleaved Fs. The upright F is in yellow, while the inverted F is in blue. The logo has rounded corners.
The Pixelfed logo

Canadian COVID Risk

Dr. Tara Moriarty, @moriartylab.bsky.social, at COVID-19 Resources Canada, is an invaluable Canadian resource. The site’s risk dashboard shows national and provincial risk levels based on the available data. This resource is likely your best option for evaluating your COVID-19 risk. Click on tab 5 to view this week’s risk dashboard.

Who am I, anyway?

Doug Nix wearing a red t-shirt with a tiny Canadian flag on on the collar.
Doug Nix in 2019

Hi there! This is where I share ideas that don’t have a home elsewhere.

I’m a machinery safety specialist by day and a husband and dog dad by night. I love writing, and I’m politically engaged. I live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

You’re in the wrong place if you’re looking for my professional qualifications or CV. Head over to my LinkedIn page to read that stuff.

In “the before,” pre-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, I ✈️ a lot for business; now, not so often. If you’re interested, I sometimes post stuff about where I go on my blog.

You can learn more about what I’m up to now by checking out my Now page.

Life is what you make of it…

Attitude is everything

Let me explain… I’ve truly come to believe that the most important aspect of life – bar none – is attitude. I don’t mean “having an attitude” or walking around trying to be “all gangsta.” I think Viktor Frankl said it better than I can hope to:

The last of human freedoms – the ability to chose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances.”

Viktor Frankl

No one can take away a person’s ability to decide how they feel in any circumstance, which amounts to choosing one’s attitude. Do you want to be miserable and downtrodden? Decide to be that way. Feel like a victim all the time? You are choosing to be a victim.

Starting today, make a different choice!

I believe that we bring what we need into our lives. By having an attitude that is conducive to what we want and that is in harmony with our mission in this life, the universe will manifest what we need. I’ve seen it in my own life, and I believe it happens daily.

Choose to live your best life starting right now – oh, and don’t forget your towel!

So explore around, check out my ramblings, and get in touch, or not, as you like. I hope you like it or that it makes you think, laugh, or shake your head. If I inadvertently offended you, sorry; it’s nothing personal.