Yep, there's an App for that

Today's Topic: The iPhone

I was always against people with their "big fancy cellphones." Honestly, it's a phone, and all I needed it for was to make calls with. That was until I bought the iPhone. I did learn that yes, there was in fact an app for everything. It has been the single device that has totally changed my lifestyle, how I conduct my day-to-day business and one thing that goes with me wherever I go. I never thought I would be this attached to a device, but yes, the iPhone has grabbed hold of me and I don't plan on letting it go.

For me, it wasn't because I wanted the "cool" phone. I needed something that was going to be reliable, useful, resourceful and make my life just a little bit easier (mark my words when I say that Apple is slowly taking over the tech world.) For example, this past thanksgiving, I was traveling to see my girlfriend in Cambridge and the traffic was absolutely brutal. Google has a built in Maps App on the iPhone that not only locates precisely where you are, but gives you a detailed traffic report, how far the traffic is lined up and your new ETA to your destination. I saw that there was no end in site to this traffic, so I got off at the next exit and my trusty phone guided me through the back roads all the way to my girlfriends house. It saved me at least an hour and half because riding a turtle would have made more sense then driving on the 401 that day. Life easier= a happier person. Not only the Maps app, but the ESPN Scorecentre app, my Scotiabank app (yes, I can pay all my bills from my phone), the YellowPages (which saves me a TON of time with work) and just having the Internet in the palm of my hand at all times in general is just awesome. All for $56 a month. It's a complete all in one package that has completely revolutionized my life and helped me keep up with the 21st century we live in. It even has the built in iPod, 3mp camera and a sweet calender. The best part? Every awesome app is free, 99% of the time.

The iPhone for me is a classic case of a piece of technology owning you, not you owning the technology. I will straight up admit that this phone is way smarter than me. The concept is incredible and for what you can do on it, blows my mind. It amazes me everyday. It's safe to say that my phone and I are in a serious relationship. Any conversation or debate I have with someone on a day to day basis, (mostly my big brother) we pull out the phone to get the facts straight or prove one another wrong. I always say "Well luckily, there's an app for that," followed by a brief browsing period (which costs no extra money since I'm connected to the nearest router automatically...as long as I know the password.) There are few things this pocket device cannot do. Aside from feeding you or giving you money, it takes care of everything else. It's gotten to the point where I often feel "naked" if it's not on me. Since I started this blog even, I've looked at it multiple times for inspiration.

If you don't have a smart phone yet, do it. I'm not going to get into the blackberry vs. iPhone debate because they are for two completely different people. The blackberry helps people stay in touch and has revolutionised communication with the free worldwide BBM network, which is a stroke of genius. Had it not been for that, the iPhone would have already monopolized the cell phone industry. I would recommend the iPhone to any walking human being, from the age of 10 to 85. You don't have to be a genius to be on this thing, trust me. It does the thinking for you. Auto correct is a wonderful tool. And if you can get used to the touchscreen, you're off to the races. Eventually, if you own a cellphone, it will have to be a smart phone, as technology changes so fast that the old cellphones keep having turnovers and discontinued models. Hop on this one though and if you can, buy Apple stocks because this is one company that is going to be around for a very, very long time.

I think the most amazing thing about Apple is that the Apple is their marketing tool. No words. Just a symbol. A fancy screen, the simple colours, and a whole group of followers that love the latest and greatest in the tech world. The sales speak for themselves. $3.4 billion last year in the quarter of sales that surrounds Christmas. Not too shabby. Steve Jobs has to amazed by his masterpiece. He totally dominates a cut throat industry that is only concerned about one thing: being the best. Do one thing and do it well. That's what Apple has done, and will 100% likely continue to do.

The one question I have, where were we before all these smart phones came about? Were we that lost in the clouds? Were our lives that much harder? Did we not have a device that could literally do it all? Whatever the case, people far more intelligent then us figured it out, made the change, and now we live in their world. However, I for one am thankful. Thank you iPhone. You deserve a round of applause.

Luckily, there's an app for that too. Instant applause. I'm not even kidding.

The Big Box Theory

Today's Topic: Our Square Life

It's not as boring as it sounds. It all starts with a signal that your brain sends to your eyes. If you believe that you are simply a visitor on this Earth for an already determined amount of time, take a look around every once in awhile. I mean REALLY take a look around. I did this the other day and realized that life really is a box inside a box, inside another box with square shaped objects that resemble a box. This isn't the first time I have heard of this; a teacher once pointed this out to a class I was in. Your eyes become so accustom to shapes that shapes simply don't even matter anymore. It's just the object you concentrate on.

Think about how boring a book store is. A square entrance, a square shelf, full of square books, square patterns on the walls and floor, you pay with square money or a square card and then walk back out through a square door. Riveting. Or, take for example right now. Look around your room. I can guarantee that are at least 4 or 5 square objects. A computer screen, a filing cabinet, a window, a door, a drawer, the floor, your keyboard or keys on the keyboard, your desk, a television, a book, your phone, perhaps your mouse pad, and most certain...the room. This is your life inside a square. All units of equality and balance are measured by the square. Think about it a bit further and you realize that you don't even think about it at all. It just becomes a habit for your mind and eyes. When you are taking a picture, you are usually trying to centre your subject inside a square screen. You turn on the television at night and the subject is inside a square screen, being filmed through a square frame, inside a square room, inside of a square house.

Doesn't it make you realize how simple life is? It's all a big square. Maybe that's why that advertisement doesn't always catch your eye? It's just a another square. I believe that when life throws you a triangle, a circle or an octagon, you are that much more likely to pay attention to it. Take for instance driving: You stop at a stop sign because your eyes notice a different shape. You can recognize the colour of a stop light because it's a circle. You notice the fancy cars because they are a shape all on their own. But when you get out of your car, do you ever really look at the door you slam? Or the next one you open? Do you ever notice what colour it is? What kind of trim it has? Nine times out of ten, the answer is no. Your mind only makes the attempt to open the door, instead of actually staring at it. It really is amazing thought isn't it? That your mind knows enough to just concentrate on opening the door and not really looking at the detail of it. I wonder what it would be like to open up a restaurant called Triangles where you have nothing but triangles in the place. The door, the sign, the windows, the tables, the chairs, the plates, the glasses. I think it would be incredibly successful. Everyone would say, "You have to go check out this restaurant called Triangles. Every thing is a triangle!," as if our mind is amazed by the shape. Patent pending.


I think it would be impossible to count the number of squares you encounter on a day to day basis. I'm sure it would be in the hundreds or perhaps even thousands. In fact, I challenge you to try it and re post how many you count in a single day, or how many your eyes look at. Maybe it's the thought of different shapes that makes our mind more attentive, a test for instance. If you were to take this one step further, you could relate this to the black box theory and how our mind works. For example, if you had a black box that you could not open, could not just "look inside" to see how it worked, all you could do is guess how it worked based on what happens when we do something to it (an input) and what occurs as a result of that (an output). If you put an orange in on one side, and an orange falls out the other, you could make an educated guess on what is happening inside the black box. It could be filled with oranges, it could have a conveyor belt to move the orange from one side to the other, it could even go through an alternate universe for all we know. All you can do is guess. You have to guess what is going on inside the square darkness. However, it's the square concept that your mind concentrates on. All you do is test your mind on how it works without actually knowing HOW it works.

The point of the sitdown this week was to expose things around you but also to help you realize that your life is a series of developed boxes inside one another, on top of each other and surrounded by you. It's not so much a scary thought as it is an interesting one. You live in a "box", some of us work in a "box" and for everyone, you are going to walk through a "box" everyday of your life. So there you have it ladies and gentlemen; a simple way of looking at the big box theory that is your life. And until they come out with circle doors like you see on cartoons, you are 99% likely to walk through or see at least one square a day. It's inevitable.

Our ultimate fate

Today's Topic: The Reality of Death

This is a topic that I've been thinking about writing for awhile. I wasn't waiting for the near death experience or anything I was just waiting for the creative juices to really flow on this one because trust me, I know this is a touchy subject. However, I think the sooner you come to terms with it, the more comfortable you become with the subject. In one of my earlier blogs, I touched on this a bit with the idea of forever. Since then, I guess you could say I've had a few things "inspire" me to take the subject a bit further.

It's not so much a scare for me as it is a reality. For myself, I believe that my ultimate fate in this life on this universe has already been set up for me. So to that, I ask you this. Have you ever thought about what happens next? Awhile back, I watched One Week starring Joshua Jackson, and I have to tell you, it really was a great movie. I was a bit worried because of the indie feel to it and I wasn't sure how to feel about Josh Jackson when I looked at the movie jacket. Maybe it was the constant barrage of Canadian content that heightened this movie for me, but I found myself deeply connected to the character of this story. The plot surrounds itself with the idea of death and what you would do if you got shocking news that you had a terminal illness. Jackson's character sets out on an adventure, and does not pay any attention to his boundaries of his fiance, his family or his fate in general. It's a story about finding one's self, something that I sometimes find a struggle too. But I reassure myself that it's human nature to think like that. The idea of death doesn't really hit Jackson until the end of the movie, when he has to make the ultimate decision of how he tends to battle the illness. I won't put a spoiler alert in here because I won't ruin the movie for you if you haven't seen it, but I will say it's worth a watch.

The movie deals with a question of why things happen the way they do and why young people are put in the position they are when the natural order and progression of life doesn't fall into place for them specifically. It also asks the viewer, "What would you do if you knew you were going to die? What story would you tell?" It really got me thinking about a lot of things, like why people are so uptight all the time. Wake up and realize death doesn't wait for you, hence the title of the movie "One Week." One week to live. What would you do? That was my interpretation anyway.

I heard a story once from my grade 12 English teacher, Mr. Candeloro, who one day told the class a story about death and fate which involved a king and his servant. The king had sent his servant to the fruit market to get the best fruit in the land. While the servant was at the market, he saw what appeared to be Death approaching him (the classic grim reaper). Frightened by this, the servant hurried home and told the king of this news. He feared that Death had finally caught up to him, and he must flee England and leave for uncharted territory, into the wilderness of Africa. Angered by this, the king marched down to the market to see if he too could spot "Death." It was as if Death was waiting for him when he got to the market. The king approached Death and said, "Death, why is it that you scared my servant today? Is this some sort of cruel joke? You have him so freighted that he has left my kingdom and fled to the jungles of Africa." Startled by this, Death replied, "Your Highness, I was not trying to frighten your servant. I was only startled by seeing him today, as I was not supposed to see him for another two weeks. You see, he is going to die in the African Jungles. That is where I was supposed to catch up with him." Amazing right? I thought to myself, "Wow, there really is no escape to your fate." Even if you knew, or thought you knew like the servant, there is nothing you can do anyway. At that moment, I think I finally realized that nothing lasts forever.

As humans, we have all experienced some sort of death, even on a daily basis. Killing a fly, squashing a spider, accidentally (or purposely) hitting something with your car, watching a television show or movie where someone dies...it's all around us. And then the sensitive stuff, losing someone you love or losing someone or something who had an impact on your life. You're never ready for it. Ever. You could plan your whole life, heck even know the day, and you still wouldn't be ready for it. I lost my best friend to cancer over three years ago, which was one of the hardest run ins with death I have ever had to deal with. Through all the tragedy and heartbreak and the only now memories I am left with of her smiling face, it taught me one thing. To live.

Who knows what waits for us on the other side. Whatever it is you believe in, just remember what you stand for, and who you want to be remembered as. If you ask me, there is no second chance. Maybe you're an animal in your next life. Maybe you are reborn into a new soul. Maybe you earn your wings, and fly to places in the world you never had a chance to see. Maybe you finally take that trip to Hawaii, California or China. Maybe you become the guardian angel for your best friend. Maybe you whisper to people at night while they are dreaming, and tell them everything is going to be okay. Or maybe, you just lie six feet under, finally getting the rest you needed your whole life. But in reality, that's it. Nothing, absolutely nothing, goes with you. It's all for show. Death doesn't wait for you to finish up, so hit the start button now if you haven't reached outside your boundaries and started living. Start today.

You make choices in your life every day. If you know you're making the wrong one, please, don't make it. Every action turns into a memory, whether it be good or bad. There is no erase or undo button like there is on a computer or at the tip of a pencil. At the end of the day (pardon the pun), you either face death head on or you wait for it to come and find you. It's okay to make a jump every once and awhile.

Either way, remember, don't take it all so seriously. It's not like you are getting off this planet alive.

The Healthy Trend

Today's Topic: The Trend of Eating Healthy

Okay so I guess I've realized that I am being sort of a pessimist with some of my blogs now but this will be the last argumentative one for awhile, I promise. I'm sorry folks, but I have to do this and make the case for being healthy being nothing but a trend in the modern day world that North Americans live in. It's really starting to bother me that everywhere I go people are telling me to eat nothing but fruit and lettuce (I may be exaggerating a bit). I know I have readers from different countries so to those of you reading this from the other side of the world, I hope I can share some insight on why everyone feels like they have to go to the gym on this continent.

People, let's face it...thin is in. And it's everywhere. Everyone tells you to eat right. Everyone is telling you to exercise. Yes, people are stressing about salad. It's almost become a major food faux pas to being eating "garbage" not even all the time, but AT ALL. Please, don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a healthy lifestyle. To each their own, I understand that. I just want to point out a few flaws in this healthy eating society.

There is one thing that I am certain generations of people are going to look back on us and laugh about it. The treadmill. Seriously? You are wasting electricity by running on an object for minutes or even hours at a time, in a building, in front of a window or television. So you walk or run for what the machine tells you is "kilometres." There's only one problem, they aren't actually kilometres because YOU DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. What did you just accomplish? You were stationary that whole time, and you had to pay to do it! But boy, was it a good workout. This is something I like to call human stupidity. Try and tell me this makes sense to you and it's not just a trend.

I feel like a huge fatty at the grocery store. I do my very best to eat balanced meals by taking my trip around the food guide for most meals (especially supper which is my favourite meal of the day besides big breakfasts on weekends). This is why I feel like a blimp when I take my food to a checkout in a busy grocery store. The girl in front of me has everything blue menu, low in fat, and some of the foods she has in her cart, I have never even seen them on the store shelves. I'm sorry but I know that some of that food just doesn't taste good but people torcher themselves by buying it and eating it because they feel like they "need to be" healthy. So after she's done, the first item I put on is my guilty chocolate pleasure of Swiss Chocolate Rolls. Sometimes it's Haagen Dazs. I am automatically way less of a healthier eater then the girl who was just in front of me. Do you ever find yourself doing that at a grocery store...looking in other people's carts to see what they have? And then you feel slightly better about your groceries if you find that person with all the Hungry Man frozen dinners in their cart? I'm big time guilty of this.

Is it just me or does society have it COMPLETELY ass backwards. Why does healthy food cost more money? People already feel bad enough because they don't eat healthy enough and then when it comes time to pay the grocery tab, you break their hearts even more by emptying there wallets. If people were that concerned about eating healthy, wouldn't it make sense to make better food cheaper? Just saying.

But, there is still one place who doesn't care about your health. Meet The Heart Attack Grill in Chandler, Arizona. Let me give you the restaurant experience. First of all, when you walk in the door, if you're over 350 lbs, you eat for free. You'll then be greeted by a very questionably dressed waitress who's posing as a nurse, takes your order and attaches a medical hospital style bracelet of your order onto your wrist. From this point on, you know you're doomed. Don't bother asking for a diet coke, the word "diet" is not spoken of in a restaurant like this. Grab your plate and load up at The Fry Bar, an all you can eat flat liner fry experience that are cooked in 100% pure lard. If you order the mighty burgers, don't go much bigger then a single or double bypass burger or you'll have nightmares about what you just ate. If you dare to order the quadruple bypass burger (seen here) get ready to ingest, wait for it, 8,000 calories. Holy Christmas. And I felt guilty about eating Haagen Dazs. Their motto serves them well with a "meal to die for" attitude. You have to give the guy who owns this restaurant credit though. In a society that counts the calories in a head of lettuce, he is a marketing genius.

I had a friend (your welcome in advance for the shout out) who wrote her thesis on how bigger people used to be the symbol for power and wealth, which I found to be completely fascinating. It used to be that the bigger person you were, the more money you had, the more powerful you were, the richer your foods were, the happier you were. So, what happened? Did one day a bunch of pissed off skinny people throw a riot somewhere demanding more people be like them? It's very interesting how some things come in full circle. Was it just ignorance? We didn't know what we were eating was supposedly "bad" for us? Somewhere the clouds came in, it got foggy and when it cleared up, there was the carrots and apples.

I think you yourself have to decide where to draw the line and I think it's like that for a lot of people. I don't have a craving for a quadruple bypass burger cooked in lard or the heart stopping double down from KFC. I do enjoy a good burger and fries from now and then and why not? I used to live with a personal trainer who told me that our bodies have a natural sort of way of telling us that we need those fatty acids in our body. So really it's our mind telling us that we crave these foods. Thank you brain for telling me that a McChicken from McDonalds still tastes delicious.

I am probably in no position to give advice, but I'm going to anyway because this is my blog and I stand behind my words. Eat what you want, when you want to. Do not let the person dressed in a muscle shirt or Lu Lu lemon outfit make your food buying decisions for you. Be happy with what you eat and make yourself comfortable. If you want a fresh crunchy salad, go for it. If you also want the chocolate bar, that's okay too. Too many people get caught up in what the person behind the mirror is going to think of them. You're only on this planet for a short time so eat what makes you happy. Take chances with food and don't always count the calories if you don't want to. On the other hand, if you want to make a change, then that's okay to. Just love the foods you have because no one should put their bodies through misery eating foods they don't like.

Don't get caught up in body image and eating healthy. I promise you, it's only a phase and a modern day trend. I still believe that one day, wealth and happiness will once again be the symbol for the biggest people around. And then I WILL SAY, I told you so.

TML...Toronto Makes me Laugh

Today's Topic: Why you shouldn't be a Leaf Fan

Before you start throwing stones, at least give me a chance to explain my reasoning behind such a statement. Yes, I am die hard Montreal Canadiens fan, so you might consider this post to a bias one. However, the evidence just stacks up on why Leaf fans are so miserable, so blind and in denial. If you truly consider yourself a fan of the sport and you appreciate hockey as much as I do, you will at least take this into consideration. This is my attempt at explaining why you shouldn't support a losing franchise the way you do. It's okay to still be a fan, but please, don't gloat. Your team has little to show for itself in the last 30+ years.

Before I get into the bad and the ugly, I'm going to start off with the good things Leafs nation has done in the past few years. You got rid of John Ferguson Jr. That was an excellent call. In his place, you went out and got Brian Burke, a man at the top who has brought Stanley Cups to franchises in the National Hockey League. This was an excellent call. You went out and got a coach who knows how to coach with Ron Wilson. That was another excellent call. So you were set, new coach, new GM, new philosophy but still, you were producing the same mistakes, same mental errors and the same poor effort. I realize that the leafs are young and growing. But how long do you keep using that excuse? So what exactly happened?

I blame the lockout on the Leafs stumble to failure. Before the NHL lockout, the Leafs had made the playoffs for six consecutive seasons. Since the lock out, they have missed the playoffs for five straight seasons. Now being one of the biggest cities in the world, one of the most expensive and "elite" franchises in the NHL, why can't they even pull it together for one playoff run? I'll tell you what it's NOT. It's NOT the coaching, Ron Wilson had great success with the San Jose Sharks with a much less talented team. It's NOT the GM, Burke has a proven track record. It's NOT the players, they have many promising prospects. I blame it on two things: 1. John Ferguson Jr. and 2. Fan Morale.

John Jr.; The man would struggle running the popcorn machine at games, let alone manage a professional hockey team. His mistakes, his unthinkable acquisitions, his head scratching tactics, his lack of knowledge about the sport and the team, his in ability to draft players, his little hope in turning anything around...his mistakes set the leafs nation back at least ten years. It all starts at the top and it trickles down from there. The question I have though is that if the Leafs were losing for so long while he was the GM, WHY didn't they get rid of him sooner?? If you are that bad at your job, don't you usually get fired? I don't even want to remark at the bonehead moves he has made, but John Ferguson Jr. should be a curse word to any devoted leafs fan. He is one of the single reasons why you are in the shape you are. You should tie him up in front of the ACC and declare a public stoning.

Next, fan morale. Year after year, you lose. Yet, year after year, you still buy tickets. The most expensive tickets in the NHL. Not only do you buy tickets, you support an enormous condominium building being built right in front of your arena. So that's great, you can't even park in front of the stadium anymore unless you are a VIP. So you go and pay AT LEAST $20 to PARK you vehicle, if you are thirsty at the game, you pay $6 for a drink or $9 for ONE beer, and you pay at least $5 for cold popcorn. Why? Please tell me that I am wrong with what I'm staying. STOP THE MADNESS. You're supporting a team that hasn't even made the playoffs for the past five years. If anything, the worse the Leafs get, the more expensive the tickets, the concessions, the souvenirs and the parking becomes! You are all loyal despite being treated poorly. That is retarded. It doesn't make sense to me.

In a 2008, ESPN The Magazine took a survey on sports teams rewarding fans. Teams were graded by stadium experience, ownership, player quality, ticket affordability, championships won and "bang for the buck"; The Leafs were ranked 121st out of the 122 professional teams in the Big Four Leagues (major professional sports teams in the United States and Canada). In particular, the Leafs came last in ticket affordability. This was not that long away. Nothing has changed. How about not buying tickets? Maybe boycott it? Won't that drop the price? Without fans, there is no game. Keep that in mind.

At the start of the season, I made a statement on Facebook that said: "The leafs win four games and all of a sudden every fan crawls out of their hole they have been in hiding in for the last five years while they stunk up the league. Wake up. You have 78 games left." A bunch of people agreed with me. Some didn't. Some used the excuse "You're just jealous the Leafs beat your Canadiens this year." No, MY Canadiens have treated me great as a fan, we almost went to the Stanley Cup Final last year. Since the lockout, we have only missed the playoffs once. I support a winning franchise. You should too. The Leafs fired out of the cannon this season with a 5-0 start and first place in the Eastern Conference. All hail the great and powerful Leafs. Now, they are 5-5-3, good for 11th in the Eastern Conference. Don't worry, I won't say I told you so.

I hope things only get better for the Leafs Nation. After all, they are a Canadian team and hockey really is a Canadian sport. I will admit, they show promise but until your team actually, performs, I stand by my reasoning. Don't support a bunch of losers. Support something that rewards you. Otherwise, you'll always be depressed and you'll just keep getting let down year after year. That's my evidence, but of course since I am a Habs fan, you better take it with a grain of salt.

The one great thing about being a Leafs fan though; if you ever want to see the Stanley Cup, it's right down the street from your arena. Some fans wait decades to see it in person. It's in Leafs fans backyard...curse? On the other hand, Leafs fans, you might want to go take a visit because trust me, it won't be in your arena anytime soon.

Make the most of Oct 31st

Today's Topic: Halloweens- Past and Present

I still remember my favourite costume: Donnie the Devil. I would post the picture but it would be within the tens of thousands of my mom's pictures (literally) and I probably wouldn't find it until next Halloween. The pitchfork, the drawn on moustache and that classic tail. I got two pillow bags of candy that year.

The greatest thing about trick or treating in the country was that you got almost double of everything because there were so few of us out there. It was because I had so much candy that my friends that lived in-town were quite jealous. I used to have so much that I turned it into a business. I would sit on the candy until about the end of November, take it to school, and sell it to my friends. Awesome Grade 5 business project and I was part of the black market of Halloween candy.

I love everything about Halloween. What's not to love about it? Candy, chips, chocolate and even discount chocolate on the shelves of Wal-Mart on November 1st, pumpkin carving's are always the bomb and the costumes light up the neighbourhood. As the years go by, I still don't lose the spirit and make the biggest effort I can to get out on the streets and dress up for Hal

loween. The great thing about dressing up is that people just seem so much friendlier. Everyone looking at each other, trying to figure what you are, people admiring your creativity, taking pictures with strangers and giving high fives because you love their costume; it just puts you in a better mood for the night. Last night some guy nailed the Alan costume from the hangover. Another bunch of guys nailed the Ghostbusters. And of course, most of the girls were wearing as little clothes as possible. Let's be real, you do see a lot of skin in the streets, gals and guys.

I think the greatest thing about Halloween is the ability to transform yourself. Be whoever or whatever you want without consequence. It's one of the only days of the year where people don't judge you negatively (at least not to your face). Costumes are powerful, especially if you really get in character. We all look at each other different, which I think is okay. It creates change and gives people something different to talk about. I wish I could find more excuses to dress up, anybody else feel like that? One of these years, I am going to go all out and really try to turn some heads.

Halloween is one of those holidays that goes in circles. At some point, 99% of us have dressed up and then when we have kids, we dress them up to. I had a trick or treater tonight who dressed up as Lindsay Lohan in a jail outfit. Wow. Hilarious. Kudos to those parents. And for years to come, it only continues without fail. It's a great tradition and a great holiday. Most would definitely agree. Including our beloved Simpsons. It's also one of those holidays that never gets old. New years bring out the newest outfits. But I urge you to all get out and get in the costume spirit. There's only one Oct. 31st and you're never too old to dress up. And don't forget to the enjoy candy apples.

The Great Cannabis Debate

Today's Topic: Legalizing Marijuana

Wouldn't it be funny if this picture became a reality? Could you not see the corporate fat cats drooling over the money they would make on selling marijuana, if it was legal? Could you not see the government thinking of all the money to be made if you were to TAX IT? Because I can.

I can still say I haven't tried it. There have been many, many opportunities where I could have, but I still have never smoked weed. It's not so much that I need to or wanted to, it's just a personal choice that I have made over the years not to smoke it. And I figure I have gotten through the worst of it now, what with high school, peer pressure and the everyone-is-doing-it attitude. I've gone this long without doing it that I don't really want to do it. However, never smoking a joint still makes me think that Marijuana should be legalized, especially in the culture we live in nowadays. That's right, a non-pot smoker wants pot to be legalized.

There is obviously negative impacts of putting through such a proposal but for now, I am going to stick to what appears to me as the "positive" side of legalizing hemp. Bare with me.

I think giving people the option to smoke weed will actually help a growing drug problem. It seems as though when something is deemed "illegal", for whatever reason, people are more likely to think about or actually do it. Making it acceptable would make people less ignorant to the fact that smoking pot is in fact not as bad as what you might think.

"Potheads" as we have so cleverly coined them (yes, I'm being sarcastic), have been labeled as trouble makers and a menace to society. But wouldn't it be just as plausible to label "alcoholics" in the same category? If you were too compare these two habits, you have Alcohol; a widely accepted hobby, a form of being social, a way to let loose, entertain yourself or forget about that 9-5 job. However, when abused, alcohol makes some people reveal there true self, endangers others and causes fatal deaths. I'm not gonna surround you with stats about how many people die from alcohol related accidents every day or every year because I know it is still a lot. BUT, when it comes to Marijuana; a widely unacceptable habit that is illegal, it doesn't have the negative impacts compared to a habit of say consuming alcohol and it is still a form of being social, a way to let loose, entertain yourself or forget about that 9-5 job. Now I am going to throw a fact at you that it hard to believe, but is true. Not one person died in a marijuana related accident last year. Not one. So remember, if you were comparing habits; alcohol kills thousands when behind a wheel, weed kills none. Alcohol is accepted, we have bars that serve people this substance and it makes for more people to be put in harms way. Weed is banned because society doesn't like "potheads" and it is not okay to get "high." Now I'm not a theorist or educated doctorate on the theory of law, cannabis or alcohol but this seems just a tad ridiculous when you look at it this way.

So say someday Marijuana does become legal and people can smoke it for other then just medicinal purposes. This is a completely untapped market that would have remarkable potential. Think of the imports and exports, the connections we make with countries, the branding of weed, smoke houses, smoke bars, etc. etc. I just don't think it's that crazy. You would create THOUSANDS of jobs. Importers, exporters, drivers, pilots, people who run smoke shops, people who build them, people who work at them...the list goes on and on. People could become pot harvesters, you could use wasted land to grow it. You would need machinery to harvest it, so more jobs here; people to sell the machinery, people to deliver it. And if people tried to steal your product, hire security to look after it. It would sure help the struggling society and unemployment rate. Would it not make sense to have something like a license to sell drugs? Ridiculous right? Sounds stupid right? Well, I'm sure the first time someone said "you have to have a license to sell alcohol" it was a stupid idea too...right? All I'm saying is that it would be a new business, a new product and it's there if you want to try it. It would be there for the people who always wanted to try it but never had the guts to actually do it.

You have a product, people pay for it, you have a tax on it and the greedy government makes millions. That is essentially what we do with all products on all store shelves anyway. Why is this not being taken advantage of? Why is this not an acceptable form of business? Capitalize people!! If anything, you would have LESS crime because people wouldn't be so pissed off all the time for having to sneak around and tip toe through the tulips to sell or smoke weed. The Utopian society places such a high monetary value on everything, why not do the same with pot? Why not?

I can already hear the do-gooders getting fired up about it: Don't legalize it because then everyone will be stoned. Kids will get exposed to it. It's not good for your health. Oh, I'm sorry, but Happy Meals are? Beer is? Rapidly consuming toys is? I think this is just as plausible. Is it not better to have it out in the open and let people decide for themselves if you want to accept it or not?

Think of the potential. In all honesty, we should practice what we preach. If we truly DO live in a democratic society, put it to a vote! It seems that we spend time voting on more ridiculous things then whether or not to legalize marijuana. I think it's going to take a charismatic power figure of authority to stand up, make a life changing speech and have it go viral for people to actually wake up and realize the potential this thing has. Perhaps then we can move forward on this issue. So let the people decide, have a massive vote, have someone who is pro smoking pot and someone who is against it. Let them state their cases and then let the people have their say. Have a strict policy on the product and set an age when it's acceptable for people to make then own decision if they want to sell it or smoke it.

Maybe then, I might try it.

Welcome to Your Second Life

Today's Topic: An Alternate Reality

People always feel like they fall short in their life. At some point, we might fail on what we set out to do. The Internet and user based programs

changed that. A man named Philip Linden and Linden Lab made it possible to have a do-over. A second chance. A second life.

Even though it doesn't fall under the traditional definition as "real," Second Life is an escape for people who are unsatisfied with their first life (or the one they were born into). Ever wanted to own a house by the water? Done. Ever wanted to have your dream car for a small amount of real dollars? Done. Ever wanted your dream body, your dream life and the ability to FLY? Yep, you guessed it, it's a done deal. All you have to do is spend your own money earned in the actual world and then spend it on Linden Dollars in Second Life, your number one destination for everything that is just your creative imagination. And the good news? Your basic membership is free.

Granted, I don't know what's more upsetting; the fact that you can have your dream life for a small amount of actual dollars or the fact that Philip Linden is making money off a currency and an alternate universe that he invented. Your initial start up is free (which is what I have) but for just $72 a year, you can take the form of a human, an animal, a vegetable, a mineral or a combination of all four. If you do sign up, you get a weekly income of L$300 (300 Linden dollars) to spend any way you want. Build a house for instance, or a restaurant where people come to eat pretend food. Buy some land or sell and trade pretend goods. The possibilities are truly endless.

I think the greatest thing Second Life offers is absolute control. You have control over everything in your own virtual world. You are put in the driver's seat and are able to customize everything about your life. It's very similar to James Cameron's "Avatar" concept where you plug into a virtual world. Except, with Second Life, you don't actually plug in. It's on a screen in front of you and unlike the real world, if you don't like what's happening in your life, you can just click on the Exit button and unplug yourself from your virtual world. Everything about your character is customizable. All of your body features and your clothing (or lack thereof) can be determined. And of course, you interact with everyone in the Second Life just like you would through a chat room. People from all over the world gather in the Second Life world and interact with each other through avatars. You can make all the human gestures you would in normal life and even get a bit "naughty" depending on where you go in the virtual world.

My name is Harold Kumaki. Again, you pick your own name. I'm bald, about 250 lbs, all muscle, with a handle bar

moustache. I wear a white shirt and pair of jeans with flip-flops on all the time. This is my attire every day, and it's how I fly around the world. No, this is not how I want to look in "real" life. I just thought what the hell, let's be completely different from who I am in my real life. I was absolutely floored by the concept of Second Life and the ability to have total freedom from everything. I could walk up to someone in Second Life, wave to them, and dance in front of them with my shirt off. I do it just because I can. Not that I have any desire to do that ANY day of my actual life, but just because I can. Why not? It's anonymous as you make it and it's free.

Now before you close the door on Second Life and think what is the point to all this, it isn't just all fun and games. Oh yes, there are ways to make money. By trading virtual goods and selling land, you can make actual dollars. If you collect enough Linden Dollars (or L$) you can turn that into real $. Buy and sell the right pieces of land or the right pretend commodities and you could make a profit just by spending some time in your alternate reality. Have nothing else better to do? Maybe this could be an option.

Second Life is a genius concept; taking a problem (people who are unhappy with their real life) and creating a solution (making it possible for someone to create the person, animal or vegetable they always wanted to be). When we are born into this world, you don't have the ability or choice to change your looks or who you are without spending money or having the change be permanent. We cannot modify who we are without some sort of repercussion. But with Second Life, you create whoever you want to be. Have a new hairstyle everyday, change your clothes or simply walk around naked, fly to someones house and just hang out. Drink and eat whatever you want. Be fat or skinny with just a click of the mouse. Didn't you ever want life to be THAT easy?

So maybe, Google it, make an account and log on. You'll be amazed at the freedom you have. I'm not supporting everything about this alternate reality (spending my hard earned money is a little too far for me because I have no desire to own "pretend land"). I'm just saying I support the concept and the idea. With so many people being so unhappy with who they are, you might just feel better about yourself if you could be someone or something else. And I think the 18 Million users of Second Life would agree with me. Maybe you could even have your own happily ever after.

Heroes in the Sky, on the Ground, and travelling down the Highway

Today's Topic: War and The Fallen Soldier

For years, there are those who pay the ultimate price for freedom. In different circumstances, boys become men, girls become women and the everyday citizen becomes the everyday hero. It seems as though humanity resorts to violence by creating war and the world, as a whole, is always involved. Whether we see it as our duty to step in when something doesn't seem right or when psychopaths, corrupt governments are trying to be the rulers, there are those who stand up to the injustice of humanity and become a name, a tombstone, a hero. Fallen soldiers are a symbol of bravery, an individual who rises to the call no matter what the cost. And they a honored in the simplest of terms: hero. A parent loses a child, a wife loses her husband, a child loses a parent, a brother loses a sibling or a soldier loses a friend, we all at some point can relate to a fallen soldier and the pain that war brings.

It's very easy to bury your head in the sand when a war is going on across the world; I realize that. But whether you view it as a war on terrorism, a war against Al-Qaeda, a war in Afghanistan, a war of injustice, a war against humanity or even a pointless war, it's still happening. Is it happening for so many reasons? Or no reason at all? The stated aim of the original invasion was to find Osama Bin Laden, and other high-ranking Al-Qaeda members to be put on trial, to destroy the organization of Al-Qaeda, and to remove the Taliban regime which supported and gave safe harbor to it. The question is have we lost sight of what it is we were fighting for? And in the meantime, sacrificed countless of lives for an unjust cause?

Nine years in the making. Nine years and we still have only brushed the surface of this mission. Yes, our troops have made a difference. They have improved the quality of living for some and have helped the villages and towns in need. They have helped countries build a better life and helped release them from a terrorist stronghold. But at what cost? At the cost of so many innocent lives, so many innocent soldiers who feel like it is their duty to serve their country. With over 35 countries involved worldwide, the fight rages on. Day after day, week after week, year after year. I remember having grade 10 history and learning about the wars from year past, something that was a part of our heritage and remembered in the textbooks of schools across the country. I wonder with this war going on, will it ever be in the textbooks? Will my children learn about the War in Afghanistan? Will they be tested on Osama Bin Laden? Or is it already happening? Modern Warfare classes are already being taken yes, but at what point do we say "kids, you have to grasp the knowledge of the war that took place for ten years." Or will it be more than that? I'm sure the kids in kindergarten today will learn all about 9/11 and how this war began, but how far do they take it? The battle in Kandahar? The capture of Al-Qaeda leaders? I wonder who decides how much of this information is "relevant and important." What do we put in or leave out? How do we decide what is the most crucial to learn about? How do we describe to our children of tomorrow about the ones we lost in the battle?

It was not long ago that I had a moment when I was proud to be Canadian. I live a short drive for CFB Trenton, the place where repatriation ceremonies take place. Our fallen soldiers return here and are then driven down the highway of heroes to their final resting place. I was driving home from a long weekend as the sun was fading. When I looked up at the overhead bridges and passes along the 401, there they were. The mothers, the fathers, the sibling, the children and the rest of the family friends and Canadian citizens showing their respects for the heroes. I got chills. After every overpass and every flag. I felt such pride as a Canadian and thought, how kind we are to our soldiers and how respectful people are to those who have lost. Cars pulled over to the side of the highway, police and firefighters all helping salute the soldier we have lost; it was just incredible. The pictures don't do it justice. My words don't do it justice. You simply have to see it for yourself.

For a brief moment, I remembered how kind people can be to each other, how we can work together and how we can pay tribute. What a shame that you only hear and see these unselfish acts when it involves death. Both The Trews and Bob Reid made a song entitled "Highway of Heroes" honouring those we have lost and those who have supported them. It makes for a fitting tribute to the casualties of war and if you haven't heard either song, it's a song you have to download.

I know for days to come there will probably be more casualties and more bloodshed. I am thankful everyday that I can go to work without worrying about carrying a gun for protection or wearing an Armour suit for fear that I may be shot at. For some, they make that their daily job. Traveling into a dessert, a desolate town or village, a scorching hot building or invading mountainous terrain. These people do it because they are doing their job and their duty that their country asks of them. They do it so we can all carry on with OUR normal lives and not be held back with the inconvenience of carrying a grenade in our purse or a AK-47 in our car. To those who are serving or those who have lost a friend or family member, I say thank you. Thank you for paying a sacrifice into a war that sometimes seems ridiculous in present, but logical in theory. I know I can't do much, but I pay my respect by writing about your cause, and telling you that you are unspoken heroes to so many. It is my hope that as the years pass on, we remember those who fought in a war to protect the lives of so many. With the flags flying low and true patriot love, there is never enough we could do for you.

The Animals We Love

Today's Topic: Pets

I think it's safe to say that some people love animals more than they love humans. The only logical reasoning behind this is plain and simple: pets will never judge you. Your dog, your cat, your hamster, your fish, your horse (and yes even your cows)...you have next to complete control over their lives.

I think it would be safe to say that 99% of people in this world have cared for something other than a human being at some point in their life. What really amazes me is how pets control our life. There are so many different degrees of responsibility and roles that pets play in a day-in day-out routine. Some families look at a cat or dog, the two most common pets worldwide, as a member of the family. And why not? They can be around for years, and some feel closer to a pet than some of their friends. I'm not making that up, and yes, that is sad for us as the species Homo sapiens. We often tend to care more about our animals than our own species. And the money they cost...let's face it, pets can be very, very pricey. Dogs are often referred to as having a second kid. After food, shots, toys, grooming, etc etc etc...return on investment? 0% Unless you are breeding them to sell, then you are in a whole new ball game. Cats can be the same, horses even more so. But its all for love, right? The need to feel some sort of acceptance or compassion. So money is usually not the issue with pets.

We always remember our "first" of everything, and the "first" pet is no exception. I want you to take a minute and think back to your very first pet. Something low maintenance probably, and something that you could maybe forget to feed for a few days. A goldfish (maybe even the one you won in a plastic bag in a ring toss game at the fair), a rabbit or even a gerbil. Think of the care and the love you probably gave it. The happiness and pride you must have took in "owning" something. My parents would never leave me with full responsibility for an animal (which was probably the right call) But for me, my first real pet was an exotic one. A pet duck named Fluffy. A little ball of fuzzy fur and a pet that I could call my own. He was just a baby duck when I got him at the age of 4. I thought I was on top of the world with this duck and to top it off, we were a team. The local Belleville Fair had a pet show that same year and Fluffy and I were entered. The competition was heavy (of course) as dozens of parents wanted to show off to the world how cute they thought there child was with their pet. The biggest challenge in the pet show was that you had to have something unique with your animal. My duck did a trick.

For two weeks, I trained Fluffy the duck to slowly waddle up a small ramp, stand at the top, and jump into a pool of water below. Yes folks, I was melting hearts. I remember it so vividly... practicing in the back room of my house with Fluffy, training him to walk up the ramp and jump into a pool of water, and hopefully even making a "quack" on the landing. When the competition day rolled around, Fluffy did his thing. Performed with grace, wowed the audience and smiles were a glow. A 4 year old kid had trained his pet duck to do a simple trick. It earned me Reserve Grand Champion Pet that year in 1991 and I can proudly say that I still have the trophy in my house to this day. In fact, I am looking at it as we speak. I lost out to a rat of some sort...not sure why but I did anyway. To be perfectly honest, it didn't matter. I still had to give an acceptance speech when I received my award at the year end banquet. A convincing 4-year-old approached the microphone and gave a subtle two word speech: "Thank you" to the cheering audience. Instant classic.

I wish I could tell you that Fluffy and I had many, long and happy days together; but sadly, like so many pet stories, the story ends in tragedy. After a winning performance, Fluffy left to stay with my Uncle Doug until we could build a bigger cage for him. Mistake number one. I asked my parents every day when Fluffy was coming back. Mistake number two. It was weeks later that they sat me down and told me that Fluffy flew away. Mistake number three. I found out from my siblings that a wolf broke into my Uncle Doug's duck shed and "cleaned out" the whole flock. I cried for days. And weeks.

When we lose something we love, we hurt. Animals become life friends; moments in time for happiness and love. I think it's the compassion that we love so much. That no matter what, we can play with our cat, watch our dog chase birds, and in my case, milk a cow or perform a trick for an audience. I think it's the "hands on" that makes us suckers for animals. When we see something cute, we just want to pet it, love it and show them that they can have a place to call home and be cared for. Pets can be hobby or a business. They can make us money or just make us memories. We can ride them, take them for a car ride, walk them, show them, and even make them do tricks. Dogs are friendly, cats are playful, rabbits are cute, horses are graceful and cows are smart. Reptiles are exotic and are always a topic of conversation and even sheep, pigs or lambs make their way into the pet circle.

Animals truly are amazing creatures. People often forget that animals have so much personality and oh, the stories they could tell if they could speak. Animation studios have made us believe anything is possible with the movies they push out every year, bringing animals to life and giving them a persona; and we love them for it. They give kids something to be excited for and they give parents a simple break from the daily grind.

Remember that simple interaction between animals and humans will always exist, in our homes and in nature. The moments we share with our pets may not always be free, but the moments and memories that they engrave in our heads last a lifetime. And if you can't help but feel just a bit of love for any sort of baby animal or they can't make you smile just once in your life, then you are not human. Yes, nothing lasts forever and that includes pets. Many will come and go from our lives, but it's the caring stages we go through that teach us life lessons. It's the puppy face moments and the cat chasing it's tail that gives us years of laughter. These things are unique to every one of us and are irreplacable.

The possibilities for a pet are endless. So if you haven't had a pet in awhile, take and chance and soak it all in. And if you already have a pet, really look at your animal and wonder in the magnificent magic of a brain other than that of a human. After all, you could stare at it all day, and it will never yell back or judge you. If that's not some sort of love, I don't know what is.

A real eye opener-- no pun intended

Today's topic: Personal injuries and the bigger picture

For those out there reading SS this week who don't already know, I was struck with a nasty body injury this week. I want to put you in the drivers seat here and give you the black and white of what actually happened and what went through my mind when it did happen. I play in a fairly competitive baseball league with some of my best friends and we are in our playoffs right now. I was playing third base with two outs in the top of the ninth. I need you to keep in mind that the field we play on has relatively good up-keep but has a deep history of producing some nasty injuries throughout the years. The ball that hit me in the face came off a bat on a play that I would make 90% of the time. After taking an ugly bounce, the ball took a bounce over my glove, and hit me where, what felt like, directly on my eye. For those of you who have had a sports injury, you know that you don't have time to react because many sports involve some sort of high velocity object coming towards your body at some point during the game. And when something goes wrong, you have no control over what happens next. My initial reaction was to try and open my eye (which I couldn't) and I instantly thought the worst in thinking, "I just lost eyesight in my left eye." It's pretty serious stuff people. I know as humans, our initial reaction is concern. Our next initial reaction for most is to gawk at the injury or maybe to smile, giggle or make a smart ass comment...of course, one you know the person is alright. I was bartending this weekend so trust me when I say there isn't an eye joke I haven't heard or a smart ass comment that I haven't received. I'm a good sport about it because that's the kind of person I am. The other thing I realize is that people CAN joke about it because I can still function and even though I have a nasty shiner and 12 stitches above my eyebrow, my injury isn't life threatening and by this time next week, my body will hopefully be back to normal; whatever normal means.

However, there is a much deeper lesson learned from a personal injury like the one I'm currently experiencing. I woke up the next morning and my eye was swollen shut from the impact of the previous night. As my day progressed, I realized how much we take our five senses for granted. You wake up every morning after a night of sleep and expect that both of your eyes will open. Now think about waking up and not being able to open up one eye. Now think about not being able to open up two eyes. Now consider the possibility that you go to sleep one night and you wake up the next morning only to find out that you're blind. Or deaf. Or you can't smell. Or your arms and legs don't work. Yes, it's terrifying. Now consider what you wouldn't be able to do or how much your world closes on you.

Some are blessed and never lose their senses until they are already dead. They wake up and go to bed without the worry about how they are going to function the next day or how they are going to get through their daily routine. They are the lucky ones. Others who aren't so fortunate battle with a routine that limits their possibilities and what they can accomplish. Some never see the glorious natural wonders of the world, the sight of love, fear or happiness. Others never get the chance to smell the roses or be a part of a team that requires body movements. To me, that is a life tragedy and there is nothing funny about a person in a wheelchair, a walking stick or hearing aids. I went on a hike last week with my girlfriend and was in awe of all the magnificent larger than life trees, natural rock caves and enormous limestone structures. At the end of the hike, I thought to myself how lucky I was to soak in the natural world with all my senses. This week, I almost lost some of my eyesight. Yes people, that's how fast life changes.

Now without trying to sound too much like I'm preaching, just remember that life does have curve balls (I'm sorry I couldn't resist a baseball reference). But we choose to take on challenges without hesitation that is usually dependent on our comfort level. However, remember that most are fortunate enough to have that choice and that in itself is something that you must never take for granted. Even though we all lead different lives, there is at least one person somewhere that wishes they were you, young or old. You don't always know it and you might not even ever hear it. But we have all at one point said to ourselves, " I wonder what it's like to be....." or "I wish I could be...." Be blessed that you're happy, healthy and hopefully, still have all your senses because without one of those things, your daily routine wouldn't be pulled off with such ease and grace. Take it from a guy who was recently blind in one of his eyes; life becomes way more difficult. You don't realize what "sucks" until you have an eye opener experience.

Buying to be beautiful, buying to fit in

Today's Topic: Product Consumption

I was watching some T.V. today (which next to reading Sunday Sitdowns is the most relaxing thing to do on a Sunday) and for the first time in awhile, I actually really started to analyze the advertisements on the big screen. I remember in my first year of University, I had this Mass Communications course where my professor used to harp on us saying, "Because you're in the media now, you have to analyze everything. Trust no one and question everything." To me, that meant analyzing head to toe every advertisement, every billboard, every magazine, every paper and every commercial; and finding new things to analyze again and again every time you looked at them. The goal of the advertisement is simple. Garner your attention for a few seconds, sell an idea, sell a product, make money, make more powerful advertisements, create an empire. That is really the black and white of every company. It's power. It's how Pepsi, Old Spice, L'óreal, Viagra, and yes, even Gillette razor blades made their mark on we the people. Taking hair off your body with razor blades...is it just me, or does something about that just sound wrong?

First off, I don't want to sound like a broken record talking about consumerism. So this is not what this post is entirely about. I will do my best to provide some insight and perhaps spark a discussion you haven't explored before. The idea behind this post is not to necessarily complain about the world we live in but to look at the pattern we follow and the path we take to a wished upon "better" lifestyle.

Okay, so we are all guilty of consuming. For example, I buy the beer that has the best commercials. If you can make me laugh in 30 seconds or make me say "Man, that is so true." Congratulations, you just made a sale. However, I find it interesting just what products are geared towards which audience.

For the females, its a constant barrage of makeup commercials on television. How to be more beautiful, how to decrease wrinkles, how to cover up your grey hair, how to have shiny hair and how to have longer eyelashes. Oh yes, a commercial tries to convince their audience that every single one of their prospective female buyers is ugly. I think that most women just don't pay attention at first. But watch the same commercial long enough, and tell me, do you actually start to believe it? And not even watch it, but end with a catch line that grabs your full attention like, "because you're worth it." So now its justified? Clever, clever, clever.

For the males, it's always the about the bod. The bow flex, the Viagra, the Gatorade, the Old Spice and the muscle enhancers. Make the ladies gawk at your six pack and go-all-night attitude. Drink the fluids to replace all that energy you spent. Smell great. Feel strong. Are men that in doubt of themselves? Do we really need to be reassured that we are still men and king of the domain? Are we really? Abs are sexy? Smelling like "ocean reef" is sexy? Says who?

Now only being 23, I have a very difficult time understanding just AT WHAT POINT in our existence did people start believing we need ALL OF THIS CRAP? And by crap I mean the pills, the makeup, the body wash INSTEAD of the soap bar, the salad instead of the fries, the longer eyelashes. It's a madhouse. I just envision all of these people in a carnival fun house yelling at the top of their lungs why you need these products and giving you a sales pitch. Does it matter if we are overweight? What if advertisements started saying "People, you are too thin, eat more. Don't exercise. Who cares what you smell like." Would we listen? Would we give in? And perhaps most interesting...would we believe them?

It sickens me that there is no escape unless I jump on a plane and travel to a dessert. Is that why nature is so peaceful, because animals don't judge you? It that why everyone loves the summer and the cottage? The water, the boats, the fish...they don't judge you? It has to be the answer.

I remember that same professor in first year university telling us that we didn't need soap and shampoo. At first everyone was like, "Mark, are you serious? Then everyone would have serious B.O. and that would not be cool! We need soap to smell good." To which he replied: "What if you grew up in a society that never bathed? What if when you turned on the TV or walked out your door, you didn't even know what soap was? What is EVERYONE just had a natural smell? Would you still think, that person has B.O.? Would you know the difference between what soap and body odour smelt like if you never even knew what soap was?" And he was totally right. That's genius. And then it's like, I can't stop buying it though, because I don't want to be that smelly guy. And no one does. Not ever. And that sucks that I can't be a smelly guy because I would save SO MUCH MONEY. And it would be one less thing to worry about. More money in my pocket. The same goes for makeup! Ladies, imagine if you didn't have to buy it or wear it to make yourself feel beautiful. Imagine growing up in a place that didn't have any of that.

That's why I think we, as a western society, have it completely backwards. We are drones to these people that tell us to buy the soap and the makeup and the hair dye and the razor blades (so ridiculously expensive!) and the ETC, ETC, ETC. I think as horrible as the living conditions are in third world countries, they still live in happiness without the consuming fear that we all have. We consume to feel comfortable. They consume to live.

I know this post or this blog isn't going to change the world. I know that. I just want to put into perspective the life that we lead and if WE as a species on this earth made the right decisions by telling people they needed all this crap to survive and feel good. Consuming is not a disease, it's a habit. An idea that we bought into. An idea to feel like we are the best. Honestly, how far ahead did we get? Are we just that in love with ourselves?

Many of these questions are rhetorical because I don't know if there is a right answer. But some of them are a matter of opinion. Do we consume the wrong things to feel good? I just wonder if this whole idea of buying into the product game is considered the right thing for all of us.

That's all for this week folks. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go take shower. I don't want to smell tomorrow. Thank goodness for that new "dove for men."

The best and the brightest

Today's Topic: Intelligence

I read an article last week in the Toronto Star that blew my mind (no pun intended). It had a profile on the top student at every different district in the Toronto High School Board and their average. The lowest, TOP student in all the district's was a student who achieved a 97% overall average in eight subjects. For what it's worth and if you don't believe me you can read a profile on of the students here who had a 100% overall average:
http://www.thestar.com/article/834981--ace-earns-perfect-report-card-how-did-she-do-it

Imagine. A 100% overall average. Now to achieve this is incredible. The article I read answered all your questions that you have brewing on on your mind. How did they do it? Do they have anything else in their life? How many hours of homework did they do a night? To me, the answers were surprising.

They all had very different answers on why and how they did it. Some did it for their own motivation, some did it because their parents gave them absolute freedom, and one girl did it because they wanted to prove their brother wrong. To make sense of it, they all had extracurricular activities outside of school. Some volunteered, some had a good time with friends on the weekend, some were on school reach and some were in gifted programs to FURTHER challenge themselves. I thought it was interesting however that none of them played sports or at least they never mentioned sports as their favorite past time. Maybe that's why I only graduated grade 12 with an overall average of 83%. I guess once you play sports, your average sinks a bit because you simply just don't have the energy or enough hours in a day. I also thought it was interesting that one boy's least favorite subject was french because that was his "lowest" average from his eight courses...a 96%. Smart ass.

And trust me people, these kids were not working around the clock or killing themselves to get these grades. Three to four hours a night was all it took. Some also worked a lot on weekends hitting the books. And they did it because they just loved knowledge. School is their addiction. That's what it comes down to.

I think it's safe to say that not only was I baffled by these grades but was puzzled at the same time. Okay, I understand how you could get a 100% in say math or chemistry because there is a right and wrong answer and your graded on the knowledge of a right or wrong equation. But I struggled with how they could get a perfect score in English simple because of essays, big projects and interpretation of literature. Those must have been some damn fine essays. Either that or all of their English teachers didn't want to be that teacher that held their average down by only giving them a 90%.

I just think it's amazing how someone can dedicate themselves to such work. One teacher said it best to me when she told our class at the start of the semester that "You all start out with 100% in this class. And what you choose to do with that 100% is up to you." Good point Ms. Irvine.

So like all my other blog topics, how does society fit into this topic? Well, society awards gifted people in general. If you're smart, every wants to help you and everyone wants to recruit you. And I bet a lot of workplaces are pressured to hire students like this. The first things that these kids will get is money. Society likes to award money to the smartest. Doctors, engineers, chemists, NASA employees...they all make a handsome salary. And post secondary institutions are on the smart money boat as well, paying ridiculous amounts of cash for the best and the brightest. Family even makes a case. Good grades could mean a good allowance; a bribe if you will. Bribe your kids to be smart...is that good parenting? Who does it help more?


I wonder for these kids at what point pressure sets in. When I was growing up and trying to get good grades, I felt there was always a certain point where the pressure was on to perform. There was a time and a place for everything smart and I took care of business when I had to. But I was no where near perfect. For me, being perfect was being happy with myself. Whenever I got into an argument with my parents over my grades, I just told them that I put effort into the stuff that interested me and my grades reflected that. I hated Math, so that's why I got a 65. I loved writing so that's why my English mark was an 88.

Personal satisfaction is the key to intelligence. Don't you think it's amazing that people are so similar yet everyone has their own interest at what makes their clock tick. And I think that two people never put the exact same effort into the exact same work at the exact same time everyday for their whole life.

And for the People out their still reading, throw away every stereotype of what you consider to be a smart person because these kids all had a different colour of skin, a different ethnicity and they were male and female. What does a perfect or near perfect average student look like to you? Did you sit beside one of the bus or subway and not be any the wiser? All valid questions that everyone has their own opinion on. Here's mine: it doesn't matter what they look like.

Our North American society has set up a grading system. We are all judging each other and let's face it, it feels great being perfect at something in life. And it doesn't even have to be school. Making a perfect piece of toast, the perfect park job, the perfect kiss, picking out the perfect piece of clothing...we have all felt it. But how many wish they could be "perfect" all the time?

Society calls intelligence various things. Smart, super smart, A genius, a wiz kid, a smarty pants, gifted, incredibly gifted...I could go on and on. To all those students in the Toronto Star article that inspired this week's Sunday Sitdown, your dedication to school is nothing short of exceptional. My hat goes off to all of them, but that doesn't mean I'm not still perplexed and how they did it.

Just remember, I think it's very important to keep one thing in mind and I want everyone to really think about this one this week: All intelligence is based on matter of opinion.

Blackout

Today's Topic: A "What If?" Scenario

I was sitting at home the other night, completely annoyed that the power had gone out. Apparently, I wasn't the only one calling Hydro One. The lady on the other end noted that 4700 other homes in the area were out. When I was sitting at home, in the dark, with no appliances buzzing, no radio going or not a even a dead cell phone to charge, it occurred to me that our society has no safety net whatsoever and cannot survive in the modern day world that we have built without electricity. On the contrary, it's something that we can't live without.

So the question comes up, are all of these third world countries further ahead? By not relying on electricity, some would say yes. But, electricity creates the hot water we crave so much. And that hot water also insures that we don't get diseases like malaria. I'm really on the fence with this one. I hate that I have to rely on hydro and have no other option and what a wonderful monopoly Hydro One has set up. I also love that Hydro has a debt retirement charge...a 12 dollar a month charge for mismanagement in the company many years before I started paying my own hydro bill.

With Hollywood always seeming to produce "end of the world" movies, I thought I would take a stab at a "What If?" scenario today, detailing our days following a massive electrical threat. South Park took a stab at this one with their season 12 episode "Over Logging" where they detailed a scenario involving a worldwide shutdown without Internet. It was brilliant.

Imagine if you will a permanent black out. No more light switch. No more fridge, no stove, no heater, etc etc etc. And it would happen on the hottest day of the year. So forget about your air conditioning. Well, break out that canned food at the back of your pantry! But wait, do you have an electric can opener or manual? I'm okay, I have a manual. But hurry and get to the grocery store or Wal Mart because they will be SOLD OUT. While you're at the grocery store, you better stock up and make sure to bring cash because remember; debit and credit are powered by the good folks at hydro one. Next on the to do list is filling up with gas. Expect a long line because that is going to be the next thing on short supply.

Okay, so I'm giving it about three weeks before massive chaos ensues. The generators that you were running only go for so long on the same take of diesel fuel. And its going to be tough to extract any for awhile. Food instantly becomes a massive demand. Tomatoes cost $12. Lettuce costs $15. Grapes are $7. Peaches are $14. Cookies....now those will be at least $25 for a long time. Yes I'm guessing a bit, but would it really be that unrealistic?

I think you have to ask yourself though if this ever happened, would you survive? Are you trapped in a lifestyle where you rely on one device all the time. People make their cell phone their life. Take that away, and most are back in the stone age. Take away your routine and you will realize how much we act like robots. Light on, light off. Click remote on, click remote off. Don't forget that this electrical power, this strong grasp... it controls what you are reading right now, this screen that you're looking at, it controls you. It's an almighty power that is making your hands and eyes sore.

Yes, thousands would die. Life would be in ruins. But as long as the light switch still flicks on, all will be calm. So please, the next time you hear about an alternate way to power up the television, at least perk your ears up and dig your head out of the sand. Without trying to sound too much like we need to "save the world", remember that this electrical power is a gift. Your cozy life that you have wouldn't be able to go without it.