WHAT IS HAPPENING TO STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE?!

I stumbled across something deeply disturbing today.

Currently I'm going through my own teensy quarter life crisis. When one goes through these types of 'moments' it is not all that unusual to revert back to the good ole days when you felt comforted and safe. For me that means looking for nostalgia, and I have to cross one of my beloved childhood friends off the list. Strawberry Shortcake.

In the day and age where everything has to be hipper and more exciting more and more people/films/television shows are morphing this is almost an inevitability. Why expend some creative energy and make something new when we can destroy a beloved icon for emotionally unstable adults?

Couple that with the gross sexualized images of children (have we all not shuddered when walking past the Bratz dolls display?) and sacred icons of my eighties childhood are ruined...

I may be over reacting, but I really liked her bloomers.

Needless Machines

I'm a fan of the useless machine- not useless technology, that's different.

And recently I've rekindled my childhood interest in Rube Goldberg machines.

At engineer camp I was awarded the "Most Creative Ideas That Never Work" prize for my Rube Goldberg machine. This just further emphasized that engineering stifles creativity.

Is This What My Dad Is Like At His Office?

Ok, so I'm temporarily obsessed with The Office, the US edition. Partly because of Steve Carrell and partly because I'm oddly drawn to Rainn Wilson's character, Dwight K. Shrute.

I think it's because Dwight reminds me of my dad and what he might be like to work with. Since I've never actually been to my dad's office (the whole security clearance thing is oddly Orwellian), I can only hypothesize that this is what it may be like. However, I only think my dad would be exactly like Dwight K. Shrute if he were not married to my mom and still living with his parents. Luckily my dad is a bit cooler than that. If he wasn't married and living with his elderly parents I do think that people would confuse him for a more portly and bald Dwight.

Enjoy, Annie.

Why Don't I Have Any Brothers???

Ok, so do we all know about this???

In Depth
Aboriginal Canadians

Chemical valley
Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia sounds alarm over toxins

By Mary Ann Colihan, CBC News

Members of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia, Ont., think their reserve, which recorded the lowest rate of live male births in the world (two girls born for every boy) and high rates of death, miscarriage and disease, is beyond the saturation point for exposure to pollutants, and the community is making a public plea for action.

The First Nation held a symposium on the issue, funded in part by Health Canada, from March 25 to 27 in Sarnia. Leading scientists and environmental groups from across North America made presentations at the event, which highlighted the First Nation's concerns about the health of the Aamjiwnaang and their neighbours in an area known as "Chemical Valley."

A sign for the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Resource Centre is located across the road from a chemical plant near Sarnia, Ont. (Craig Glover/CP)

Data from Environment Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) — the inventory of pollutants released, disposed of and sent for recycling by facilities across the country — show the reserve is ground zero for Ontario's heaviest load of air pollution. In 2005, 131 million kilograms of pollutants were released from 46 plants in Sarnia's Chemical Valley, the inventory says.

Chemical Valley plants also collectively emitted 16.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2005, according to NPRI figures. This represents 21 per cent of the total for Ontario, and more than the entire greenhouse gas emissions of British Columbia.

More worrisome for the Aamjiwnaang, exposure to toxic pollutants for people in the region is the highest in the province. The report says that 60 per cent of the 5.7 million kilograms of toxic air releases recorded in 2005 were within a five kilometre radius of the reserve. These pollutants are known to cause cancer or are associated with reproductive and developmental disorders among humans.

According to a 2007 report by Ecojustice (formerly the Sierra Legal Defence Fund), Exposing Canada's Chemical Valley: An Investigation of Cumulative Air Pollution Emissions in the Sarnia, Ontario Area, some of the area's chemical, petrochemical and power plants pollute more than others.

"We see the same names over and over on the list of Top Five," says Elaine MacDonald, the senior scientist at Ecojustice, which is Canada's largest non-profit environmental law organization. The companies that lead in emissions of carbon dioxide, volatile organic chemicals, hormone disruptors and heavy metals include Imperial Oil, Nova, Shell, Suncor and Cabot, MacDonald says.

Dean Edwardson, general manager of the Sarnia-Lambton Environmental Association, an industry group that represents 22 of the largest chemical and petrochemical companies in Chemical Valley, says the NPRI data has limitations.

"Some of the information that gets reported is estimated and may not be based in reality," says Edwardson. "It is industry's best attempt at getting data and I'm not sure there is a better way, but NPRI is a snapshot."

Nevertheless, when research about the skewed birth ratio was published in peer-reviewed journals in 2005, scientists from around the world started to call. The Aamjiwnaang pushed Health Canada to help fund the symposium on the issue that was held at the end of March.

Symposium

The Aamjiwnaangs' objective was to address the evidence of injury to health from exposures to chemical pollutants. They invited scientists from Canada and the U.S. and environmental activists from contaminated communities across the globe to the symposium to examine the data.

Ron Plain, the aboriginal program co-ordinator for Environmental Defence Canada and a founding member of the Aamjiwnaang environment group, says a mix of racism and poor municipal land use contributed to the reserve shrinking to live in industry's backyard. Another health survey pegged the band's miscarriage and stillborn rate at 39 per cent, he says.

The Aamjiwnaang also want to prove that the negative health effects are not just being felt on the 850-member reserve. Isaac Luginaah, an associate professor of geography at the University of Western Ontario whose studies focus on the environment and health, compared London and Sarnia hospital admissions data from 1996 to 2000. General hospital admissions were 47 per cent to 90 per cent higher for Sarnia residents. The difference in admission rates for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in Sarnia were even more extreme — up to 300 per cent greater than in London.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley is among those calling for action on the health problems, saying they are urgent and regional in nature. He has criticized Health Canada for trying to exclude the Aamjiwnaang and the local occupational health clinic from ongoing talks about developing a comprehensive health survey for Chemical Valley.

"There is a price to pay and we have to be realistic," Bradley says. "But when we talk about alliance, there should be no one missing in action."

Jim Brophy is the medical director of the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers in Sarnia, a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board-funded clinic that provides occupational health services and information. Brophy documented the high instance of asbestos-worker mortality in Sarnia — the highest in Canada — and sees a parallel between the old denials that asbestos made people sick and the reluctance to face the mounting evidence of disease from pollution.

The industry Sarnia-Lambton Environmental Association also supports conducting a proper, comprehensive survey of the impact of industrial pollution on the health of residents. It recognizes the area was a hotbed of mesothelioma (cancer from exposure to asbestos), and says the concerns of workers and the public are of great importance.

"We want to see a health study that supports or refutes the link between chemical exposure and health," says Edwardson.

Looking for clues

Dr. Warren Foster, an expert in reproductive health at the Hamilton Health Sciences Centre, says Canadian researchers are not sure why the sex ratio of 106 boys to 100 girls in Canada is fairly consistent except in areas such as the Aamjiwnaang community. His research points to what he calls endocrine toxicants. These are endocrine disruptors — chemicals that mimic hormones like estrogen, and that are found in pesticides, organo-chlorides, heavy metals and plastics.

Children from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia, Ont., play basketball behind the Band Office, which is located across the road from a chemical plant. The people of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation have a birth ratio of girls to boys that is two-to-one, a scientific anomaly. (Craig Glover/CP)

Dr. Foster says in-vitro fertilization research at Hamilton's Centre for Reproductive Care at McMaster University raises another possibility.

"Maybe the male embryo develops at a faster rate than does the female embryo and, as a result, may be more sensitive to environmental insult," he says. "Thus we may be losing males before we move into a clinical pregnancy."

Dr. Ted Schettler, a physician with the Science and Environmental Health Network, a U.S. network of environmental groups, notes that children, from fetus onward, are disproportionately susceptible to contaminants. Early exposure for children, even in the womb, can be linked to diseases that show up later in life, and failure to conceive is part of this continuum, he says.

The birth ratio is a clear signal that something is very wrong in Sarnia, he says.

"I think there is an enormous problem with not considering the cumulative nature of the emissions," says Schettler. "Some contaminants released are known carcinogens. When you mix them together in this complex soup that people regularly breathe here, the toxicology of that mixture is far more complicated than if we think about these single chemicals by themselves."

Calls for action

Michael Gilbertson recently completed his PhD thesis, a forensic audit of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, a 1972 agreement that commits Canada and the U.S. to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the lakes. The thesis is based on his 34 years with the Canadian federal government, including 16 years with the International Joint Commission, which resolves disputes relating to the use and quality of Canada-U.S. boundary waters. He says we know enough about risk factors and now political activism is more important.

"We have to form a new social movement," Gilbertson says. "We heard the stories from other communities that have been highly exposed. Now we have to organize to bring about political change."

Getting polluters to cut emissions is a challenge. Ecojustice says only 11 per cent of Chemical Valley plants reported to the federal government that they planned to reduce emissions in the 2006 to 2008 period, and 30 per cent of plants that are listed in the NPRI said they would increase emissions.

But SLEA thinks these statistics may not tell the full story. Edwardson says improvements require capital, and companies can be leery of making promises to the government that might not be kept.

"The problem with those numbers is that they are projections," he says. "There may be a reluctance to make improvements if you don't have the money in-house. Companies are always looking to make process improvements here."

Dr. Devra Davis, author of The Secret History of the War on Cancer, spoke at the symposium of communities like Reveilletown and Mossport, La., that were contaminated by chemical industry and where people chose to move away en masse. "We lost the ability to document the nature of the problem," Davis said.

Ron Plain wants the Aamjiwnaang reserve to stay where it is.

"Aamjiwnaang could be a model for the world, where a community and industry can work and live together prosperously," says Plain. "But industry has to take that initiative to begin to implement the best available technologies and lose their excuse that it is not economically viable."

Creepy...

Spelling Bee Moments...

Better than "Do the chickens have large talons?" moment.

Goodbye.

Hello.

I'm never coming back to Canada.

Nope, like it too much here, already.

Nice knowing you.

Soundtrack to my Life

Enjoy.

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For each section below, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. DON'T LIE!!!

a) OPENING CREDITS
"Dreamer" ~ Hilary Duff

b) WAKING UP
"Gratitude" ~ Ani DiFranco

c) FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
"Go Home" ~ Barenaked Ladies

d) FALLING IN LOVE
"Rock Your Socks" ~ Tenacious D

e) FIGHT SONG
“Feeling Groovy" ~ Simon and Garfunkel

f) BREAKING UP
“Headache" ~ Liz Phair

g) PROM
“Building A Mystery" ~ Sarah McLaughlin

h) LIFE
“Soul Shake Down Party" ~ Bob Marley and the Wailers

i) MENTAL BREAKDOWN
“Everyone Says Hi" ~ David Bowie

j) DRIVING
“Can't Blame the Youth" ~ Peter Tosh

k) FLASHBACK
“Like a Virgin" ~ Madonna

l) GETTING BACK TOGETHER
“Outrageous" ~ Britney Spears

m) WEDDING
“Don't Lie" ~ Black Eyed Peas

n) BIRTH OF CHILD
“Baby Seat" ~ Barenaked Ladies

o) FINAL BATTLE
“Shut Up" ~ Black Eyed Peas

p) DEATH SCENE
“Intuition" ~ Feist

q) FUNERAL SONG
“Untold Stories" ~ Sinead O'Connor

r) END CREDITS
“All Good Things" ~ Nelly Furtado

I Got Chills, And They're Multiplying

I seriously feel like shit.

Gross, gross, gross.

I thought it was the flu, but after waiting for close to two hours at the walk-in clinic, and a 5 minute visit by a doctor (and an awkward bra experience) it turns out that I don't have the flu.

I have bronchitis.

What's bronchitis you ask? I have no clue, but it makes me feel like crap. And I have a horse cough.

Oh, and I don't have sick time. I have to use up lieu time. And work overtime.

Now, annoying people will say things like "You're just getting it out of your system before you go Down Under". To which I nod and smile. Mom.

However, I see the bigger picture. This Thursday I am supposed to be in Windsor to do two presentations to two agencies. Both agencies I have canceled before because of weather. I am not canceling again.

Sigh.

23 DAYS TO GO!

This Blog is Driving Me Crazy

Ok, I've been trying to upload videos all this week, but I'm having trouble with Blogger :(.

So, you'll have to take my word for it that High School Musical: On Ice was magical.

I was even amazing watching the 20 year old Anne-Marie strain herself to not jump out of her seat and sing along with the mediocre skaters and bad lip syncers.

Lovely.

The kickers was the fact that we could see the big bad Disney machine in full tilt...including Hannah Montana commercials, "Yearbooks" that cost $20 a piece, and $10 cotton candy (you got a free shitty hat with it).

Luckily we were with a couple of kids who; first didn't ask for a thing and second new exactly why they were selling all their over priced crap...to make money.

Round out the day with a quick lunch at McDonalds' and Jessie felt suitably devious.

p.s. I hope that my father and treacherous sisters are having a wonderful trip in the American south. Without me.

p.p.s. Annie, it's extremely sketchy in:

Louisiana: Vampires, debauchery, streets that smell like piss

Tennessee: Birthplace of the KKK, and mass murders (just like last week's)

Alabama: Birthplace of 9-1-1...wonder why they needed that so badly?

I Want Some M.O.M.!

As I am getting ready for my trip to Oz, I'm trying to figure out what it is that I need to do.

And I've decided that I have to eat a kangaroo. Not a whole kangaroo, but at least a portion.

I hear that the kangaroo is somewhere between beef and venison, and I like both.

This intrigues me. Besides that, eating the kangaroo would be an opportunity to get closer to the culture of the Aboriginals of Australia since it was traditionally a food that they ate (and still do).

Apart from that, farming kangaroo is illegal, so all kangaroo that is eaten is wild. Thus the elimination of genetically modified marsupial.

When it comes to what cut I would like to try, there are many choices, I am reading. I could go with a filet, or perhaps a "kanga banga" (kangaroo sausage).

Besides that, eating kangaroo would be able to help the rampant population of kangaroos in Australia. There are about 50 million wild kangaroos running around doing what they do...I'm guessing that includes pooping in driveways, hopping, hiding in pouches and boxing.

Keep this in mind- there are over 50 million kangaroos in Australia. And there are only 21 million people. That's practically a plague.

And every part of the kangaroo is used! People drink the fluids (ew, none for me thanks, I want to get the Australian experience, but that's a little extreme), use the fur for rugs (I remember my stuff kangaroo Catherine got me when she first visited), and make purses out of the scrotum. Yes, the boy kangaroo's 'area' is used to make purses. Now, I like bags, but that one is a doozy.

The only thing will be to figure out what it's called on a menu. I've read that they farmers held a contest to see what it should be named, because people tend to think that kangaroos are sweet, cute and fluffy, not tasty. The winner was 'australus'. Other were kangarly, maroo, krou, maleen, kuja, roujoe, rooviande, jurru, ozru, marsu, kangasaurus, marsupan, jumpmeat, and MOM (meat of marsupials).

Hmm...sounds delicious.

Farcebook? Well, I'm still not getting off it...

So, I'm going to lots of classrooms and talking to kids about Facebook/webcams/MSN/etc.

And I'm finding that it's not just the kids who don't know a lot about their Facebook accounts...The Guardian newspaper put the Facebook privacy policy into easier understanding language. Enjoy!

Facebook's privacy policy

Just for fun, try substituting the words 'Big Brother' whenever you read the word 'Facebook'

1 We will advertise at you

"When you use Facebook, you may set up your personal profile, form relationships, send messages, perform searches and queries, form groups, set up events, add applications, and transmit information through various channels. We collect this information so that we can provide you the service and offer personalised features."

2 You can't delete anything

"When you update information, we usually keep a backup copy of the prior version for a reasonable period of time to enable reversion to the prior version of that information."

3 Anyone can glance at your intimate confessions

"... we cannot and do not guarantee that user content you post on the site will not be viewed by unauthorised persons. We are not responsible for circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the site. You understand and acknowledge that, even after removal, copies of user content may remain viewable in cached and archived pages or if other users have copied or stored your user content."

4 Our marketing profile of you will be unbeatable

"Facebook may also collect information about you from other sources, such as newspapers, blogs, instant messaging services, and other users of the Facebook service through the operation of the service (eg, photo tags) in order to provide you with more useful information and a more personalised experience."

5 Opting out doesn't mean opting out

"Facebook reserves the right to send you notices about your account even if you opt out of all voluntary email notifications."

6 The CIA may look at the stuff when they feel like it

"By using Facebook, you are consenting to have your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States ... We may be required to disclose user information pursuant to lawful requests, such as subpoenas or court orders, or in compliance with applicable laws. We do not reveal information until we have a good faith belief that an information request by law enforcement or private litigants meets applicable legal standards. Additionally, we may share account or other information when we believe it is necessary to comply with law, to protect our interests or property, to prevent fraud or other illegal activity perpetrated through the Facebook service or using the Facebook name, or to prevent imminent bodily harm. This may include sharing information with other companies, lawyers, agents or government agencies."

My Hotels!

Check it out...

This is where I'm going to be staying in Australia (minus the lovely accomodations in the Canberra region).

The hotel on the right is the Four Point Sheraton, Darling Harbour where I'll be spending 4 nights. It's located on the harbour, and if I'm lucky enough I'll get a view of the harbour.

The hotel on the left is the Cairns International Hotel in Cairns where I'll be staying 3 nights. It's in the centre of Cairns, and across the street from a casino.

Sweet!

Flower Power

The below message was sent by Cory Morningstar...very interesting read as I've said before the flower industry is RIPE with chemicals and environmental destruction.

So the next time you think about getting your beloved some roses this Valentine's Day (first think about the validity of such a day), then look into buying locally grown flowers (potted flowers all the way!).

Valentine's Day - Flowers - At What Cost?

What we’re not hearing about in the MSM.

Many fresh cut flowers distributors are getting away with murder. Literally. Environmentalist Joan Root was shot & killed at her farm overlooking Lake Naivasha, in January, 2005. Her mission? Saving her beloved lake from the ecological ravages of Africa's lucrative flower-farming industry.

Lake Naivasha was once considered one of the world's top ten sites for birds and a paradise of clear water, with beautiful papyrus and water lily fringes. A haven for African wildlife and a major source of water for the lakeside's quickly growing population. Now - Lake Naivasha, Kenya's second largest lake, has shrunk to half its original size and its water level has dropped three metres. Vital wetlands, are degraded beyond recognition. Nowhere in the world is water from one lake basin used to supply drinking water to two basins, electricity to a whole country's grid and flowers & vegetables to a whole continent. The rotting tissues of the hippo carcasses reveal the secret to perfect bouquets - DDT and, 40 times more toxic, Dieldrin - pesticides banned in countries whose markets have made Kenya the world’s number on exporter. This is happening not only in Africa, but in developing countries all over the world. The corporations are able to rape the land, destroy the ecosystems and exploit the people. [Payment for ecosystem services is a rapidly developing economic means of restoring biodiversity around the globe. The price added to a rose or a bean would be a fraction of a cent.]

So – why has no one noticed flowers? No mandatory labeling for the consumer of any kind. One would think a label would be mandatory to inform, at the very minimum, where the flowers are grown. I guess we should not expect a label listing the pesticides that were used as apparently our government doesn’t feel it’s necessary for such a label even on our food, let alone cut flowers. Has the ‘Right to Know’ campaign ever made more sense? It seems that a mandatory labeling system is long overdue. Could we mandate that the amount of water & energy that was used be disclosed? Fair trade? Organic – obviously. Flower miles? I certainly would like to know this information.

I think until we start asking these questions – and demanding answers – nothing is ever going to change. I think flowers have been getting a free ride for a long time. Does any retailer in our city even sell ethically sound, sustainably grown flowers? Isn’t it time we asked? Isn’t it time we demanded nothing less?

This is an issue that has to be brought into the mainstream. To speak openly about such issues to friends, family and retailers is to create a dialogue to influence water policy making at a global level, thus assuring better living standards for people all over the world and more responsible social behaviour towards water issues which ultimately affect each & every one of us. Because there is no such thing as new water.

Thanks - c

http://www.sierraeco.com/default.asp

Did you know that when you give Sierra Eco flowers, you’re actually giving twice? Every time you give someone Sierra Eco flowers, you are also giving a family a chance to earn a decent living and provide for their children while preserving the environment for future generations. Sierra Eco - quality flowers that respect people and the environment!

http://www.ecoflora.ca/ …Now you can send flowers that are wildcrafted, organically grown, or fairly traded anywhere in the Toronto area.

California: Flower growers facing stiff foreign competition bet on organic
Full story: Ottawa Citizen

Farmers who weathered a wave of cheap imports in the last decade by coaxing their fields to yield hundreds of harder-to-find varieties are increasingly betting on organic flowers, a nascent industry that is taking bloom on the heels of the organic food boom. Many in the industry hope the decision to go organic will eventually be an environmentally friendly but also a financially sound alternative for farmers trying to stay afloat. Though the market for organic flowers is still small - sales totaled $8 million [USD] in 2003, a fraction of the $19.4 billion consumers spent on all flowers nationally - it's growing fast. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for products made without chemicals harmful to workers or the environment. Organic flower sales are expected to grow 13 percent annually through 2008, according to the Organic Trade Association.

APRIL 17TH, 2008 6:40PM

I BOOKED IT!

Very, very, VERY exciting!

W00T!

Last week I met with a travel agent and tonight, after finding out the last details, I told her to BOOK IT!

So I leave in April for 3 glorious weeks at the bottom of the world!

So much to see, so much to plan, I'll be spending some time with my family then hooking up with a tour.

And while I'm there I'll get to go to Canberra (the capital and Colin&Cath's home), Adelaide (where all the wine & Colin's fam are), Sydney (Nemo's home), Cairns (the "r" is silent- I know, I need to get fluent in Oz speak), and Brisbane (just the airport, though).

Aussie fact: Australia has the coolest sounding islands. They include: Christmas, Cocos, and Kangaroo.

They Won

Well, I haven't updated in a while...but here's what I've been doing:

- 8 hours of hockey at the John Labatt Centre
- New Years at my place
- Meeting relatives
- 2 weeks of vacation (sleeping, hanging out, traveling!)
- Bought a new iPod Classic...80GB of storage...10,000 songs capacity
- Playing with my new crock pot
- Checking out Aussie flights and packages
- Thinking about the next job


Now, check out this video of the boys of Ontario enjoying their trophy. More on the hockey games later...

She's Gonna Cry

She's so gonna cry. Hard.

Hmmm...

What is she doing?

I hope she never finds this page.

The Spirit of Christmas

A Gift...With Meat

This is the gift from me to my parents.

:-P

Pearl: Revisited

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit

There was just a report on Detroit news about a holiday event that happened at the Somerset Collection in Troy, Michigan.

For those you don't know about Somerset Collection it's a high end shopping mall that attracts the snobby, elitist and consumer happy, i.e. Anne-Marie.

Sometimes members of my family will make the trek to the good ole U.S. of A. to shop until they drop, either financially or physically.

Well, it seems that an incident occurred at Anne-Marie's shopping Mecca.

Or should I say outside Anne-Marie's shopping Mecca.

It seems that swiping a parking space is no longer just an annoying event during the busiest shopping season, it can be harmful to your health.

Here's the down low: a car is waiting for a primo spot. Another car swoops in and takes it instead. A heated exchange started, insults thrown. People get out of the car. Fists are thrown.

And in stereo-typical American fashion a HANDGUN is whipped out.

Definitely on the naughty list.

Just another example of consumerism rearing its ugly head.

Merry Xmas!

Why I Hate The Dove: Real Beauty Campaign

This is getting ridiculous.

I hate the Dove campaign for real beauty.

I don't disagree that we should be embracing a shapes, sizes, colours, heights, wrinkles, etc., etc.

But the point I've been making for years about this campaign is that it still is A MARKETING CAMPAIGN.

The company, Unilever that owns Dove is probably interested in breaking down stereotypes. But I think it's important to examine intent in this case. Why is Unilever so interested in making me feel as though I'm just as beautiful as the models they used to use in their campaigns? Why has Unilever taken such an interest in making me feel valued? Are they perhaps encouraging me to feel beautiful? I guess there's nothing wrong with that.

So what does it mean to be beautiful? I feel good about myself, I gain confidence...and perhaps I'll feel good enough that I'm afraid I won't feel this forever...therefore I'll want to keep staying beautiful...there for I'll buy Dove products? Hmmm...

Now, don't get all uppity. This is what corporations do. They want to sell there products, make a profit. But for some bizarre reason this thought leaves our heads. Dove wants us to feel happy, proud and excited about ourselves. Dove cares about us. Dove wants us to know that not only are we beautiful, but they acknowledge that we're beautiful.

Ok. So what? Dove is selling products by emotionally manipulating us. That's what commercials are all about. Advertising is an integral part of our lives. Deal with it. Move on and appreciate that Unilever actually does give a shit....

What was that?

Really? No shit, are you serious, Hilary?

Well, that certainly changes things.

Thanks for the heads up Hilary.

Sorry, my friend Hilary just let me know what other products Unilever owns and markets like it's going out of style.

The product?

AXE BODY SPRAY.

Yeah, put that in your self-esteem pipe and smoke it.

If you don't know what Axe Body Spray is, allow me to enlighten you.

Axe Body Spray is Canada's leading male deodorant.

Shall we investigate how Axe is marketed?

What are your thoughts? Since Unilever is so dedicated to enhancing women's self esteem, surely their campaign would transfer to their entire line, right? It would only make sense, really.

Let me just check their website...hm. Interesting.

You will never believe this. It appears that the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty isn't so all inclusive as we are led to believe.

Let me get this straight...Axe is for men. But all I see on their website are pictures of women. How empowering! Um. Except. None of them really look like the Real Beauty women. Wonder why that is.

Let's read some of the stuff about their line...

Ok, ahem, not really what I would expect from a corporation so dedicated to raising self esteem...it seems if you wear the Vice line you can turn nice girls naughty. And if you wear Kilo girls in bikinis will come and you can "...teach them how to rub things together to start a fire." Well, I guess if you're into survival camping that would be use- oh, I get it. Not very empowering there.

Let's keep looking, shall we?

"Axe Effect...internationally recognized name for increased attention Axe wearing males receive from eager and attractive female pursuers".

Eager and attractive? Wow.

And you know what...there's even a box where you can report a "Naughty Girl".

Ok, who makes this shit up?

I get that perhaps this was a failed attempt to make fun of the mating process. But since Axe is #1 in Canada there is cause for concern.

So allow me to enlighten you.

A. Women do not pull off clothing because men smell good.

B. You are living in a dream world if you believe that your armpit stick will induce lust filled antics

C. If you use Axe, you're an asshole.


So, Axe Body Spray and Dove Real Beauty. Kind of doesn't make sense. Even if the Axe marketing is just for fun, doesn't poking fun at women's inability to respect themselves because of shitty shower gel some loser uses because he thinks it will get him commitment free relationships counter act what they're doing?

I mean, the Real Beauty campaign isn't just a commercial. They have actual programs and talk to actual girls.

How does that go?

Girls, feel good in your own skin. You are beautiful. The media has an unattainable image when it comes to the perfect body.

Now boys. Here's your Axe. Spray on, stand back and wait for the onslaught of attractive and eager girls. And don't worry, they will definitely look like the women you drool over in Maxim magazine.

If none of this has stopped you from buying Dove, then maybe Unilever's track record on abusing animals and child labour will.

No? Then you may be interested that Unilever is encouraging women to feel good about their size and shape, but not so much the colour of their skin. In fact if you want to they can sell you a cream that will lighten your skin. It's called "Fair and Lovely".

And if you use it along with other Dove products, well then there are no bounds to your real beauty.

My Tacky Tree

Check. It. Out.

My tree, so so lovely.

The tinsel really adds the finishing touch.

Weekend Paper Reading Is About To Get Scary

Yes, you may have heard today that media tycoon and arrogant asshole, Rupert Murdoch purchased the The Wall Street Journal.

Great.

Now we know what this means. The right wing owner of Fox "News" now owns one of the most influential financial tomes in the land.

I wouldn't be surprised if all of a sudden the $1 million debt the US is accumulating every minute
is characterized as some sort of economic fake out.

My New Job!

I'm teaching at Fanshawe College starting next month!

Very exciting- I will be teaching two sections of Community Development in the Social Services Worker program (the one I graduated from!).

I am PUMPED!





*Sidenote: the above illustration is just a joke, I in no way encourage the acceptance of money in exchange for good grades. But I will tell people if their work blows.

**Just kidding.

Apartment Smell of the Day

Dog food.

HE'S GUILTY.

Robert Pickton was just found guilty on all charges.

6 women were represented during this trial.

He was only convicted of 2nd degree murder, but the point the man is G-U-I-L-T-Y.

He can suck it.

Jack ass.

Remembering Ecole Polytechnique and All Women Who Experience Of Gender Based Violence

Pros And Cons of Snow Fall and Apartment Living

Pro:

I don't have to shovel.

Con:

I don't have the authority to tell people to shovel, and how to shovel correctly. Thanks for the ridiculous attention to shoveling, Dad.



Pro:

I don't have to shovel.

Con:

The snow plow person chooses to plow at 11:30pm. I am transitioning to old life. I am in REM sleep usually by 10:37pm.

Pro:

I can openly laugh at people who have to shovel.

Con:

The snow plow sounds as if it's churning metal. Did I mention it's out there at 11:30pm?

Pro:

There's no dread in the morning about having to shovel to get out of the driveway. It's somebody else's problem. It's just a beautiful winter wonderland to me.

Con:

That metal churning noise? Yeah, kind of freaked me out the first time I heard it.

Pro:

No shoveling.

Con:

I don't have winter boots (kind of applies).

Pro:

Snow plow goes fast.

Con:

Snow plow goes too frigging fast near my car. Gives me the heart flutters as I watch it whiz by.

All in all, I think it evens out.

My Snowy Luck

How fair is this?

I come back to my folks place last night so Annie doesn't have to hang out here alone and Dec. 1st is the day the snow starts to fall.

The one good thing about not living in a house is that I don't have to shovel.

And now the first significant snow fall has me outside getting the shovel out.

Damn.

Radio DJs

The past couple of days I've been forced to listen to the descent of morning radio.

Firstly, what is with cars who don't have CD players?

This would have been avoided if I had access to a CD player.

Instead I had to listen to a plethora of radio DJs. I can only assume that they reach out to the most base audience.

Yes, you know this group of people.

They are the socially unaware (in the most irritating of fashion). These are the folks who don't vote, but feel the need to complain. These are the people who can't see the connection between lower their taxes and the lower of standards in hospital wait times. These are the idiots that run red lights. The morons who do mall walks with strollers, and hit the backs of your heels. The people who think that women who want power tools are some strange kind of breed of freak ("You're a woman, get your husband to hang that picture!"). The men think that the worst insult is to be called either: girly, sissy or feminine in some way. Thus they attempt to show their heterosexuality to the nth degree. These are the people who think that calling something "gay" is an insult.

I like to think that these people are in the minority. But since this minority is more vocal these DJs think they must emulate them.

This must stop. Immediately.

I cannot take one more reference to a "chick flick" or a female DJ talking about every single woman's desire for a giant diamond on her left hand.

I will not be held accountable for my road rage.

I have to take this care to Niagara Falls in one week- I can't stand to listen to this shit for that long.

And my passenger doesn't like CBC.

I can literally feel the brain cells evaporating.

He's Such A Din-Wid

Yes, I know a cheap shot.

But his name is Dinwiddie. How sucky is that?

In case you don't know this is the rookie who was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback during this past Grey Cup.

Whatever, I don't dig organized sports.

But I do dig this guy's eyes. They are freaking amazing.

They are this bizarre ice blue.

I don't know why he doesn't just take off his helmet and captivate his opponents on the football field with his gaze.

That probably would have won him the Cup, or at least stopped Johnson from catching 3 interceptions.

Ok, enough football speak. I'm good for the year.

P.S.

What's a Rough Rider? And is it a cowboy reference? Because I thought all the cowboys were in Alberta, not Saskatchewan. And does this have anything to do with the unofficial motto of Regina..."the city that rhymes with fun"? Just a thought.

Global Oh for Peace 2007: The Second Annual Synchronized Global Orgasm for Peace

WORLDWIDE - November 25 - In 2006, the first Global Orgasm for Peace focused on the escalation of tensions between the Govern-Men of the USA and Iran. One year later, some of those in power still want to declare war and Americans are waiting to be given another manufactured excuse to support it. So we are preparing to launch the Second Annual Synchronized GlobalOrgasm for Peace.

WHO? All Men and Women, you and everyone you know.

WHERE? Everywhere in the world, but especially in countries with weapons of mass destruction and places where violence is used in place of mediation.

WHEN? This year we are synchronizing on the actual moment of the Solstice (Winter in the northern hemisphere, Summer in the south) for maximum concentrated effect: Solstice Day - Saturday, December 22nd at 06:08 Universal Coordinated Time (GMT), which is 09:08 Baghdad time; 09:38 Tehran time; 01:08 Washington, DC time; 17:08 Sydney time; 14:08 Hong Kong time; 11:38, New Delhi time; 09:08 Moscow time; Friday, December 21st, at 22:08 San Francisco time.

WHY? To effect positive change in the energy field of the Earth through input of the largest possible instantaneous surge of human biological, mental and spiritual energy.

The Science

The Global Consciousness Project (http://noosphere.princeton.edu) in Princeton, NJ, runs a network of Random Event Generators around the world, which record changes in their randomness during global events. The results show that human consciousness can be measured to have a global effect on matter and energy during widely-watched events such as the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, large antiwar protests, natural catastrophes, acts of war and mass meditations. Concentrated consciousness has measurable effects.

Our minds influence Matter and Quantum Energy fields , so by concentrating our thoughts during and after The Big O on peace and partnership, the combination of high orgasmic energy combined with mindful intention for peace could reduce global levels of violence, hatred and fear.

The world is full of men with axes to grind and weapons to fire in displays of their superiority over others. It is time to spare the planet from Alpha Male concepts of 'progress', 'growth' and Manifest Destiny, which are endangering all of us. True partnership between the Masculine and Feminine that is within all women and men may enable our species to survive in relative harmony. The GlobalOrgasm for Peace is one attempt to begin that process.

See www.GlobalOrgasm.org

This Week's Apartment Smell.

Pot.

Tacky Christmas Tree Decorating Party!!

Alright...

Dec. 15th.

6PM-1AM

My pad...

RSVP if you can make it!

Bring a tacky, cheap and ugly ornament.

It is going to be 'off the hook'.

GAH!

Check. It. Out.

I met her.

However briefly, I met her.

Naomi Klein.

No dinner, no meet and greet. Just me and my plethora of Naomi Klein books.

She was even impressed I had her book on American business in Iraq.

I IMPRESSED NAOMI KLEIN.

But what was even more interesting was the fact that she had rider (like a rock star).

Above is a picture of her half eaten dinner.

As well is a picture of me eating one of Naomi Klein's cookies.

They were oatmeal raisin.

Sigh.

Odds and Ends

Things I've noticed.

Apartment smells. I never know what my nose will be assaulted with when I walk in the building. Sometimes it's really good, sometimes it's really bad. Really bad. And, for those of you who know me, I have an incredibly strong sense of smell. It's uncanny. Last week was cinnamon. Today? Paint.

Woodstock is not an easy town to negotiate. And besides that, can someone tell me when it became a thriving metropolis with Boston Pizza and Staples?

When did Naomi Klein become a diva? Isn't this kind of counter productive from her work as an anti-globalization specialist?

Don't drive around Ottawa on Remembrance Day. Trust me, it's a pain.

Academics are big babies.

The Imodium Quick Dissolve pills are brilliant.

That's all for now.

Saving Darfur

A whole week of talking about children in the sex trade.

Follow that up by a weekend of discussions on Darfur.

Sounds depressing, but it was rather uplifting to see everyone come together to talk about the genocide.

Don't know what's going on in Darfur? Don't be confused.

There are some myths about the genocide, allow me to enlighten you.

1. This is not a genocide of Arabs killing Christians. Everyone, both perpetrators and victims are Muslim.

2. The number of people killed is not 200,000 as most journalists report. As of August of 2007 over 400,000 people have been killed by the Janjaweed.

3. "This is a tribal issue." Despite what Brian Mulroney wants you to believe. This is a government assisted and supported genocide. Khartoum is in on it, completely.

4. "The genocide is ending." Not the case, it's picking up steam like you couldn't believe. Some of the leading experts this weekend also predict that Southern Sudan is on the path to genocide there, as well.

5. "It was unpreventable." Bullshit. This, like Rwanda, was totally preventable.

Want to do something about this?

Two things you can do:

A. Call 1-800-GENOCIDE

How the system works:
When callers in Canada dial in to 1-800-436-6243 (GENOCID) they will be connected to our direct advocacy phone system. They will be given the choice of the 6 MPs and will be offered the option of listening to select talking points for each MP. Following the talking points they will be connected directly to the MP's office. They will leave a message with a staffer or a voicemail expressing their concerns about the crisis in Darfur and what they think the Canadian Government's response should be. After they leave a message they will have the choice to re-enter the system to leave another message for another MP is they choose.

B. Divestment

I've got an appointment next week with my bank to examine which companies my RSP is investing with. There are some pretty heinous companies profiting off of genocide in Darfur. This companies shouldn't be supported with our investment. Check it out at www.sudandivestment.org. Needless to say the majority of the offending companies (and you have to be really horrible to get onto this list) are oil corporations.

Satisfied?

Hello There

Hello-

Yes, it's me. And yes, it has been a while.

Where have I been?

I don't have to justify myself to you people.

I'm a busy woman. Or just lazy.

Yes, it has been quite some time since I've ragged on anyone, but what can you do? It's not that I haven't had people annoy me.

No, no.

I've just been busy.

Sooooooooo....

Work's been crazy...between next week and the first week in February I will be speaking with over 2,400 kids in grade 6, 7 and 8. Yeah, I've been a little crazy lately.

What else?

Annie and I went to go see Dane Cook at the ACC. Interesting evening, lots of fun. Lots of popped collars, backwards baseball caps and smug reflections.

The videos are popping up on YouTube.com, so I'll upload a few.

What else?

I went to the Royal Winter Fair last week with my Dad and my grandparents. Fun times, that mostly had me in the middle. Literally. Most of the day had my dad going in one direction with his camera positioned at any thing that moo'ed, nay'ed or clucked. And then Papa went off in another direction. And grandma would follow Papa, so she wouldn't lose him.

About the Royal Winter Fair. I have some suggestions.

1. Lower prices. Come on. It was way too expensive, and when my dad pays my ticket I feel a slight indignity is being done to him. Slight.

2. Get rid of the stupid booths. Do you need a rhinestone pantsuit? Perhaps a crappy oil painting of a sheep dog? Or maybe you want the newest booklet on a Ford truck? No? Then maybe some figurines? No? Ok, some coupons? No? Just take the coupon. Seriously, it's good for a year. I DON'T WANT YOUR DAMN COUPONS I JUST WANT TO SEE A FREAKING HORSE.

3. Ban strollers, except if there's a child in it. And if you have a kid put them in the damn stroller. That's why you have a stroller. To confine your kid. Not walk slowly in front of me. That makes me want to punch you in the back of the head.

4. Maps. Could you make those available? Please. It was ridiculous.

5. Stop selling food by the piles of cow dung. The only thing that was more disgusting than that is the thought of eating fast food next to a pile of crap. Although I did chuckle when I saw the little girl petting the pig with one hand and eating the hotdog with the other. Hahahaha.

6. Move to damn butter sculptures to an easier location to find and put up signs. You people know that one of the only reasons I go. So I can see a dairy creation. When we asked 'Information' where there were they said we were '...like the 19th customer to ask'. Well, if there are so many people who don't know where it is...MAYBE THAT'S A CLUE, DUMB ASS.

All in all lots of fun.

Yea Royal!

What's My Name?

Meet the newest addition to the Foubister family.

It's a girl!

And she has no name.

Any suggestions?

I think Che is a good one, but Tracy doesn't like it.

18 DAYS TO GO!

When I was a kid, my mom gave me a code word.

She would say, "If someone tells you that mommy and daddy are in trouble, and they ask you to come with them, if they don't have the code you do not go with them! No code, no go!" And she would make up a little song, "No code, no go! No coooooode no go-o-o-o-o!"

Did any of you have a code word? (someone in the audience raises their hand) You really did? What was your code? (audience member says, "Apple Bottom") Apple bottom?

God forbid something should happen to your parents! Some guy would come up to you and say, "I'm sorry, you have to come with me. Your parents are dead. APPLE BOTTOM. I AM A GOOD MAN." My mom wasn't as smart her's was "Hey kid want some candy?"

Count down: 19 DAYS

EXCITING!!!

Friday, November 2nd, 2007.

7 PM.

The Air Canada Centre.

Section 107, Row 23, Seats 5 & 6.

Annie.

Me.

DANE COOK.

Pyramid of Hate

Something to think about...

:-)

I Would Have Killed This Baking Competition

At the Brigden Fair they have all sorts of baking competitions.

Including the carrot cake competition.

Look at this crap, though.

They judged the carrot cakes by taking a teeny tiny sliver.

Gah!

What's going on, people?

You can't try carrot cake with a tiny notch.

Whatev.

Grandma's would've kicked ass.

I'm Melting

Well, I usually don't like talking about my elders behind their backs, but today it seems that the man is giving me no choice.

Now that you know it's a man, people would assume that it's one of two people.

My father or Andrew Johnson. They generally are the two guys who drive me crazy most of the time.

They are bugging me, but for separate reasons (Dad for being irritating last night with the damn wooden wind chime, and Andrew for disregarding the sanctity of Turkey weekend).

But that's not my main annoyance.

No, no. That goes to the patriarch of the Rodgers, Tim Rodger.

The man is trying to smoke me out of his bungalow.

It started yesterday with my grandmother's wise, wise decision not to roast the turkey in the house seeing as how we are experiencing global warming at it's best with record temperatures.

So hot.

But temperatures inside rival those outside. Now my grandparents do have air conditioning. It's installed and it does work. I sensed my grandfather's resistance immediately when I politely suggested that he may think about turning the air up a touch seeing as we were about to be 11 in the house.

He didn't change it.

After several attempts to convince him that 75 degrees is unacceptable I found that I was losing. Badly.

Even my grandma was on my side, but the stubborn man refused to touch the thermostat.

And living with my father has only taught me that touching the thermostat is like committing murder.

In short, last night was hell.

Worst sleep ever.

Then I find out this morning that my grandfather closed the vent in the guest room I was staying in.

CLOSED THE VENT.

GAH!

He's lucky I love him, or else we'd have a really big problem.

Juno (Possibly the next Little Miss Sunshine?)

Well, I stumbled across this movie trailer and feel compelled to share it.

It's the story of a young girl who finds herself pregnant.

And the father?

Michael "Arrested Development/Superbad" Cera.

Sooo freaking hilarious.

Besides, Juno is played by the young woman who was in the last X-Men movies, whom I believe my sister, Maggie has a connection to.

Even more reason to check it out December 14th.

I'll even overlook that Jennifer "crappy films" Garner is in it.

Another Way To Explain It...

Ok,

So I don't think that the 12 reasons I posted about MMP grabbed everyone's attention...so check out this fun video explaining why ALL OF YOU SHOULD VOTE YES FOR MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

I Hate These Things, But I'm Bored and Feelin' Poorly

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT??

The untimely ripping out of my eye brow ring. Painful.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?

Absolutely nothing, it's waiting for paint.

3. WHAT DOES YOUR CELL PHONE LOOK LIKE?

Black with orange buttons.

4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?

Zap Mama (I'm obsessed), Xtina, Musicals (Wicked!), Ani DiFranco, Alanis, BNL, BEP, Feist, Regina Spektor, Hilary Duff (gorgeous), Peter Tosh, Sinead O'Connor

5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?

Early, like 12am ish

6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?

Feel good, I feel icky right now.

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?

My iron stomach.

8. CURRENT MOOD?

Sloth like

9. ARE YOU CRAVING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?

Gravol

10. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE??

Yup

11. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?

Loaded question. Me?

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOGNE / PERFUME?

Prada's fragrance, men's cologne, Karma by Lush. And patchouli. I looove that.


14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?

As long as they're not blood shot, I'm cool.

15. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Really rich. Haha, just kidding.

16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?

Neither

17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING(S)?

Fungi

18. IF YOU CAN EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Rolaids

19. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?

Jonah

20. DO YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE??

Français.

21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU?

My stubborn like behaviour, courtesy of my father.

22. DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE?

I like many people.

23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?

Ew. No.

24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?

I don't do brands.

25. WHAT'S YOUR DREAM CAR?

The one I have.

26. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF ROMANTIC?

Serious?

27. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF SWEET?

Sometimes.

28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?

That's the ONLY time.

29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH HE OR SHE MEAN TO YOU?

Um, telling them? Life is short, I hate martyrs.

30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED :

85

31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?

I don't assign value based on hair colour.

32. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN?

Parents :-)

33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?

Jonah.

34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE U.S.?

Considering I'm a Canadian, yes.

35. YOUR WEAKNESSES?

My flimsy ankles.

36. FIRST JOB?

Mary Brown's Fried Chicken.

37. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

Rachel.

38.ever done a prank call?

Never!

39. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS?

Reading Augusten Burrows.

40. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Hair transplant, donating to my father.

41. WHY DID YOU FILL OUT THIS SURVEY?

Anna's an evil, evil woman.

42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?

My hair...except it's usually "Good god, look at your hair!", is that a compliment?

43. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?

Sedate my mother with Benedryl.

44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?

Be in Aussie.

45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?

0.

46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My great grandma, Jessie.

47. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?

Only falling ones.

48. WHICH FINGER[S] IS YOUR FAVORITE?

My swear finger.

49. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?

Sunday night.

50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Yep.

51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

I hate that term, lunch meat. Cold cuts, deli meat, much better. Pork based products are mmmm good.

52. ANY BAD HABITS?

Umm, yeah.

53. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF?

CDs? Who has CDs anymore? Notre Dame De Paris Soundtrack? I looove that.

54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Probably not, I'm waay too intense. I'd just be a stalker instead.

55. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A SECRET YOU SWORE NOT TO TELL?

Yep.

56. DO LOOKS MATTER?

Of course. Don't have to be 'beautiful', just interesting.

57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE YOUR ANGER?

Talk about it. I tried my dad's method of putting it in a suitcase under the bed, but it backfired horribly with a crying phone call from a pay phone in Butt Munch, Georgia in 2004.

58. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?

Soon to be in Oakridge.

59. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?

Yep, but thankfully social services is curbing that very quickly.

60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?

My sisters.

61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?

Like 20?

62. FAVORITE TV COMMERCIAL?

I hate commercials.

63. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IPODS AND WAL-MART?

I love my iPod like it's my child.

I hate Wal-Mart with a fiery passion. My time in Wal-Mart on Saturday has traumatized me.

64. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT?

Yep.

65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?

That they're not a complete idiot.

66. FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP?

I hate shopping, so whenever I do it, it's never a good experience.

67. WHAT DOES YOUR BACKPACK LOOK LIKE?

Mountain Equipment Co-Op design.

68. YOUR MOST MISSED MEMORY?

No missed memories, that would be a drag.

68. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Slip off.

69. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?

Does it really matter?

70......what is this? What was the question?

71. IF YOU COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU BE?

Back at the suite in Blue Mountain...without the workload.

72. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS??

Orange and pink!

73. YOUR FAVORITE BAND?

See above.

74. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE?

None, I had them all removed...

75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

Nooo.

76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Peter Mansbridge.

77. LAST THING YOU ATE?

Tylenol.

78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

My mom.

79. WHATS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?

Nose and hairline.

80. FAVORITE THOUGHT PROVOKING SONG:

Put Him Out - Ms. Dynamite.

81. FAVORITE THING TO HATE:

Oprah and company.

82. FAVORITE DRINK:

Chai.

83. FAVORITE ZODIAC SIGN:

Well, I'm a Taurus, so it would be bizarre to say different.

84. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT?

Debate.

85. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR?

Brown, although my father says I'm a red head.

86. YOUR EYE COLOR?

Green.

87. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES?

Yes.

88. SIBLINGS?

Two little sisters.

89. FAVORITE MONTH?

May and November.

90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?

Yep.

91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED?

Rick Mercer Report.

92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?

Thanksgiving (I know, I know).

93. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

Sweats, since 5pm today.

94. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Winter.

95. KISSES OR HUGS?

From who? That really depends...

96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE-NIGHT STANDS?

Ons. Holla.

97. WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

No one.

98. WHO IS THE LEAST LIKELY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

Everyone.

99. BIGGEST FEAR?

Too scary to type.

100. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?

Of course.

Shake Hands With The Devil Trailer

Hey folks,

The big day is here!

The major motion picture "Shake Hands With the Devil" is being released!

This is the film about Gen. R. Dallaire, based on his book.

Check it out, definitely something to see.

Gen. Dallaire once suggested that Danny DeVito play the part of Major Brent Beardsley, but it didn't look like Danny got the part.

12 Reasons to Vote for Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) Representation on Oct. 10!

You know that with an election coming up I would have to give you a bit of information on MMP...HAPPY VOTING!


1. One ballot, two votes

With the MMP voting system, you cast a vote for a local candidate AND for the political party of your choice. You can vote for the best local candidate, even if you don’t like that candidate’s party, because you now have a separate vote for your preferred party – a vote that elects at-large candidates from that party.

2. More power to voters: everyone matters

Even if you don’t elect someone in your riding (and most of us don’t), your party vote will still help elect at-large candidates – meaning that every party will compete for your vote no matter where you live.

3. More choice for voters

Voters will be able to consider the larger established parties, as usual, but also a number of smaller, newer, innovative parties. As long as your preferred party receives more than 3% of the party votes, you can help elect at-large candidates.

4. No more strategic or negative voting

Many voters are trapped in ridings dominated by a party they don’t support. In those cases, you often conclude the only course is to vote for a party you don’t like to stop another party you like even less. With MMP, you can always cast an effective vote to elect at-large candidates from your preferred party.

5. Fairer results in elections

Election results are always distorted by the current system. One party may get 40% of the votes and win 60% of the seats. Another party may get 20% of the votes and no seats. MMP produces fairer results, meaning parties get only the seats and power they deserve – no more, no less.

6. No more phony majorities

Under the current system, Ontarians are often governed by a majority government that the majority actually voted against. Under MMP, majority governments can only be formed by those who were elected by a majority of voters.

7. Stronger representation

Because voters will have both riding representatives and at-large representatives, every voter will be better represented and be able to call on more than one elected official in their region for assistance.

8. More diverse representation

Proportional systems provide a foundation for the nomination and election of a more diverse range of candidates – more women and visible minorities – because parties learn that diverse lists of at-large candidates usually attract more votes.

9. More accountability to voters

A politician cannot be accountable to voters who didn’t elect her or him. Under the current system, most voters do NOT elect their riding representative and most do NOT vote for the party forming government. Under MMP, every voter helps elect someone, which strengthens accountability, and majority governments can only be formed by those representing the majority.

10. Better government and less concentration of power

Because fairer results mean a single party will seldom be able to form a majority government, MMP forces parties to negotiate and compromise, usually by forming coalition governments. This means that cabinets will often include members from more than one party, and the premier and party leaders will have to negotiate and compromise rather than dictate.

11. Citizens’ Assembly recommended MMP

The proposed MMP system is not being recommended by government or the parties. The recommendation came from the independent Ontario Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform, a body composed of 103 regular voters who studied, consulted and deliberated for eight months on the best voting system for Ontario voters. It’s a system recommended by a group of well-informed voters who chose it because it helps empower voters.

12. Old guard doesn’t like it

The status quo is jealously protected by an old guard who enjoy the way the system marginalizes most voters and concentrates power. The MMP system empowers voters, give more choice, fairer results and stronger representation – not what the old boys club wants, but what all Ontarians deserve.

The Big Bang Theory

My favourite new show.

I love this show. There are a few shows that I'm into this Fall, but this sitcom is hilarious.

Seriously hilarious,

Now, it will be even better when the smarty is the woman...

Enjoy!

Dinner Anyone?

Our dining room...and behind that is the sliding door on to our patio. Yes, patio.

Kitchen

Our kitchen...check it.

Full kitchen.

What we had in our fridge:

Bottle of wine

6 pack of Stella

Chocolate

Damn.

Look at this damn suite.

It's sweet.