Ways to Succeed in Life

There are roughly four options available to people like me to succeed in life:

1 - Winning the Lottery
While highly unlikely, winning the lottery can provide a low-income, working student like myself a bit of capital to put a down payment on a house or start a small business.

2 - Being CrEaTiVe
Making a name for myself on YouTube (with interesting amateur documentaries), penning a novel (I'm working on a couple), or entering essay and movie contests to win cash prizes, internships, and trips to work alongside professionals in various fields. Being creative includes sports. Honing my soccer skills and potentially trying out for a semi-pro club (about as good as I'll ever get) in the Canadian Soccer League or USL where I can depend on a half-decent salary. Using our creative talents can make us rich. Painting, acting, becoming a travelling busker, etc. There are all sorts of ways.

3 - Education
I can put my nose to the grindstone and work really hard to get a law degree or a master's in my field. With a master's in hand I'd be almost guaranteed a lifetime of employment in the civil service (or so I've heard). Getting a law degree or psychology degree would allow me to open up my own practice. The pay is quite good.

4 - Joining Organized Crime
While often glamorized by Hollywood, I somehow get the feeling that "The LIFE" ain't all it's cracked up to be. Lengthy prison terms, the chance of getting "whacked", and the drugs make this lifestyle quite unattractive. The pay is good but it's a fast and windy road.

5 - Creating a Commune
It would be nice to have a few million bucks in my pocket. I would buy up an uptown block of dilapitaed buildings, have them bulldozed and torn down, and then put up some shiny, new, state-of-the art communal condo complexes. Equipped with solar panels, they'd have rooftop balconies, communal sun/sitting rooms, and would surround a communal courtyard where residents could mix and mingle. I would set the rents at an affordable price. Gradually the members of the commune (working professionals, single mothers, people from all walks of life) could create pottery cooperatives, car sharing arrangments, and stuff like that to generate income for the commune. We could pool our resources together and buy up nearby stores and turn them into artisanal cooperatives, health food stores, daycares, and martial arts studios.

A Class System

Despite what people may say, we have a class system. When I walk downtown, applying for restaurant jobs, I pass a lot of people in suits and ties. They are the upper echelon of society. In passing I catch snippets of their conversations:

"...first you need to pay off all your credit cards..."
"...and have Linda fax me that form this afternoon..."
"...I want it by Monday..."

They get nice offices in shiny, glass, 20-storey buildings. They get to have power-coffee breaks at the World Exchange Plaza, glancing at their PDAs while deep in conversation on this quarter's results.

When do I get to join in all this? I feel so disenfranchised. I'm out of the loop. I wish I'd grown up with a strong, father-figure who had pushed me into finance. I'm doing an arts degree. Fat chance I'll ever be sipping a Latte while discussing the markets and getting paid for it...

You're either in or your out. I'm out. It seems I'd better get some financial accreditation under my belt.

Canadian Hip Hop Scene

Yo yo yo, these Canukkas be workin' it north of the border. Big scene in T dot. Lots of Canadian talent. Check it:

hiphopcanada.com

Gangis Khan aka Camoflauge
Point Blank
Team Offense

This is the stuff we should be listening to. Good, raw, Canadian rap/hip hop talent. Support Canadian music artists. We got some good stuff goin' on up here.

The Axe Has Fallen

From Madoff to Drabinsky and Gottlieb to AGI bonuses, Canadians and Americans alike are outraged by wealthy Wall Street and Bay Street "crooks". Suddenly the lustre of the North American aristocracy has worn off. Madoff investors cry foul. Op-ed writers demand justice. Lawmakers demand payback.

What people forget is that it is our uber capitalist, make-as-much-as-you-can-and-run mentality that has caused all this trouble in the first place. When becoming wealthy is our main objective we'll go to any lengths to amass a fortune. These men (and women) who have connived and cheated have merely done what society has encouraged them to do. When you, oh wealthy American/Canadian, decided to invest your money with Madoff, to see large returns, you were playing the same game. These people aren't crooks if they are making you money now are they? Even if that means investing in weapons manufacturing companies, tobacco companies, and third world dictatorships. As long as you see x % of a return you don't really care. Suddenly however the rug was pulled from under you. Your trusted and faithful investor broke rank and stabbed you in the back.

Seeing the millions/billions of dollars of money in front of him/her, he/she dipped his/her hand into the cookie jar. Goodness gracious!

All these teary-eyed, banner waving, victims standing outside Manhattan courtrooms, crying for blood. You knew what game you were playing. Why is their greed wrong and yours isn't? You chose to do business with these people. Promised outrageous returns you invested in brokerages with absolutely no ethics. You didn't care how your money was made so long as you go it. Well, someone else go to it first I guess. You'll see no tears from me, nor from the people in countries where missiles financed by your investments destroy their homes, and multi-nationals enslave them with their pathetic wages.

Why I Don't Like Politics

As a young, burgeoning university student, I dreamed of one day climbing the political ladder to lay claim to various, prestigious public offices across the country. However, three years (and massive amounts of cynicism) later, I find myself disgusted by the whole profession.

Backroom deals, Machiavellian tactics, cut throats, backstabbers, floor crossers, hypocrites, thieves, scoundrels. Seriously, outside of prison I don't know where you get a higher concentration of bad apples.

Yet, year in and year out, decade after decade, we continue to vote and pay tribute to those in public office. We forget the scams and the scandals, we blow off the double talk and dishonesty, and we say, "Maybe this time will be different. Maybe this guy/girl will do a good job." Sound like you?

Anyways, here is yet another story of political shenanigans:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/03/24/cp-torystaffer.html

PC Party (Ontario) staffer hacks into Liberal Party website. So what. Do I really care? The short answer is no.

What does bother me however is the comments that people make on the comment boards. Canadians who turn the blinders on to defend their own, political ideologies.

It doesn't seem to matter how many facts, figures you show someone - they will rarely change their minds.

If you're right, you're right:
"Those crazy lefties, bleeding heart liberals, socialists. They don't understand the issues."

If you're left, you're left: "Friggin' right-wingers. Damn Bush-loving, war-mongering, welfare-hating cold hearted bastards."

As long as we have politics we will have two opposing sides. We need a new model of governance in this country: a model that encourages throwing politics aside to work to find a solution in a fair and constructive manner. We, joe public, need to be involved in that process. Decision-making can't merely be left up to a handful of rich lawyers turned politicians. Will we ever see such a day?

"On Mistaken For Being White": One Man's Story

This is a very good little read. Alludes to the interesting dynamic of race relations in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/citizenbytes/2009/02/a_ride_to_remember_a_man_share.html

Major League Soccer: Worthy of the Hype?

There remains many a critic in Canada and the United States as to the vailidity of Major League Soccer (MLS) as a quality football (soccer) league. Indeed, many friends of mine (primarily friends from countries overseas where football is king), contend that the MLS is nothing more than a trumped up varsity league.

Now when you consider the fact that European football clubs have hundreds of years of history, millions of supporters, and 60,000 seat stadiums, our MLS clubs do look somewhat pale by comparison. It would appear that we are yet infants in the global soccer world.

However, little by little, year by year, through supporters' groups (e.g.: Red Patch Boys), big name stars (e.g.: David Beckham), the word is spreading: MLS clubs are now in their teenage years. Folks, we are gaining credibility.

Let me explain how:

1) International Club Friendlies / MLS All-Star Games

From Celtic FC to West Ham United to FC Barcelona, MLS clubs have played host to numerous international soccer super powers and won. Barring the FC Barcelona match (that team is in a league of its own - it is not only a global soccer superpower but a European soccer superpower, meaning it demolishes even that continent's competition) the MLS has come a long way since 1996. Now entering its 14th season, the MLS has survived nearly as long as its predecessor, the North American Soccer League (think New York Cosmos and Pele), is in excellent financial shape, and is growing steadily in terms of fan support and capital.

Have a look at these matches -->

Celtic FC v. Chicago Fire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyHqPwpLeXw&feature=related

West Ham United v. MLS All-Stars (2008):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnMw4Te2-B8&feature=channel

FC Barcelona v. New York Red Bulls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUIXaLOYFI4&feature=channel

Canadian Stadiums (Stadia)

An excellent resource for stadium buffs.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/north_america/countries/canada.shtml

Includes stadium dimensions, seating numbers, pictures, and everything else you need to know about canada's (and the rest of the world's) stadiums.

This topic is of particular interest to soccer fans such as myself who often posit as to what Canadian cities could support USL or CSL franchises and what stadia they would use. For example, Stade Saputo in Montreal is excellent for the Impact. But what about the City of Hamilton? With rumours circulating that their city is in the midst of procuring a USL-1, USL-2 team it is interesting to speculate where the team could play. Would they get enough attendance? Questions like these.

This website is a great resource of sports enthusiasts and sports writers alike.

New Strategy for Afghanistan

March 4, 2009 - Given the fact that we have just lost 3 more soldiers to IEDs (and 2 were injured) in Afghanistan, I think it's time we re-think our military strategy.
Our current system is failing our soldiers. The outlook is bleak. Pakistan continues to train and harbour Taliban/muslim radicals who then pass freely into Afghanistan through the mountains. They plant IEDs on roads that the NATO force frequent. They watch them for a couple of days, take some calculations, dig a hole beside the road, plant a bomb with a remote detonator, go 2 miles away, hide on a hill with a pair of binoculars, watch for a Canadian convoy, wait for the last tank/truck in line and then kaboom. That's all it takes. We lose soldiers to death and injury and we lose military equipment. It's a neverending rat race.

What we need to do is concentrate all of our operations into a single, relatively peaceful, province. NOT Kandahar. Until Pakistan keeps Taliban militants from crossing into Afghanistan with men and arms there is absolutely no point to patrolling Kandahar. The battle would be never ending.

What we need to do instead is take a province or two, far removed from the terrorist hotspots, and lock them down. Create like an East/West Germany sort of situation. In these two peaceful provinces we would:

-educate the masses;
-establish a secular society;
-create a highly trained army and police force;
-build schools, hospitals, roads and establish other important infrastructure;
-get running water and electricity to everyone.

In essence we would create a new standard by which Afghanis can live. With time this new "society" can open its borders and invite one or two new provinces at a time. When Afghanis see how it's possible to live, they will want the same. Right now however NATO forces are spread out all over the country. A pocket here a pocket there. There's absolutely no way we can break down the walls of muslim fundamentalism and backwardness that way. Especially not in certain provinces. Why waste our time there?

Rather, as I propose, NATO forces must concentrate their efforts on a single, more peaceful area/province. Get the populace well established. Let the Afghanis outside that area/province see what they are missing and what is possible.

Otherwise we are just sitting ducks and there is no point in our being there.

Hollywood Divas

Check out the demands of LA's starlets:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/index.html

Woo-hoo! A little cuckoo?

Rihanna and Chris Brown

Man oh man. I can't believe it's come to this - I'm actually writing/reading about Hollywood celebs! Why oh why? I strongly dislike them. Arrogant, egotistical divas that they are.

That aside, why is Rihanna getting back together with Chris Brown? It's all to do with the female psyche I guess - the twisted part of it anyways. The one that feels that to be loved is to be abused. Chris Brown slapped her, said he was "going to kill her" and choked her until she lost consciousness. I don't know about you but this guy sounds like the next poster child for the White Ribbon Campaign - in a bad way.

So really, I don't know what's worse - Chris Brown beatin' on Rihanna like she was a bad guy in a Jackie Chan movie or her going back to him.

Reports say that a member of the Jay-Z entourage (Jay-Z helped kickstart Rihanna's career) called Chris Brown "a walking dead man."

Threats on his life, the cancellation of highly lucrative sponsorships and shows (Wrigley, the NBA All Star Game). Chris, Chris, Chris. What were you thinking man!?

And Rihanna, give your head a shake girl - your boy ain't gonna change. Walk away while you still can!

Quebec separatists shut down!

A good little rant from craigslist.org, Montreal:

"The NO side won by a hair, and that's after the federalist side illegally spent millions in propaganda. "

Are you going to be whining about the referendums forever? I thought you guys didn't like to talk about DEFEATS, even the ones that happened 300 years ago.

What about the millions (of taxpayer dollars) spent on sovereignty since 1970? Funny, when it's the YES side it a "campaign", when it's the no side it's "propaganda". Are you saying that because of this "propaganda", some of your separatist brethren were swayed or tricked into voting NO? Are you sure you want to admit to that?

What about the cheating on the YES side? The record number of rejected ballots, the investigation that never got off the ground because it was quietly quashed by the PQ? What about the misleading and unclear question on the ballot?

You lost the referendum. TWICE. It's time to get over it. Let focus our energies into building Quebec into a world-class player instead of a quaint but backward french hick-town.

[sigh] but I suppose you'd rather keep fighting (while living in poverty) for "la cause".

reference: http://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/rnr/1047445409.html