Thursday, June 5, 2008
I'm so... bored.
I just want to illustrate how truly bored I am at work right now. This is a tiny sample of something I did to pass the time. All manually generated. If you can't tell, its a series of numbers. From left to right, years to 1988, months, days (sequence of 31), hours, minutes, and seconds. If I were an asshole, I'd tell you that these were the perfect times for whatever or something, but I just don't have enough motivation to care right now.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Sssssssssmoking...
So it's been a while. About 5 months if I were to be honest with myself. It's not that I haven't had anything to write about, I just haven't bothered. Having kept busy with my time at university, I've decided to return on a subject that I mentioned I would eventually discuss (Here).
Smoking. The modern day evil.
Smoking has recently become a huge taboo in our culture, almost worldwide at this point. Not only is smoking banned in most restaurants, bars, clubs, pubs, venues, whatever; governments are also placing bans on smoking in public places. While I understand the basic ideas (cuts down on smoke in the area, cut down on litter, cut down on people loitering), I can't honestly say I support it.
Firstly, consider your average college campus (I use it because of my experience with it). Smoking is banned in all dorms I know of, with good reason, fires are a serious issue as is smoke damage. As such, all smokers go outside to light up, which I have never heard a smoker complain about, no matter the weather. Recently however, there's been a push to make it against school rules to smoke within 20 feet of a doorway or window. This has come from the Colleges Against Cancer group on campus. They argue that students entering or exiting buildings are being forced to inhale secondhand smoke and are basically walking into huge smoke clouds. Not only is this not true, its rather unfair. Firstly, I lived in a dorm with 4 doors. 2 had ashtrays by them and as such were where the smokers could be found. One was accessible through the basement, and to be fair was oft locked. So we have a door left, one without ashtray nor smoker within 10-15 feet on either side. As far as I can tell, most dorms have at least one way out that has no ashtray near it. Is this not enough? Smokers stand outside rain or shine, snow or hail, and now they're to be asked to go 20 feet from the doors of their dorms? My dorm was lucky, we had an overhang covering one of our doors, where people were sheltered from the elements. Others don't have this luxury, often they can be found hiding in one of the areas that provides a bit of protection from the 'storm'. All of these areas are by doorways.
A few years ago, the government of Hong Kong (where I live), banned smoking in all public areas. Great for the libraries and City Hall, which had open areas that people once smoked in, but this hit the public parks as well. For a while, I worked in a restaurant in a well-traveled and known part of the city. On my way out of the area towards one of the major bar districts in the city, there was a little park. Nothing major, just a bit of land that couldn't be used for anything else, so the government turned it into a park. A few benches, ground was padded for the kids, some plants. Basically the best way to get to my drinks. I was walking there with a few friends, several with cigarettes in hand, when a cop walks out the other side. Upon seeing the smokers, he pulls them aside and issues them tickets for smoking. TICKETS! For smoking in an open area at 2 in the morning on a Tuesday night (Wednesday morning really). The argument is that smoke doesn't dissipate, that its mere existence poisons people. Dirty lies.
While I'm pretty liberal, this is the one issue that pisses me off. Smokers deal with enough shit as it is, they really don't need more. Every smoker I know recognizes the fact that they are hurting themselves by smoking, they understand concepts such as second hand smoke and even things like the smell of smoke. That being said, most countries have things like basic rights and freedoms. Forcing smokers to move, have to quit or even penalizing people for smoking (all actual events) is not only unfair to those smokers, it is in fact incredibly unethical. Organizations against smoking make the point that smokers violate the freedoms of non-smokers, but wouldn't making these laws and rules violate the freedom of smokers?
But at the end of it all, I'm just some 19 year old kid who thinks non-smoking activists are a waste of time, space, and my smoky air.
Also, my apologies for the cheesy Jim Carrey-esque title. It just had to be.
Smoking. The modern day evil.
Smoking has recently become a huge taboo in our culture, almost worldwide at this point. Not only is smoking banned in most restaurants, bars, clubs, pubs, venues, whatever; governments are also placing bans on smoking in public places. While I understand the basic ideas (cuts down on smoke in the area, cut down on litter, cut down on people loitering), I can't honestly say I support it.
Firstly, consider your average college campus (I use it because of my experience with it). Smoking is banned in all dorms I know of, with good reason, fires are a serious issue as is smoke damage. As such, all smokers go outside to light up, which I have never heard a smoker complain about, no matter the weather. Recently however, there's been a push to make it against school rules to smoke within 20 feet of a doorway or window. This has come from the Colleges Against Cancer group on campus. They argue that students entering or exiting buildings are being forced to inhale secondhand smoke and are basically walking into huge smoke clouds. Not only is this not true, its rather unfair. Firstly, I lived in a dorm with 4 doors. 2 had ashtrays by them and as such were where the smokers could be found. One was accessible through the basement, and to be fair was oft locked. So we have a door left, one without ashtray nor smoker within 10-15 feet on either side. As far as I can tell, most dorms have at least one way out that has no ashtray near it. Is this not enough? Smokers stand outside rain or shine, snow or hail, and now they're to be asked to go 20 feet from the doors of their dorms? My dorm was lucky, we had an overhang covering one of our doors, where people were sheltered from the elements. Others don't have this luxury, often they can be found hiding in one of the areas that provides a bit of protection from the 'storm'. All of these areas are by doorways.
A few years ago, the government of Hong Kong (where I live), banned smoking in all public areas. Great for the libraries and City Hall, which had open areas that people once smoked in, but this hit the public parks as well. For a while, I worked in a restaurant in a well-traveled and known part of the city. On my way out of the area towards one of the major bar districts in the city, there was a little park. Nothing major, just a bit of land that couldn't be used for anything else, so the government turned it into a park. A few benches, ground was padded for the kids, some plants. Basically the best way to get to my drinks. I was walking there with a few friends, several with cigarettes in hand, when a cop walks out the other side. Upon seeing the smokers, he pulls them aside and issues them tickets for smoking. TICKETS! For smoking in an open area at 2 in the morning on a Tuesday night (Wednesday morning really). The argument is that smoke doesn't dissipate, that its mere existence poisons people. Dirty lies.
While I'm pretty liberal, this is the one issue that pisses me off. Smokers deal with enough shit as it is, they really don't need more. Every smoker I know recognizes the fact that they are hurting themselves by smoking, they understand concepts such as second hand smoke and even things like the smell of smoke. That being said, most countries have things like basic rights and freedoms. Forcing smokers to move, have to quit or even penalizing people for smoking (all actual events) is not only unfair to those smokers, it is in fact incredibly unethical. Organizations against smoking make the point that smokers violate the freedoms of non-smokers, but wouldn't making these laws and rules violate the freedom of smokers?
But at the end of it all, I'm just some 19 year old kid who thinks non-smoking activists are a waste of time, space, and my smoky air.
Also, my apologies for the cheesy Jim Carrey-esque title. It just had to be.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Corporate Responsibility to the Truth
So, I'm sitting in the Air Canada lounge in Toronto because my flight to Hong Kong that was supposed to leave at 10:05 AM has been pushed to 3:00 PM. Officially, the weather here (It's snowing) is too bad for takeoff. Of course, considering the pilots still hadn't shown up when they made the announcement (at about 10:50), I'm starting to wonder if that's the case. Which leads me to a thought.
Why do companies lie to us?
Why is it that everytime something happens that isn't in their best interest, a company will lie to their consumer? Pilot didn't show up? tell 'em its a technical failure. The phone doesn't work because the wiring is faulty? Blame it on the telephone company. You don't know how to respond to my computer problem? Tell me to reboot and reinstall my OS.
I don't need to hear the same old lines every time something happens. In fact, I want to hear the god honest truth. I'd have more respect for companies if they told me why something went wrong and took steps to correct it, than if they made up a reason that I couldn't prove or disprove. In fact, I'd probably be more likely to use those companies again in the future if I knew that when they screwed up (as everyone inevitably will) they were frank and honest about what happened and how it was or is being fixed.
On the other hand, do we really want to know when something goes wrong? Do you want a stewardess to come on air and tell you that you're flight was delayed because the geniuses who were supposed to fly it are stinking drunk? Do you want to hear that 'New Coke' was really just some idiot screwing around in the marketing department because he was getting Canned (oooh, a unintentional joke!) and wanted to go out with a bang? I didn't think so.
Why do companies lie to us?
Why is it that everytime something happens that isn't in their best interest, a company will lie to their consumer? Pilot didn't show up? tell 'em its a technical failure. The phone doesn't work because the wiring is faulty? Blame it on the telephone company. You don't know how to respond to my computer problem? Tell me to reboot and reinstall my OS.
I don't need to hear the same old lines every time something happens. In fact, I want to hear the god honest truth. I'd have more respect for companies if they told me why something went wrong and took steps to correct it, than if they made up a reason that I couldn't prove or disprove. In fact, I'd probably be more likely to use those companies again in the future if I knew that when they screwed up (as everyone inevitably will) they were frank and honest about what happened and how it was or is being fixed.
On the other hand, do we really want to know when something goes wrong? Do you want a stewardess to come on air and tell you that you're flight was delayed because the geniuses who were supposed to fly it are stinking drunk? Do you want to hear that 'New Coke' was really just some idiot screwing around in the marketing department because he was getting Canned (oooh, a unintentional joke!) and wanted to go out with a bang? I didn't think so.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
It's good to be a man.
I've decided. It's better to be a man.
Now I know, this is going to get me in some serious trouble if anyone actually reads this (which has happened, I promise), but hear me out on this...
10 Reasons I'm glad I'm not a woman:
1. I can wear jeans 99% of the time and still be considered normal.
2. I can toss a jacket over a t-shirt and jeans and be considered well dressed
3. Shoes. Seriously, I own like 4 pairs. I can wear the same ones for 3 months without change.
4. Shoes, none of this heels shit.
5. I can be emotionally dead without seeming too cold or callous.
6. I don't have to deal with people hitting on me constantly. That's not necessarily great in retrospect.
7. I can be in college and still read comics without looking stupid.
8. I will never be judged based on how slutty I look.
9. That monthly thing? Not an issue. Isn't it wonderful?
10. Double standards work in my favour.
So that's just 10. It took me all of like 2 minutes to think them up.
It's good to be a man.
Now I know, this is going to get me in some serious trouble if anyone actually reads this (which has happened, I promise), but hear me out on this...
10 Reasons I'm glad I'm not a woman:
1. I can wear jeans 99% of the time and still be considered normal.
2. I can toss a jacket over a t-shirt and jeans and be considered well dressed
3. Shoes. Seriously, I own like 4 pairs. I can wear the same ones for 3 months without change.
4. Shoes, none of this heels shit.
5. I can be emotionally dead without seeming too cold or callous.
6. I don't have to deal with people hitting on me constantly. That's not necessarily great in retrospect.
7. I can be in college and still read comics without looking stupid.
8. I will never be judged based on how slutty I look.
9. That monthly thing? Not an issue. Isn't it wonderful?
10. Double standards work in my favour.
So that's just 10. It took me all of like 2 minutes to think them up.
It's good to be a man.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Theft or sharing?
So, as you probably don't know, I got a notice from my school and the RIAA about my use of BitTorent to download an album that I was interested in hearing. The basic gist of the letter was that I had stolen said album and that I was to immediately delete the content.
Was this really theft though? Let's be honest, it was an artist I'd never really heard of before, and someone who I would never had boughten an album of. In the long term, does the fact that I've downloaded music mean that I'm 'taking' money away from hardworking musicians? Not at all. Firstly, it's a fact that musicians make less money from CD sales than from almost any other outlet. When a band puts out a CD most of the money goes into business expenses and to pay the producers. Musicians make their money from touring and from selling their products (hats, bags, shirts...)
Secondly, and note that I'm speaking from personal experience only,
downloading an album generally means that I'm more likely to go out and buy it. In all fairness, I would never buy albums if I haven't heard the sound before, especially a come out album. By downloading an album, you're giving consumers a chance to hear what you're offering, something only offered by radio. and let's be honest, radio isn't a great indicator. Not every band has songs that are all the same, and by basing choice off of what a radio station and/or a record label deems to be 'the best song(s)' from any specific album usually means you get disappointed.
Thirdly, and this is my big point, its completely legal for me to buy an album and give it to a friend. It's legal for someone to start a business selling used CDs. It's not legal for people I don't know to give me something? Looking at it logically, when I buy an album, I own those specific tracks in that specific instance. It's not illegal for me to buy a picasso print to then photocopy it for a friend. I'm not trying to pass it off as my own, I'm just getting people interested in what I think is cool.
But at the end of it all, I'm just a 19 year old kid who thinks the RIAA is a waste of time, space, and air.
Was this really theft though? Let's be honest, it was an artist I'd never really heard of before, and someone who I would never had boughten an album of. In the long term, does the fact that I've downloaded music mean that I'm 'taking' money away from hardworking musicians? Not at all. Firstly, it's a fact that musicians make less money from CD sales than from almost any other outlet. When a band puts out a CD most of the money goes into business expenses and to pay the producers. Musicians make their money from touring and from selling their products (hats, bags, shirts...)
Secondly, and note that I'm speaking from personal experience only,
downloading an album generally means that I'm more likely to go out and buy it. In all fairness, I would never buy albums if I haven't heard the sound before, especially a come out album. By downloading an album, you're giving consumers a chance to hear what you're offering, something only offered by radio. and let's be honest, radio isn't a great indicator. Not every band has songs that are all the same, and by basing choice off of what a radio station and/or a record label deems to be 'the best song(s)' from any specific album usually means you get disappointed.
Thirdly, and this is my big point, its completely legal for me to buy an album and give it to a friend. It's legal for someone to start a business selling used CDs. It's not legal for people I don't know to give me something? Looking at it logically, when I buy an album, I own those specific tracks in that specific instance. It's not illegal for me to buy a picasso print to then photocopy it for a friend. I'm not trying to pass it off as my own, I'm just getting people interested in what I think is cool.
But at the end of it all, I'm just a 19 year old kid who thinks the RIAA is a waste of time, space, and air.
Friday, August 10, 2007
9 reasons every student should take a gap year
So I've been off of this thing, working on stuff at home. Current issues include: School didn't send course registation packet. Was due July 27, just sent in a form. Old ladies coming for lunch. Wild villagers coming for drinks. Must remove 'trees from forest', good lord. Still have yet to shower.
Ignoring all of that, I give you another issue of plagirism at its best. Today's plagirised article comes from MSN.
Tired of school and not ready to go back to classroom-style learning?
Ignoring all of that, I give you another issue of plagirism at its best. Today's plagirised article comes from MSN.
Tired of school and not ready to go back to classroom-style learning?
Jenny Ferguson
 |
Before continuing your studies, think about taking a break. Taking a gap year is a popular activity for many Europeans, even Prince William took one! Here are nine reasons why you should take a gap year before going to college, university or grad school.
Take A Break
You’ve worked hard. Whether you’ve just graduated from high school or are now a university graduate planning on attending teacher’s college, it’s time to take a break. Regroup before you burn out. Besides, the last thing the world needs is another teacher who starts her career jaded and tired from five years of university.
Give Back
Spend some time giving back to your parents, your country and people in need. Find a great volunteer program that’s orientated to gap year students. Meet other people from around the globe and get to know the real world before you graduate!
Get Orientation
Most people don’t know what they want to do when they grow-up. By the time you’re 17, the world expects you to make a career choice. This can be some pretty heavy stress. Even at 25, direction is something most are still seeking. Before you put down $20,000 on a degree, know what you want to do. Or at least figure out if you like children before jumping into an Early Childhood Education program.
Money, Money, Money
With the rising cost of tuition, and room and board while away at school, a gap year is the perfect time to increase your savings account. Not everyone has the money to go back to school, so take a year and make some money. Do it in a fun way. Work abroad as an au pair or participate in SWAP. The Government of Canada has some amazing opportunities for youth. You could work as a guide at Vimy Ridge in France!
Swap Working Holidays
Student Guide Program
See the World
See the world or at least a little part of it. Move out of your parent’s basement for a year and do a little exploring. Head to Europe, Africa or across Canada to find a new environment to experience. You’ll find that after being out on your own and doing a little traveling, you’ll have done a lot of growing-up—but not in the bad way. Sometimes all you need is a little perspective to get ready to go back to school.
Study Overseas
Although this might sound a little like school, it’s not the same thing. Take a break from your life and take courses at another university or college. This is especially relevant when it comes to language courses. Learn to speak Spanish or Russian. Investigate something you can’t do at your home school. The best part is you might be able to get some transfer credits. See Mom, I wasn’t on holiday!
Teach English
Teaching English is a great way to earn money and take a break from being a student-sponge! It’s hard to keep absorbing information when you’re full. You’ll find if you share a bit of your knowledge, you’ll be ready to come home and get back into your studious ways. Try Japan for a strange and wonderful cultural experience!
Pick Up A Hobby
Do you secretly love to knit? Or is it dance that drives you to perform? Pick up or perfect your hobby while taking a break from classroom structured learning. Look for a great internship or the perfect part-time job to get into your hobby. Try rock climbing or pottery.
Make New Friends
Meet new people and escape your clique. Best friends are amazing and I wouldn’t trade mine for the world, but it’s time to broaden your horizons. Why not make friends all over the world? You’ll find that years down the line you always have a guest bedroom to sleep in. Getting out of your comfort zone is the way to promote change and revitalize your life. Who knows who you might meet on your working holiday in Brazil; possibly a future spouse or a best friend?
__________________________
bridging the gap
Gap years are a growing trend in North America. Check with your school to see if you can defer admission. This way you’ve got a “go back to school plan” and everyone - your parents, friends and family - can support your decision to explore or take a well-deserved break.
Gap Year Resources:
Sunday, August 5, 2007
The Simpsons Avatar...
So I've been wondering recently how and why everyone has their own Simpsons avatars. More specifically, how they looked so much like the person, where they got it, and how I could get one. I need better things to do with my time.
ANYWAYS, after a bit of searching, I have finally discovered the location of said avatar builder.
Http://www.simpsonsmovie.com
IT's super fun, and actually pretty good.
Check out my avatar at the bottom of your screen.
On an unrelated note, its 2.1 weeks until I head down to Massachussetts and begin my life as a Canadian expatriate living in the USA. Good lord.
Thats all for now, stay tuned...
J
ANYWAYS, after a bit of searching, I have finally discovered the location of said avatar builder.
Http://www.simpsonsmovie.com
IT's super fun, and actually pretty good.
Check out my avatar at the bottom of your screen.
On an unrelated note, its 2.1 weeks until I head down to Massachussetts and begin my life as a Canadian expatriate living in the USA. Good lord.
Thats all for now, stay tuned...
J
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
