Archive for the 'social commentary' Category

don’t bother checking weapons

Published at November 1, 2006 in shortpost and social commentary. 0 Comments

Screeners at Newark fail to find ‘weapons’. For some reason I’m not overly surprised by this. Perhaps the gun part, becuase guns are typically metal and should be easily seen, but when you start talking explosive material — my goodness, so much stuff could be made to explode and molded into items or hidden.

Children of Children: The Canadian Elections and Gun Violence

Published at January 8, 2006 in politics and social commentary. 1 Comment

The children of children, by the time they’re half-grown, have habits, like rabbits, and young of their own.
The children of children, from their mommas’ laps, hop down to the ground, to be taken in traps.
The children of children trapped by dark skins, to stay in and play in, a game no one wins.
The children of children, while still young and sweet are all damned and programmed, for future defeat.
The children of children are trapped by adults, who failed them, then jailed them, to hide the results.
The children of children, unable to cope, with systems that twist them, and rob them of hope.
The children of children, the sin and the shame, keep pairing and bearing, and who do you blame?
The children of children cry out everyday, they beg you for rescue, and what do you say?

Children Of Children featuring Oscar Brown Jr. | Black Market Militia

Continue reading ‘Children of Children: The Canadian Elections and Gun Violence’

Overheard Conversations

Published at November 18, 2005 in personal and social commentary. 0 Comments

It’s funny when you are walking into a Best Buy on a Thursday afternoon to buy a new portable HDD, and two guys behind you are talking about their favourite episode of Star Trek: TNG. You try not to listen — but always do — and it turns out the episode is also one of your favourite episodes. You know, the one where Picard gets taken down to the planet with the other captain that only speaks in metaphors? That was a good one. The other really good one was when Picard got zapped with the beam, and lived the entire life of another man on an alien planet.

Just smirk, and keep on walking.

Hope may rise from the cinders

Published at September 2, 2005 in cityscape, personal and social commentary. 0 Comments

I’m not one for posting my feelings on world events and catastrophes, but I came across this article from The Seattle Times, posted by Rooney, and was pretty moved by it. By now most people are aware of the horrific scenes unfolding in New Orleans. Civility has been conquered, people have lost their minds, and animal instinct has gripped the populous, overflowing into the already flooded streets. Bodies lay trapped in submerged buildings, while others are still perched on balcony’s waiting for rescue. Those lucky enough (if that can really be said) live in conditions unfathomable to the western world.

They sleep in their own feces, and wade through puddles of urine. Neighbours have become enemies, while people are being shot, not over food and water, but DVD players, stereos and cell phones. Continue reading ‘Hope may rise from the cinders’

“Death By Beauty” – Tonight at 11!

Published at March 18, 2005 in social commentary. 0 Comments

I typically don’t pay much attention to frivolous governmental actions, but this baseball steroid fiasco has gone to far.

Congress? Congress has taken it upon itself to investigate steroid use in baseball, and feels that the recent changes made to drug enforcement are not strong enough, and they may have to step in. Am I the only one that thinks this is just a little ridiculous? Does Congress have nothing better to do? Isn’t there a war somewhere, and isn’t oil $57 a barrel? Their reasons seem admirable. “Drug use in baseball sets a bad example for the youth of the nation. These individuals are role models.” Ahh. The role model debate. This is nothing new, and people have debated to death the ‘sports players are role models’ viewpoint. You know what? They probably are. They do things well, and kids want to be like them. I guess it’s my fault for giving kids to much credit, to be able to decide what is right and wrong on their own. Thank goodness for the republican government; they will make this world safe for kids and sports.

It’s one thing that Congress has decided to hold these hearings, but it’s another that sports channels have decided to air them live. I’d like to blame this on the lack of hockey, but I can’t, because most Americans don’t even notice the absence of the sport this year. They don’t want to talk about baseball’s steroid use to fill the hole, they want to talk about baseball’s steroid use because it’s an issue they KNOW will have drastic, and long lasting effects on their country. If CNN, Fox News, Sportsnet, ESPN and TSN think it’s a big news issue, then I should too…..right?

I have to laugh to myself when I tune into TSN and see Canseco and McGwire sitting in front of congressmen talking about steroids. Then I have to laugh out loud when I read at the bottom of the screen that Canseco will answer questions, but when the time comes he will invoke the 5th amendment. Has this debate really grown so large that we need pseudo-sports celebrities worrying about incriminating themselves? It was at that point I promptly changed the channel to The View, and contemplated putting these thoughts down on paper. (note: it was a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day episode. They all wore green and one of the hosts did some Irish tap dancing).

If they want to blame baseball players for negatively influencing the lives of children, so be it. But don’t stop there, no, that would be close-minded and predatory. If you want to blame baseball for corrupting our youth, you’re going to have to blame a lot of other people as well. First stop? Advertisers and their WMD — Supermodels. The last time I checked it was generally accepted that children can be negatively affected by models, and their thin, fit bodies. Many young girls are driven to anorexia and bulimia. These are two conditions that can be just as, if not more, dangerous then taking steroids in a controlled environment. I say Congress puts together a panel of Supermodels. Then they can broadcast this hearing live to all the news agencies, and they can title the broadcast “Death By Beauty”, because we all know how the networks love to sell consumers news based on fear. Put the Supermodels on a panel, and question them for 11 hours. At least that would be compelling TV that would provide me a reason to tune in — I could put the TV on mute, crank my tunes, and enjoy the eye candy.

That is something that people would TIVO.

Queue Up Civility

Published at March 3, 2005 in social commentary. 1 Comment

no loitering, no littering, no music

I didn’t really want to turn this blog into a place of rant, but Jeebes, didn’t we all learn about lines in pre-school?

We all do it, and we tend to do it instinctively. I even think we like standing in line. People will see a line and just line up, assuming it’s for something cool (like on the Simpsons, where they see the long line and assume it must be for a really cool ride, but it turns out to be the complaint booth). It would seem I am wrong. It would seem there are a select few individuals out there that a) do not know about lines, or b) just don’t care to follow the social code of civil beings.

I was in line at a Tim Horton’s today that has two cash registers, and one line. This makes perfect sense to me, and the other people in line. The line splits the two registers and you go to the one that opens next. It reminds me of a bank line, though banks tend to have the ropes to maintain order. So me and my fellow man are standing in line, when some deviant individual walks past us and proceeds to stand directly behind one of the registers. The guy in front of me, the lady behind me, and I all met eyes, and shared a silent understanding. I took the lead. I politely explained to the confused person that we are all in line, and that he can’t just go to the front like that. He stood there and tried to direct me to go in front of him. I took a second to gather my thoughts. Perhaps I did not explain the rules on the line to him correctly. I tried again, this time using hand signs to show him how there is one line, and that we stand in the middle of the two registers, such that we can go to whichever one becomes available first. He didn’t understand. One of the registers opened, so I told the guy in front of me he should go. He did. The rule breaker just stood, with a mildly upset face on his head. The next register then opened and I went. He had now seen how the system worked, and I had hoped he understood. But alas, he still stood there trying to be the next customer. A register opened again and the lady behind me went. I got my coffee and went to where the end of the line was (near the exit) to wait for my partner in crime to get her English toffee drink. The guy in front of me walked by and thanked me. I’m not sure why. I guess for maintaining civil order. Then, the deviant came by. He had finally been served. I would say he was in his 40′s. As he walked by me he threw me a shoulder.

I could not believe it.

A 40 year old man threw me a shoulder on his way out. Who does that? What did he expect? Did he want to fight a 24 year old? Yes. Let’s fight. I am going to get in a fight in a Tim Horton’s, for trying to uphold the moral right. Please.

I laughed.

It was very funny to me. I couldn’t believe it. Who throws a shoulder in a Tim Horton’s?

The guy in front of me was sitting near this event, and he gave me the ‘wtf?’ look. And rightfully so. Did I mention I had to laugh?

It was quite an experience, and blew my mind so completely that this person saw fit to pass a line of nearly 10 people. I would like to believe that anyone reading this understands, and obeys, the unwritten line code of our society. Keep our society civil, as we are no longer animals.

Queue up.