The Global Express

The Offensive Meaning of Christmas

2011-12-17T11:12:00.000-05:00

Having read an interesting article in the Globe and Mail, Canadian schools struggle with what to do about Christmas, I ask myself the same question every December when we are bombarded with "Happy Holidays" and not "Merry Christmas." What's happened to Christmas, and more importantly, the meaning of Christmas?

In this article, the school principal cancels the Christmas concert because 9 students do not want to participate in the concert. So, I ask myself what the most viable outcome would be...

1. Ask the nine students to sit aside, no one is pressuring them into participating

I can't think of anything else!... In a school of about 300 students, Christmas was taken out of the school because of 9 students. Does that make sense? Should the 291 students who celebrate Christmas start complaining during Ramadan or Hanukkah? NO, AND THEY DON'T!

This country was rooted with Christian identity, and it is not respected by those who do not share the same beliefs as the majority. Children are growing up in a society where all they know is every year on December 25th, they exchange gifts. But do they know WHY we exchange gifts? It is becoming a season of greed. We already know that when American thanksgiving ends, the Christmas advertising blitz starts! It has become a season of gift giving without any explanation for why we practice this ritual. There is no more respect for the meaning of Christmas, and it has become offensive.

One perfect example of this would be at my time at the University of Guelph. During Ramadan, there would be signs hanging from the cafeteria ceiling which read "Eid Mubarak." Now, there is nothing wrong with this, my best friend practices Ramadan every year, and good for him. But what really gets to me is when Christmas rolls around and there is no signs of Christmas anywhere in the school. Maybe a "holiday" tree here and there. Its an example of how our society always tries to keep the minority happy, but at the same time they forget about the majority.

We shall never forget that Jesus is the reason for the season, and we must not leave 'Christ' out of Christmas

I found an interesting Tweet on Twitter from @Bad_Boyfriend:

"If I sell "Happy Birthday" cards at my store, do you get offended if it's not your birthday? Then why does "Merry Christmas" offend you?"

The Scott Hall Story on E:60

2011-10-20T15:42:00.000-04:00

One of the most captivating wrestlers in his prime, Scott Hall was the personification of the "bad guy". He is a perfect example of how he let the life of being a professional wrestler get the best of him. This documentary by ESPN showcases the struggles that Hall now faces.

Cineplex Coming to Guelph's South-End

2011-10-04T10:42:00.002-04:00

It has been confirmed by Canadian Business that Cineplex Entertainment will build a new movie theatre in the south-end of Guelph.

"The 1,600-seat theatre in the Pergola Commons development at Gordon Street and Clair Road, will open in 2012, the Toronto company said Tuesday."

The south-end of Guelph is booming. The intersection of Gordon and Clair will see tremendous growth in the next couple of years. Sobeys, who owns the land across from the old Pergola site, has plans to subdivide the land into different plaza's, including a grocery store.

New 2012 Toronto Blue Jays Logo

2011-09-22T10:36:00.002-04:00

It looks like the Toronto Blue Jays are one step closer to getting rid of their horrific "JAYS" logo. Out with the new, in with the old!

The Blue Jays have high expectations next year, and to go along with that they will implement a new revamped version of their logo from the 90s. ESPN reports this is the new logo for the 2012 season.

Below is a comparison of the logo in the 90s and the new logo for the 2012 season.

Apple and the Rest

2011-09-19T11:43:00.002-04:00

I've always been an Apple loyalist. Anything that had that simple, sexy, half eaten apple on it, I was buying. iPods, Macs, iPhones, iPads, you name it. But recently, I've had a change in heart. Shall we call it a shift in reality?

One thing about me is I always keep my options open, and for years, Apple was the best. It's arguable that Apple is still the best, but there are, in my opinion, better products in the market. Apple does not create products, they innovate them.

All of a sudden I thought to myself, what would it be like to use something other than Apple?

I still love my Mac, even though I use Windows 7 at work (and it's VERY impressive with no problems). I switched my iPhone for a BlackBerry Torch, and iPad for a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. This tab puts the iPad to shame!

The thing I love about Android tablets is that they feel like a computer. The iPad just feels like an oversized phone. The iOS UI hasn't changed in 5 years, and having to waiting 3 years before getting copy and paste is ridiculous.

I guess the message I'm trying to convey is try something new. Fair enough?

What Makes Google+ Different?

2011-07-12T09:27:00.008-04:00

With the introduction of Google+, the social networking world has gotten a lot more crowded. Just like in business, competition brings out the best of us, and the new battle between Google+ and Facebook will definitely make user experiences a whole lot better. The social networking scene is about to get interesting.

Google has had numerous attempts at social networking. First came Google Wave which was suppose to revolutionize the way we send emails. It is no longer available. Second came Google Buzz which was their version of Twitter. I don't think anyone remembers that it exists. So what makes Google+ different?

Even though Google+ is more of a threat to Facebook, it is a combination of Facebook and Twitter. The way you communicate with your "Circles" is similar to Facebook. A clean look with a feed that gives you all information on activities. Circles is Google's version of following people and is similar to Twitter. There is no friend request, all you do is add the user to your circle. Purhaps this combination of Facebook and Twitter will set Google+ aside from their other failed products. Users are fimilar with Facebook and Twitter, and in all honesty, they don't need Google+.

But the fact that Google+ is not Facebook makes it very appealing. Many people do not like the clutter on Facebook. Google+ makes things more simple and tries to eliminate the crazy carnival that goes on every day on Facebook.

Facebook is well on it's way to 1 billion users, and that may be the toughest task for Google+. Social networking is nothing without the users. Facebook is popular because "everyone" is on it. It may take a while for Google+ to grow into a serious network where all your friends are sharing. It's not fun when you share things on Google+ and no on notices it. Believe me, I'm there now!

Rex Murphy on Vancouver Riot

2011-06-20T13:42:00.003-04:00

Only in Vancouver would you see a riot after a hockey defeat. Afterall, Libyans are being killed by fighter jets, so how do we justify the actions that had taken place?

Rex Murphy (in this video) give his expressive opinion on the mindless riot that took place.

A Shift in Canadian Politics

2011-05-03T09:11:00.012-04:00

With one of the most unpredictable and unimaginable elections in recent memory, the most accurate way to summarize it all in one sentence would be to say; there is a shift in Canadian politics. We have seen a shift in the status quo, and possibly the re-alignment in the Canadian spectrum.

What the Conservatives won on election night was a "Jean Chretien Majority." Chretien was able to fulfull his agenda and consistently bring in surpluses with his fiscal policies. But it is argued that Chretien and the Liberals were able to successfully stay in power for 10 years because of the split in the Right of the spectrum. In this 2011 election, we have once again seen the same outcome and the significance of the split, but in the Left. What does this mean?

It's a deja vu cycle. When there was a split in the Right, the sensible outcome was to unite the Right. That was the only way to go head-to-head with a dominate leading government (Liberals). When the Canadian Alliance/Progressive Conservative merger materialized, the spectrum shifted. We are seeing that same shift now, and the only way to stop a dominate Conservative Party (which won a stronger majority than Chretien's 1997 government) is to unite the Left to stop the split in votes. Yes the Liberals and NDP are historically and ideologically different, but they are to thank for the Harper majority. If they are seriously worried about the future of this country, we have to be realistic. The NDP are not just a 3rd wheel any more, and no matter how many seats the Liberals won, you need to respect their past and how they helped shape this country. It's not a matter of a big-small party difference any more, it's an equal big-big party shift in a crowded Left. And this needs to be noticed.

It is fantastic to see the demise of the Bloc Quebecois, and a Quebec shift to a federalist party. The NDP absolutely dominated Quebec with 59 seats. Could this tell us that the sovereign movement has been outdated? It is possible, but a more concrete answer is that Quebec still does not like the Conservatives. It was argued that the Conservatives needed Quebec to win a majority. But in fact, they didn't. It will be interesting to see the roll Quebec plays in government by sending only 6 MPs to the House.

The bottom-line is there has been a shift to a two-party system, something I've advocated as a more stable way of governing. It helps form more majority governments, and also a united stronger opposition. This in my eyes is where we are headed, and where we should be heading. The wind in the Liberal sail has stopped moving and it allows this historic shift to take place. Whether or not these party's take it seriously will determine the future in Canadian Politics.

One thing is for sure, the Conservative Majority government has a lot on their plate. And it's going to be a very interesting 4 years.

2011 Election Party Endorsements

2011-05-01T15:18:00.008-04:00

With the media being our primary source of election information, the following newspapers and magazines have thrown their support behind a respected political party. If you are a reader of one of these newspapers or magazines, you may want to read what their reasoning is behind their endorsement. You may not agree with it, but it is important to note the different ways in which these medians use different rational to come up with their endorsements. The Conservative Party has the most endorsements, followed by the New Democrats, and Bloc. Most notably, the Toronto Star threw their support behind the NDP, shifting more to the Left with an interesting endorsement. The Liberal Party did not receive an endorsement.

CONSERVATIVE ENDORSEMENTS

NDP ENDORSEMENTS

BLOC QUEBECOIS ENDORSEMENTS

Le Devoir

The Truth About Coalition Governments

2011-04-28T20:33:00.006-04:00

At the beginning of this campaign, it seemed as if nothing much would change significantly. We all assumed the Conservatives would form government again, and the Liberals would once again be the official opposition. But if you were to ever tell me the NDP would pass the Liberals and attempt to take the top spot from the Conservatives, I would have said you were unrealistic.

Possibly the best analogy to describe the new surge in the NDP support is that they’ve just forced a game 7 after a 0-3 deficit! And now with their potential rise to official opposition, the likelihood of a coalition government has gone up. More so than before the election when all Prime Minister Harper was talking about was a three-way coalition between the “Liberals-Socialists-Seperatists.” But let me tell you something about coalition governments, they are perfectly legit!

Having a Westminster Parliamentary system means there are two outcomes when the opposition loses confidence in the government. One is an election, and second is a coalition government. There has been a misconception that having a coalition government is a huge mistake. But if the constitution allows it, then consider it a punishment for not winning a majority.

The only problem I have with our current situation is having a provincially focused separatist party right in the mix of being some-what in power. But if polls are correct, than the Bloc Quebecois will loss significantly and their influence will be diminished in the election.

I have always liked majority governments, they are obviously more stable than minority governments. But its up to the voters to allow a party to further their agenda for 4 years. Having a coalition government does have its problems. Having 3 different partys with different ideologies and different policies will make for am interesting marriage with a quick divorce. If Canada is to have a coalition government, these differences will need to be put aside. The party that would be asked to form a coalition government by the Governor General would need to be respected because they are given the privilege of leading the country. Will it happen this time? Or will we see another party fall?

The Revealer: The Pantheon

2011-04-23T00:45:00.002-04:00

CNN’s “The Revealer” did a story about The Pantheon in Rome. It brings to light the new scientific reasons behind its infamous dome and the reasoning for the round light source at the peak of the dome. The new theory being that the Pantheon was build to be a colossal sundial during the Hadrian times. Very interesting antiquity. Have a look.

UPDATE: Special Ballot in Guelph a Mistake Afterall

2011-04-18T20:38:00.007-04:00

From my last report, the facts about the Special Ballot vote at the University of Guelph spoke for themselves. Why was all the blame being put on the Conservative Party after one of their members reportedly tried to stop a vote that shouldn’t have happened to begin with. Why isn’t anyone talking about the Returning Officer who put on an unadvertised, unauthorized vote?

Photos have surfaced from the Guelph Mercury that show Michael Sona right beside the ballot box. Nothing is stopping him from taking it, but the whole issue about Sona taking the ballot box is all a distraction from the real issue. Why was an unauthorized Special Ballot vote put on in the first place? For the record, he never took the box.

Photos have also surfaced of Liberals handing out pamphlets at the University on the day of this Special Ballot vote. Elections Canada agreed that the Conservatives were not aware of this Special Ballot vote, nor were they given enough time to prepare. So is it a conscience that the Returning Officer, reportedly a Liberal, put on this event without advertisement for a purpose? Just sayin.

Special Ballot in Guelph a Mistake Afterall

2011-04-16T10:58:00.012-04:00

It's very easy to criticize someone for a wrong-doing. After all, its human nature to put others down in order to make ourselves look good. Finding the truth has become a secondary act. A Special Ballot was held at the University of Guelph on Wednesday where 241 votes were cast. Special Ballots are to assist electors in a range of situations where they cannot vote otherwise. They are mainly used by soldiers overseas. In order to hold this event, the organizers must have the event pre-authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer.

"Initiatives of this nature are expected to be planned well ahead of the election," said Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Marc Mayrand. "Parties are consulted, to avoid any confusion and to give them an opportunity to raise any possible concerns so that these may be considered and, where appropriate, addressed prior to conducting such initiatives." - Elections Canada

And according to Elections Canada, the event at the University of Guelph was NOT pre-authorized, therefore it should not have taken place to begin with. The Returning Officer organized the vote to encourage the student vote.

Also, according to Elections Canada, because the voting process was done in an organized fashion and in a way that respected Canada's Elections Act, the votes are valid. The Conservative Party of Canada have said they will honour their ruling. But Elections Canada makes it clear that the Special Ballot at the University will not continue in any similar form.

"Once Elections Canada officials were made aware of the local initiative in Guelph, the returning officer was instructed not to engage in any further activities of a similar nature. All returning officers have received this instruction." - Elections Canada

"Elections Canada spokesman John Enright said that although (Returning Officer) Ms. Budra’s efforts were “well-intentioned,” they were not pre-authorized by Elections Canada, nor were the parties given enough warning." - The Globe and Mail

Michael Sona, the Director of Communications for Guelph Conservative candidate Marty Burke has taken a lot of heat in the media for allegedly trying to "steal" the ballot box according to the report by the Guelph Mercury. Back to my initial point, Lets not put Sona down in order to make the other party's look good. If we are to pin-point and blame the Conservatives for a ruling that stated that the voting event at the University of Guelph was not pre-authorized, then I guess this is a way the Liberals tried to distract the voters from a dismal performance by Ignatieff in the Leaders debate. Let's not blame the Conservatives, as Ignatieff has stated as anti-democratic, but lets get our facts straight. If you want to talk about being anti-democratic, how about putting on an election that was unauthorized and according to the Guelph Mercury, having partisan election material on display near the ballot box. I'm sure thats what Ignatieff was talking about when he related this event to Egypt and Syria. You know, kind of how Mubarak was in power for 30 years.

“This is the kind of thing you’d expect, you know, maybe in Egypt or Syria or some country that doesn’t know democracy,” Mr. Ignatieff said. - The Globe and Mail

Conservatives claim that they were not aware of this vote and Elections Canada agreed. Michael Sona is not the guilty one here, lets not distract ourselves, he seemed to be the only one who knew the truth about Special Ballots. And although the Guelph Mercury has stated he tried to "steal" the ballot box, other sources not stated in the report say otherwise. So much for a balanced report. We have a very important election ahead of us, lets all go out there and vote on the issues. Look at the platforms of all party's and do what you think is right.

To Green Party: Don't Blame Democracy, Use It!

2011-04-10T23:11:00.008-04:00

There has been a lot of talk lately about the exclusion of Elizabeth May in the leaders debate. May is the leader of the Green Party and was included last election, but left on the outside this time around. May has gone as far as taking the decision by the CRTC to court, but the decision stands.

For me, this is a no brainer. The Green Party of Canada has never in it's existence won a seat in the House of Commons, so why should they be included with the Party's that were democratically elected to Parliament? In order to be an official party in Canada, the Party must win at least 12 seats in the House of Commons. Not being an official party is one thing, but not winning 1 seat is another.

Yes the Green Party has gained a lot of support, especially during the last election in 2008, but they are no different than all the other grass-roots and speciality Partys. If the Green Party is to be included in the debates, than so should the leaders of the Animal Alliance Environment Party, Canadian Action Party, Christian Heritage Party, Communist Party, First Peoples National Party, Libertarian Party, Marijuana Party, Rhinoceros Party, People's Political Power Party, Pirate Party, Progressive Canadian Party, United Party, and the Western Block Party. You get the idea, they are no different.

It doesn't matter if the other leaders have said it is okay to have May in the debates. You think she's going to be a major threat to their political objectives? Worst case scenario, she might steal Liberal and NDP votes from the left.

Democracy is not to blame as May has done for her exclusion, but it is the reason for why she is not included. Democracy has given her the equal right and opportunity to win a seat in the House. She has failed to do so.

Campaign TV Ads

2011-04-06T09:45:00.004-04:00

Other than those stupid lawn signs that flood the cities every time we have an election, TV ads are obviously the most engaging way to capture the emotion of the voter. Other than attack ads, this time around, the parties have taken alternative routes to try to get the votes they need.

Here are 3 of my favourite ads that I found from the Conservatives, Liberals, and the NDP. I'm sorry, federally the Bloc doesn't exist in my eyes. Which one do you like?

Good Ol' Canadian Politics

2011-03-23T12:40:00.011-04:00

So here we go again. The 4th election in 7 years, exactly what Canadians wanted. And in the midst of an economic recovery. You have the Liberals who are the only realistic party that can take over the Conservatives. You have the NDP who are always the 3rd wheel between the two. And you have the Bloc Quebecois; where if they were to create their own budget, they would probably still vote against it!

Amongst many logical reasons, I want the Conservatives to win an election because I'm sick of election talk. It would be nice to have a majority again and expect an election in 4 years. With the amount of money we are spending on having a 5 week campaign, the opposition parties are nuts to force an election when they know the outcome could probably bite them in the ass. The Conservatives have been ahead in the polls for a while now and close to majority territory. Not that I believe polls.

But besides that, the only real "leader" that could challenge Harper is Jack Layton. But there is no way the NDP will come even in 2nd place. The Liberals do not have that iconic Chretien figure that can help them with that "leader" problem they have. Ignatieff is a good guy and all, but he's already been beat up by the other parties as is and he's never even been Prime Minister!

Here's whats going to happen. If the Conservatives don't win a majority, we are going to see another election called in the next 12 months when the next budget is unveiled. That's why I like the US Presidental system. There is a majority no matter what happens because there are only 2 parties that ever win seats. But that's a blog for another time.

Vote Conservative. The economy is better with them in charge, and isn't that a priority on everyones list? Don't believe me? Compare Canada to every other G8 country, and you'll see.

The Browser Rankings

2011-03-22T15:32:00.008-04:00

Remember the time when there was just Netscape Navigator, no option, no alternative, just a single browser that personified the world wide web. All that has changed, a lot, and now the new war on the web is based on how to view the web. Here is a breakdown of the top 4 browsers in the market. In alphabetical order, and my rankings.

Apple Safari

Without a doubt the best browser... for a Mac. The browser was made from scratch specifically for Mac OS, and is the most portable amongst all the browsers (Available on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches). The clean Safari look was a gateway for how all browsers are trying to look these days. Get rid of the clutter and focus on what's important.

Google Chrome

The newest browser of them all, and one of the most popular because of who created it. Google has based the Chrome from their up and coming Operating System, Chromium. It is most notable for it's speed, and has in a way changed the "orthodox" way of browsing. Having the address bar and the Search bar on a single bar is a lot different than what we are use to, but a genius idea to make things simplier. Integrating Google Instant for the searches shows just how fast Chrome is.

Internet Explorer

The early dominator in the browser wars. Microsoft created IE to compete with the initial Netscape Navigator and created a monopoly for themselves for a long time. These days they are competing for market share, but also for simple browser features; speed, stability, and cleanness. Although it does have a large share of the pie, it is not available on Macs.

Mozilla Firefox

The notable "Internet Explorer Killer." Firefox was the one that broke the IE monopoly, and helped us realize that we did not have to use the status quo. It was the first one to successfully challenge the IE dominance and led to all the other browsers we see today. It is known today for its stability.

WINDOWS BROWSER RANKINGS

1. Google Chrome

2. Mozilla Firefox

3. Apple Safari

4. Internet Explorer

MAC BROWSER RANKINGS

1. Apple Safari

2. Google Chrome

3. Mozilla Firefox

Japanese Earthquake Facts

2011-03-14T10:48:00.010-04:00

Japan is geographically in the worst position possible. Right on the border of the tectonic plates. There are a lot of facts that we don't know about Japan that they experience everyday.

One thing that I found astonishing last week after the horrific natural disasters in Japan was the number of earthquakes that Japan experiences a year. According to the USGA, Japan experiences around 1,500-2,000 earthquakes a year, making it the most vulnerable region for earthquakes in the world. When I say earthquakes, this could mean as high as 6.0 on the Richter scale.

In the 1980s, the Japanese had to do something to prevent their country from turning into a wasteland. If you can survive 2,000 earthquakes a year, then you've pretty much got your regulations straight. All the building codes were modified in order to properly withstand all earthquakes. But as we saw last week, there's not much they could have done about Tsunamis.

Here are some facts from Scientific American about Japan and earthquakes;

Magnitude, according to USGS: 9.0

Speed at which the Pacific Plate is smashing into the Japanese island arc: 8.9 centimeters (3.5 inches) per year

Speed at which the San Andreas Fault in California is slipping: about 4 centimeters per year

Size of the rupture along the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates: 290 kilometers (180 miles) long, 80 kilometers across

Approximate length of Honshu island: 1,300 kilometers

Years since an earthquake of this magnitude has hit the plate boundary of Japan: 1,200

Duration of strong shaking reported from Japan: three to five minutes

Greatest distance from epicenter that visitors to the USGS Web site reported feeling the quake: About 2,000 kilometers

Distance that the island of Honshu appears to have moved after the quake: 2.4 meters

Change in length of a day caused by the earthquake's redistribution of Earth's mass: 1.8 microseconds shorter

Normal seasonal variation in a day's length: 1,000 microseconds

Depth of the quake: 24.4 kilometers

Range of depths at which earthquakes occur in Earth's crust: 0 – 700 kilometers

Top speed of a tsunami over the open ocean: About 800 kilometers per hour

Normal cruising speed of a jetliner: 800 kilometers per hour

Length of warning time Sendai residents had before tsunami hit: eight to 10 minutes

Number of confirmed foreshocks to the main shock: four

Magnitudes of the confirmed foreshocks: 6.0, 6.1, 6.1 and 7.2

Number of confirmed aftershocks: 401

Worldwide average annual number of earthquakes over magnitude 6.0: 150

Kaberle The Great

2011-02-18T14:26:00.004-05:00

It's hard enough to see a great player leave your organization for another club, but its even harder to see a great person leave even more. Tomas Kaberle, the long time Maple Leafs defenceman for 12 years is now a member of the Boston Bruins.

Kaberle had been rumoured to be traded longer than any other player that I remember. His stock had always remained high, and there isn't a better puck moving defenceman in the game then him. Kaberle will be remembered from Leaf fans as a hard worker and a player who loved the city.

In my estimations, he left the right way. After 12 years in service on the blue line, he's been through numerous playoff runs, plently of trade rumours, and most notibly a 5 year playoff drought. But no matter where the Leafs were in the standings he was always a hard worker. When Kaberle said "it was time to move on," it was actually time to move on. Mats Sundin wouldn't waive his no trade clause and the Leafs got nothing in return for the long time Leaf captain who left for free agency. Kaberle on the other hand helped the Leafs retain a 1st round draft pick in 2011 and a top Bruins prospect.

Once again, its not only his play on the ice that made him great, it was the kind of person he was in the dressing room and on the ice. I can easily say that when Kaberle plays in Toronto as Boston Bruin, the cheers will be louder for him than any Leaf goal. Boston automatically got better.

The Truth About Fighting in Hockey

2011-02-14T19:54:00.006-05:00

Lets break it down into 2 scenarios.

1) You are playing street hockey with a bunch of guys, and all of a sudden a fight breaks out. Fighter A punches fighter B and breaks his jaw. Where does this fight end? In the court room where Fighter A is charged with reckless behaviour.

But what about if this fight happened in the NHL?

2) NHL Fighter A punches NHL fighter B and breaks his jaw. Where does that fight end? In the penalty box for 5 minutes. Why are the punishments different for the same crime? Just because you get paid to play in the NHL, does it mean its OK to fight?

I use to absolutely love watching hockey fights...when I was 12. I thought it was the coolest thing since Mike Tyson biting someones ear off. But the truth about fighting in hockey goes way beyond the game and actually helps the game in more aspects than the opposite.

The first truth about fighting in hockey is that it gets people talking. It doesn’t matter if its in hockey or if it’s in any other sport, we always talk about “the fight.” The NHL gets the most exposure in the United States not during their spectacular playoffs, but from the fights and brawls. ESPN goes wild and shows the whole fight, whereas a game winning goal in overtime if left out. Last week, there was a total of four brawls in four separate games. Four! Here’s one of them between the NY Islanders and the Penguins. I’ll be the first to admit, it was entertaining to watch. But tell me why is there need for fighting in this game?

The second truth about fighting in hockey is that it will NOT get rid of hitting in the game. Look at football, a game where hitting happens in every play, does there have to be a fight just because two men are using their physical ability to restrain the other from getting possession of the puck/ball? Hitting is hitting, and fighting is fighting. They are two separate elements and football is proof that you don’t have to fight just because you are hit.

The last truth is that fighting should be left to the UFC. Fighting has nothing to do with scoring goals, and please, do not tell me that its about the emotion of the game. There are emotions in every sport in the world and you don’t see the type of staged fighting that you see in hockey. There are a lot of players that play only 3 minutes in a game and are used only for fighting. What a waste of salary and what a waste of talent! But sure brings the unemployment numbers down!

One day someone is going to have to die in order for the league to learn what fighting is worth. And when that day comes I’ll be the first one to say I told you so. But hopefully not.

The Daily: First Thoughts

2011-02-05T10:03:00.008-05:00

The launch of The Daily, the newest digital newspaper, has started a new revolution. Well think of, although the Huffington Post has been around for a while, The Daily is the first newspaper designed from scratch specifically for the iPad. Now, as crazy as you think it is to start a newspaper just for a tablet computer, don't forget how loyal Apple users are. Apple could sell toilets and they would still sell out. With lineups. And accessories. And apps.

So if Apple sold 14 million units as of December 2010, the potential for this newspaper is huge. The Daily was started by News Corp. with an initial investment of $30 million. That would mean that in order for News Corp. to break-even with The Daily, they would need to have 600,000 subscribers. A weekly subscription is only $0.99, and a yearly subscription is only $39.99.

Now, with all that said, is The Daily any good?

Of course being an owner of an iPad, I couldn't resist but try The Daily which was free for the first two weeks. My first initial expression was "wow, its a newspaper with a moving carousel, holy moly!" But after that, it still needs more work on its content if I am ever to subscribe. But lets give them some slack, they built this thing from scratch. The videos and moving graphs are spectacular, something that will set this digital newspaper aside from its competition.

The main sections in The Daily are; News, Opinions, Gossip, Apps, Sports. News and Sports are a given, but if they want to be a real newspaper, they need at least a Business/Investors and Politics section. Lets just hope that they don't flop this one, $30 million is a lot of money. For some people.

Quantitative Easing

2010-12-07T16:08:00.004-05:00

While I was in the United States for a business conference, they had showed this video to explain Quantitative Easing in plain English. It's quite funny when you watch it in a room full of Americans, I'll tell you that much. These two cartoon characters have a 6 minute dialogue that has its moments. Enjoy

iPad vs Playbook: You’ll Be Surprised.

2010-11-17T22:27:00.004-05:00

Being an iPad user, this video caught my attention. Those who have tablet computers know browsing is, if not, then the most important element of owning one.

In regard to the browser, I absolutely despise how the iPad does not have support for Adobe Flash. I understand the reason for this is the unstable history of the program. But how often does it fail out of a hundred times? 3? Yes it is great to “touch” the internet, but without the same experience on the iPad as you would have on a Mac or PC, it’s incomplete in my estimation and should be altered to fit the needs of the user. It’s not right to take away a component of the internet that is used by a majority of the websites. The Playbook also beat out the iPad in basic tests.

Watch this video, you’ll know what I mean...

Turkish Journalist Faces Charges

2010-11-10T07:57:00.004-05:00

Ismail Saymaz, a Turkish newspaper journalist had criticized the Turkish police for not doing enough to stop the assassination of Hrant Dink (an Armenian newspaper journalist). Consequentially, he could possibly serve a longer prison sentence than the man who actually murdered Dink. How do we justify this?

Who Destroyed Newspapers?

2010-11-01T09:27:00.002-04:00

Who remembers those early mornings where you wake up with a cup of coffee, and a copy of the local newspaper! It’s amazing how things have changed. News now moves faster than the speed of light. We immediately know what happens, when it happens, and where it happened. All thanks to the internet and social networking. But ever since this technological evolution, the newspaper has all of a sudden died down with record low circulation. They've had no choice but to downsize or close down. But why?

My argument for this article is quite simple and short. Newspaper companies are the reason for their own demise. Yes. Lets break this down.

The main source of revenue for these companies (besides advertisement) are from their circulations. And when circulation goes down, it gets tougher to cover the costs associated with printing all the millions of pages of print, and paying all the journalists who wrote in the paper. The reason for the drop in circulation is because of the easier access to online content that is instant and up to date almost every hour. And who is responsible for the online content that so happens to be free? The newspaper companies!

So why would anyone pay for a newspaper circulation, when they can go online and read the same articles for free! Unbelievable!

Lessons From The Chliean Miners

2010-10-15T18:19:00.008-04:00

It's hard to imagine yourself stuck in a situation where all you have left is hope. The 33 Miners who were stuck in Chile have shown the world the power of the human will, and what we can accomplish if we have our heads screwed on straight.

The last miner who was rescued said it the best as he held the hand of the Chilean President, "I hope this never happens again." What we learn from this dangerous situation is that miners put their lives on the line everyday, and setting strict policies to keep the miners safe should be the number 1 priority for Chile, and every country in the world. The mining industry is a prosperous industry for governments who mine for natural resources to export for revenue. It is also important for companies who mine for gold, silver, and diamonds to sell to retailers and then off to the jewelry stores. Not like other incident, but the caving of this mine that trapped the miners for 69 days will not slow down the extracting process, especially in Chile where mining contributes for 40% of their GDP. But what should change is the social importance of mining to the governments and to the society. The industry needs to gain more of a focus by governments who rely on natural resources so much. As resources get scarcer, miners dig deeper, further, and it gets more dangerous. This needs to be realized until something wrong happens, and this time tragic.

Chile has shown us what we as humans are capable of if we have our priority's straight. As Michael Moore said on Larry King the night of the rescue, "I was thinking, sitting here watching this, that the next time we have a hole in the Gulf of Mexico, we need to call in the Chilean government," Moore told King with a laugh. "It took us three months to plug a seven inch hole," Moore continued, comparing the American government's efforts to plug the leak in the BP disaster unfavorably to the 69 days it took for Chile to get their miners out. It is quite amazing how quickly Chile reacted from the time the rescue was planned to the time is started. It will go down in history as one of the most amazing rescues, compared to Apollo 13. Let's just hope something was learned from this.

iPhone vs Blackberry

2010-10-06T13:45:00.004-04:00

The smartphone market has really taken off since people discovered that yes, you can indeed have email on your phone! It’s one of those innovations that has changed the speed of life and our style of life. When we walk outside our door, we first look to make sure we have our phone before we check where our keys are.

In the market of smartphones, there are two that have dominated amongst the many competitors. The first mover in the market is RIM's BlackBerry. Never before had people seen a keyboard on a phone making emailing so much easier. And then there is Apple's iPhone. Never before had people seen a keyboard on a screen that was so responsive and innovative. Both brands have their respective loyal followers. The question simply is... Which is better??

Having used both devices in the past, and currently using both devices in the present, they are two different products that happen to do the exact same thing. The appearance of a BlackBerry hanging from your belt shows more professionalism and elegance. It is arguably the best business device on the market because that is where RIM has positioned the product and that is what we perceive it as. When we think of men or women in suits walking up Wall Street, we think of BlackBerrys, not iPhones. The iPhone however, has struggled to find its identity as a business device and is undoubtedly the most innovative phone on the market. Just like how the iPod changed music, the iPhone changed the phone. Now when we think of phones we think of apps, music, browsing, etc. The iPhone took the phone to a whole new level. If BlackBerry users wear suits, than iPhone users wear jeans. It's funny how the iPhone user imitates the symbolic appearance of its creator in Steve Jobs. And likewise with Steve Balmer and Microsoft with their professional clean business look.

It is hard to say which one is actually better because both devices are good at what they do. It all comes down to what the consumers needs are and what their habits are. If you care about the basics (email, messaging, and actually using a phone) then the BlackBerry is the better bet. If you want more than what a business phone should be (apps, browsing, music, games, etc) then the iPhone is the phone for you.

The advantage that the BlackBerry has is the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). If you were to ask somebody why they love their BlackBerry, I guarantee you that BBM has something to do with it. If it weren't for that feature, BlackBerry would have to really introduce a product that goes beyond the innovations of the iPhone.

The iPhone however has become the benchmark product that all phones are compared to, and the possession of owning a BlackBerry doesn't have the Wow factor that an iPhone has captured. iPhone has most of the features that BlackBerry has plus more. But sometimes its more about appearance and where you stand on the social hierarchy. It's less likely that the CEO of Citigroup will be playing a game on his iPhone. BlackBerry is the #1 smartphone for a reason... for now.

But no matter what phone you have, we must always remember one thing. We don’t walk around with phones anymore, we walk around with computers that happen to have a phone on them.

Great Sonnet, My

2010-10-04T21:16:00.004-04:00

Why does it have to be so difficult?

As the weather gets cold, the wind dies down

The blowing leaves come to a sudden halt

The excitements around are all drown

The heart seems dry in a large field of drought

As it hangs from a light thread as it’s strung

Sitting, just sitting and thinking with doubt

Sad hours seem long, is the day so young?

Thoughts of happiness hits me in the head

Wishing all was well without broken dreams

Not knowing if I am lost or just dead

Dead might be right, well that is what it seems

The only way out might be to move on

Poor, poor little fishy! Why are you gone!

"Operation Iraqi Freedom Has Ended"

2010-09-02T10:34:00.010-04:00

As one of the most controversial wars to ever take place, the War in Iraq is drawing to its anticipated conclusion. Keeping up with his campaign promise, President Obama addressed the nation from the Oval office to announce the end of the war after more than 7 years in combat. The end of the war has drawn mixed reactions once again, and the debate about what the war actually accomplished has resurfaced. The war had to end eventually; the Americans could not babysit the Iraqi people forever. The main goal now is to properly continue to train the Iraqi forces to maintain internal violence.

One of the main criticisms of this war was the amount of resources (taxpayer dollars) being used to finance and keep this war going. By ending the war, resources can now be diverted and begin being used where they should have in the first place, at home! With the economic situation stalling from the Great Recession, it is time to completely focus on creating jobs and improving the unemployment rate. Yes, the recession is theoretically over (2 consecutive quarters of positive gain), but the real recession does not end until people get employed and a new economic cycle starts flowing once again.

However way you look at it, the war was not gaining any more support back home. Even though the troops had 100% support from the people, the war itself had lost it's interest. It was time to turn the corner, and continue on a new road. (Afghanistan anyone?)

SPAIN 2010 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!!

2010-07-11T19:12:00.002-04:00

One of the happiest sporting moments of my life!!!! Not that often my favourite sports team wins... I’m a Leaf fan!

Robert Fisk on the Armenian Genocide

2010-04-26T00:22:00.006-04:00

As the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has come and passed, we once again see the debate about the appropriate usage of the “G” word. But one journalist from The Independent has outspokenly criticized Turkey’s continual denial because of all the visible evidence. Robert Fisk was interviewed on CTV News on his visit to Toronto, and makes no mistake about his position that the events in 1915 were nothing but a Genocide.

The Future for Tiger Woods

2010-03-21T20:44:00.003-04:00

Tiger Woods was that perfect icon for everyone growing up. The greatest golfer in the world who seemed to have the best life. The first athlete in the world to surpass the $1 billion mark with professional earnings and endorsements. But it seemed this perfect image that he created for himself all fell down a hill. It was indeed a shock to the world when we heard about his “transgressions” and the marital problems he was going through. But what’s the future for Tiger?

We have to remember that what Tiger went through was strictly personal between him and his wife. It wasn’t like he took steroids and ruined the name for the sport of golf. Although he did tarnish his own image, I believe that he will be back stronger than ever.

Do any of us remember the Kobe Bryant rape case anymore? The rich and famous basketball player that took life for granted just like Tiger? When we think of Kobe, we immediately think of his brilliance on the court because he did not give up after ruining his name. The future of Tiger will be the exact same. He will be back, he will be stronger, and because of his brilliant play no one will remember what he did couple years from now.

Tiger Woods gave his first interview since the car accident outside his home on November 27. ESPN's Tom Rinaldi asked Tiger about the accident, his affairs, and his rehab. Woods is scheduled to make his return to the PGA Tour April 8th at the Masters.

Obama’s Contentious Interview with Fox

2010-03-18T16:28:00.000-04:00

On what is being called the most pivotal week of his presidency so far, Barack Obama and the democrats will be looking for a major victory in their efforts for health care reform. Fox News journalists Bret Baier sat down with the President for an interview, and there is no doubt Obama is trying to appeal to the conservative voters and critics. Fox News, often known for their right-wing propaganda, have always been critical of the healthcare reform bill, and is often noticeable in the way Baier asks his questions and interrupts the President during his answers.

Where Is The iPad Headed?

2010-03-12T01:20:00.002-05:00

If you know how to use an iPod Touch, then you know how to use an iPad. Apple’s new “magical” device which is due in stores in April has gotten all the publicity that any Apple product usually receives, well, only because it’s Apple. Just like an iPod, the iPad has the app store, iTunes store, and all the great capabilities of the iPod music player. The only difference is it has a 10 inch screen! You can use all the apps that you have previously bought, plus there will be a whole new goldrush of apps specifically for the iPad.

But what will set the iPad apart from the others is the new iBook store, which in my opinion, is going to change the way we read books. Much like how iTunes changed the way we bought music (convenient, cheaper, more convenient) the iBook store will do the same for books. Apple has a way of revolutionizing a specific product, but even though they didn’t invent the tablet, they are definitely re-defining it.

One of the great things about the iPad is the price. When newer technology products are introduced in the market (could be TVs, computers, or even the iPhone, etc.), companies usually use the skimming strategy of pricing where they set the price as high as possible. At a high price, the product will only attract the “first-movers” of the market and will achieve their higher sales at a later time when the price is reduced. But with the iPad, Apple is using a different strategy to their pricing that is very rare in the technology industry, in fact, the total opposite. They are using the penetration strategy of pricing where they set the price as low as possible in order to attract a wider market right at the introduction. Apple has said that they want to get the iPad to as many people as possible, and with a starting $499 price tag, they are going to be successful. $499 was the starting price of the iPhone, and for a product that is much more bigger and powerful, it’s an amazing price. Very good marketing, and decision making on their part.

iPad could also be the end of newspapers as the morning paper delivered to your front door. The New York Times has announced that they will create an app specifically for the iPad that is way more interactive than an ordinary newspaper, and much more user-friendly. I have a feeling that the New York Times won’t be the only ones making an interactive iPad-only app for newspaper readers. It might become the norm in a couple years.

It’s hard to say if we want something if we haven’t used it yet. Most people thought the iPhone was crazy (usually because of price), and now they are on pace to surpass the Blackberry in the smartphone market in a couple years. The screen is beautiful, the browsing will be amazing, but reading books from a screen just doesn’t appeal to me. When I want to read a book, I’d prefer a book, plain and simple. But of course, I could be wrong, and it could be the start of the end for paper books. I love technology, and I could see a product like this just lying around the house ready to use whenever I need it. I’ll think about it.

Armenian Genocide Resolution Passes U.S. Committee

2010-03-04T16:05:00.018-05:00

A US congressional panel has described the killing of Armenians by Turkish forces in 1915 as “genocide." The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the Armenian Genocide Resolution–H.R. 252, in which the resolution passed by a vote of 23 to 22.

In his introductory remarks, Howard L. Berman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, underlined the undisputed fact of the Armenian Genocide, noted that the overwhelming majority of scholars affirm the fact of the genocide, and urged his colleagues for vote for it. He added, “It is now time for Turkey to acknowledge the reality of the Armenian Genocide.”

The Resolution will now go to a full house vote if brought forward by speaker of the house Nanci Pelosi. When asked, Pelosi said she would wait to see the result of the committee vote before deciding whether to bring it up for a vote. Unlike a similar resolution that was stopped in its tracks in 2007 by the Bush Administration, the Democrats have not made a stand to try to defeat the resolution, although Obama has said it will diminish relations with Turkey. During Obama’s campaign, he promised to brand the mass killings as “Genocide.”

The resolution passed near 4 days after a documentary aired on CBS “60 Minutes” entitled “Battle Over History” about the Armenian Genocide.

Turkey had warned its ties with the United States would be damaged and Ankara's efforts to normalize relations with Armenia could be harmed if the resolution passed, even though the vote was non-binding. After just minutes when the Resolution passed, the Turkish Ambassador to the United States was recalled by Turkey.

Sources: Armenian Weekly, BBC News

CBS “60 Minutes” On The Armenian Genocide

2010-03-01T14:18:00.041-05:00

Even with undeniable and blatant evidence of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, the Turkish government still refuses to accept the actions taken almost a century ago. As seen in the CBS “60 Minutes” segment, it’s hard to ignore the facts when their literally "right under our feet.” The denial of the genocide by the US government is less factual and more political with Turkish lobbyists doing everything in their power to prevent such recognition. Turkey has always said that if America recognizes the genocide, then there will be direct consequences. Let’s remember that the US has one of the worlds largest military bases in Turkey, and without them, the missions in Afghanistan and Iraq would be burdensome. Turkey allows Americans to use their airspace. Jets and planes use the American base in Turkey to refuel so that they don’t have to go all the way back to the US. Equipment, food and basic necessities are all waiting at the Turkish base so again, no need to go back home. The US would have a lot to lose if they accepted the killings as “genocide.” That is why there has always been hesitation on the part of an American President, even when they know the truth.

President Obama has called the Armenian Genocide a “historical fact” when he was campaigning, and knows that if he uses the “G” word while in Afghanistan and Iraq, they would be stuck in their tracks. Without the Turkish military base, it would be very difficult and time consuming to retreat from the missions. Therefore, perhaps, when the US does leave the middle-east and becomes less reliant on Turkey, it is then when we hear the word “genocide” come out from the mouth of the President. This “60 Minute” segment gives us a good view of the evidence, and perhaps acts as a wakeup call to Turkey in light of their renewed alliance with Iran, and established criticisms of Israel.

Below is the segment that was seen on “60 Minutes” entitled “Battle Over History.” To read the transcript, please click here.

Vancouver 2010: A World-Class Showcase

2010-02-28T22:07:00.000-05:00

When Vancouver won the rights to host the 2010 winter olympics, there was excitement in the air from the very first announcement, all the way to the opening ceremony of the games. You would start to see red everywhere from the mittens to the hockey jerseys, you knew it was here. For Vancouver, it was not only a chance to host the largest sporting event in the world, but also a chance for them to showcase their unique city. Canada was put on the spotlight, and boy did we deliver! Showing the world what it means to be Canadian, from the wild Whistler parties, to the giant mounties at the closing ceremony. Simply, Vancouver 2010 was one of the greatest winter games yet.

From the broadcasting coverage, to the superb volunteers. From the wonderful blue and green colour theme, to Wayne Gretzky lighting the olympic flame, everything at these games just felt right! Vancouver’s ability was never put into doubt whether it could perform and host an olympics, it proved why it was more than just a sporting event, it was a Canadian experience like no other. Vancouver being the largest city to ever host a winter olympics won the hearts of all the people in the world. Never did I imagine all the overwhelming praise that Vancouver received for the way they welcomed the world. It brought together cultures, friendships, and even got the attention from our neighbours from the south.

When Canada announced the “Own The Podium” program with the goal of winning the most medals at the games, it was all about the medal count and anything less would be a disappointment. When the very last medal was won, Canada came third in the medal count and the Vancouver games are deemed a disappointment. Well let me give you a different perspective on that. Even though Canada fell well short of "owning" the podium, they definitely owned the “top” of the podium. Canada had never won a gold medal on home soil ever in the olympics, and boy did that change! Not only did Canada finally win their first gold medal led by Alexandre Bilodeau (moguls), but they shattered the previous winter record for most gold medals in a single olympics with 14! Therefore by traditional olympic standards, Canada wins the olympics with the most podium wins! Canada was nowhere close to a disappointment!

Our athletes from the snowboarders to the lugers have all made us proud. To just compete at the olympics would be an honour, and to win a medal would be a dream. Never in my life have I watched (and enjoyed) a dramatic figure skating competition, or an ice dancing routine. Never in my life have I watched a crazy short track speed skating race like the one our men won in the relay! There are just so many sports that drag you into the moment and reveal your inner-national pride. No matter if it was for a fast bobsled run or a strategic curling game, the olympics brings the best out of humanity to stop whatever we are doing and cheer for the country that we love.

On the 17th and final day of the olympics, when all competitions were completed, there was one final event yet to be decided, the mens ice hockey gold medal game. Can there be a better story written than Canada vs USA in the finals? A strong, hard-fought emotional game that was won in overtime by Canada with a goal by Sidney Crosby. Not only did this victory solidify Canada as the most dominate team in hockey, but it gave the olympic games the icing on the cake. There were so many celebrities at the game, from the Prime Minister to Vince Vaughan. I even read on Larry Kings twitter page that he was watching the game. It put Canada on the map, the game of hockey on the map, and finished off the Vancouver winter games in style the Canadian way!

An unforgettable event that has made us prouder to be Canadian. The word “disappointment” is out of the question. Canada beat its own total medals count with 26, and had the most gold medals. Most importantly, it showed the world why we are one of the greatest countries in the world and just how welcoming Canada can be for future olympic games. Precisely the “True North Strong And Free.”

NBC's Brokow Explains Canada to Americans

2010-02-21T13:36:00.010-05:00

On the opening day of the 2010 winter olympics in Vancouver, NBC's Tom Brokow explained Canada to Americans. The two countries share one of the most peaceful borders in the world and have the largest economic partnership. This stunning report will hopefully bring light to Americans about the beauty and significance of the great white north.

Word Of The Year: Prorogation

2010-02-10T16:06:00.007-05:00

Ever since Stephen Harper prorogued parliament in 2009 to dismantle the Liberal-NDP-Bloc Quebecois coalition, there has been a swirling negative connotation with the word "prorogation." People who don't follow politics and have no idea what is going on are told by the opposition that the Conservatives are using democracy for their "arrogance" and are abusing their powers. And of course if you have no idea what is going on, you will surely believe anything you hear. So what exactly is "prorogation?" And is it wrong?

In the Westminster Parliamentary System, when the government wants to reset it's agenda and start a new session with the speech from the throne, it prorogues parliament. Everything from planning the budget to shuffling Cabinet (if need be). But lets make one thing clear that may have been blurred out by the opposition, prorogation is legal, constitutional, and democratic!

Sure the opposition are trying to make a big story out of Harpers recent decision to prorogue parliament for the second time, and are trying to take advantage, but what is wrong with Harper using this power? Does anyone remember when Jean Chretien prorogued parliament 4 times? (1 was to hand over power to Paul Martin so that doesn't really count). Why wasn't that exploded into the media as much as this one? Chretien had a majority for his 11 year reign and Harper has a minority. The reason why we don't hear much about Chretien's prorogation decisions is because it's legal! constitutional! and democratic! Get over it! I understand that parliamentary committee's such as the one on Afghanistan Detainees will be dissolved, but honestly, don't you think that important committees such as that one would be brought back (by opposition or government) after parliament starts up again? Politicians are good at ignoring the truth in order to make themselves look good. We're in a flippin' recession for goodness sake, if the Conservatives didn't take time to plan out the budget they would have been criticized for not putting any thought into it! Either way its a lose-and-lose, someone was going to complain. Welcome to politics!

Liberal Premier McGuinty prorogued Queens Park recently in order to reset his

agenda much like the Federal Conservatives. We haven't heard anything in the media about it because the opposition accepts it as a right that the Premier has and may use it whenever he feels is necessary. It seems like the provinces understand it better than the Feds.

Like all things politics, lets stick to the point. Bash Harpers Senate appointment, or Flaherty's Economic Stimulus Plan, not something that will lead to a dead end. Think about it, what progress have we made with the protests and the back and forth criticisms? What progress have we made with comparing our Prime Minster to a mass murderer in Hitler, just because Harper expressed his constitutional right. This is Canada, let's not humiliate ourselves!

A Vice Guide to North Korea

2010-02-05T18:58:00.002-05:00

VBS.tv, an online television network, had recently created a documentary entitled "A Vice Guide to North Korea." It showcases their struggle to get into the country, and all the unusual things about the communist nation. The team describes their adventures as "a freaky, freaky trip." Here is the first part of the documentary...

The Battle Over "The Tonight Show"

2010-01-18T19:55:00.007-05:00

In 1992, after Johnny Carson retired from hosting "The Tonight Show," there was talk about who would take over one of the most famous comedy shows on television. NBC had a tough decision that ultimately came down to David Letterman and Jay Leno. Letterman was the host of "Late Night" (also on NBC, right after "The Tonight Show") and dubbed the favourite, while Leno was the hottest stand-up in the business. We all know who NBC controversially chose to host the show, and 17 years later, Letterman is successfully enjoying his time on CBS, and Leno is caught in another controversy.

NBC has really dug themselves in a hole for this one, and the only way out is a call for help. After only 7 months with "The Tonight Show," NBC is pulling the plug on Conan O'Brien and his reign with the show and cancelled their experimental primetime show with Leno, "The Jay Leno Show". But this time it's a little different compared to the first time, but the ending could be the same. When Leno got "The Tonight Show" in 1992, he was 2nd in ratings behind Letterman until 1995. It took Leno 3 years until he reached #1, and NBC only gave Conan 7 months of opportunity.

When Jay Leno was the host of "The Tonight Show," he had the luxury of coming on after NBC's primetime lineup and the local news. By having primetime shows, a higher viewership would carry-on to watch their news and ultimately the late night shows. Conan had the local news, but instead of scripted sitcoms, he had Leno and a much lesser viewership. The idea at the beginning sounded great, but in reality, it was a poor decision on NBC's part that is now putting all the weight on Conan. The "Jay Leno Show" was a rating failure, and decided to cancel the show. Conan on the other hand was not doing so well himself, but who's going to judge just 7 months into a show? Jay didn't have "The Conan O'Brien Show" before his show. It makes a lot of difference when scripted shows build up a viewership for your show.

Their stupendous plan was to give Leno a 30 minute show at 11:35PM, shifting "The Tonight Show" to 12:05AM. Is it just me, or would 12:05AM make "The Tonight Show" more like "The Tomorrow Show." Conan O'brien with a lot of thought decided to decline this proposal with a well reflected letter stating the move to midnight "will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting." This decline will probably see Jay Leno recieve his old show back, and Conan O'Brien recieve a big cheque from NBC to leave the network.

And almost at the age of 60, even if Jay Leno was to become host of "The Tonight Show" for the second time, how long will it be until he retires? NBC is really making a mistake by re-hiring the past instead of keeping the future. Just like how they lost Letterman in 1992, they are going to lose Conan the same way, and most likey to FOX as another late night competitor. More competition for NBC, and lower viewers for Leno, life's got to be great for the #4 network in America. It's quite hypocritical for Jay to take his old spot back if we all remember what he had to say when he announced the move in 2004...

Safety Over Privacy Any Day

2010-01-14T19:00:00.001-05:00

If you thought airport security was tough enough, think again, it's only going to get tougher. With the recent Christmas "underwear bomber" having successfully smuggled explosives in his underwear, airports are taking screening to a whole new level. But the most important thing is for travellers to choose between privacy or safety. And for most people, it should be a no-brainer.

Airports are starting to implement a whole new screening technology that scans your whole body and can detect everything...I mean everything. It's called a "whole body imager" and can see everything underneath your clothes, from the coins in your pocket, to the cocaine you hide in your breasts (I saw it in Nip/Tuck once!). It's sad that it has come down to this, but we've hit a point in society where we cannot take anymore chances. The only thing that stopped the "underwear bomber" from blowing up an airliner on route to Detroit was a faulty detonator. The plane would have blown up above Canadian soil, and some sort of retaliation would have been imminent from the United States.

Travellers have mixed reactions when it comes to the new screening imagers. No doubt they are worried about their exposed body appearing on a screen for officers to see. But let me help clear some facts about the whole screening process that might help some people who are worried about this machine. First of all, it is the most powerful screening machine ever to be used in an airport. Its so accurate that it can detect a plastic knife anywhere on your body. Something conventional scanners were not able to accomplish. Second, the officer that assists the traveller into the machine for scanning does not see the actual image on the screen. The image is seen by a 2nd officer who does not see the individual entering the machine. Third, the images only get saved onto the computer database if something suspicious is seen on the screen. Other than that, all images are deleted instantly.

I have no doubt, the whole body imager will keep our air travel much safer, and I have a feeling that it's not the only new technology to be implemented. In the near future, there will be something called, "behaviour screenings" that detects nervousness in a traveller and any suspicious manner that doesn't seem right.

For those who feel privacy is more important should think about what could have been if the "underwear bomber" was successful. They complain now about privacy, but would have complained about safety if an attack occurred anyway. So either way, a complainer is a complainer. The government would rather take complains about privacy than the safety of the people. There's no thinking involved, I would too.

What's Wrong With Keynesianism?

2010-01-05T13:50:00.003-05:00

In the world of economics, it is often argued about which system is the "right system." If you look at much of the world today, the approach that has been widely adopted is the free-market system. Letting everything take care of itself with minimum or no government intervention (laissez-faire). But in a capitalist democracy, like all political systems, there are flaws. The 2009 global recession was a wake up call to millions of people that a free-market system is not the end-all be-all, it can indeed fail us. The good news is that there is a way that can help bring an economy back on its feet. But the bad news is, for some reason, it brings a negative connotation.

John Maynard Keynes, a British economist whose ideas developed what is now called "Keynesianism," is based on government intervention in the economy to help create demand. Through fiscal and monetary policies, a business cycle can be mildly controlled and reduce the chances of a recession. It is not laissez-faire, it is not socialism, it is the best of both worlds. This is in my opinion, the best approach to an economy in times where free-markets fail us.

So, why the good news? Because in a time where the economy is in a recession, by adopting Keynesianism, the effects can be controlled! If we let the free-market take care of itself, then recovery will take too long. The longer a recession, the slower the recovery. You lose more money in a longer recession, and it takes longer to recover all that money afterwards. The bad news is capitalist are tagging Keynesianism with socialism. The fact that intervening is considered "controlling the economy," and that changing the status quo is too unorthodox for them. Someone needs to tell capitalists the reason why we're in a recession in the first place, it's not because of socialism, that's for sure.

Why do people think that government intervention is socialism? Would you rather suffer long or suffer short? Why can't we sometimes do what is the right thing instead of doing what has always failed us? The West makes you think that if you're socialist you are automatically communist. Which first, is preposterous, and second, a lot of countries in Europe that are American allies (Britain, Spain) are Social Democracies. Yes you can be socialist and be democratic! But as mentioned, Keynesianism is in between laissez-faire economics and socialism.

No matter what capitalists around the world tell us about Keynesianism, there is one thing for sure that cannot be denied; the global recession was not fixed by the invisible hand (free-market). Is it a coincidence that in time of desperate need a government looks for the safest route? The governments introduced "stimulus" plans to help the recovery efforts and try to kick start a fast expansion. When we look around our cities, all we see are road construction, new infrastructure, repairs on bridges, and etc. Is it just me, or is the so called "stimulus plan" nothing but a form of Keynesian economics? Creating demand to create jobs, create a new money cycle, create new spending. Yup, sounds like Keynesianism to me. Capitalists using Keynesianism, get use to it.

The 30s was nicknames "the dirty thirties" for its long and suffering times because of the Great Depression. This recession was started in 1929, and though some economies recovered in the mid-30s, the effects did not end until the end of WWII (1945). This is when Keynes looked for an alternate route to a total free-market. The turnaround of the economy started to take shape, and by 1950 and 1960, almost all capitalist systems had adopted Keynesianism. As mentioned, the longer a recession goes on for, the longer it will take to recover. The Great Depression took too long to recover its loses because they did not know what to do and it dragged on way too long. Governments have since then flipped back and forth from Keynesian economics and the free-market system because of harsh critics.

The fact that it took decades to recover from the Great Depression, and a year to recover from our 2009 global recession shows that we now have an exit door in times of fire that was not evident in the 30s. The answer is not socialism or capitalism, it's Keynesianism. Also, for all the Republicans who are calling Obama socialist for his stimulus plans and for helping create demand in time where the unemployment rate reached 10%, I would be very curious to see what actions you would take if you were in his position. No matter what you believe in, sometimes the right thing to do is something you never thought was possible. Enough politics, do what works.

The Misconception About Twitter

2009-12-19T04:17:00.009-05:00

If you were to conduct a survey that asked people "what's Twitter?," what do you think they would say? I can tell you that a majority would not even have a clue the main purpose of it, and the other half would only attempt to describe it. Either way, both groups have misconceptions about the popular social "utility", and it's time to get some cleared up.

The big misconception that people have about Twitter is that it's just another Facebook. Another site where you can tell your followers what you did last night. The simple answer to that hypothesis is no! Facebook and Twitter are used in different ways, and arguably one cannot be substituted for the other. As most of us know, Facebook is about you. It's a network of your pictures, statuses, comments, and a whole bunch of personal information that some people should not even know about. Simply enough, Facebook is a book with your face on it, and everything inside this book is about you. Twitter is not about you, it's about the world around you. Twitter asks you to answer the question "What's Happening?," because it wants you to share the world around you from your perspective. If Facebook is about the individual, than Twitter is about information (in real time!). Twitter users are what I like to call "citizen journalists", because information is passed around by regular ordinary citizens, just like you.

Of course there are going to be people out there who tweet unneeded information like what they ate for breakfast this morning, but all they're doing is wasting their own time. If your looking for a conversation, then go onto Facebook where you can also tell your friends how delicious it was! Twitter is not used for a conversation, it just wasn't intended to be.

My views on Facebook are not off the record, just read The Demise of Facebook and The Demise of Facebook II. I'm all about useful information and that is why I like Twitter. I use it everyday to get updates from my favourite news networks, sports networks, my family & friends, journalists, celebrities, and so much more. The most fascinating feature of Twitter is "Twitter Search" that will search what people are tweeting about in real-time. I use Google as a secondary search engine when it comes to trends and current events because Twitter Search is much more up-to-date and current.

Media plays a massive role in how we get our information, and what Twitter does is get rid of the middleman between the event and the media. Before Twitter, an event would occur and we would hear it on TV (biased or unbiased), but now, an event occurs and we get first hand information from Twitter, unbiased and direct as it was intended to be, before we hear it on TV. Twitter lets the people play the middleman, and it allows for neutral, firsthand information right from the source.

Put it this way, I found out Michael Jackson died 10 minutes before it was on TV. The point isn't about the 10 minute difference, it's about the speed at which information travels firsthand and how it has become a major source for millions of people. Journalists on CNN were tweeting the information before it was on TV. It's fast, it's convenient, and it's not Facebook! What else do you want?

Canadian Recession Comes To An End... Technically

2009-12-06T23:58:00.008-05:00

Ever since the recession started, it was hard to think that there was light at the end of the tunnel. The first recession of the 21st century that started in the 3rd quarter of 2008. A recession is one of the downfalls of living in a capitalist world with a business cycle; what goes up must eventually go down. But on the contrary, what goes down must eventually go up, and for Canada, all signs are looking good.

According to StatsCan, the Canadian economy expanded 0.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2009, the first quarterly gain since the third quarter of 2008. Economists define a recession as two or more consecutive quarters of economic contraction, so the expansion of the economy after three consecutive quarterly contractions means that, in technical terms, the Canadian recession is over for now.

But just because the recession is technically over, doesn't mean Canada is 100% back the way it was before. GDP growth is a great way to track the growth of the economy, but the best indicator in my opinion is the unemployment rate. The Canadian unemployment rate stands at 8.5%, which in my estimations means the "real" recession is still ongoing. Though the unemployment rate has declined for months now, it's only diminishing at a minor rate. When workers get back to work and accumulate their wealth, consumer confidence will increase resulting in spending and a boost in the economy. It will take time for investors to regain the wealth they had lost in the stock market. The TSX is already at the highest it has been since October 2008. Always think positive!

2010 World Cup Draw

2009-12-04T04:08:00.003-05:00

One of the greatest sporting events, and certainly my favourite, the FIFA World Cup is only 6 months away. 2010 will be the first year that the worlds largest event will be in Africa (South Africa) and everyone was paying close attention to the group draws that were made today. The 32 teams competing for the World Cup are divided into 8 groups. Here are a list of the groups.

GROUP A	GROUP B
South Africa	Argentina
Mexico	South Korea
Uruguay	Nigeria
France	Greece
GROUP C	GROUP D
England	Germany
United States	Australia
Algeria	Ghana
Slovenia	Serbia
GROUP E	GROUP F
Netherlands	Italy
Japan	New Zealand
Cameroon	Paraguay
Denmark	Slovakia
GROUP G	GROUP H
Brazil	Spain
North Korea	Honduras
Côte d'Ivoire	Chile
Portugal	Switzerland

Every World Cup there is a self-proclaimed "Group of Death." This time around, I am giving "Group G" this covenant title. Brazil and Portugal are the obvious favourites, and along with probably one of the hottest teams going into the World Cup, Côte d'Ivoire, these teams will be fighting for the top 2 spots in the group. Oh yeah, there's North Korea too, but never count a team out.

Also, the official match ball was unveiled prior to the draws, and this year it is given the name "Jabulani." Let the countdown begin to June 11th!!

Liberals... Where's The Shortage?

2009-11-27T04:10:00.013-05:00

All we've been hearing from the Opposition these days is about all the shortages in vaccines and a call for the Conservatives to move faster on this very important issue. But I would like to remind the opposition parties a couple things before pointing the finger at the government.

The Liberals have been bashing the government on why they were not prepared for such an outbreak. How could there be so much demand and not enough supply for the vaccine. The Liberals have been trying to find answers to why only one supplier in Canada, GlaxoSmithKline, was supplying Canada with their H1N1 doses. Let me start by sharing a quote from the Liberal Party President Alfred Apps

"Shouldn't we have understood that we are putting the health and safety of Canadians at risk by putting all our eggs in one basket? Why? Who made that decision?"

Well to find an answer to his question, he should probably start by asking his own party first.

In 2001, the Chretien Liberal government awarded GlaxoSmithKline an exclusive contract for 10 years to supply the country with vaccines for any major outbreaks in the future. So to answer Mr. Apps question, it's because his own Liberal party awarded a company with a $323 million contract that there is only one supplier in this time of demand. Here we are in 2009, 8 years later, and the Liberals are demanding answers? In 2001, the year GlaxoSmithKline won the contract, they donated $50,000 to the Liberal party (which is illegal now to donate that much money to a single politcal party) and which raises an issue if there were any politics involved in awarding only a single source contract for 10 years. Oddly enough, it is the Liberal party criticizing their own decision that was made by their own party less then a decade ago.

At the time this contract was agreed on, there were eyebrows being raised. It is common sense to give multiple suppliers a contract to keep the flow of vaccines flowing in time of need. After all, if anything were to happen to GlaxoSmithKline at a time of pandemic, such as bankruptcy or downsizing, there is no backup supplier to step in and keep the supply of vaccines flowing for Canadians.

We need to remember that Canada is not the only country in the world who registered for the vaccine. Just like Canada, no country in the world has enough doses for all their citizens, it just doesn't work that way. The best way to stay clear of the flu is to live clean. Just like how those TV commercials tell us, wash your hands, sneeze on your sleeve not in the air, and sanitize your hands when in public. Conservatives have done all they can with what they have. After all, lineups are being shortened, people are getting vaccinated, and doctors are saying the spread of the H1N1 flu is declining. There was even a clinic in Manitoba that had too many vaccines that they had no choice but to throw them out. The Conservatives with the help of Health Canada did indeed plan ahead and make sure they were ready for this pandemic with just one supplier. As a result, one fact is generally overlooked by all Canadians and politicians, that Canada has the most H1N1 Swine Flu vaccines per capita than any other country in the world. Be thankful.

Did You Know 4.0

2009-11-24T03:12:00.015-05:00

It is astounding how technology and the internet have changed our lives drastically in just a decade. Who remembers the days before Wikipedia when we would look up information in a library of encyclopedias? Where did we look for the answers before Google? How did we keep in touch with our friends without (the devil) Facebook? How did we watch TV without High Definition? There are people everyday who are living their lives relying on technology for everyday things, such as the questions I mentioned above. But have you really thought of what life was like just 10 years ago?

I love technology, and I would consider myself a "first-mover" in technology, but not from a purchasing standpoint, but rather information wise. I love learning about new technology and the limits that we have reached as a society. And I have to be honest, sometimes it scares me!

If you've read The Demise of Facebook and The Demise of Facebook II, you know that there are some technologies that I wish did not exist for the pure reason of "too much progress." Why would we need a "wall" for people to talk to us when technology has led us to cell phones and text messaging? Why need to private message or to "tag" pictures for a friend overseas when technology has led us to emails?

The internet is the most brilliant invention that has changed a generation and generations to come. The way communication is sent in a second makes everything that much more convenient. The way you are able to read this without me lecturing you in person about technology. And as Jon Stewart once said, "The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom.

What's next for us? If the phone market is to be the largest provider of internet access in 2020, what will happen in 2040? What will happen in just one year in 2010? So many questions arise that need to be answered, but who knows what comes next. Below is a video that will keep your mind stimulated about the world of technology and information. There have been updated versions of it, and this is the most recent one. Did You Know 4.0.

To end off, I would like to share a quote from Bill Clinton when commenting on the progress we have made with technology;

"When I took office, only high energy physicists had ever heard of what is called the Worldwide Web.... Now even my cat has his own page."

Canada's Parliamentary System: The Head of State

2009-11-16T20:25:00.009-05:00

I understand the fact that if something isn't broken than don't fix it. After all, when a country such as Canada is one of the world leaders in economic growth, political democracy, and overall life, why would anyone want to change the way things have been for a more than a century? But I believe in a different theory that focuses more on how to improve on something that is working. I asked about 10 people (the same 10 people I asked about the Senate) about what role the Queen plays in Canada. And surprise surprise, the politics major was the only one who was able to state the fact that the Queen of England is at the top of the hierarchy in Canada. Most people thought that the Prime Minister was the head of state, but he is really the head of government and leader of the cabinet. To me, it does not seem appropriate when Canada's own citizens have trouble with a political question about their own country, especially about who is at the top. It's time to break it down, and see what the role of the Monarch is actually doing for Canada.

The Monarch in Canada is nothing but a ceremonial title. Sure the Queen is our "head of state," but what does she do, really? All she does is talk about world peace, visit Canada once every 10 years if we're lucky, and don the back of our wonderful coins and our $20 bill. The head of state from a description point of view is defined differently depending on which system is being used. From our parliamentary system, the head of state possesses executive powers but the exercise of the powers is done on the advise of the cabinet. So to answer the question about what the Queen does for Canada, the answer would be respectfully nothing. Her presence has turned into a traditional symbol which has become obsolete in a world where people demand answers and results from a government almost instantly. Times have changed, and it might have made sense to have a monarch before, but now, even with a strong country such as ours, the powers might be better exercised by a political executive, not a ceremonial executive.

It seems like no matter what the situation is, the Queen will never exercise her powers as head of state. The powers of the Queen are given to the Governor General (the Queens representative), who in turn can make decisions without the Queen's discretion. This in turn creates another argument about the role of the Monarch. If the Governor General is making the decisions on behalf of the Queen, what is the usefulness of the Monarch? Why not replace the Queen with a more active Governor General, turn it into an elected office, and generate more responsibility as a "leader of a nation." That is something that I would bring forward as a way to reform the system from the top. It truly would be nice to see Canada take it's own path, much like India or France who both replaced their Monarchies with an active political executive leader.

But probably the best answer I received about the Monarch was from a friend of mine who gave me the most direct and classiest answer when I asked him if we should change the head of state. He simply said "some things should never change." It was the best reaction from a question that some people put too much thought into (such as myself). This leads me back to what I said earlier about if it's not broken, don't fix it. What if the beauty of our system is that the power is not solely given to one individual (such as a President), but rather a few elites (Queen, Governor General, Prime Minister). There is a lot of thought to be put into this topic since Canada has risen up to be a world leader and does not depend on any external symbols as strength. Some think it's time to get rid of a lifetime old tradition that has become insignificant for todays world, but others are under the impression that what we have is unique, and it is something that separates us from the rest.

However, I can only live with traditions if they make sense to me, and the Monarch in Canada seems less important and makes little sense from a modern standpoint. Most people are worried about our cultural ties with Britain if our head of state is reformed. But what's written in the history books can never be forgotten or rewritten. We will always be a British colony, and always be grateful for the way our history has led us to this day. All we have with Britain are cultural ties, and that's it. The Queen is not Canadian, and cultural differences between our two nations do shape the decisions in our political arena. Even a British politician would have trouble adapting to our Canadian heritage and social life in terms of policy making and what satisfies the voters. We have more in common with the US in terms of political friendship and economic relations than we have with Britain, and that is something that is not changing anytime soon. We are Canadians, being led by Canadians, and nothing but Canadians.

Canada's Parliamentary System: Reforming The Senate

2009-11-12T00:52:00.013-05:00

When one thinks of the legislature in Canada, a majority of Canadians would just think of the House of Commons. I recently asked about 10 people about what they know about how laws are passed in Canada, and only one person mentioned the Senate (he was a politics major). Why? Well let me start by saying it's not their fault, an everyday Canadian would have to be passionate about politics in order to know the process. It's a sign that something needs to change. May I suggest a "Triple E" Senate?

"Triple E" Senate stands for elected, effective, and equal, and is gaining popularity in Canada as a future alternative to our current senate system. The senate as we have it now is very traditional. Back in the old days, the senate was used to represent the upper class (hence the term upper chamber) and the House of Commons was used to represent the "common" people (hence the term lower chamber). This old fashioned way of thinking seems to be outdated and irrelevant to todays world, and in order to be a chamber of significance, it should be a chamber with elected senators. The senators in the Canadian senate are appointed by the Governor General by the advise of the Prime Minister, so it would only benefit the party in power. The Governor General may appoint as may senators as possible depending on how many vacant seats remain. With that said, it seems that these days that the House of Commons has all the power. As I mentioned, only 1 person knew about the senate when it came to passing laws. This is because as Canadians, we vote democratically for our representatives in the Houses of Commons as a democratic country, and are aware of the issues since debates, and town-hall meetings raise questions that need to be answered, and the importance of voting for the candidate that best represents the community and the people. With elected senators, it would also get rid of the problem of money wasted on senators who fill a seat until the age of 75, and it does not matter how old they are when they receive the post. They are almost senators for life!

Having elected senators who can bring criticism to the legislature would be a big benefit. The one thing I like about the American System is that they put a lot of emphasis on their senate as a main filter for their bills before they are passed onto the President. This is the 2nd "E" of being effective. The senate should play a larger role in Canadian legislature before they are passed onto the Governor General. When senators are elected, they have a greater challenge to satisfy their riding since they represent regional interests and therefore need to be effective to maintain power. As some people know, before a bill is turned into a law, it must pass the senate (then go to the Governor General for approval). Traditionally, the senate very rarely declines a bill that is read in the senate. Which is why when a bill is passed in the House of Commons, it is believed to be a law when in fact, it has to still go through the senate first. There is no more seriousness about the senate in Canada.

The last "E" is equal. The senate is divided into 4 regions of Canada, The west, Ontario, Quebec, and the maritimes, all 4 regions with 24 senators each (plus 1 each for the territories) for a total of 105 senators. And yes, there is historical reasons in the way distribution was figured out for our senate. I don't know about you, but I would think that the west, being one of the fastest growing regions in the country, should have a louder voice then the maritimes. Just another traditional rule that needs changing. This is why the element of equality is so important, just like MP ridings, there would be an equal representation by population. The distribution of senators is misleading in a country as big as ours.

It is very hard to change something that has been in existence for years, but for a country like ours, it may be time to reform something that would only benefit the people, the law, and the country as a whole. Don't get me wrong, the senate does great work with our country, but the point is we can do better! I have heard the debate about "Triple E" senate in the media more than ever, and it is only a matter of time before it becomes a major topic. Our Canadian senate is a beautiful chamber, let's finally put it to work and make the title of "senator" mean something in this country. Let the debate begin!

Canada's Parliamentary System

2009-11-09T02:45:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been doing a lot of thinking about politics, and more specifically about Canada's parliamentary system. As we know, there are three branches of government, Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary. Executive consisting of the Head of State, Head of Government and the cabinet. Legislative consisting of the two chambers, House of Commons and the Senate. Finally, Judiciary branch which is our Judicial system.

It is a very unique system, using the majoritarian voting method to elect members of parliament, appointed members of Senate, a Queen as the "leader," and the use of a lot of tradition as was seen in the past. But is the system working in Canada to its fullest potential? Canada adopted the Westminster model of parliament from Britain, and are using a lot of old traditions that may need to be reformed. I want to explore more about what can be done to improve parliament in a two part series. I will focus on the Executive and the Legislative branches. More to come.

The Pizza Rankings

2009-08-22T21:54:00.005-04:00

I love pizza, nothing makes me happier (thats a lie). And over the years I've been lucky enough to eat at some of the best pizza places in the world (thats another lie). Pizza is the best creation ever. Some guy probably came home one day and didn't know what to eat. He probably just threw some meat, olives, and peppers on a piece of bread with cheese and BOOM! A PIZZA! MOMMA LOOK! A PIZZA!

My pizza has to be crunchy, clean, and crispy (or the 3 C's of Pizza). When I was in New York, I had the worst experience with pizza. A sloppy, terrible, and disgusting pizza (or the STD's of Pizza) which made me want to throw it out the window. Yes, I am a picky pizza eater. That's the one time out of my day where I sit down and think about nothing.

Here are my top 5 pizza places in the world that I have been fortunate enough to eat. I'm sure there are other ones. What's your favourite?

1. Antica Pizza - Niagara Falls, Canada

2. Lombardi's Pizza - New York, USA

3. Delicious Pizza Bakery - Kitchener, Canada

4. Da Baffeto - Roma, Italy

5. Pizza Navona - Roma, Italy

Global Cooling?

2009-08-17T21:28:00.007-04:00

So summer is coming to its conclusion, I would like to welcome you back to The Global Express. To start things off, I would like to say it has been a great summer for me. Played a lot of soccer, went to some beaches, watched Real Madrid, visited New York City, and slept on the sand in Cuba. But the part that struck me the most about summer was the unexpected stretch of constant thunderstorms and cool weather. Let's just call it Global Cooling.

If I was the media, I would have turned this topic into a huge discussion much like everyones favourite Global Warming. I can't remember how many times I wrote "WTF weather!" on Twitter. It was getting so ridiculous to a point where I sat in my room reading! Yes, reading! I don't remember the last time I sat down during summer and read!

While I was BBQing after one of my soccer games, I witnessed the craziest thunderstorm ever! So much so that it was the topic of the day at work for a week! I have never seen so many thunderstorms in a span of 3 months, and they were all little supercell storms that lasted about 20 minutes max. Except the crazy one!

Also, its very rare to be in August and to not witness any hurricanes. Perhaps Global Cooling? Warm water is fuel for hurricanes, and without the hot weather in the atlantic, there have not been any tropical depressions. Only recently has there been new developments for Tropical storm Ana and Bill. Perhaps the climate is shifting?

I will cry if one day we're celebrating Christmas in shorts. Christmas = snow! Not climate shifting!

"Something Had To Go"

2009-04-27T21:48:00.003-04:00

General Motors Corp. said Monday it will phase out the Pontiac brand by the end of 2010 as the automaker unveiled another restructuring plan that includes cutting more jobs.

GM Canada said its hourly wage workforce is expected to decline from 10,300 in 2008 to 4,400 in 2014. The Canadian division said it will also make further cuts to its salaried staff.

GM said its 82-year-old Pontiac division is being eliminated as it concentrates on its Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC brands.

The company also said it will complete its plans for the Saab, Saturn and Hummer brands by the end of 2009.

GM said it will reduce its number of assembly, powertrain and stamping plants in the U.S. from 47 in 2008 to 34 by the end of 2010, and to 31 by 2012. The locations of the plants that will close were not revealed.

GM will also cut more of its U.S. hourly workers. The company said its U.S. blue collar workforce will decline from roughly 61,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2010, and level off at about 38,000 starting in 2011.

The latest job cuts are between 7,000 to 8,000 more positions than the company had spelled out in a February viability plan turned down by the U.S. government.

"We need to have a more stable, sustainable business model," GM president and CEO Fritz Henderson told reporters at a press conference.

The company said it is also speeding up consolidation of its North American dealer network.

In Canada, the number of GM dealerships will drop from 705 dealers in 2009 to between 395 to 425 dealers at the end of 2010, a reduction of 42 per cent.

Serj Tankian: Obama recognize the Armenian Genocide

2009-04-09T17:16:00.005-04:00

With Barack Obama's recent visit to Turkey, one of the hot topics on hand was whether or not the President will live up to his promise and recognize the Genocide. Obama has recognized the killings by the Ottoman empire as "Genocide" before he was President, and when asked by a reporter about his views about the Genocide, Obama answered;

“Well, my views are on the record and I have not changed views"

Serj Tankian, lead singer of System of a Down, has started a campaign for congress to take the next step and pass House Resolution 398, with weeks to go before the April 24th date. He encourages the President to "do the right thing, because you cannot argue against the truth no matter how hard you try." Here is the video for the Genocide campaign by Serj Tankian.

Berlusconi Confronted By The Queen?

2009-04-03T18:54:00.005-04:00

Footage has emerged of the Queen appearing to express mild iritation at Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for being too noisy.

The incident took place as the Queen posed with world leaders from the G20 summit in the traditional "family" photograph at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Berlusconi then shouted "Mr Obama", prompting Her Majesty to turn around in mock frustration at the noise.

I find this hilarious, and even more so that the Italian newspapers were bashing Berlusconi. Come ooooooon! The guy's Italian, what would the world be without them!

The Exploitation of Capitalism

2009-03-31T18:35:00.009-04:00

Finally. Finally someone had the balls to do something that was clear to do years ago. Under general manager Rick Wagoner, America's largest automaker in General Motors had lost about 95% of its share value since 2000, and lost an estimated $30 billion in 2008. Does it sometimes take a President to fire a CEO of a publicly held corporation in a capitalist state. Yes.

When President Obama promised changes in Washington, the guy meant it. No more bull, no more excuses, and no more private jet rides while asking for money. Obama's no-tolerance position towards corporations during this economic recession is exactly what the world needs, and is quite overdue. When we heard about the AIG scandal of paying bonuses from federal bailout money, Obama did not hold anything back.

"This is a corporation (AIG) that finds itself in financial distress due to recklessness and greed."

It's as simple as that. Companies are putting themselves in tough situations due to the actions that are taken within the company. There is no one to blame but themselves for their economic situation. This recession did not happen by chance, but rather by the materialistic actions of mortgage firms and businesses to always want more. Thinking back, its not a coincidence that the mortgage investment firms were the first ones to fall victim to their own sword (One day I'll talk about how the recession started. It can get quite complicated).

What we are witnessing is how corporations are taking advantage of capitalism. Where would we ever hear of failing banks using taxpayer dollars to pay bonuses? I guess Karl Marx is rolling in his grave uttering "I told you so!" What amazes me is how GM did not see this coming. All the signs were there. As people were moving towards hybrids and smaller cars, GM was paying more emphasis on SUV's and trucks. As a marketing major it's safe to say someone didn't do their homework. It's time to restructure. It is never too late, but all GM needs is a plan. Much like Ford who repositioned themselves during the recession and has not needed any bailout funds, GM cannot sit back and enjoy this ride, because I'm pretty sure they already fell off 3 times.

Capitalism promotes greed if I may rephrase what I was emphasizing above, and greed of corporations is unlimited. If this recession had never happened then we would never have distinguished the real actions and attitudes of these corporations. Now we know for next time (because a business cycle that goes up must come down), even though we are in a free market capitalist state, we still need rules and regulations. Obama's actions may seem socialist, but when the state is in need of help in the brink of economic collapse, thats not socialism, thats reality.

David Blaine Street Magic

2009-03-30T18:08:00.004-04:00

Ok I have come to my conclusion. From hours of extensive research and hours of YouTube videos, it is now safe to say that David Blaine is my favourite magician. I am a big fan of card tricks because there is always an answer to the trick, they're all illusions! Blaine also does "street magic," making objects disappear and reappear. Here is a video I came across while YouTubing. Blaine is one of the best at card tricks. The trick I liked is shown at the first 30 seconds of the video.

Twitter Growing at a Staggering Rate

2009-03-19T20:16:00.005-04:00

Maybe it’s Jimmy Fallon’s integration of it into his new TV show, Shaq’s use of it to interact in real-life with fans, Barack Obama's interaction with the American people, or blog’s ability to write about it non-stop, but one way or another, Twitter’s growth just continues to explode, and Facebook better take note.

The latest numbers from Nielsen Online indicate that Twitter grew 1,382% year-over-year in February, registering a total of just more than 7 million unique visitors in the US for the month. Not only is that huge growth in one year, but in one month as well, as in January, Twitter.com clocked in with 4.5 million unique visitors in the US, meaning the service grew by more than 50 percent month-over-month. Comparing it to its newest rival, Twitter is growing over 5 times faster than Facebook.

Twitter is the latest in-thing. YouTube, Facebook, blogging and the like have already been on the tips of everyone’s tongues whether they use it or not. This is exactly where Twitter is right now. The user base is growing at an incredible rate and the usefulness of the service is growing as a result.

The coolest thing is actually following certain celebrities, your favourite sports team, and getting news updates right when they happen. You are free to Follow me. It is definitely worth a try, and as I have said before, it is only a matter of time until it overtakes Facebook.

Valencia Riding the Recession

2009-03-14T02:35:00.007-04:00

What does the economy have to do with soccer? Well just ask Valencia CF from Spains La Liga.

The club is in dire need of quick cash as it has debts climbing €450 million. The debt is so high that the club has not paid their players in weeks and have been rumoured to have two options left before entering into an even more financial crisis. These options are simple but will hurt the club either way.

1. Sell the Mestalla Stadium (one of my favourite stadiums in football)

2. Start selling top players

If the economic analysts are correct, then in a years time everything should start to be back to normal. So I hope Valencia will not be forced to one of these options.

A stadium in football is more than a football pitch, its the clubs identity, even more than the players. A club will sometimes be called not by its name, but by the name of its stadium. But of course it is the players that determine the success of the club, and in Valencia's situation, selling the best striker in the world might have to be an option.

David Villa, who has stated that he will not leave Spain, has been tagged to cost €100 million Euros to any team that would like to pursue him. Since he wants to remain in Spain, If Real Madrid or Barcelona cannot come up with this price tag for Villa, then Valencia may have no choice but to sell him to Manchester City. Manchester City has been targeting almost all the top players in the world after being bought by Abu Dhabi based investors. Most notably, trying to sign former FIFA world player of the year Kaka, who had refused to leave AC Milan in Italy for the English side. City has been pushing hard to bring the Spanish international to the club as their pursuit to change the identity of the club with star players continues (as they did with the signing of Robinho from Real Madrid). Other notable players that may be rumoured out of Valencia are David Silva and Joaquin.

In the end, its less about the soccer and more about the business. If you want soap opera, forget boring bailout plans with banks failing left and right, and follow Valencia! So to answer the original question, yes, the recession does have something to do with soccer.

Right Brain vs Left Brain

2009-03-09T00:57:00.004-04:00

Do you see the dancer turning clockwise or counter-clockwise?
If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and if counter-clockwise then you use the left side.

Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

Vancouver favoured to land MLS franchise

2009-03-05T13:57:00.004-05:00

With the Miami MLS expansion bid officially in its grave, Major League Soccer needs a new favorite to emerge in the expansion race, and sources tell SBI that one expansion city has done just that. Vancouver has become the new front-runner in the MLS expansion sweepstakes, moving ahead of remaining MLS expansion candidates Portland, St. Louis and Ottawa.

According to multiple sources, MLS is on the verge of putting Vancouver's bid up for expansion approval and the Canadian city has become what one source called "a lock" for the 2011 expansion cycle. MLS is expected announce its 2011 expansion entrants before the start of the 2009 season on March 19th and signs are pointing to Vancouver being one of those entrants. Why Vancouver? Three major factors are in the bid's favor. First, the Vancouver bid has the deepest and most financially strong stable of owners among the remaining expansion candidates. With Vancouver Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot, former Yahoo executive Jeff Mallett, Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Luczo and NBA star Steve Nash making up the group, the Vancouver bid boasts the prospective owners best equipped to deal with the current global financial crisis. Secondly, a potential national TV contract for MLS in Canada also adds to Vancouver's candidacy. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), the parent company of Toronto FC, recently purchased GolTV Canada and is in position to benefit the most from one or two Canadian cities (Ottawa being the other) entering MLS, which would help a national Candian MLS television contract move closer to reality. Thirdly, Vancouver has the double benefit of being a national rival to Toronto FC, while also being a geographic rival with 2009 MLS expansion club Seattle Sounders FC.

Soccer by Ives

Canadian Banks Best in the World

2009-02-27T00:54:00.011-05:00

In one of the toughest and stressful times in economic history, it seems like an everyday routine for governments to bailout and try to save a financial institution. The United States government will feel the backlash in the future of over a trillion dollars of bailout money spent on corporations, as their federal deficit continues to increase. The same can be said in Europe as banks and the auto industry are posting quarterly loses, which has created a signup list for federal bailout money. But in all this economic mess, where is Canada? As reported in 2008 by the World Economic Forum, Canada has the soundest banking system in the world with a rating of 6.8 out of 7, and they are keeping it that way.

Canada's dominant banks are reporting earnings that show they are doing far better than banks in the United States and Europe in this global recession. Canada's largest bank, RBC, posted a profit of $800 million in the fiscal first quarter ended Jan. 31. CIBC reported a first-quarter profit of $117 million, and TD Canada Trust posted earnings of $568 million, and stated that their situation in the United States is solid.

Canadian banks now have some of the largest market capitlizations in the world. Royal Bank has a $34 billion market cap after its stock jumped more than five percent after it reported its earnings on Thursday. Citigroup, America's largest bank, by comparison has a much diminished $13.5 billion market cap.

On Barack Obama's visit to Ottawa, the President stated that the United States should "take note" of how Canada has shown itself to be a good manager of its financial system, and I suggest they do so quickly. America's largest bank and one of the largest in the world, Citigroup, posted a $8.29 billion loss which has caught the attention of the American government. The government and Citigroup have reached a deal to convert $25 billion of its preferred shares to common shares. Now all Citigroup will have to do is find private investors in a time where "being in the red" is normal. Also, the Royal Bank of Scotland, on posted a $34.3 billion loss in what is the largest loss in UK corporate history. This loss will have the government bailout the bank and raise its stake in the company to as high as 95%.

Canada has avoided government bailouts and has not experienced the failure of any major financial institution. There has been no crippling mortgage meltdown or banking crisis what so ever.

Shaq-Attack Introduction!

2009-02-20T19:32:00.010-05:00

Without a doubt the most amazing player introduction at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. As every All-Star gets introduced one-by-one, Shaq brings the dance group Jabbawockeez out with him!

"Yes We Canada"

2009-02-19T17:29:00.007-05:00

In what is the first foreign trip for US President Barack Obama, Canada was nothing but heart warming for the very popular American politician. Obama's visit to Canada, just 30 days into his Presidency, reiterated something that George W. Bush was not able to articulate to America's neighbour to the north. That Canada was not just an ally but also an important partner that America relies on heavily.

The trip to Canada continued a long tradition as the first foreign visit for American Presidents (not including George Bush who first visited Mexico), and was only a 6-hour "working" visit that had top issues facing the two nations on the table. Harper said he and the President outlined three main priorities — working together to restore economic growth, a new initiative on environmental protection and the commitment to stabilize Afghanistan.

Obama touched down in Ottawa's International Airport at 10:30 am on Air Force One, and was greeted by Governor General Michaëlle Jean. From there Obama was taken by motorcade to Parliament Hill where he was greeted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. After shaking hands, the two went out to greet the crowd as they stood behind a bullet proof glass. That was all the crowd of 2,500 would see of Obama as they stood in front of Parliament Hill.

The day began with Harper and Obama having a closed door meeting, then after having lunch with top advisors and staff. As scheduled, there was a 2:45 pm news conference where only 4 reporters were allowed to ask questions, two American and two Canadian. After leaving Parliament came a very unexpected visit to Ottawa's Byward Market to sample a BeaverTail, an Ottawa delicacy made of deep-fried dough. He also stopped at a local mall to buy a maple leaf cookie for his daughters. The reception was loud, and unlike the visit of George Bush, there were no protestors or any form of violence, see the difference.
The way to summarize the overall visit of Obama is by one word, relationships. Over and over the two leaders would reiterate the importance of one another and how in 4 years, their relationship will be even stronger. It seems that Obama wants to start fresh with Canada, seeing as Bush gave Canada no attention even though Canada and US are the largest trading partners in the world ($1.5 billion worth of trade every single day). Just like how Bush and Blair seemed to be the dynamic duo of the past, Obama and Harper/Ignatieff could be the duo of the future. Michael Ignatieff had a 20 minute meeting with the President as both share core Liberal Ideology. It seems that Canada is having elections almost annually and that if Igantieff ever becomes Prime Minister, the ties between Canada and US relations could potentially become even stronger as Ignatieff has strong contacts and friends within the Obama administration. I guess its not what you know, but who you know.

It's quite interesting to note that Obama's brother-in-law lives in Burlington and has visited in the past. Having this kind of connection brings Obama even closer to Canada then any other President in the past. As he said...

I love this country and I think we could not have a better friend and ally

Canada 101 For Obama

2009-02-19T14:30:00.004-05:00

A Toronto man made a short video for CNN iReport on what President Obama needs to know about Canada before his visit to Ottawa.

The Demise of Facebook II

2009-02-17T02:46:00.011-05:00

As you may know, I am a huge advocate against Facebook. As mentioned in The Demise of Facebook, the whole issue of the social site is privacy. We share way too much with others then we need to. We might as well give up our own life and start a whole new world (Just like how Dwight Schrute does with his "Second Life" program on the ever so popular TV series "The Office"). But recently, I came across something I did not know about regarding the privacy of Facebook, and it doesn't surprise me.

According to a discovery first reported on The Consumerist, everything you've loaded up into your profile (personal pictures, etc.) belongs to Facebook. But even after you've closed your account? Well thats what it apparently states in the Terms of Service you agreed to when you opened your account. You know, that long contract that everyone is suppose to read even though they never do.

So basically, Facebook can do whatever they want with your information, and without your permission. They could license your personal pictures out to companies, make a bundle, and all without giving you a nickel. Sounds spiffy. Even if you close your account today, Facebook still has the right to do whatever it wants with your old content.

Don't believe it? Read it yourself straight from the Terms of Service...

"You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof."

Capitalism vs. Communism: A Comparison From Above

2009-02-11T22:39:00.017-05:00

This picture caught my eye. It represents two different ideologies, two different countries, and two different governments. But one culture divided.

The country at the top is North Korea, a dark, enigmatic state that seems to be decades behind all others. Overtaken by a Marxist-Leninist ideal, the only light visual is a small dot from the capital city Pyongyang. The country at the bottom is South Korea, a bright, economically booming nation, which is technologically ahead of its counterpart within the capitalist vision. It's been 56 years since the Korean War separated the Nation of Korea and divided it into two totally different states, and this picture gives us a great comparison between capitalism and communism. Independently the same age, if you went to North Korea, you would feel like you were in a third world country. A state with twisted mindsets from post-war propaganda, who worships the deceased and now "Eternal" President Kim Il-Sung. It's sad how there is a totally different world across the closed border. If you went to South Korea, it would feel like a second Japan. A flourishing economy, live night life, and people free in a democratic world, it would be hard to realize how their brothers and sisters are being controlled in the North. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a major global city, consistently placed among the world's top ten financial and commercial cities, with state of the art high rise buildings. Whereas Pyongyang lacks electricity supply, has virtually no traffic on its road, and the buildings are old and in dire need of restoration or renovation.

There is a very good documentary on North Korea entitled Welcome To North Korea, which depicts the life of North Koreans under the Marxist-Leninist regime. It shows the ways the state can control their people from the way they look at tourists, to the way they sit in their school chairs.

But since 2000 there have been efforts to start reunification talks. If reunited, Korea is expected to emerge as a major great power, exerting a significant economic, military and political strength and influence in the world, with a total population of over 77 million. Combining the world's fourth (North Korea) and sixth (South Korea) largest armed forces will create the second largest armed forces in the world, larger than that of the United States, and only behind China.

A-Rod or A-Hole? The Culture of Baseball

2009-02-10T01:26:00.009-05:00

Right when you think you've heard everything, arguably the most gifted baseball player in the history of the game comes out clean.

As first reported from Sports Illustrated, 3rd basemen Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees was tested positive for taking performance enhancing drugs in 2003. Rodriguez himself came out clean during an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons. Here is the full interview where the question is asked right off the bat...

Just over the last couple years, baseball greats such as Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmreo, Andy Penitte, Jason Giambi (its sad how I can go on and on and on), have all tested positive for steroids or are very bad at denying it. But why are all these baseball greats taking steroids? Was it the culture of the game back then? Or simply they were knowingly taking steroids. Well for one thing, Most of the players named above have all ruined their names and have taken it recently or tested positive recently. The difference between these players and Alex Rodriguez is that Rodriguez has been tested clean since 2003. Pressure to perform is huge when you have one of the largest contracts in sports (A-Rod makes about $28 million a season!). This applied to most athletes who thought that to stay a step ahead of everyone, it was the easiest thing to do. Most blame their trainers or say they never knew they took any steroids. Thats where Rodriguez is different.

A-Rod has been the first steroid user to immediately come out and be interviewed (as shown in the video above) about his encounter with steroids. "The truth will set you free" he says. But the years from 2001 to 2003 were very very grey for Major League Baseball. Steroids were not illegal even though it was considered cheating, so players were all experimenting, trying different things, and Rodriguez was no different. But Rodriguez has said he regrets it, and again, it was not illegal at the time, and since being tested in 2003, he has been clean ever since. So lets cut the man some slack.

The culture of baseball was very different 6 years ago. It seemed like everyone was doing something and if you didn't do it too, you would be left behind. That was the dilemma of baseball. If you look at the use of steroids today, players will always have a conscious telling themselves that they know they will get caught. Whereas back then, almost everyone was inquiring about it or experimenting to catch up with the Jones'. But in a way, all the baseball players who have been tested positive has helped to shape a new culture in baseball. Now players and the league know that if you do the crime (steroid use) you're gonna get the time (suspension). I hope that the favourite American pastime does not ruin its name for it. But the real question for Rodriguez and all the steroid "greats," what happens to their chances to make the hall of fame?

Cooperstown is one of the most prestigious and difficult halls to get inducted too and there is no doubt in anyones mind that if this report from SI stating that Rodriguez took steroids was never reported, A-Rod would be a first balloter. But for McGwire and his historical chance for the home run record, with all the great years of chasing Maris, he's not in the hall. And for Barry Bonds who is the all-time baseball home run leader, he hasn't even been considered for the hall. Its the ghost that keeps haunting baseball and will not go away. But the MLB should be proud of the way they've handled steroids lately. Having one of the strictest testing in sports, players will be suspended without doubt for being tested positive. On the bright side, the positive tests have declined dramatically, and it seems like the reports with Rodriguez will help as he becomes a new ambassador for the baseball fight on steroids.

I hope we don't hear any of this steroids talk to start to cross over into other sports. But I do want to point out that Tiger Woods has the same trainer as Rodriguez. Stay tuned.

Snow in Britain?

2009-02-09T11:12:00.003-05:00

I always find it interesting when weather patterns change to create unbearable conditions for countries that can't handle it. In Canada, it would be a disaster if it didn't snow. But Britain?

For the fifth straight day, Britain was dumped with up to 55 cm of snow! Forecasters are blaming a change in wind direction for the wintry spell with Arctic gusts replacing the mild south-west Atlantic breezes enjoyed in recent weeks. Now, just think about that for a minute, a region like this, which usually never gets anything but rain, is hit with snow. How are they all of a sudden going to find the equipment to clear all the streets and roads! Well they aren't! Road, rail and air transports were all badly affected by the weather and could not be cleared in time for start normal daily operations. Businesses have been closed and people are stranded in their homes. Which only means one thing for kids, snow day!! again, again, again, again, and again!

Impressively, snow fell in London for the first time in October since 1934, while thermometers fell below zero across the country. Talk about preparation. The AA said that by the end of Friday it expected to have answered 70,000 calls since Monday. More than 3,000 schools closed across southern England and Wales, with hundreds more shut in Scotland.

Just last December, snow fell in Las Vegas which is a very odd thing to have. Snow in the desert, now thats a site! Just imagine, you're all excited to be on vacation and suddenly you see white stuff falling from the sky. No I don't feel sorry for them, let them feel our Canadian pain! The wintry weather also whipped California. There were at least 20 inches of snow in Wrightwood, 5 inches in the hills above Malibu and 6 inches or more in Palmdale, according to the Los Angeles Times. I bet schools and businesses were closed. Feel our pain!

Maybe all the talk about climate change is actually correct? Maybe all the widespread change in the global weather is proof that this is actually a global phenomena. Or, maybe its all a trick by a bunch of goons trying to scare us with all their reindeer games. Whatever it is, since I live in Canada, I can only agree 110% with Stephen Colbert.

"Climate scientists say that global warming is real. Meanwhile I'm freezing my ass off! Explain that science!"

What can I say?

YouTube Motion to Remove Racist

2009-02-08T23:28:00.006-05:00

I am starting a motion to have removed the user "collezionne" from YouTube for violating racist and discriminatory acts towards other races. This user has such videos as dancing on the flags of the European Union, Italian, Armenian, Israeli, Greek, English, and other flags.

Click Here for his profile and "Report" him. With everyones help we can remove this mindless person.

Every report counts! Lets do it!

UPDATE: THE USER HAS BEEN REMOVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Armenian Apology Causes Brawl in Turkish Parliament

2009-02-07T11:00:00.009-05:00

Osman Euzcelik, a Turkish MP from the Democratic Society Party (DTP) did the unthinkable during a regular Parliament session in Turkey. During a discussion on the Education Ministry budget, Euzcelik brought up the topic and called upon the Turkish Parliament to apologize to the Armenians for the "events of 1915." He later went on to use the word "genocide" to describe what happened in 1915. Euzcelik noted that he had heard stories about the Armenian killings as a child growing up in Turkey and added that the killings were planned by the sultan of the Ottoman Empire and were carried out by groups called Hamiddiye.

"These groups killed a large number of Armenians. A lot of times they would line up the Armenians and shoot them in the chest. All Armenians of Martin were killed and some fled to Syria"

Euzcelik remembers his grandfather's family providing refuge for Genocide survivors which became a common thing around this time and near the 20s. Most Armenian families fled Armenia during the genocide and went down south to countries such as Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. These countries currently have a high population of Armenians and are evident in the villages that they still reside in.

Nevzad Pakdil, who was presiding over the parliament session during the time, interrupted Euzcelik, blasting him for “insulting the society in which you live.” Euzcelik said that he was apologizing to Armenians on his own behalf. Pakdil intervened again attempting to stifle the parliament member. Members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) applauded Pakdil while another DTP member, Surru Saken directed his anger to Paktdil by saying,

"Mr. Chairman, you represent the Marash district and you know full well the extent of the tragedy that unfolded there."

The war of words continued until a brawl broke out between parties of Parliament. Turkey has had a long hisory of accusing anyone who "insults" the country in anyway. Turkey is very nationalist and will not tolerate any discussion about the Armenian Genocide, nor in the streets, nor in any of the history textbooks taught in classrooms. Turkish novelist and Nobel prize winner Orhan Pamuk has made statements about the Armenian Genocide before, and had been charged for "insulting Turkishness," which potentially could have placed Pamuk in prison for up to 3 years. The case was dropped. More noteably, Hrant Dink an Armenian-Turkish editor, was shot and killed in the back right outside his office. Hrant was the editor of the Armenian newspaper "Agos' where he would make statements about the Armenian Genocide. A week before he was killed, Hrant wrote that he was "nervous and afraid" because of all the hate mail he received. The killer was found to be part of the Turkish Nationalist Party.

In a more positive note, the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Armenia have held scheduled talks during the last few months to normalize relations. They are also optimistic that by the end of the 2009 year, the border between Turkey and Armenia will be opened.

Is He Staying? or Is He Going?

2009-02-06T00:03:00.007-05:00

Ever since David Beckham got loaned to AC Milan from the LA Galaxy in January, there were "ridiculous" talks that this was a shortcut for Beckham to get out of his LA contract and go back to Europe. He's old, he's slower, he's simply not as good as he use to be... so we thought!

Since coming to AC Milan, Beckham has shown us and the world (and his England coach Fabio Capello) why he was at the top of the world in England and Spain. Scoring 2 goals (one fabulous free kick) and helping the club reach 2nd in the Serie A tables, now even his skeptic teammates want him to stay. Now these "ridiculous" talks are turning into rumours that are boiling hotter then your mothers soup on that cold winter day. We have heard so many sources denying and confirming the speculation of Beckham staying on with AC Milan after the March 9 deadline when the load expires. I think there is only one way to find out what the man wants to do and if he really wants to stay in Milan or go back to LA. To hear it from him...

...There's your answer! Stay tuned for more on David Beckham's roller-coaster career. The Global Express has you covered!

The Demise of Facebook

2009-02-02T13:25:00.027-05:00

It's funny how the answer to the question "what did you do this weekend?" all of a sudden became rhetorical. Thanks to the ever so popular Facebook, you won't have to ever start a conversation with another human being in real life! Sounds like an infomercial but its a part of the lives of millions.

As some of you know, I deleted my Facebook on September 11, 2008. And no, it wasn't hard, it was easier then pie. And ever since then, life has been fantastic. Facebook has gone way too far then its original purpose. Soon enough there will be no social interactions, but a rather "why didn't you reply on my wall?" I applaud those people who have never been dragged into the network, you're not missing anything. Why would you want to send someone a virtual flower and hide behind a screen?

I understand that Facebook is a good way to keep in touch with your friends, but thats not the negative aspect of it. The fact that people know way too much about your life then they should know, and that even though they're denying it, you know that everyone is nosing around and that someone is stocking you! Facebook is going to cause too much trouble in this world, and in my life, and I do not want to be a part of that. The worlds demise will come down to Barack Obama posting a message on Gordon Browns wall about how to stop Iran. But as all this is going on, Kim Jong-il will read the progress and private message Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to let him know Obama is talking bad about him. Then Ahmadinejad creates a private event called "World War III" and adds his administration. The rest becomes history. If only that Kim Jong-il wasn't so nosey!
But I'm not worried because I know that this Facebook "trend" will eventually die down. Just like the ever so popular Geocities or Myspace, someone will find a more exciting! more amazing! way to keep in touch with your friends! The demise of Facebook will come soon and that will mean people will have to hang out more, call each other more, and poke people in person. Oh the atrocity!

If you want to keep in touch with your friends, I suggest Twitter. Twitter is another social network that is growing fast. You can't stalk anyone, view their pictures, or see who they're in a relationship with. You just post simple messages like "Darn, I wanted the Cardinals to win!" or "Wow I never realized how much Facebook sucked!" Nice and simple. I predict that from this very moment until 2 years from now, Twitter will over take Facebook as the next trend (depending on certain economic conditions, the strength of the Yen, and the overall record of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I'm not quite sure)
Of course there are some upsides to Facebook, but the negative aspects of it overpower everything else. Take it from me, people rely way to much on Facebook, and when you get rid of your account like I did, you will become a better person and more responsible... like remembering birthdays!!!!!

'O Canada' Silenced

2009-01-31T03:48:00.010-05:00

At Belleisle Elementary School in Southern New Brunswick, a daily routine that has grown as part of the everyday Canadian child will have to take a seat in detention. No its not taking the attendence every morning, but rather singing O Canada.

Erik Millett, the Principal at the school said that there were parents who didn't want their children taking part in the daily anthem.

"We try to balance the needs of every student, and we want every student to feel welcome in our school. If we need to make some accommodations or exceptions, then we'll try to put those in place regardless of what the issue is."

Are you kidding me?? With our courageous Canadian troops overseas, with the war in Gaza killing thousands, with all the poverty in the world, why can't we be thankful for how easy we have it here in Canada. How about we deport the principal and the complaining parents to Haiti so they can see how tough it is to live life, then lets see how tough it will be for them to NOT sing O Canada. There's no patriotism anymore. If this school was in the US, the Principal would have been shot already for his decision.

Even if you pay attention to the lyrics of O Canada, how could it be offensive in anyway? Maybe its some atheist parents who don't want their child singing about "God keep our land." When an individual adopts Canada as their country, they adopt the national anthem as well. Who knows whats next? Maybe tomorrow some parent will find the flag offensive because red is the colour of blood. I wouldn't be surprised.

Where's the government now? I'm surprised they have not stepped in already and asked the principal if he's on drugs.

Yes I'm a proud Canadian because I appreciate everything about this great country. My mom would always tell me stories about war sirens back home and how it became a part of their life. Just imagine if Canada was a war torn country, then there might be some appreciation.

The only time Canadians show off their waving red flags and sing O Canada is during the Olympic hockey games. Other than that, there is no patriotism compared to other countries of the world, and the least we can do is have our children sing O Canada every morning. Sadly enough, that's too much for some people.

2009 Budget Supported

2009-01-29T14:02:00.008-05:00

On the brink of a parliamentary non-confidence defeat, the Conservatives have presented a budget that will put Canada back into the red, but this seems to be OK with the Liberals.

Jim Flaherty presented his 2009 budget in parliament that will see the government take a more Keynesian approach to things as they will be spending billions of dollars in new spending. The new spending will range from money for infrastructure projects to aid for worker training and cash for more employment insurance benefits. This budget is expected to be backed by Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal party, but have warned Harper that he is on "probation" for not acting quickly enough in tough economic times. Ignatieff also demanded that the Conservatives would be required to provide three updates over the next year on the economy and the implementation of the budget. As the Liberals support a Conservative budget, Jack Layton lambasted Ignatieff and said he was forming a new coalition with the Conservatives by supporting the budget. The NDP and Bloc are expected to vote against the budget, but will not be enough to defeat it.

The project is suppose to put Canada in a $85 billion deficit up until 2013, when it is expected that Canada will turn around the economy and start a new surplus form that point. The spending will take time to take in effect, which is why the target year is 2013. We need to keep in mind that this economic crisis is global, and as the analysis are predicting a turnaround for the year 2010. At this time, we hope that consumers will get back to their regular spending habits which will put money back into the economy.

"We are ready to lead"

2009-01-21T16:17:00.001-05:00

Just in case you missed it, Barack Obama's speech at the inauguration.

The Day Has Come

2009-01-19T15:03:00.007-05:00

After the most dramatic and historical elections in American history, the day Barack Obama becomes 44th President of the United States is upon us. With over 1 million people expected to watch the inauguration live from Washington, the world cannot wait for Obama to place is right hand on Lincolns bible and take office.

I recently was in Florida for a cruise vacation where Obamamania was felt everywhere. I had Obama conversations with two cab drivers, and two cashiers at a mall in Ft. Lauderdale, where the conversation started with them asking me if I would watch the inauguration. The excitement in these American faces proved to me the new hope in this country. Even in Honduras (one of the ports we stopped in), our waiter was wearing an Obama hat. Internationally, it seems the whole world is looking forward for this inauguration and are feeling a kind of excitement that is being felt in the United States.

Now the time will come where the most popular President-Elect of all time makes history and leads the United States into a new direction. So it begins...

Bush's Iraq Farewell

2008-12-16T00:24:00.003-05:00

The biggest insult in the Arab world is when someone hits you with their shoe. George Bush witnessed this first hand when an Iraqi journalist threw both his shoes at him during a press conference in a surprise visit to Iraq.

The hitting of the shoe is only used for those most hated. Just like when the famous Saddam Hussein statue came down, the first thing Iraqis did was hit it with their shoe.

But you got to give it to the journalist, he had a pretty good throw!

Ted Rogers

2008-12-09T17:04:00.003-05:00

Edward Samuel Rogers Jr, or simply known to us as Ted Rogers, passed away December 2nd, 2008. The President and CEO of Rogers Communications Inc, and owner of the Toronto Blue Jays, Ted was a family man full of ambition. He should not be remembered by the enormous amount of wealth he had made for himself, but rather as one of the greatest philanthropist in Canadian history. He lived his life trying to fulfull his fathers dream. His father died at the age of 38, and wanted to create the greatest communications empire in Canada. Rogers had been suffering from congestive heart failure and his health had weakened in recent years. Ted died in Toronto in his home beside his loved ones. Rogers Communications was established in 1967 and has grown into one of Canada's largest media conglomerates.

Ted lived his life, making risky business decisions that had paid off and created great success for the company. His leadership in wireless technology investments was an unknown path for most people, but Ted led the way and saw what the future had in store. If there is one thing we can learn from the life of Ted Rogers, its to always stay positive in your life and always aim high. From the words of Ted Rogers...

"The best is yet to come"

On The Other Hand...

2008-12-04T18:19:00.005-05:00

So Parliament is prorogued (there's your word of the day) until January 26th, 2009. And on this day, the Conservatives will present their budget.

Man I hope these partisan leaders can get their head put on straight and do what is right for the interest of Canada, not just Quebec (which the Conservatives are claiming about the Bloc). Just like how 3 of the leaders came together to form a coalition, why can't all 4 of the leaders lock themselves in a room until they get a deal done. The main priority is obviously the economy, which is why the whole idea of a coalition government came across. But, I find it very harsh for the 3 musketeers (Dion, Layton, Duceppe) to try to bring down the government on the Conservatives "miss-judge" of the economy, when Canada has the strongest economy out of the G8, created net jobs, and GDP grew 1.3% in the 3rd quarter, all of which, has happened during the worldwide recession. Kind of weird, but you don't hear about the positives in the media, only the negative argument from the 3 musketeers. If you ask me, the proposed $30 Billion that they will inject into the economy would be sure to put Canada into a deficit, something that the Conservatives were being blamed for.

It is sad how the Liberals had to form a deal with the separatists in order to try to get into power. That just shows how bad of a shape they are in, and how the Liberals need to shape up their act in order to change the image of the party. I am sure when the May convention comes and passes, that the new Liberal leader will give them a new life. I sure hope that from the Liberal standpoint, that Bob Rae does not get the position. This man wears his red tie, but he still bleeds orange!

Here We Go Again

2008-12-01T01:20:00.005-05:00

Honestly, when will this ever end? Just 6 weeks after Canadians elected a stronger Conservative Government, the opposition parties are on the verge of bringing down the current Harper Government, and forming their own Coalition Government. This Coalition Government would consist of Liberal and NDP members in the Cabinet and most probably a Liberal Leader as Prime Minister. This would be interesting because the Liberals do not have a true leader at the moment. Stephane Dion announced his resignation as leader after his October election defeat. It going to be entertaining to see who takes over as Prime Minister if this Coalition plan gets implemented.

This is a disaster, and in this time of economic crisis, Canadians want their politicians to get their ass in the House of Commons and move this country forward. What Canada needs is one of two things. First, we have too many parties, one right wing and four left wing parties who have started to abuse the parliamentary system. Canada cannot seem to have a regular democratic 4 year government, but instead having one every 2 years. They simply waste too much time trying to bring down government, and once they do, they waste more time on campaigns. Just like in the US, you have Left and Right, Liberal and Conservative, Democratic and Republican, Right and Wrong, and no matter what, there will always be a majority. Thats what Canada needs, just like the good old Conservative-Liberal battles

Second, bi-partisonship, a word that Canada cannot seem to understand. I'm sure if John Lennon was still alive, he would echo many Canadians such as myself as he sings "all we are saying, is give Parliament a chance." It is time to work together, that goes for all parties, including the Harper Government, who on the threat of losing power, should keep their heads up and see what they can do to keep parliament going. Canadian politics is starting to get boring, and since the October election was called, nothing has been getting done since all parties are worried about is bringing down the government.

Opposition parties need to also understand that a worldwide recession affects everyone, and no matter how hard the Harper government tries to retain it, times are going to be tough. For everyone. Look around the world, not one country is able to tame the economy, and only time is the correct medicine.

No matter what happens, we better not be forced to another election if the Harper Government gets defeated in the non-confidence vote. This is starting to remind me of European politics and their do whatever it takes mentality. I might as well get a couple of buddies together and plan a coup to take over governm... opps! my plan leaked!

The Economic Soap Opera

2008-11-24T23:55:00.004-05:00

People don't realize that we're witnessing history unfold right in front of our eyes every single day. Never in the history of the economy has the world been effected by a downturn that has become literally impossible to predict. Do you remember the time when everyone was complaining about the high gas prices which reached $1.30 a litre? Well yes! That was only a couple months ago! Now we fill up our cars at a regular price as low as $0.70. Also, remember when the price of Oil had reached a record high, flirting around the $100.00 a barrel price? Well yes! That was only a couple of months ago! Its amazing how everything can change so fast. Our Canadian dollar (or economists like to call it "the Petro Dollar") is now around the realistic $0.80 US mark. It seems like where ever gas prices go, high or low, our lovely Loonie is sure to follow (hence "the Petro Dollar"). Oh the great old economy, who needs soap opera when you got banks fighting bankruptcy, and automakers bagging for money as they travel to Washington in their private jets! What's next?!