ten years ago

Ten years ago I was waking up to yet another day of job searching.  I was living in an illegal basement apartment at the time.  Life just seemed hopeless.  I had no job, no money and no job prospects. (Little did I know I would experience this several more times over the course of the next ten years)

I turned on my 13" TV to watch the news just like every other morning.  Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary until I tuned into ABC News.  Peter Jennings was reporting on a hijacked place flying into the World Trade Center.  The tower itself looked like a burning smokestack.  Holy crap.  All the other major networks were reporting the same thing.  Then I watched in horror as another plane hit the other tower on live television.

I spent ten hours in front of the TV that day watching in utter disbelief.  The grounded planes in Newfoundland were a sight to behold.  The thing that struck me the most was the quiet skies.  My apartment was in the flight path of Pearson Airport so I used to hear planes overhead all the time.  On that day the skies were eerily silent.

To this day it all seems odd to me.  Almost 3000 people died for no apparent reason.  They were people from all over working away on a Tuesday morning; some at the water cooler, others at the photocopier, others still in meeting rooms.  In a nanosecond a plane enters where they were working and explodes.  Just like that.

Being the curious person that I am, I wanted to know more.  I read newspapers and watched endless newscasts (even CNN which I despise).  I scoured the Internet for answers.  My burning questions have yet to be answered.  How is it possible that all these planes veered off course and no defensive action was taken?  How is it possible the PENTAGON let this attack happen?  Where's the plane wreckage from the Pentagon crash?  Where's the plane wreckage from the Pennsylvania crash?


Let me be clear.  The loss of life from 9/11 was a tragedy full stop.  No one had to die that day.  NO ONE.  It's just there are things from this event that still raise questions in my mind.  Our lives have been forever changed as a result of that Tuesday morning.  We look at Middle Eastern peoples with fear in our eyes.  We think another attack is imminent.  We look at our neighbour and wonder if they are with "them".  The mere sight of a mosque or Muslims praying generates rage, resentment & fear.  People were selling t-shirts & other patriotic merchandise for profit knowing full well that these items would sell.

Are we fighting terror still or is there something else we need to fight?  I do feel the war on terror ended years ago.  As a human race we don't think of fighting intolerance, ignorance, hatred and injustice.  Gandhi asked all of us to be the change we want to see in the world.  Let's just be just that.

death is all around

Feels like everywhere I turn someone has passed away.  Last night I found out my auntie died of cancer.  Her situation was similar to Jack Layton's - she had breast cancer, recovered after a mastectomy and an identified type of cancer came back.  My auntie was 55 years old.

Being surrounded by death makes me really take stock of my life.  Am I just pissing it away?  Am I taking care of myself?  Am I going to live out my dreams?  The one thing that keeps going around in my head is that life is indeed too short.  We've all heard it before - pursue your dreams, always use the good china, etc etc etc.  I'm here to tell you these just aren't clichés... they're reality.  If there is something in this life that you always wanted to do, ain't no time like this time.  DO IT.

I've decided to live my dream of owning & operation my own business.  I do not belong in the corporate world.  Plus Ethan & I want to secure a prosperous future for our family.  It's insanity to rely on multinationals for this as the economy is so volatile at the moment.  Besides, why work like a dog for someone else?

Life is short.  If you gotta let people in your life go, let them go.  Stay healthy.  Be wary of chemicals in your foods & cosmetics.  Be wary of cancer charities that spend a lot of money on advertising & events - chances are your donation is going to buy t-shirts & ribbons instead of funding actual cancer research.

One more thing, folks - be informed.  Know what's going on around you & how things affect you & your world.  Don't take everything you see & hear at face value.  Engage in meaningful conversation & discussion.  Have an opinion & stick to it with conviction.

Canada is orange... if only for today

Almost a month after the passing of Amy Winehouse, I heard this morning that Jack Layton has passed away at the age of 61 from cancer.  He stepped down temporarily as leader of the NDP to fight cancer in July however cancer got the best of him.  Cancer is so ugly.  But before I tackle that, I gotta say this.

I voted NDP in my riding during the federal election. I wanted Jack Layton to lead this country.  He was a man of the people.  He campaigned tirelessly for the working class people - better jobs, health care, better lives.  I, along with millions of other Canadians, couldn't wait for September to see Jack Layton, as Leader of the Opposition, mess up Stevie H's diabolical plans to paint the country ignant with his right-wing archaic propaganda.  (just sayin')

As I was watching CBC News' coverage of Jack Layton's death, I noticed a significant delay in our PM's response to the passing of the Leader of the Opposition.  Coincidence?  Of course not.  Let me be the first to tell you why there was this delay. When Jack Layton stepped down as NDP leader to recover from cancer, he appointed Nycole Turmel as his temporary replacement.  Did not Stevie H proceed to attack Ms. Turmel because she used to be a member of the Bloc Québecois?   Okay, so that plan seemed to work for awhile.  Not sure why the Tories need to keep up the attack crap when they're guaranteed a job for the next 4 years... who knows.

Let's go back to our sheep.  The Tories are notorious for stirring the political pot.  While their shitstorm on Ms. Turmel goes on, Jack Layton steps down.  The country is immediately sympathetic despite their own political alliances.  Now that Jack Layton is gone, all the attacks on Nycole Turmel look petty and unnecessary.  People who otherwise wouldn't give a second glance or thought to the NDP will now be curious to see what all the fuss is about.  Of course, Stevie H can't speak ill of the dead or he'll be lambasted in the public eye.  Stevie H was sitting with his people trying to figure out how to spin this latest development to the Tories' advantage.  Seems odd that the Tories seem a little uneasy as they're very quick to talk smack about everyone else... relax, people!  You're in till 2015.  Sit back, relax and collect your pay for life.

Now I have to rant about cancer.  Cancer has affected family members and friends of mine over the years.  I've donated to charity groups thinking I'm doing my part but I've stopped doing that.  How could I do such a heinous thing?  Well, I know for a fact some of these charities spend less than half of money raised on cancer research.  Less than HALF.  So where's the rest of the dosh going?  Administration & fundraising events.  Fun runs, t-shirts and TV commercials all take precedence over finding a damn cure. I volunteered for a United Way member agency and what I saw made me sick.  The United Way raises hundreds of millions of dollars yet member agencies have to offer up their firstborn & other essentials for a few crumbs of the pie.  Next time you donate to your favourite charity, do a little digging.  Find out where your money is going.  Don't just do it for the tax break - make a real difference to an organization that can do some real good.

Read Jack Layton's letter to Canadians here.  Let's all continue what Jack Layton started.

uprising and other shenanigans

I'm watching a live feed from the BBC right now as I write this.  After the shooting death of Mark Duggan by police on the weekend, riots broke out in Tottenham.  I must be clear when I say I do not condone violence in any fashion.  Over the last few days, riots have spread into other parts of London and the rest of the UK.  Those riots appear to be copycats yet something tells me otherwise.  I do believe British youth are fed up of being treated like shite by all parts of society.  The British government has announced deep cuts to government-funded services.

I have family & friends in the UK and I hope they are all safe and far away from danger.  To the young people of the UK - read this carefully.  Take notice of the uprising in Egypt.  Young people gathered peacefully to make a stand.  Their voices were heard around the world.  You can do the same.  Destroying your neighbourhood isn't going to cut it.  No one is going to take you seriously if you burn everything down.

Let's move on to something equally disturbing.  Thylane Loubry Blondeau is a 10 year old girl gracing the pages of French Vogue.  The French don't see a problem with it yet on this side of the pond people are losing their minds.  These pictures are indeed disgusting.  Thylane (what a pretty name) is 10.  TEN?!  Where's her childhood?  Does she play on monkey bars with other children?  Did she ever watch 5, rue Sésame?  More fashion houses are using teens to sell clothes to grown-ass women.  Not like I buy designer labels anyway however would the average woman be enticed to buy something modeled by someone less than half their age?  Models are young to begin with but this is ridiculous.  I'm sure perverts everywhere are having a field day.  Yeah, I said it.

Lastly, the USA has averted financial meltdown by increasing their debt ceiling to a bazillion trillion dollars.  Analysts believe an "Armageddon" of sorts has been averted.  Uh... how so?  Plus everyone's freaking out over the credit rating downgrade from AAA to AA+?

How much is a trillion dollars?  This video will tell you.  So here's where my understanding of this debt ceiling jazz gets a little fuzzy.  If you borrow a lot of money to buy unnecessary things, eventually you will have to pay it back.   How is it you can keep borrowing and still maintain an amazing credit rating?  Either you'll have to stop spending needlessly or start paying it back.  I took the decision to declare bankruptcy because no matter what I did I couldn't keep up with my debts.  I still have dopey collection agencies calling me to this day!  I've learned about debt & finances now; I'm proud to say Ethan & I have no debt.  We rent our home and pay cash for the things we need.

** sigh ** Be safe, everyone.  It's scary out there.