Cheese is good!

Review of "The Secret"

2007-05-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

I'm still recovering from my wisdom teeth surgery, so not much intelligent is being created from my brain due to the T3s. However, like probably many of you, I am tired of hearing about this thing called "The Secret." I read this review of it and it demonstrates how it is nothing more than more narcissistic, self-indulgent crap that makes our world worse off. We don't need more people in this world "looking out for #1." Selflessness and self-sacrifice are two virtues which have quickly been disappearing in our world and I believe it coincides with the disappearing ability of people to be civil with complete strangers since nobody trusts anybody and/or nobody believes it is of any benefit to them to pay attention to others, particularly strangers.

Read the review here

Am I the only one who sees something wrong?

2007-04-30T19:54:00.001-07:00

Found this on the Roots Canada webstore. Yeah.

Yes, I dream about the Canucks...

2007-04-21T13:22:00.001-07:00

I am officially a loser. Last night, I kept waking up from a dream that Luongo had seperated his shoulder as a result of a bad bounce on the boards and him diving to stop it. As a result, Dan Cloutier was going to be replacing him in goal (which should've been something that told me in the dream that it wasn't real since he is NEVER going to play for the Canucks again). I even heard Jim Hughson's voice talking about how terrible it was and how Dallas was already looking ahead to the next round.

Nonetheless, I kept having the same dream! =| Hopefully I'm not a prophet....=P

One last thing, this wasn't the only time I've dreamed about the Canucks this week.....

Guns

2007-04-19T19:53:00.000-07:00

Criminals do not obey laws, they are law-breakers. Neither will they obey gun laws.

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!"

2007-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

I watched Passion of the Christ again tonight.
Was the fifth or sixth time I have now.
Was the fifth or sixth time that I have cried three times during it.
That's all I have to say.

I'm tired. I'm not Bigger Than Jesus.

2007-03-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Less than two weeks until classes are over. I'm really looking forward to the summer break. Especially since I made myself promise to not work on my book until my exams are done. It is simply because I need to focus on paper writing and bring my grades up as they have slipped since I've taken on a lot more as far as work, school, volunteering, etc. this year than any other years, so I'd kinda like to finish strong.

I went to a play last night, Bigger Than Jesus. It was what I expected it to be. It was very well done, performed and written. I just completely disagree with the playwright's position/argument and it bothered me. Perhaps the most bothersome line of his to me was "if Christians instead read the New Testament as beautifully inspiring literature than the actual word of God, then the world would be so much better." It bothered me because a) I believe the complete opposite, in that, if Christians, YES! including me, actually lived according to the New Testament as the actual word of God, then the world would be so much better off, and b) it bothers me because it is a poorly thoughtout position. He uses the word "inspiring." If it is simply an "inspiring" piece of literature, what is it to inspire people to do so? What is so inspiring about it if he is suggesting that we aren't actually suppose to believe and say everything that Jesus said and did? It would make more sense if he would have just stated that the world would be better off if Christians viewed the New Testament as "beautiful literature." The use of the word "inspiring" is an attempt to play it safe in my mind, but really, it makes his statement fall in on itself. Furthermore, the playwrights suppose that Jesus didn't die to save humanity since he wasn't the literal son of God (perhaps the figurative son of God. What does that even mean? I'm not sure if he even considered that before he wrote it). If Jesus didn't die as the literal son of God, then his death is nothing more than a shame; it just happened to be a painful way to die. His death ultimately has no purpose if his death doesn't accomplish anything. If he died as just another human being, then why should I even consider following his commands if we are all just going to die and become worms and he isn't who he says he is. Why would I forfeit my life for a cause that wasn't literal, but instead figurative? The New Testament as "beautifully inspiring literature" is a waste of time. One last thing, the New Testament (and particularly the Old Testament, but I won't delve into that since he wasn't talking about that) is not "beautiful." Since when was reading about the persecution of a church beautiful (unless you are some sadistic twit, OR if you actually believe they are dying for something worth dying for)? Since when was reading about a rabbi who made several very absolute statements beautiful (unless you believe his words have power)? Since when was reading about the spread of the Christian faith through the books of Acts and the epistles from Paul, Peter, John, etc. beautiful? (unless of course you think this widespread of the Christian faith is something that was ultimately good for the world. Especially considering that if it is not to be taken literally, why would we want to be reading about this group of people only being deluded and believing in something that isn't what it is made out to be. Is that not something to be sadden about? When people fall into a belief that is a lie?) It is this patronizing crap that bothers me. I would rather be told that I'm full of it than to always have to deal with these challenges and criticisms. It is tiring. I am not a pillar of strength. I am not a source of everflowing energy. They are always the same "arguments" and statements. I am tired.

Sometimes, I feel like Elijah did. Particularly after incident with the prophets of Baal. I'm tired of being told that my beliefs are based on a conspiracy and I'm radical for believing in Christ. I'm not wanting them to stop speaking about their beliefs against my faith, it is their right. They don't need to be censored, the Christian faith has lasted far greater challenges than a play or the Da Vinci Code. It will continue to outlast them. My sanity? That remains to be seen.....

My favourite Italian workbook question and response ever!!

2007-03-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

So I'm completing my Italian workbook for my midterm on Friday (read: studying) and we are covering the conditional and future tenses. So needless to say, hypothetical questions are asked in the workbook and answers are to be provided. My favourite was this one (and I'll include my answer):

"Tu ed un'amica siete in un negozio di abbigliamento. L'amica si sta provando vestiti che le stanno male: minigonne, magliette strette e colori poco eleganti. Ti chiede continuamente: mi sta bene? Come risponderesti? Le diresti la verità?"

TRANSLATION by me: "You and a friend are in a clothing store. The friend tries on clothes that make her look bad: miniskirt and tight t-shirt that are colourful, small and elegant. She looks continously to you: "Is it good?" How would you respond? Would you say the truth to her?

My response: "I diresti a lei che sembrari che una puttana economica di Francia."

TRANSLATION: "I would say to her that she looks like a cheap French whore."

My Book

2007-03-04T21:34:00.000-08:00

My book is officially 50% written. Maybe I should clarify that. When I mean to say is that it has been plotted out in its entirity (sp?). That may not sound like much, but it really is. My outline now runs 80 pages for the ten days that it is suppose to cover in my story. Now this does not mean my book is going to be 1500 pages, cause that'd just be painful. My outline is very thoroughly structured, so it makes the narrative writing process much easier. It allows there to be no more moments of "what should happen?" cause if you have to ask that question while you are writing the narrative, you are in serious doo-doo.

Estimated completion date (not including editing): August 31st, 2007

Nanaimo Radio Stations

2007-02-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

I must tell the truth. I loath, wait, no, I honestly HATE Nanaimo radio stations. They are far worse than anything we get in Vancouver. Maybe Jess or Andrea can attest to this, or maybe they'll even disagree with me, but they are pathetic. At work, we only get Nanaimo radio stations for some reason. Yes, that means no Vancouver radio stations. Something to do with the mountains I believe.

In any event, it is bad enough that they ALL have an 80s Request Lunch Hour and I only work openings which includes the Noon hour. I simply turn off the radio at 12 because I can only take so much 80s music and it is an overload to hear 80s requests for an entire hour. It is even worse when it is the SAME 80s songs being requested over and over again. It agitated me so much today. Perhaps it is largely my fault because I decided to go this entire week without taking my music with me anywhere I go. Yes, that means no iPod use and no taking my 200+ CDs to work. My iPod has not even been used at home. Starting tomorrow afternoon it will have been a full week and I plan to end it there. I miss my iPod. A lot.

Back to what I was saying about Nanaimo radio stations. They are that bad. I hate them. I can't stand them. The DJs are neurotic and find someway to talk about absolutely nothing and make it sound even more boring than "absolutely nothing" was already. The news reader drives me mental, I can't take him. His tone is so random, he emphasizes the most random of words. Think of someone snoring who doesn't even snore in a consistent manner. It is that annoying listen to this guy mumble on. You think I mumble a lot, you haven't heard this guy yet.

Did I mention how bad the music is? It is bad. The commercials are even worse. Remember those radio ads from the 30s, 40s and 50s? These ones are even lamer than those. Imagine this: A fellow "sings" the name "Riverside Mercury" repeatedly for 30 seconds. Yes, I heard it. It was terrible. I wanted to stuff licorise or anything long in my ears to plug them. If I think of any more stupid commercials they've had, I'll post them. Speaking of commercials, they have such long commercial breaks too.

It is pretty pathetic when one lets out a very large sigh of enjoyment when the coverage of the local hockey team's game comes onto the radio since it is more interesting than the music, hosts or commercials. I don't even know anything about the hockey team in Nanaimo other than that they are called the Clippers and they play in the BCHL.

I. Hate. Nanaimo. Radio. Stations.

Hip-Hop

2007-02-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

So I have been checking out various forms of hip-hop lately, trying to keep an open mind about it, so long as it isn't "gangsta-rap." K-os has always been one guy I've enjoyed and he always talks about how hip-hop is being stolen and tarnished. While I do not know exactly who was the possessor of hip-hop beforehand that it has been stolen from, I can say that there is something within me that saddens me about where hip-hop is going. As I said, K-os is one of the good guys in my experience, as is Fort Minor, among others (I realize by only producing these names it only proves my limited exposure to hip-hop as a whole). However, when I venture into other forms of hip-hop, I find much of it so offensive. A large part of it is the constant references to the n-word and the heavy use of "motherf***(er)/(in)." The whole idea of calling your girl your bitch is offensive as well. I checked out one group that was recommended to me as they are apparently a very socially-conscious group, Psycho Realm and I listened to a few of their tracks and while all of them were filled with venaculars and gratitious language, there was one that stuck out. Within the first 30 seconds of the track, I heard the n-word used over 15 times and "motherf***ers" used over 20 times and the two were used in combination with each other.

It is to the point that it angers me because I realize how deragatory of a word the n-word is and I find it offensive when it used as such. However, it is beyond comprehension to me how the African-American community tolerate the comraderic use of the word with each other. I heard that it was used as a word of bounding or something of the sort, but to me, accepting this seems as ludicrious as thinking it normal and acceptable for Germans to call each other Nazis to each other, yet be offended if others call them as such. African-Americans today are not slaves to anyone (although some might argue that they are oppressed still, thus a form of slavery still exists. I'm not arguing for or against that in this blog) just as much as Germans are not Nazis anymore.

It really saddens me how the n-word is thrown around in hip-hop and how it pollutes it. Hip-hop does not need to be denegraded to such crass material.

Vanity Fair Quotes

2007-02-05T08:34:00.001-08:00

As much as I hate this book, Vanity Fair, that I am reading, I finally found a very amusing quote in the book. I have to give a little bit of context first though for it to make sense. Major William Dobbins has just confessed his love for Amelia and that he has always loved her since he first was introduced to him by her husband, Mr. Osburne, who was his best friend (got that?). However, Amelia's husband has since passed away in battle and Amelia says that she is forever in love with Mr. Osburne and is his wife on earth and in heaven. She asks Major William Dobbins to remain her true friend til the end, which he agrees to. Then comes the quote:

"And so William was at liberty to look and long: as the poor boy at school who has no money may sigh after the contents of the tart-woman's tray."

HAHAHAHA.

Weird Postal Regulations

2007-02-03T14:47:00.000-08:00

So I know I haven't posted in awhile and I unfortunately don't have much time to do so just since I'm am so overwhelmed with school, work and life that I barely have any extra time. However, today at work, I was bored and wanted to do something with my "extra time" at work (Why does it always have to be at the places you have little utility to use it?? GRR!!) so I started looking through the Canada Post Postal Regulation binder. This book is well over 700 pages so it must be full of information. Truth of the matter is, it isn't that interesting BUT I did find the postal restrictions for several countries, which was QUITE interesting so I am sharing some of the most interesting ones. This is just scratching the surface as I only looked at the countries beginning with the letters O-Z (NOTE: Some of these aren't completely prohibited from being shipped to the country, but most are. Enjoy!):

Panana:
-Prohibitions prejudicial to political, social or moral order. (What this means, I am not entirely sure but I am guessing no revolutionary material?)

Oman:
-Counterfeit Currency (Ya think?)

Taiwan:
-Asparagus (Can't say I ever liked Asparagus, but it is sad that it is getting picked on)
-Only 2 of any combination of holy books (ie. such as the Bible, Koran, Torah, etc. So you could bring two Bibles, or one Koran and one Torah, etc. I guess it makes sense if they are trying to restrict missionaries coming into the country)
-Only 2 of any religious icons (ie. crucifixes, etc. Again, makes sense if they are trying to do the above)

Sweden:
-Infectious Substances (Don't know why this would be [/end sarcasm]
-Live or dead animals (cause it would be terrible to hear a dog barking inside a box, much less to have a rotting corpse stinking up your mailbox)
-Funeral Urns (guess the postal service wants to keep their buildings from being haunted)
-Illegal Drugs/Narcotics (It is good that someone is standing up to drug lords in the war against drugs. Good on you, Sweden!)

Portugal:
-Toilet Water, no more than 0.25 litres (this was perhaps the most hiliarious one I read. Why would anybody ship toilet water AND why would they restrict it to only 0.25 litres??? hahaha)

Peru:
-Flour and Milk for children or the sick (I guess there is something unethical about helping the sick that I haven't heard yet)
-Map of Peru or neighbouring countries (Why not?? Peruvians must live in mystery about the geography of their country? =P)
-Drinks manufactured under the name of "picoso." (Wonder what the story is here?)
-Playing cards (interesting....)
-Leeches (I would feel safer travelling to Peru knowning that Leeches cannot be mailed there)

Turkey:
-Binoculars (Is this to prevent peeping toms?)
-Flour (I guess to protect the grain industry? Or maybe simply just to starve the already starving?)
-Non-metric measuring apparatuses (way to go, Turkey! Sticking it to the stubborn US like everyone should!)
-Propaganda against Turkey (Makes sense I guess....)
-Shaving brushes from Japan (Uhh....okay?)

Papua New Guinea/South Africa:
-Prison-made goods (maybe they hide razor blades in them? =P)

St. Helena:
-Potatoes (probably another industry question?)

St. Kitts & Nevis:
-Beer (the only sober Caribbean island?)

Russia:
-No more than 1 litre of Vodka (hahahahhahahahahaha. As if they don't already have enough!!)

Tunisia:
-Crayons (Poor children! No crayons! What a deprived childhood!)

Sierra Leone:
-Parasites and destroyers of noxious insects (I understand this, kind of sad that they have to even say it though.)

Singapore:
-Advertisements for lucky charms (not the cereal, but stuff like rabbits feet, etc. Note, it is simply the advertisements for them and not explicitly lucky charms in themselves. I found that amusing)

Spain:
-Religious Relics (Good thing they've put a stop to the relic trading of the middle ages...oh wait, that stopped a long time ago, didn't it?)
-Playing cards (A lot of Spanish/Hispanic countries had restrictions against them for some reason. Anti-gambling?)

Slovakia:
-Hosiery (poor women who have to wear skirts in the cold!)
-Toys (this is just sad....really sad)

Swaizland:
-Bullion (WHAT?!?! No Bullion for their soup???)

Romania:
-No one may be the receiver of more than 25kgs of giftware per year. Special restrictions for the items below:
-Blouses (sweaters only, huh? =P)
-Corsets (this might be a good thing! Promoting non-deformation of Romania women =P)
-Condiments/Seasonings (All food in Romania must be bland. =P)
-Hair clippers (Okay?)
-Prosthetic limbs and trusses (this is just really sad. Are prosthetic limbs really considered "giftware"? I would think they are kinda an essential thing for those needing them?)
-Lipstick (No lucious lips in Romania I guess)
-Underwear (what about long-underwear?)
-Headgear (No braces for Boris!)

Slovenia:
-Drugs and poisons (that is big of them!)
-lithographic copies of plans or maps with scale less than 1:25000 (I'd really like to know what the story or reason behind this is cause I can't think of anything?)
-Contraceptives (this is somewhat of a common one for Eastern Europe and Latin American too)

Zambia:
-Aphrodisiacs and literature relating thereto (I found this quite amusing itself. Does this mean that pornography is perfectly acceptable?)

That is all of the ones I cared to write down. As I said, these just scratch the surface. And yes, I do know that these aren't bans for having the goods produced in the country itself, rather just for import. Still, it makes for quite an amusing list. I hope you found it amusing. Maybe during my next boring store shift, I'll look from A-N. =P

Christina Aguilera is NOT here

2007-01-18T15:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, seriously.....you can all stop coming to my blog to get a glimpse of Christina Aguilera and her saucy body. There is nothing to see here and quit searching for photos that you can oggle of her. Get yourself a real girlfriend and don't resort to the internet. My hit counter is hyper-inflated from the 200+ plus people a day now who come to my blog for a glimpse of her. Makes me seriously consider the financial benefits for putting advertisement on my blog. I could make some money, but I don't because a) ads blow, and b) I don't want you to come to my blog looking for pictures of her, so I'm not going to take advantage of your desparation to see her in all of her being.

By the way, I did a quick check to see how high up I am on the Google Image search for Christina Aguilera photo searches. I am nowhere near the top (VERY far down!), so it just shows how pathetic and desparate you have been searching for the photo of her who was at one time on my blog. Wow.......

KT Tunstall

2007-01-15T08:58:00.000-08:00

So officially, I adore KT Tunstall and her music! Today while at UBC, I nearly started walking to her upbeat driving-beats that accompany each of her songs. So what if her music isn't very "manly" =P

NOTE: My first class in Canadian Drama is starting right now and I'm the only guy...oh wait...the second guy just showed up...

A short rant about Writing

2007-01-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

Whoever still believes in the writing fallacy that you can only write about what you've experienced, please think before making such a stupid assertion. Exhibit A: What is to be said about the many fantasic period piece novels/films and the like? Exhibit B: What is to be said about fantasy literature or film? Exhibit C: What is to be said of the many academic papers and extensive academic research and study carried out by academics, which results in papers, when they often have never experienced poverty (in the case of sociological or economic academic works)?

I state this frustration because I was told by some dummies the other day that I could not write about a certain topic that I had raised some questions about for my book research since I had not experienced it personally. In other words, they had the monopoly on the matter and topic at hand. It's about as stupid as suggesting that I cannot state an opinion about suicide as I have not experienced. Perhaps yes, there are certain situations where experience is required to get a grasp of it, but as a generalization, the statement that you cannot write about what you have not experienced is for half-wits. It is called research and it is a large part of any writing process. Without it, assumptions are merely made endlessly. This rant hasn't made me feel any better by getting this off my chest. GRR!

"Everyone knows how to write your story, but few, if any, know how to write their own." - Anonymous

Writing, Old Age and Experience

2006-12-23T22:49:00.000-08:00

I don't really have anything to say, other than I am not dead. I am still alive.

It would appear that during this restful Christmas break, I have booked far too much. Thus, it is hardly a restful Christmas break, much less a break either, so I shall be calling it merely Christmas.

I'm still working on achieving my deadline for Dec. 31st for my book's structured outline. I will be thrilled to have that done as it'll be the first time I have accomplished such a task with my writing. My next deadline will be Dec. 31st, 2007, which will be for the writing process to be completely finished. After that, I intend to move onto other projects, while passively searching for a publisher. I'm not hugely eager to get this current book published, rather I am more interested in finish the book so as to prove to myself that I can create a complete piece of fiction, thus motivate me to work on other projects that are dear to my heart. Not to say that this one is not, it is just that I have had another project on my mind long before this one that is constantly on my thoughts. In all that can be said, I love writing and I love the creative process. I saw an old man at the mall the other day. He was somewhat hunched over and walking was no simple task for him. He was not aided by a cane, but you could tell from his face that he had lived many years. He looked polite and approachable, but something made me wonder what he did with himself in his old age. I never talked to him, I likely will never see him again. Yet, it made me think of how much I enjoy writing. Old age does not seem like such a dim prospect when I realize that I will be able to continue my writing into those years. Unlike my other hobbies such as hockey, or other ones that involve getting around, my frail legs will not prevent me from writing. Arthritis may take my fingers from writing, but my mind will last. At least until I get Alzheimers since it is in my family background (even though it is not genetic, or hereditary, if you will.

Growing old. Often I see the eldery pass me by and I wonder what great stories they have lived through, what stories they may tell if I ask them. Yet I do not know how to broach such a topic with a complete elderly stranger, let alone where would I begin to ask them about their experiences? I think it is a shame that the young do not learn from the elderly for they know much better than we do, even if they did live in a different era. There is much hardship and shame that the young could be saved from if they had only given ear to the old and wise. But what is to be said of experience? Perhaps it is overembellished. Do we strive to experience so that we may warn others with our new knowledge from the experience, though they do not ask of our experience?

I guess this is one of those blogs where I just write whatever I am thinking as it is processed in my mind.

Again, please note that I don't proof-read or edit my blogs, so it is THAT raw. Yes, you are worthy to read. =P

Weird Dream

2006-12-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I promised myself not to write any blogs or work on my stories or books until after exams, but I have to write about the silliest dream I had last night (all be it briefly):

I was at the UN and some position, I guess, at some meeting. I was suppose to meet with the leaders of Cuba (Fidel Castro), Venezula (Hugo Chavez), Palestine (for some reason Yassar Arafat was still alive and he was the leader), China (Hu Jintao), North Korea (Kim Jong-Il), Iran (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad). First of all, it is crazy that they were all in the same place and meeting with me. There was a photo-op for the group of us and I was to shake each of their hands. I shook Castro's hands and he looked half-dead and about to bite the dust. Hugo Chavez, at the meeting was 5'0" or below (I don't think he is that short), so I appeared quite tall compared to him. When I shook his hand, he had the face of stone (not literally, but he had no expression on his face). Then I shook Hu Jintao's hand and he had a huge grin on his face. Then I came to Jong-Il and he immediately turned his back to the cameras and refused photos or to shake my hand and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad followed suit when he saw that Jong-Il did and the photographers all gasped as the two leaders didn't say anything. Then I woke up.

Why did I write about this dream? Because it was so crazy and I have no idea why I'd be dreaming about meeting with these leaders who I don't particularly appreciate. I'm not suggesting there is some silly "prophecy" in this, although it would be QUITE amusing to hear some person go on-and-on about what every little thing about my dream supposedly means. That would be quite a chuckle.

I. Am. Weird.

Thoughts for the Day of November 29th, 2006

2006-11-29T21:49:00.000-08:00

-Expect long delays when relying on public transportation for getting where you need to go. Instead of the usual 2 buses and the 1.5 hour trip that it normally takes me to make it to UBC, it instead took me 5 buses and was a 2 hour trip to get to UBC. It was great fun. I began on the 257, then jumped on the 254, then the 22, then the 4 and then the 44. It was so great. Quite an adventure.

-When there are big winds and snow coming down, expect buses to be very late. Case in point: Joel saw 10 #41 buses drive past him at UBC, while he waited for his one and only #44 bus to pick him up to take him home. However, when it finally came, it came with two other #44 buses. Not going to lie to you, it was pretty great when it finally came.

-To the _______ who is determined to be a ________ to the bus driver and tells her to hurry up when she is trying to figure out how she is to proceed, please do not ever ride the bus again. Your mood is a cancer to the rest of us and you in your impatience to get to your next stop is not appreciated. No one cares about how much of a hurry you are in, we are all wanting to get to where we want to go. Do us all a favour, take a car to where you have to go. We'd rather have you pollute than ride with us. Come to think of it, you are already doing a fine job at that. =P

-The Subway employees at the Horseshoe Bay location were pretty great to me. I was standing outside in the windy, cold snow for my father to pick me up to go home and they came out, seeing that I was freezing, asked me if I wanted to wait inside even though they had closed about an hour ago. I appreciated it. =)

-Dads are great. Not simply because mine picked me up in the terrible weather of today, but I would like to highlight this. He picked me up in the truck from Horseshoe Bay. =) While I waited for him though, I wrote "Jesus" in the snow, while then shifting my attention to writing, "Body Piercing Saved My Life" in the snow. It was epic. =D

-The Bus drivers will be recieving, or more correctly one bus driver to represent them all, a thank-you letter on Friday when I am commute to school. Although many people are whining, complaining, and swearing to the bus drivers, they deserve a pat on the back for their efforts to get around in the terrible snow. All the while, they handle the abuse from the bus passengers, the terrible drivers who think they can drive in the snow when really, their current driving suggests that they probably couldn't navigate a toy car on the pavement. Translink bus drivers, you are great. I appreciate you and I am thankful for all you do. Even if it takes me a little longer to get from A to B, I know you are working hard. Thank you. =)

-U2's new song, The Saints are Coming, featuring Green Day, is really quite epic. I've listened to the song over 75 times since Friday morning. It is a great song and it has inspired me with some new ideas for one of my stories that I am working on (that story, however, will not be finished for several years, so ye shall have to wait ye lil' heart).

-The book I've been working on since April of this year (2006) is still progressing along. Throughout Sept. - Oct., admittedly, I did not get much done do to the adjustment to UBC and the course work, but the recent power outages have done wonders for me and allowed me to put a lot of focused time into it. I hope to have the thorough outline of the book finished by the end of December (and NOT on Jan. 1st, 2007).

Putting the Fear of God into Cats is Job #1

2006-11-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

So for the past month, this cat of my neighbour's has been coming to our door and meowing endlessly. Didn't bother me, in fact, my little sister paid attention to it. Unfortunately, that is where the trouble began. It came back again and again and now feels like it is welcome here. A couple of weeks ago, it soon became very clear that it was NOT welcome here. My mother was walking in the door and this cat, seemingly from nowhere, darts into the house before my mother closes the door. It runs upstairs and into the kitchen and sees the food of my cat, Julian. He starts munching on it and Julian shows up (Julian is a very passive indoor cat, never really goes outside). The neighbour's cat hisses at him and half-way jumps at him to scare him away from the food. Julian wasn't aggressive, but he walked right up to his food and the neighbour's cat starts to claw Julian after jumping him. I'm upstairs and hearing loud meowing and such. My father fearlessly grabbed the neighbour's cat after Julian became terrified and ran upstairs. Julian was breathing heavily and hid, meanwhile, my father put the neighbour's cat outside. I felt so sorry for Julian and I no longer liked the neighbour's cat.

Advance forward a week, the power JUST came back on after being out for so long, so my father let Julian outside since he had been in darkness for so long without the power. I'm just sitting in the den upstairs on the computer, keeping an ear for Julian when he wants to come back in. Suddenly, I hear REALLY loud meowing and what I would call a cat version of yelping and screaming. I immediately knew what it was (for some reason I didn't suspect it was a wild animal getting Julian). I ran to the sliding glass door, thinking, "that cat is gunna be hurtin' when I'm done with it" I come outside and find Julian squished into the corner between our house and a planter as the neighbour's cat is seeminly mercilessly taking swip after swip at my Cat. I run right at him, he doesn't notice me. I thought of giving the neighbour's cat a massive kick, but I restrained myself. I didn't want to kill it, even if it was the Spawn of Satan. Instead, I gave it a huge smack, which caused it to jump back, while Julian immediately took advantage of and darted away and ran down the hillside. The neighbour's cat, however, stood there, looking at me as if saying with it's face, "I know you aren't going to do anything now that your cat is safe" and looking all innocent. Keep in mind, I was ready to protect my cat even if the other cat tried to claw me so my adrenaline was running. I immediately thought, "I'll teach you to come around here again." I grabbed the hose and hosed down the neighbour's cat, MUCH to its shock. It was soaked. It didn't come back the next day, or the next day, or the next day, it was finally like a week before it did. And when it did stand by the sliding glass door meowing, I took my socks off, bundled them together and threw it at the window and scared him away.

The amusing thing is that somebody put a collar on the car with a little plastic pouch taped to the collar which read, "if this is your cat, please do not let it outside. It won't stop meowing." So clearly, somebody else realizes that this cat has worn out it's welcome.

I end this post with a disclaimed. I do not abuse animals, I merely protect those animals that I love from animals which do not act loving to my animals. If you want to hurt my animals and you are an animal, you can be expecting some form of response from me and my household. Even if my cat is a lazy, out-of-shape-blob and can't defend itself. Let all cats be warned. I'm ready to put the fear of God into you as well! Even you, Spawn of Satan!

POWER is on!!

2006-11-20T18:40:00.000-08:00

Before I forget, I just wanted to tell a little story.

This afternoon/evening, as I was riding the bus home on the Sea to Sky Highway, I was paying careful attention to see if any of the street lights closer to my hometown were on. As we got very close to Lions Bay, the street lights were off and in my mind, I was thinking, "God, I don't know how much more I can take of this." The song had just finished on my iPod and I was looking for a song to play when I came across Matt Redman and decided to play one of my favourite songs, "Blessed Be Your Name." I saw the song name and was reminded of the refrain and some of the verses:

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

And then, there was a particular line:

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Anyway, before the song had even started, I realized that my attitude was wrong and I was thankful that I at least have clean water and don't have to boil it on the stove. I choose to bless God's name and be thankful. So as the song is playing, we pull into the Bus Stop and I see the Bus Stop light is on (hasn't been on since the power went out) and I quickly realized that the POWER WAS ON!!! I was so excited!

I listened to the song as I walked home and I had goose-bumps the entire time, just cause it seemed really cool to me. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but it still was interesting how it transpired.

Thanks, God.

Evacuation of all of Lions Bay?

2006-11-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

Contrary to media reports, Lions Bay is not being evacuated. There was a region (not my own) that evacuation was about to take place, I was all ready to help go door to door with ESS to help tell people they had to leave, but it was cancelled at the last minute as we were about to head out.

I'm fine, we still have no power though (not since Wednesday morning) and we're not likely to get it until the VERY EARLIEST Sunday at 8PM, or Monday.

Unlike the rest of Vancouver, however, we are not under the boil water advisory since we have our own water supply, so that is a relief.

We're not looking forward to the upcoming storm on Sunday as it won't help the potential landslides that are being consider from all the rain. Several of my friends and neighbours have had trees crash through their houses to varying degrees of damage, but we've managed to escape it thus far.

Whether or not you believe in God, it's be nice if you could pray for us and other Lions Bayers. =) Even if you hate the "concept" of God, it'd still be appreciated. =)

Thanks so much and to those who checked up on me! It made me feel loved! =)

-Joel Bain

Closing Thoughts By Ten Napel

2006-11-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

(HT/Ten Napel): Ten Napel's very interesting closing thoughts to his blog.

Look throughout the universe for an answer to all matter unravelling into chaos and you will find deeper chaos. Using Hubble we first got a glimpse of the expanding universe and it became clear to everyone with a brain that we had a beginning...things were tighter a second ago than they are now even on a universal scale. Crippled by science and lack of vision, we are misinformed into thinking that progress and order comes naturally. We try to fight the shedding of a mortal coil by stealing the life of another human in the embryonic stage. We have eternity in our hearts and want to live forever so my cells will take the cells of some other dummy...as long as nobody takes mine, who cares?

"We need a solution. We need salvation. Let's send some people to the moon to gather information." - Larry Norman

Our attempts to prop up the universe to squeeze a few more days out are noble efforts but are just a Band-Aid. Science is just a half-assed Christ hoping to dole out life to the begging masses for a few bucks. Knowing most 75 year olds why in the hell should we live longer? We're set in our ways by 30 and have few epiphanies after that. Mankind doesn't need a face lift, he needs a heart transplant, a brain transplant and a mind transplant. That's where God comes in.

Jesus is not a half-assed Christ. He didn't offer us crap plus one. He isn't here to socially improve the world. He didn't come here to make me quit smoking. The statement Christ makes with his life is radical...he died at 33. He could have rejected the cross, doomed mankind and been within his rights but running from suffering to persue narcissistic comfort isn't one of his character traits, they are ours'. The human condition was cast in stone when Adam fell from paradise. Call it a myth or allegory but it describes man's condition well.

"Born already ruined,
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb." - Dylan

If by one man all mankind was killed then by another he would be saved. The molecules, the dirt, the pornographers, the maggot would go into the grave and a new perfect being comes out of the Sheol. Matter cannot be fixed by the natural. This is like the physician who performs heart surgery on himself or the universe creating itself. It's impossible. Only the Author can perform the re-write from outside the material, the fictional characters can't manipulate the pages that house them.

Creation, the fall, death by chaos, redemption. This is the pattern of the seasons. The passion play that every parent who reproduces than dies acts out. Now excuse me while I refill my coffee cup and write another comic book.

Ignore the last post about Flour

2006-11-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

I'm an idiot.
It should be obvious that I wrote the previous post after waking up for a 6AM shift. I'm so stupid, because "Flour" and "neighbour" have a different sound before the "r" thus demonstrating a necessity, in the American's spelling. Although, phenetically (sp?) the best spelling does seem to be "flower," while maybe we should go for "nayber" for the people who live next door. =P
-Joel

Work Story (involving Canadian and American spelling!)

2006-10-31T16:49:00.000-08:00

So as I was sitting on a milk crate today at about 6:45AM, waiting for the opening of the cafe at 7AM, I was munching on some toast with Peanut Butter on it as I had finished getting ready for customers so I was taking some time to wake up and have breakfast. I was staring at two buckets that are filled with substances that we use for baking. One of them is sugar and I'll leave the other's name untitled. As I stared at the names, I was doing the usual thing with my mind where I look for any similarities between the words. Yes, I'm weird, but this is where I had a revelation!

I have many relatives in the US of A and for some reason, I get teased about "how crazy you Canadians are" for putting a "u" in words such as (in the American form), "color," "neighbor," "harbor," and "labor." Personally, I find the spelling of "labor" to just look back, while I do prefer the look visually of the spelling of "color" and "harbor," but with "neighbor," I just think it looks dumb. So now that I have established that context, here is my revelation. When my American relatives criticise me for putting a "u" in those words, they really are full of it. Here is why: There is a white baking ingredient that all Americans consume (so long as they are not gluten-intolerant). Have you guessed what it is yet? If you have, how is it spelt? It certainly is NOT spelt "flor." What is a "flor?" I don't know, but I do know that it is spelt "flour" in Canada AND America! HA! Take that you self-righteous, American relatives!

PS. I still love you guys....

Birthday and Hockey Memories

2006-10-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday and as usual, whether I want to or not, I usually have thoughts about where I have come in my life thus far. Last year, I believe I was rather disappointed in myself as I hit the double decade mark feeling like I hadn't achieved much success in life. This year, however, I care little of worldly success. It doesn't interest me, being famous isn't something I am going to strive for and neither is great wealth. I use to also say that just so long as I can provide for myself, I'll be happy. I'm not even so sure that is necessary anymore. I was thinking about my writing and I think it reflects it. I want to write books and stories, not for the money or the possible fame, I just want to write stories because I love creating stories and telling them. Stories are an amazing medium with which to pass something onto someone else.

On a different note, I was watching the Edmonton Oilers and the Detriot Red Wings hockey game on Saturday night as I was tired from writing a paper. I saw Ethan Moreau sacrificially block a shot from the point. It brought back a lot of memories from my days of playing hockey. I felt like writing about them on my blog. The memory that it brought back the most was from my second year of hockey, we were down 3-2 to Hollyburn Country Club (we were the West Vancouver Thunder) and there was less than a minute in the game, so we were getting desparate. I played the left wing in all of my years in hockey (except for one when I asked to spend a year on defence), so I was by the point covering one of the defencemen as the puck was in our zone. I skated back into our zone a bit to follow the play and the puck came to the defencemen that I was suppose to be covering, I skated out to him quickly as he wound up for a slapshot. I dropped to my knees and got in front of the shot and blocked it (it hit my hockey pants) and the puck when out of our zone and the defencemen was caught offguard. I got up quickly and had a breakaway, but I saw the defencemen was catching up to me. My teammate Devon had caught up and I shuffled it off to him and he went in alone and took the shot. We didn't score, we didn't tie the game, instead we lost. So why did I have memories of it? I was 9 years old and kids blocking shots was unheard of then apparently (perhaps because we had never been taught how to do it properly, so it could've been dangerous). After Devon took the shot, the game was practically over and I skated to the bench and my coach grabbed me and shouted at me in admiration “where did you learn to do that?” I told him that I saw it in the NHL and tried it out of desparation. He said he was impressed by the “selfless act” especially since I gave up my breakaway for Devon to take the shot. Devon came back to the bench and said it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen. When we got back to the changeroom, everyone was talking about my blocked shot and going on about how “fearless” I was and I took one for the team (think of any hockey cliche that involves someone being selfless and it was said to me that day). I felt very proud that day. I was recognized and it felt good.

Another memory I had was when we were playing against Hollyburn Country Club again, same year. There was a guy named King on the other team who everyone on our team seemed to hate. He was one of the tallest and biggest players in the league. He threw his weight around and was physically dominant on the ice. It was a similiar situation to the last game, in that, it was the last few minutes of the game, but this time we were tied. We were in their zone trying to get the go-ahead goal, when a bad pass or something sent the puck out of our zone and the puck drifted to centre ice. Now, one of my only great skills in hockey that year was my speed. All I ever seemed to be good at in hockey was my quick skating and my passing ability. I couldn't hit the broad size of a barn with my shot, I think it had something to do with the pressure. In any event, King had made it to the puck before I did and had a breakaway. I skated after him and left my teams and opponents behinds with the exception of King who continued to skate in. Another thing you need to realize is that although I was one of the fastest skaters in the league, I was also one of the shortest. I did have my growth spurt until I was 15. So physically, I was mismatched with King. He was much taller than I was and much bigger. He crossed the blueline and I realized that I wouldn't be able to stop him from getting a shot, so I simply gave him a bear-hug from behind and pulled him down and we went crashing into the boards and our goalie stopped the loose puck. I had technically “saved the game” as my coach said, but I got called for a penalty. And what is worse is that it was my first ever penalty. And honestly, I've heard from other people as well, when you get your first penalty, it is a big deal emotionally. You are being punished for doing something wrong and inappropriate. You feel guilty, especially when you know you did something “illegal” in hockey. I started to cry when I was in the penalty box (and at Hollyburn Country club, the penalty box is right beside your own bench). My coach asked me what was wrong and wanting to appear tough, I said that I hurt myself when I crashed into the boards, but I said I'd be fine. The truth was, emotionally, I was upset about getting my first ever penalty. One other thing, as I had skated towards the penalty box, the referee said to me “get in the box, ya goon” (sounding eerily-like a line from the Mighty Ducks 2). In my six years of hockey, I got six penalties, so you should see the amusement of me being called a “goon” especially since I'm not very good at being mean. It was from here that I got the nickname “hockey goon” as my Uncle terry got word of gentle ole' Joel getting a penalty and heard what the referee said, so he began to refer to me as “hockey goon.” When people hear of that nickname, usually it is met with laughter.

Another memory I have is when we were playing one of the many North Vancouver teams. There was always so many of them. For some reason or rather, this one team in particular team had two massive players and it was my last year of hockey (which was also the first year that body-checking was allowed for my age group). I was 14 I believe that year, so I was still only 5'0” and one of the big guys was probably about 5'8” already, but he was rather wide, thus he was probably 220-230lbs. It wasn't muscle, it was probably largely fat. The other big guy was at least 6'0” He was insanely tall and he was well-built for being 14 (this kid no doubt had more growing to do. Wouldn't be surprised if he was 6'7” by now), probably was 170-180lbs already. On top of their massive size, we quickly learned that both of these big guys loved to throw around their weight. Remember, I was only 5'0” and one of the shortest players in the league. I had a couple of shifts and witnessed each of these guys level several of my teammates each, although they had not hit me yet since I didn't have the puck much. The big guys were also on the same line and they always seemed to be out against my line, which was the top line. I wasn't on it because I was any good, rather I was there to even out the lines since the other two guys on my line were really talent. Great, huh? I skated back to the bench after our shift and regained my breath. I was not eager to go out again. I didn't want to get slaughtered and I was positive that my time to get leveled was coming. When it came time for my line to go out, my coach hollered “change them up” (calling for a line change) and I shouted while still on the bench “no! Keep them out there!” and they stayed out there. A couple of minutes later, the period ended and the coach was giving us a talk about our effort and he made the comment, “I thought it was a great sign of maturity when I heard one of you guys recognizing that the guys were playing well and told them to stay on, thats a big step for this team.” I couldn't help but laugh cause when I said what I said, I couldn't have cared less about how the guys were playing, I just didn't want to go out there. This memory doesn't end there, however, as in the third period I was on the ice again. I had retrieved the puck along the boards and I was by myself in my zone. I saw the big chubby guy skating after me. He wasn't interested in the puck, he was definately skating hard to level me with a massive hit. I panicked and wanted to scream, so what did I do? As he came close to me, I simply flopped and fell to the ice, cause him to trip over me and fell to the ice and into the boards. I lost the puck in the process, but at least he didn't get it and I prevented myself from probably being slaughtered with an open ice hit. Who knows, maybe I saved myself from yet another concussion. Yup, I was a big chicken, but at least I had my health. Screw taking one for the team.

There was another game in my last year where five of my teammates were thrown out for fighting, which was not tolerated. It was punishable with a one game suspension by the league as well. Needless to say, we were short for the rest of the game and the next game. My team that year was very rough and rowdy. I don't suppose I could forget the negative memories that I have associated with hockey. My coach, always had a habit of giving the Captaincy to the leading scorer of our team. The thing is, the leading scorer was always the leading scorer because he wouldn't let anyone else have the puck. I remember one year in a tournament in Seattle, I had a breakaway with the leading scorer, I had the puck. Realizing that I had a terrible shot, I passed the puck to him to take the shot since I thought the goalie had committed to me. He shot but missed the net. When we got back to the bench, he shouted at me and demanded to know why I had passed him the puck. It bothered me because I knew that if I hadn't, he would've been demanding as to why I had not passed him the puck. I knew I wouldn't be able to win in his books. Unfortunately, since he was the best at scoring, I was always on his line and he had been the receipient of many of my passes which turned into goals.

My love for hockey was destroyed in my last year of hockey. Near the start of the year, I missed a Sunday game because of church and from then on, my teammates were relentless in making fun of my faith. I remember even being asked if I sacrificed cheese at church. What that was suppose to mean, I have no idea. It seemed really dumb to me, but everyone else found it funny. I was the butt of many jokes and my faith was continually made fun of. On the ice, no one seemed to treat me with much of any respect. In some sense, I can understand why because I didn't command any respect. I didn't stand up for myself. I guess I had hoped that if I ignored them enough, they'd get bored of it and move on. They didn't, they kept it up. I remember as a 14-year old, crying as I went to sleep after a game thinking of Christ's commands to pray for those who persecute you. I feel silly calling it “persecution,” but in reality, it hurt and at the time, it certainly felt like persecution. Several times, I fell asleep in tears as I prayed for my teammates, not only that they would stop, but also trying to pray for the best for them in spite of how they treated to me. It was one of the hardest things to do and I didn't see any “fruit” from it. Nothing seemed to have come of it and it felt as though my prayers were unanswered. I am not bitter towards God whatsoever though. I can look back at that time of my life and realize how important it was to my life. It was formative in many aspects and it wouldn't be until I started working with a guy named Danny that I would finally learn to stand up for myself in a good way. =)

Me after the conclusion of probably my 3rd year of hockey

What was Hitler?

2006-10-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

Several times in different courses in university and college, I've had a professor state that Adolf Hitler was a Christian. I thought I would post some of the common quotes that make people believe this and then some other quotes of what Hitler said about Christianity. Do what you will with them (please note that these quotes have been borrowed from several websites and that it doesn't take a genius to research and find some quotes about the matter. I do not pretend that this is the result of hours of faithful research. If that were the case, I'd be a pretty terrible researcher =P):

For Hitler being a Christian:

"The national government will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built up. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality and the family as the basis of national life."

-The Speeches of Adolph Hitler, 1922-1939, Vol. 1, pp. 369-72 (London: Oxford University Press, 1942; 1969 edition)

"Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord."

-Mein Kampf

"My feeling as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded only by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God's truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter.
In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders. How terrific was his fight against the Jewish poison.
Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before the fact that it was for this that He had to shed his blood upon the Cross.
As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice ...
And if there is anything which could demonstrate that we are acting rightly, it is the distress that daily grows. For as a Christian I have also a duty to my own people. And when I look on my people I see them work and work and toil and labor, and at the end of the week they have only for their wages wretchedness and misery.
When I go out in the morning and see these men standing in their queues and look into their pinched faces, then I believe I would be no Christian, but a very devil, if I felt no pity for them, if I did not, as did our Lord two thousand years ago, turn against those by whom today this poor people are plundered and exploited."

-Hitler, April 12th, 1922

For Hitler not being a Christian:

"The reason why the ancient world was so pure, light and serene was that it knew nothing of the two great scourges: the pox and Christianity."

-Hitler, 1941

"Our epoch in the next 200 years will certainly see the end of the disease of Christianity.... My regret will have been that I couldn't... behold."

-Hitler, 1942

"National Socialism and religion cannot exist together....
"The heaviest blow that ever struck humanity was the coming of Christianity. Bolshevism is Christianity's illegitimate child. Both are inventions of the Jew. The deliberate lie in the matter of religion was introduced into the world by Christianity....
"Let it not be said that Christianity brought man the life of the soul, for that evolution was in the natural order of things."

-Hitler, July 11th-12th, 1941 (pages 6-7)

"Christianity is a rebellion against natural law, a protest against nature. Taken to its logical extreme, Christianity would mean the systematic cultivation of the human failure."

-Hitler, October 10th, 1941 (page 43)

""The best thing is to let Christianity die a natural death.... When understanding of the universe has become widespread... Christian doctrine will be convicted of absurdity.... "
"Christianity has reached the peak of absurdity.... And that's why someday its structure will collapse.... "
"...the only way to get rid of Christianity is to allow it to die little by little.... "
"Christianity the liar.... "
"We'll see to it that the Churches cannot spread abroad teachings in conflict with the interests of the State."

-Hitler, October 14th, 1941 (pages 49-52)

"Originally, Christianity was merely an incarnation of Bolshevism, the destroyer.... "
"The decisive falsification of Jesus' doctrine was the work of St.Paul. He gave himself to this work... for the purposes of personal exploitation.... "
"Didn't the world see, carried on right into the Middle Ages, the same old system of martyrs, tortures, faggots? Of old, it was in the name of Christianity. Today, it's in the name of Bolshevism. Yesterday the instigator was Saul: the instigator today, Mardochai. Saul was changed into St.Paul, and Mardochai into Karl Marx. By exterminating this pest, we shall do humanity a service of which our soldiers can have no idea."

-Hitler, October 21st, 1941 (pages 63-65)

""Christianity is an invention of sick brains: one could imagine nothing more senseless, nor any more indecent way of turning the idea of the Godhead into a mockery.... .... "
"When all is said, we have no reason to wish that the Italians and Spaniards should free themselves from the drug of Christianity. Let's be the only people who are immunised against the disease."

-Hitler, December 13th, 1941 (pages 118-119)

"Kerrl, with noblest of intentions, wanted to attempt a synthesis between National Socialism and Christianity. I don't believe the thing's possible, and I see the obstacle in Christianity itself.... "
"Pure Christianity-- the Christianity of the catacombs-- is concerned with translating Christian doctrine into facts. It leads quite simply to the annihilation of mankind. It is merely whole-hearted Bolshevism, under a tinsel of metaphysics."

-Hitler, December 14th, 1941 (pages 119-120)

"There is something very unhealthy about Christianity."

-Hitler, April 9th, 1942 (pages 339)

"It would always be disagreeable for me to go down to posterity as a man who made concessions in this field. I realize that man, in his imperfection, can commit innumerable errors-- but to devote myself deliberately to errors, that is something I cannot do. I shall never come personally to terms with the Christian lie."

" -Hitler, February 27th, 1942 (page 278)

Sermon on the Mount

2006-10-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians." -Mahatma Gandhi

I've been reading a lot lately of Dietrich Bonhoeffer again as he is one of my Christian heroes. His book "The Cost of Discipleship" is particularly challenging, not in the sense that it is a hard read, rather it is convicting to read it. Bonhoeffer's thoughts what it means to be a follower of Christ, and also on the Sermon on the Mount, are amazing and very logical. One of Bonhoeffer's close friends, Jean Lesarre, was influential in encouraging Bonhoeffer to take a more thorough look at the Sermon on the Mount and take what Christ says very seriously. On the bus ride home, I read it again and felt convicted about many areas in my life that I don't add up and quite honestly, I don't feel worthy of calling myself a "Christian." What is a Christian? Logically, I would assume most simplistically, it is someone who lives according to the commands of Christ, or to be a Christian implies to be like Christ.

What perhaps this more difficult to think about is the fact that from age 6 until 11, my parents and I worked at memorizing Matthew 5-7, nearly all of the Sermon on the Mount. You could've asked me what Matthew 6:11 said exactly and I'd have an answer. Yet, did I ever really take his words seriously?

The most challenging section of the sermon for me is Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV):

You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

This goes against everything inside me as a human being. If you kick my butt, there is nothing inside me that is naturally going to decide that I should line up my head next so you can kick it (yes, this is rather extreme). I was having a discussion with a Somali Muslim fellow who made the accusation that the "Christian world," which he labelled the Western world, had a violent history. I contended to him that humanity as a whole had a violent history. The two most deadly conflicts in world history had nothing to do with Christianity, Islam or any other world religion, which were the Great War and World War 2. Before I get on a huge tangent, this Somali Muslim person I was talking to had stated that the Muslim world, unlike the Christian world, did not have a violent history. That point matters little to my post, but he then referenced several verses from the Qu'ran:

"To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to defend themselves), because they are wronged - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful to give them victory - (they are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right - (for no cause) except that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah'..." (22:39-40)

He, then commented,

Allah, The Almighty, permits fighting to defend the religion of Islam and the Muslims. This permission includes fighting in self-defense and for the protection of family and property. The early Muslims fought many battles against their enemies under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or his representatives. For example, when the pagans of Quraysh (An Arab tribe) brought armies against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Muslims fought to defend their faith and community.

He, further continued to quote these verses from the Qu'ran,

The Qur'an adds:

"Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress limits. Lo! Allah loves not aggressors. ...And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah. But if they desist, then let there be no hostility except against transgressors." (2:190, 193)

He, then concluded this point by saying,

How can defending yourself, family, property and religion be considered as "violence"?

In response to him, I began to say that I thought it was entirely moral and justified for someone to act in self-defence, when suddenly, something in my mind made me think twice. Please, do not think I state what has been previously stated as a comparison or a "holier than thou" post about Christianity compared to Islam. Rather, this is merely me seriously considering the statements of Christ on the Sermon on the Mount. It was here that I realized that defending yourself, family, property and even your religion IS violence. As a human, though it is violence, I feel it is justified, yet when I considered the statements made by Christ, I am in a conflict. Do I accept what Christ has stated and reject my own selfish justification of defending that which is mine and dear to me. Often, I read the words of Christ and I'm thinking in my mind, "God doesn't expect me to be unreasonable, he knows what it is like to be a human." Yes, he does know what it is like to be a human, yet he still lived by the commands that he made for those who follow him.

There is something else I want to consider about this violence issue. Wes Campbell (I mentioned him earlier), the President of Compassion International, was speaking at Creation Fest when I went. He grew up as a Missionary's kid in Africa in his youth. He has been to Africa MANY times and he shared the story of when he was in Somalia most recently and he got a chance to talk to a Christian man there. He had been condemned to be electricuted by the town elders for leaving Islam. However, each time he was taken to the chair (three times total I believe), the electricity never came through. The town elders could not figure it out and out of frustration, they simply banished him from the town and forbade him from ever returning. Since he lived outside the town, survival for this man was very difficult and most of the time he was starving and struggled to provide food for himself. Yet his Christian community tried to care for him. They held meetings every night since they only had one Bible in the community. In fear of losing the Bible, they tore every page out of it and distributed them to each member of the Christian community so that each may memorize it should the Bible ever be taken from them by the town elders. Wes Campbell mentioned how hearing the story made him weep. He then mentioned to the man that we, in the Western world, have it so easy. The answer Wes Campbell got from the man challenged him deeply, as it has me since I heard Wes Campbell re-tell it. The man replied, that it certainly was not the case. He stated that though us Christians in the western world have been blessed with many provisions and possessions, we never have the time to be still and pray. Though we have automobiles to get to church as frequent as we could want, most only meet once a week on Sunday mornings to be in fellowship with each other, let alone worship God. Though we have so much, we can't find it in ourselves to help the poor among us that are homeless. The Somali Christian man concluding by stating that he and his Christian brothers and sisters, they only way they could survive was through trusting in Christ to provide for them until the day He calls them home, while we in the Western world get along without God. What challenged me further was the fact that the Somali Christian man stated that everyday they pray for their Christian brother and sisters in the West. This is partly why I think it is entirely wrong to refer to the Western world as the "Christian world" as I don't feel we represent much of anything of what it means to be Christian, I look at my own life as an example of such. In many ways, I understand why this Somali Christian man said what he did about Christians in the Western world. I have the ability in the Western world to completely ignore God, or at the very least, relegate him to the one time of the day that I'm bored, or have nothing better to do. However, this Somali Christian man, his only hope is Christ and thus that is what his entire life is about. As best as I can tell, my life is about finishing university, getting a job to support myself, getting married and attempting to make some difference, while this man's life is about following the commands of Christ, even if it leads to his death by the hands of the town's elders who reject him as an apostate for turing from Islam to Christ.

One last thing I have been considering. I have long been someone who supports the "War on Terror" in defence of our beliefs and liberties in the Western World. I believed that it was right for us to go to war to protect our freedoms, whether it be our freedom to choose our religion, freedom to assemble, freedom to dissent, freedom of speech, and all of the other freedoms we hold dear. I believe all of these things are good things and if I were to make my own society, I would include them in my society's list of freedoms. However, something I have been considering if as a Christian, is it entirely right for me to support going to war against my enemy to protect my freedoms?

Let me quote the passage from the Sermon on the Mount about our enemies for this post, Matthew 5:43-47 (NIV),

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This passage makes me very uncomfortable. Technically speaking, Islamic Extremists are my "enemy" because they are trying to bring down the Western world from it's place of power and thus establish itself in its place instead. Yet, how do I reconcile this? I believe very firmly in the freedom of religion, speech and so forth, yet Christ calls me to love my enemy. How can I love my enemy if I take up a rifle against him? Am I loving my enemy if I am praying for him one moment and then hunting him the next? I feel as though my eager defence of my Western values and freedoms is in actuality out of comfort. I want to defend myself and others from Islamic Extremists because I view them as a threat to my lifestyle. Yet, Christ never calls those who might follow him to do so for the prospect of having an easier or more comfortable life. Am I so afraid of persecution, though it is said by Christ to be something to rejoice in, that I would rather take up the rifle against my enemy to protect him from persecuting me in the future? Let's not be naive, if Islamic Extremist were responsible for the fall of the American "superpower," so to speak, it is safe to say that they will want the spread of Allah's word across the world. These are Islamic Extremists who would fly airplanes into buildings filled with civilians, they are most certainly not peace-loving hippies. This topic of loving your enemy, while going to war against him is something Bonhoeffer even struggled with in his early youth when his eldest brother, Walter, was in the Germany army against the British and the French in the Great War. I know there is the temptation to simply state that I must be practical in reading Christ's words, but Christ was not a practical man. Doug Ten Napel once said,

I admit I have huge beefs with what I understand about God...but I'm also logically clear as to what my position is in our relationship. Further, it would be incredibly suspect if Christianity just so happened to match my prefered order of morality. It doesn't, atheism is FAR more "my way" and this is part of what brings so much crediblity to the Christian world view...I would never make a system like Christianity up and that's in its favor.

Following Christ is not an easy choice. I wonder if perhaps when I make the decision to follow Christ if I do so without enough consideration to what I am committing to. Loving my enemy might be one of the greatest challenges for me. This requires me to love the customer who comes in just after opening and orders ten pizzas and then gets very snotty when I show my surprise and then refuses to leave any tip. This means loving the bum who smells like he spent the last week in the dump, even if he takes up more than his half of the seat on the bus. It means loving the bum who is sitting at the intersection of Burrard and Georgia asking for spare change to buy a burger, smokes, alcohol or even some hard-drug.

Reading about Bonhoeffer's comments on the Sermon on the Mount are extremely challenging. I'll admit, I often want to put his book down when I read it. How much more I'd rather glance over the Sermon on the Mount itself and not take to heart its words. Bonhoeffer was killed by the personal order of Hitler for his actions in not only freeing many Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust, but also eventually for being a part of a plot to assassinate Hitler himself. This latter fact is something that may make for a conflicting read about Bonhoeffer's comments about the Sermon on the Mount. If you want to read how he came to doing so, I'd highly recommend reading the publication of his Letters and Papers from Prison that he wrote while in prison previous to his execution. I do not have the letter right here in front of me, but it was to the extent that he had prepared himself spiritually for the fact that God might judge him for working to murder Hitler. Furthermore, Bonhoeffer had this to say in his essay, Die Kirche vor der Judenfrag (1933) ,

The church has an unconditional obligation to the victims of any ordering of society, even if they do not belong to the Christian community. 'Do good to all men.' In both of these courses of action, the church serves the free state in its free way, and at times when laws are changed the church may in no way withdraw itself from these two tasks. The third possibility is not just to bandage the victims under the wheel, but to put a spoke in the wheel itself.

The sumation of the matter is that Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a conflicted man. He was constantly wrestling with the place of the church and the Christian in a world that brought itself closer and closer to being a "religionless society" in which man got on without God.

In conclusion, do I really have a conclusion? No, I do not. This journey of following Christ's commands has just begun with a new challenge. I realize some reading this blog will probably think this is a rather quote, "religious" post, perhaps more than what they are comfortable with. The truth of the matter is that I am being entirely honest about my thoughts here and this is what is going through my head. I thought I would post what is perhaps Bonhoeffer's most quoted comment on what it means to follow Christ. It is from perhaps his most powerful work, The Cost of Discipleship,

When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die

Update on the Life of Joel

2006-10-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted much lately. I've been honestly overwhelmed by trying to keep up with my two language courses (there is also another two courses, but they aren't a heavy load). I'm taking Italian and I'm also taking Old English (which seems more like Germanic-Latin than it does English, so essentially, it can be quite confusing). It is a good challenge for me cause I've never really felt challenged in high school or college (with the exception of one calculus course), although it isn't a challenge because it is UBC...it is a challenge because I picked two language courses for a semester. It is good preparation for next year when I'll be continuing Italian and then taking on Arabic. Old English is done for me after this semester. It just gets kinda confusing since I'm learning the basic vocabulary and grammar for two languages at once. For example, I had exams one week apart from the two and I was asked on my Italian quiz about the verb "to sing," and I had to think for a minute if it was "galan" (Old English) or "cantare" (Italian) and the only way I was able to figure it out was because of the verb ending of -are to cantare. All Old English verbs end in -an in the infinitive, so I was able to figure it out once I realized it was a lot simpler in the end.

That's one of the crazy things about this year. I had made it to third-year university without ever having to know what a verb, noun, adjective, or much of any other grammatical term. I was curious to see if I could graduate without knowing, but no, since I have to take languages, I couldn't. It isn't like I had never been told what a verb, noun or adjective was. I had been told many, many, many times what they were, I just never cared or bothered to remember, yet I continually pumped out A and A+ papers in college. I also found out that there are tons of people who don't even know what verbs and nouns are, so I wasn't alone. Also, as I take these two language courses, I realize more and more how funny of a language English is. Just the various idioms and how one word in English often means two things, sometimes even three or four different things.

I went to a party-mixer last night (yes, this is a blog of random thoughts since I haven't posted in awhile) at my friend's house. His name is Trent and it was really cool because there was lots of people from Pacific Academy (my high school) that I hadn't even seen since grad. By the way, Trent was from Pacific Academy too, hence how I know him. I have had a chance to reconnect with some at UBC, but I got to talk to some of them in more in depth at the mixer. I must admit, I am somewhat surprised that some people even remembered me. I was once told that I had an "unmemorable face," what that means exactly, I don't know. Perhaps I should've felt totally insulted, but I still haven't figured out what that means. Do I look like everybody else? I don't know. In any event, I couldn't help but wonder what memories people had associated with me since some of the people, I never even spoke to them in high school, yet when I saw them and talked to them, they knew I was Joel. Sometimes I think it would be fascinating to have, for one day, the ability to read people's minds. I don't say that out of any sort of insecurity, rather simply out of curiousity. I've been considering writing a book about it sometime in the future (after my current writing projects of course), though I realize it has been given various treatments or perspectives on it. I think it would be quite interesting to explore that possibility. I digree though, the party was really great. Maybe the reason why people remembered me even though I never spoke to them was for the fact that I got up and spoke in front of assembly once or twice. I never really thought my talk was that memorable other than for the fact that I happened to make people laugh (not at me, but with my jokes apparently...at least I hope so =P). I don't know, it was something I was thinking about.

Politically speaking, I kinda miss not having any political science courses this term or next term. Maybe it is a good break for my mind. Although, maybe it isn't a break. I say that because I feel somewhat that my mind is changing politically, or at least there is great potential that it will change. I'm not changing in the sense of "from right to left" or anything like that. On a side note, I look at the political situation in the States and I just find it's current state depressing. I use to really enjoy reading and observing US politics and use to think it would be really great to have our representation in the same manner, but it has changed a LOT in the last six years. Now, with the current state in the US Politics, I am glad we have the Canadian system because there seems to be a balance to it. Say what you will about the Conservatives, but they are getting things done and the Canadian political process hasn't been reduced to ad hominem attacks. I don't know if that is simply because the Liberals are in the process of finding a new leader and don't have a single voice to represent the party. I hope it doesn't become a political bloodbath when they find a new leader. In conclusion to this thought, I'll leave a cliffhanger by not saying how my political mind might be changing. I might post in the future to resolve this cliffhanger.

I'm tired of hearing about George W. Bush in class. I really am. He has his failings and at the beginning of his presidency he didn't seem to be able to speak clearly or correctly (although it is interesting to note if you watch his debates and speeches when he was running for Texas governor, or once he was governor, he didn't have trouble speaking or appearing intelligent. I have no idea what happened when he went onto run for the US Presidency. Check out his debates, it'll be very weird to see, I promise). In any event, even if his position on going to war against Iraq is "idiotic" or is some evidence of "luancy," I'm tired of hearing about how he is a moron, idiot, blabber-mouth, monkey, Satan, Hitler, a dictator, a tyrant, etc. I was never a fan of Paul Martin as PM of Canada, I disagreed with his policy and such, but never did I imagine him to be an idiot or lacking in the head-department. Paul Martin's political beliefs are his and even if I completely disagreed with him, it does not suggest any "idiotic nature" about him. Perhaps people think since someone else's political views are irrational to them that it justifies the accusation of the person holding the opposite view politically as being an "idiot." The bottomline is this: people seem to think and feel that if they can have something to say about Bush, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and co. that it somehow makes them sound smart politically and up to the times politically. The truth of the matter is, they aren't. Many, not all, are simply parroting what their best friend said or stated, perhaps in the form of a joke, or perheps even in a serious moment. If you hate Bush's policies then tackle them and argue them. If you don't think it will do anything then you are the death of democracy. Not the person you disagree with, you. If you can't care enough to be politically involved to make the change that you want to see, you are far too apathetic about it. I was thinking about it today and really, apathy is the death of democracy. I only found out later that Robert M. Hutchins said something similar to that, except he said it perhaps a little more interesting: "The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment." Calling Bush or any of his other cronies idiots (or any other ad hominem, or personal attack) amounts to nothing more than political masturbation. Why? Because nothing is really accomplished by it, it just makes the person saying them feel good. I never learned anything from someone who told me "Bush is an idiot," the only people who ever challenged my beliefs are the ones who gave me reasons and an argument as to why they think he is wrong. People think my generation is more politically active than other past generations during the "young adult stage" when I think that is just wrong. My generation has simply been unified by a hatred for Bush and Co. but few really know why they hate him, rather they just know that they hate him and they hate the Iraq war. I don't write this in hopes of people changing their political views, I just wish people were smarter politically if they were going to open their mouth and pretend to talk politics. I know many people, even some of my friends, think that they have the right to speak out politically even if they don't vote or don't do anything about what they see that is wrong. Sure, you have the right to do so, but it doesn't make your voice or opinion relevent simply because you have a right to say it. Don't masterbate politically. Just don't. Don't waste my time or your time. Back yourself and do something about that which you want to see changed. I know there is a great cliche sentence from someone with the last name Gandhi, but I shall refer from using it in attempts to not be entirely cliche.

Okay, wow. I really need to go study my Italian. Got a test on Wednesday! wOOt! =P

PS. I've been considering committing to write at least one blog post a day. What about? I don't know, whatever comes to mind. I have been slow about posting and I feel like my writing and my mind is getting a little weaker as a result of it. *le sigh*. Mostly I was inspired by Doug Ten Napel posting every day even though he is WAY busier than I am (heck, he has three kids and a fourth one coming!!)
PSS. One last thing. On my site-meter, I have found out that most of the visitors to my blog have come for one of four reasons: 1) Christina Aguliera since I wrote about her on my blog, so people searching for her finding my post about her; 2) To read my rebuttal/response to Scott Holleran who wrote an unfavourable and, in my opinion, overly poisonous review of Chronicles of Narnia by refering to it as a "Christian tract," since I found out that my rebuttal/response has been listed on Wikipedia. Click on link 2 on the Wikipedia page to see for yourself. I swear I had nothing to do with it, but I was quite flattered to see that there. With that said, it could disappear anyday; 3) Emma Hansen, a model with Liz Bell Modelling Agency who I had mentioned in one of my posts nearly two years ago as a result of a conversation I had with Liz Bell herself; and finally, 4) People searching on Google for a picture of a person wearing an Orange Tie....because I posted a picture of myself wearing an Orange Tie. Weird. I get like 200 hits a week and have over 8,600 now I believe. Maybe I should tap some advertising revenue and support my tuition! =P NO! I don't want to be a sell-out, haha. =P

Random Acts of Kindness

2006-09-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

“If only the world would more loving and giving, imagine what it could be.”

Perhaps you are familiar with sayings, declarations or comments of the above quote. I know I am, I keep hearing in classes in university. It's as if those saying it still have their blissful utopianism/idealist thinking with them. I wish I did. Since I don't, I've been doing some thinking. I'm tired of wishing the world would be more loving and more giving. So instead of hoping everyone takes action, I'm not going to worry about whether or not everyone else is doing their part and instead focus on being giving and in a sense “loving,” though what I've decided to do really isn't something that huge. I don't really want to go into detail about it on here as I don't want to “toot my own horn.”
My decision was inspired by thought and discussion at Ekklesia (sorry if I spelt that wrong, Jaki!). Though I don't think like the Beatles and believe that “all you need is love,” I do believe that the world could certainly use some. It is a self-righteous waste of time if I see what is wrong in society and criticize society for allowing it, unless I actually try to do something about it. To do what I want to do, I face obstacles that have seem to have slowly been concreted into the social mindset of people. I may get laughed at, I may be thought of as weird, a freak, or even “not all there.” However, I am reassured by the realization that no great, memorable change in society was accomplished because someone decided to go with the flow and do what was normal. I don't pretend to be a social revolutionary, cause I'm not. In some ways, you could say that this is a social experiment. It could fail, or it could be quite beneficial and give me many insights in how to be more giving and loving.
Today on the bus home from school, I was sitting down the bus was rather full. I was in a nice comfortable seat when a girl carrying some books (but not that many) walked to my end of the book and stood there, holding onto the rail. She wasn't old, frail, ill or anything like that; she was completely healthy. She was my age, yet I felt a tugging inside to give her my seat. It wasn't motivated by any guy-like hope to get her phone number, rather I just sort felt inside, perhaps my conscience, saying “if you're going to do that, just start now.” I hesitated for so long, in part because I was in the middle of writing a postcard to a friend, but also because I was nervous about how my actions would received. But why should I have been? It really is quite silly and feels almost juvenile that I was worried actions would be interpreted. It may have something to do with the fact that some people. I can recall many times in the past when I tried to do something nice for someone and it was rejected. I can't recall any by anything I tried to do for guys, but instead by girls. Sure, some of them were probably feminazi-like and thought I was implying they were weak and helpless (so not the case!), (ie. I hold the door open for her, or stop and let her go first, only to be given a dirty-look and be told sternly, “no!” No joke.) Or there are also those who resisted because they thought I may have some ulterior motives, as if I was from a cult and trying to recruit members, or just being a typical guy trying to get a her phone number. Am I unreasonable to be hesitant to be giving again with my past experiences? I don't know. In the end, I finally bite the bullet and tapped the girl on her arm and asked her if she wanted my seat, as I stood up. She said she was fine, but I moved out of the seat and out of the way to get to it and she finally took it. In an effort to make sure that the assumption wasn't made that I was trying to get in her pants, I walked forward in the bus to what may have been out of hearing range from each other. Also, I don't want to be giving and loving for the “thank yous.” If I'm going to do this, it can't be for the praise of men and women. I want to strictly do this for other people's benefit and not my own. With that said, as I stood further ahead in the bus, near the closest exit of the bus, I thought that a good indication of how she interpretted my actions would be if she said anything as she past to get off the bus, if she got off before me. I started trying to think about other things and not dwell on what had happened. Thirty minutes past when I felt a tap or bump on my arm. She was getting off and she said “thank you again for giving up your seat,” and I simply said you're welcome and she got off. I'll probably never see her again, but as small as what it was that happened, I feel like it is the beginning of something. It encouraged me since I was finally able to go against my inhibitions and do something I wouldn't normally think of doing.
What I am hoping to do involves me being very intentional about being giving and loving to complete strangers. Trying to make a connection with someone you haven't had the time to establish some commonality with can be quite intimidating. I am a quiet, yet outgoing person, but I still find it is a challenge. It is one that I will begin next week at school. I'll keep you updated in very vague terms so as to not “toot my own hour,” but rather to possibly encourage others to start something of their own so we can be brave together. =P
PS. I couldn't think of anywhere to say this in the blog, even though it has a lot to do with what I just wrote about. I also hear people say “this world doesn't know how to be giving.” That may be true, but that is only half of the problem. This world doesn't know how to recieve. In my own experience, I question people's motives when they are kind to me. That is just completely and entirely wrong on my own part and I need to change that. I'll start with myself.

Building A New Face

2006-09-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

I was watching a program tonight on TLC, it was called "Building A New Face." It was about a precious little girl named Juliana Wetmore. She was three-years old and was a perfect normal little girl with one exception. She had severe facial deformations. She was born without much of a jaw, her ears were down by where her jaw would normally be, her eyes essentially bulged out of where her sockets were. They looked as if they were hanging in skin sacks. She breathed through tubes place in what amounted to her nasal airways. Her tongue was constantly out as there was no upper lip for her to seal over the bottom lip that has a very little jaw which barely stuck out.

I'll admit, my initial thought was, "God, how can you let that happen to a child?" However, I immediately thought, how dare I imply that God does not care for this child, or as if there was some sort of "malicious" intent behind the condition that this child had. I was reminded of the passage in Mark where the people were bringing the little children to him:

Mark 10:13-14, 16 (NIV)

(13) People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
(14) When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these..."
(16) And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

The part that I thought of initially was the section where Mark states that Jesus became indignant. Now why did he become indignant at the disciples? Was it because he wanted the attenion? No. Rather, it seems clear that it was for his care and love for the children. I remember hearing the President of Compassion International, Wes Campbell (I believe that was his name) speak at Creation Fest (Compassion International is a similiar organization to Worldvision) and he spoke of this passage and he stated that too often we read the line about Jesus becoming indignant as nothing more than something of like "hey guys, do ya mind?" When in reality, as Campbell said, the word used in the Greek, I believe it was, was the same word used for the response to Jesus when he flipped the tables in the temple and chased out the vendors who defiled the temple by making it into a marketplace. He was angry. So where am I going with this? Well, I don't understand what reason there could be for this child, Juliana, being born with such facial deformities, I really don't. I may never know. Is God unjust for allowing it to happen? No.

God cares about Juliana far greater than I would have the capacity to do so. He promises to be "a father to the fatherless..." (Psalms 68:5). There are many more passages in the Bible about God's care for the desperate, poor and needy in the world, but I have a pounding headache from my cold (yes, I'm sick) and have had trouble even writing this entry. I wanted to write something about this.

I suppose there is something else I want to say quickly. This is my blog. Why do I write in my blog? My blog serves this purpose: To be an avenue for me to flesh out my thoughts, on whatever matter, so that in the future, I can re-read about my thoughts from various times of my life (started it in December of 2004 I believe?). I have comments because sometimes I like feedback about my thoughts and experiences. You're welcome to share your thoughts/comments on my thoughts, but don't jump to the conclusion that since I have the comment that it is there to debate with you. State your opinion, I will consider it. I may even think of a response to it, but I may not even post that.

PSS. I don't even really know what is accomplished by this post and if it is even worth letting anyone reading it. This is a selfish post in that I wrote it because I wanted to be reminded of Juliana so that I can pray for her as she and her family go through with the process of trying to bring Juliana to being accepted by society and helping her get the surgeries she needs to be a functioning and happy little girl. If you feel led to, pray for her. =)

UPDATE: If you'd like to read about her successes as she continues to grow, check out the website that her family has made to update everyone on her progress.

UPDATE #2: I had forgotten to mention something earlier in the blog post. Juliana has an older sister, Kendra. She is five years old and the way that she loves her little sister was amazing. She treats her little sister, Juliana, as if she was just like her. She loves her so much and the way she interacted with her little sister was so pure. Juliana's parents are amazing in the care and love they give to her. I just wanted to touch on that.

Debate

2006-09-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

"The purpose of debate is not to be a battleground of wit, reason and eloquence, rather it is to take part in a process to determine what is the truth in the matter in question. Any other purpose or agenda added to a debate will merely reduce the 'debate' into a battle of which party has the more pompous ego." - Anonymous

Brad Pitt speaks out on Freedom to Marry

2006-09-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

(HT/ Doug Ten Napel) I grabbed this from Doug Ten Napel cause I found it somewhat amusing.

Brad Pitt recently stated in his interview in Esquire magazine, to hit newsstands on Sept. 19th,

"Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able."

A true social activist:

§ 1. Man forbidden to marry relatives

A man shall not marry his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, father's sister or mother's sister. (Amended 1975, No. 28, § 1.)

Source

One commenter on Doug Ten Napel's blog stated,

"So is Brad going to hold out until he can have a couple of more wives at the same time? Maybe they both want to wait until Angie can marry her brother and Brad at the same time?"

While another commenter on Doug Ten Napel's blog stated,

"I always thought it was difficult enough to be married to one woman"

To which Ten Napel responded,

"Brad thought this too."

I don't really think of Brad Pitt as model for how to have a healthy committed marriage, keeping in mind his past disregard for his commitment to Jennifer. I don't know the whole story and if there was legitimate reasons for him wanting to leave Jennifer, but she seemed like a nice enough girl. Oh well.

The Irony of the Fallout from Pope Benedict XVI's comments

2006-09-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the Pope said. "He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'"

The pontiff quoted Manuel's argument that spreading the faith through violence is unreasonable, adding: "Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul."

Muslims around the world are insensed by the Pope's comments and the implication that Islam is a religion spread and defended by violence, yet they express their anger through issuing death threats, buying books that fictionally discusses a possible assassination of Pope Benedict XVI in Turkey (which is a best-seller in Turkey right now), by burning effigies of the Pope. Am I the only one who doesn't see this irony: If you accuse us of being violent, we will kill you, burn your embassies, and attack people from your country.”

"Religion is to be defend not by putting to death, but by dying...if you wish to defend religion by bloodshed, and by tortures, and by guilt, it will no longer be defended by will be polluted and profaned." - Lactantius

All Pope Benedict XVI needs to say is: "Prove me wrong."

Loose Change Filmmakers = Holocaust Deniers

2006-09-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

There I said it. Yesterday at UBC, some fellow was handing out single sheet papers to students eating lunch, I was sitting with my friends and we took them. It was "The Truth about 9/11," a conspiracy theory about what happened on 9/11. And they picked September 11th, 2006 to hand them out. Classy. After realizing what I had taken, I tore it up and commented to my friends that they need not waste time reading the garbage they had been handed.

I had watched Loose Change several months ago at the encouragement of a friend of mine and the film bothered me. I cannot go into a complete arguement about the entire matter as the film is just too long (80 minutes, I believe?) and it asks far too many questions that it does not bother to try to answer (on par with Michael Moore filmmaking, only do enough research to ask question, but not enough to resolve those questions with an answer and make people doubt when you have no reasonable hypothesis or answer to those questions). I wrote a semi-extended response on the matter awhile ago, but cannot find it. If I do, I'll post it. I digress though.

What is the purpose of Loose Change? Well, the filmmakers would likely say that it is encourage people to ask questions of what really happened that day. That is the "safe" answer, but what is evident to me and likely most others who have viewed the film and realizes that it falls short is this: they hope to implicate the US government, or specific agencies within the government, in a plan to create the "War on Terror." Michael Moore in "Fahrenheit 9/11" even dances with this suggestion, but will not come out and just state it plainly. Simply put, this would amount to a form of treason.

Am I simply an arrogant, perhaps ignorant (according to the filmmakers) Conservative guy who would rather trust evidence that has been provided than believe that 9/11 was an "inside job" due to the unanswered questions presented by several fellows who certainly do not amount to experts in any of the fields of which they ask questions. Sorry, I choose to remember 9/11 as a malicious attack against citizens of over 40 different countries by a terrorist organization, Al-Qaeda, that calls itself a "...radical Sunni Muslim umbrella organization established to recruit young Muslims into the Afghani Mujahideen and is aimed to establish Islamist states throughout the world, overthrow un-Islamic regimes, expel US soldiers and Western influence from the Gulf, and capture Jerusalem as a Muslim city."

To watch an enjoyable dismantling of Loose Change by the Editors of Popular Mechanics, click on the links below for the 10-minute segments of the program.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

"We fully support asking questions and being skeptical, but if you are going to ask questions, you are going to have to look for the answers and when you get answers, you can't ignore them." - James Meigs, Editor of "Debunking 9/11 Myths"

UPDATE: The friendly people at Loose Change decided to delete the video of their debate with the editors of Popular Mechanics from YouTube (I had originally linked to the Loose Change copies of the videos), perhaps because they realized that they were schooled in the debate, maybe not. In any event, I updated the links and they are fed through another YouTube user who decided to post the video segments.

Religion

2006-09-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

"Religion is to be defended not by putting to death but by dying, not by cruelty but by patient endurance, not by guilt but by good faith: for the former belong to evils, but the latter to goods, and it is necessary for that which is good to have place in religion and not that which is evil. If you wish to defend religion by bloodshed, and by tortures, and by guilt, it will no longer be defended but will be polluted and profaned." -Lactantius, early Christian writer (c. 240AD - c. 320AD), written in his work, Institutes.

The World Is But A Sail.

2006-09-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

"The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects it to change, the realist adjusts the sails." -William Arthur Ward

Thoughts for Today

2006-08-31T22:37:00.000-07:00

-iPods were created so that it is easier for us all to avoid eye-contact, or any level of contact with fellow humans.
-SUB POINT to iPods: iPods work wonders in stopping annoying employees if you need help since they know you won't be able to hear them. Either that or they tried to and I just didn't hear them. Take your pick.

-The HMV staff at the Park Royal location on the evening of August 31st, 2006 are totally rad. Soooo helpful. Honestly, the staff at HMW Park Royal have always been awesome. Other HMV locations, they really stink. At Park Royal, they actually know their music and give a darn about it. I wanted the new Fort Minor CD, but none were on the shelf, so the guy looked up on his computer about it found some, but when he looked in the back, he couldn't find any. So he said to give him a few minutes to look for them. So I just snooped at some other CDs and he brought out five copies of Fort Minor's CD after about six minutes or so, each about $19.99. However, he wasn't done there. While I was snooping at some Linkin Park and Sam Roberts stuff, he came back later and said he managed to find a Special Edition of the Fort Minor CD which had a DVD with it AND three bonus songs not on the other one AND for only $16.99. How stinkin' awesome is that? I wanted to leave him a tip or something, but HMV doesn't do tips. I'll definately go back. I also bought both of Sam Robert's CDs. Great shopping =D

-Hi! My name is Joel and I have a problem. I'm a Music-aholic. For real. I buy way too much music. I bought two albums on eBay this month (Mat Kearney's Nothing Left To Lose, The Bravery's self-titled album) and now, as I mentioned about, Fort Minor's The Rising Tied, Sam Robert's We Were All Born In A Flame, and Sam Robert's Chemical City), bringing my CD shopping total for this month to...$50. Last month, it was about $60 I believe. Then I also spend like $13-14 on iTunes buying single songs. I've got a problem. I need help.

-Future Shop stinks bum.

-I'm missing the Youth from Youth Group a lot. I thought I would be fine while they are all having a blast at Youth Camp, but truth be told, I'm missing them. I thought I had accepted it awhile ago that I wasn't going and that it was going to be fine, but I miss them lots. I'm praying for them though, cause that's all I can do. =)

-I am extremely excited about UBC this fall. So excited.

I wish...

2006-08-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

I wish I was at Youth Camp with the kids from Youth Group. That's all.

Being a Sleezebag Versus Being a Polygomist

2006-08-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

Please permit me to write will probably amount to many of you thinking I'm crazy, but.....

If it has become "socially acceptable" in our society for guys to be sleezebags and sleep around with as many women as they can convince to go down with them, then why does our society look down on polygamy?

I should start strongly that I disagree with polygamy, I think it's nasty and gross, but I also think it's gross when guys sleep around with as many "sexual partners" as possible. Is the only reason why we view Polygamy as a society as bad is because it's mostly ugly, old men who are found to be doing it and that they are "marrying" young girls? Because the difference between the sleezebags and the polygomist seems to be, at a very basic level, one is giving some level of "commitment" to provide for the girl, while the other is using the girl merely for the sexual experience and gratification.

Would it be more "socially acceptable" if the polygomist stuck to brides their again and it was only younger fellows who "married" the younger girls? I doubt it.

People say the girls who are being apparently, happily married off to these nasty old men are being brainwashed. They aren't the only ones.

Adventures with Joel.....at work, Part 4

2006-08-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

Today at work, it was an early morning for me, 6AM again. I've had a long, rather tiring eight days in a row and I'm anxious for my day off on Wednesday. All in all, I was tired, but still in a good mood.

A lady came into work and ordered a tea. I asked her which one she wanted and after she took several minutes to decide from our 15+ teas, she decided on one and handed me the tea bag. I took it and then asked her which size she would like. Now, it is useful to know that it is a pet peeve of mine and many other coffee shop employees when a customer does not say which size of a drink they would like. Truth be told, among other coffee employees I've polled, it ranges from 65-80% of customers not specifying which size they want. It drives me nuts, whenever I order something, I naturally specify which size I want, usually because I get the cheapest size. Maybe it's just cause I'm a cheapskate. In any event, it bugs me to no end when a customer says, "I want a Latte" and I wait for several seconds for them to tell me which size. I, then, realize that no such specification is coming so then I ask them which size they want. Sometimes it gets worse, sometimes it is over quickly. Now back to this situation of today. So she handed me the tea bag, whichever one it was and I asked her what size she wanted since she didn't say. Her response: "Regular."

In that instant, it was like all of my past-frustrations from my previously mentioned pet-peeve had come to head, yet amazingly, I held in all of the nasty things I thought to say. I didn't even say anything to her, I wasn't even going to tell her that we had no "regular" size and I wasn't even going to ask her to clarify which she wanted, she was getting Medium whether she wanted it or not. No "ifs, "ands," or "buts" about it. I held it in.

30 minutes later, however, I quickly realized that my experience with her was not finished. She came back to the counter, AGAIN, 30 minutes later, and said, "your hot water isn't very hot." Now there are two scenarios here.

Scenario #1:

"Your hot water isn't very hot," says the female customer.
"Oh, it isn't?" I say apologetically, "would you like me to fill it up with hot water, or warm it up for you?"
"Why yes, thank you, you are a doll, aren't you?"
"No, it's all part of doing my job to make you the customer happy and want to come back here again and again...and again...and again."

Scenario #2:

"Your hot water isn't very hot," says the female customer.
"It's basic chemistry, genius. Hot water cools down to, or near, room temperature after 30 minutes," I say, releasing all of my frustrations on this single customer.
"Excuse me?" responds the customer quite surprised and offended.
"You heard me, pop-tart," I say as I turn and walk away from the customer, about ready to let out a pleasured scream.
-----------------

I suppose it is somewhat obvious which scenario actually played out.

McDonald's is the DEVIL

2006-08-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

So I was with my youth group, the one I volunteer at, with the youth, on the way up to Youth Camp. As normal, we stopped at McDonald's for dinner. I stared at the menu for a LONG time, just trying to think of something I could eat and not being 125% ashamed of myself for later. In the end, I decided upon Apple Slices (Yes, I asked for them, not expecting the world of them) and I decided to be a loser and order a Small Chocolate milkshake.

So I open the Apple Slices and take a bite and notice that the Apples don't exactly taste fresh, yet they still have really good colour. Thinking it'd be amusing to see what they put for the ingredients, I looked. First was Apples. Second was calcium ascorbate, which is "a blend of calcium and vitamin C added to maintain natural color," as read on the package. It left me wondering, how long does it actually maintain the colour and exactly how old were my Apple slices? They certaining didn't taste freshly cut, which should've been evident by the fact that they were sealed in a plastic package. Lovely. I paid 99cents for old apple slices. I should've bought an apple from the supermarket down the road.

As for the Small Chocolate Milkshake, that was the Spawn of Satan himself. I took a sip and was disappointed that it didn't taste like Chocolate Ice Cream. However, my disappointment grew as I quickly notice a burning sensation down my throat. Almost like Cajun or something, but no, it was more than likely just excessive amounts of sugar and Chicken feather stems (true story! I'll tell you about it sometime). Me, being the sometimes less than bright fellow I am, I figured, well, they always say consume a dairy product to stop the burn from Cajun, so I kept drinking and it kept getting worse and worse (go figure, huh?) Finally, I had gotten to about 1/3rd left when I finally threw the thing away. My throat was burning for the next 30 minutes, no joke.

So in conclusion, maybe McDonald's isn't the Devil, maybe I'm just an idiot. 'Nuff said.

Work Adventures with Joel, Pt. 3

2006-08-22T15:19:00.000-07:00

This morning at about 730AM, I was at work, opening the cafe. In walked in two customers together. They are both regulars who come in all the time. One of them buys a pack of cigarettes every day, Players Extra Light, Regular in fact. The other, he is extremely friendly. He is "homeless" but is seen all over Lions Bay, a super friendly guy, super polite and very well liked in Lions Bay.

Anyway, said homeless fellow asks for two Medium Coffees for them, which I ring in and place two Medium to-go cups on the counter for them. It is a $3.70 total, I believe it was. Then the smoking customer, he says, "Oh, one is a refill." Having just opened at 7AM and not seeing him before, I looked up with a weird look on my face and noticed that he was carrying a Starbucks to-go cup.

"But that is a Starbucks cup?" I say, puzzled at his request for a re-fill when it is not a re-fill since it is in fact a fill-up of a Starbuck's cup. If someone brings in their own mug/cup, we charge them for a medium, regardless of size.

"Yeah, I got this directly from Eric this morning, himself," says the smoking customer. Eric is my brother and he works at the closest Starbuck's location to Lions Bay. Eric use to work for this said smoking customer in construction.

"Yeah, but that was Starbucks," I retorted.

"Don't I buy enough coffee here to get re-fills?" he asks somewhat angrily.

Then me surprising myself, "no, but you buy more than your fair share of cigarettes everyday."

Unimpressed, the smoking customer gave me a nasty look as I gave the homeless customer his change and then walk into the back of the kitchen to ignore the smoking customer. The smoking customer is not always polite and is often rude to staff and I was a little tired of it. I swear I'm slowly morphing into a customer and becoming ruder at work. Five years at a Cafe/General Store...maybe it's too long. Oh well.

The First Time

2006-08-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

"My father is a rich man
He wears a rich man's cloak
Gave me the keys to his kingdom coming
Gave me a cup of gold

He said I have many mansions
And there are many rooms to see
But I left by the back door
And I threw away the key
And I threw away the key"

"The First Time" by U2
---------------------

I listened to this song again today. Made me really think about some stuff I'm doing in life. 'Nuff said.

More Work Adventures with JOEL

2006-08-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

Young guy walks into the General Store, up to the counter. I approach the counter to help him, he has nothing, so presumably he wants cigarettes.

"Give me a Du Maurier Extra Light, King Size," he says.

I grab them and hold them in my hand and ask, "do you have any ID on you today?" He doesn't acknowledge my question, so I ask again. This time he seems to hear it and seems somewhat surprised.

"Sure," he says, as he flips his wallet that he is already holding to show his ID. His birthdate reads October 18, 1986, so he is still 19 years old, but it is still legal for him to buy cigarettes here. After looking at it and seeing that the face matches the ID quickly, I place the cigarettes down.

"Want matches with that?" I ask.

"No thanks," he says, then pauses.

NOTE: From here below, this is what actually happened. After it, I will say what I wanted to say.
-------------
"Hey! How old are you?" he asks, giving me a look of suspicion.

"I turn 21 in October," I respond politely.

"Tell me, is it legal for minors to sell cigarettes?" he asks snarkily.

"Yes, it is....just not alcohol," I say, as I hand him his change, smiling.

"Oh," he says, taking his change and then walking out the door without saying good-bye.
---------------

WHAT JOEL WISH HE HAD SAID:
-----------------
"Hey! How old are you?" he asks, giving me a look of suspicion.

"Guess." I asked.

"I dunno, how the hell should I?"

"That's why we ID customers, dipstick," I say as I give him his change, "now get off your high-horse, you self-righteous bobble-head."
-------------------

Yes. I ID youthful looking customers who want cigarettes because I accidentally sold them to a "test-project" once and never wanted to be embarrassed like that again. Unfortunately, to ensure that never happens again, I have to put up with the many who put up a fuss, or make a scene, when I ID them. Even if they just had their 19th birthday. I mean, for goodness sake, you go into a liquor store, they ID you until you look like you are headed off to your appointment with Mr. Grim Reaper (okay, slight exaggeration), why should it be any different with cigarettes? Just a pet peeve of mine.
---------------

Work story #2:

American family walks into the General Store, at about 9AM on a Saturday morning. There is a grandfather, a grandmother (both in probably their early 60s), a younger husband and wife (probably bother in their early to mid thirties), and their daughter. Upon just walking in the door, the younger husband asks, "got breakfast?"

"Yes, we do," I say, as I point to the sign that lists, 2 Poached Eggs, 4 Strips of Bacon, Two piece of toast for $5.25.

"No Fried eggs?" asks the grandfather, as I notice his dentures.

"No fried eggs, sorry, we can only do poached eggs cause-"

"Got Bagels?" asks the younger husband, interrupting me.

"Uh...yes," I say, as I point to the sign which reads, Toasted Bagel with Cream Cheese, while just below it, it says Side of Toast, $1.50, with butter, peanut butter, honey, jam, etc.

"Do you have Cream Cheese?"

"Uh...yes."

"Can I get Cream Cheese on the bagel?"

"Yup."

"Do you have Toast?" asks the younger wife.

"Just under the Bagel."

"Do you have Coffee?" asks the younger looking husband.

I stare blankly for a moment, thinking back to the sign on the highway which shows a plate and a coffee cup and says, Lions Bay General Store & Cafe. I, then, look over to the coffee urns right in front of me, then looking back to him, "just right here."

"Oh great!" he exclaims.

"What size would you like?" I ask.

"Huh?"

"What size do you want for the coffee?" I ask again.

"Oh, I don't know," he says, "can I have Ham in the Bagel?"

"...sure, why not?"

"What type of Ham do you have?"

"We have-"

"Is it Black Forest Ham?"

"Yes...it is."

"Give me two bagels...with cream cheese...and Ham inside," he asks, while I write it down, "give me another two, make two of them toasted, the other two not toasted...you can toast them?"

".....yes...we can."

"Do you have bacon?"

"Yes...we do."

"Can she get some bacon beside her toast?" asks the younger wife, talking about her daughter.

"I can do that," I say, "do you know which coffee you want?"

"I don't know."

"Large?" pointing to the cup I'm holding.

"What's that one you are holding?"

"It's Large."

"Oh...give me a Medium," he says. I put the Large cup down and grab the Medium cup, "wait, no...that's too small, give me a large."

"Just one coffee?" I ask.

"Hold on, you want coffee, Ma?" he asks.

"Yes I do, but Dad and I will share," she says.

"Okay, give us four larges," he says.

"No, just three!" shouts the mother.

"Okay, three," he says. I place the three cups on the counter for him and point to the self-serve urns, "you can get going on the food while we wait." They walk to their table in the corner and sit down.

There were no customers behind them, so whatever, I thought I might as well. I head back to the kitchen to throw the bread and bagels in to toast. I notice that the younger husband is standing by the counter again, I look over to him and he says, "coffee?"

"Cups are right there and you just help yourself with the urns," I say.

"Oh...okay," he says as he grabs his cup and fills it up. "Hey! Do you have cream?"

I thought of all the things I would've loved to have said, like, nope, we don't believe in cream even though we're a coffee shop, but I restrained myself. "Yup, it's just immediately behind you."

"Do you have-"

"Yes, the sugars are just behind you," I say, guessing what he was going to ask.

"Oh, thanks!" he says as he finishs preparing his coffee for consumption.

And that's that. I made their food and brought it out. It wasn't over there, however. They still had to pay after their meal.

"I owe you money," says the younger husband.

"Money is good," I mention politely. I ring up his bill and it comes to $23 and something cents. He finds a $20US bill in his wallet and gives it to me. He notices that I wait for some more money since I know that $20US will only count for $21CAN in my till and then says, "all I've got is American," as I notice that he has several other $20US bills in his wallet.

"Do you have another $3 in US dollars?" I ask as I ring in the $20US which brings his total to $2 and something cents, "there is another $2 and ____ cents."

"Is that in American?" he asks.

"No, that's in Canadian."

"How much do I owe you in American?"

"I don't know, our register only operates in Canadian," I say, "but if you give me $3US, it'll cover it all and you'll get some change."

"So I owe you $3US more from that?"

"No, it's a little less."

"So is that in Canadian or American?" he asks.

Flabbergasted, I have no idea what to say to him, "if you give me money, you'll get change."

He stares at me for a moment and pauses, "well here...here's another $20 American, it's all I got." I take it from him and grab his change and give it to him and smile, somewhat frustrated and then tell him to have a nice weekend and he leaves. I walk back into the kitchen with my eyes wide open, quite surprised at my experience with the family over all. However, they STILL were not done with us. They went into the General Store where Vaughan, my manager, who is also a British fellow, is working. They are buying some Canadian giftware, for their family back home no doubt. They ask him question after question after question about Canada. Vaughan has only lived in Canada for two years now. He knows his British history and British culture, he does not know Canadian history or Canadian culture, so finally after telling them that he doesn't know for about the sixth time, he says, "I'm not Canadian."

"What're you? French?" asks the younger husband.

Vaughan stares at him for a moment, "no...I am not. I am British." And that was the end of the conversation
-------------

Those are Joel's work adventures for the week. I couldn't think of anything particularly intelligent or wise to write, so I thought I'd write you two recent adventures at work.

Also, for those who don't know yet. I got a $5,000 scholarship to UBC!!! I'm thrilled and it helps out sooooo much! =) Now I can graduate sooner and now I can replace my old bucket of bolts for a laptop with a cheap, used, iBook. Thankfully, the screen was only going now even though my current "ghetto laptop" (as I was told by some stranger at college once) is from 1998. That's right, almost ten years old. I also bought an iPod (30GB Video) for the long commute on the bus to UBC, so now I won't have to people watch so much anymore! WOOHOO!!! =D

Creation Fest '06: My Experience (with Pictures!!)

2006-07-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I had the MOST amazing time at Creation Fest West '06. I had been wanting to go to Creation Fest for probably the last four years, so it was awesome to finally go!

I went with my church and the youth group and we left at 5AM on Wednesday morning as the Festival runs from Wednesday evening to Saturday morning and we'd leave on Sunday. So anyway, I will get right to the adventure.

I stayed overnight at Lindsay and Chris' on Tuesday night so I could be picked up at 445AM at their house by Jaki and Bria. I felt so tired with waking up at the unhuman hour that I did. We got to the church and packed up Dairn's van, the trailer behind it and we headed off, listening to Black Lab, then picked up some youth group kids from Surrey and we headed down. We got through the border nice and fast, the border guard was a Christian, which was fan-stinkin'-tastic. He mentioned Lincoln Brewster Band as his favourite it seemed, yet I didn't get a chance to see him at the festival, even though he did play.

We stopped at North Bend for groceries and lunch. Nate and I went to Taco Time to eat, had some good munchies and made some jokes. Then we all packed up again and went to leave, to find some jack n' eggs decided to play a "practical joke" on us by taking the pin out of the trailer hitch mount, cause the trailer to be slammed into Dairn's license plate since the emergency chain on the hitch pulled it forward. Thankfully it didn't hit the car body, but just in the license plate, so the damage was less than it could've been. Its also good that it happened when we left and not while we were on the highway, or we would've been wearing the same clothes all week and sleeping on the grass! =D Good times for sure that would've been.

To pass the time, I made these signs to hold up at Creation Fest during the concerts, but instead we held them up for passing cars. Thats one thing, it was sooo awesome to see all the painted up cars that were headed to Creation Fest. I know Jarred hates them, but I love it! Just made me so much more excited! So yeah, the said signs that I mentioned.

"Lonely??? Talk 2 me about our exciting new friends offer today!! $29.95. Smiles Guaranteed!! www.losersunite.com."

Another was "Phil, Let Down Your Golden Hair" (Hat tip to Phil Joel of the Newsboys).

"This Sign Has No Purpose, Do you?"

"If I Had A Dollar For Every Time Someone Read This Sign, I Would Be Rich. So Would You, Cause I Share! =)"

And finally, during the festival, Emily and I made a sign that read, "I Don't Like Attention."

Anyway, we kept heading to Creation Fest and finally arrived at like 230PM. However, once we got there, we had to wait a HUGE line to get to our camping site for the Festival. We waited in the baking sun for two hours, I think, we cooked, but we just explored and passed the time. Tried to find shade from the sun and found it.
A sign dedicated to the crazy, long wait.

We finally got to our camp site and set up our tents. My tent, aptly named as the "Space Ship" tent since it looked like one, took the longest to set up. I will NEVER take that tent anywhere again! The tent is behind Dairn in the picture above.

So opening the first night was Skillet, Bethany Dillon, Vicki Beeching, Jeremy Camp and Relient K. A pretty sweet line-up, if I do say so myself. I didn't catch Skillet cause I was too busy setting up my junk-tent. I did, however, catch half of Bethany Dillon's show. She is an awesome girl, has great music and I'm sure she'd be awesome to hang out with. She even performed a mini-rap that she felt she had to write since she was playing at a Christian Rap Festival for several weekends a couple of months ago. What makes it even more fun is that she is very much a southern girl and plays mostly acoustic matieral, so it was hilarious. I heard a song called "Beautiful" by her, which brings up memories, but besides that, it was an awesome show. We caught some of Vicki Beeching, but then left and skipped the speaker so we could all eat dinner. Then we came back for Jeremy Camp who had a good show, I personally think he sounds better on his albums, but that might have had something to do with the fact that he had, as he said, a "terrible cold" and was "so sick," but he did well in spite of that.

The view on the first evening.

Next up was Relient K and I have been wanting to see them for years. They came to Vancouver in the Spring, but I skipped going since I knew I'd be seeing them at Creation Fest. After seeing them live, it would've been awesome to have seen them earlier as well. They had a really tight set and the whole show flowed. My only beef with them was that they said "I So Hate Consequences" was absolutely going to be their last song, so I left just before it ended, to avoid the rush. However, after I was half-way to my campsite, I heard them come back on stage and play "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" and other songs. I should've suspected that Christian music fans demand encores just as much as non-Christian music fans. =P I was kicking myself for that.

The view from up top on the hill. My camera battery was dead when I finally started going down below.

Next day, it started with Hillsongs United playing for awhile, then Greg Stier spoke, who is a great speaker. I love what he had to say about "Rebels, Posers & Losers." Then Hillsongs United came back again and played two more sets. They had lots of material. Phil Dooley spoke as well, but I didn't get a whole lot from his message. That was the morning, then the afternoon came and we skipped KJ-52, Disciple and other speakers in favour of having lunch and doing some shopping/snooping at the festival. I checked out all of the booths without buying anything as I wanted to know what there was before deciding what to spend my precious $50US spending money on. They had a SWEET shirt that said "Body Piercing Saved My Life." Now admittedly, I didn't get it at first, so I thought it was dumb for a second. Then I stared at it for a minute and it finally came to me. Christ's body was pierced for me. I wanted to get it, but changed my mind. Anyway, so the day continued with Salvador (who we skipped) and Lincoln Brewster Band (who I skipped to have my one and only shower of the whole festival). Ron Luce spoke after him and he was pretty good. Next up was George Huff performing, he was on American Idol season three apparently? Not my style of music, but I'm sure there was some who appreciated it. Next up was Kutless. I really like Kutless' song "Run," which they thankfully played, but truth be told, I didn't enjoy their set. The sound mixing for the first 15 minutes of their show was terrible, the vocals were SOO quiet. Then the sound man woke up and made it right. But I'm not a huge fan of Kutless in concert, it all sounded the same to me. Next was Audio Adrenaline. I was saddened to find that Audio Adrenaline is calling it quits after this year. Apparently because Mark Stuart's voice just can't go anymore, which makes sense so he sounds like he is always losing his voice. Anyway, they played a pretty sweet set, but the highlight of the show came during their song, Beautiful. They brought up five people from the stage and Mark Stuart got them to sing the chorus. The first girl started, totally off, but a lot of energy and she finally grabbed the mic from Mark Stuart's hand and let it fly and sang the whole chorus. It was hilarious and brought the crowd to laughter. The next girl who tried, she was even more off, but it was awesome. Then Mark Stuart brought the mic to a guy who seemed totally hesitant to sing, but he finally did it, but sounded like a really bad version of Louis Armstrong and he didn't know the words to the song and he curled up in shame. It was hilarious, but it was a memory I'm sure he'll enjoy for the rest of his life. Audio Adrenaline, thanks for your 12+ years of music, best of luck with your Flicker Records work. =)

Next day, started off with Vicki Beeching again, which we missed, but we caught Greg Stier speaking again and he was good again. The first talk was better I think. Next playing was Pocket Full of Rocks, who I had never heard of before and admittedly, I was expecting to be bored with the show. However, they were actually quite good. The lead singer looks like Bart from MercyMe. They had a good song and got the crowd into the show. After them was Starfield who are some Canadian guys and they are pretty good. I'll have to check them out more! Jarred LOVED them.

Me Being beaten on with Starfield Hockey Sticks

After them was Duffy Robbins, a speaker, but we left part way through him to get lunch. For the afternoon, Sanctus Real played, but we took off for the beach/river. I stayed with the stuff, so I didn't go swimming or anything. We came back in time for Thousand Foot Krutch, who I purposefully skipped since I heard them a couple of years ago and didn't like them and I hated the idea of them being the first band I had seen live twice, so I missed them. I'm a dork, I know. After them was Superchic[k] (a.k.a. Superchick) and honestly, I was amazed with their show. I first heard of them with their song "BarlowGirl," a couple of years ago. Their show was really good, especially their song "Beauty After Pain." There show said a lot to me, perhaps a little too personal for this blog or to broadcast to everyone. I knew I had to buy their newest CD after the show, which I did. After Superchic[k], Brenton Brown led worship, and he was really good. Then Wes Stafford, head of Compassion.org, a group, like WorldVision, but much better from what I have heard/read about it and he spoke about how children are "Too Small To Ignore," it was good and he got quite emotional. After him, David Crowder Band played and honestly, David Crowder Band's performance was the highlight of the festival for me. I didn't know any of his songs beforehand other than perhaps "Our Love Is Loud" (Is that his?). I was made into a fan of his immediately. It was sooo amazing, he interacted with the crowd and his band so well. His set was the tightest and best of the entire festival in my festival. I loved it so much. They totally stole the show from Third Day (who followed them). Third Day's performance disappointed me since I thought they played way too much of their new album and not enough of their old favourites. I really wanted to hear "Nothing Compares," but I was let down. They did a candle-lighting at the end which was good.

Next day, Parachute Band opened with Jeremy Kingsley giving a good message, I really liked his. Storyside B came on afterwards, but we left during them. Pam Stenzel apparently talked afterwards, but we were busy shopping, where I bought Relient K's new EP "Apathetic EP," a CD filled with artist's side projects, like "Matthew Theissen and the Earthquakes," and others. I bought David Crowder Band's "A Collison or (3+4=7)", Mute Math's "Reset EP," and finally Superchick's "Beauty After Pain 1.1" I almost bought a leather-bound Bible, but decided against it. I've had my current one since...1995? It is beaten up and I like to pretend that it makes it look very well used. So any new bible would be a huge change, so I didn't make that choice so flippantly. I'll think about it for awhile, but they were really cheap. We had glorious plans of going to the beach/river again on Thursday afternoon while Grits, the Afters and some speakers, were on. However, when we all hoped into Dairn's van, it wouldn't start. It would turn over, but it wouldn't start. We ended up calling a tow-truck and it was towed 40 minutes west in Quincy (Saturday mid-afternoon, what possibility could there be a shop open?). The tow-truck driver said he didn't think it'd be likely we could get it fixed that weekend, but praise God, there was a shop who took it and would start working on it Saturday afternoon and even said they'd start working on it at Sunday Noon time. A definately "pulling of the cow out of the ditch" moment. If you don't get that, never mind. So we spent the afternoon hanging out at our campsite.

Enjoying time at the campsite in the sun.

It was fun, we were goof-balls. We had dinner. Some of the kids headed off to BarlowGirl, but I didn't. I ended up heading over to catch Israel & the New Breed. Its not really my style of music, but I thought he did a great job performing. He gave a bit of a testimony as well during his set. Apparently his mother, a white woman, got pregnant out of wedlock to a black guy and her family told her, get an abortion or be disowned from the family. She chose to have the child and be disowned and at the 8th month of her pregnancy, the father of him disappeared and never showed up again. She showed up at the church and was taken in by a lady in the church and was able to raise Israel. It was a really encouraging story. As Israel said, God totally stepped in for him and acted as a "father for the fatherless" like he stated he will be. Anywho, after that Mark Matlock gave a talk, which wasn't that interesting. As someone said, it seemed kinda like a "preaching to the choir" talk. After him, Chris Tomlin performed and he did a great job and debuted some new songs of his. He had a really talented bunch of musicians around him and it was a solid show. After him, Newsboys came on to close Creation Fest. They had, what seemed to me to be, a short set, but in reality, they played 10-12 songs and had a bunch of talking during it. It was still great and some of the kids in our group were made into Newsboys fans. "Breakfast" was definately the highlight of the Newsboys set for most, but I really liked "He Reigns," which is odd cause I'm not a huge fan of the studio version of it, yet I really liked their performance of it.

And that was Creation Fest. We packed up a bunch of our stuff the night before even though we wouldn't be heading home until the afternoon due to the car troubles. Someone from Sunshine Hills offered to tow our trailer to the beach/river so we could at least wait there. So thats what we did Sunday morning. Some silly girl and a guy from the Festival volunteers was driving around on a four-wheeler with a mega-phone telling everyone to wake up and leave (politely of course). I wasn't impressed by her, haha. Anyway, so we headed to the beach/river and ate what was left of our food. I was sooo sick and tired of food after that. We finally left and headed home once the call was given that the car was ready. I got a Strawberry & Cream frappicino from Starbucks in Quincey which was tasty. We plugged on and ended up stopping by Mount Baker for a bathroom break and munchies. Met the Hells Angels there and stayed on our best behaviour. The trek continued homeward and we waited at the border for an hour or hour and a half, while all of us entertained each other. There is a new saying/expression now I guess. It is this: "Hey! *nod head upwards* How ya doin'?" It is soo cheesey and if anyone was doing it totally seriously, they'd come off as a sleezeball, but its so hilarious. It cheers me up in the worst situations, which we'd find out later.

After we had dropped off Emily, Lavina, Rachel, Lily, we had just crossed the Port Mann bridge and I had just phoned and arranged for my ride home, Dairn's van had decided to have the same problem and we couldn't get any gas to the car. So we pulled over on the side of the highway, near Gaglardi exit at about 1045PM. We called BCAA, they came with a tow-truck, but we wouldn't be able to get the trailer towed, but we weren't about to leave it with all of our camping equipment and luggage, plus it'd probably blow onto the highway since it was so light and easy to move around. So the tow-truck was sent away for a larger one, only to find out that there was none available. Then the police came by and were suspicious of what was going on, then we finally agreed to towing the van and leaving the trailer and hopefully get someone to pick it up that evening and one of us would stay with the trailer. However, while we waited for that tow truck, a "lurking tow-truck" showed up for some "business," but was quickly chased away by the BCAA tow-truck. Jaki had to run with her car and get gas and we hoped that she'd be back in time before the van was towed so I wouldn't have to stand on the side of the highway with the trailer. She didn't make it back in time, so Nate and I stood beside a full trailer and every vehicle of shape and size raced past us. It was definately a moment for "Hey! *nod head upwards* how ya doin'?" as Nate and I were loud, obnoxious and made stupid jokes to pass the time. We joked about how surrealistic it'd be if the Chevron trucker who drove by us had instead decided to stop and help up, however, his brakes failed and he slammed into the trailer, while Nate and I jumped in behind the divider just in time to dodge the massive fire-ball which was flame just above our heads. It totally would've topped off a crazy awesome trip fully of adventures and stories, yet it did not. We were worried another police cruiser would pull over and give us trouble since its not everyday you see a trailer on the side of a highway with two young fellows just standing with it. Eventually, Jaki came back and her mother and father had come and bailed us out thankfully. They towed the trailer to the church, while Jaki's mother drove Nate and Bria home. I got picked up from the church and our ordeal was totally over!

All in all, it was an amazing experience. I don't feel like I have done it justice with this blog, instead, I feel like I made it sound kinda boring, but really, it was the high-light of my summer. I seriously think you should come next year! It was sooo amazing! =D =D The Youth were awesome, I love them! =D

Leadership

2006-07-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

"I heard a political joke the other day. The politician was asked, where do you stand on this issue? He said, I don't know, I haven't taken a poll yet.

Leaders who do that are not leaders, they are followers. They first find out what the people want and then they follow their leaders, who are the people. Instead of leading the people to a newer, better, and morally higher point of view, any leader worth his salt needs to understand the moral logic behind his views, articulate that moral logic and call the people to a higher standard.

This is true not just of politicians. It is true of every single individual who has an alleged moral point of view." -Gregory Koukl

Letter to Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, Member of Parliament.

2006-07-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

Honourable Mr. Jack Layton,

I read your comments today (July 19, 2006) in the National Post and I am saddened. Though you and I both agree that what is currently happening between Israel and Hezbollah/Lebanon is horrific and must stop, your comments on the matter offend me as a Canadian. Now perhaps you were misquoted, but the Post said, "Mr. Harper brushed off suggestions his tough new language on the Middle East has compromised Canada's ability to be seen as a neutral, honest broke in the search for Middle East peace, a criticism repeated yesterday by NDP leader Jack Layton, who said Canada should be pushing for an immediate ceasefire and the presence of an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon." You were personally quoted as saying, "In our view, Canada should be stepping out and calling for that immediate ceasefire, indicating immediately that we will participate in a peacekeeping force and distancing ourselves from the policies of the Bush administration on this question."

I understand clearly that you, Mr. Layton, and your party were elected in as many seats as they were, in part, due to your strong opposition to the polices of Mr. Bush, I really do. I cherish our right to express our opinion and position on important matters and I appreciate that you and I, as Canadians can disagree on such a question without feeling the need to resort to violence or weapons as often occurs in parts of the world that do not share our democratic values and ideals. However, with that said, I feel your comments reflect poorly on Canada. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, as recognized as such by many states, who have positioned themselves as neutral on this question. They are not "freedom fighters," in the sense that was required to achieve the democratic states that we now cherish today. They are terrorists who willing put their women and children at risk by hiding behind them when pursued. Terrorists who do not abide by Geneva conventions, something we as Canadians criticize the Bush administration for allegedly doing. Hezbollah are terrorists will willfully and purposefully attack civilian targets that in no way justify themselves as legitimate targets in war. On such a matter, I feel it is an irresponsible comment on your part to demand that we, as Canadians, remain neutral. Within Hezbollah represents a great evil that cannot tolerated. This is most certainly not an Islam Vs. The Western World question, it is a terrorist Vs. What would be a peaceful state if it were not attacked by violent individuals.

We, too often, make the great mistake of trying to speak the language of peace and harmony to those who only speak the language and violence and war. Such people groups have not experienced total atrocities and destruction like that which was experienced in Europe during World War 2. The Western World has seen the horrors of total war, while much of the Arab world has been sparred of such devastation. War and violence is not something that is abhorred in that region of the world and it is misguided to expect them to speak that language. They do not share the same ideals and values as we do and it will be sometime before they do, if ever.

On another note, Mr. Layton, you stated how, in your view and that of the NDP, you would think there should be calls for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment for an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon. With all due respect, Mr. Layton, to keep the peace, there needs to be a peace created and that is not the result of simply bringing about a ceasefire. A ceasefire is not a resolution, it is simply the deferment of an violent conflict. A "peacekeeping" force is useless if there has been no resolution between the two conflicting parties. If no resolution can be found between the two parties then what Lebanon needs is an international peacemaking force.

And finally, your demands that Canada should remain neutral on this question so that we might be seen as a neutral, honest broker in the search for peace, I have only this to say. Canada should not worry about how it is seen, rather it should be known for what it did, not what it appeared to be.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter, Mr. Layton. I know you are a very busy member of parliament and as leader of the NDP, your time is a precious commodity. Thank you again.

Yours truly,

Joel Bain

Israel

2006-07-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

I'll write something about the crisis in a few days, when I have time.

We should fast and go on hunger Strikes....all the time!

2006-07-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

So as you may or may not have heard, Cindy Sheehan, the mother who lost her son in during the Iraq war, who also camped out on President Bush's ranch, the White House lawn, etc. etc. announced several days ago that she was going on a "hunger strike" until the troops come home from Iraq. Not a very good plan considering I believe I heard it would be Sept 2007 or Nov 2007 before any troop reductions, let alone ALL the troops come home like Sheehan is demanding. In any event, though I disagree with her cause, it is an admirable feat to take on for her cause.

At least, so I thought it was. Until I read this:

Troops Home Fast: Day 6 (NOTE: I cropped the blog post for emphasis, feel free to read the rest of her post).

I find traveling out of the country very challenging being on a fast. When I was on a layover in Madrid on my way to Venice, Italy yesterday, the closest thing I could find to a smoothie to get a little protein was a coffee with vanilla ice cream in it. Traveling for 22 hours is very taxing under normal circumstances...However, there is not a Jamba Juice on every corner, so blended juice drinks with protein powder are impossible to find...The Troops Home Fast is a moral response to an immoral act. We can, and must be, morally strong so we can feast on the day that the last troop is brought home from the war crime in Iraq...Then our focus can change to holding BushCo responsible for the war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace and focus on never allowing this to happen again.

Okay, for reals...if I can have Jamba Juice whenever I am having a "spiritual fast, " I'd SOOOOO be doing it all the time. But in all seriousness....who told her that you could have Jamba Juice drinks (which are smoothies of course, which of course have LOTS of nutrition, AND she is apparently adding protein powder) when "fasting" or having a "hunger strike?" Like for real, I got upset when I did the 30 Hour Famine and they said you could have apple or orange juice?? Isn't the point of the 30 Hour Famine suppose to be that, while raising money for world hunger, you are experiencing the hunger that children in Africa and parts of Asia experience every day? I was always told growing up that a real fast was when you only drank water and nothing else. Did something change and I was never given the memo?

Mrs. Sheehan, any time you find another cause to go on a hunger strike, I am sooooo with you. Just give me a call. Jamba Juice, here I come! =D Maybe we can get the Jamba Juice employees to do it with us! =D

The Fray: My Experience

2006-07-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

So I just got back from The Fray concert less than an hour ago and it was a total blast. I had a great time, which may have had something to do with the company. It was Brea, her cousin Justin, Brea’s friend, J.J. (his name is something else, but I have no idea how to spell it), Jenna, Jenna’s boyfriend Steve, Jenna’s friends, Brandon, Robyn? (I think that’s wrong?) and Christine. We all arrived around like 630 or so and doors opened at 7PM. I was told that Augustana would be opening for The Fray tonight, so I had checked up on some of Augustana’s material and I really liked it. Unfortunately, much to my chagrine, Augustana did not end up opening after all and would only be joining the Fray tour south of the border in two days. Instead, in their place, it was some guy named Kyle from Saskatoon. He was alright, he had good energy and was a good entertainer. However, since he played entirely acoustic and solo, all of his songs sounded somewhat the same. He normally plays with a band apparently, but not tonight. He played a lot of songs and I found that I just wanted The Fray to come on stage. He played some stupid song about Estrogen that I hated and told my friend Brea of my displeasure of such. Thankfully, Kyle’s time came to an end and then we ended up waiting for awhile for The Fray to come on.

During our intermission between bands, there was a girl who I had noticed (and pointed out to the others during the concert) was standing all by herself the entire show. It made me kind of sad to see. I really wanted to go over and say hello to her and invite her to hang out with us, but I couldn’t get the guts to just walk up to her, a total stranger. I wish I had. She looked lonely and as if she wanted someone to spend the concert with. Concerts, honestly, suck by yourself, they really do, I know from experience. Part of the fun of concerts is the experience of them and being able to share that with friends and reminiscing about those experiences and memories. It’s like you go to tell someone a story, “remember that time at the Fray concert? Oh wait…you weren’t there, I was all by myself.” I mostly write this for myself so that when I read my writings about my concert experience, I will always be reminded of her and it’ll motivate me get some guts and not care about falling flat on my face, and/or being rejected even though my intentions were not to sweep her off her feet or anything. She had dark brown, maybe even black, hair. It was curly, but tied back and up. Her blue eyes were surrounded by artful, thin black eye-liner, definitely not goth-looking though. I never saw her smile at all during the show, she didn’t talk to anyone, she just stood there. She was wearing a black high V-neck, with white spots over it, over top of some nice, dark-blue jeans. She was relatively thin and probably about 5’7” or so. On top of her shirt, she wore a necklace that has what looked like big, black pearls, but most likely imitation pearls. Describing someone’s looks has never been a strong point of my writing, so I'll just pretend that this was practice.

Now that I have totally diverted from the concert at hand, I’ll return to it. After waiting for awhile and exchange way too many jokes with Brea and J.J., The Fray finally showed up much to our thankfulness and gratefulness. The high lights of the night for me were easily when they broke out “How To Save A Life,” causing Brea, J.J., and I to let out un-manly screams of joy and we were joined by many other screaming females. Speaking of which, I swear there was probably a 1 to 4 ratio of guys to girls. Nonetheless, I sang loud and proud among all the high-pitched voices. The Fray played some of their other great songs afterwards, I found that a lot of there songs sounded a LOT better musically speaking live than some of them do on the album. The Fray plays with a lot of energy on stage and it really comes out in their live show compared to their studio work.

They also did a cover of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me,” which was dedicated to Vancouver since Isaac Slade has a parking ticket from Vancouver that he has never paid. Next up, they did an AMAZING cover of “Eleanor Rigby,” if you don’t know how made that, you make me sad. It’s a freaking Beatles song and one of my favourites, I love it! Another high light of the night was easily when they finally broke out, my favourite, “Over My Head (Cable Car),” which was welcomed by screams of joy from Brea, J.J., and I again. It was awesome singing loud and proud to that song, I seriously love that song and wish I had written it. Then The Fray decided to leave everyone until J.J., Brea and I started chanting “Encore,” of course, yes, we started it. No we didn’t, but its more fun to believe we did.

Once they came back, I scream “You rock my socks!!!” to Isaac Slade, causing several heads to turn to me, then J.J. screamed, “I love your socks!!!” then I screamed, “I want your socks!!!” then J.J. screamed, “I need your socks!!!” It occurred to me afterwards, he, as in Isaac Slade, may have thought we were saying “you suck” or something, when we were really talking about his socks, which I have no idea what they look like. Anyway, the show continued in spite of our shouting. The second to last song was “Look After You,” which is my second favourite song by The Fray. They carried it out much longer than the album version and jammed and it was excellently well done. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t get the audience to sing the chorus cause I remember listening to it and thinking, “dude! This would be so sweet to get the audience alone to singing the chorus.” But alas, I was let down. Not let down in the way of being like “this sucks,” rather just let down in the way of “aww man, oh well, this show still rocks!”

The show concluded and we all left VERY happy people. It was an excellent show for $20 and we had an amazing time. By the way, the concert was at the Croatian Cultural Centre which looked a little like a high school gym with a stage, but it was still a good venue for an all-age show like this. The Fray is an excellent college band that I hope is around for many years to come. I love forward to seeing some of the new material that they release next and I wish them a long, prosperous career! Thanks for a great night, guys! =D

P.S. Apparently, the girl from the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Blake Lively), she was standing behind me most of the night and even bumped into me regularly. So Brea tells me, but she wasn't 100%. She was blonde in the movie, but had dark hair last night. I wasn't aware she lived in Vancouver. So Blake Lively, if you are reading this and you weren't there, let me know and I'll correct it. =P

P.S.S. I have tons of other pictures from the show if you are a friend who went and want to see.

A Woman of Quality = NOT Christina Aguilera

2006-07-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

So yeah, I saw this picture and read the shirt and thought, "yeah, okay, that is true. Equality is good." Then I stopped to think for a second. A woman of quality doesn't parade around like a French whore, so I don't understand why Christina Aguilera feels like she is in the position to talk about someone of quality since she certainly isn't a model example of a woman of quality. She said in an interview once that she hated how men are allowed to be overtly sexually aggressive and treat women like meat with society gives it stamp of approval. However, instead of saying any of the following: a) this needs to stop, b) there needs to be respect, c) encouraging women to put their foot down and say enough is enough, d) encouraging women to resist these horn-dogs and refuse to give into their hormonally driven demands, she figures, what the hell? If you can't beat them, join them. That's great, I just love that.

Personally, I do my part to chastise horn-dog guys I see being idiots and treating women like meat. I expect a MUCH higher standard of my own friends who are male and I do my part to chastise them. Case in point, a colleague of mine, we were driving in separate cars and I heard him honk at a girl wearing a short skirt, standing and waiting to cross the street. I chewed him out for it. Granted, it may not actually accomplish anything in the long run, but I let my disapproval known of the matter and I did my responsibilty as a guy who FIRMLY believes in preserving chivalry.

This whole thought reminds me of something I posted about awhile ago. Doug Ten Napel once said, "If I watch MTV, my daughter sees chicks pelvic thrusting the butts of other chicks while both are drenched in mud...liberation of women, my ass."

It is a crock to say that these women who objectify themselves as strictly sexual by their actions are liberated. With the way women have been "liberated" by the ever-so-great extreme branch of the feminist movement (feminism isn't bad, but several branches of the feminism are just plain WRONG), it's about as dumb as saying slaves are somehow liberated when they have a choice of who to be a slave to. Some liberation. To have the "freedom" to do wrong with one's choice is no less immoral than being forced to do something that which is immoral, it is in fact, that much more immoral and disgusting.

A

woman

of

quality,

my

butt.

An Inconvenient Truth

2006-07-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Just an amusing thought that I heard from someone, don't re-call who, regarding the film in the title of this post: "We have enough trouble predicting the weather five days in advance, what makes Al Gore think he has any authoritative accuracy in making his predictions for the next ten years?"

*insert chuckle*

I haven't seen the film yet, it hasn't been convenient to do so.

What is with my NAME?!?!

2006-07-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

I love my name, but I hate it. If you have met me in person, you will know that I am a quiet person. I am talkative, but I'm definately not a loud person whatsoever. My name is terrible for me because of that. Why? Because Joel, the way it is pronounced, is one syllable and it's one syllable that is hard to understand from someone who is quiet and says it quickly. I was at a party last night and all sorts of people introduced themselves to me and I said my name and no one (especially with the noise of a party) seemed to be able to understand my name the first time I said it. The way it has always been pronounced for me, it sounds like "Dole" except change the "D" for a "J." I HATE, HATE, HATE having it pronounced as "Joelle," because a) I'm not a girl, and b) I'm NOT FRENCH!!!!! (or at least "I'm NOT very FRENCH")

The truth of the matter is, not many people call me by my first name any more. Maybe that is because of what I have just said. I don't really want to say my last name on here (stalkers suck), so I'll only give part of it, so you can understand what I get called. I get JB, Joel B___, B___, Ja'B___, Joellers, and Joely. I like my name Joel because its not super common like a John, Henry or Will (although I do like the name Will, or William). When someone does actually understand my name when I say it the first time, there is often a look on their face that (sometimes they even just say it as well) they love the name Joel. However, it just sucks with how quiet of a person I am.

I was thinking yesterday, in mind of this, maybe I should start thinking of a pen name to write under for my books and stories and just adopt that name at parties, haha. =P j/k. Anyway, I wish it was as simple as a matter of me just speaking louder and announciating (sp?), but I've been trying and trying and trying. It's been about as fruitless as a fat kid trying to stay away from the doughnuts for the rest of his life. It has even made me really wonder why exactly I'm quiet, like what influenced me while growing up to be so quiet. I mean, I was the youngest in my family for nine years. Aren't kids who experience the spoilage of being the youngest often loud-ish?

I've been thinking that maybe the answer to my problem with this is simply to introduce myself with my first and last name, but I've also been wondering if it weirds people out when someone gives their last name at the same time. Whenever someone did it to me, I sorta felt like I was in a business meeting or something. GAH...I'll figure something out.

Me Church

2006-07-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Soldier

2006-07-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Never in the history of the world has any soldier sacrificed more for the freedom and liberty of total strangers than the American soldier.
And, our soldiers don't just give freedom abroad, they preserve it for us here at home.

For it has been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom to protest.

It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the freedom he abuses to burn that flag.

-Zell Miller, Democratic Senator, representing Georgia. September 1st, 2004

Hitch

2006-07-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

I watched "Hitch" for the second time. I love the movie, I loved it after watching it the first time. I find myself laughing throughout the entire film and feeling sadness whenever the guys in the film are sad.

If you have watched it yet, for reals, please watch it and you'll understand the boat I row a little better. I don't doubt that I can make an amazing girl happy one day (just not today, thats for sure. I've got some things about who I am that I think need to be worked out before I can hope to have a successful relationship), but often it seems like the greatest obstacle of being able to make a girl feel that way is catching her eye in the first place. I've seen all the losers approach my female friends, optimistically hoping that since they simply put their neck on the line that the girl will give a phone number, have a dance with them, but it is the same thing that every other guy does. Nothing new, nothing exciting. I did something this school year with meeting a girl that I am (pardon my big head) so proud of, it was the type of stuff that romantic comedies are started with, no doubt (=P).

I guess I sorta hope that whenever I met the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with, I will meet her in an exciting way. I don't want to literally write a novel of the relationship as it develops, but it would be fun to have a love story that is entertaining to tell your future children about one day. Sometimes I think all I want to do with my life is have something worth writing an autobiography about at the end of it, which probably sounds funny.

Anyway, check out Hitch. For reals. I love it. Hitch is my hero.

Everything Is Meaningless

2006-05-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know where to begin this post. All my life, or at least my conscious life (I don't remember anything before 4), I have always thought about what I wanted to do when I "grow up," now I'm nearly "grown up," and I'm still not entirely sure. I hate how it seems like unless you go to college, you are destined to be a "nothing." Why does going to college/university have to be the be-all-end-all of our existence? I haven't learned anything relevent in college/university. The only thing I've taken away from it that I can notice easily is my improved writing ability. It wasn't something that was taught by professors, it was through repeated typing and proof-reading with my mother. Regardless, that is not what I wanted to write about. I had a thought today, largely due to the fact that I've been reading the book of Ecclesiastes so much lately. I've been reading it because of what I've been thinking lately. It has not been influencing me to think like this, rather it has reinforced what I have been thinking.

If you are unfamiliar with the book of Ecclesiastes, a lot of Biblical scholars believe that it was written by King Solomon near the end of his life. It is essentially his philosophical questioning about the purpose of everything. He was a man who lacked nothing financially, had experienced practically everything there was to experience in his time, etc. He was without nothing. A common theme throughout the book of Ecclesiastes is that everything is meaningless. Pleasure, strife, toil and labour is all meaningless. I think my generation, and maybe even a few of the generations before it, have believed that our purpose is to be found within our job or career. This is a great mistake. Anything great I do, I doubt it will be from doing my 9-5er job. I look at all the careers out there and there is nothing that particularly appeals to me. I've talked about working as a foreign diplomat but my only attraction to that is the working overseas part. I'm still going to school for that (by the way, I accepted to the prestigious International Relations department at UBC. I'm told its the hardest department to get into, so I'm quite honoured, yet also profoundly shocked), but for the last two months, I've been wanting to chase my passion for writing. When I'm dead, will my writing serve any purpose or demonstrate that my life had a worthwhile purpose? Maybe, thats still to be decided. But I know that making "The Man" profits is not the way I want to spend my life. So what is there worth doing that is not meaningless? Solomon concludes his philosophical wonderings by this statement:

11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.
12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

The section I have boldened is what I'm focusing on. Now I realize not everyone who reads this is "religious," or even "Christian" for that matter, but I am, and this is my blog. There is a day when I will die, as will you. I can't believe that we are here by mistake, where we do our time here and just pass on as dust, as if we never existed. I cannot accept that we were placed here on Earth for whatever reason, then to die and either pass on, or else stand before God and him say something stupid like, "well, you didn't murder anyone, you didn't rape anyone, you didn't hurt very many people, I guess you can come into heaven." Like seriously, that standard is so low, that it makes it seem like a joke if that was the case. I haven't murdered anyone and I have never associated with a murdered before in my life. Honestly, if we're judged by such a pathetically low standard, why bother trying? Its a joke. That is largely why I firmly believe we are judged for much more than the typical "bad people" things. As Solomon concluded, "God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." This isn't an apologetic of my faith. This is just a pondering soul trying to figure out the meaning of my own existence. As I said earlier, I think I realized it is a mistake to look for one's purpose in my work/career. Some of the most meaningful things I want to do in my life do not recieve any financial "compensation." Maybe I'm not made for greatness and I had just been accepting some lie as true, maybe my purpose is to simply "fear God and keep his commands" so that I may hear one day, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matt. 25:21). Maybe it doesn't matter what job I have so long as I can provide for me and my family (whenever my own one comes along) and serve God faithfully and abide by his commands. I don't want to rely on a job/career for my purpose or meaning in life. I think I've realized where I find my purpose. God. But what does that mean to someone who does not even necessarily accept His existence? I took a moment to think of how to answer that question and I really do not know. I've spent 20 years of my own life trying to figure out my own existence, only now to get some idea of it and actually grasp it somewhat (there is still a way's to go). I can try to answer the question for you, but I'm couldn't guarantee you any success in doing so. When I speak of "purpose," I'm not talking in terms of Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Life" book, honestly, I can't stand that book and regret giving it the time I did. Purpose and meaning are two different things to me, at least the way I look at it. Purpose to me speaks about intention (and as we all know, "the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions), while meaning speaks about to fulfill some design and is rich in significance. Maybe I'm just selectively choosing what to believe about words. Nonetheless, no other conclusion satisfies me about any possible meaning I could have other than what Solomon stated. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." That may not make sense to you, but in my 20 short years on earth trying to understand the mind of God, I can accept it and be satisfied with trusting that Solomon (said to be the wisest man to have ever lived) knew what he was talking about on this matter. I'm done my philosophical rambling. I'm out.

Thank You For My Life

2006-05-22T22:24:00.000-07:00

I watched one of my favourite movies, "Joe Versus The Volcano," which has Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in it. Its from the 80s and it has been a favourite of my brothers and I ever since we first saw it about 6-8 years ago. Anyway, Joe (Tom Hanks) is a guy who has been diagnosed with a "brain cloud" is told he is going to die in 5-6 months by the doctor. He is hired by a businessman to jump into a volcano for him as he needs minerals from the South Pacific Island that the Volcano is on and the islanders will only give it to him if he gives them a hero to appease the Volcano god who needs a sacrifice every 100 years.

Anyway, now that you know a little of the story, there is a scene where Joe's life seems like it is going to be ending, not by his own choice or doing. He says a prayer something like, "Dear God who's name I do not know....thank you for my life....I forgot... how big.....(paused for several seconds)...thank you..." The scene never really said much to me in the previous 20-30+ times I've seen the movie (okay, maybe that is a slight exaggeration of how many times I've seen it.), but something about it today did. Nothing cliche like "I'm so blest to have (insert random material possession, random form of love from random person, etc. etc.)," rather I have so much opportunity with my life. Yet, I'm so scared to do a lot of things and make anything of myself. There are many reasons I could probably rattle off as excuses, but it won't give me a surge of confidence to change things. I haven't had some epiphany or any surge of confidence or anything like that. I've just remembered that I have a lot of potential to do something significant, I have many years, God Willing, ahead of me. My life is being written as I wake up each day, I have a story that can be told. The only question is, whether I'm going to live it in a way that is worth retelling to anyone, or if it is going to interest anyone in hearing it.

No More After This. Just Humour Me. Smile and Nod. (Updated)

2006-05-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

I don't like talking politics anymore on this blog any more, but I want to say something I'm thinking about the recent debate in Canada about whether our army should be in Afghanistan. Jack Layton, of the glorious NDP is whining and complaining about how the Canadian (Conservative) government was able to pass the motion to have our troops stay in Afghanistan for at least two more years. He stated that he believed it would cause Canada to "stray further from its traditional role as peacekeeper."

I just wanted to scream when I read that. Are we a bunch of sissies that cannot take a proactive approach with rebuilding a country? There is nothing wrong with "peacemaking" as opposed to "peacekeeping." Just about everybody else and their dog is opposed to the US trying to "peacemake," but no one else is sticking their nexts on the line. Simply put, there is NO peace to keep if there is no one willing to make the peace. There is legitimate debate the US' efforts with Iraq, but I don't want to get into that. This is strictly about Canada's debate about Afghanistan. There is little debate whether Afghanistan needs the world to help rebuild it and needs the world's help to keep from falling back into the Taliban regime's hands.

It is EXACTLY the reason why we had the Rwanda genocide, Pol Pot's killing fields, the massacre of the Armenians, the Holocaust of the Jews. Everyone only felt comfortable being "peacekeepers" and were too scared to become "peacemakers." It is why the world will break its promise time and time again when it says "Never Again."

Sometimes someone in the world needs to make things happen and I find it offensive as a Canadian for Mr. Layton to suggest that we, Canadians, should only arrive after all the dirty work is done. Our sacrifice is proportional to our risk experienced and if we aren't sacrificing anything, then it is not nearly as admirable as those putting their lives on the line for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Mr. Layton, think before you speak.

PS. I officially do not appreciate my new Member of Parliament (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast). His name is Blair Wilson, he is with the Liberal Party of Canada. We use to have John Reynolds, who was with the Conservative Party, before that Canadian Alliance, before that, the Reform Party. Say what you will about the Conservatives, but at least Mr. Reynolds actually responded to EACH of my letters and gave me a thoughtful reply and even requested further dialogue on issues with me as a member of his constituency. Mr. Wilson, however, has failed to respond to any of my letters. Mr. Wilson, go back to your restaurant business. Yes, I know, I'm a nerd. I am politically active and actually write my Member of Parliament. You should try it sometime, its free to mail letters to MPs.

Mom

2006-05-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

I love you.

Joel's Work Adventure UPDATE #1

2006-05-08T10:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, this blog post is just going to consist of me rambling on and on about my recent work memories and also whatever past ones I can remember (newly added stories will be posted at the top):

I am in the process of cashing out and counting my end of the day deposit when I hear a knock on the door and my lights are all out, but it is still somewhat bright outside. I look up and there is a gentlemen there motioning for me to come to the door (which occurs semi-frequently on a closing shift as we sometimes try to accomdate Lions Bay-ers who need that ONE LAST thing and we sell it to them. However, today, it was not JUST at closing (which is when we usually accomadate last-minute customers) and I mouthed to him that "we are closed," but he was persistent and kept motioning for me to come to the door. So finally, I walked to the door and unlocked it and opened it a little and he says, "Are you closed?"

"Yes....yes we are."

"Oh, when did you close?"

"About 20 minutes ago, we're not on summer hours yet."

"Oh, can I still buy some stuff?"

"No, sorry, I can't cause I'm already half-way through cashing out and it'll mess up my cashout and I'm not allowed to."

"You sure?"

"Yes...yes I am."

"Oh, okay," he said as he turned and left. I closed the door and locked it. Stood there for a second while I restrained myself from screaming, "WHAT DO PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE WORD CLOSED?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" I mean, the stinkin' door was locked, the lights were out, I mouthed that we were closed and he HAS THE GALL to ask me when I open the door, AFTER unlocking it, "Are you closed?" Take a hint buddy, cause this ain't no surprise. GRR

------------------

Last week, I had a customer ask me, "Is the washroom a unisexual or bisexual washroom?"

"Umm, I guess unisexual?"

"Okay, thanks" then she walked into the washroom.

--------

Customer walks to the store counter and I walk up to it as well (on the other side of it of course) and he says, "Before we begin this conversation, do you have a washroom?"

"Yup, its around the corner."

"Alright, I will be RIGHT back." Then he walked to the washroom and came back and asked me for an address as he worked for Fedex.

--------------

A customer ordered a Reuben sandwich on a very busy summer day, we had a line up going out the door. Normally Reuben sandwiches come on Rye bread cause thats just how they are made in every-day-America, but he asked for Multigrain bread for some reason. So his order came out several minutes later, but apparently somebody else took it, so he didn't have one, so we re-made another one for him, however, it came on Rye bread, so he sent it back for one with Multigrain, so we made it again on Multigrain, then gave it to him, only to have him bring it back 2 minutes later (in the midst of a huge line), saying, "Give me my money back, you guys have an f***in' monopoly here and I'm not going to stand for it." So I cheerfully gave him his money back while I smiled.

Its funny, cause it could be said literally that we have a monopoly in Lions Bay, since there is only the Cafe and General Store and Art Gallery for business, but nothing was stopping him from eating in Squamish just up the road, haha.

----------

More stories coming as I remember them.

A Sad Thought

2006-05-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

A lot of my friends extremely unwilling to have their picture taken by me whenever I ask. It makes me sad, cause when I'm 60-something, I won't really have much of any pictures of me with friends to look back and recall memories from. All I'll have is what I've stored up in my head. Sometimes I try to substitute the lack of pictures by writing down the memories, just so I don't forget about them.

But then today, I had an annoying realization. Most of the pictures I ever get to see of my friends, its when they are drinking, partying, or something of the like. In other words, they only seem to allow their picture to be taken of them when they are too drunk to be able to realize what is going on. There is so much more to being young and youthful at my age then drinking, partying and such and it's sad to me that most of the pictures I'll actually have of my friends is when they had some person take their picture.

Another friend of mine said something that has stuck with me as well. In our day in age now with the wonders of digital camera, we seem to be deleting so many pictures that all we keep are the flattering ones. Part of the fun of the normal-film cameras was the surprise to seeing how your pictures turned out after the fact and you would always have the unflattering ones as well. Sometimes I think its good to keep memories of that which embarrassed us, keeps us grounded to some degree.

I know

2006-05-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I haven't posted in awhile. I've gone back to working full-time again since the college year is done for the summer. PRAISE THE LORD! haha

In addition to that, I've been developing yet another story so that has been consuming a lot of time. I have the ambitious goal to have half of the story written by the end of May and have the book completed and thoroughly proofed by the end of summer. Admittedly, with this story, I have an emotional connection to it as I related greatly for the main character and there are somethings he experiences that are inspired by my own experiences in life. I can't delve into the story too much here as I don't really want my original idea stolen before I can try to get it published =P But if you're a friend I trust, I can tell ya. =P

I'm thinking of posting a blog soon about work stories of recent. The stories are very entertaining for me and keep me from going insane at work. Lots of interesting stories, they may come on my next post.

Cute Quote. =)

2006-04-23T15:14:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine, Melissa (not the Melissa that is my best friend, but a different one) was re-reading her diary and she told me of something she said in it when she was battling depression that I thought was cute and we both laughed about. Here it is:

"Maybe depression is just when the garbage men of your brain go on strike" - Melissa

=)

Mobile: My Experience

2006-04-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

I debated whether or not to write a blog about this concert experience as many of you have probably never heard of Mobile, but perhaps you will in the future. Mobile are a group of five guys from Montreal, kinda driving "techno-rock" in that their beat is very big and carries through a lot of their songs. Anyway, in addition to this, my brother Eric, he is friends with Christian "Criq" Brais, the rhythm guitarist of the band (by the way, they will be on Much on Demand on Friday evening if you want to check them out).

Anyway, due to Eric being friends with Christian (Eric sold him his delay pedal over eBay and they just became friends), Eric ended up getting four free tickets to see Mobile play at the Red Room on Richards by Gastown, with Stabilo opening for them. Yes, we were on the guestlist. The show was suppose to start at 8PM, so we decided to be fashionably late, (we being Eric, my friend Nick, Eric's friend Jenny and I. Anyway, so we walked past the long line of people waiting to get in and walked up to the bouncer and this was literally our experience, he was an idiot. Such a stereotypical idiot:

He was such a stereotypical bouncer. So we walked to the front of the line and the Bouncer just said, "what do you think you're doing?"

"We're on the guest list," said Eric.

"Are you now?" he said with a sneer.

To which Eric said, "yes, we are."

"Why is that?"

"Cause my friend is the guitarist for Mobile."

"Is that so? What's his name?"

Eric told him "Christian Brais" and the guy said, "oh, I don't have a clue what their name is anyway, I don't care"

Then he said, "hold on" and he walked inside the door and just stood there, didn't say anything, didn't look at anything and then came out when he was ready two minutes later and said, "yeah, go in, but I want to see ID from EVERYONE" (note stress on Everyone).

All in all, as I walked past him, I was just more convinced why bouncers are bouncers. They have no intelligence or tack, so they are good for nothing else work-wise other than being muscle-filled doormen. Mr. Bouncer, I don't even your life one bit, I pity you. I really do.

Anyway, so we got into the Red Room, which yes, is a nite club so it was my first trip to a club. I saw pictures of the Red Room before coming and I thought it looked pretty trendy. Was I ever wrong. I walked in and it looked like a dump. It looked like maybe a "high-end" bar from the ghetto, which was proud of its new cushions for its tables. The floors looked well used (as apparently it is a pretty popular place some nights). Anyway, there was nowhere to sit since we were fashionably late so we stood against a wall. We were right by the bar as well. I was the DD (Designated Driver), I always am cause I never drink and still never have tasted alcohol. Although, I did get water from the bar, where I was told that if I wanted anymore, I'd have to buy something. Apparently water is a hot commodity =P (Yes, I know why they said that).

As I said, the show was to start at 8PM, except it did not until 930PM. Stabilo opened, you may recognize them for such songs as "Everybody" or "Flawed Design" or maybe not. My friend Patrick, his cousin is the leader singer of Stabilo, but I've never met him. Anyway, they started with their show and played song after song after song, carefully leaving their two big songs until they end, which annoyed me. They interacted with the crowd a bit, but nothing too much. The sound was pretty good for Stabilo and nicely mixed. Anyway, they were done finally and for some reason, a lot of people started leaving the club. I think in Vancouver, people know Stabilo better than they know Mobile. Plus, Stabilo seems to be pretty well known in Vancouver. It seemed like the club went from full to 3/4rds full.

Anyway, after like 20-30 minutes, Mobile's set was ready and they started playing and as I said about their beat, it was loud and carried most of their tunes. Anyway, to be honest, Mobile's live show seems a little lacking. They are a new-ish band and the lead singer, Mat, he just didn't interact with the crowd enough, except for the usual BORING, cliche concert-speak crap. Such as, "How you all doin' tonight?", "How's Vancouver doin' tonight?", "You guys having a good time?", "we're so thrilled to be in Vancouver," or "we'll remember this night for the rest of our lives." Its just boring, mindless and everyone says it. Anyway, the guitarists and bassists seemed to have it down, but Mat was just kinda boring to watch. It was like a mix of Scott Stapp (Creed) dramatics mixed with an attempt to look like Bono (U2) and it just seemed fake and impersonal. I have no doubt that after touring for awhile, it'll come and they'll make an excellent live show. They just don't seem to be there yet, but there is a lot of potential in Mobile to become really good I believe, even amongst everything I've said.

So the show ended and it seemed kinda short, but they don't exactly have tons of material to play from so I guess it made sense. Then Mr. Bouncer came inside and right at 12 he came around telling everyone it was "go-time." Since when do clubs/bars close at 12???? He was hurrying the people out who were still in line to meet the band and everything. All in all, the guy is a big, dumb jerk in my mind. But nonetheless, I did meet Christian of Mobile and he seemed like a nice guy. Anyway, that was my experience.

Sticking It To The Man!!

2006-04-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

So I had my second to last final today, in Criminology (TERRIBLE COURSE) and I am nearly done at Capilano College. And I hate the parking situation at Cap, its nuts and its crazy expensive (at least to me, I hear UBC is worse). So....as I was walking from the class, I noticed a girl walking away from her car towards the parking ticket purchaser, so I decided on spur of the moment to stick it to the man (Cap College Parking Services) so I said, "Hey! Do you want my ticket?"

Her face lit up and said, "Sure!!" so I walked to my car and gave it to her and she was QUITE thrilled that I saved her $3. YES, The man had it stuck to him today!

....of course...the man stuck it back to me as I stopped by the Post Office on the way home and mailed my friend Janiece something. As I came out, the Recycling truck pulled up and decided to stop RIGHT in front of my car while it collected the recycling for 15 minutes. So the man got me back. I'll let you know who gets the next shot. =P

Buckley's: It Tastes Awful And It Works

2006-04-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

So I'm still sick and I was looking through the medicine cabinet and found the infamous Buckley's cough syrup. You probably remember their ads about how it taste awful, but it works. Well, I can confirm this. It tastes disgusting. Honestly, when I put it in my mouth it tasted like soap and felt like melted soap (or what I would imagine soap to be like in such a state) and then I swallowed it and then I felt a STRONG shot of aroma up into my nostrils and it actually scared me and I was wondering if I was having some super fast, intense allergic reaction, but no, that is just Mr. Buckley's cough syrup doing the trick. It was like the syrup just lathered my throat and now I've stopped coughing, or at least it has been cut down by 95-97% so yes. It does work...Its terrible stuff, it really is. I'm sure the scientists/pharmicists for Buckley's just scheme and plot how to make their syrup taste THAT much more awful!

Please Take Down Your Easter Bunny!

2006-04-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

I was watching the news the other night and they were talking about a secretary that worked for the City Council office of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is a very festive individual, as she puts up Christmas decorations, Saint Patrick's decorations, Halloween decorations, etc. up during each holiday. Well, since it is Easter, she decided to stick up some Easter decorations and chocolate eggs for guests.

At least, that was until the Human Rights Commissioner came through her office on the way to a meeting and requested that she take down the Easter bunny and other decorations (no crosses or religious symbols) as he said it was inappropriate for the city government to embrace any religious holiday in a secular country.

OH MY FREAKING GOSH!!! Its an Easter bunny, I don't find easter bunnies very nice in the first place. How is an Easter bunny a religious symbol?? There is no mention of the easter bunny in the crucifixtion or resurrection story of Christ, in what is the true easter story. How could he ask her to take them down (which she did) when it has nothing to do with any religion??

$25 says he, the Human Rights Commissioner of Saint Paul, wouldn't dare say it is wrong for us to have civic holidays commermorating Easter or Christmas since he'd actually feel the sting of that, he'd lose priceless holiday time. That certainly wouldn't fly with him, or more importantly, the general population. There might be another death occuring during the Easter season if he tried that, and that would be most unfortunate.

I Sound Like a Horse

2006-04-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

So I'm sick and I have no voice, yet I still have to work. I'm sure it sounds very attractive. Me having a raspy, and EVEN quieter voice than I already did. It comes at a less than pleasant time as I am studying for exams and studying is the last thing I want to do when sick. I've rented three movies today and I rented two yesterday. I have two final exams left, so at least I can be glad that the end is in sight. I also get to look forward to visiting my friend Janiece after my last exam (April 19th) sometime during the weekend of April 21-23 or so. But until then, its eight days away and I must work on studying and getting as much rest as I can. In case you are somebody reading from church, I won't be at church on Sunday (I'll arrange someone to do my PPT for me, don't worry, Lonni). I'm going to try to sleep in as I haven't really been able to sleep with my throat hurting so much.

With all of this not-so-pleasant stuff said, there are several things I really want to change about my life. I'm not really happy with how I am right now. I don't know if I'll go into much detail on here. Of what I will say here, I feel like sometimes I act different ways around different people. I guess I just wish I was consistent around everyone. Its not a matter of me being "two-faced," because I am not. I also feel like my language is getting worse (don't worry, I still have never sweared before...yes, its true. Joel has never uttered the F-bomb or the S-bomb or those ones). Its just like once you say something once, which I never really thought I would've said originally, it becomes so much easier to say it again, or even to say something worse that you have never said before. I don't think this is something that is regulated strictly to language. I've noticed the same pattern in somethings in me, as well as in other people as well. When you step over a boundary once, it is much easier to either punch a hole through the boundary to get a peek beyond it, or just walk over the boundary altogether. Its dumb, but it seems to be the norm (I don't say the "norm" so as to just accept it or anything. It just seems to be common, so greater respect should be given to boundaries).

I don't really have anything more to say.

Oh Bill

2006-04-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

Thought this was a tad-bit funny about Clinton....

Goodbye, My Capilano College

2006-04-06T20:31:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I have my last day of classes ever at Capilano College (however, I still do have finals) and I feel somewhat sad about it. I've invested two years of my life into Capilano College and now that time is coming to an end. I had my last group lunch with Stepfanie, Christina, Sarah and Vanessa. I had my last walk to class with Stepfanie. And tomorrow, I have my last timbits with Arlette during Criminology. We decided that since we won't be seeing much of each other (I'm sure we'll arrange a time to hang out) that we will pig out on timbits, cookies and also "Roll-up-the-rim-to-win" Tim Hortons coffee to see if we can win anything. Yes, silly I know.

There will be no more note passing with friends at Capilano College, no more worries about whether or not I'll catch the last possible bus home. No more picking Stepfanie up from the library for lunch, no more meeting in my old Math classroom with Sarah, Stepfanie, Christina and Vanessa and just talking about the randomest of things. No more complaining about excessively liberal professors, no more doodling and drawing out plans for World War IV between the US and China. No more getting sick from eating too much candy when we were not paying attention. No more humming songs while riding the bus, no more staring at people from the bus. No more writing blogs at Cap College, no more intensely thoughtful thinking sessions on the bus to and from Cap. No more easiness in talking to someone new at Cap.

Some of these things will be done at UBC, but not all. I'm going to have a blast at UBC and I'm looking forward to the challenge. There are so many memories at Capilano College though, and sadly, I never really took any pictures of it. I can go and take pictures of it anyday I want to though, so maybe in the future.

PS. In case you didn't notice, the title is a pun for fans of a certain musicians. =P

Rob Thomas: My Experience

2006-03-31T16:15:00.000-08:00

So I’m beginning my Rob Thomas concert experience before the concert has begun and it is still over eight hours away. Like the “drama” with the Killers concert of people not being able to come to the concert after all, a similar situation has occurred today. My friend Jenna was suppose to be going with me and it had been planned for the last three months that we would go together. Then this morning, I got the news that she would not be able to go. =( I really wish she could come, I was really looking forward to going with her. I think if I’m to be honest, I was more looking forward to hanging out with Jenna than seeing most of the concert (The song I REALLY want to hear by Rob Thomas is “Now Comes the Night” and if he plays that, then I shall be a happy boy).

Anyway, like I said, I’m really sad that Jenna could not make the concert. I wish she could, but she will not be able to. We’ll just have to make up for it and hang out sometime soon in the future. Nonetheless, when I found out this morning that Jenna would not be able to attend, I scrambled to find someone to come. Thankfully, my friend Stepfanie (yes, that is spelt right =P) said she would be able to come, so I won’t be a loner and plus, I’ll have a real swell time cause Stepfanie is loads of fun. =)

So we will be heading to the concert tonight and I shall continue the report of the Rob Thomas experience after the concert and I intend to take a lot of pictures unlike other concerts where I have been unable to due to fear of having my camera taken, but apparently they don’t mind the camera I’ll be bring in. =) So there shall be pictures for you to see! =)

---------

So I am back now from the Rob Thomas concert. Actually, it was last night and it is the morning now since I got home late from it. It was an excellent concert with many delightful surprises!

So I went with my friend Stepfanie. I picked her up at her house and visited with her parents while she finished getting ready and they are really nice people. =) We left for the concert early so we could make sure we could find it in case we got lost. We ended up getting there an hour early, but it was good cause we were able to get parking undernearth the theatre, so we didn't have to really talk much of any distance at night to get back to the car.

Then we got in and decided to go to the concession stand to get something to drink for the concert. It was rather humourous. Stepfanie bought a Koala juice/pop thingy for $3 (OUCH) and she didn't even get to keep the bottle, they poured it into a plastic cup. It reminded me of Guatemala in 2003 when I bought a Coca-Cola and they wanted to pour it into a plastic bottle, so I asked if I could pay more so I could drink from the bottle and they said yes. I bought a bottled water for during the concert and it was the tiniest bottle of water I have ever seen, yet I paid $2 for it.

Anyway, after that, we went upstairs in the waiting area and just stared at the cars driving by while we waited for doors to open. We talked to random stuff, like prom/grad, school and other stuff. Then it was time for doors to open up. So we went in and waited for half an hour til the show started. We attempted to take some pictures of us, kinda like the "we were there" type, but none of them were particularly fantastic of me, but Stepfanie's turned out well, haha. Anyway, we were goofs and it was lots of fun. =)

I found out several hours before the concert that Anna Nalick would be opening for Rob Thomas as she is opening for him across Canada. If you are not familiar with her, she has a hit on the radio called "Breathe (2 AM)" so maybe you'll recognize that. She was actually a really good open act. She was really silly and really cute. She popped all these little jokes and everything, all in all, she was just a lot of fun and I'm now considering purchasing her CD.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the concert was at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and I had never been there before and I was quite impressed. The acoustics were fantastic and the sound people were fabolous. For once, I could hear the words a singer is saying and the music doesn't overcome all of it. Its not the prettiest building to look at from the outside, but once the lights go out and the show is on, that was the least of my concerns.

Anyway, Rob Thomas eventually came on stage and we were all thrilled and he opened it up with "Something To Be" which I think is one of his underrated tracks on the album and I'm not sure why it was never released as a single yet (at least not when I wrote this). The stage, the lights and everything were excellent. Rob Thomas has an excellent supporting band. A very talented group of guys, after the second song, we got the marvellous surprise that Rob Thomas would be playing some Mathcbox Twenty songs!! He prefaced it by saying they were going to spend the next couple hours just "celebrating life" and I was thinking, "he only has an hours-worth of songs though" so with adding the Matchbox Twenty songs, he easily went over an hour, in fact, he went 2 hours and 15 minutes I believe. Some of them excellent Matchbox Twenty songs he did, he did solo on the acoustic guitar, like "Push," "3AM" and a couple of others. He did a sweet rendition of "Smooth" which I actually thought it was better than his version with Santana. He also played a song called "Tragedy" which he wrote but Marc Antony used for his own album. I was hoping that since he was pulling out the Matchbox Twenty material that he would play "Unwell" as it is my favourite Matchbox Twenty song, but to no avail. Okay, here is my BIG beef with the concert. It is something I was very disappointed about. It was the BIG reason why I wanted to go to the concert, so I was a little disappointed about it (I had an amazing time, don't worry!). Rob Thomas did not play "Now Comes the Night." I have been looking forward to hearing that for the last 2-3 months and he didn't play it. It would've made for a beautiful end to the concert. I just wish he had played it and I doubt he'll play it at any future Vancouver concerts, so I shall never be able to hear it. My disappointment in him not playing it ranks up there with my disappointment in U2 not playing "With or Without You" at their Vancouver concert in April of 2005. However, I plan to go to more U2 concerts and I expect that I should be able to hear it at least once in those.

In any event, the concert was a blast. I guess another bummer about it was seeing all the people who were trying to dance but really could not dance to save their lives. I know I can't dance, but I have enough self-respect that I don't bother trying and humilate myself, haha. I had an fantastic time and I will post some of the pictures for you to see!

Anna Nalick!

Rob Thomas

Rob Thomas

Week of Challenge

2006-03-31T16:14:00.000-08:00

This has been a very confusing week and with the last week of the semester and exams coming up, it is kind of nice to finally have some closure to the week as it comes to an end.

I was accepted to UBC and I received my letter in the mail on Monday afternoon. I am really looking forward to attending this coming fall. In addition to this, the registrar’s office at UBC sent me an e-mail recommending that I apply for a $5,000 scholarship due to my GPA and my current status (being a transferring student). So I scrambled to get the application completed as it required a somewhat lengthy letter from me to the selection committee about why I am deserving AND I needed to get three letters of reference to attest to my history of community service and my character. I handed the application in this morning so I hope and pray that I might be able to get strong consideration for it as the scholarship would greatly help me in funding my tuition since I may not earn enough money to attend UBC full-time and I might be able to only attend part-time.

Also, there has been extensive confusion with a friend but thankfully, we sorted out our issues last night over the phone and I am quite thrilled with the result. It required honesty and it forced me to be completely open and honest about what I was thinking about them. I am an honest person, meaning I don’t lie, however, I think sometimes, I intentionally withhold information from people, so in some ways perhaps I am not as open as I like to believe I am. The whole experience has challenged me to examine myself and see if my perception of myself is accurate. I’m truly grateful for that friend and I am glad that we were able to sort out a happy, mutual understanding. We will continue on to be good friends I am sure. =)

I also applied for a new job this week and I had a “mini-interview” and there will be two more interviews if they are actually interested in me. Admittedly, I am not good at interviews. For entry level positions, I have an excellent resume, thus if I just drop off a resume, I often get calls back for interviews. However, I don’t present myself very well to interviewers. I am just waiting for a phone call from them, so I really hope that I receive one soon. I think it would be a really great experience to work at the place I applied at and it pays well. It is in the top 20 of the Fortune 500 top companies to work for, so that also leads me to believe that it would be a terrific experience.

Its been a busy week for college as well as I had a presentation in Political Science on Tuesday about Chinese Political Organization and Structure. Yes, I know, it sounds terribly boring. It was terribly boring. I presented with my friend Nick and it was to be a 25 minute presentation total between the two of us. He went first, and I second. When he was done, it had been 30 minutes, so I just spoke for 10 minutes to keep from going over any longer than we had to. I also didn’t get to spend lunch with my normal lunch buddies this week due to presentation meetings. Thankfully, for my last week of the semester, I will be able to see my friends for Lunch both days.

That is another thing. This coming week is going to be my last week of classes ever at Capilano College. I don’t think it has really sunk into me yet. Perhaps in my focus of just getting to UBC, I never really dwelled on what I have at Capilano College. Yes, it is a VERY liberal institution of education, but I have made so many good friendships at Cap College. I started attending Cap with absolutely no friends. All of my friends who did attend Cap before me, they did not return to Cap. I remember wanting to drop out after the first week and feeling really sorry for myself since I didn’t talk to anyone in the first week. Then on the weekend, I had a change of attitude and realized that if I was going to make friends, I would have to take the initiative myself as nobody else wanted to, or else they were completely terrified to do so themselves. It was a challenging experience, to reach out my own little comfort shell, especially in an environment I wasn’t feeling totally secure in. I think my experience at Cap has been quite a significant experience for me in my life. It has developed my character in a way that I doubt I would’ve have expected. It helped to show me how to deal with opposition to my beliefs, how to take initiative with talking to new people and many other things. I think I was a social person before my Cap experience, but my experience at Cap has made me a MUCH more social person. It is not something I could have predicted. I guess sometimes I just need to accept that often, when I don’t know how, I am going to grow as a person in unexpected ways. In ways that you don’t really plan for, but when it occurs its always a pleasant surprise (if not immediately, then later in the future). I’ve made so many close friendships during the two years I had at Cap. First semester, I became good friends with Ria, James and Kelvin. Second semester, James and I continued to become better friends. Kelvin and I had a Friday morning class together where we spent more time paying attention to passing notes than the lecture. Summer semester, I met someone who I would end up working with at Sammy J. Peppers. Next semester, I met Stepfanie, Christina and then developed a good friendship with Sarah. Unfortunately, James left for SFU and I did not really get much of a chance to see Kelvin. I also met Stephanie (yes, a different one) and Bryan who have both become terrific friends themselves. And now, this semester, I have become really good friends with Stepfanie, Sarah and Christina! Nick and I also hit it off and have become good friends (who would’ve thought a staunch Conservative and a staunch Socialist, haha). And then of course, I met Arlette in my terrible Criminology course, she has been the only sanity for me in that class, it has been terrible. All in all, if I am to total all the friendships and acquaintances I’ve made since coming to Cap….*counts* of good friends, I have made 11 new ones in two years. Of overall acquaintances or general friendships, it would have to be (including the good friends) 37 total. It has been a great experience and I think after my last exam on April 19th, it will all hit me and I’ll realize what I am losing. I came with no friends and now I am leaving with many. Being thrown into these situations (granted, willingly and by my own accord) with little to no friends, it is exciting and I always look forward to such situations now as there is so much potential in them. They are just very exciting. =)

Sometimes I wonder if what I end up doing for work to support any future family that I have, if me getting into it will be totally unexpected. Like in the way that I could not have planned for it and it was just something that happened as a result of connections, contacts or seemingly being at the right place at the right time.

James Blunt

2006-03-21T21:37:00.000-08:00

I think James Blunt' album "Back to Bedlam" is fantastic, however, I am deeply saddened that I will not be able to attend his concert cause apparently it "sold out in seconds" and he will be here on April 3rd I believe? His voice is something unique and its just an all-around excellent album, with my favourite tracks being "Tears and Rain," "Cry," "You're Beautiful," and "Goodbye, My Lover."

If you haven't checked out the album beyond the radio hit, "Beautiful," I strongly recommend you do because there is so much that is great about the album. =)

James, if you are reading this, yo! =P

Just so you know...

2006-03-15T22:44:00.000-08:00

Bus drivers are my heroes. Specifically the West Vancouver and North Vancouver ones.

Professor Review

2006-03-10T17:07:00.000-08:00

I thought you might enjoy a review I wrote for a Professor at Capilano College, said review is below:

"Terrible teacher, the worst teacher I've had of 20 total. Teaches the course like a BAD high school course. Crams NDP ideology down your throat. Non-Socialists are are dead to her (Is this a politics course?) I would rather volunteer at the Seniors centre and scrub used bedpans for four hours than listen to her 'lecture' for four hours OVERRATED F-"

NOTE: There was a 350 character limit on it, so I had to chop grammar a bit. =P

Christians are Sexual Deviants? =|

2006-03-07T23:02:00.000-08:00

"Many people in the church are sexual deviants because they do not lead normal sex lives" - Laurel Whitney, Capilano College Professor of Criminology, said on March 2nd, 2006 in a lecture.

In fairness, Professor Whitney was talking in the context of Residential Schools and the sexual abuse of Indians, however, she did not seem to make an effort to make a distinction and instead made a gross generalization. Just a thought, however, I'm not exactly sure what a "normal sex live" pertains to?

Oscars!!!

2006-03-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I was quite thrilled to watch "Crash" win Best Picture at the Oscars this year. Although some may believe it is girly to watch the Oscars, I always enjoy it. Awards ceremonies like the Grammy's, I have no use for cause their effect on an artist's career seems to be minimal in comparison to winning an Oscar in their respective fields.

I was also thrilled to see Reese Witherspoon pick up the Oscar for Best Actress in "Walk the Line," which I was saddened to see did not even get nominated for Best Picture. I was also disappointed that Philip Seymour Hoffman did not live up to his apparent vow to bark his acceptance speech. I read somewhere that he swore to his film school buddies, I believe it was, that if he ever won an Oscar, his acceptance speech would soley be comprised of dog barking...maybe it was for the best.

On a side note, I found out recently from Doug Ten Napel that I conversed/argued with Josh Olson, writer of "A History of Violence" (an Oscar nominated film for various categories) on Doug Ten Napel's message board. It, however, was not exactly an "honour" as I was convinced that this person I was arguing at the time was a twit, in fact, I even told him he was an "irrelevent twit" at the time. By the way, this Josh Olson's screenname was "WinkieBinkie".....interesting....Anyway, Doug Ten Napel, an artist, author, writer and creator of such games as Earthworm Jim, Catscratch, the Neverhood, Earthboy Jacobus, Creature Tech, and Tommysaurus Rex. He knows his way around Hollywood and he is a man I greatly admire for his wisdom, bluntness, and perspective on our world. He knows about this Olson fellow because they have met several times and it has been acknowledged that Olson came on Doug Ten Napel's message board (which Doug is an active participant in), so it is weird to say that I conversed with the writer of a movie that I watched and thought was really good (except for a few really weird things in it that could've been done without). I guess he isn't an "irrelevent twit" in his industry anymore. Jokes on me.

Buses are the suck.

2006-03-01T21:56:00.000-08:00

Due to my "poorness" (or more appropriately, my inability to fund a car to drive to college), I have been taking the bus for my second year at college. There are some positives about it, but there is one hugely, massively, insanely, large negative. I'll cover the positives first off.

POSITIVE:
-Only have to pay $69 a month for a bus pass which covers all of my transportation within the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA), since I have a $2 Fast-track sticker (I have no reason during the school year to go outside of the GVA.
-My portion of the car bill is MUCH smaller than it is when I am driving fulltime to college (we rigourously divide the costs of driving to the kilometer of usage)
-I can study on the bus before a big midterm, final or quiz since I do not have to worry about navigating through traffic.
-I have no stereo or radio to listen to, thus I have plenty o' creative thought to do, which has been quite productive.
-I have no responsibility for any possible car accident as I am not driving, thus there is no chance of me ruining the insurance on the cars and increasing premiums (another positive could be that if the bus gets into an accident and I am hurt, I could legally sue Translink as well as ICBC so the money made, if I won, would be double. =P)
-I actually have a ride to college and do not have to walk at all

Now onto the negatives.

NEGATIVE:
-BIG ONE, it takes 105 minutes (an hour and 3/4rd) to get to college from my home), it takes 103 minutes to get home. However, on Fridays, it takes me 130 minutes to get home.
-I have to wait typically 15-20 minutes at each bus stop to catch the next buses in the FREEZING Canadian wintery cold.
-I cannot offer friends rides home as a kind gesture (honestly, this one bothers me)
-There is very little flexibility in time for me to catch the buses as I catch the first possible bus to college and due to my college schedule, I can only make the VERY LAST bus home after college possible. This further stinks because I can't spend time with friends after college at all due to the rigidness of my class schedule (partially my fault since I freely selected the courses I guess)
-There are no seatbelts.
-Many people on the bus smell (no, please do not call me "so Bourgeois" =P I just don't like smelly people and I hate it when I am smelly)
-The bus engine is quite loud, thus the constant drone of it for many minutes can be bothersome on the ears.
-Often times, the bus passengers are very loud and noisy (often the loud ones talk about things I most certainly do not want to hear about, ie. "who they did last night" *shutters*)
-The young teenage girls (12-14 years old) sit down next to me and decide that I am a good person to talk at (yes, talk at). In addition to this, they decide that I am a good victim for them to practise their flirting on. *shudders again* Seriously, I don't want to get charged with being a pedophile. It would be especially frustrating since I'm not a willing participant.
-Hearing teenagers talking about all of their drug experiences and how "plastered" they got and how awesome it was. It just makes for a depressing ride home hearing about them wasting their lives on simply satisfying their crude and vile pleasures.
-There is no radio that I can catch up on the newest songs (Yes, I know I posted something earlier about this being positive, but it could be either).

So yes, feel free to tell me whether you think it is indeed a good experience or bad experience for me on the buses based on my "analysis" of bus riding. =P

Brokeback Infidelity

2006-02-26T12:34:00.000-08:00

EXCELLENT post by Will Drummond. Check it out and read more of his blog at this link. The following is his post on the blog. Let me know what you think about his thoughts. (HT/Will Drummond)

Here's a story: John and Cindy met just before John was supposed to get married. They connected right away; soul mates, in fact. When John first caught Cindy's eye when she served him breakfast at the diner that first morning, he knew he'd met someone special. Before returning home from his business trip, they spent every night together, making the most passionate love of their lives and sharing their deepest secrets. Neither one of them had ever felt so safe or such a strong connection with another human, nor would they ever.

Because of his marital arrangement, John returned home, got married, had kids, and slaved away at the corporation he worked for. Cindy, too, eventually got married and had a child.

Four years later, Cindy received a postcard from John, stating that he'd like to see her, since he'd be in her area for another business trip. Cindy was delighted. She told her husband she was just meeting with an old friend from high school. When Cindy wouldn't return home at night while John was in town, she just told her husband she had gotten too drunk to return home, which was a lie. John and Cindy returned to the same motel from four years before to rekindle the romance that felt as if it had left off just yesterday.

Years passed and they continued in this pattern. John would come up as he was able to get away from home. Cindy wanted John to leave his wife, but because of societal attitudes toward infidelity and divorce, plus he had his job to keep up. Both of John and Cindy's spouses eventually found out about the affairs, Cindy's husband filing for divorce while John's wife whiled away in painful silence.

After a particularly painful parting, in which Cindy grew angry at John for not leaving his wife, a long lapse in communication occurred. Cindy finally decided to end the silence and sent John a postcard, only to have it returned with a stamp reading "Deceased" over her handwritten note. She called John's wife, who said he was killed in a car wreck on his way home from a business trip.

Cindy was devastated. Her soul mate was gone, her spouse was gone, all because she couldn't be with John. It was society's fault, really. If John wouldn't have had to worry about what people would have said if he left his wife because he was having an affair, they would have been together, at her little house near the diner where she was a waitress. John had always dreamed of owning a restaurant and they'd talked about buying it, running it as a couple if John left his wife.

How much sympathy is there for Cindy and John? Why is there sympathy? Is cheating really wrong?

Now consider this: you've just read the plot outline from Brokeback Mountain. I'm not kidding. Change the names and events, and it's the same story. Yes, I've seen the film and read the short story. Both are finely crafted works of art, no doubt, though the film is highly overrated.

The story for Brokeback bothers me not because it's about gay people. Homosexuality exists, it should be dealt with. However, using a story where the characters' desires override that of their commitment to those they have committed their lives to, then I'm sorry, you've lost my sympathy. I'm amazed that so many are lauding this movie as fantastic. I gues it shouldn't be such a surprise, given the response to The Bridges of Madison County several years ago.

Society is becoming more and more self-focused. Look at the protagonist in Brokeback. Look at Eric Bana in Munich. Societal and governmental constructs are consistently being blamed for the state of people's suffering, yet these people do nothing in their power to end it. They become victims. Any good screenwriter will tell you that stories about victims are no way to go. Even Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, a morally ambiguous character, had some morality to him in a world gone bad. Jules in Pulp Fiction sees a message from God and takes it to heart and leaves crime. He doesn't blame a bad upbringing or the fact that he's black that he's a criminal and stays a criminal.

So am I telling gay people to buck up and not be gay anymore? Yes. It's an incredibly over simplified statement, but yes. But I say it in the same way that I would tell a a thief to stop stealing, spouses to put their selfish desires aside for each other, or a person driving unsafely to consider be careful. I see it as a sin. I didn't make this up. Life would be easier if I didn't have to worry about right and wrong. But I believe I need a power and authority outside myself to govern this world, myself included. The leader I choose to follow tells me that homosexuality is wrong, and I believe thus. I don't hate gay people. I just believe it's wrong. And I also believe, that as the bad driver can correct his ways, a couple work together, and a thief to make penance, I believe that gay people can be forgiven.

I hope you all will take the time to go and see the film Capote, a film that takes an honest look at humanity.

When Will It Truly Be 'Never Again'?

2006-02-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

I read the transcript of a speech given by Simon Deng, Former Sudanese Slave, Christian Human Rights Activist, speaking out against the world's inaction on the on-going genocide in Sudan. It is quite a read, check it out here.

Here is a quote I wanted to highlight:

"Not long ago – only yesterday in historical terms – after the Nazis slaughtered millions of innocent Jews, the UN was created. At that time, standing on the ashes of the victims of Auschwitz and the other places of torture and mass-murder, the world said, “Never Again.” The words seemed to mean something at that time; they seemed filled with purpose and power. It appeared as though a brave new world was coming into being in which such atrocious evil would never again be permitted by civilized nations. When Pol Pot slaughtered his own people in Cambodia we returned to that phrase and once more said, “Never again.” But in Sudan, when 1.5 million were lost in a genocide perpetrated by the Islamists, nobody said anything at all. Then Rwanda came, and even though no one lifted a finger to save the 800,000 so horribly slaughtered, yet again, everybody said “Never Again”. In Sudan, in the second genocide in the South, 2 million were being slaughtered up until two months ago in the name of jihad by the Islamic government in Khartoum. Once more, there was a deathly silence.

When are we going to say “Never Again” with respect to the people of Sudan? And more to the point, when – at long last – will the international community act on the meaning of those words?"

In many ways, it is disturbing that I can hear of the terrible atrocities occuring in Sudan, yet I am freely able to go on about my life without feeling the burden of the gravity of what is really going on. I want to, but perhaps I am simply pessimistic about what my own voice and actions can really do. The African Union's troop deployment in Sudan is completely inadequate (last I read, there was 150 Rwandan troops and 150 Nigerians). They had hoped for several thousand troops, but the African Union does not have the financial means to support such an undertaking. Meanwhile, the Sudanese government continues to insist that only African troops to monitor the "ceasefire."

The UN was reported to have stated that they were preparing to send troops into the region, however, it was a false alarm. Instead, what they were preparing to do was have a dialogue about the Sudanese situation. What it says to me is that we are looking at several more years, if ever, before the international community decides to stop this and live up to its so-called commitment to never again let genocide occur again.

In the Post-Iraqi War era (or perhaps current Iraqi War era), it seems even less likely that the international community will send in an armed force to end the genocide. With the US government spending millions and billions of dollars trying to reconstruct Iraq, there seems to be few world governments that are willing to bear the cost that it would require to try to solve the Sudanese problem and attempt to bring stability to the country in turmoil from civil war.

Human Rights are simply not a priority for the international community. Admittedly, it is ludicrious to suggest that there should be an international "police force" to specifically root out governments that grossly violate basic human rights through genocide, ethnic cleansing, slaughters, etc. It is completely impractical financially. However, when we have a situation in Sudan that has caused the death of 3.5 million South Sudanese Christians (this does not even include the deaths of those in the North). If nothing is done soon, then the Jewish Holocaust will be passed by this genocide in terms of body count.

All in all, it is depressing (which is selfish for me to say since I merely experience discomfort in emotion, while these Southern Sudanese experience excruitiating pain and discomfort).

Marriage Laws Changing AGAIN

2006-02-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I always thought it was a silly fallacy of the "slippery slope" that people use to say that after the same sex could get married to each other, we would see people marrying animals. However, I have apparently been proven wrong by a Sudanese council of Elders who have forced a man to marry a goat as a result of, lets just say, "carnal exchanges" with the goat.

"Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat" - BBC

On top of this, a couple of months ago, a woman recently married a Dolphin happily.
"Brit Jew marries dolphin" - YNet News

I think its safe to say that the use of the "slippery slope" in argument is now legit. =P

Jack Layton and Orange Ties

2006-02-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

I had a presentation today in Criminology and I completely disagreed with what I was presenting. However, in this class, the professor gives you the research to present on and you aren't suppose to do any research for it. Anyway, for Canadians, the professor has continued to profess her love for NDP social policies, which I disagree with.

Anyway, to cut to the chase and how this ties into Jack Layon, I was speaking in a group of four about race and class in relation to poverty and crime. So at the start of the presentation, the professor asked me, "Is there any significance to the colours of dress?" I was wearing all black with a bright Orange Tie.

To which I said, "Umm, not really, I just try to wear my Orange tie whenever possible...ummm....do you mean like the fact that I'm wearing an Orange Tie and Jack Layton almost always seems to be wearing an Orange Tie? Or what?"

"Oh no, I wasn't thinking of anyone or anything in particular, just curious," said my professor.

I went about my presentation which favours heavily towards NDP social policy for dealing with crime, inequality, poverty, etc. etc. All in all, it was much worse "propaganda" than the NDP would probably even dare throwing out there (okay, maybe that is an exaggeration). So when I handed in my article review paper, she said, "Alright, Joel, I now see why you asked if I thought you were trying to dress like Jack Layton" and we shared a laugh.

So even though she agreed with the material I presented, she had a laugh.

Intellectual Laziness

2006-02-19T00:14:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a short post, I promise. In some sense, it is just a mini-rant.

It really irks me when Christians say something to the effect of "I can't prove the existence of God and you can't disprove his existence," or when Atheists say something similar like, "I can't prove that God does not exist, but you can't prove that he exists." To me, it is pure intellectual laziness. It is essentially a statement of either, a) I am not smart enough to convince you, or b) I am too lazy to try to convince you.

Surely, if we are rational individuals, we should not be immune to good logic and reasoning. Are both parties so lazy as to admit that they will not listen to well-thought out reason? If someone has a good argument then they should not be afraid to present it to another hopefully rational person.

Anyway, to me, when someone says one of the statements to me, I almost find it offensive because it presupposes that I am an irrational person who refuses to listen reason.

Former Iraqi High-Ranking Official talks about Iraq.

2006-02-15T22:21:00.000-08:00

I found this interview via another blog that I read regularly, check it out. It goes against what you'll hear in the Iraq War hating media and public of today. I have selected and posted a few parts that I thought were interesting to read. (HT/Ryan Mauro of Worldthreats.com):

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The Changed Baathist: Interview with Ali Ibrahim Al-Tikriti

Ali Ibrahim al-Tikriti was a southern regional commander for Saddam Hussein’s Fedayeen militia in the late 1980s and a personal friend of the dictator. Units under his command dealt with chemical and biological weapons. He was known as the “Butcher of Basra” due to his campaigns and defected shortly before the Gulf War in 1991. This interview aims to gain some insight into the current situation in Iraq.

RM: Many observers say the Syrian and Iraqi Baath Parties did not trust each other and were rivals until around 2000. How serious were the disagreements between Syria and Saddam Hussein?

IT: The disagreements [between Syria and Iraq] were not as dramatic as many would lead you to believe. Yes, they were deep enough that Iraq and Syria could never move in the direction of forming one pan-Arab nationalist state but both remained the closest of allies. The ideologies of both were identical in almost every respect but the biggest problem was with the fact that Saddam and Assad were so alike they couldn't bear each other in terms of sharing power.

RM: What can you tell us about Iraqi sponsorship of terrorists, from Palestinian groups to Al-Qaeda?

IT: Iraq had sponsored Palestinian militant organizations for the longest time with logistical and some material support...As far as Al-Qaeda is concerned this support was limited for a long time, mainly due to the fact that Al-Qaeda had the hopes of creating an Islamic empire while Saddam wanted a secular Arab nationalist empire. They only really came to terms in the mid-90's due to the fact that both knew they shared the same short term enemy. Once they came to terms on this Saddam provided Al-Qaeda with intelligence support and whatever money or munitions they could provide. Saddam has had very long standing contacts in the black market as well as with Moscow and would provide whatever munitions he could through these contacts.

RM: Is it true the United States helped bring Saddam Hussein to power, as some allege, and then arm him with WMDs?

IT: This is absolutely ludicrous. I was in the Ba'athist Revolution who received support from the Soviet Union because of the socialist ideology behind it. The Soviet Union openly supported and backed the Ba'athist revolution in Iraq at the time and I am sure you can find news articles about it in European press agencies and others at the time. I was there helping with the revolution and worked on two occasions with Soviet KGB officials to help train us...The United States never directly gave us any WMDs but rather ingredients. They were not mixed and these 'ingredients' could have been easily used for commercial use but were rather used to build low life chemical weapons.

RM: Why do you think Iraq's weapons of mass destruction are in Syria? Why didn't he use them or simply destroy them before the war?

IT:

I know Saddam's weapons are in Syria due to certain military deals that were made going as far back as the late 1980's that dealt with the event that either capitols were threatened with being overrun by an enemy nation. Not to mention I have discussed this in-depth with various contacts of mine who have confirmed what I already knew...Saddam knew that the United States were eventually going to come for his weapons and the United States wasn't going to just let this go like they did in the original Gulf War. He knew that he had lied for this many years and wanted to maintain legitimacy with the pan Arab nationalists. He also has wanted since he took power to embarrass the West and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. After Saddam denied he had such weapons why would he use them or leave them readily available to be found? That would only legitimize President Bush, who he has a personal grudge against. What we are witnessing now is many who opposed the war to begin with are rallying around Saddam saying we overthrew a sovereign leader based on a lie about WMD. This is exactly what Saddam wanted and predicted.

RM: What can you tell us about Iraqi and Iranian relations? There have been reports that small amounts of Iraqi WMDs went to Iran and that Iran is currently helping the Iraqi insurgency.

IT:

The reports on weapons being sent to Iran are absolutely false. They have no basis and are written by people who have no knowledge of Middle Eastern affairs or they are being written by people who are just intellectually dishonest. As far as the support for the insurgency today, there is no doubt in my mind that Tehran is backing the Islamist insurgency of the Shiites. Iran would want nothing more than a destabalized Iraq, not because they want to control Iraq as much as they want something to throw at the United States politically on the international stage.

RM: On what levels did Iraq and Libya cooperate? Some reports indicate Iraq was involved in Libya's nuclear program.

IT:

Iraqi scientists were turned over to Libya along with many documents and research from Iraq on nuclear weapons. There is no doubt that Saddam was attempting to use Libya as a laboratory to further his nuclear development just like he was attempting to do by sending his weapons to Syria. Saddam knew after the Gulf War he needed to start shipping his weapons and programs outside of his borders to avoid detection which is exactly why Saddam became so emboldened and laughed at the West every time he stood in front of the camera. If you were to compare him in the 80's and 90's you would see a much more confident and defiant Saddam in the latter due to the fact he knew there was nothing to materially pin him on within the borders of Iraq.

IT:...My criticism was aimed at the politicians on the Hill who are beginning to run the war from Congress and taking this role from the military...[with] poll numbers down for the Iraq war, the politicians are sticking their fingers in the air and they are wanting to cut and run essentially and isolate themselves from the war...There is much more progress in Iraq today than there was in Vietnam when we pulled out than...[I see a] serious escalation in terrorism to continue a propaganda war from Iraq to persuade the politicians to cut and run. Zarqawi and the rest have been attempting to do this from day one and they are getting closer to their goal if you look at the sentiment within the Senate alone...We can not take the chance of allowing another Vietnam to occur because this will be the Mujahadeens victory over the Soviet Union to the 10th power

Mohammed Cartoon Controversy

2006-02-11T12:46:00.001-08:00

As a Christian, I find the cartoon depicitions of Mohammed offensive. They are not simple little cartoons of Mohammed, rather they depict him with all the stereotypes that prevail about Islamic terrorists. However, with all of this said, I find the response to these cartoons perhaps even more offensive. In case you haven't seen the news in the past few weeks or live under a rock, Muslims in Syria responded with protests and torched the Danish and Norwegian embassies there. In Turkey, a Muslim man stormed into a Catholic church and shot the Priest dead, while saying "Allah Akbar". In Lebanon, Muslims also protested and then proceeded to burn the Danish embassy there. In Iran, the government and newspapers have sanctioned, in response to these Mohammed cartoons, have commissioned a national contest for cartoonist to submit cartoons denying the Holocaust and the top 12 will be published. In London, Muslims protested the cartoons with signs saying that "The real 9/11 is coming to Europe". and also calling for the beheading of any who blasphemes Mohammed. (Click on the link for more disgusting signs)

Even amongst these terrible escalations of violence and protests, the mainstream media refuses to show the cartoons to show the context. In many sense, I completely understand them. It is disrespectful to show such blasphemous depicitions of any religious leader or religious symbol. However, I am bothered that they do not show the same "grace" to the disgusting depicitions of Christ, or other Christian figures or symbols, I see regularly published in all forms of mainstream media. I cannot understand why there is a double standard other than perhaps hypothesizing that maybe it is the fact that as a Christian, we are told to turn the other cheek and when we are "persecuted," it really isn't that bad (I say "persecuted" because this form of "persecution" does not compare to what is regularly done to Christians in Muslim countries, we have it good here. If you want to read of the Persecution of Christians worldwide, scroll to the bottom), therefore we do not react violently. Or it could also be that the mainstream media is fearful of the backlash or protests from Islamic communities. All the while, Christian symbols and figures seem free-game for ridicule unfortunately.

I also understand the position of many who say the cartoons should be published and shown by the media. It seems kind of silly to show all the protests and violence that resulted from the cartoons if you don't ever see the cartoons yourself and understand the "context." It is not like these cartoons are unavailable to the media to use, they will not be charged for copyright infringements or anything. They are widely available to publish. I could publish the cartoons myself on my blog, but I choose not to. If you want to see them for yourself, you have the freedom to see them and make up your own mind about the controversey. Click here and scroll down a bit, if you choose to see the cartoons yourself.

One of the other particularly frustrating things about this whole controversey is the response of "moderate" Muslims. I often hear from people that the key to crushing Islamic Radicalism, a.k.a. Islamofascism, is to get the moderate Muslims on our side. Unfortunately, moderate Muslims do not seem to be very interested in speaking out against the radicals actions (such as torching the embassies, murdering, etc). Their voices are all too silent. Charles Krauthammer had something interesting to say about this:

What passes for moderation in the Islamic community — “I share your rage but don’t torch that embassy” — is nothing of the sort. It is simply a cynical way to endorse the goals of the mob without endorsing its means. It is fraudulent because, while pretending to uphold the principle of religious sensitivity, it is interested only in this instance of religious insensitivity.

So in that sense, that is why I use quotation marks when I speak of moderates. I hate to say it, but the Muslims who seem closest to what we, as Westerns, would define as a moderate is probably someone who would be consider a liberal by other Muslims. Krauthhammer also had this to say,

A true Muslim moderate is one who protests desecrations of all faiths. Those who don’t are not moderates but hypocrites, opportunists and agents for the rioters, merely using different means to advance the same goal: to impose upon the West, with its traditions of freedom of speech, a set of taboos that is exclusive to the Islamic faith. These are not defenders of religion but Muslim supremacists trying to force their dictates upon the liberal West...Have any of these “moderates” ever protested the grotesque caricatures of Christians and, most especially, Jews that are broadcast throughout the Middle East on a daily basis?

There are accusations from Radical Muslims that the West is an intolerant bunch of individuals who have a hatred towards everything Islam. I completely disagree. First of all, if they are going to make accusations of such, they should make sure their own closest clean. Jews are made out to be "sons of pigs" and Christians are regularly hunted down and slaughtered. Krauthhammer lists some other examples of Islamic nations intolerance,

[How about]...the sermons on Palestinian TV that refer to Jews as the sons of pigs and monkeys? The Syrian prime-time TV series that shows rabbis slaughtering a gentile boy to ritually consume his blood? The 41-part (!) series on Egyptian TV based on that anti-Semitic czarist forgery (and inspiration of the Nazis), “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” showing the Jews to be engaged in a century-old conspiracy to control the world?

The depictions I read of and see regularly of Christians and Jews is offensive. As I mentioned earlier, the Iranians have commissioned a response to the Mohammed cartoons by having a contest to publish 12 cartoons that deny the Holocaust.

The mainstream media doesn't help the controversey by its double standard. For example, as Krauthhammer also makes mention of,

And these [Muslim] “moderates” are aided and abetted by Western “moderates” who publish pictures of the Virgin Mary covered with elephant dung and celebrate the “Piss Christ” (a crucifix sitting in a jar of urine) as art deserving public subsidy, but who are seized with a sudden religious sensitivity when the subject is Muhammad.

This is made further true by a recent magazine coverpage published by Polish magazine called Machina, which had Madonna's face inserted into the Lady Madonna painting with one of Madonna's children's face imposed on the face of baby Jesus. Catholics are outraged, but as Michelle Malkin stated,

But calls to behead the magazine's publisher, execute the artists, and annihilate Poland have been noticeably absent

How could that be? Surely since Catholics are mad they, too, would be protesting this publication's offices or even burning Polish embassies around the world? No? They aren't? How could that be? I believe in part it has to do with our cultural values of tolerating dissent and of those things we disagree and even find offensive. Someone said to Cliff Cramp, Professor of Art at Californian State University, that the Western nations and mainstream media needs to understand the culture of Arab nations and respect. To which, Cramp resonded,

...when some one asks me to understand a culture of violence, then I'll throw it right back and ask them to understand a culture of freedom.

If these Islamic countries want to have their cultures respected for their violence and rioting, then they should do likewise and respect the freedoms we have. This whole cartoon controversy almost passed by when the cartoons were published way back in September of 2005, but unfortunately, some Danish Muslim clerics/Imans decided to take the cartoons and going on a "crusade" to stir up Islamic dissent in Arab nations and pass them out in leaflets to incite outrage against Western society.

Something I really do not understand about these Muslims who are protesting is this: Mohammed has been depicted in an offensive and disgusting form, so Muslims in some Arab nations riot and protest using violence and destruction to send their message. Their prophet has been made fun of by some Westerners. However, when Islamic terrorists run airplanes into buildings slaughtering thousands, in the name of Allah, when terrorists behead Westerns, like that of Nick Berg, in the name of Allah, when terrorists bomb the London Subways, in the name of Allah, when terrorists bomb Spanish train stations, in the name of Allah, when terrorists slaughter hundreds of innocent tourists in the Far East, in the name of Allah, when terrorists call for the destruction of America, Europe and Israel, in the name of Allah, there is little tono condemnation about Muslims. Where are the massive riots and protests of Muslims against those who dirty and tarnish the name of Allah, their almighty? Where are the condemnations against those who soil the name of Allah? Where are the immediate fatwas against radical Islamic terrorists? Is it because the terrorists are Muslims themselves, so it really isn't that bad, but it is terrible if Westerns do/say anything disgraceful about Islam? It took months for any Islamic leader to put out a fatwa against Osama bin Laden after 9/11 and even when he did, he spoke as a minority rather than for the majority. However, when these cartoons were spread around the Arab world, there were many fatwas issued immediately against many Western nations. When infamous Christian Pat Robertson suggested the US government assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez or that Israeli PM Ariel Sharon's strokes were the act of God for him negogiating with Palestinians and giving up Arab land, he was immediately condemned and denounced by Christian groups and Western leaders.

Essentially, the Western cultural values and Arab-Islamic Cultural values oppose each other. It is not something that will be overcome by simply being tolerant, in fact, this is part of the problem. We have becoming tolerant of that which is intolerant.

UPDATED: Christian persecution links. NOTE: None of these stories are particularly easy to stomach, so read with caution. It is not for the weak stomach.

Damare Garang - Sudan
Rhanja Masih - Pakistan
Yubelina - Indonesia
Pastor John Lasu - Sudan
Parvez Masih - Pakistan
Pastor Ezzat Habib - Egypt
Rev. Alavi - India
Ghorban Tori - Iran

UPDATED #2: I just found out that due to my mispelling of the word "controversy" into "controversey", when people searched about the cartoon controversy, mine was one of the first sites to show up (#1 on CNN....). However, it is kinda a sad title to have since it is a result of my own mistake. So my blog traffic should slow down for all of you who can't spell either and tried finding info on something you misspelt as well. =P

Marijuana & Cigarettes

2006-02-03T17:45:00.000-08:00

Most people I know, including even the users themselves, believe that cigarettes are sick and disgusting. The idea of inhaling smoke to sooth someone just seems bizarre how it came about. Growing up as kids, we were constantly being told "don't smoke, don't do drugs" and messages like that.

Now in Canada, there is a relatively large movement to legalize Marijuana. I can't understand this. We tend to acknowledge that smoking is bad, yet many of those same people, who believe cigarettes are bad, are advocating that Marijuana be legalized. I realize that the properties of marijuana and tobacco are different. I've had friends tell me that there is no studies that show that marijuana is bad for your health (not true, I've read studies that have shown that, at least long-term, Marijuana use can affect the health of the brain and can stunt the brain development in minors). Perhaps a reason why there is few studies about it is that it is hard to conduct these studies since it is an illegal substance. Thus, it is silly to say that there are no health side effects from marijuana-use as there has not been enough studies to suggest there isn't.

I realize people have a legal choice to smoke cigarettes, but I just wish we could do away with them. To have people suggest that we should ALSO have pot-use legal just seems like a complete step-backwards. Regardless of statements that pot-use would be less popular if it was legalized, since, according to these people, is only the drug of choice cause its forbidden (I think this is a little far-fetched. Teenagers don't stop smoking cigarettes once they are of legal age to own and purchase them, because they are addicted to them. Marijuana has soothing properties, I see no reason why to doubt someone could get addicted to marijuana).

I apologize for not writing a more thorough blog on this, but it was just something I was thinking about today at college. I don't really have time at the moment to write a better blog on this for now.

Coldplay: My Experience

2006-01-26T23:59:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of going to Coldplay’s first of two concerts last night at GM Place in Vancouver. It was a pretty pricey ticket, but after having enjoyed in the concert experience, I can say I hold no regrets about the funds spent.

I came from college and went to Sushiman’s Japanese Restaurant with my brother, Brian, Karsten and his girlfriend. Then we started to head towards GM Place and we got there about an hour early. Unfortunately, it was pouring with rain and although I brought an umbrella, I allowed someone else to use it. I was soaking wet, but I have a feeling I will forget this eventually, while I’ll remember the Coldplay experience. Anyway, so we got there an hour early and just sat and waited as the show did not start until 8PM. I ended up “connecting” with my friend Jenna who was had floor seats with her boyfriend, while I sat on the bowl. We essentially text messaged each other until the concert started. Much fun!

Chris Martin graced us all with his appearance early to introduce Fiona Apple, who was the opening act. I must admit, I’m not particularly a huge fan of Fiona Apple, but I don’t particularly dislike her either. I don’t think I’d ever buy her CD, but I suppose it might be nice background music. Her show went until about 9PM, so an hour of her performance. There was a long intermission between Fiona Apple and Coldplay, I was getting more and more eager as my brother Brian can attest to.

Then finally, the time came. At approximately 9:40PM, Coldplay came out with a massive countdown occurring on the massive screen behind them. The first song was “Square One,” which begins the X & Y album. I can’t recall the exact song order, nor will I bore you such. As for a rundown on the “songage,” the three absolute best songs of the performance in my opinion were “The Scientist,” “In My Place,” and “Fix You.” I’ll come back to those in a minute. They played a marvellous rendition of “Yellow” which I thought was better than the album version. Near the end of the song, massive yellow ballons were released from the rafters containing golden-yellow glitter. The balloons would eventually explode as the crowd pushed the massive balloons around. Quite epic. Later in the concert, Coldplay played The Scientist, which was just spectacular. Its one of the two songs that I had been looking forward to hearing the most, I’m not exactly sure if I can say anything in particular for my reasons beyond that it is an amazing song that has been masterfully written with excellent lyrics. The piano is so haunting to me and it just brings back memories of listening to the song over the past couple years since its release.

Still progressing in the concert, they played Trouble, which I was a little disappointed in since the sound guys seem to not give the piano enough volume for it. The piano volume was great on most of the songs, except Trouble and Clocks. If you are familiar with Clocks, you’ll realize that it is essentially entirely based around the piano, so that was a little disappointing, but hopefully the sound guys get their act together for the rest of the tour. Back to the positive things, Politik was another fabulous song, which they played near the beginning. Very well done.

One of the better songs of the night, which I neglected to mention earlier was Talk. Talk was a song that I got the chance to hear about four months before it was released as I came across an unreleased (and I guess unauthorized one too) version of it. I do rather prefer the unreleased one over the album version when listening at home, however, the job they did at performing the album version at the concert was fantastic. (For those who have not hear the unreleased one, it is much mellower and slow. It is rumoured that Coldplay re-wrote the song after finding out that this unreleased version got out by some form of mistake or mishap. The performance of the album version was just amazing and has given me new respect for the song as I had in the past tired of hearing it since it followed my favourite song on X & Y, Fix You.

Skipping ahead a bit, Coldplay said good night, although everyone in the building knew that they had not played two of their bigger hits yet, In My Place & Fix You. So after a LONG round of clapping, Coldplay finally came out. I don’t recall which song they played once they came out, but the second one was In My Place and it was just so awesome hearing it live with the loud kick drum and bass to resound behind it as support. Very epic. On top of this, Chris Martin, to the surprise of everyone in the building, jumped down into the floor seating area and ran along the outside of it (with only two security guards). My friend Jenna, that I mentioned earlier, was seated at the very back left corner of the floor seating ended up hitting/touching Chris Martin’s shoulder as he ran by, much to her delight. It was fun seeing her ecstatic. =) After Chris Martin passed her, he jumped up on a big stereo case in the back and continued singing In My Place. Now I was a little worried for his person safety and his pants, as people starting swarming towards him and he only had two security guards to protect him. People were hugging his leg, grabbing/touching what they could of his socks, then finally, he got down and went back on stage. Besides the perhaps over-the-top-idolizing of that moment, In My Place was terrific. Then much to the delight of Brian, Karsten, Kristen (Karsten’s girlfriend) and I, Coldplay decided to end with Fix You. A definite highlight of the show and a terrific way to end. Just like in the music video of Fix You, Chris Martin swung a lightbulb and finally released and all the lights on stage went and it was just fantastic. The song, for me, just says a lot about what I’ve been thinking the last couple of months and beyond that, its just an amazingly, emotional song. I loves it.

So all in all, it was a fantastic show and I highly recommend it for anyone else considering going on the Twisted Logic Tour as it is called. Well worth the price of admission and I would have to say that this Coldplay experience would probably rate as my 2nd favourite concert experience overall, just behind the amazing U2 show I experienced last May. Go see Coldplay, support an amazing band.

UPDATE: If you want to read the review by my good friend Scott, click here

Recent Canadian Politics for those with a Short Memory

2006-01-22T20:23:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking the Conservative Party of Canada got Canada into debt, then you are mistaken.

The Liberal Party of Pierre Trudeau were massive spenders leaving the country in a massive deficit. Brian Mulroney, as a Progressive Conservative Party absorbed the deficit, and, unlike what many other leaders may have done, he did not make much of an effort to cut the deficit. Instead, he increased spending which increased the economic performance marginally. Definately NOT a Conservative move. Due to Mulroney's incompetance and departing from Conservative economic values, the Reform Party was started by Preston Manning as Mulroney was not an actual Conservative, if to be judged by his actions. The party was not called "Reform" just for the sake of it. They came onto the scene demanding that the deficit be cut and responsible spending. They ran against the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives and did not win. However, the Progressive Conservatives were washed out of office, only retaining a few seats in government. The Reform Party placed third behind the Bloc Quebecois. Jean Chretien was the new Prime Minister of Canada and was a prodigy and follower of Trudeau-style goverance and initially showed action in attack the deficit until the Reform Party attacked the position and demanded that something be done. It did not fall on deaf ears at Finance Minister Paul Martin realized that the books of the government of Canada and its spending were out of control too and starting making massive cuts to the government budget, which, to no surprise, sent Health Care, among other social services the government provides, plummeting. Though it is regretable that these moments of hardship were felt by Canadians, it had to be done. The Liberal Party, however, adopted the financial policies of the Reform Party as their own and called the initiative to make cuts their own idea.

The Reform Party really was an innovative party that helped to bring great change, something that all of the parties have seemingly lacking of late. Eventually, the Reform Party was renamed the Canadian Alliance, after deciding to scrap the previously considered name of "Canadian Regional Anglophone Party" when it was realized that it's acronym was "C.R.A.P." and the name itself did not represent a vision for all of Canada. The Progressive Conservatives were still running, but were about as irrelevent as the NDP during this time. However, due to vote spliting between the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives, there was an initiative to bring the parties together to defeat the Liberal Party. This was eventually accomplished and they adopted a new name, the Conservative Party of Canada. As much as one might be tempted to say that the Conservative Party of Canada is the same as the Progressive Conservative Party, it is certainly not the truth and only demonstrates the ignorance of the one saying as such. The Conservative Party we have today is NOT the Progressive Conservatives of Mulroney that continued to drive the country into the ground like Pierre Trudeau did as a Liberal. The Conservative Party of today is essentially the Reform Party of Canada, except with the support of Progressive Conservatives. The Progressive Conservatives are not the majority of the Conservatives, they are the floundering minority.

So let us review this little lesson in Canadian politics, Conservative Party of Canada (does not) = Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Do NOT make this mistake.

PS. I have specifically dodged talking about the corruption/scandal charges/accusations against the Liberal Party of Canada as those are all well-documented and any time I could spend talking about it would be of little use.

Pro-Life Smear

2006-01-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

I am mad. I do not have a great deal of time to delve into a thorough analysis of it, but it is simply this.

The new Liberal Party ads for the Canadian election present statements about how Stephen Harper is not Pro-choice and then proceed to smear him and the entire Conservative Party as if being Pro-Life is disgusting and bigotted. Granted, they do not come out and say people who are Pro-Life are bigotted fools, but the implication is as such. Most people, in my experience, who think being Pro-Life is "immoral" tend to assume Pro-Lifers are either a) Bible-Thumpers who are "trying to get a strangle-hold upon all of society," or b) men trying to further, as many Feminists would say, empower themselves over women all the more.

These people ignore the ethical arguments for being opposed abortion and further smear them as being "unintelligent thinkers."

I do not care for the Liberal Party's characterization of Pro-Lifers as being a terrible, immoral belief and as such, the likelihood of me ever voting for them in the future seems little. I don't usually support people who offend me.

If you want to read my argument/discussion for being Pro-Baby's Rights (or Pro-Life for those who can't figure it out), check out my post here. Please do not try to debate me about the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice debate until you have given that a read, just so we don't waste each other's time.

The Showdown with Iran

2006-01-20T17:47:00.000-08:00

The ongoing situation with Iran and its desire to develop Nuclear technologies has been on my mind a lot lately. Iran has decided to go ahead and restart their Nuclear Energy programs, much to the frustration of the EU3 (Britain, France and Germany) and the United States. The EU3 is no doubt frustrated with Iran's defiance, this was made clear by the EU3 and the United States standing together in refusing to have "talks" with Iran so long as it continued with its Nuclear program.

In one sense, I understand with the Iranian position. In theory, they have just as much right to Nuclear power, or even Nuclear weapons, as any other state, if the world is suppose to be on an equal footing. However, the idea of them having Nuclear power, which can lead to Nuclear weapons if they so desired, terrifies me. It is a ruled by a radical Islamic leader, and its President, whether you think it was simply a "figure of speech" like Iran's Foreign Minister said it was, stated how Israel must be "wiped off the map." Iran recently announced plans to host a forum about the Holocaust and whether it did actually occur, or if it is just "Western propaganda" used in attempts to take "Arab lands" to use as a Jewish homeland. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad even suggested recently that if the world is so eager to see a Jewish state, then they should create that Jewish state in Europe and have the Jews leave Israel. Some of my Arab Muslim friends have told me that there should not be much credence given to Ahmadinejad as this bombastic talk is not nearly as dangerous as it sounds since its "part of the culture" to talk with all this bravado. I'm not sure whether to believe that or not.

Charles Krauthammer recently wrote an article, The Iran Charade, Part II, for the Washington Post that summed up my feelings about the Iranian situation, read it here.

"It was what made this E.U. Three approach so successful. They [Britain, France and Germany] stood together and they had one uniform position."

-- German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, Jan. 13th

Makes you want to weep. One day earlier, Britain, France and Germany admitted that their two years of talks to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program had collapsed. The Iranians had broken the seals on their nuclear facilities and were resuming activity in defiance of their pledges to the "E.U. Three." This negotiating exercise, designed as an alternative to the U.S. approach of imposing sanctions on Iran for its violations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, had proved entirely futile. If anything, the two-year hiatus gave Iran time to harden its nuclear facilities against bombardment, acquire new antiaircraft capacities and clandestinely advance its program.

Though there is no clear evidence that Iran has been doing this, but it seems likely to guess that they are preparing themselves defensively in case of an international military intervention in this matter. With recent statements that any attempt to refer the Iran Nuclear Program to the Security Council would be viewed as an aggressive act of war, it seems that Iran is bunkering down for a conflict.

With all this, the chancellor of Germany declared the exercise a success because the allies stuck together! The last such success was Dunkirk. Lots of solidarity there, too.

Have we learned nothing from WW2?

Most dismaying was that this assessment came from a genuinely good friend, the new German chancellor, who, unlike her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder (now a wholly owned Putin flunky working for Russia's state-run oil monopoly), actually wants to do something about terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Ah, success. Instead of being years away from the point of no return for an Iranian bomb, as we were before we allowed Europe to divert anti-proliferation efforts into transparently useless talks, Iran is probably just months away. And now, of course, Iran is run by an even more radical government, led by a president who fervently believes in the imminence of the apocalypse.

Ah, success. Having delayed two years, we now have to deal with a set of fanatical Islamists who we know will not be deterred from pursuing nuclear weapons by any sanctions. Even if we could get real sanctions. Which we will not. The remaining months before Iran goes nuclear are about to be frittered away in pursuit of this newest placebo.

First, because Russia and China will threaten to veto any serious sanctions. The Chinese in particular have secured in Iran a source of oil and gas outside the American sphere to feed their growing economy and are quite happy geopolitically to support a rogue power that -- like North Korea -- threatens, distracts and diminishes the power of China's chief global rival, the United States.

This is what terrifies me. The stakes in this conflict are much higher than in Iraq. I get the feeling that if there were to be any military intervention in Iran, the Chinese and Russians would not just "let it slide" like they did when the US and the Coalition of the Willing went into Iraq. Iran recently has liquidated its accounts in Europe I just heard on the news today, so it seems clear that their loyalties have been moved from business ventures in Europe, and perhaps towards China and Russia.

Second, because the Europeans have no appetite for real sanctions either. A travel ban on Iranian leaders would be a joke; they don't travel anyway. A cutoff of investment and high-tech trade from Europe would be a minor irritant to a country of 70 million people with the second-largest oil reserves in the world and with oil at $60 a barrel. North Korea tolerated 2 million dead from starvation to get its nuclear weapons. Iran will tolerate a shortage of flat-screen TVs.

The only sanctions that might conceivably have any effect would be a boycott of Iranian oil. No one is even talking about that, because no one can bear the thought of the oil shock that would follow, taking 4.2 million barrels a day off the market, from a total output of about 84 million barrels.

The threat works in reverse. It is the Iranians who have the world over a barrel. On Jan. 15, Iran's economy minister warned that Iran would retaliate for any sanctions by cutting its exports to "raise oil prices beyond levels the West expects." A full cutoff could bring $100 oil and plunge the world into economic crisis.

Another reason why this situation is so dangerous. The international community did not have nearly as much at stake concerning their economies (and voters) in Iraq since its oil production had been greatly reduced even with the Oil-for-food program. With Iran, however, the sanctions against that oil could send world economies plumenting and create a massive recession, or even as one professor suggested, the 21st Century's Depression. (Perhaps thats a little too doomsday-ish)

Which is one of the reasons the Europeans are so mortified by the very thought of a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. The problem is not just that they are spread out and hardened, making them difficult to find and to damage sufficiently to seriously set back Iran's program.

The problem that mortifies the Europeans is what Iran might do after such an attack -- not just cut off its oil exports but shut down the Strait of Hormuz by firing missiles at tankers or scuttling its vessels to make the strait impassable. It would require an international armada led by the United States to break such a blockade.

So a military option brings with itself (obviously), another whole set of challenges and problems. You may ask what the significance of the Strait of Hormuz is when there is the Suez Canal. The fact is that the Strait of Hormuz is the only sea route that oil from Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, as well as most of United Arab Emirates can be transported. Again, prices skyrocket on oil, economies plummet.

Such consequences -- serious economic disruption and possible naval action -- are something a cocooned, aging, post-historic Europe cannot even contemplate. Which is why the Europeans have had their heads in the sand for two years. And why they will spend the little time remaining -- before a group of apocalyptic madmen go nuclear -- putting their heads back in the sand. And congratulating themselves on allied solidarity as they do so in unison.

I don't see the EU3 or the US breaking under the will of Iran, but I don't particularly see much hope of Iran backing down like North Korea did in trade for free energy. The Iran government has no interest in being "buddies" with the Western world. It simply hates the interference in its business. Of their foreign relations with the rest of the world, I think it can summed up as them "getting while the getting is good." They will milk this cow until it runs dry for them.

So the options that seem available is: a) EU3, or US, break and allow Iran to develop Nuclear power, always wondering if they develop Nuclear weapons. Just hoping that by ignoring them and letting them do their stuff, they will leave us alone; b) Iran breaks first and will take some form of "compensation" for giving up its Nuclear program, or else doesn't think the program is worth the risk; c) the international community gets together via the UN (or outside of the UN if Russia and/or China veto Security Council resolutions) and employs economic sanctions/boycott against Iranian oil hoping that they bankrupt the state of Iran and hope it falls (seems unlikely as it did not fall Saddam Houssein in Iraq, also adding the fact if China doesn't participate in the economical sanction/boycott against Iranian oil, then the sanctions/boycott will be useless and have little to no effect); d) the international community gets together via the UN (or again outside of the UN if Russia and/or China veto any Security Council resolutions) and arranges a military intervention/invasion against Iran to destroy its Nuclear developments centres and other strategic positions; or e) Israel unilaterally strikes against Iran with Nuclear means or airstrikes in attempts to protect itself due to what it believes are threatening words/actions from Iran.

I realize I did not mention option e) so far, but it has been one that I've heard mentioned in circles of late. I fear that this would result in a MUCH worse conflict than when Israel struck against Saddam Houssein's Nuclear development sites when it felt threatened. French President Jacques Chirac recently stated that his state would not hesistate to use its Nuclear weapons against any state who might use terrorism to attack France, adding more intriguing and turmoil to this situation. If you can think of any other plausible options, I'd be interested to hear them as I'm sure I have not exhausted all of the hypothetical situations.

Conservative Majority?

2006-01-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

It looks as if Canadians will vote in a Conservative majority on the federal election on Monday, January 23rd, 2006. Admittedly, I did not believe I would see this day for at least a great many years, if ever at all. In fact, I did not even think I'd ever see a Conservative minority government take power. I realize that there is still a chance the Conservatives won't get a majority, but it seems evident that they will at least get a minority government (we'll find out soon enough).

With the possible arrival of the Conservative Party as the ruling government, it seems likely that now is where we, Canadians, bunker down for what I predict will be one of the bloodiest 4-5 years (if majority, or 1-2 years if a minority). Already on college campuses I hear rumblings about how Stephen Harper (Conservative Party leader and if the winner, the new Canadian Prime Minister) apparently is foreign to the concept of public speaking, how he is stupid, how he "hates women," "hates gays," hates liberals," etc. etc. I will admit that I was not particularly fond of Stephen Harper and his tactics in the last election and I was cautious about him this election early on. This election, however, he seems to have transformed his political persona and has lost his old "high-to-low" way of public speaking (if you don't understand what this is, I'll do an impression for you sometime in person =P). I can say that the idea of him being the Prime Minister of Canada does not seem like a bad idea. With all of this said, my perception of Harper does not change the inevitable perception that most university/college students will have of Harper. I predict that Stephen Harper will be as insulted, verbally-abused, personally attacked to nearly the same extent as US President George W. Bush. Why? Because he is a conservative. It is part of the territory of being a conservative politician these days. Anyone who values holding onto traditional beliefs or conservative values is considered a "non-thinking person" who is "so behind reality." Many on college/university campuses seem to propel the belief that if you are a conservative, you must be religious or of some faith group. As if it is such a crime to be satisfied where the country is at and desire it to remain where it is.

If you don't agree with the Conservative platform or ideology, then don't vote for them. Vote for the NDP, the Liberals, the Green Party, or even if the Marijuana Party. Just don't resort to smear tactics such as calling Stephen Harper a "f*g killer." It diludes the political process and simply makes our democractic responsibility out to be for mere entertainment, to be watched on the evening news. Go out and Vote, make your voice heard by your vote, not by your slander.

Secularism

2006-01-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

I'm bothered by this notion that Secularism is somehow "neutral." As if the various religions occupy various sides of a political compass, you know, how there are left wingers and right wingers and also those who are centrist or also known as "Moderates." Secularism in itself is a way with which someone guides the way they live their life. I might stop short of calling it a religion per se, but it is by no means neutral. Perhaps the world as a whole views secularism as somehow "undediced," which seems faulty as most secularists seem to be pretty set in their beliefs.

Where this belief seems most prevelent is, the times when people demand Separation of the Church and State. Yet, these same people seem to forget that the original main intention of the Separation of the Church and State was to prevent the state from interfering in the religious affairs and institutions, while secondly preventing any one religion from taking control of the state. The Separation of the Church and State is by no means meant to be an action to prevent input from religious groups in the democratic process as they, too, are as essentially a part of the democractic body as secularists. To demand that the State be free from any input of the religious communities is to place Secularism as the endorsed "religion" of the State unknowingly. Not many secularists would admit that Secularism itself has become the "religion" of the State. There is a reason why I write religion as "religion," which is that I know Secularism is not an organized religion per se. At the same time, however, there seems to be some semblence of commonity in various beliefs or things accepted in "faith" between secularists. When I say secularist, I am refering to not simply Atheists, but Agnostics and other groups of people who do not embrace any one faith in particular, or at all.

UPDATE: The Canadian Election (January 23rd, 2006) is getting in on the action of promoting secularism, although in this case perhaps indirectly. Jim McMurtry, a candidate for the South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale riding in British Columbia, my province, recently "launched into a bitter diatribe on evangelical Christians, who, he claims, have "hijacked" the Conservative party. Evangelicals, he said, make up more than a third of Conservative party candidates in B.C. He agreed, however, that the Liberals also have evangelical Christians running as candidates. They include Raymond Chan, a Cabinet minister from the B.C. riding of Richmond." (My emphasis added) Last time I checked, Evangelical Christians were just as free to participate in the democratic process as Atheists, Buddhists and Muslims. It is this intolerance that bothers me in politics right now, and yes, intolerance is the correct word as there is disagreement and many, beyond Mr. McMurtry, refuse to allow Evangelical Christians to participate democratically without objecting to their actions.

I completely understand that typically Evangelical Christians, at least in the United States, have very strong, outspoken opinions. Such reasoning is no excuse for being critical of them engaging in the political process. Perhaps many who fear Evangelical Christian participation in politics fear Evangelical Christians becoming a force in Canada like they are in the United States.

I guess the only comfort that can be taken is that Mr. Jim McMurtry is unlikely to win in what has been a Conservative/Reform/Canadian Alliance (All right wing) for the past 20 years. Word of advice to Mr. McMurtry: Don't lambaste a people group that makes up a very large part of your riding, it is not wise.

For some more humor, read also in the article where Mr. Jim McMurtry, a public school teacher and athletic director, says that parents who homeschool their children "participate in what can be perceived as a form of child abuse." As someone who "survived" homeschooling, I can easily say, Mr. McMurtry, don't make such a silly generalization about homeschooling parents. Most don't force their kids to "to 'do piecemeal work in the garment industry and in the construction industry'". Apparently, Mr. McMurtry does not believe parents educating their children is a "nurturing environment" when he later states "home schooling in some cases is tantamount to child abuse when children are deprived of a nurturing environment. I believe that."

Sir, go learn how to be an actual politician. You make Mr. President George W. Bush look like an outstanding politician, when he isn't. Then again, that is why I like him, but I also agree with him

Northern Lights

2006-01-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

I was reminded today of the Northern Lights. If you do not know what they are, in my own personal description of them, they are waves of multi-colored lights that splash about in the evening sky in the northern regions of the world. It is one of the displays of God's creation that leaves me speechless. I have only seen the Northern Lights from where I live, just outside of Vancouver, BC, Canada, once, but in the times I have been farther north I have seen them several times. It truly is beautiful and I think it is something worth seeing if you are ever given the chance. Here are some pictures as an example to anyone who has not seen or heard of the said visual show:

PS. I am aware that there are Southern Lights for the southern regions of the world.

How Dare the US Support A Crack-Whore!

2006-01-08T17:39:00.000-08:00

I recently read something that I thought was in some ways relevent for understanding why the US government in the past has supported regimes that we know today (although they probably knew then too I would guess) were corrupt to the -enth degree. Such as the South Vietnamese government, Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War (more specifically Hussein), etc. etc. The quote I'll post was from a discussion about US support of Saddam Hussein during the previously stated Iran-Iraq War and thought it would be an interesting way to think about it. (HT/Doug TenNapel)

"I'm sure you're familiar with feeding the homeless, you're [a self-admitted] liberal so I'm sure you make yourself feel more righteous by helping in a soup line from time to time. Well, when you buy a crack-whore a bowl of soup, she doesn't have to spend her own money on food so she can buy more crack. Using your logic for our funding enemies to defeat greater enemies, you'd have to blame yourself for that crack-whore's addiction, because you enabled it by providing food for a poor community. You have to weigh the fall-out of helping the poor and if lives are saved because you feed all then the one you enable to stay on crack is justified. Iraq is the crackwhore we funded, the Soviets are the poverty we were actually targeting."

So in case that didn't make any sense to anyone, the writer was used an analogy of missions groups that operate soup kitchens to feed the poor. However, many of the poor are poor due to drug addictions, thus many of them end up hungry on many days. The writer wrote this in response to a statement by another individual who stated that "it is immoral to give any support for any corrupt regime, regardless of any percieved benefit whether moral of financial." Anyway, back to the analogy, by missions houses feeding the poor, they are unintentionally allowing the poor to use any money that they have musted together on drugs. I do not think this is immoral at all, as I'm sure we tend to think that drug addictions are not broken by simply abandoning individuals and leaving them to their own devices to kill themselves. Overall, we are trying to combat poverty, which in itself causes some people to do terrible things to themselves or others. There are many different causes of poverty and while simply giving someone some food for a day does not cure poverty, it temporaily treats the symptoms.

In the case of the US supporting Iraq (Hussein) during the Iran-Iraq War, the US was still in the midst of the Cold War against the USSR (Soviets). The US supported causes around the world in such places as Afghanistan, Guatemala, Panama, etc. etc. to turn back the tide of Communism and prevent it from spreading around the world. In the case of Iraq, though its leaders allowed its people to live in horrible conditions and violate basic human rights continually, the US government of the past backed it. On the surface, this seems outrageous. However, the US did not endorse the Iraq regime's actions. For certain, they used Iraq as a pawn in a much larger conflict between the world's two superpowers. The US government's intention was to hit the USSR wherever they could and prevent the spread of Communism further. Even if that meant supporting a corrupt regime to fight what it deemed to be a greater evil, that is, Communism. So in the analogy, Iraq is the "crack-whore" that the US supported during its fight to the USSR/Communism ("Poverty").

Some say that the USSR and the spread of Communism were destined to fall eventually, but I am not so convinced. I am in the camp that believes that US President Reagan had a very large role to play in the bankrupting of the USSR that eventually caused its fall. The so-called Star Wars program seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back since Gorbachev realized that they could no longer compete with the US. Hence his presentation of the principles of perestroika and glasnost. I do not believe that Communism is harmless, therefore it worries me what would have come of the world had the US not "won" the Cold War.

Although the US government in the past supported corrupt regimes to achieve the desired result of ending communism, I do not think I am ready to endorse the actions. They, in part, helped to achieve the desired result, but they caused unfavourable consequences as well that we still face today. However, this analogy, to me, makes it easier to come to grips with the reality of what the world was faced with. I'm interested in what other perspecitives there maybe on this.

The Gay Gene

2006-01-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

Many in the world believe that there either has been discovered to be a "gay gene," or that there will be a gay gene found. I personally do not believe there is, and if there ever was proven to be a "gay gene," I think it would be insulting to any gay person. I recently saw the film, "The Family Stone" this week. If you are a liberal, go see it. If you are a conservative, don't bother. In the film, one of the sons of the family is openly gay and the whole family has accepted it. He has brought his lover/boyfriend/partner to family Christmas as well. This is not the main focus of the story, but it recieves a lot of attention. Anyway, during a dinner time discussion, the father in the family states to another son's girlfriend that as a family they believe that being gay is genetic. As the girlfriend rightly stated, there is no conclusive proof that there is such a gene yet. To which the entire family gets mad at her and proceeds to shout and yell at her, causing her to storm out of the house.

To start off, lets review some of the genes they have said exist (although I am not entirely convinced of all of them, but I'll act as though they are true for a second). There is said to be genes that genetically predispose some of us to be susceptible to getting heart disease when we are older. Same with various types of cancer, heart attacks and many other illnesses. Disease/Illness = BAD. There is also said to be a gene that makes an individual susceptible to alcoholism. Alcoholism = BAD. These are all considered bad. For the Alcholism gene, the individual bearing this gene can resist becoming an alcoholic, but it is said that it is much easier for them to become an alcoholic than anyone else. Is this an excuse for this person to be accepted as an alcohol? By no means! If anything, it just asserts how much more this person has to fight the temptation. My friend, who will be nameless here, has been told by doctors that he has this gene. He drinks alcohol occasionally, but he refuses to ever have more than a beer or two, simply because he realizes that he must restrain himself for his own good and that of those around him. Now for the disease genes, there is little anything individuals who have them to can do to completely prevent getting the previously stated diseases/illnesses. They can try to promote a healthy cardiovascular diet and exercise routine, but none of which will ever be a guarantee against being a recipient of such a disease. Now as for this "gay gene" that people have speculated about or believe by faith in, I feel they are in many ways they are comparing being gay to a disease or illness. Granted, in the past, having homosexual tendencies or thoughts were called a psychological condition. However, the intention of those who support the hypothesis of such a "gay gene," their philosophy seems to be that this gene would prove that people are born gay and there-by are not given a choice about it, thus it is unreasonable for anyone to expect them to resist being gay. This is silly. This train of thought would never be accept for saying this of the alcoholism gene: "the intention of those who support the hypothesis of such a "alocoholics gene," their philosophy seems to be that this gene would prove that people are born as alcoholics and there-by are not given a choice about it, thus it is unreasonable for anyone to expect them to resist being an alcoholic." The logic would be ludicrious and I believe it is ludicrious to suggest such a thing about being gay. It is a nice try, if you don't think much about it.

As for how this gene passes onto further generations, there something I do not quite understand. Genes carry on from one generation to another. From everything I've read about this "gay gene," it is not considered a "gene mutation." So logically, this would entail that if one individual possessed this gene that causes them to have homosexual tendencies, then it would follow that one of his or her parents possessed the same gene. This is where I do not follow with the hypothesis, because it would follow that if a parent had the "gay gene" then they too would exhibit homosexual tendencies. However, for the child to be born, that has the gay gene in the first place, obviously the parent had to engage in reproduction. This is where many in the gay gene camp make the unproven and, what I believe to be, a great assumption. They say that the individuals (or parents more specifically) who have given birth to a child have repressed their homosexual desires all their lives.

This is a big leap in attempt to support the hypothesis and one that I do not think can be proven. Which leads me to another question, if these individuals were able to repress these homosexual desires or urges their whole lives, would it not follow that it is possible to supress the desires if necessary? In a discussion I had with Doug Ten Napel privately, he told me of a colleague of his who confessed to him that he struggles with lust in particular towards children. In other words, many would be quick to label him a pedophile. This individual had resist the temptation thus far. We should all agree that pedophile tendencies must be supressed. I know there will be those who will be offended that I bring up this pedophile case as they will believe that I am comparing gays and lesbians to pedophiles. This is not what I am trying to state, so please do not misunderstand. As a society, I do not believe we believe that gays and lesbians should resist their desires. Instead, from I seem to hear, at least in Canada, is encouragement for them to "express themselves" and "be who they are through their sexual orientation." So it is likely that this falls on deaf ears.

Gay write, Joe Sartelle, recently stated in his article, "Rejecting the Gay Brain (and Choosing Homosexuality)":

I think that the popularity of biological accounts of homosexual desire among gay people has to be understood as a way of coping with deeply-rooted homophobia..."

I disagree, in that, I believe it is rooted in the belief that it is an attempt to cope with those who disagree with the gay and lesbian lifestyle. He also says:

...What else can it be when we defend ourselves by saying things like, "Do you think anybody would choose to be this way?" This is a defensive position, one that implicitly accepts that there is something wrong with homosexuality, that it is indeed an abnormality which demands to be explained.

As was report in the journal Science,

Time and time again, scientists have claimed that particular genes or chromosomal regions are associated with behavioral traits, only to withdraw their findings when they were not replicated. "Unfortunately," says Yale's [Dr. Joel] Gelernter, "it's hard to come up with many" findings linking specific genes to complex human behaviors that have been replicated. "...All were announced with great fanfare; all were greeted unskeptically in the popular press; all are now in disrepute."

Doug TenNapel, on one of his many blogs had this to say:

One day, we may discover the gay gene, and the pedophile gene, and the artist gene, and the Republican gene, and the farts-in-public-for-entertainment-value gene...and so what? What is to follow?

I serve a God who called me out of the animals to call me "Son". Martin Luther King argued that man was to be treated equally because we are all made in the image of God, not because we were highly evolved animals. I hope some day science discovers that I was born with a gay gene, a pedophile gene, an alcoholic gene, a murderer gene, a brilliant mathematician gene...so when they wonder how I became anything but these things they will find an animal transformed by a relationship with something higher than a gene pool.

Dr. John F. Ankerberg states in his article, "What "Causes" Homosexuality?":

If People are Born Homosexuals, Then Why Do Studies Show They Switch From Homosexual to Heterosexual to Homosexual Orientation?

In their 1970 report the Kinsey Institute stated that 84% of gays shifted or changed their sexual orientation at least once. 32% of the gays reported a third shift, and 13% of gays reported at least five changes. (See "Born That ‘Way," Family Research Report Special Report 1991.)

If sexual orientation is biologically fixed at birth as gays say, why do 84% of them change their sexual orientation at least once? In 1981 Bell, Weinberg and Hammersmith reported similar findings to those of Kinsey:

Further, 84% of the homosexuals vs. 29% of the heterosexuals reported a shift in their sexual feelings or orientation after their first appraisal (1981b, p. 91); 60% of the homosexuals vs. 10% of the heterosexuals reported a second sexual orientation shift (1981b, p. 92); 32% of the homosexuals vs. 4% of the heterosexuals reported a third sexual orientation shift (1981b, p. 93); and 14% of the homosexuals vs. 1% of the heterosexuals reported yet another sexual orientation shift (1981b, p. 95). These data may suggest that prehomosexuals were considerably more apt to be sexually confused in their feelings than preheterosexuals were. (A. P. Bell, M. S. Weinberg, and S. K. Hammersmith, Sexual Preference Statistical Appendix (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1981), p. 261.

What I am trying to assert is that those who say that being gay is a predisposition are wrong under their current premises. I strongly believe that being gay is a choice one person makes, which is largely based on temptations they experience towards the same sex. Just like someone's choice to be a porn addict, which is largely based on temptations of lust that they experience towards women. I realize how old-fashioned in our society it is to say that pornography is wrong. I seriously believe pornography is wrong and immoral. With that said, I do not shun those who struggle with the temptation or even view pornography. In the same way, even though I disagree with someone's choice to be gay or lesbian, I do not shun them. I am tolerant of their choice, but I refuse to be told that it is anything other than a choice that they have made. I simply disagree with it as the Bible says, so if anyone begs the question, who am I to tell someone that they are wrong, to that I say, I don't say, the Bible does. And secondly, I do not approach gays and lesbians and say "listen you, you are wrong!" The same goes for people who view pornography. There are a great deal of things that I do agree with that people participate, but if I am asked, I will tell someone honestly what I believe about such things. And please do not make any ludicrious statements about me being homophobic. To be homophobic implies that I have a fear of gays and lesbians, which I do not. If I did, it would be awfully silly for my best friend at college to be gay, which is the case. Furthermore, if I was homophobic, I probably would not have lasted over four years at my current place of employment as there have been many gays who have worked right beside me, including my friend and boss. I trust these friends and do not have a hint of fear when I am around them. I simply disagree with their lifestyle choice, not because I do not think it is for me, but because I do not believe we were created to be as such. Furthermore, any accusations that I am deep down gay, will not tolerated. Don't bother trying to state as such, you just make yourself look like an idiot since it could not be further from the truth. Honestly, I feel disappointed that I have to conclude this blog post with this paragraph. Why is it considered wrong in our society to disagree with a lifestyle choice? Why is it when someone does, they get run over the coals? We encourage tolerance, but some refuse to practise it. I close with the words of Doug TenNapel again,

There, I just said the bad words. I could say, "God can go F himself" and my friends would shrug, but don't express an opinion about homosexuality...that's taking a dump on the Thanksgiving turkey.

UPDATE: Check out these links for more on the Gay Gene, "Is There a Gay Gene?" "The Gay Gene?"

Happy New Years

2006-01-01T01:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years to yours and your beloved!

This is probably where I shouldn't mention that this has to be one of the most overrated holidays in my books. =P

I Want to Thank the Good Lord for....

2005-12-28T10:55:00.000-08:00

As I glance through the channels during my Christmas break, I've come across several awards shows which I left on for a few minutes.

Something I do not understand is that a great number of celebrities, whether singers, actors, and what not, they always thank God. I'm kind of confused as to why these celebrities do as such when some, if not most of them, do not lead lives that are consistent with any moral code of any of the major religions. I would think that if they loved whatever god they say they are thankful to, they would follow his commands in their holy book? I would think this would be even more the case when many of these same celebrities attribute everything they've achieved to the hand of God. Is it because God is popular? Thats not the vibe I get at least in universities or places where many people hang out that I've been around. Many people seem to clam up about it whenever I hear someone else bring it up. And, the people who say stuff like "I thank Jesus for...." in a class or whatever are looked at as if they are some crazy "Christian Fundalmentalist" (What is so bad about being a Fundamentalist in your faith? I'll leave that for another blog =P). Maybe the world just has a "love-hate" relationship with the concept of God in their minds.

A Humourous "Holiday" Cartoon

2005-12-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

(HT/Clan of the Cats)

Came across this cartoon, I enjoyed it. Click here to check out a humourous "holiday" cartoon for today. I had a good chuckle. Merry Christmas!

The Rules for the War on Terrorism

2005-12-24T20:37:00.000-08:00

I found this amusing post at JunkyardBlog tonight while I was waiting for the Christmas Eve festivities. Enjoy. =) (HT/JunkyardBlog):

When you’re fighting a war against terrorists who don’t respect human rights, the Geneva Conventions or any of the later Protocols, international or indeed any form of human decency, there are apparently quite a few things you can’t do. It’s good of the Democrats in Washington to help keep us all in step with the times.

Here are the new Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi/Howard Dean Rules of War:

1. You can’t invade the countries where the terrorists live, train and plot. That only creates more terrorism. You can’t invade countries that harbor terrorists or help them in any way, even if those countries have long histories of all kinds of violent behavior and are always promising more violent behavior. And anyway, even if you do invade you have no hope of winning. Even if you actually are winning. So don’t bother.

2. If you happen to capture any terrorists (which won’t be easy since you can’t invade their domains), you can’t actually keep them or gain any information from them. If you do keep them, you have to make sure the entire world knows where you’re keeping them, because of course the entire world including other terrorists have a right to know. But you really shouldn’t keep captured terrorists for any length of time. And while you have them, you can’t ask them any questions beyond name and what they want for their halal lunch. You can’t pressure them to talk, even if it means losing an American city or two. Don’t even look at a captured terrorist’s copy of the Koran, or you will violate his human rights.

3. You must blind yourself. Even though the terrorists who attacked us on 9-11 lived here and blended into ethnic immigrant communities, you can’t go around asking any questions of anyone who might have known anything about the terrorists, or who resemble the terrorists in any way. You can’t build a profile based on what the terrorists looked like, what they believed, where they came from or even what gender they belonged to (as if gender is anything more than a social construct anyway). If you do ask around or try to establish a basic criteria for finding other terrorists who may still be at large, you’ll be accused of racism/nationalism/everyotherism and the ACLU will see you in court.

4. Do not use your technology to figure out what the terrorists are talking about or planning. Even though the terrorists who attacked us lived here and communicated with other terrorists in those domains we can’t invade (because it just creates more terrorism, of course), we can’t monitor communications coming into the country or going out of it. Even though it’s legal, and has been for years. Even though the same Congressmen and Senators now decrying such monitoring were briefed on it several times over the course of the past few years, and supported it when a president of their own party did it for economic reasons. You just can’t monitor communications, at all.

5. Republicans and conservative Christians are always and everywhere worse than terrorists of any stripe or creed. They just are. QED.

To review: Do not invade countries harboring terrorists. Do not capture terrorists and keep them for any duration, and do not interrogate them about ongoing or future attacks. Do not profile terrorists, making it easier to stop them. And do not monitor communications between terrorists or anyone else. Republicans and conservative Christians are the real enemy, so forget about that mumbling, swarthy guy with the bulges under his sweater who looks to be between 18 and 35 and concentrate on the owner of your local tire store who happens to go to church and votes Republican. Because he’s the real enemy!

So basically, just so we’re all clear on this, when you’re fighting terrorists who want to destroy your civilization, you can’t do a damn thing about it except demonize people who have no connection to terrorism whatsoever. Hey, if you’re lucky the caliphate will at least bring good health care when Dar al Islam reaches your neighborhood.

Have a nice day. Inshallah.