Reflections on 2006

Every year about this time, I like to think about the things that happened throughout the past year. 2006 was a great year. I had to ask myself why it was so good? I think that anytime you can continue to challenge yourself, go after your goals, and be completely happy that is a really good thing.

Looking around the world so many things are different now..... IE today Saddam Hussein was hung after being found guilty. Now I think that he may have done terrible things to his people but since when did we receive the role of God and decide that it was ok to make decision on whether people live or die. The entire case in court reminded me of a giant theatre performance, determined to make Iraqi's believe that their country is truly democratic. But look at that country now, are they better off now that the US removed Saddam from power???? Not really, it is practically a civil war over there.

It is times like these that I like to remind myself how lucky we actually are to be living in a safe country, rather then other dangerous corners of the world. It is not to be taken for granted. Every day there are stories in the news about violence, terrorism, poverty and famine. I dont know what it is about the holidays but they do make me remember how fortunate I am... and that I would be selfish to not do anything for the less fortunate..... anything at all.

This past year really opened my eyes to a variety of subjects and issues that I really didn't realize I was into. Perhaps it is something about me getting older but all of the sudden the small things actually start to mean stuff to you...... concerts, friends, family, technology, knowledge, arts. The small things that people put so much effort into, to make your life easier or happier.

Ya this post is all over the place but oh well.... its New Years.

I wouldn't give up what I'm doing and what I'm trying to do for the world..... anyways enough with the cheese, I just thought I would share some reflections from 2006. Here is hoping that everyone has a safe, healthy and prosperous new year in 2007.

Donald Trump burns Rosie O'Donnell on air.... WOW

WOW, Donald Trump tears into Rosie O'Donnell..... Click the picture to watch.

It started when Rosie O'Donnell.....started insulting the Donald. Boo hiss.... I'm not a big fan of hers to begin with but if someone were to personally attack me I would insult them right back.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vzl9ubSyZ7o

I found it amusing.

Interesting Links for the week....

Alright if you haven't seen these videos yet then you are missing out.... this must be the video of the year.

Microsoft Training Videos: The Funniest Video I have ever seen...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9076288729387457440

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=959125392868390030

This girl gets slam dunked in the gym(literally)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aOCekVoPGZ4

I just got the Animal Planet channel, this video is on funny animals
http://www.viralvideochart.com/myspace/this_is_why_i_want_a_kitten_?id=556332984

Apparently this cat knows how to use a computer.....
http://www.viralvideochart.com/myspace/expensive_cat_toy?id=1271243831

Articles & Movies

*Note* Casino Royale is close to movie of the year in my opinion......a must see!!!

Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373889/trailers

Spider Man 3
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413300/trailers

China Releases a $203 PC
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/29/chinese-company-releases-203-desktop-pc/

A student tries to sell his future on ebay:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2006/12/01/8395111/index.htm?postversion=2006113011

Have a good weekend!!!!

It's almost the Holiday Season and that means Shopping....

So we have about 3 weeks until Christmas and I went into a mall this weekend..... it was CRAZY. I went into Toys R Us, and I was afraid to step on the little toddlers that seemed to be almost everywhere.

Hope you have started your holiday shopping..... I'm still making a list. But to get an idea of how crazy it is and some deals...lah de dah... here are some links!

I found this video on www.wallstrip.com , it is a really cool site. People were going crazy during Black Friday down south.... do we in Canada have a day like this???? Hmmm.... the day after Thanksgiving??? Nono, most people go right back to work. sigh.... (As per usual, click the picture to see the video)

You are never going to believe this..... this was Best Buy @ 5am I believe........errr even on Boxing Day- NOT FOR ME......

I've noticed that retailers seem to be discounting heavily this season: Flat Panel tv's, Dvds, clothes. http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2006/11/retailers_heavy.html

Oh and on that note, I still can't seem to find a PS3 in any stores.... even though it was released November 17th. GO SONY. What an odd marketing ploy, create buzz about the product but make sure that there are none available until after Christmas. SMOOTH....

Wii for all
http://www.viralvideochart.com/youtube/wii_for_all?id=p5cPVP_llfo

North Toronto C.I. is building a condo on its property!!!

" North Toronto Collegiate Institute - A New Ecoschool- A Visionary Condominium Community"

http://tridel.com/northtoronto/northtoronto.php

Tell me this isn't crazy. But North Toronto CI, my old high school plans to let Tridel build TWO condos on the property. Does anyone see any conflicts here? Hmmm perhaps this will increase phedophilia in the neighbourhood. I'm sure the students parents must be thrilled by this new addition to the highschool.

Sorry for venting BUT I just received an advertisement in the mail entitled " North Toronto Collegiate Institute - A New Ecoschool- A Visionary Condominium Community" and I'm just a little disturbed that I'm one of the few that see a major problem with this.

Perhaps some people should think about this type of thing before it becomes the norm in public schools. The last thing public schools should be doing is bending over for corporations such as Tridel.

And on that note; one day long in the future when I actually have kids they won't be going to North Toronto. And in case we are trying to get the logic to this.... if public schools are lacking the money they will turn into a public school/condominium before asking alumni or the general public if they agree.... afterall we are just the people that pay taxes. The new name of the school will eventually be North Toronto Condominium Institute.

Kramer from Seinfeld's Racist Blowup - Video and Story

Click on the the picture to view the video

Here is an article from Reuters explaining what happened at the event, I'm also including a video version of the actual incident although the video quality isn't the greatest. This is pretty disgusting, there is no doubt about it. To be honest I'm hoping that most of the fans boycott his products.

This goes to show that just cause you know a character on a show doesn't mean that you actually know that person. I'm sure this shocked most people.

"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comic actor Michael Richards, famed for playing the quirky character Kramer on television's "Seinfeld," drew anger, not laughter, when he unleashed a torrent of racial slurs at hecklers while performing a stand-up act in Hollywood.
The incident, captured in digital-camera video footage obtained by the celebrity Web site TMZ.com and circulated over the Internet on Monday, took place during Richards' live performance on Friday night at the Laugh Factory comedy club.
Eyewitnesses interviewed by TMZ and cable news outlet CNN said Richards' act took an ugly turn when members of the audience began heckling him.
In the video, the performer appears to lose his cool, shouts "Shut up!" and makes a racially offensive statement.
Reuters Pictures

Editors Choice: Best picturesfrom the last 24 hours.View Slideshow
As nervous laughter gives way to groans and boos from the audience, Richards lets loose a barrage of racial slurs and epithets and points to someone in the crowd.
Richards continues to rant as people in the crowd are heard shouting back at him, "that was uncalled for," and the comic yells: "Well, you interrupted me pal, that's what happens when you interrupt the white man."

Really cool links..... that need to be checked out

Here are some links that I found interesting over the past week.....

PS3 MADNESS (click the picture)

A shooting.... watch this interview......oh boy

Despite all of the hype, I was unable to find any units in the city. There were apparently 12 per store... However Wii fans were quite happy and left with consoles.....

Jim Cramer...... this is funny... ok it's not really him; found this on wallstrip.comhttp://www.wallstrip.com/theshow/2006/11/16/11-16-06-cramers-comeback/


Blogging for a career (wow times are a changing), apparently people are quitting their day jobs for this...
http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?story_id=8173520&fsrc=RSS

Movie companies are sueing over downloads on ipods.... (it was just a matter of when)
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/005010.php

This baby laughing is a riot.....watch
http://www.viralvideochart.com/youtube/baby_laughing?id=UjXi6X-moxE

Miller, Pitfield or Ledrew???? Better Question....

WHO ACTUALLY CARES???? Not I. If you can't find someone to vote for because the candidates don't meet your criteria what you do you.....You don't vote.

Pitfield comes off as an egotistical maniac whos task is to bring tyranny to Toronto. Lovely!!!

Miller comes off as the guy who has been in the position for the past 3 years and deserves to be voted back in because he has done such a great job. He has a yawner of a personality and oddly enough there are issues that seem to keep getting ignored......

The issues:
$2.75 for a one way trip on the TTC (for the foreigners that is the transit system)
Potholes on many roads throughout Toronto
Gridlock traffic within the city
A public transit system that isn't that effective
Rising taxes
Increasing violence on the streets

The list goes on and on........but for those reason I can't vote for anyone just because they want to get re-elected....... time for a change just not this election apparently.

so tonight I may watch for 2 mins but YAWN........enough already.

Shut Up and Sing is a must see movie....

So I went to see the movie Shut Up and Sing today, I must say it wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting the movie to be a movie about country music etc... but it turned out to be a really stunning story. I am shocked at home the US could turn their backs on this band just because they expressed their displeasure with the war in Iraq and George Bush. Rather shameful. For a country that is supposed to be about freedom of speech, it is unbelievable how music stations and stores wouldn't support this group. Well put together production though.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to go see a good movie... there seems to be many good movies out now or coming out shortly. Casino Royale, that Al Gore movie about global warming, the Queen, and Babel.

I'm really liking the fact that independent movies are in wide circulation now, rather then those big budget productions.

Sony's big Playstation screw up!!!

Click on the pictures to view the 3 different systems.

Alright playstation 3 comes out in 3 weeks, but the major question should be can any of the old playstation 2 owners actually afford it. There are 2 different versions of the new playstation and both start at the price of $550. Funny enough, the Playstation 2 is available for $130.

Here is the demonstration from the Sony Playstation Conference that compares the graphics between the two systems.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnCxikm5-Q4

However the Microsoft Xbox and the Nintendo Wii are out and are alot cheaper and the Xbox has received really good reviews.

Bottom line is that Sony may have just alienated its customers by overpricing the playstation at $550 and delivering the system months after Xbox has been out. Two vital mistakes.... time will tell though.

Quote of the Week.....by Michael Moore

This is what Michael Moore had to say about his sudden disappearance prior to the American elections..... from bloomberg.com

"Moore, 52, is keeping a low profile because he is busy completing a new documentary on the health- care industry called ``Sicko,'' scheduled for release this summer. Moore's political visibility ``runs in parallel to whether he has a major book or movie coming out that he's promoting,'' Lehane said.
That's part of the reason, Moore said in an e-mail. He also said that his disappearance from the headlines is linked to the fact that the media isn't seeking him out. ``Funny how no one in the media other than you has asked about me,'' he wrote.
Moore said he was news in 2004 because his views were controversial then. Now, ``60 percent'' of the public agrees with him that ``the war was wrong'' and ``Bush is wrong,'' Moore said.
``Now that I exist in the mainstream majority, I'm not really so controversial any more, am I? Not really news,'' he said."

Here is the article in its entirety http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aeP1E.Pv7jj4&refer=home

The Stephen Harper Effect - TSX - 295 points Lost

24 BILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTOR CAPITAL LOST

So the Conservatives are now going to tax income trusts and the end result- a 275 point decline on the TSX. Errr but I thought they promised to leave income trusts alone. Liars, get them out, get them out now! The people that invested in these trusts are probably the same ones that voted for Harper......oddly enough. I guess this is his way of saying thanks for the vote!!!

BRRrrrr that cold Canadian air, just got colder.

http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061101.wstocks1101/GIStory/

Halloween Evening BWAAHHAHAHA

So it's Halloween evening and I'm getting ready to hand candy out......

Check out this video that I found on Yahoo this past weekend. HAHA. Anyone dressing up for work? CLICK THE PICTURE



Where did Halloween originate???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Be safe and don't scare the little kids or the big kids!!!!

Nasty Republican Ad - a must see.

Please click on the picture to view the advertisement!!!

This ad for the Republican party adds nothing of value to the party or their campaign. It is a trashy ad that not only looks bad on the party but makes one wonder why bother support a party that is as lowly as this.

Of course this is just my opinion and is open to debate but who would vote for the people that produced an ad of this nature?????

Fun links for the weekend!!!

Another exciting week in cold Toronto. It has been cold and rainy all week long, lets hope this isn't a prelude to the winter season. I've finally setup a blog so bookmark it onto your favourites and lets get to it.....Since this is my first post on here I may have included some old links.

Videos:
Asian Carp in the river - entertaining
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb8OmEr7VqI

GWB at his best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpaLmxrWiyY

The Microsoft training video (Part I and II)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9076288729387457440
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=959125392868390030

Nike makes customized shoes now- Who knew? http://www.wallstrip.com/theshow/2006/10/24/october-24th-2006-nike/

Movies/Entertainment

This is the guy movie of the year in the making Casino Royale - new James Bond flick- I'm excited
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/casinoroyale/site/flash_dl.html?dl=1,2,1

The Queen- I'm usually not very intrigued by this kind of stuff but I've read nothing but good things....
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436697/trailers-screenplay-E29632-10-2

Spider-Man 3 is around the corner.....
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/spider-man_3/

Interesting Reading

Amusing 1929 Stock Market headline
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2006/10/stock_market_in.html

Record short interest has been the key driver in the market rally, don't be fooled!
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2006/10/record_short_in.html

It's not the best idea to write down your passwords:
http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/17/technology/bc.life.passwords.reut/index.htm?postversion=2006101718

Books:
http://www.whywewantyoutoberich.com/ - Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki
Read this one and thought it was really well done. It was like a seminar in a book. The website has audio downloads as well!

That is all for this week!!!