The State of the Environment Report (SOER)

Telephone Scam

2006-06-21T23:29:00.000-04:00

I received an automated phone call...

It said:
"You have won 1062 points,
Please press 0 now to enter for a chance to win a trip to Cancun, Mexico,
This call is free."

I hanged up after those 3 feed lines. The thought of pressing 0 crossed me in a flash especially when it said it's free... But I knew this was a scam, right?
Like, it didn't specify the type of points I've won, and it didn't specify the company that is calling... I wonder what would have happened if I pressed 0?

Most likely scenario:
After pressing 0, a long message of instructions or a series of options may appear and they may start charging my phone number...

hmm...

I Still LOVE Trance Music

2006-05-28T22:00:00.000-04:00

I was looking forward to listening to my all-time favourite trance set, Paul van Dyk Live at Cream Amnesia Ibiza August 16th 2002. It's such an awesome set, will never forget it, especially the "megatron" with the mist pumping noise in the background always coming in and out between the blissful melodic rythms, at first being confused about errors during recording or odd sounds compiled into the tracks. If only my harddrive didn't crash a year and a half ago.

Regardless, I still enjoy all of Paul van Dyk's live sets and I still 2 to keep my ear drums dancing. I also wish to listen to DJ Tiesto's Magik Collection, I think the last one I listened to was Magik 7 ot 8, and I believe that my favourite Magik set was No.5.

3 words, I miss trance...from the 2000-2004 perioud. The productions from 2005 and onwards just didn't seem to get me pumped and energetic as then, is it really the composition that has changed or was it my devotion and interest that has faded?

Thinking back, I gave up the rave culture mentality. There were 2 reasons behind that, but what totally ended my passion for trance was something more serious and regretful than anything that has happened, something that still plagues me up to this day. But I am slowly recovering from that at an extremely slow rate although I will never fully heal, I hope that I will recover it and rejuvenate my past youthful energy and aura.

Ahhh, I wish I can find the Cream Amnesia Liveset again.

Anyways, while googling to find a free download of the set I discovered that Wikipedia had a definition and a decent background information for "Trance" which can be found here. Check it out :)

Casino Dealer Part II

2006-05-18T22:54:00.000-04:00

BOOYAH!!!

76hrs - 12days - aprx. 3 wks: Roulette Training Completed, Table Test Passed. OoOoo YEAH!

It's official, I will be working for CNE Casino this summer starting Monday, July 31st as a Roulette dealer, white collar shirt, black dress pants, black shoes, a red bow tie and a red money aprin, $10/hr excluding tips until Monday, September 4th.

Other games still to learn:
- Poker (Texas Hold'em)
- Black Jack
- Multiaction Black Jack
- War
- Spanish 21
- Chairty Black Jack

If you're bored, have spare change or none, just come to play 1 or 2 rounds or just spectate...we'll deal more action than Casino Rama or Niagara and we're located right in Toronto on the Exhibition ground.

Come Pay a Visit ;)

P.S. 1st day of casino opening we'll be the best time to come to catch mistakes made by new dealers...cheers ;)

What is Stopping You?

2006-05-07T13:41:00.000-04:00

I was filling out an application to the Millenium Scholarship Award for students who have shown leadership qualities. I filled in my program information, my career interests, work employment history, my community services, my extra-curricular activities. The section of other activities outside of school was empty, as I do not have any community clubs outside of school etc. That's ashame, I just thought of making something up, but that's just not me to lie...The other part that stomped me, 3 most important activities that required your leadership role. I can only think of one activity where I took initiative. Does that mean I am unworthy of this Millenium Scholarship Award? I do not think so as I believe that I am a leader and an innovator, but just can't think of specific time commited activities where I had to take on such a role.

I guess because of this, I'm not going to apply for the Millenium Scholarship Award, good-bye $4000 or $5000, we'll meet in another way...

Going through this application re-instating the thought that I truly want to become an innovator and a leader to the world. How exactly is still up for grabs as I have brainstormed a few ideas from boring days and nights of whites walls and a full body mirror.

Today, I realized that I am not taking major action to change the world I am crudely dissatisfied in. Why exactly? I still cannot tell, but I have summed that I am afraid of something. Is it change that I am afraid of? I don't think so. Can it simply be laziness? I doubt that too. Or can it be that, at this point in time I just do not care enough for the subject I want to change? Possibly because I am not exactly sure what specifically am I dissatisfied about? What is stopping me from doing something monumental?

H5N1, Habitat Loss, Urbanization

2006-04-16T16:37:00.000-04:00

Okay, so today I was having dim sum with my family and I had a peculiar conversation with my sister. 1st off, my sister is one big arrogant person who believes that she has the right or is entitled to anything she wants, especially luxury items. The main topic we were discussing was impressions about ours and others surroundings from the micro level of a restaurant to a more macro level of a city and things inbetween.

The thing in between was mainly about economics and the desire and the luxury to consume large homes such as the ones with two or three garages as the ideal suburban home to bring comfort and satisfaction as a norm for everyone in Canada. I disagreed with her mentality as her reasoning was the dissatisfactions about living in a metropolis such as Hong Kong or Tokyo. Her dissatisfaction were associated with 'overpopulation' mainly regarding small living spaces and negative social practices of ill-mannered neighbours and gossip, simply speaking she feels that high-density development is a horrific and unbearable experience thus, not liveable. I argued that the metropolis is a lifestyle but she argued that it is not by choice (and for many I agree, the metropolis is not a lifestyle choice especially for those in Asia). That debate is open for discussion but it is not my main interest point.

The most interesting and the most despicable point during the conversation was her mentality and reasoning about consuming as progress. She stated without hesitation, everyone should have big luxurious homes and cutting down trees for these homes is no biggie. She excused deforestation as an issue simply because Canada has a vast mass of land and resources drawn within its political boundaries, hence with such a small population every Canadian citizen is entitled to such and such an amount of land and resource. Her other excuse, constructing big homes and cutting down trees contributes to economic growth, thus good for Canada.

Deforest and build 3 garaged homes for every family in Canada
According to my sister, as Canadians or people who live in Canada, we should have a 3 garaged home as Canada has limitless land and natural resources and also this glorious act will boost our GDP, thus a favour to the economy. Will this really be good for the economy? I do not think it will be because of traffic congestion, rise in infrastructure cost, and the dramatic rate of depletion of Canadian natural resource stock and undervalued natural resources during the rapid increase in supply during construction of these homes. And then more importantly, my sister, like many politicians of today and the past, did not consider the other major factors such as the overall environmental and social implementations.

Environmental and Social Implementations
Questions that may be considered:

<> Do we have or will we implment an artificial infrastructure that can easily facilitate all the runoff from nonporous surfaces associated with urban development? If not, where will the overflow go? What type of damage may be done? (i.e. collapse of bridges/roads/other infrastructure in/around/over natural water tributaries)

<> What type of health and environmental implications would arise in air quality issues given the increase in automobile dependency, as public transit will be inefficient in low-density regions?

<> Where would displaced wildlife from habitat loss goto to survive? If not extirpated/extinct, what implications or disruptions would be caused to their alternative habitats?

<> What will happen to the Canadian citizens who cannot live in 3 garaged homes? or who cannot afford to sustain the costs associated with such luxury? What type of civil and economic infrastructure system will Canada have with all their residents all dispersed in low-density niches?

These are only a few questions that came to mind, there are plentimore that can be asked.

When my sis praised this consumption pattern, I was speechless deep inside. I only refuted with a brief mention of rise in infrastructure cost. I should have responded in more detail and on top of that mention issues that she did not consider such as the ones I mentioned above (environment and social). But regardless, that conversation ended the moment I fell silent from the disappointment in her thought, mentality and more importantly her reasoning based on the system of flawed economics, where natural resources are undervalues or not valued.

The ecological link
After arriving home from a day's outing I logged online and did my usual quick net things and when bored read another blog page that updates me on the latest environmental news. Well, quite happily I read the headline "Restore Wetlands Worldwide & Reduce Bird Flu Threat."

To my surprise, this article went on par with the sorrowful conversation I had with my sister but tended to favour my view: urbanization is a bad thing.

The report commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stated that urbanization is the most likely leading cause to the pandemic spread of Avian Influenza founded in the coninents of Asia, Europe and Africa. They said, habitat loss of wetlands have made agricultural fields such as farms breeding poultry, duck, and geese and rice paddy fields increasing attractive for migrating and non-migrating birds as their alternative habitat. The sharing of space between wild bird species and farmed bird species has lead to the infection of wild birds sharing the space to be infected who then carry the vector to other locations. The scientists thus suggests wetland restoration worldwide inorder to prevent the spread of avian influenza as scientists researching into avian influenza are speculative that one of the avian strains will evolve into a deadly contagious vector that may be transfered from human to human.

This is one of the woes of urbanization and quite potentially can possibily be the demise to the human population, but of course that is only if an avian influenza strain evolves into a vector that facilitates through the human medium. But regardless, this reinforces the caution that should be taken with urbanization, especially rapid urbanization.

Links:
Green Diary Blog
The Direct Article from Environment News Service

Unnatural Law: Rethinking Canadian Environmental Law and Policy by David R. Boyd 2003

2006-04-11T23:23:00.000-04:00

This is the best book (2/3 parts of the book, have not read part 1) I have ever read. I have not bought the book yet, although it was apart of mandatory course material list. I took a loan from the library like how I get all my other material unless its unavailable...

But this book is such an exceptionally well-written and researched book I'm going to purchase it! 2nd hand or brand new still of debate.

Generally, this book exposes the unclean and shameful record of environmental stewardship by Canadian politics and looks into possible solutions to correct the poor management. It boils my blood at certain points but also wakes my slumber to Canadian inefficiencies and low emphasis and prioritization of issues by the feds.
The best part about the book is the comparison and analysis made between Sweden and Canada, where Sweden outshines Canada in every possible aspect, except the 3x higher GDP enjoyed by Canadians. Overall, it is a sad and grim story for Canadians and they should be ashamed despite the false imageries marketed by the federals!

Favourite Quote read:
"The way we undervalue natural capital services and fail to account for natural asset degradation often means we are impoverishing ourselves while imagining that our economies are growing." - a former World Bank economist (Boyd, 2003: 313)

Grappling with Opportunities -or- Confused about Fulfillment?

2006-04-11T18:37:00.000-04:00

I'm unsure when I started to feel this way, I think may be 2 months ago since the start of my summer job hunt.

I feel that I am so fortunate to live in Canada, an industrialized nation with multilculturalism and parents who have jobs who support their children financially and emotionally. But most fortunate of all, is that I am attending university. So many doors are opened to me during my studies and likely after my studies; money grants, job opportunities, career options, social change, leadership opportunities, entrepreneurship, the list goes on.

Of course, I am not one super spectacular well-rounded highly qualified individual who fulfills all job qualifications and can easily get a job, but if I can view these jobs and know where to view them does that mean something? Well, that's not the main bugging question.

A odd feeling that I am someone very important and will likely bring social and structure change and difference to this world or maybe a world of others has been plaguing my thoughts. What exactly is this change I speak of is unclear to me. I think that the program of study: Environmental Studies, is optimizing my outlook on the future and my very own future. To bring social and environmental change to the world that would change our values and fundamental operations forever?

With reflection to the literature that I have been reading through the courses in my program, it feels that the world is inefficient in every possible way and the sole reason while polarization occurs is due to the exploitation that is forced upon marginalized countries. The whole political and economical system is flawed but what can we do especially when the public or the every day citizens don't even realize that their values and consumer choices are the workings of layers of thoughts and values of others who run the world?

I am unsure of the thoughts and feelings that have been summoning lately, but honestly I feel that I have a world of opportunities infront of me. Possibly because I struggle to live a routined lifestyle and settle with a career then will give me a routine salary hike of 1% each year? The most important contributor of such feelings and thought might even be an underlying mystery that plagues me deeply, will I ever find a relationship that I would truly be commited to? Or is it commitment to begin with? Whatever it is, time will tell.

I have no clue what I just wrote, but hopefully this takes my mind off the exam for tomorrow which I am still not fully prepared for. 4 more articles with notes to go!

Casino Dealer

2006-04-10T20:55:00.000-04:00

Alcohol and gambling always seems to plague my interest. I wanted to become a bar tender maybe for a part time job? but most importantly I thought that it was cool and fun. I never tried the bar tending thing although I have my portable bar tending tools without the supply of the big smazy alcohol. This summer I am going to try to become a casino dealer.

According to CNE's Casino Administrator I would have to enroll in a subsidized course offered by CNE for $150 starting on May 1st. If I pass, I would have to send an application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario which requires a money order of $50, 2 passport photos and my fingerprints! I am unsure how long the course will take and if I would even pass, but this will be one exciting job and I look forward to this little venture indeed.

CASINO DEALING!!! weeeeeeeeeee

Unfortunately, the course will take probably 1 month tops, my guess and only employment in August. So that really leaves me June and July for a summer vacation or fun or work which really suck but I guess I will likely be working for a temporary job agency again this summer.

Ninjitsu Pride & Shopping ~$$$

2006-03-18T21:19:00.000-05:00

I finally went shopping...well it has been almost 3 months since my last shopping activity in retail Canada. I swept Club Monaco Outlet this Saturday afternoon billing upto $155.25CDN for 16 items, muahahahahha. Items I purchased: I am not disclosing.

CM Outlet, according to redflagdeals.com members, will be closing by the end of March. Reasons: not too sure, but it's probably not making money, the outlet? but there has also been rumours that the designer (one of them?) will be the designer for "Joe Fresh" the new clothing line for Loblaw's Superstore...So I've read.

I also purchased my friend's bday gift, finally, from CM Outlet (for a supremely cheap price!!!) and an item from Mexx. ~ I just love shopping...

When I got home, well of course, like every mad shopper, I tried out every piece of clothing... maybe twice for some pieces kekekke. After that, I was suppose to wash them before shelving it into my closet but, I got impatient and lazy because someone was using the bathroom. So what I surfed the net...

An awesome trucker cap from BAPE, A Bathing APE
That's right...spelling it out:

~ NINJA!

I started reading a thread about BAPE/BURBERRY/LA COSTE/GUCCI etc., high-end designer lines that were for sale. I never heard of the brand BAPE before so I decided to google it and it turned out to be a Japanese label by a Japanese man name "Nigo" and all their products are Made in Japan and expensive as hell, $300 t-shirts! They are more widely known for their shoes, which I think looks ugly, but after looking at pics after pics of them on eBay they can be alright. I've seen some people on campus with them, usually FOBs. They sort of look like Converse sneakers, but more radical and lollipop. But I love their "Baby Milo" t-shirt line! They're soo cute and awesome, I am really tempted to buy 2 or 3 off eBay (aprx. $12CDN + $10-15CDN Shipping = $25CDN for 1), but I don't want to spend anymore money, not on tees.

So enough with the Baby Milo, A Bathing Ape t-shirt craze...well more like no more eBay. I really want to purchase a Baby Milo tee but not from eBay, so I google "BAPE t shirts Canada" but only Ottawa through craiglist.com showed up... o well but I ran into that funny green tee based from Jerkass Clothing Co. a website advertised on the Ottawa Craiglist.

Compact Econo-Enviro

2006-03-07T23:38:00.000-05:00

Toyota Yaris Hatchback 2007

Toyota Canada Website

Finally, Toyota brought back the Echo Hatchback look! The video on the Canadian Toyota website for the Yaris Hatchback 07 was really impressive, suitable for country-city lifestyles targeting youngins. Too bad the commericial takes a few minutes, but it would do well in theatres before the featured presentation.

Subaru R1e's 1st premiere in Canada!

Photograph taken @ Cdn Int'l Autoshow'06 by Samarins.com

Fuji Heavy Industries, makers of Subarus in Japan started production in 2004. This totally electrically ran engine with a Li-ion battery charges in 5 minutes for 100+ miles and it first premiered in the Tokyo Autoshow in 2003. Too bad no sales to N.America :(

I want it, I want them both. But I think the R1e looks better :D

Bling! Bling!

2006-03-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

$1,000 USD + $100 USD Shipping on eBay from a German dealer

An ordinary mobile phone, $200 USD tops, after being endorsed by a fashion label, Escada, the price rises to $1,000 USD. Of course with the price escalation of 500%, the mobile phone shell is covered or sprayed in sparkly gold paint. Oh wait, it comes with a LEATHER CARRYING CASE with the imprints E S C A D A, that alone is worth big bucks $!$!$!

bleh, I don't mind having one for free :D

1st Pet

2006-02-26T14:06:00.000-05:00

The most common first pet for most is a gold fish. Why? I don't know.

But today, I am going to buy a gold fish!!! My very first pet. After I come back in about 4 hours, I shall snap a picture of it in a plastic container on my bookshelf and post it here.

I'm going to finally have a pet...

Reason why I want a gold fish:

My room has been really dry. I own a humidifer but I don't want to use electricity for economic and environmental reasons, thus the natural evaporation process of water as the compromise. But an plain container with water seems empty and boring...my solution, a shiny bright flickering fish swimming around in the container of water :) Not only would it solve the partial dryness problem in my room, it'll create a fresher atmosphere. With a fresher atmosphere, motivation to continue studying will sky-rocket. Other than that, a gold fish swimming around in an empty tank sort of resemble my life of aimless wandering without purpose, the only exception, the goldfish looks fabulous dressed in 'bling-bling'.

-> I didn't get a goldfish, instead got a small fish that's silver and plumb looking about 1-inch long ($4CDN) and a companion, a black fish with orange propeller about 2-inch long ($7CDN). They both have the same diet of TetraMin tropical flakes the balanced nutrition for optimal health ($4CDN - 12g). The food smells like fish-tackle bait. Total: $15CDN initial start up.

As an amateur inexperienced petfish person, my 2 fishes, whitie and blackie suffered tremendous shock. I thought they were going to die from all stupid things I did. After I bought them and brought them home, I transferred them into the container filled with water I left in the room for 3 hours. After the transfer, I felt that the container was too empty and simplistic. So, I added marbles...one by one I dropped the marbles and one of these marbles was an extremely large one, I call it, the Earth boulder 2 inch in diameter painted like planet Earth. Well, I dropped that one in and continued dropping the regular sized marbles in. When I looked back at the container, blackie was missing. As puzzled as I was I panicked. I frantically eye-balled the cylindrical container and, there he was, being crushed by planet Earth...thankfully, he did not die. Well, as bad as I felt I continued dropping marbles in but removed planet Earth, which was too dangerous rolling around. Due to the guilt I felt of shocking them for my poor preparation I fed them their TetraMin. They were frisky, thus I assume that they're happy when their stomach are full. Now they're very energetic and appear to be trying to swim away and out of their container into the wall. Blackie tries so hard that it makes a bang from time to time from collision with the wall.

P.S. I need new batteries to have enough power to take a snap of them...

I wonder how to tell if they are females or males...

-------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, February 27, 2006
My day-old silver fish, Whitie, passed away and was flushed down the toilet. :(

Thursday, March 2, 2006
- Blackie died despite attempts to rescue him/her the previous night. After I arrived home from classes in the morning and afternoon, s/he too was flushed down the toilet :(

Hencho en Cuba

2006-02-20T20:07:00.000-05:00

My Reading Week in Havana, Cuba was well spent ($1,135CDN total), and now I am far behind in my research.

1st off, I am addicted.

It is Monday, and it is the first official day back in Toronto. I am huffing and puffing troubling to suck in dry air into my stuffy congested respiratory system. I do not know if it is the adjustment of tropical paradise to winter hell or is it addiction of tobacco and cigars hencho en Cuba. I am worried but, man cigars and cigarettes are all that is on my mind. I brought with me a dried up Century Sam cigar I found on the pavement while walking home from school 4 to 6 months ago to compare with the famed Cuban Cigars (Habanos). I smoked it the 2nd night in Havana at the hotel with my roomy, who smoked a Montecristo freshly bought at the factory store for 7.15CUC ($9.30CDN). Man... did his cigar smell good. It looked smooth during the burning and he made the sweet suckling noise that could only be heard from finely rolled cigars. My Century Sam was a century old, dried up like a twig. But the cigar itself was still quite nice although it was awfully spicy but I enjoyed the kick. After that night, cigar cigar cigar was all that was on my mind. Two days later, we went shopping on a street our local tour guide coined, Havana's Yonge street; there we found an official cigar-rum store which to my convience and liking, was a few cents to a peso cheaper than the factory cigar place across from the Havana Museum where my friend bought his cigars (and the others, except me). There I bought a pack of Cohiba Club, Montecristo something and of course, uno cigarillos Montecristo Joyita for my guilty indulgence. I could have bought a full blown corona or churchill, but I don't want to be smoking that big sucker for hours on end. Plus, I think the smaller-petit cigars (cigarillos) looked cooler and matched me more. Anyways, the sucker I bought was in a cedar case but opened on display for sale as individuals...I did not realized then, but it was dry. Regardless, it was still fantastic. The only downside of smoking these babies, excessive spitting. That got annoying and ruined the image, but o well. Habanos (Cigars and Cigarettes) are superb, especially their aroma mmmmmm. What is left of that experience are the dry and irritating eyes and a body that cries for water, even when I'm saturated with it. My system is in complete malfunction without a smoke of them, but hey, I'm not going to become a smoker ~ only social smoking when I'm bored.

List of Cuban Tobacco items purchased or consumed:
1. Cohiba Club (20 Cigarillos) - not yet opened (anyone interested in purchasing for $40CDN?)
2. Montecristo Puritos (5 Cigarillos) - apparently individually wrapped within the pack
3. Montecristo Joyita (1 Cigarillo) - well consumed, lasted 2 hours!
4. Cohiba cigarettes (20 sticks) - going as a souvenir
5. Romeo y Juliet cigarettes (20 sticks) - keeper for myself
6. Hollywood Blue cigarettes (20 sticks) - going as a souvenir, tried 1 stick from a friend, resembled a habanos but lighter, smoother than Canadian cigarettes
7. _________ cigarette (1 stick) - burned too quickly, resembled a habanos but alot lighter and much better than Canadian cigarettes

Havana Club Especial

Like all sorts of alcohol, with the exception of Ice Wine, it tasted disgusting at first, but... not bad. I took two glasses of Havana Club Especial dry at La Casa de Musica from a 75cl. bottle which cost 38CUC ($49.40CDN) (1 bottle normally costs 6CUC outside). Regardless of the cost (which I didn't pay), the drink drank dry was simply amazing, as soon as I knew it, I was salsa dancing on the dance floor front row infront of the live band at this high-end club packed with tourist and local middle-class elites. The music was shit but, it was an experience.

List of Alcohol purchased or consumed:
1. Havana Special cocktail (shake of Havana Club white rum, Pineapple Juice and ?) - was really good, 9/10
2. Cuba Libre cocktail (Havana Club white rum, cola and lemon juice) - okay 6/10, it needed a strong carbonated cola i.e. Coca Cola instead of the flat lightly carbonated or maybe non-cabonated local cola (tastes like PC cola, but even less carbonated), also the bartender did not mix lemon juice in it!!!
3. Crystal beer - not bad 7/10, tastes like Labatt blue
4. Havana Club Especial (Anejo Oro) - drank dry, excellent, 9.5/10
5. Havana Club Especial (Anejo Oro) 75cl. bottle - sitting on the bookshelf
6. Havana Club 7 Anos 75 cl. bottle - sitting on the bookshelf, apparently it is placed silver in the World Championship, of what? I have no clue, it is in spanish

The Revolution

Besides the tourist traps that I visited, I explored the underside of Havana and a small town near Villa Los CoCos, the vacation spot for mainly locals (except 10% internationals). I got to say, Cuba is more environmentally efficient than Canada or so it seemed. For example, many parking spots had green space for drainage and solar panels for water heating and electric power, especially for remotely located regions. Their public transportation system is absolutely superb, I never once saw an empty bus, and they were packed in like sardines. This image of fully utilized public transit may present a distasteful and impoverished community, but to my eyes, this is how transportation is suppose to be, especially when population growth is welcomed. Another eye opening transportation scene is the public 'hitchhiking' law. The Cuban government requires all state owned vehicles that are single occupant vehicle (SOV) to pick-up others waiting for a bus ride to work or home (from work) along the same route. There are even enforcers to assure compliance at each public stop.

Thus far, I have not seen anyone sleeping on the streets although I have seen some cases where they have gone without showers/clothing change for many days. I felt guilty every time I saw a case like that. I wanted to give them money or do business but I was on a budget and I am too practical for the social welfare of others (usually). I brought candy and little toys to give away; I gave them to the maids and the masseuse working at the Hotel, maybe it would have been better to give it to those who looked impoverished (but I did not carry them while I explored the city). I have been told multiple times by the president of the tour company I went with, who accompanied us on the trip that everyone had a job and a monthly salary in Cuba and no body starved. I sort of believe it but really doubt it, especially since I stayed at Hotel Kohly, a 3 star located in a middle-class neighbourhood with newly renovated colonial-Beverly Hill style homes.

Colonial Architecture, 3 things to say:

1. It provides a deep sense of culture, heritage, and identity, it is simply a hell lot richer than Toronto (in many ways in non-monetary terms)
2. The beautifully designed buildings are deteriorating from salt abrasion and often gives the image of low-income housing, but inside, the homes are well-furnished packed with electronics and other high-end material - the technology is only a few years behind Canada, but Canada is a few years or maybe even a decade behind Europe
3. Hanoi, Vietnam (travelled to in July 2005) flashed my mind; Spain (colonized Cuba) is right below France (the colonizer of Vietnam), thus the ubiquitous resemblance in architecture but surprisingly even the lifestyle held resemblance (diesel engine vehicles, 3 wheeled and 2 wheeled); the only difference was their skin colour and the likes of salsa versus ballroom.

One last cool thing, grafitti there is Art atleast at the Collejon de Hamlet. I believe that this tiny alley block was permitted to be painted in colours and portaits and have weird decors on its streetscape as a notion of celebration of slave history and african music in Cuba (according to the interpreter).

Adios~

Travel Agency used: Design Travel Ltd.

Sith Lord & The Modern Hitler

2006-01-27T20:43:00.000-05:00

So, I discovered a week ago that I'm the rebirth of two twisted souls, the Sith Lord and the Modern Hitler.

Why in the world would anyone call anyone else on earth such names? Let's just start of by saying, never talk business and clear cut strategies or simply reality to environmentalists. Another Tuesday afternoon and I'm conversing with my environmental studies colleagues, more like multiple debates in the faculty lounge. We yap and yap and a peer of mine, who resembles Dogbert but with a physique of batman, mentions about the competitive, cut-throat, vicious behaviour of first year students in the Schulich business school. Or shall I rephrase and hint, to get into one of the leading business schools anywhere: you gotta have a grain of salt tucked under your cuffs. Well, we were specifically talking about a 1st year course in the Schulich program where they require their students to design and market an innovative product in one semester.

The statement and argument of my environmental colleagues, "Yeah, but they don't have to be so cut-throat and bash everyone's products. That's just mean. All this just to lower their peers mark to raise their own? Stupid." They were all shaking their heads showing disappointment, maybe because they really agree or it’s the inner bias plagued in majority, if not all, environmentalist about business people.

Of the whole circle, I was the only one nodding my head in approval of the "shoe-lickers" reactions and commentary about others products. The whole circle turned on me, giving me the look, and the eye. I could have let it slip but I just had to defend what I believe in. And what those 1st year students did was perfectly correct and sensible! I say it with pride!

Why do I agree and why is their behaviour correct and just so exquisite? Because they were exposing each other to criticism, might I add cut-throat straight to the point on why their product is unworthy of anything less than a place in the dump (and in the future, you might even be taxed for your debt full innovation for misuse of precious land resource). Simply, the harsher one spits at another's belongings, the better the brew of passionate revenge to improve and SHOVE-IT IN - YOUR - FACE response. Only in such environment can society summon the best innovation and creativity but at the same time promote conservation and practicality.

What I said above and how I sided with the shoe lickers stirred unwanted and uncalled for names of historical and scientifically fictitious characters who, mind I add, were extremely intelligent figures with powerful charisma. Quite honestly, I was quite cocky and cherry that they decided to embrace me with such honorable titles. Come on, they were intelligent figures who had control, power and status, now who doesn't want that? Besides their 'evil' nature, which is probably why my colleagues presented me such socially despicable names, they were intelligent things that had the desirable traits and achievements of intelligence, power, status, and control. They could have done anything they wanted in this world and in that fictitious world. So, in conclusion, I'm glad that they had honoured me with such titles.

Maybe how I phrased it to them was correct, "I am a business minded person learning about the secrets of the environmental studies trade."

US Outlet & V.I.P. Fallsview Casino

2005-12-30T02:21:00.000-05:00

It is the holiday, I have time, I've studied hard, I've made a few easy bucks but quite honestly, I accomplished all without style. So, I have decided to become more urban and will take advantage of the holiday sales ~ can I say I look more urban and stylish now? I really don't know, most likely not...but materialism and consumerism does give me a sense of joy, although my program of study will shake there heads in 'no-no'. Regardless of the SOER and whether materialism and such is the cause, my mindset convinced me that I live in the metropolis and thus, should play it the urban way ~ look rich, play smart. I don't exactly understand why I must look rich, but I know that anyone should always play smart whether if they're really smart or they've disguised themselves as careless pigs.

I haven't exactly calculated how much I've spent ~ which doesn't necessarily imply that I'm a careless rich pig, but what I can say is that I'm buying quality clothes at bargain prices; that is compared to regular retail (maybe ~40-80% off). Anyhow, this shopping drive is turning me into a shopaholic, especially when I'm equipped with a reward program credit card.

Footprint Expansion: Day 1 (Boxing Day) Sherway Gardens, Day 2 (D-Day after Boxing Day) Pacific Mall & Promenade, Day 3 (D-Day After Boxing Day 2) Fairview Mall, and Day 4 (D-Day after Boxing Day 3) the upcoming location, and Day 5 Et Cetera, yeah the list will grow and ooooo my size 10 US feet is going to grow on and on and yeah, etc.

So...

I was phoned up 12 hours before departure to the 49th parallel while I was hanging out with some old high school friends. Thanks to wireless telecommunication, organization happened within three hours with less than 4 phone calls and each call taking no longer than 5 minutes and best of all, did not disrupt the cozy reunion. Fido Prepaid, $30 valid for 2 months charges 15cents per minute, and so, using the phone for approximately 5 minutes each call for approximately 3 calls: organization with wireless telecommunication totals $2.25 Canadian, excluding tax.

After the chillout with mates, I arrived home at 10:30pm and found a message that told me, I need maps and I was supposedly the navigator, so hence the organizer...thus I spent 2 hours researching for the Buffalo, NY outlet mall near Niagara Falls where everyone says has the hottest and the most worthwhile deals ever. Well, I hear about it, but no one ever mentions the exact address...why not? Why has address and the importance of geography disappeared? Even when yahoo or mapquest wasn't even invented, why do people of the late 21st century not use precision in their chit-chats? Is it some sort of trade secret? Buddy, it's all the way at the 49th parallel I will not be driving their for every sale, so don't worry, your secret is safe with me. If you don't find this blog.

Anyways, I researched, found maps, and found the best matched outlet mall location. Was it the right one? Well it's called "Prime Outlets at Niagara Falls," I wasn't too sure if that was the place, but it had pricey name brands such as Jones New York, Olsen Europe, Polo Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Coach Factory Store, Guess, Nine West and many more. The shops seemed good, so Yahoo showed us the way.

15 minutes after the search, I composed a report of maps and relevant direction by Yahoo, and also the listing of stores at the outlet. I dumped my passport, wallet, keys, mp3 player, chewing gum, 2 bottles of water, and the very important research composition into a cheap and ugly $9.99 black bag equipped with a foldable umbrella; which belongs to my mom. Set the alarm on my cell phone, and off to bed at 1:45am.

7:10am - the alarm disrupts my deep sleep, the most enjoyable part of any nights' rest. Oh well, let the shopping journey to Buffalo, New York begin!

We drove, I navigated, and we lined up for the US crossing at Hwy.405 - Hwy.190. Oh we lined and lined and complained about how long it was taking and during the heat, a single-occupant 50 year-old white male with a black jaguar and NYC license plate cuts infront of us.

"Hello, happy holidays and early greetings from America...with love."

Can I not have prejudice? Don't get me wrong, there are tons of assholes on the roads of Toronto but, well... gun violence and homocides are on the rise and almost on par with any given big US city. Can I disgustingly assume Toronto is turning into 'Good Morning America!' or shall I say, 'Good Morning Canada!'?

We didn't expect much courtesy or good citzenship from drivers on the road in general, so we allowed it to slide. Besides, his black jaguar, N.Y.C. plates, and his age...it all seem to match a big brother on the Wallstreet scene, I don't think we wanted anything to deal with him. Sorry to say, but I just don't have such fundings to have a fledge of lawyers to fend off criminal guilt charges when clearly it was his fault or for his case, it was absolutely vague and unclear and thus not enough evidence to charge him but clearly I was wrong, somehow. If not, I might be counter-sued or blah blah and must be responsible for his legal fees and such...free market eh.

But continuing on, after the boarder crossing, we continued with the directions that YaHoO! Maps provided for 1900 Military Road where Prime Outlets at Niagara Falls is located. According to Yahoo:

Take (L) fork onto QEW toward NIAGARA/FORT ERIE - go 39.4 mi
Take (L) exit #37 onto HWY-405 EAST toward QUEENSTON - go 5.4 mi
HWY-405 EAST becomes QUEENSTON-LEWISTON BRG - go 0.5 mi
QUEENSTON-LEWISTON BRG becomes I-190 SOUTH - go 14.7 mi
Take exit #16 onto I-290 EAST toward ROCHESTER/TONAWANDA - go 2.1 mi
Take exit #1/ELMWOOD AVE onto KNOCHE RD - go 0.3 mi
Turn (L) on MILITARY RD[RT-265] - go 0.3 mi
Arrive at 1900 MILITARY RD, BUFFALO, on the (R)

I trusted and relied on YaHoO!...we ended up on a different Military Road. Apparently, there are two seperate sections of Military Road. We had to ask for directions, but hey, I love asking locals, some are nice and some are rotten but it's fun because I get to 'judge' and 'label' ...things. Butoff on a tangent, American gas is cheap! and their environmental law enforcements are stiff and totally funded by the US feds, so I ask, "Canada, what are you doing with all that tax you've slapped on gas? Either have proper environmental enforcements and positive doing or give us cheaper gas! Not like you're seriously planning on your Kyoto Commitment anyhow..."

Anyhoo, the gas clerk was nice enough to tell us that there was an outlet mall across from Niagara Falls, "keep driving on this road towards Niagara Falls and you should hit it." Well, that's sort of insufficient, or mainly because it made me sound like a bad nvaigator. So we went into this local banquet hall where a few senior ladies were having brunch and asked the servers for their take, opinion and confirmation. Gee-golly, boy were they helpful! If I didn't knowbetter, they seemed almost Canadian :D They were clear and precise and pointed out to us that a big portion of 'Military Road' turns into another street but then chang e again. So, this made me feel much better, as my navigation wasn't good or incorrect, but my primary source was wrong or simply, I didn't know enough to command the right directions from the system. . The waiting staff kindly and slowly repeated the directions for us to follow to attend the bargain house and we were off! - 50minutes of utter lost time: YaHoO!... more like BoOhoO!

We're there...HIGH FIVE!!! WOOOHOOO!!!!!

I had no USD, I only had the credit card...I didn't want to use it...mainly because I didn't know how inflated the charges would be for the currency exchange, but... yeah...

Footprint Expansion: Day 4 Prime Outlets at Niagara Falls, New York State, United States of America. Miles driven ? Fossil Fuel used ? Waste products emitted ? Lost of agricultural landuse productivity for demand of a 1fl. suburban outlet mall ?

~Who knows? Who cares? I have my Mastercard.

From 12pm to 6:30pm...swipe, swipe, swipe, swipe, swipe, "No free refills!?!? Ookay," swipe, swipe, swipe...

Yay, more materialistic things to make me happy and all paid by mastercard ^_^

Now...time to make some money for the upcoming card bill...

>>> FALLSVIEW CASINO <<<

Since 9 days ago, I turned 19... well, I'm 19, so... I hoped onto the line for casino entrance. Oh it's my turn it's my turn! SWIPE...I gave him a big tip with my mastercard...

Nah, I'm kidding, he swiped my driver's license, swiped, stared, glared, raised some eyebrows....STAMPED!

Yay, I'm approved, 'Hello Casino!'

Ooooooooooooo, slot machines everywhere and only 25cents! I planned to put 75 cents (CDN) at stake :D noe which machine shall be my lucky host. Oh wait, I had to goto the V.I.P. section first, my aunt had connections. Card dealing tables everywhere, people dressed nicely, and the minimum bet for slot machines $5. Well, just $$$, so we visited the washroom where it didn't require $$$; private room with private sink basin, mirror, marble and granite counter tops and tile floors, flower decor pieces, automatic soap dispenser and sensored tap...can you spell luxury or natural resource displacement? Anyhoo, the upcoming fancy impression my aunt pulled; the complimentary drinks for V.I.P. members, Platnum or Gold Players at the bar...we ordered. The bartender served the drink, but as we reached to grab the drinks...where's your player cards? My aunt wasn't a member...so she had to ditch us at the bard to search frantically for her connection, we sat there, eyes on us, cameras on us, o yay. The expresso was good though :) well after 20 minutes, which felt like 2 hours, my aunt came back with her connection, an asian lady who had terrible english but the heir of an arrogant rich snob who had influence. We sat there for another 5 minutes as the supervisor or manager in charge phoned her uppers...feisty and bad atmosphere, and we were just stuck in the middle. Regardless, my aunt's connection is a gold player and the drinks were complimentary... half hour of inprisonment at the V.I.P. bar for suspects of fradulence over a few bucks worth of drinks.

A very dampening mood for a first time casino experience, but who had the opportunity to go V.I.P. on their first time? I don't know if I would have traded such an experience but...gosh...we left the V.I.P. section and finally, back to the $0.25 slot machines ^-^

Here comes my $0.75!

to be continued...

Process Tree of a Net Scam

2005-12-21T02:00:00.000-05:00

My first official post!

This is actually the second time I've encountered this website of blogging. The first time was from a link of a Vietnamese male who lives in Toronto who was a controversial character in a Canadian consumer deal forum. The second time was precisely 2 hours ago when I took interest in an at home gig of data entry for part-time work considering it’s the holiday break for students. They required my full name and address and on top of that registration at a third party site filled with pop-up ads. Due to the pop-up ads and the general unprofessionally designed websites, I was weary of the offered jobs, especially the plan they have for my name and address. As lazy as I can be, I just wasn't dumb enough to not put my wits and handy tools of the internet, namely Google, to good use. So I googled everything that raised eyebrows, especially the contact information, and boy is the google tool bar useful. No wonder your share price just keeps climbing and climbing, but God, $429.74 a share? I just hope your share price has enough backbone or kaboom the wire snap and down goes the elevator full of passengers like Nortel Telecommunications during the IT boom :S Anyways, here's the story of how this simple data entry gig inquiry and suspicion started.

From the beginning:

I checked out this website for jobs and gigs: http://toronto.craigslist.org/ggg/ where I found a neat cozy job that fits well into my unspecialized qualification that every university student has, or smart enough to lie about. So I clicked on the link for application and more information for 'Freelance Data Entry Gigs': http://www.wordwood.org/dataentrygigs.html where it requested my full name and address but also the registration to their sister corporation: http://www.mailorderwork.com/ where according to their private policy, they claim to be Magnificent Enterprises Inc. with the contact number 269-978-2716 which according to http://www.411.com on reverse phone search is non-existent. So, what is up with that?

Well, that was a dead end on reality black and white paper term. So, I back traced the link of the application to http://www.wordwood.org/ where the site sold Holiday Greeting Cards and apparently, boldly claimed ownership by someone named Amy Derby with a picture too. GOOOOOOOOOOGLE: Amy Derby, blah blah blah, useless, useless, useless...well nothing out of the ordinary, just results of freelance writing which her site is about and thus lead me to this blogger site, the 2nd encounter. None the less, Amy Derby was a dead end.

Even the best detective can overlook detail...

So I back traced all the sites and yes... ron@globalleads.com from the online company Magnificent Enterprises Inc. who requires your personal information of name, address, number and email. Well, http://www.groupleads.com/ you tricky bastards! They sell personal information to marketing companies!!!

"What makes our leads better than the rest?"
"CONSISTENT LEADS!...GUARANTEED EXCLUSIVE!...GUARANTEED CONTACTS!...GUARANTEED U.S. LEADS!...of course we guarantee a Canadian lead, if you order Canadian leads...GUARANTEED 18+!...GUARANTEED FRESH!"

Oooohh you freaking bastards, what a scam...thank goodness I didn't fall for their trap. Internet gigs, PSH!