I like having a plan and sticking to it.
I like traditions. Every Christmas Eve we go down to my Nanny's house. Every Canada Day I go uptown, usually with friends or my Mom, and spend time at the flea market being cheap. Every night around dinnertime, no matter what season, this guy in his mid-50's to early 60's jogs past my house. I'm pretty sure by this point he's ripped as hell because I couldn't jog to the corner letalone that far.
I also like plans. After becoming interested in current events after 9/11 made me realize that news exists, I decided that I wanted to be a journalist. I decided in middle school that I would do this at Ryerson, because I have always loved Toronto.
That was the plan for all of high school. I got into Ryerson Journalism, but I didn't go because it was too expensive.
But I deviated from my precise plan of studying at Ryerson. I also didn't go uptown for Canada Day this year. I moved away, so I don't know if that man still runs past my house every night.
It bugs me when things don't go as planned or in the manner that I am used to, because it's what I'm prepared for. It makes me realize that I'm growing up. We're not here on earth for an infinite amount of time and things must eventually change, whether we like it or not.
My point is that growing up is terrifying and sucks massively. In 4 months I'll be able to go into a bar or buy a lottery ticket (possibly both at once, because I'm just that crazy). I live on my own. I wash my own clothes. But a big part of growing up is adapting to change and becoming more responsible. I don't want to do either of these things, but I guess I have no choice. I'm already starting to do them now.
I'll always wonder what life would have been like if I went to Ryerson, and a little part of me is itching to go anyway.
But another part of me is starting to really like Fredericton and maybe my deviation from my master life plan was a good one. Perhaps when I go to Ryerson in 2012 I'll be more prepared to live alone in a big city and I'll be a better journalist.
I'm slowly realizing that embracing change can be good as long as you can keep a balance of the way things used to be. Change is necessary sometimes, just look at the Obama revolution in the US.
As for traditions, I'm going to enjoy them while they last. But I'm also going to try new stuff and make new traditions. Make the best of what time we have, right?
So why waste time worrying over the small things that do not go as planned? You miss out on a lot by doing that.
And that's my new year's resolution. That is, to exercise my lazy ass more, because if there was a bus that transported me from class to class I'd probably take that too.
But also, more importantly, to learn how to adapt more, like a karma karma chameleon. I'm going to try take what life gives me so I am not wasting time wishing for the careless days of childhood or stuck in the future planning out every detail of my life.
I still believe that only we determine our future, I'm not really into the whole fate thing. So to some degree I know that I will always control my future by making decisions. But I'm going to be a bit more easygoing about when things don't go to plan.
That's why I like New Year's Eve. Ted from How I Met Your Mother is right when he says that New Year's Eve is usually a letdown because of the big lead up to it, but it is the one day when everyone can be truly optimistic about the future.
Sounds like a good day to me.
The New Year - Death Cab for Cutie
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
Since it's Christmas Eve (actually, it's 1 AM so it's technically Christmas Day now), I thought it would be appropriate to post my Christmas wish list. Hypothetical wish list, of course.
1. A Stanley Cup for the Toronto Maple Leafs - The Leafs have been very nice this year, and they've waited over 40 years for one of these. This is really dreaming, but hey, I'm allowed to dream -- right?
2. A Canadian political leader that can inspire a generation - Not nearly enough young people vote, and that's an issue that needs to be addressed. We need a Canadian Barack or another Pierre that will appeal to the young people of a country and make politics exciting again.
3. World Peace - Might as well, while I'm at it.
4. Progress towards making poverty history - Poverty is everywhere. Anyone can make a difference and not just by donating money either. Visit this link to see what you can do to help out. And I know that those rubber wristbands aren't really "cool" anymore, but wearing a white band shows that you're helping in the fight to eradicate poverty. Free the Children is another great organization that are doing what they can to improve the lives of those living in extreme poverty.
5. A renovation for Rainbow Park in Saint John - This park has been a big part of my childhood, and it's in a pretty sad state. The tennis court doesn't have a net, the basketball hoops are barely standing, the sand is full of dirty needles, the swings are usually broken, and the list goes on. Councillor Donnie Snook is hoping to put some money from the Irving World Headquarters project towards a renovation. This renovation will not only make life more positive for kids in the South End, but it will also give the neighbourhood a facelift. It would give people more much needed pride and confidence in their community and show that it's a great place to raise kids.
6. A ninth season of Scrubs - This one's a bit selfish, but considering season 8 is starting mid-season and season 7 was way too short because of the strike, I think a nice, long season 9 is in order. With Zach Braff on board preferrably.
7. An effective re-allocation of the funds Harper cut from the Millennium scholarship fund - A good explanation of where this money is going has not yet been given, and if the Millennium fund must be cut, then I truly hope that the money can be re-allocated effectively enough to help reduce student debt loads in some way. It would also be useful for the Graham gov't re-allocate the money used for the first-year student rebate into something that will help students throughout their entire university career as opposed to just in their first-year.
8. A New Brunswick and a Saint John that would want to make me want to live and work here after I graduate - An economically sound, vibrant, youthful city and province full of opportunities for young people would be amazing.
9. Better methods of treating and diagnosing Emphysema and other lung diseases - More awareness about how to prevent these diseases and how to have a greener planet with cleaner air would be a good start. Medication to help people stop smoking is expensive, and so is oxygen, which makes it very difficult for people with lung issues to eradicate them or aid them.
10. The Hockey Night in Canada Theme to return to CBC - This song is truly Canadian, and it just isn't right on another channel.
11. A growth spurt - I'm 5'2". I think it's pretty self-explanatory.
I hope everyone reading this has a very merry and relaxing Christmas with family and friends!
1. A Stanley Cup for the Toronto Maple Leafs - The Leafs have been very nice this year, and they've waited over 40 years for one of these. This is really dreaming, but hey, I'm allowed to dream -- right?
2. A Canadian political leader that can inspire a generation - Not nearly enough young people vote, and that's an issue that needs to be addressed. We need a Canadian Barack or another Pierre that will appeal to the young people of a country and make politics exciting again.
3. World Peace - Might as well, while I'm at it.
4. Progress towards making poverty history - Poverty is everywhere. Anyone can make a difference and not just by donating money either. Visit this link to see what you can do to help out. And I know that those rubber wristbands aren't really "cool" anymore, but wearing a white band shows that you're helping in the fight to eradicate poverty. Free the Children is another great organization that are doing what they can to improve the lives of those living in extreme poverty.
5. A renovation for Rainbow Park in Saint John - This park has been a big part of my childhood, and it's in a pretty sad state. The tennis court doesn't have a net, the basketball hoops are barely standing, the sand is full of dirty needles, the swings are usually broken, and the list goes on. Councillor Donnie Snook is hoping to put some money from the Irving World Headquarters project towards a renovation. This renovation will not only make life more positive for kids in the South End, but it will also give the neighbourhood a facelift. It would give people more much needed pride and confidence in their community and show that it's a great place to raise kids.
6. A ninth season of Scrubs - This one's a bit selfish, but considering season 8 is starting mid-season and season 7 was way too short because of the strike, I think a nice, long season 9 is in order. With Zach Braff on board preferrably.
7. An effective re-allocation of the funds Harper cut from the Millennium scholarship fund - A good explanation of where this money is going has not yet been given, and if the Millennium fund must be cut, then I truly hope that the money can be re-allocated effectively enough to help reduce student debt loads in some way. It would also be useful for the Graham gov't re-allocate the money used for the first-year student rebate into something that will help students throughout their entire university career as opposed to just in their first-year.
8. A New Brunswick and a Saint John that would want to make me want to live and work here after I graduate - An economically sound, vibrant, youthful city and province full of opportunities for young people would be amazing.
9. Better methods of treating and diagnosing Emphysema and other lung diseases - More awareness about how to prevent these diseases and how to have a greener planet with cleaner air would be a good start. Medication to help people stop smoking is expensive, and so is oxygen, which makes it very difficult for people with lung issues to eradicate them or aid them.
10. The Hockey Night in Canada Theme to return to CBC - This song is truly Canadian, and it just isn't right on another channel.
11. A growth spurt - I'm 5'2". I think it's pretty self-explanatory.
I hope everyone reading this has a very merry and relaxing Christmas with family and friends!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Flashing Lights
Part of the reason why I titled this blog "Flashing Lights" has to do with the fact that I like that song and I like Kanye West. Actually, that last part is a lie. I like Kanye West, sometimes. I have to be in the mood to hear his music, but in comparison to other rap artists, I would take Kanye.
Anyway, since probably the end of grade 9, all of the entries in my blog (when I've had a blog) are either the title of a song or occasionally, song lyrics. I sometimes deviate from this but normally I don't, probably because I'm just too lazy to come up with any another creative, catchy and copiously cool title.
Alliteration at 3 AM? Yeah, I think so.
The other reason is because every night for the past 4 or 5 nights, I have been up at ungodly hours. Every night after 1 or 2 AM, there's a street light outside that consistently burns out, comes back on as a white light and then slowly turns the shade of orange like the rest of the lights on my street. I guess it's not flashing but Kanye didn't make a song called "Flickering Lights" so "Flashing Lights" it is.
I haven't been watching it for the last 4 or 5 nights (I'm not THAT boring) but it flickers on and off as if even it can't stay up as late as I am up. It flickers like my scattered thoughts.
That was a pretty bad metaphor, but whatevs. I'm allowed to make as many bad damn metaphors as I want once I've passed the 3 AM threshold!
Unless I have to wake up early for something pretty important, I'm always up way later than most of the rational population is. And I like it that way.
I don't know why because my communication with others is pretty minimal at this hour, unless I am up late at a party or hanging out with people, then it's the best of both worlds. There are a few people who I know who are usually awake at this hour and sometimes I'm talking to them so I'm not being entirely anti-social.
Otherwise, I guess there's just something I like about being awake and thinking when most of the world is sleeping.
It might stem from the fact that I worked a ridiculous night shift for almost an entire summer. But I've always liked staying up late, so I think that's only part of it.
I usually make up the sleep by sleeping into the afternoon. That's not the greatest either because it's led to me missing out on time to hang out with people or being late for things. Sleeping away my day, my Mom calls it. But my body is used to sacrificing sleep (as much as I like it) to be able to be social during the day and stay up late, whether it be socializing, reading, thinking and, like I am doing right now, writing. And occasionally homeworking but it's Christmas break so I don't even want to think about that activity.
Maybe I'm nuts and overtired, but I kind of like that flickering light. I kind of like that I'm probably the only person in the world who knows when it flickers and is watching it. It gives me comfort.
I'm going to miss it when I go back to Fredericton.
Anyway, since probably the end of grade 9, all of the entries in my blog (when I've had a blog) are either the title of a song or occasionally, song lyrics. I sometimes deviate from this but normally I don't, probably because I'm just too lazy to come up with any another creative, catchy and copiously cool title.
Alliteration at 3 AM? Yeah, I think so.
The other reason is because every night for the past 4 or 5 nights, I have been up at ungodly hours. Every night after 1 or 2 AM, there's a street light outside that consistently burns out, comes back on as a white light and then slowly turns the shade of orange like the rest of the lights on my street. I guess it's not flashing but Kanye didn't make a song called "Flickering Lights" so "Flashing Lights" it is.
I haven't been watching it for the last 4 or 5 nights (I'm not THAT boring) but it flickers on and off as if even it can't stay up as late as I am up. It flickers like my scattered thoughts.
That was a pretty bad metaphor, but whatevs. I'm allowed to make as many bad damn metaphors as I want once I've passed the 3 AM threshold!
Unless I have to wake up early for something pretty important, I'm always up way later than most of the rational population is. And I like it that way.
I don't know why because my communication with others is pretty minimal at this hour, unless I am up late at a party or hanging out with people, then it's the best of both worlds. There are a few people who I know who are usually awake at this hour and sometimes I'm talking to them so I'm not being entirely anti-social.
Otherwise, I guess there's just something I like about being awake and thinking when most of the world is sleeping.
It might stem from the fact that I worked a ridiculous night shift for almost an entire summer. But I've always liked staying up late, so I think that's only part of it.
I usually make up the sleep by sleeping into the afternoon. That's not the greatest either because it's led to me missing out on time to hang out with people or being late for things. Sleeping away my day, my Mom calls it. But my body is used to sacrificing sleep (as much as I like it) to be able to be social during the day and stay up late, whether it be socializing, reading, thinking and, like I am doing right now, writing. And occasionally homeworking but it's Christmas break so I don't even want to think about that activity.
Maybe I'm nuts and overtired, but I kind of like that flickering light. I kind of like that I'm probably the only person in the world who knows when it flickers and is watching it. It gives me comfort.
I'm going to miss it when I go back to Fredericton.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Soft Revolution
A lot has changed since I last wrote about the situation in Ottawa. The biggest thing to change is the head of the Liberal party, and would-be head of a coalition. Oh, and also possibly the head of our country.
Faster than you can say coalition, Ignatieff has become the leader of the Liberal party, replacing a hazardous Dion.
When the possibility of a coalition came up, many senior level Liberals began talking about replacing Dion quickly. However, to avoid creating a division in the party when party unity needed to look solid for good PR, the party and the rest of the coalition stood behind Dion as the one to lead the coalition.
When given a chance to respond to a public address by the PM, Dion sends along a video that is not only late, forcing the networks to kill time, but it looks like it was made by a four-year old.
But the worst part was that Dion failed to cash in on what could have been a political slam dunk. Harper's address was very short and essentially repeated what he'd been saying for the last few days, there were no real "yeah!" moments. Dion could have taken advantage of this, but he didn't.
Realizing this, Dion resigned again, this time effective immediately instead of sometime in May, and suggested that they would find a quick way to elect a new leader in the near future.
Speed ahead a bit now: New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc and former NDP Premier of Ontario Bob Rae throw their names in the metaphorical hat for the leadership race, and then withdraw just as fast as they offered. Bam. Ignatieff is the new leader of the party.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about Ignatieff. He's lived in the US for a lot of the last decade and he's not much more personable than Dion. He also is really good at putting his foot in his mouth (see: he once supported the Iraq invasion, then he realized how bad of a decision that was, and took it back). With this track record, one may be unsure of how he will fare representing a party that needs a big overhaul.
I also wish Bob Rae could have had a crack at the job. After all: He skinnydipped with Rick Mercer!
However, I will admit that I like that Ignatieff is saying that he will give the budget a shot. If the budget's good, there's not much to argue with.
The last thing that the Liberals and NDP want is accusations of playing political games during a recession. Not to mention that a political crisis doesn't really help the economy in general.
And maybe Ignatieff is the leader that can turn this sinking ship around. He doesn't have a lot of experience, but neither does Obama and Trudeau didn't either. Maybe Ignatieff will be the one that can inspire voters like Obama inspired America, maybe he'll be the most exciting leader since Trudeau, and this coalition can be the best damned thing that ever happened in Canada. Maybe it will change the scheme of our politics dramatically.
Or maybe not.
"We are here to take the blame/To take the taunts and lift the shame" - Soft Revolution, Stars
Faster than you can say coalition, Ignatieff has become the leader of the Liberal party, replacing a hazardous Dion.
When the possibility of a coalition came up, many senior level Liberals began talking about replacing Dion quickly. However, to avoid creating a division in the party when party unity needed to look solid for good PR, the party and the rest of the coalition stood behind Dion as the one to lead the coalition.
When given a chance to respond to a public address by the PM, Dion sends along a video that is not only late, forcing the networks to kill time, but it looks like it was made by a four-year old.
But the worst part was that Dion failed to cash in on what could have been a political slam dunk. Harper's address was very short and essentially repeated what he'd been saying for the last few days, there were no real "yeah!" moments. Dion could have taken advantage of this, but he didn't.
Realizing this, Dion resigned again, this time effective immediately instead of sometime in May, and suggested that they would find a quick way to elect a new leader in the near future.
Speed ahead a bit now: New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc and former NDP Premier of Ontario Bob Rae throw their names in the metaphorical hat for the leadership race, and then withdraw just as fast as they offered. Bam. Ignatieff is the new leader of the party.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about Ignatieff. He's lived in the US for a lot of the last decade and he's not much more personable than Dion. He also is really good at putting his foot in his mouth (see: he once supported the Iraq invasion, then he realized how bad of a decision that was, and took it back). With this track record, one may be unsure of how he will fare representing a party that needs a big overhaul.
I also wish Bob Rae could have had a crack at the job. After all: He skinnydipped with Rick Mercer!
However, I will admit that I like that Ignatieff is saying that he will give the budget a shot. If the budget's good, there's not much to argue with.
The last thing that the Liberals and NDP want is accusations of playing political games during a recession. Not to mention that a political crisis doesn't really help the economy in general.
And maybe Ignatieff is the leader that can turn this sinking ship around. He doesn't have a lot of experience, but neither does Obama and Trudeau didn't either. Maybe Ignatieff will be the one that can inspire voters like Obama inspired America, maybe he'll be the most exciting leader since Trudeau, and this coalition can be the best damned thing that ever happened in Canada. Maybe it will change the scheme of our politics dramatically.
Or maybe not.
"We are here to take the blame/To take the taunts and lift the shame" - Soft Revolution, Stars
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Why I love Scrubs
Do I need to say anymore?
The new season premieres on January 6th, and I'm pretty pumped.
Next time I have to get on a crowded bus to campus, I am starting a love train to make the bus ride more enjoyable. I don't care how early in the morning it is!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Jingle Cats
There is no better way to kick off a Christmas countdown than to watch cute kitties sing and dance to Christmas music.
Oddly though, it still doesn't feel like it is 10 days away from Christmas Eve.
Oddly though, it still doesn't feel like it is 10 days away from Christmas Eve.
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
I'm back in the big, bad Saint John, otherwise known to me as the land of fog. I feel a great sense of relief to be home (and to not have any academic responsibility for a bit), but I am very curious to see what it will be like to be home for three weeks this time.
When I was packing my life up today for what seems like the millionth time this year, I started thinking a lot about the past few months, which passed very quickly.
There have been times when I have wanted nothing but to be home. There were times when I wished I had taken up Carleton's offer and taken a large and out of character risk by going somewhere unknown and starting anew. And then there were times when I was just content with the way things were.
At the end of the day, I do miss high school, as much as I was convinced that I wouldn't miss it when I left it behind. I miss living at home permanently. I miss my Mom. I miss my bed. I miss the rest of my family and friends who I've left behind.
But what would there be here for me if I had stayed? Other than the people still here and the beautiful uptown, there's nothing for me here. There are certainly no job opportunities and I can't see myself making a bright future here.
Most of my friends have moved on from the city, with only a handful people I really keep in touch with that are still here, and even they have an urge to get out and most of them probably won't be here much longer. I certainly can't go back to high school, and with all of the people and the activities that made high school a decent time, it wouldn't be worth going back without them.
For most of my life, it has also been my goal to leave Saint John for a bigger city. And now I find myself missing Saint John sometimes, oddly enough.
There's my Mom to come back to here, but I can't plan my life around her. She needs to do her own thing, and she'll always be here when I return. I know that. There's always the summer and on holidays, the hardest part is just leaving after these prolonged visits. I begin to get comfortable in one place and then my setting changes again, and it's time to adapt again.
If I had gone to Carleton or elsewhere, I might be even more homesick and I'd be even further away from home. No matter how many people I had met, it would still be challenging to not be homesick. I'd also have less financial security than I do now.
So when I think of it that way, I don't really regret my choices at all. It is what you make it and I need to work harder at making it better because this is it now. This is where I live for the next 4 years and all I can do is ensure that it's an awesome 4 years no matter what that takes. Things will never be as they were in May or June, so there's no use in wishing that they were and maybe that is a good thing.
I'm just bad at adapting to change, I guess.
Otherwise, the semester went well. Academically it was a really good semester, or at least that's how I feel after writing my exams.
STU is a good place to study journalism. I've seen some lectures by some really awesome journalists (see: Stevie Cameron and Moses Znaimer, accompanied by Susanne Boyce of CTV, whoa!), my journalism prof. is awesome (see: founder of [here] magazine and referenced one of my favourite columnists a couple of weeks ago in class), I write almost every week for the Aquinian and I've been logging time still at Rogers. I'm writing more and reading and watching news more, which can't hurt either. That's actually part of the reason why I have this blog. Journalism can't get much better at STU, and after all, at the end of the day that is why I am there.
Socially, it was okay. I didn't step out of my comfort zone enough to be as social as I wanted to be so that's mt goal for next semester. There were way too many nights in Fredericton where I stayed in because I felt like I didn't know anyone to hang out with. That's probably a big part of the reason why I missed home. But only I can change that. I constantly felt like everyone had already made their friends at the beginning of the year, when I stuck with those I'd already known instead of trying to meet new people. And I don't regret that entirely either, because they're good friends and I intend on keeping close to these people. I just need to broaden a bit and do more with the new people, so I'm not stuck at home on weekends and wishing I was somewhere else or back in Saint John.
It is not as if I haven't met any new friends in my new environment, because I've met quite a few great people. I just need to be more social, that's all. The same thing happened in high school, so it's really no surprise that I am having trouble meeting people. The fact that I am perpetually awkward 80% of the time doesn't help, but turning that into humour is usually how I roll with that, so I need to keep doing that...I guess?
I suppose that the most important thing I've learned this semester is that life is what you make it. It's up to me to make my time at STU good, it's up to me to keep my ties with the people back in Saint John, it's up to me to balance my feelings of homesickness by enjoying my new environment, and it's up to me to keep up with everything and do it well enough to keep my scholarships.
You can't stay in one place forever, you have to adapt and grow. I'm learning that now, slowly but surely, and I will eventually do this, probably awkwardly.
This entry is a bit different than what I have written in here so far, but I had to put my thoughts somewhere.
Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Radiohead
When I was packing my life up today for what seems like the millionth time this year, I started thinking a lot about the past few months, which passed very quickly.
There have been times when I have wanted nothing but to be home. There were times when I wished I had taken up Carleton's offer and taken a large and out of character risk by going somewhere unknown and starting anew. And then there were times when I was just content with the way things were.
At the end of the day, I do miss high school, as much as I was convinced that I wouldn't miss it when I left it behind. I miss living at home permanently. I miss my Mom. I miss my bed. I miss the rest of my family and friends who I've left behind.
But what would there be here for me if I had stayed? Other than the people still here and the beautiful uptown, there's nothing for me here. There are certainly no job opportunities and I can't see myself making a bright future here.
Most of my friends have moved on from the city, with only a handful people I really keep in touch with that are still here, and even they have an urge to get out and most of them probably won't be here much longer. I certainly can't go back to high school, and with all of the people and the activities that made high school a decent time, it wouldn't be worth going back without them.
For most of my life, it has also been my goal to leave Saint John for a bigger city. And now I find myself missing Saint John sometimes, oddly enough.
There's my Mom to come back to here, but I can't plan my life around her. She needs to do her own thing, and she'll always be here when I return. I know that. There's always the summer and on holidays, the hardest part is just leaving after these prolonged visits. I begin to get comfortable in one place and then my setting changes again, and it's time to adapt again.
If I had gone to Carleton or elsewhere, I might be even more homesick and I'd be even further away from home. No matter how many people I had met, it would still be challenging to not be homesick. I'd also have less financial security than I do now.
So when I think of it that way, I don't really regret my choices at all. It is what you make it and I need to work harder at making it better because this is it now. This is where I live for the next 4 years and all I can do is ensure that it's an awesome 4 years no matter what that takes. Things will never be as they were in May or June, so there's no use in wishing that they were and maybe that is a good thing.
I'm just bad at adapting to change, I guess.
Otherwise, the semester went well. Academically it was a really good semester, or at least that's how I feel after writing my exams.
STU is a good place to study journalism. I've seen some lectures by some really awesome journalists (see: Stevie Cameron and Moses Znaimer, accompanied by Susanne Boyce of CTV, whoa!), my journalism prof. is awesome (see: founder of [here] magazine and referenced one of my favourite columnists a couple of weeks ago in class), I write almost every week for the Aquinian and I've been logging time still at Rogers. I'm writing more and reading and watching news more, which can't hurt either. That's actually part of the reason why I have this blog. Journalism can't get much better at STU, and after all, at the end of the day that is why I am there.
Socially, it was okay. I didn't step out of my comfort zone enough to be as social as I wanted to be so that's mt goal for next semester. There were way too many nights in Fredericton where I stayed in because I felt like I didn't know anyone to hang out with. That's probably a big part of the reason why I missed home. But only I can change that. I constantly felt like everyone had already made their friends at the beginning of the year, when I stuck with those I'd already known instead of trying to meet new people. And I don't regret that entirely either, because they're good friends and I intend on keeping close to these people. I just need to broaden a bit and do more with the new people, so I'm not stuck at home on weekends and wishing I was somewhere else or back in Saint John.
It is not as if I haven't met any new friends in my new environment, because I've met quite a few great people. I just need to be more social, that's all. The same thing happened in high school, so it's really no surprise that I am having trouble meeting people. The fact that I am perpetually awkward 80% of the time doesn't help, but turning that into humour is usually how I roll with that, so I need to keep doing that...I guess?
I suppose that the most important thing I've learned this semester is that life is what you make it. It's up to me to make my time at STU good, it's up to me to keep my ties with the people back in Saint John, it's up to me to balance my feelings of homesickness by enjoying my new environment, and it's up to me to keep up with everything and do it well enough to keep my scholarships.
You can't stay in one place forever, you have to adapt and grow. I'm learning that now, slowly but surely, and I will eventually do this, probably awkwardly.
This entry is a bit different than what I have written in here so far, but I had to put my thoughts somewhere.
Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Radiohead
Friday, December 12, 2008
My City's Still Breathing -- But Barely, It's True
A lot of buzz has been going around lately in Saint John about a development called Tannery Court. The project, which would go on Camarthen Street in the city's South End, would house approximately 50 low-income adults in single room apartments. Most of the people living there have disabilities of some sort, or illnesses, and are therefore unable to work. Part of the project would be funded by the provincial government and is being developed by Co-Op Atlantic.
Many people have opposed this development because everyone in the building would be in the same income category. Putting all of these low-income people in one place is a bad thing, according to some people.
While I agree that the South End could benefit signifcantly from a more mixed income atmosphere in the neighbourhood and I would love to see that happen, the building is still offering housing to 50 people who otherwise would have no place to go. For a city with the highest rate of neighbourhood concentrated poverty (source: this article), I think that having people 50 more people living comfortably and having pride in the fact that they have a home is better than 50 homeless people or 50 people living in dilapidated quarters.
There was an article in the Telegraph-Journal a while ago about how long single people have to wait to get an apartment, because people with children take first priority on the waiting list. Wouldn't this help the situation?
Also, another article in the TJ today featured a woman who lives in a Tannery Court house in Fredericton talk about how positive the atmosphere is in the building. She talks about how the residents have pride in where they live and work together to keep their building and neighbourhood clean.
So my question is, what's the big deal? The building would be new and much nicer than some of the older buildings in the neighbourhood that would be within the residents' price range. These people would have somewhat small quarters to live in, but it's something. It's better than living on the street, in a rooming house or a shelter.
And then, there are people who just probably don't want 50 more people who are low-income living next door to them because they automatically assume that they are involved with crime or that they're lazy. After all, they do have to run background checks on them.
I say, give the development a chance. Give these people a chance and just maybe it will be something that we can be proud of. Like the woman in the article says, they're not people who need to be kept in cages.
The biggest problem with the South End is that there's a stigma and a reputation that it's not a good place to raise kids, and that's why people live in the suburbs now instead of in the city. If people didn't have it in their heads that it was a bad place to be and the benefit of the doubt was given, maybe it wouldn't have such a bad reputation and we could work towards developing more of a sense of community. Getting rid of these negative assumptions is the first step.
I don't think it's a bad place to live. I've had to hear about how bad it is from people who do not live here my entire life, but other than that, from someone who has lived here her entire life, I think it's not a bad place at all. Things are looking up, and I think that the councillors we currently have on council, the South End can be beautified.
And maybe someday, the negative stigma that people who live outside of the area have about the people and the neighbourhood could be eradicated.
Left and Leaving - The Weakerthans
Many people have opposed this development because everyone in the building would be in the same income category. Putting all of these low-income people in one place is a bad thing, according to some people.
While I agree that the South End could benefit signifcantly from a more mixed income atmosphere in the neighbourhood and I would love to see that happen, the building is still offering housing to 50 people who otherwise would have no place to go. For a city with the highest rate of neighbourhood concentrated poverty (source: this article), I think that having people 50 more people living comfortably and having pride in the fact that they have a home is better than 50 homeless people or 50 people living in dilapidated quarters.
There was an article in the Telegraph-Journal a while ago about how long single people have to wait to get an apartment, because people with children take first priority on the waiting list. Wouldn't this help the situation?
Also, another article in the TJ today featured a woman who lives in a Tannery Court house in Fredericton talk about how positive the atmosphere is in the building. She talks about how the residents have pride in where they live and work together to keep their building and neighbourhood clean.
So my question is, what's the big deal? The building would be new and much nicer than some of the older buildings in the neighbourhood that would be within the residents' price range. These people would have somewhat small quarters to live in, but it's something. It's better than living on the street, in a rooming house or a shelter.
And then, there are people who just probably don't want 50 more people who are low-income living next door to them because they automatically assume that they are involved with crime or that they're lazy. After all, they do have to run background checks on them.
I say, give the development a chance. Give these people a chance and just maybe it will be something that we can be proud of. Like the woman in the article says, they're not people who need to be kept in cages.
The biggest problem with the South End is that there's a stigma and a reputation that it's not a good place to raise kids, and that's why people live in the suburbs now instead of in the city. If people didn't have it in their heads that it was a bad place to be and the benefit of the doubt was given, maybe it wouldn't have such a bad reputation and we could work towards developing more of a sense of community. Getting rid of these negative assumptions is the first step.
I don't think it's a bad place to live. I've had to hear about how bad it is from people who do not live here my entire life, but other than that, from someone who has lived here her entire life, I think it's not a bad place at all. Things are looking up, and I think that the councillors we currently have on council, the South End can be beautified.
And maybe someday, the negative stigma that people who live outside of the area have about the people and the neighbourhood could be eradicated.
Left and Leaving - The Weakerthans
Friday, December 5, 2008
Come Together
I read the news, a lot. I don't see anything wrong with being informed and I think everyone should be informed at least a little bit about who is controlling their country, even if you don't find politics interesting.
With that said, I'm going to take some time to talk about what's going on in Ottawa right now for the possibly 1 and a half people reading this (including myself).
And I'm going to say straight up that I'm going to try to be unbiased.
Basically, what's gone down in the past week is that the Conservative Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, has offered up an economic update. Harper declared this a confidence motion. In a minority government system, this means that if the update does not receive the confidence of the rest of Parliament, the PM has no choice but to resign, because his government has lost of the confidence of the House.
This update was considered to be pretty run of the mill by many. But when it came out, the opposition parties had an issue with a few things. One, is that it banned civil strikes for three years.
Two, it took away the $1.95 that each party receives when you give them your vote on election day. This would save Parliament a lot of money, but the reason why it was bad in this situation is because all of the parties need this money except the Conservatives who already are fiscally in a good situation. Perhaps it should be up to the other parties to think of clever ways to raise money like the Conservatives have, but still. Crippling the opposition so that they couldn't even afford an election campaign certainly is not the way to run a democracy. Political games have no place when the country could be in recession.
Finally, the big thing that the opposition seized on was that the Conservatives offered no significant explanation of how they plan to stimulate the economy.
All of the opposition parties declared that they could not vote for the update, even when the $1.95 issue and the civil strikes ban were dropped. They proposed that they would vote against the update this coming Monday, forcing Governor-General Michaelle Jean under the principles of Responsible Government defined in our constitution to use her reserve powers to choose someone else to become PM.
They proposed a coalition between the Liberals and the NDP which the Bloc promised to support, led by Dion until the Liberals elect a new leader in May (or earlier).
This caused a lot of commotion in the news because it hasn't been done for decades. It is certainly not unprecedented; it has been done before. It is allowable and considering that we just had an election 6 or 7 weeks ago, it would be unrealistic to spend the money to have another election.
Some people support it for many reasons. They don't support the Conservatives, they think the update did not deserve the support of the house, or they simply want a change.
Some are against it, because they support the Conservatives, because they buy into it being unconstitutional, or because they don't understand that they do not officially elect the major players of a government in our system.
While it is controversial and questionable at such a critical time for the government and the people of Canada are going through economic turmoil, it is certainly not unconstitutional and NOT unprecedented.
The view that the coaliton would break up Canada by giving power to the separatists is ludicrous. As Kevin Newman brought up when talking to a Conservative MP whose name I conveniently forget (it's late), any party in power must have the votes of the Bloc to stay in power. The NDP and the Bloc are both national parties who hold a significant amount of influence over Parliament and whom any party in power must rely on. That's just the way it is, people elected them.
So the claims by Harper that the coalition features separatists and socialists that will destroy the country is only half true. They are, in fact, socialists and separatists. But the separatists have no more power than they had before. The NDP or the socialists as some prefer to call them, will have 6 cabinet seats, but will likely not hold the bulk of the power for they are mostly inexperienced.
A bill that is overly separatist or socialist would never go through anyway because the coalition would constantly have to watch its back to avoid defeat in a system of responsible government. Certainly, nothing radical enough to destroy the country would be passed.
What I find unfortunate is that every party in Parliament is playing a political game right now. No one is innocent and it is creating controversy that could divide our nation.
What I find exciting is that Canadian politics are actually, well, being exciting. People who usually have no interest in politics are jumping on the for or against coalition bandwagons which is great, because they're becoming engaged. Whether they are doing it because everyone else is and doing it in an educated manner is something else.
But I'm a bit, just a little bit, happy inside that even for a week, that Canadians of all walks of life may have shown interest in their own government.
What will happen? In my opinion, the Liberals and the NDP have opened up a can of worms and it's too late to close it now. They'll go through with the idea again after the budget. The damage has been done to Harper and to the opposing parties. The lines have been drawn.
Proroguing Parliament will only put off the inevitable. Whether this instability can really be good for our country (after all, we have no government right now working to solve anything...at least until January), that remains to be seen.
My hope is that someone is able to find a solution that appeases most of Canadians that will have all of the parties working towards something. Anything. If this is a coalition, then so be it. But if it's a Harper led government with a conscious group of MPs from the opposition who will hold the Conservatives accountable in this time of instability, then so be that.
But we need to come together somehow, as the Beatles would say.
With that said, I'm going to take some time to talk about what's going on in Ottawa right now for the possibly 1 and a half people reading this (including myself).
And I'm going to say straight up that I'm going to try to be unbiased.
Basically, what's gone down in the past week is that the Conservative Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, has offered up an economic update. Harper declared this a confidence motion. In a minority government system, this means that if the update does not receive the confidence of the rest of Parliament, the PM has no choice but to resign, because his government has lost of the confidence of the House.
This update was considered to be pretty run of the mill by many. But when it came out, the opposition parties had an issue with a few things. One, is that it banned civil strikes for three years.
Two, it took away the $1.95 that each party receives when you give them your vote on election day. This would save Parliament a lot of money, but the reason why it was bad in this situation is because all of the parties need this money except the Conservatives who already are fiscally in a good situation. Perhaps it should be up to the other parties to think of clever ways to raise money like the Conservatives have, but still. Crippling the opposition so that they couldn't even afford an election campaign certainly is not the way to run a democracy. Political games have no place when the country could be in recession.
Finally, the big thing that the opposition seized on was that the Conservatives offered no significant explanation of how they plan to stimulate the economy.
All of the opposition parties declared that they could not vote for the update, even when the $1.95 issue and the civil strikes ban were dropped. They proposed that they would vote against the update this coming Monday, forcing Governor-General Michaelle Jean under the principles of Responsible Government defined in our constitution to use her reserve powers to choose someone else to become PM.
They proposed a coalition between the Liberals and the NDP which the Bloc promised to support, led by Dion until the Liberals elect a new leader in May (or earlier).
This caused a lot of commotion in the news because it hasn't been done for decades. It is certainly not unprecedented; it has been done before. It is allowable and considering that we just had an election 6 or 7 weeks ago, it would be unrealistic to spend the money to have another election.
Some people support it for many reasons. They don't support the Conservatives, they think the update did not deserve the support of the house, or they simply want a change.
Some are against it, because they support the Conservatives, because they buy into it being unconstitutional, or because they don't understand that they do not officially elect the major players of a government in our system.
While it is controversial and questionable at such a critical time for the government and the people of Canada are going through economic turmoil, it is certainly not unconstitutional and NOT unprecedented.
The view that the coaliton would break up Canada by giving power to the separatists is ludicrous. As Kevin Newman brought up when talking to a Conservative MP whose name I conveniently forget (it's late), any party in power must have the votes of the Bloc to stay in power. The NDP and the Bloc are both national parties who hold a significant amount of influence over Parliament and whom any party in power must rely on. That's just the way it is, people elected them.
So the claims by Harper that the coalition features separatists and socialists that will destroy the country is only half true. They are, in fact, socialists and separatists. But the separatists have no more power than they had before. The NDP or the socialists as some prefer to call them, will have 6 cabinet seats, but will likely not hold the bulk of the power for they are mostly inexperienced.
A bill that is overly separatist or socialist would never go through anyway because the coalition would constantly have to watch its back to avoid defeat in a system of responsible government. Certainly, nothing radical enough to destroy the country would be passed.
What I find unfortunate is that every party in Parliament is playing a political game right now. No one is innocent and it is creating controversy that could divide our nation.
What I find exciting is that Canadian politics are actually, well, being exciting. People who usually have no interest in politics are jumping on the for or against coalition bandwagons which is great, because they're becoming engaged. Whether they are doing it because everyone else is and doing it in an educated manner is something else.
But I'm a bit, just a little bit, happy inside that even for a week, that Canadians of all walks of life may have shown interest in their own government.
What will happen? In my opinion, the Liberals and the NDP have opened up a can of worms and it's too late to close it now. They'll go through with the idea again after the budget. The damage has been done to Harper and to the opposing parties. The lines have been drawn.
Proroguing Parliament will only put off the inevitable. Whether this instability can really be good for our country (after all, we have no government right now working to solve anything...at least until January), that remains to be seen.
My hope is that someone is able to find a solution that appeases most of Canadians that will have all of the parties working towards something. Anything. If this is a coalition, then so be it. But if it's a Harper led government with a conscious group of MPs from the opposition who will hold the Conservatives accountable in this time of instability, then so be that.
But we need to come together somehow, as the Beatles would say.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Reconstruction Site
I deserted my blog again. It's really quite unfortunate. This time, though, I will keep up with it. I have way too many random thoughts in my head to keep them to myself. I'd might as well share them with everyone else.
That's kind of a bad segway into politics but I'm pretty sure I'm really enjoying that we're having a federal election. The first reason why I am enjoying it is because I can actually vote this time so I have to be informed. The other reason is because I am taking Canadian Government at the same time, so there's actually kind of a medium to talk about what is going on in the campaign which is new for me. I've always liked politics. It's kind of nerdy, but my entire family has always been immersed in them. I don't necessarily share the same political views with them, but I am thankful that I was exposed from an early age to elections, conventions, returning offices, poll booths and campaigns.
What I've realized about Canadian Government though is that I don't know as much as I thought I did about the government. I know what's going on in the news with the government, but in terms of how it actually works, there is a lot that I am learning now.
On another note, as someone who has just made a huge transition in their life (from high school to living alone at university), I want to say it's funny how quick humans can adapt. I'm adapting to this new environment, although in some ways I still feel weird. I'm used to being super involved and now I'm back on the bottom of the chain again. But I'm still managing. I always do.
Reconstruction Site - The Weakerthans
That's kind of a bad segway into politics but I'm pretty sure I'm really enjoying that we're having a federal election. The first reason why I am enjoying it is because I can actually vote this time so I have to be informed. The other reason is because I am taking Canadian Government at the same time, so there's actually kind of a medium to talk about what is going on in the campaign which is new for me. I've always liked politics. It's kind of nerdy, but my entire family has always been immersed in them. I don't necessarily share the same political views with them, but I am thankful that I was exposed from an early age to elections, conventions, returning offices, poll booths and campaigns.
What I've realized about Canadian Government though is that I don't know as much as I thought I did about the government. I know what's going on in the news with the government, but in terms of how it actually works, there is a lot that I am learning now.
On another note, as someone who has just made a huge transition in their life (from high school to living alone at university), I want to say it's funny how quick humans can adapt. I'm adapting to this new environment, although in some ways I still feel weird. I'm used to being super involved and now I'm back on the bottom of the chain again. But I'm still managing. I always do.
Reconstruction Site - The Weakerthans
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