Enjoy a little teaser...Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
....they all dress the same and act the same and conform in their non-conformity....
"Hipsters are the friends who sneer when you cop to liking Coldplay. They're the people who wear t-shirts silk-screened with quotes from movies you've never heard of and the only ones in America who still think Pabst Blue Ribbon is a good beer. They sport cowboy hats and berets and think Kanye West stole their sunglasses. Everything about them is exactingly constructed to give off the vibe that they just don't care."
~Time Magazine, 2009
Check out this article and perhaps it will help you understand the mystery of the hipster.
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” -St Francis of Assisi
"People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them." ~Dave Barry
Lately I have become increasingly frustrated with people using social networking sites as a way to promote their religious beliefs. Posting links to articles on the Vatican's website or essays about the sins of homosexuality is, in my opinon, not appropriate on a website that was designed to help people keep in touch with friends and family.
I am sure that there is somewhere in cyberland that is much more appropriate for this type of disucssion-blogs for instance, or discussion forums on online religious communities. Not only will your ideas be more seriously considered and discussed but you will, most likely, not run the risk of offending people who are on the site just to keep in touch with their friends.
I am pretty sure that Jesus would like technology (he invented it, after all) but I don't think he wants his words to be misspelled, misinterpreted and plastered all over peoples FB status' in your misguided attempt to convert your Facebook Friends from sinners to saints.
"I'm not religious, but I like God and he likes me."
~Tony Kushner, Angels in America
Monday, January 18, 2010
“Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods”
A few words on faith...So what am I talking about?
When I was in high school I had a friend who would constantly say "Don't worry, the universe will provide" and that always made me feel nice. Like the universe would magically produce a blanket when I was cold or food when I was hungry. However, after a while I saw that it really wasn't the universe that was providing these things for me, it was people (more specifically, my parents).
So what should we have faith in?
Well, of course the obvious answer is people. We should have faith in people. Our friends, our family, our lovers. People are what makes this world a happy place. However, after so many broken hearts and so much devastation in the world at the hands of "people" it is difficult to believe in them anymore, isn't it? What about all the murderers and thieves, the crooked cops and the abusive partners?
It is very easy to lose faith in people.
However, what about the time your best friend sent you a care package when you were living away from home?
Or the time that your parents came out to a play you were starring in and cheered extra loud?
Or what about the person who holds the door open for you at school?
Or the man in front of you at Tim Hortons that pays for your coffee?
Or when a teacher told you they were proud of you?
Or when a stranger said "Bless you" after you sneezed?
What about all of those little things that happen every single day that you look past? The things that you forget about as quickly as they happen.
I believe that these little things can save your faith.
Your faith in God. (if you so choose)
Your faith in the Universe.
Your faith in man.
Because really.
It's all the same.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!"
Today I was at the gym on the treadmill watching a program called "Party Mama's" on Slice. The premise of this show is that it "follows outgoing mothers as they plan over-the-top extravaganza parties for their children. Gone are the days of pin the tail on the donkey and pizza parties, now it’s time to supersize these events. Party Mamas is a jam-packed, nerve-filled, triple-latte-paced ride through the lives of outrageous and energetic mothers who pull out all the stops to throw “the best party ever for their little darlings.” This is a series where “too big” and “too much” are considered a plus."Gross.
It is a disgusting program which makes me question the validity of my current field of study. Is this all it is going to be? Planning parties for over inflated trophy wives? However, this episode was EXTRA special because it featured my small town of Brantford, Ontario and a "Party Mama" named Tracey. Not only did the episode feature stunning vistas of our beautiful town (please note sarcasm) it also featured Mayor Mike Hancock giving the woman an award of recognition in our City Hall.
I am HORRIFIED that our Mayor agreed to be a part of this revolting show and perpetuated this RIDICULOUS charade. Clearly most of the show was set up for the purpose of making 'good television'-from the moment she fired the first party planner, to forcing her poor uncoordinated daughter to take dance lessons for her 'grand entrance' and the crocodile tears as mother and daughter reconciled just in time for the party. However the mayors involvement lends validity (albeit, only a small amount) to all of this and shows our community as a place where this sort of behaviour is not only tolerated but REWARDED!
You should be ashamed of yourself Mayor Hancock. What you did was not in the best interest of our city nor was it in your best interest. You have portrayed our city as one filled with insane, unrealistic, unfeeling parents who do not give a shit about the welfare of their children. Speaking of which, the Party Mama "Tracey" (who claims that she 'runs the town' and yet I've never heard of her or her organization) should also be ashamed of herself. Even if everything she did was just for show and there was no harm to her daughter, she has harmed the integrity of our city.
It is not often that I feel to need to stand up for my community. For a long time I made jokes about our failing downtown and the painted store-fronts along with everyone else. However, over the last few years Brantford has been pulling up it's boot straps and making changes...I just hope this doesn't set us back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)