Waldo710's Xanga

Title: Conundrum...

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:01:32 GMT

Topic of the Day: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt...

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:58:45 GMT

In Canada, and in most of the civilised world, we have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty before that person is incarcerated and put in jail. Innocent until proven guilty. I have no problem with that. What I DO have a problem with, are the ex-convicts that have perpetrated seriously heinous crimes that are walking amongst us simply because they have "done their time". They walk amongst us despite being unrehabilitated pedophiles or unremorseful murderers. They walk amongst us because the parole board deemed them a "reasonable risk".

I believe in second chances. I believe in rehabilitation. And I believe that people should have the opportunity regardless of what they have done to redeem themselves. That being said, I don't believe that murderers, rapists, and pedophiles should be set free simply they are considered a "reasonable risk"! We already proved beyond a reasonable doubt that they were dangerous and a menace to society. We already proved that they were guilty of heinous psychopathic and sociopathic crimes. I think those guilty of perpetrating such dire crimes need to make the same effort to get out as we did to get them in. I think those that we have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that they were indeed murders, rapists, and pedophiles need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they are not JUST a reasonable risk; but that they are no longer a threat to society.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: Understanding...

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:02:36 GMT

Growing up, I always had a need to understand things. My brain refuses to accept things that it cannot understand. I've thus asked a lot of questions and I've tried to keep an open mind. I understand that while I might see a lot of things, there is likely even more that I don't yet understand and don't yet know. By doing this, I've been able to become a perpetual student, always looking for information, always looking to understand and comprehend.

I like getting to know people. I like hearing their stories. The more I hear people's stories, the more I realise how much cause and effect there is in people's lives. While there are intricacies in every situation, there are only finite options as to how to deal with situations. By opening your mind to the myriad of possibilities of how a person might react to events in their lives helps us to understand why someone has gotten to where they are today. I don't judge people. It's not in my position to judge. Who am I to judge anyone? I'm no better than that other guy. I'm not perfect. I have flawed.

As I said in a February 20, 2008 entry:
We are but a patchwork of our memories. Lessons gleaned from our experiences and learned from those of others. Through trials and tribulations, failures and success, we come to realisation the person we are and perhaps the one that's yet to be. Every step we take is a step taken in choice. Choices that come with consequence and responsibility. And while it is easy to blame others, it is when we look upon ourselves with the same scrutiny that we learn and grow.

Everything we do. Every choice and action we make has a consequence. Looking at a person's past, you come to understand their present. Why this person is who they are today. And looking forward, you can see a glimpse of the possibilities of where they will go tomorrow. A person wielding a gun demanding your wallet, didn't always have that gun. Necessary steps HAD to have taken place to get them there. If you were made to walk in their shoes, there would be a different outcome. Maybe better, maybe worse. This person, chose to wave that gun. It is THEIR responsibility alone. Not someone else, not society. Theirs and theirs alone. And it is thus their responsibility too, to face all consequences of their choices.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: How Easy We Forget....

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:08:14 GMT

It's been said that the entire generation born after 1984 is selfish. I think it started earlier than that. I look at my parents' generation. They speak of the war, they speak of revolutions. They talk of a time that, while I might be able to understand, a time that I will hopefully never experience for myself. The experiences they had running and hiding, the hunger they endured as food rations ran thin. These are things that I've never experienced and like I said, hopefully never will.
But all the people I've met who HAVE experienced such tumultuous times have gained in their suffering as well. They've experienced REAL struggle. They don't take anything they have for granted. They weren't born with a silver spoon. As a generation, they saw what poverty is and luckily, have struggled out of it. There's no sense of entitlement and they appreciate all the rewards that have come to them from years of hard work and dedication.

We....sitting here in front of the computer writing and reading blogs. What struggle have we experience? What suffering have we endured? We haven't. We complain when meat is overcooked. We throw things out when it's a day past expiration. We get bored when they show re-runs on television. We covet technology and toys which we don't have. Wii, HDTVs, cars, etc.
I've ranted against entitlement. And while I don't feel that any of us are entitled to anything, I AM guilty of what most people in my generation are guilty of. Taking things for granted. And why not? While I did not grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth, I've wanted for nothing in my life. Anything I've ever really NEEDED has magically appeared before me. I needed food and clothing growing up. It was provided for me. I needed running shoes for gym and track & field. It was given to me. I took care of them, they were good shoes. But I didn't wear it to bed and I certainly didn't ever try mending them when the holes started to poke thru.

Everything is at our fingertips. Starbucks everywhere we go, the Internet on our mobiles; driving seems to have become a right as opposed to a privilege. I challenge each and every person to go into their closets. I bet there there is at least one article of clothing in there that you haven't worn in a year. Most of us have a few pieces that we've forgotten we had. We waste and then we want more. Someone worked for us to have those things. Maybe we worked for it ourselves. Maybe it was given to us. But it didn't magically appear. Let's not forget that.

~Cheers.

Topc of the Day: Trophies....

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:58:03 GMT

The NHL might be the most poorly managed professional sports league in modern sports, but there's one thing all of the other major sports leages needs to learn from the NHL: How to make a friggin' trophy. The World Cup. Probably the most coveted trophy in the world looks like this:

America's Favourite Past Time is baseball. I'll admit that the World Series Trophy is a beauty, with all the flags of all the teams. But look at how small it is:

Even the magnificent Vince Lombardi Trophy for the NFL, a league, who's final game is called the SUPER bowl. Probably the single, most advertised sports game in the world, has only a trophy that's a football on a stand.

And the NBA? I'm glad Dwight Howard didn't win it. The dimunitive trophy would look like a candy bar in his gargantuan hands:

No ladies and gentlemen, there is NOTHING like the Stanley Cup. Now THAT'S a trophy. A magnificent piece of hardware that needs to be hoisted with both arms. Held over your head like a real champ, a spectacle for all to see.

And it's not just about the size. Bigger isn't always better. But look at what it stands for. You are amongst the greats. Every team that has ever won the Stanley Cup is engraved onto the rings below the cup. Over the years, some of the rings have been put away in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Let's face it, Even Shaq doesn't have the wingspan to hoist a trophy that has about a hundred years of winners. But this shining chalice, that goes from trophy winning team mate to trophy winning team mate, reminds all who have the privilege to gaze upon it, of the legacy of what this Cup represents.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: Caveat Emptor

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:57:31 GMT

re: http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/621617

Why is it up to the government to tell us when a company is about to go bankrupt? By doing this, it stops any real opportunity for the company to turn itself around. By simply looking at the company's current monetary status, you don't know if it's a cash flow problem, or if it's a sign of the economy, or if it's a problem with the company itself. And even if there is a problem with the company's finances, we the public won't know if the owners have decided to invest more money into the company, or if perhaps, they've found additional investors to put money into its coffers.

It isn't the government's FAULT that the company went under, nor is it the government's responsibility to inform the consumer that the company will be going under. If there is any fault at all, Conquest Vacations is at fault continuing to offer trips when they cannot afford to be giving them out. It is the fault of the resorts to extend Conquest Vacation extended terms on payment. It's a business risk. One that both Conquest and the resorts accepted. That their naievite caused them to lose money is unfortunate, but in no way, should that loss be pushed onto the consumer, who has already paid for their trip.
That the government is willing to help some of these travellers out is the honorable thing to do and I'm sure that those caught in this mild catastrophe appreciate that the government is making such an offer. Be that as it may, it is not the government's responsibility.

Does something need to be done? Absolutely. There needs to be a better mechanism to take care of these consumers that have paid thousands of dollars for a vacation; a trip to ease the mind of daily travails. A trip for us to relax and re-fuel. For the travel sector, it's actually quite easy. Such protection should be included in travel insurance. It would then be up to the consumer to choose whether or not to be protected should the company become defunct.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: A dream....

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:13:52 GMT

How special must a person be, that even when she's tired and without makeup after a hard day's work, that her eyes can still light up the room; that her smile still glows. A warmth that thaws the bitter cold.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: Sexist Causes....

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:12:28 GMT

OK. I'm all for women and children first if you're on a sinking ship, or if you're escaping from a burning building, but I think it's gone too far. You have breast cancer this, pink ribbon that. There are walks to cure ovarian cancer and other women's cancers. What about men?! Think about how far we've come to cure women's cancers. How further improved treatment is for breast cancer. They've even got a vaccine for cervical cancer! What do we men have? We're still stuck with someone grabbing us by the balls and shoving a finger up our *ssholes! When was the last time you saw ANY advertising for testicular cancer? When's the last time you went for a charity drive for prostate cancer?

White, middle class women who sat around at home with nothing else better to do with their time because the maid and nanny did everything around the house has helped women all over the world. Maybe men need to start staying home and letting the woman of the house 'bring home the bacon' for a while, so that we can start charity programmes for men. But I think it's high time we have a f*cking ribbon and a flower of some sort (see rant on Charity Fatigue from Wednesday, April 02, 2008) for our c*cks and *sses!

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: Save the World!!! Part II

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:11:56 GMT

In Part I, I said it boggled my mind how highly we humans think of ourselves; that the Earth has gone thru far worse problems than humans. Don't get me wrong, I finished off by saying that we absolutely ought to be conserving energy. We absolutely should waste less, and want less. We ought not to run out and buy every piece of "NEW" that's out there.

But we go about it the wrong way entirely. We spend millions of dollars to change the little things, little things that have very little effect on the world, but is a pretty big impact to the convenience of our way of life. Politicians don't have the testicular fortitude to attack the 'big guys', so they pretend they're doing something by making things inconvenient for the general public.
For example. If smoking is THAT bad for you... BAN it outright. Make it illegal. But the government won't do that. All they do is raise the taxes on the people that do buy cigarettes. All they do is make smokers feel guilty for doing something that's perfectly legal. All they do is do little things that cost money and are, for the most part, ineffective.

Something that's closer to today's topic. Plastic Bags. Toronto has approved a bill that will force consumers to pay for plastic bags. This is absolutely preposterous. Take a look at a plastic bag. Now take a look at a rubber tire. A single tire will make hundreds if not thousands of plastic bags. And you're telling me that we should penalise people for the use of plastic bags?! Take a look at all the wasteful packaging. When's the last time you saw a FULL bottle of ibuprofen, or vitamins? At the MOST, they're 3/4 full. Why waste all that packaging? You could probably get a hundred plastic bags from ONE of those bottles alone!
Look at the packaging on some of those new electronic gadgets. Look at the ridiculous packaging on those things?! Not only is it wasteful, look at how difficult it is to open them. And when it's finally open, those things are hazardous! Those things are sharper and cut more easily than the knives they give you on airplanes! And look at the heavy plastic that those things use! You can likely get another 50 or so plastic bags from the wrapping of a single memory card package!
On top of that, most plastic bags I see these days are made from recycled plastic. And many are biodegradeable at that!

So why inconvenience people with a Plastic Bag surcharge?! It's a way of inconveniencing the consumer and a sneaky way of TAXING the public. It's a way of adding to the coffers of the government, so let's veil it and say it's for the environment.

If the politicians REALLY want to save the world, they really need to start looking at the bigger picture. Look at the mountains of electronic waste that's in our landfills right now. The heaps of old iPods and VCRs. Old televisions and old Walkmans. Look at how we can make cars more efficient. I read somewhere that there's a car right now that can get 100 miles out of a gallon of gas. There's an engine that's small enough that the possibility of flying cars is a possibility. Such a small engine would decrease the mass of a car such that gas consumption would drop way down. LED and OLED lights to light our streets and homes perhaps.

There are innumerable things that politicians can do to reduce our consumption of energy, reduce waste, and reuse the things that we do throw out. But politicians don't have the testicular fortitude to do it. All they do is PRETEND they're looking out for the best interest of society, when in reality, all they're doing is causing inconvenience and finding sneaky ways of TAXING us more.

~Cheers.

Topic of the Day: Man vs. Animal...

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:10:35 GMT

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/06/peta-mclean.html

P.E.T.A (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is in the news again. According to a PETA spokesperson this morning on the radio, "Animals are flesh, blood, and bone like humans". She thinks that the slaughter of animals for food / meat products is as, if not more, terrible than murder of a human. It makes me wonder.

Do PETA members have pets?

If you follow their logic, isn't caging a rabbit, or putting a dog on a leash for a walk slavery? Holding an animal in captivity? On that note:
What do they think about zoos? Or farm animals for that matter? Those poor work animals....heck, even the Amish / Mennonites use horses to pull their buggies...shouldn't P.E.T.A be up in arms against them too?

I see their point, I do. To a certain extent, they DO have a point. To a certain degree we ought to be listening to them. If we ate less meat, there wouldn't be a need to kill so many animals. Especially in North America, we do have a tendency to over indulge. We don't need so much meat in our systems. Having too much meat is actually fairly bad for you. Animals do feel pain. They do feel fear. If you've ever heard the screams of a rabbit before its killed, you'll know what I'm talking about.
That being said, I don't believe we need to cut it out completely. It's healthy to eat SOME meat. Not only that, it tastes GOOD. And if we're not better than the animals we slaughter for food, guess what? Animals eat animals too. I mean, where do you think your dog's can of Alpo comes from?!

~Cheers.