Multiculturalism and Holidays

In respect of multiculturalism and equality for all, I propose a modified holiday calendar. What this means is that the government of Canada will recognize religious holidays that are recognized in other countries for those who celebrate them. To avoid the problem of having too many holidays, the government can impose on people to chose their religious holidays. For example, a Moslem may chose to exchange their Christmas holiday in exchange for Ramadan or a Jew may chose to celebrate passover instead of Easter. When the trade off is made, that citizen will receive all benefits normally associated with holidays, especially in regards to wages. This should not apply to national holidays such as celebrating independence days etc. The proposed calendar is strictly for religious holidays. Nationalism should remain specific to Canada.

John Mayer: Lovable Brat

John is a lot like my sister... both get into trouble but use their charm to get out. Here's the background of what happened... John used the N word in an interview with Playboy... then called his penis a white supremacist. The world is all upset. John apologizes in Nashville and on twitter. Now we see what is going to happen... Will he be forgiven or BANISHED like Kanye-I'm-a-let-you-finish-West for his drunken interruption of Taylor Swift?

I just went to John's Valentines day concert in TORONTO. The place was packed. This could be because no one wanted to waste their tickets. But if that was the case, then the applause and cheers wouldn't have been quite so extreme! The audience LOVED him! The feeling in the stadium was exciting and electric.

I personally went to the concert hoping that John would give me another reason to hate him. I hoped he would slip up and make another random comment so I could consolidate my dislike for him. But he was just such an amazing musician he made it very difficult not to like him (or his musical ability at least). This is why I say he's like my little sister. My sister can bug the hell out of you and be a brat sometimes (sorry Aly if you're reading this but it's true and I know you know), but she can turn on the charm and get herself out of any trouble! She hits you with her charm and leaves you wondering if someone as cute as Aly really is as devilish as you thought she was. John is the same way. He's an ass-hole for sure, but he's just so DAMN GOOD! How can we hate him when we are in love with his music? And because of that, I will say that John will make a come back (and so will West once he sobers up).

In the mean time here's a little view of an interview with the playboy interviewer who interviewed john, interviewed by, Ann powers.

Rob Tannenbaum (Play Boy interviewer) On John Mayer: Take away his use of the “N-word,” and you have a white musician commenting on the privilege of race, and warning other whites that they can’t ever presume to know racial disadvantage. Harry Allen, an accomplished black writer, described this on Twitter as a "powerful, pointed statement." How many white rock stars understand that, never mind declare it? He found a stupid way to make valuable points. If he’d just left out one forbidden word and an ill-advised reference to a white supremacist (who I don’t want to promote by naming), Mayer might be up for an NAACP Image Award. Full interview at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/02/john-mayer.html Me: I think he's right. John was making a legitimate point but had a hard time communicating it. I can identify with that. I often have good things to say but I can't say them in ways that puts them in the best light (I unintentionally come across as condescending). I'm just dumbfounded that John was saying he was trying to "intellectualize" the "N" word. First of all, why would you? Secondly, you're doing a playboy interview john! People aren't exactly flipping through a playboy for intellectual stimulation!

Nonetheless, I went to John's concert on Valentines day. It was spectacular. John is like that kid that knows how to get out of trouble by being cute (like my sister). It's so hard to hate someone who's just such an amazing performer! My sister is good at being cute and John is good at singing and song writing. So even though you are a brat John, you're an amazingly gifted brat.

Kings of Leon

So last year when I was a WoW zombie for a few months and creating a blood elf huntress, the Hour with George Strombo(ulopoulos) was interviewing Kings of Leon in the background. It was my first introduction to the band on the verge of exploding exposure and popularity in the 'mericas. What captivated my attention about this band of brothers (and one cousin) is their past as a family of traveling Christian musicians having come from a family of Christian occupation myself. 

Kings of Leon's Christian up-bringing sheltered them from "secular" music, except the odd rock album their dad would play when their mother wasn't around. I'm guessing they grew up on some DC Talk, Hillsongs 

perhaps, definitely the Gaithers, Newsboys (No breakfast in hell). Apparently, "crimson and

 clover" was huge turning point for the young musicians who fell in love with the guitar riffs. 

Now before this band made it big in the US they were huge in the UK. While they received celebrity status across the pond, in the US they were largely unknown and unrecognized. This changed after opening for megabands like U2, Pearl Ja

m and artist Bob Dylan. During their interview with George (which I'm downloading now to ma

ke sure my info is correct) they talk about hanging out with Bob Dylan and how he encouraged them to write great lyrics.

On the band's official web p

age, the bio talks about Caleb Followill's (the lead singer/songwriter) s

truggle to fi

nd confidence in his voice through his lyrics. He says, 

"I just hid my singing for so long because I was nervous that people would listen to my lyrics, assume I wasn't intelligent because I'm from Tennessee, and pick me apart, so that's why I sang the way I did. But going into this, I knew these melodies that we were playing were too beautiful for me to fuck it up. I had to go for it."

With resilience and perseverance, the band has made thei

r album the number one seller on iTunes and sells out concerts across the world. 

Now I wanted to imbed their Use Somebody video here, but the option was disabled by request. So here's the link instead.

Smith and Kerns

For those men who enjoy a sweet drink, try the Smith and Kerns, or even better, it's bastard brother the Smith and Wesson. The Smith and Kerns is layered first with Kahlua, then followed by light cream, and topped off with Pepsi or Coke. The Smith and Wesson adds a shot of Vodka to the mix. Your final results is a layered popsicle looking drink with a masculine enough name as to not feel embarrassed in front of your business partners. 

Negroni

I have yet to try a good negroni yet. It's elegant in appearance but harsh in the pallet. It's like being hit in the mouth with a fistful of feet. Composed of an ounce each of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari then garnished with an orange and a splash of bitters, this pungent potion tastes horrible and invokes memories of Buckley's cough syrup commercials, "Tastes bad, works GOOD!" However, those who do enjoy the drink swear by it, so I'll just assume I haven't had one indie style yet. When ordering this retro drink, if your server looks at you sideways and needs to ask around to find out the recipe, change your order to a rum and coke. 

Home Wind Turbines can leave you green... with CASH

People have yet to catch on that going green means more money in your pocket. It saves you money and reduces your overhead costs. Which means more money for you to invest or spend elsewhere. For example, wind turbines in your back yard can generate enough energy for your home to reduce your utilities bill by 50-90 percent, and it is not uncommon for those with turbines to have bills of 8-15$ for at least nine months of the year. If you're spending what my landlord is spending on utilities, then that would save you easily around 100$ per month. Furthermore, having your own independent energy source will mean you're not susceptible to fluctuating energy prices.

The costs of a wind turbine can range dramatically from less than $1k to more than $7k. The Air X residential wind turbine retails for less than a thousand dollars, cheaper than solar panels. For a full review check out the greentech gazette. 

If a flying rotor is not your thing, or if the neighbors complain about its appea

rance, no problem, a Canadian engineer has made a rooftop turbine, the Mag-Wind Vertical Axis Turbine that makes no noise, is highly efficient, works fine during the winter, and is visually appealing. What's really neat about this turbine is that it uses the roof as a sail to funnel stronger winds into its metallic sails. Niagara WindPower will give Canadian residents a free analysis.

Wow, sounds like an informercial. I need to turn my tv off before i fall asleep.

Guerilla Gardeners Transforming Cities

Guerilla Gardeners are reclaiming ravished and ignored plots of land and rejuvenating and rehabilitating neglected city spots into planted paradise. What they do is find a plot of land that needs gardening, then plant whatever they want in that spot. It is technically considered vandalism since it's done on city property without permission. But the Guerilla Gardeners would prefer forgiveness over permission. Permission just takes too much time and effort.  Why? To make the world a better place. Way to go Guerilla Gardeners, you have my support, moral that is.