I purchased a wireless PC Card for my laptop last evening, and my buddy Mark and I drove around Toronto looking for "hot spots" for the wireless card to connect to the Internet.

It was very exciting when it found a connection. The whole wireless thing is pretty new to me, but I'm excited to be able to browse the Internet from anywhere.

... You know you're a geek when


 

A friend and I have been working on a side project that offers local classified ads for the Toronto area. This is a pilot that will hopefully allow us to eventually expand to other areas.

We've decided to launch the site this evening, so feel free to check it out and let me know what you think. We've found that there aren't many useful online resources for local classifieds in Toronto, so hopefully we can advertise our site effectively to fill this market gap.

The site is: www.torontolist.ca
 

Have you ever talked to someone online with a webcam before? Check out this fat dutch kid video.

It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen on the net. It might even be funnier than the Start Wars kid that was floating around the Internet a few months back

Click Here for the Video
 

Canada has officially announced that they will not join the US Missile Defense Program. I am against Canada joining this program, and I applaud Paul Martin for listening to his citizens on this matter. It’s a good feeling to know that the Prime Minister of this country listens to his people instead of making decisions based on his own personal agenda and emotions.

The U.S. ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci, said he couldn't understand why Canada would not want to be involved in missile defence to protect North America.

"We just don't get it," he said. "Why would Canada want to give up its sovereignty?
"...If there's a missile incoming, and it's heading toward Canada, you are going to leave it up to the United States to determine what to do about that missile. We don't think that is in Canada's sovereign interest." "

My question is that why would somebody want to fire a missile at Canada? I hear this time and time again, that Canada is protected by the United States and we’d be overtaken if we didn’t have the US Army to protect us. I think that the United States is one friend and ally of Canada’s many friends and ally’s. If somebody were to attack Canada for whatever inconceivable reason, there would be many friends that would be there for her; including Britain, United States, France, Australia, etc. Canada was there for the United States on September 11th, they were there for France/Britain in 1939, and there are many other examples of Canada’s support for other countries. To suggest that the United States shouldn’t be there for Canada because Canada didn’t support the Iraq war or because Canada isn’t taking part in the missile defense defies all logic. Canadians are peacekeepers, and they are there for the United States when Peacekeeping is needed. Canadians aren’t instigators, hence our relative low chances of being attacked.
 

I have recently become a contributing writer to “Pourquoi Pas?” Pourquoi Pas is “A group of people striving for justice & peace for humankind and respect for this planet and all its species.”

Some of my articles will be posted on this site. I encourage you to check out this site and voice your opinion on the articles that are posted. Whether you’re Liberal or Conservative, a healthy debate is always welcome. The members of this site are very diverse and each offer a unique perspective. Click Here for Pourquoi Pas
 

With all of the media and US Government attention focused on Iraq, Iran and Syria, who is following through with the so-called "War on Terror"? How has Iraq become labeled as part of the 'War on terror'? Who's targeting the new al-Qaeda cells that are forming? Does the US Government truly understand the causes of terrorism?

Mike Schueder, a former head of the CIA's Bin Laden unit has sharply criticized the US Government for its lack of understanding on the causes of terrorism. Mr. Scheuder resigned this month from his CIA post. "Bin Laden is attacking us because a specific set of US policies that have been in gear for 30 years and haven't been reviewed, haven't been debated, haven't been questioned," says Mr Scheuer, who has written two books anonymously criticizing government policies. He cited the apparently unquestioning US support for Israel; America's presence on the Arabian Peninsula; and support for regimes perceived as oppressing Muslims and for Muslim "tyrannies".

Mr. Schueder seems to understand some of the reasons for resentment toward the US Government and the causes of terrorism. I think this is something that can’t be viewed using a traditional narrow-minded perspective of using war to solve every issue. A lot of lessons have been learned about war over the last century and I think the world should be civilized enough to realize that war isn’t the answer. You have to look at these issues with a different perspective and an open mind; and until we convince our American friends to speak up loudly enough to oppose their government’s policies, we will be getting ourselves into a bigger mess and more innocent lives will be lost.

Related BBC article: Link
 

(Written for a friend who was recently in a bad car accident)

Driving down that slippery highway
The sun had already set

That subtle layer of ice
You distinctly could not forget

Remembering the pleasures of your day
It only took a split second
for all the dreams to slip away

You were overpowered with inconceivable force
You saw the world turn upside down
You were now on a crash course
But still you did not frown

Thankfully you were watched from above
You have too much good to do on this earth
This world of hate needs your unselfish love

It now all seems like a dream
But one cannot forget tomorrow and today

That it only takes a split second
for all the dreams to slip away
 

I recently came across an interesting website that reports US public opinion on a broad range of international policy issues. According to the site, each report integrates and explains as much as a decade of polling data.

According to the website, regarding the Kyoto Treaty: "A strong majority of Americans favors the US abiding by and ratifying the Kyoto Treaty". Regarding public opinion on the United Nations: "The majority of Americans would like the UN to be stronger." When it comes to terrorism, "A near-unanimous majority favors the US dealing with the problem of terrorism in a multilateral fashion. Overwhelming majorities favor seeking UN Security Council approval for military action."

It also states that a strong majority of Americans believe in the idea of universal human rights, but polls have indicated that awareness is low. It indicates that Americans in general see globalization as more positive than negative.

A report from October 2002 indicates that “A majority of Americans favors trying to achieve Iraqi disarmament through the process of UN inspections, rather than trying to achieve regime change, even though most Americans have doubts about whether inspections would completely eliminate the Iraqi threat.”

A report on the Israel-Palestinian conflict indicates that the majority of Americans believe that US policy in the Middle East was a factor prompting the September 11th attacks and “A strong majority views Israel as a friend of the United States, but only a substantial minority views it as an ally, and Americans are divided over sending US troops to defend Israel in the event it is attacked.”

The Americans & The World website is offered by “The Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA), and can be viewed @ www.americans-world.org
 

If things keep heading in the direction they are headed, do you think we may see the world go to war? I surely hope not, but below I have made a list of some of the conflicts I believe are steering the world in the wrong direction.

• Syria and Iran alliance and nuclear ambitions


• US Missile Defense program (In my opinion threatens other countries and is a blow to world peace)


• North Korea nuclear standoff (I think the US would attack North Korea if they had the resources and budget to do so)


• Russian support for Iran


• War in Iraq (I believe it drives fear into many countries and encourages them to invest in their armies).


• Israel and Palestinian conflict (Although as of late, I believe things are starting to slowly head in the right direction. I respect Israel's freeing of 500 prisoners tomorrow (Link) and I respect the Gaza pullout (Link)


• The cost of the Iraq war to the USA. This could been seen by hostile countries as a weakness.


• The lack of NHL hockey. What are we Canadians to do?


• The bulking up of China's army


• Pakistan/India nuclear weapons


• The re-election of George W. for another 4 years in office

 

My friends and I occasionally go out to a bar after work on Fridays. There are 2 bars that we usually frequent because the 'Happy Hour' replenishes us with $2 beers until 9PM. The bouncers at the one club are very unfriendly and as of late, have been finding reasons not to let us in. Last time we visited the bar, we weren't let in because the shoes we were wearing weren't dress shoes; another time it was because I didn't have a collared shirt. Yet another time it was because we weren't 25 years old. There always seems to be something, yet over the years they have let us in on many occasions even though our dress/age didn’t comply with their 'official' rules. It seems they just decide whether to enforce such rules depending on the mood their in and depending on how many girls you have with you. (And how good looking those girls are).

Yesterday I was so determined not to get rejected that I went to the mall at lunch and bought new shoes that are slightly more dressy than my normal 'going out shoes' and I bought a new button-up shirt to wear as well. There was no way I was going to get rejected this time. Not long before I left work, I spoke to my brother whom expressed interest in coming to the club with us after work. I told him to dress up nicely so that we wouldn't get rejected. He complied and everything was looking good. We waited in the huge lineup for about 20 minutes in extremely cold weather. When they were finally ready to let us in, they asked us for identification and then informed us that we can’t be let inside because my brother is 'Under 25'. I think this is quite ridiculous, considering I'm under 25, and he was going to let me in. I suppose they just don’t want 19 year olds in the club, which is somewhat understandable. So we went to the 'backup' bar which doesn’t have as good a crowd, but the cover charge is $5 (instead of $7), and the drinks are even cheaper ($1.75 for domestic bottles) until 9:00PM. Coincidentally, the 'backup' bar has the same owners as the other bar, but the entrance requirements seem to be more relaxed. Hence the weaker crowd ;)
 

I'm sure you've all seen the Little Johnny jokes floating around through email over the years. Here's a new one I received recently.

Little Johnny's neighbors had a baby. Unfortunately, the baby was born without ears. When mother and new baby came home from the hospital Johnny's family was invited over to see the baby.

Before they left their house, Little Johnny's dad had a talk with him and explained that the baby had no ears. His dad also told him that if he so much as mentioned anything about the baby's missing ears or even said the word ears he would get the spanking of his life when they came back home. Little Johnny told his dad he understood completely.

When Little Johnny looked in the crib he said, "What a beautiful baby." "He has beautiful little feet and beautiful little hands, a cute little nose and really beautiful eyes." The mother said, "Why, thank you, Little Johnny."

"Can he see?" asked Little Johnny. The mother proudly replied, "Yes... we are so thankful, the Doctor said he will have 20/20 vision "

Little Johnny replied, "That's great....cuz he'd be f****ed if he needed glasses."
 

Here are some anti-war quotes for this week.

"Never has there been a good war or a bad peace."
—Benjamin Franklin

"Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
—Hermann Goering

"Every patriot believes his country better than any other country . . . In its active manifestation—it is fond of killing—patriotism would be well enough if it were simply defensive, but it is also aggressive . . . Patriotism deliberately and with folly aforethought subordinates the interests of a whole to the interests of a part . . . Patriotism is fierce as a fever, pitiless as the grave and blind as a stone."
—Ambrose Bierce, Collected Works

"In all wars the object is to protect or to seize money, property and power, and there will always be wars so long as Capital rules and oppresses people."
—Ernst Friedrich, War Against War (1924)

"I believe in compulsory cannibalism. If people were forced to eat what they killed there would be no more war."
—Abbie Hoffman
 

US Rhetoric and hostility toward some Arab nations is forming a coalition and a will to resist US aggression. Iran has vowed to back Syria against "challenges and threats" as both countries face strong US pressure. "We are ready to help Syria on all grounds to confront threats," Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said after meeting Syrian PM Naji al-Otari.

The US Government has indirectly blamed the Syrian government for a terrorist attack on Monday that killed former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri in a bombing. The US has recalled its ambassador to Syria in protest of the attack, and they are considering new sanctions against Syria for its refusal to withdrawal 14,000 troops from Lebanon.

The Bush Administration's method of confronting issues seems to be to use threats to drive fear into a country to force them on their knees to bow to the US. What the Administration is incognizant about is the fact that their insolent and aggressive behavior is breeding more hatred and resentment toward the US. I don't try to profess that I have the answers, but I truly don't believe that threats and acts of war promote peace; they only give people more reason to hate.

Sources: BBC related article

I just returned from a 3 night trip to Montreal, Quebec. I brought my buddy Steve and we were visiting my other buddy Tim. Tim is working as a consulting there for a couple months, so we stayed in his company paid hotel room. It was a lot of fun, but it's very cold there.

Today was our last day there and before Steve and I left, we purchased some rose petals and spread them all over Tim's bed (while he was at work). Then we took some heart shaped candies and wrote "I *heart* Tim" with an arrow going through the heart. It was pretty funny. We were looking for a practical joke to play on Tim because he's not easily 'shocked', but I just received a phone call from Tim and he said he was laughing his head off when he saw it. Hence, he was very 'shocked'.

I wanted to wish all my friends and family a Happy Valentine's Day. Especially my dear Mommy whom I hope to see very soon!

I also wanted to wish my TBlog valentine a very Happy Valentine's Day as well. Her online name is adpierin11 and her real name is "Erin". She's a very sweet girl from Florida, and I feel very special to have her as my Tblog valentine!


 

I went to Gap today to purchase a pair of jeans. Here are the top 5 reasons I hate shopping at the Gap

5. The $15 discount on the jeans didn't seem to make a difference because of the 15% tax that was charged anyway..
4. The guy working the cash register folded my clothes like it was some kind of school art project.
3. The guy in the change room's voice sounded like he had just inhaled helium
2. The length is never right. 32inches is too short, 34 inches is too long. Can't they make 33??
1. When I finally found the pair of jeans I liked, they had a button up fly. This was cool in Grade 10, is it back now???

A Welsh rugby fan cut off his own testicles after his team defeated England in a rugby match. 26 year-old Geoff Huish was so convinced that his team would be defeated, he told friends "If Wales wins I'll cut my balls off".

They thought he was joking but he went home after the match, severed them with a knife and returned to show his mates what he had done.

Staff dialled 999 and put the testicles in a pint glass filled with ice cubes.

Full Story: Click here

Here in Canada, there are commercials for the NHL (Hockey) that say "What would you do?" (To win the Stanley Cup) With the reply: "I'd chew tin foil". If I were a business man in Wales, I'd be making T-Shirts that say: "What would you do?" "I'd cut my balls off".

Friends and family often offer their financial advice freely. Although they are not professional financial advisors, their advice is often based on experience in the investment world, and they have learned lessons from bad investments and good investments. It is good to take their advice to learn about investing, but if you are looking for professional advice, you should seek a professional. Financial Advisors are often available free of charge at any major financial institution.

My friend Kathy has given me some of her wisdom regarding finances. Her credit card is frozen in a block of ice in her freezer. It ensures that she won’t use her credit card on a regular basis, but it’s available if she really needs it. There's also the de-thawing period where she can still change her mind about making a purchase. I'm very impressed by Kathy's idea, and I suspect others will follow.

I’m not a professional beggar, but I think I can do a better job than most bums that I encounter asking for money. Sometimes if I’m short on change, I will ask somebody if they can spare a dollar or two. People are very forthcoming with money if their impression of you is that you’re credible and honest. I’ve never had trouble getting money from people when I have needed to, and similarly in the opposite situation where I have given money to someone who appeared to need it for the subway, etc. I very rarely give money to people who stand there begging for change unless they actually do something to earn it.

Here are some tips for beggars:

- Do something to impress or amuse me. Some people play instruments (usually home-made). I’ve seen puppet shows as well.
- Do something for me; hold open the door for me, clean my windshield.
- Tell me why you need it, but be sincere and believable and honest.
- Signs that have funny jokes on them help. Examples:

• "Need money for beer"


• "25 cents for good karma"


• "Haven’t been laid in years, need money for a hooker"

Isn't US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice such a sweetheart? She is warmly sending out her heartfelt sympathy to the Iranian people. "The Iranian people should have a chance to determine their own future". "They should be no different from the Palestinians or Iraqis or other peoples around the world." I really think she is such a good person to be looking out for the Iranians, as she also done for the Iraqis. If I were an Iranian, I could only imagine how good it would make me feel to have a wealthy American that lives halfway across the world tell me that I should be "free". I would welcome her bombs; I would sacrifice my house and my family to have "freedom". I would go out and purchase an American flag raise it proudly.

Rice has stated that an attack on Iran is "not on the agenda at this point". "We have many diplomatic tools still at our disposal and we intend to pursue them fully". If I were an Iranian, this would instill significant comfort, knowing that the US isn't going to bomb me yet. Knowing that the world police are going to attempt to use diplomatic means to resolve the issue before resorting to war. But after some thought, of course it isn't in the agenda "at this point", why would it be in the agenda? The bulk of the army is stuck in Iraq, and would congress approve another costly war with the ever-increasing costs of the Iraq war?

The term "Dutch Oven" is a term that makes me laugh hysterically when I hear it. Here is the meaning of the "Dutch Oven" courtesy of Wikipedia.org (Note the secondary meaning):

A Dutch oven is a large metal cooking pot with a lid used for cooking special recipes. Dutch ovens can be used without an actual oven; they are often used outdoors over an open fire, in modern times especially by people who are camping. The Dutch oven is designed with a tight-fitting lid with a rim so that burning wood or charcoal can be heaped on top of it when it is placed in the fire. They are ordinarily made of cast iron (some are made of aluminum), and often have legs attached so they may more easily be set amid the coals

Secondary Meaning
The dutch oven is also a slang name for a practical joke played on bedmates by restraining them under the covers after you have passed gas.

A Swedish police officer who robbed a bank and returned to the crime scene an hour later to investigate the robbery has pleaded guilty to the crime.

He told reporters at the time that the police had no clues.

Read the full story here

When he took the whole police department out to a strip joint the night of the robbery and bought dances for everyone, they became suspicious. (tehe)