One of my favourite shows used to be Goodness Gracious Me, a British comedy show with a largely East Indian cast.

The other day I did a post on ethnic names in Canada, here's a little skit by the cast of Goodness Gracious Me putting the shoe on the other foot:

In the past few years, I've read about a number of teen parties that have ended in damage or death.
In this age when text messaging can bring many strangers and unwanted guests to your house, I'm wondering why parents would even entertain the idea of a party at their home that exceeded 20 or so people.

I've read about parties that have resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes and theft of jewellery, home entertainment equipment and vehicles.

Why?

Why can't people just have a good time?
A few years ago, one of my co-workers' sons had a big party at their home while they were away at a cottage. Uninvited guests showed up drunk, and a fight ensued. The police were called. These kids were ejected, only to show up an hour or so later to terrorize the place and trash the living room and kitchen causing 28,000 in damage, plus pushing around and shaking up a number of young girls who were there.
Were those kids ever arrested?
I don't know. Her kids didn't know them...there were a lot of people at the party.
It didn't result in murder, so how far the investigation went is unknown to me.

Would you let your teen have a party at your house?
I mean, you make the assumption that your child is responsible, but do you know who their friends are?
We have big events at our home on occasion, and to say that I know every single person who shows up would be a lie. People bring people, and I've gone through a whole evening not knowing every single person who is in my home.
But, I've never had 150 or more people at a party.
Some of these teen parties end up looking more like raves than house parties.

How long do you think it's going to take before insurance companies start making this sort of thing part of their policies, if they haven't already.
It won't be long before you'll have a clause in your policy, and higher rates if you have children under 25 living in your home.

Mark my words.

Harping on the Parent Thing...

This morning I heard Richard Louv interviewed, and he discussed something he called "Nature Deficit Disorder", and then he laughingly said not to run to your Doctor, because it isn't a recognized disorder...but just an observation he's made about what we've done to children in the past 20 years.

He's linked ADHD and ADD to lack of exposure to nature:

"As recently as the 1950s, most U.S. youngsters still had some kind of agricultural connection. Even in towns or cities, kids played ball in sandlots or spent hours building forts in tangled and wild "vacant" lots. Their unregimented play was steeped in nature. That kind of exposure to nature has faded dramatically in recent decades, but our need for nature—possibly physiological—has not. "Neurologically, human beings haven't caught up with today's over-stimulating environment," says Michael Gurian, a family therapist and author of The Wonder of Boys."

He talked about schools taking physical education out of their curriculums, and lack of green space at many schools. He pointed out that some schools have even cut out recess, and one posting signs in the schoolyard saying, "NO Running".
In fairness, this kind of thing can't be blamed on the school system, since often these decisions are spearheaded by uber-parents on soapboxes (much like mine on this topic) on Parent Councils and committees.
Parents who are petrified that their children might get a scrape on the knee, and then get an infection and die.
School boards are scared of law suits, and so they comply with these absurd demands.

I've seen kids so urbanized, that the sight of a fly, or stepping into snow sends them into hysterical screaming fits.
I know you think that I'm exaggerating, but I'm not. Keep in mind that I worked with preschoolers and kindergarteners.
I've seen children scream blue murder when they're put down onto the floor to walk.
I've argued with parents that they need fresh air, and exercise. I've even had parents keep children home from school because "it's raining" or "it's too cold outside".

A few years ago, I was talking with a neighbour of mine who has two boys. She was talking about how she didn't like her sons playing with "certain" children in the neighbourhood because those children were "always out on the street"....to which I responded, "What? Out in the street playing?".
Geez, we live on a cul de sac, there's no traffic.
I love it when I see kids put up hockey nets or drag out the basketball hoop to the road. What's wrong with being outside and playing?

Sometimes I feel like it's a contest between moms for Uber-Mom of the Year.
The criteria is that you appear to be the mom who cares the most for your child by protecting them from everything.
This neighbour made it sound like these children who played outside had parents who didn't care as much about them as she did about her own children.

Please.

Let your kids out of the house.

SunDAy ClIcK AroUnD

So, when I found this page on Artist Peter Callesen's site, I couldn't figure out what exactly the point of the crack in the frame was...until I saw a close up of what was at the bottom of the frame. It's an interesting art form, and some of it is quite beautiful.

Here's the Sistine Chapel ceiling in full view. Not like being there...but as close as some of us are going to get.

Here's a link to a country & western song about a guys wife. Some country & western songs are hilarious...

I had Hebrew crunk here yesterday.
Now here's some Christian Crunk.

I've seen these soothers advertised, I've yet to see one in a real live kids mouth. I think they're hilarious!

I've posted the link to Movie Mistakes before, but it seems that they've started linking some of their mistakes and bloopers to YouTube. Which is pretty cool since you can see what they're talking about immediately.

One of my favourite Sesame Street characters was The Swedish Chef.
Here's a link to many of his little appearances on the street.

And last, but not least...YouTube is finally getting some classic Etta James posted to the site, instead of just bad singers covering "At Last", someone called InnerCalm has quite a nice little collection of classic soul and R&B videos.

Here's Etta in the '60's singing "Somethings got a hold on me".
Two observations: I didn't care for this mediterranean/slav "I have to be blonde" look that Etta was rockin' back in this period of her career, and did women really abuse black eyeliner like that in the '60's?
Never mind, Etta's the best!

"In your life expect some trouble,
when you worry you make it double.
Dont worry...be happy"

I've been having a mentally fatiguing time of it recently.
Really busy at work, and just for good measure, I enrolled myself in a certificate course in accounting at Humber College.

It's significantly more intense than I anticipated.
In case you were wondering, accounting textbooks are a sleep inducing read.

Anyhow, I've been feeling overwhelmed of late, and when my important government visitor posponed her appointment with me this morning, I was pissed.

Pissed because I just want to get it over with.
Pissed because she rushed me to finish the 60fuckingpagedocument only to have it's submission postponed indefinitely.

So, I needed to see what I saw this morning.

There is construction at a certain west end corner, and it's slowing down left turns in front of a large high school.
I was in line for that left turn this morning.
In front of this high school are benches, and this morning there was a group of mentally challenged adults waiting for something, sitting on those benches.

I looked over to see one of them running back and forth from one of the large planters, to the street.
When he'd get to the curb, he'd smile a big, joyous smile and wave to drivers, and then he'd run back to the end of the planter, and repeat the process.

He was lovely.

I couldn't help but smile.
I couldn't help but wave, and I know he had the same effect on other drivers too.
I saw them.

You Can't Keep a Good Man Down

I mean to tell you that even though I am a big cynic, there are certain things that rekindle the human spirit.

A few months ago, I mentioned Michael Zubiak in a post about Criminals, and how we really can't tell one just by looking at, or speaking to one.

Michael had a string of bad luck. He was unemployed for two years. He rented a billboard just before Christmas a few years ago saying "HIRE ME"... selling himself looking for work.
It didn't work for him.
When he got desperate, he put his wifes diamond ring up for sale in a local paper. Two thugs showed up on the premise that they were interested in the ring...they beat Michael and his wife within an inch of their lives in a home invasion.

Michael has since recovered, and over the weekend contacted me to thank me for mentioning him on my blog, and listening to him on the radio (it was what prompted my little entry). We corresponded a bit via e-mail, and Michael told me that he is now running for City Council in Ward 30.
He said that he was inspired by the lack of concern of his Ward Councillor Paula Fletcher when he contacted her regarding help with his situation.
Michael wasn't just facing unemployment, and recovery from a bad beating (in Ms Fletcher's ward), his wife is also suffers from a debilitating bone disease. She's had two neurosurgeries, and cervical cancer, which she beat -- but now suffers from a benign pituitary tumour.

Michael was told by his councillor's office that: "Ms. Fletcher does not care to get involved, in a personal matter".
The very least Ms. Fletcher could have done is contact him with condolences, no?
I mean, it happened in her ward!

Michael was shocked..."Since when is crime personal? Anyone who asks for help should be pointed in some direction", said Michael.

He points out that this city has some great, caring people, and he's doing much better now.

So now, he's running.

Wouldn't you like a Councillor in your ward who has a personal stake in it's safety?
Someone who knows what it's like to overcome adversity?

I would.

Go, Michael, GO!

Oh, STFU Scott!

"Liberal leadership candidate Scott Brison has proposed a package of tax reforms that would include giving young Canadians a big tax break, which would allow them to earn up to $25,000 tax free each year in their first 12 years of full-time work."

12 years?
12 YEARS?!?
Are they supplying crack at these tax dollar funded, parliamentary soirees?

That's a third of your working life.
And who is going to pick up the slack this will create in taxes?
Why, the middle class will of course.
The beast of burden caste.

As if our younger generations are not coddled enough.

"Hey..." says Scott Brison, "Vote for me, I'll give you a tax break, and help you stay a child for another 12 years..."

Fucking moron.

Good-Bye Fantasy, Hello Reality.

It appears that Éduc'alcool in Montreal is pushing for a reality check, in beer advertising.

"The group is asking the industry to voluntarily adopt the new code, which forbids sexism or the association of products with sexual performance, sexual attraction or popularity".

What?
Quoi?

No more of this kind of thinking, you unrealistic bastards.
Quebec (of all places!?!)is going to force you to face reality...

Sweet Potato Pie and Spicy, West African Peanut Curried Chicken at Papamo

Sunday Click-Around

Here's a site that lets you make your own highway sign. Very similar to The Church Sign Generator.

Again with the music video links.
What can I say? I never get tired of them.

Last night I burned hours watching interviews, and videos of my favourite Serbian/Ex-YU singer Ceca.

In one interview where she sang the song "Kukavica" a capella.
Her voice, combined with the sad lyrics...listen...when she sang it, she gave me goosebumps
(you have to sit through some of the interview, untranslated, if you're at all interested).
I also found one of my favourite Ceca songs from the ninties, Pustite me da ga vidim.
I know that many North Americans find the style of Eastern singing amusing, but you have to have incredible range and control over your voice to do it.
This style of singing requires more talent, range and control over your voice than most popular north american singers could only dream of having.
Ok, this little section was probably interesting to only a few of my readers...and even though it's not cool, I love Ceca!

Anyhow, these two are Savoy Ballroom dancers Al and Leon. They're members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. (see Hellzapoppin 1941). Al and Leon dedicated their lives to jazz dance, here in 1959 on the Playboy TV show they demo the Charleston in the timeline history of American Dance. This video is really, really great!

Do you subscribe to sarcasm? I do. The Sarcasam Society celebrates the art of sarcasm. And in the same vein, here's The Shakespeare Insult Kit, to compliment what you learn.

I found 20 Questions amusing for one round. It correctly guessed; egglant as the vegetable that I was thinking about.

I found this cutting board scale interesting, and certainly useful, but I'm concerned about exactly what kind of chemical is in the board. As it is I'm carrying a cellphone that fucks with my monitor or phone line if its close by and is about to ring. The thought of exactly how much radio frequency is whizzing by our heads is enough for me, thanks.

Country music is funny.

And last but not least, Cynical-C posted a link to 23 of Penn & Teller's Bullshit Episodes.
They're really worth watching, and funny as hell too!

That's all for now, kids.

Jedan, dva, chetr, pijet...oy, yoy, yoy...it's the Numa Numa guys new video!



Here's the loved old one:

Germaphobes Unite!

The mere thought of Body sushi makes me want to break out the sanitizer.

You GO, GIRL!

I'm sorry, but if you break into someones house wielding a hammer, you takes yer chances.

It's a job hazard.
He lost.

"Daddy don't you walk so fast..."

Today, I've had the fifth parent in 3 months announce that she and her spouse are separating.
It's an epidemic.
It's none of my business, but this last one kind of got me down.
She told me that her oldest son is very angry about it, and specifically angry at her.

I reminded her that children don't care if their parents are happy together or not.
They just want them together.
I know adults who don't care if their parents are happy or not, they just want them together.

It just makes me so sad, to see this many marriages falling apart, so close together.
So many children who will have to go through the emotional turmoil of watching their parents break apart.

Ladies, please...if you see that your relationship isn't going well, and you're having problems, don't have that last kid.
Don't do it.
It won't save your marriage.

Really it won't.

Photo by one of my favourite Photographers: Diane Arbus

Left Over Stir Fry



Recipe over at Papamo.

I. Hate. This. Mayor.

And pickins' is slim, y'all.

In other news:

Russell Crowe is coming to the Festival....all hotel employees...Run. Hide.

"Money, money changes everything
We think we know what we're doin'
That don't mean a thing
It's all in the past now
Money changes everything..."

A while ago Cynical-C linked to an article about 8 Lottery Winners who lost their millions.

I remember watching a documentary film a few years ago, that chronicled the fates of a number of lottery winners across the U.S.
There wasn't one happy story.
They all lost their money, and ended up worse off than before they won. It caused problems and hardship between family members and friends.
Perhaps it's because of the stories chosen, or maybe it's because poor people who are handed money do stupid shit with it.

Here are some stupid things that you can do with your money if you win the lottery:
-Give money to people hand over fist
-Fur line your bathroom
-Pimp your new hummer with lamborghini doors
-Dye your dog pink and buy her a Dior diamond necklace, and walk around the 'hood with her.
-Go to Las Vegas and blow it gambling.
-Go into a business that you know nothing about with your brother in law.
-Diamond stud your cell phone.
-Marry Britney Spears and start rapping!
-Spend 50 grand on rims for your car.
-Take a bath in Cristal.
-Buy a plane.
-Buy an island, and declare yourself King/Queen.
-Install solid gold toilet bowls in your house.
-Insist on having 18K gold flakes in every beverage you drink.
-Install a paid 30 person entourage to follow you around.
-Install canals and gondolas in your house instead of hallways.

Having money doesn't instantly give you sense.
Ask many people who were famous with millions, and had to file for bankruptcy.
Toni Braxton and MC Hammer come to mind, and they weren't even lottery winners.
You'd think they'd have organized themselves.

Money changes everything, indeed.

The Two Sleeps After Sunday Click-Around - Back to School Edition

So, while being away for a couple of days, and not being online to feed my YouTube, blogging habit, today was spent..eherm...catching up.
I found this hilarious Photobooth prank.
It's a must see.

Then, I had a 10 minute relationship with Pjotro. He loves music, he loves dancing...and he loves engineering.
What a combo!
Pjotro and I went dancing, and you can watch it here.
The intro is priceless!

The CBC has put up some freaky deaky website, called 120seconds.com. I think it's supposed to attract a younger audience, because there are some parts that have people saying "cum" and other words that are not CBC-ish.

While we're on the whole "Not CBC-ish" thing, take The XXX Which Chick has a Dick Test.
It's definitely not for everyone, and NSFW.
I scored 22 out of 41, which means that M.A.C. cosmetics is doing a fine job, indeed.
If you take the test, tell me what you scored.

Do you wish you could put words in Bush's mouth?
Here's your chance. It's an interactive game where you can choose what you'd like to hear Bush say in one of his long winded speeches.

I think I'm done for now...

Coconut Cake recipe over at Papamo

Red, red wine...stay close to me...



Did you miss me?
The Mister and I, (along with the "pantie" sister-in-law and her family) were invited to Mr & Mrs. Crabby's cottage, up Picton way. It was a rainy and cool weekend, but that didn't stop us from touring around the wine trail.
We ate, drank, and ate some more...it was a lovely and relaxing weekend.
Now, it's back to the grind, and a good-bye to summer.

Have a look at my little weekend movie, and see some of the sights of Prince Edward County.
Very pretty.