About Toyota
I'm not liking the lynch mob and scapegoating of Toyota. Really? A car mat sticking and now Ottawa is pouring even more taxpayer dollars into a "parliamentary committee" on Toyota? Does Ottawa not find the CEO's apology sincere? Exactly how many Canadians lost their lives cause of this flaw? It certainly was not in the thousands to warrant a committee. Car accidents happen everyday. When Parliament returns from their vacation prorogation, how about they do some real work?
First, start with getting back the money GM and Chrysler scammed us for. Taxpayers have yet to see any significant return on their "investment".
And FYI, Toyota is voluntarily going to the public and apologizing. America had to drag Ford to court for their Ford Pinto (Ford actually factored "human lives" in their cost-benefit analysis with that scandal). Going after Toyota like this can only discourage such honest behavior from other companies in the future and that hurts everyone.
It's all anti-import sentiment speaking here. That's all it is. Don't follow America's lead when Toyota has provided jobs for us.
February
It's official. February is now my most depressing month. Must be the winter blues, I guess. Well, good thing March is coming up and that means warmer weather and a time of growth, renewal, and new life.
Lent has been underway and I've set it up to be one of the biggest personal and private challenges I have ever faced. I am my own worst enemy. It is my hope that I will come out of this a better man.
"I'm here. I'm now. I'm ready... Don't give away the ending."
TTC and Twitpic and its Fallout
Link to news article: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/762105--ttc-workers-urged-to-fight-back#article
Dear TTC Union,
When we pay your exorbitant fees that seem to rise with every year, when a portion of the city's tax dollars (i.e., public money) goes towards your salaries and infrastructure, we expect an acceptable level of customer service. We do not expect your workers to be taking a nap at the collection booths or taking seven-minute coffee breaks, especially after a fare hike. Now, you have the audacity to whine about being put under more scrutiny of the public eye through video cameras and photographs? Here's the solution: do your jobs so that there is nothing wrong to videotape or photograph. Don't blame the public that pays you and don't blame the upper management that has put up with years of you taking the city hostage and costing Toronto millions in lost business.
Work-to-rule? You already seem to be doing the bare minimum and you want to hurt Toronto's revenue even more? The memo is right, an attitude of "complacency and malaise" has seeped deep within the union's ranks. Keep this up and you'll be surprised how powerful public outcry can become. We only ask for workers to do their job. Stop this insubordination.
Sincerely,
A Torontonian who hopes for a better TTC upon his return. Driving downtown is balls.
Andrew is …
Been seeing images of this around Facebook and such so I gave my own name a spin:
So, going by the top leading ones by number of results:
I am music.
I am cool.
I am not the father (phew!). 
I am awesome.
Good to see the insulting ones score substantially lower.
Oh, and give "Justin Bieber is " a try as well for some funny results of what the world is searching on him.
Song of the Moment #59: Jimmy Eat World – 23
Back when Futures came out, I was in first year university with so many hopes and dreams and happy to get away from it all - not knowing the path I was on only led to darkness, eventual remorse, and self-destruction. Only recently in the past year and a half has change occurred and I continue to undergo spiritual transformation. The words "starting over" resounded everywhere, from movies, TV shows, friends, family, billboard signs, and even strangers and passersby. Even today's sermon mentioned starting over.
I'm sure starting over was a theme for a lot of people who had lost their jobs in this economy. And I thank Him for the strength, courage, and support for me to start over in the face of utter failure and defeat. I was humbled to the core of my character, or else I would have grown to be a terrible person, unfit for a family.
I would never have thought I'd end up here when I was 17. Going forward through 23, everything isn't as blurry anymore.
"You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready"
When I think of imagery for this song, I imagine myself traveling alone on a wide open road in the desert, looking out the window. Or walking along some highway near sunset as cars pass by. Or along The Road in post-apocalyptic America (too much Fallout 3, haha). Psychoanalyze that, ha!
Lyrics:
I felt for sure last night
That once we said goodbye
No one else will know these lonely dreams
No one else will know that part of me
I'm still driving away
And I'm sorry every day
I won't always love these selfish things
I won't always live...
Not stopping...
It was my turn to decide
I knew this was our time
No one else will have me like you do
No one else will have me, only you
You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine
Amazing still it seems
I'll be 23
I won't always love what I'll never have
I won't always live in my regrets
You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine
You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine...
Retreat and Onward
I heard a lot of what I needed to hear this past weekend and then some on the radio as I woke up. It's a lot to process and I don't know if I can put it into words in this mind-blown state.
But, for those feeling burnt-out,
Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk but not become weary.
