Song of the Moment #58: K’naan – Wavin’ Flag
Now the anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, this song fits with much of what is going on all over the world. This song was also performed during the "Canada for Haiti" relief telethon.
When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back
Born to a throne, stronger than Rome
But Violent prone, poor people zone
But it’s my home, all I have known
Where I got grown, streets we would roam
But out of the darkness, I came the farthest
Among the hardest survival
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak
Except no defeat, surrender retreat
So we struggling, fighting to eat and
We wondering when we’ll be free
So we patiently wait, for that fateful day
It’s not far away, so for now we say
When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back
So many wars, settling scores
Bringing us promises, leaving us poor
I heard them say, love is the way
Love is the answer, that’s what they say,
But look how they treat us, make us believers
We fight their battles, then they deceive us
Try to control us, they couldn’t hold us
Cause we just move forward like Buffalo Soldiers
But we struggling, fighting to eat
And we wondering, when we’ll be free
So we patiently wait, for that faithful day
It’s not far away, but for now we say
When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back
When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back
(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And everybody will be singing it
(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And you and I will be singing it
(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And we all will be singing it
(Ohhh Ohh Ohh Ohh)
When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back
When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back
When I get older, when I get older
I will be stronger, just like a Waving Flag
Just like a Waving Flag, just like a Waving flag
Flag, flag, Just like a Waving Flag.
The Lululemon Bag
One quote on it stood out,
"The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness."
I refuse to take part in this tiring rat race with no meaningful end. I see now it's simply one thing leading to another ad infinitum. Most of the women seem to ask of me to have some really long-term plan and certainty of the future. Or expect to have long-term security through their man. The recent recession has proved otherwise; there is no such thing. To base a relationship on that, well, I am sorry but that is a disaster waiting to happen down the line.
Also, it's that time of year again, where the usual questions about the future are asked. I don't particular enjoy reliving this moment for the second time; but it happens nonetheless. The dislike comes mainly from the subtle expectation to have a detailed answer.
Not having a concrete answer ready and the uncertainty of the future used to scare me but now, not really. From my experience, thinking and planning far into the future has been a futile exercise; things never turn out the way you expect them to. (Think "Reality vs. Expectations" scene in (500) Days of Summer)
I realize now I have let my mind create unrealistic constructs and expectations on where I should be and let my heart turn cold, neglecting a lot of things important in life. Important things that belong in the realm of the heart and not of the overly rational mind. (To quote Jerry Maguire, "No heart!") Id est, I have been doing things with no heart and only cause I thought it was expected of me. Too much ambition and expectations it seems.
So, as I move forward and patiently and sincerely fill out applications with complete disregard to early deadlines, I will do what I feel most comfortable with: going with the flow, letting whatever happen happen, and adapting as necessary. To quote Bruce Lee, "Be like water."
I realize I am no shark after all. But I am no swan yet either. (Up in the Air reference). Nonetheless, I want to be part of the latter - content with living modestly and comfortably with people all around.
"It's just a moment. This time will pass." -U2 - Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
TTC and Twitpic
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/01/22/snoozing-ttc.html
We have come to a point where going outside means not just being in the public eye of the city you are in but also in the public eye of the Internet world.
One picture on Twitpic has caused quite a stir, leading up to paper newspapers running a whole-page story and a subsequent TTC review on the incident. This could potentially cost him his job (and thus, the ability to pay the mortgage and support the kids) which would really suck in this climate of unemployment.
Though, of course, it was not the intent of the photographer to take someone's job away. He found it funny and I am sure so did a lot of people.
But it illustrates the growing fact that no matter where we are, we need to be aware of our behaviour. Anyone with a cell phone camera can pull this off. So don't act like a fool in public.
This also means we must consider the ramifications of posting something on the Internet. You are speaking to a global community and could easily offend anyone. I take a lot of photos of my "adventures" / daily life but I don't post them all up on Twitpic (just mainly of delicious meals I eat, haha).
I consider, to the best of my ability, whether I am violating anyone's privacy (subjects in the background/foreground) and any other possible consequences before posting.
And well, on two extremes, maybe the guy above will still be enjoying his sleep not worrying about an inquiry or there may be sweeping reform changes throughout the TTC staff in the months to come.
Joke Intro for a Joke Team
Am I right? Shared from my little brother, this is an actual intro for a college hockey team.
Yeah. So random. Random awesomeness. 5 stars for Top Gun music and cosmic laser space bears and explosions.
This team is SERIOUS BUSINESS. Oh, look for the older years as well. Those intros are just as awesome.
Edit: Original video was removed by user. Replaced with video in link provided by Chris in the comments.
All Work and No Play…
...makes me more irrational, illogical, emotional, and darker. I.e., crazy.
So, I'll be taking a time out and disengage from a lot of things - things that don't usually bother me that are starting to bother me. Yes, that explains Facebook and Twitter.
The "little things in life" that I enjoy either aren't happening enough or isn't having any effect on me anymore and it is taking a toll on my health. (Yeah, that's what she said. Hurrrr.)
So, this is me taking charge from falling even deeper; I'll be at the gym and I'll be in deep thought and prayer. That will be my mental retreat.
Oh, don't worry about me. Just letting you know what's up with my weirdness.
Worry about Haiti. That has been tragically depressing.
Light up the darkness.
High-Speed Rail in Canada
This article was what I was talking about over the weekend.
Now, if only we had the visionary leaders like those in the US, some action might happen. But no, Parliament thinks it is okay to not work until March. Prorogue - a jargon term to alienate the general public. Pfft.
First Song
A song came to me in a dream just randomly a few weeks ago. It's a song that I haven't heard in a long while - like probably a few years - and I don't know why it just popped up one night as I slept.
I've been looking for a song to learn to tide me over as I learn piano technique from "less interesting" songs. The song I dreamt is called "Reminiscence - Feelings Not Erased" from Chrono Cross (sequel to Chrono Trigger) - a series focusing on time travel and changing the past. Released in 2000, the game certainly brings back pleasant and harsh memories. In the game, the song was played at a beach as two characters stare out over the water uncertain of their future together (oh, and gathering stupid shells for the girlfriend, haha).
Then the suggestion of picking a song and learning it was reiterated to me this past weekend when some graduates from out-of-town visited, which was awesome by the way. And they too reminisced on old times studying in the library and hanging out.
So, yeah, I guess I'll learn this one. It's been tough getting into the material I'm learning but music has been good to me. 
FORA: Have Profits Corrupted US Healthcare?
"The entire medical system is corrupt. Start at the head of the NIH to the deans of the medical schools, to the heads of departments - they're all out there cause their department does better as the drug companies kick in $100-200 million."
"Old people don't need to take a pill, they need to take a walk."
"Medical illiteracy kills more people than cancer or heart [disease]."
---
(TL;DR version: I completely agree with Dr. Walter Bortz of the Stanford University School of Medicine and have similar views about Big Pharma overstepping its bounds.)
I agree completely with this guy. Big Pharma has swinging far too much influence on all levels of government and healthcare to suit their interests and the interests of shareholders than they should. Though this is in the US, expenditures in prescription drugs in Canada have tripled in their share of the GDP and continues to grow. That means less money for education and the environment, which also ties into health.
No amount of healthcare can help someone who cannot access higher education needed to get a decent job and provide the healthy food and clean shelter for his or her family - or someone who made the ill-informed decision to not eat everyday cause their fad diet said so. No amount of healthcare will protect you from the suffocating smog and chemicals in the air that absorb into your skin, the extreme weather and its temperatures, or the waste that gets into the water. It's a diminishing return on investment when it comes to healthcare; you can only put so much before it starts taking away from other important sectors due to losses from corruption and waste.
One of the comments raises an interesting point:
"You are completely ignorant to the sad economics of our times if? you think that big pharma and all the insurance companies and lobbyist groups aren't contributing to and affecting the medical illiteracy of the US population. Through relentless TV advertising alone they have completely bastardized the doctor-patient role for society. They don't want doctors to consult with you about your health in relation to Condition X, they'd rather design a pill then have you go to the doctor and ask for it."
Many docs may be annoyed when every patient brings in a laundry list of "stupid questions" for himself and his friend that he brought along without an appointment. And when the patient skips all consulting and just asks for x drug because that commercial on TV said, "Ask your doctor!" But with the way things are now, they are going to see a lot more of it. When we set aside more money for people to attain higher education and medical literacy or train more doctors to educate the population rather than dumping it into a black hole of inefficiencies (part of which are the greedy drug companies) within the system, there will be a lot less of this non-sense and revolving door treatment in the office.
I realize now that back then, when those suits come in and throw around gift cards and tickets to concerts where the money comes from. In an oversimplification, it's self-bribery. I have had my qualms with drug companies for many years now and I'm glad many people higher up in influence are speaking out. If I end up working for one, well, I'll just feel like how Marshall felt when he worked for Goliath National Bank on How I Met Your Mother: terrible about myself for selling out.
For me personally, I'm all for prevention just like Dr. Bortz up there. Get physically active now and I won't have to deal with drug regimens consisting of 10+ pills a day or being unable to climb stairs and having to burden a caregiver/family member.
"If [people] knew how to take care of themselves - it's not rocket science - we can live to be 100 if we but honor our genetic endowment."
1TB 2.5″ HDD – So Much Stuff Right in Your Pocket
I didn't know these existed till today. I'm a little slow on this part I think. But wow, 1TB in a USB-powered (no bulky AC adapter) enclosure. These were out in July 2009.
That means I could possibly have 2TB within my future notebook - yes, I am buying a new one very soon. I cannot stand my Asus Z70Va from 2005 anymore. I'll write about the new laptop once it is formally announced at CES 2010.
With this new laptop, I hope I can finally start working on two projects I have in my mind. Believe me, trying to video edit on my current laptop has been trying and I just don't have the patience any more. Hope I can get some things done for my Youtube channel sometime later this year. Haha.
Globe and Mail: Pursuing a Dream After Corporate Life
Stories like these inspire me. From the Globe and Mail:
The social clock does not exist for a guy like me in this day and age. Maybe it does for the women biologically (and even hearing that statement from someone, for me, borders on sexism). But the clock does not exist in my mind for me and I must be resilient yet understanding of those who find relief in projecting their insecurities unto me, hoping I fail as well.
If he can do it at 51 (despite the controversy surrounding the subsequent use of taxpayers' dollars and taking up a spot of a younger applicant - oh wait, that would be ageism), then I must make sure everything I do furthers myself along the path to what I feel in my heart. I don't want to follow another path regretting it all or feeling I settled and look back feeling like this when I'm 50. He's lucky to even start again at 50. I may not.