Verbal Fluidity

***Disclaimer*** As you all know, I can be controversial. Today is no different. I am tackling a very sensitive issue, that of Racism. If you are easily offended, don’t read on. ***End Disclaimer*** rac•ism   [rey-siz-uhm] –noun 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others. 2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. 3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Recently the Halifax Regional Municipality created a detour while construction was being done on the Ernst Mill Bridge in the Lake Major Road area of Dartmouth. Engineers deemed that it was not feasible to partially close the bridge, so they closed the entire bridge, and created a detour. The detour required residents from North Preston to travel an additional 7.6 km and 10

Too Thin to Fly. This is what Southwest airlines more or less said to a Sacramento woman. This is the same airline that recently told View Askew producer Kevin Smith that he has too fat to fly. The woman was told she had to leave because a 14 yr old passenger needed 2 seats. She was on standby, and Southwest says their policy is to ask for “volunteers”. It seems are lady was “voluntold” here. When she refused, she was reportedly berated by the flight crew. Is this airline insane? I can appreciate the fact that they may be trying to not have another incident similar to Smith’s, but the obese kid only bought one ticket. So the answer to avoiding another scandal with the overweight community is to be mean and nasty to the skinny? Am I the only one that thinks this is utterly and completely STUPID! I have a suggestion for Southwest, it seems so simple, I’m not surprised they didn’t think it. Let’s give people the seats they pay for! If they can’t fit, then that is their problem. Sou

The first day of school is fast approaching. Kids are wrapping up summer, and adults are eagerly looking forward to some much earned peace and quiet. While I am in semi-agreement with these other parents, I have my own worries about the first day of school. Mostly that my son Julian is starting primary, and he is likely at a grade 2 level as far as his education. Let me go back a bit, so you understand what I’m saying. It was very apparent to us that Julian was smart from the beginning. We really began to see this develop when he was 7 months old and took a great interest in books. 2 years ago, we decided when Julian was 3, to begin his studies early. Like every parent, we heard news stories about how young kids are not up to par and that our education system seemed to be failing them. Personally I never attested that to be the fault of the paid educators, but rather the parents. We decided that we didn’t want to be part of the problem, but part of the solution. Looking back, I wo

***DISCLAIMER*** Before I get started on this, I want to curb a few of you right off. This post is not about what I would do, or “if it was my daughter”. This is about facts and about how things get so f’ing twisted we can’t see straight. If you are going to reply, and say “If it was Adora……” don’t waste your time. I am commenting on the situation, not the morality. ***END DISCLAIMER**** Derrick Joseph Redden is an idiot. Hands down, an Idiot. A sexual relationship with a 16, now 17 year old girl…. Ludicrous. But the question is, is he a criminal? My response to this……. Empthatically, NO. We discussed this after the last teacher scandal. I fail to understand what these so called judges find illegal. If being a complete and utter moron is a crime (and maybe it should be) then hell yeah, he’s guilty. But it is not a crime. The judge was quoted as saying It’s clear that there lurked in that teacher an evil which was an evil that led this man to throw away his career, the res

Common Sense. It seems like such an easy term. A term that means that most people would see the sense or nonsense in something and act correctly or accordingly. Problem is, it is not so common. A lot of times it seems people take the stupid road. And it is fret with danger. Meet Lauren Rosenberg. Lauren is a resident of the fine state of Utah. Lauren recently wanted walking directions for a trip to Park City, still in Utah. She decided smartly to consult Google for directions. This might have been the only smart thing she did that day. Google does provide walking directions, but it is in the beta stages. That however in my mind is irrelevant. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Anyway, Lauren decided to use this Google service to get directions to Park City. Part of the directions took her to a part of Utah State Route 224, which apparently has the nickname Deer Valley Drive. Again the name is unimportant. This state route is a highway, and can of course, as highways are, be busy.

Subway may be the place where fresh is the taste, and they may allow you to eat fresh, but don’t even think of being a good Samaritan. That will get you fired. Heidi Heise of Dartmouth is one of these good Samaritans. The apartment she lives in almost burns down, people she knows and lives within the building are homeless. She takes them in, helps them, even offers up her free meal at her Subway job to help. And her boss at Subway, with little to know question of what happened felt the need to fire her. What kind of boss is that first of all, that doesn’t even ask what the issue was? Is the boss a complete idiot to not know that her building was engulfed in flames a week ago, and know people are homeless? But maybe I’m jumping the gun a little. Maybe this is Subway common practice, and the Manager is just a corporate puppet. The thought of this is rather sickening really. Even more sickening, is that Subway has not made any reply to this issue. Are they standing behind the asini

So I recently read  Here  About a 3 yr old smoker in China. Chinese toddler Ya Wen . Apparently she started the habit after being injured in a car accident. The parents say that the kids was secretly smoking, and billing cigarettes on a tab at their local store. Ok, let’s back the truck up. Secretly smoking ? Getting smokes on credit at the store? Maybe I’m not up to date on China’s practices, but when is it acceptable to give smokes to kids at a store? Also, how is she secretly smoking? In my experience, most 3 yr olds cannot work a lighter. Does she stick her cancer stick in the toaster for a quick puff? On the stove burner perhaps? And how does she know what to do? It says she disposes of them in the toilet. Why not the garbage like every other kid her age? Apparently this kid also drinks beer. What??? Most kids can barely open the lid on their sippy cup at her age, and she cracking the top on a cold one? Then there is 2 year old  Ardi Rizal   This kid was smoking 40 cigs a day. 4

Survivor Heroes Vs Villains is arguably the best season ever. So why is it that the worst player won? It is no secret that I am entrenched in the Russell camp. However I can still look at the whole thing objectively, more or less. It is astounding to me that Russell can be voted the best player in the game two seasons in a row, and not garner any votes at all. The truth is, he is the best player ever to play the game, and the other players are angry that they got played. It happens every season. The Survivor credo is to Outwit, Outlast, Outplay. Most players are ok with being outplayed or outlasted. Very few liked being outwitted. No one wants to admit that someone else is smarter than t hem. Take Rupert for example. He talks a good game, makes you think he is a “Hero”, but admits to lying and cheating to get the game done. There is also Candace. She tells Russell, “ You told lies you didn’t need to tell”. Another so called Hero talking about doing things Unhero like. A lie is a lie

Alright, it’s time for me to do what I do best. Be controversial and brutally honest. I have to talk about this teacher “luring” the student on Facebook. I use the term loosely in regards to him, but I will admit some luring had been done, but they charged the wrong person. It has been claimed and somewhat foolishly decided that said Mr. Smith lured this 16 year old girl on Facebook. So let’s look at the fact. The Herald states: “The student visited Smith at the junior high shortly after that to get him to autograph a copy of a book he had written. During that visit, the girl "poured out her life’s troubles and sought some sort of solace from her former teacher because she was depressed and upset. At the conclusion of that meeting, he gave her a hug, which she says felt weird”. It felt weird? She pours her heart out to a former teacher about her life, looks for help from a FORMER teacher, and the hug felt “Weird”? If you have that kind of connection, that you go to a forme

I don’t usually say this, so you might want to remember it. I was wrong. What was I wrong about? Well I didn’t give a certain musical star her due. Stacy Ann Ferguson, know to the masses as Fergie. “The Dutchess” brought the Black Eyed Peas to the forefront when she signed on to front their third album, Elephunk. I said I didn’t give her the recognition she deserved, because aside from being esthetically pleasing, to this point her pop performances didn’t wow me. Being a rocker at heart, I care little for pop music. Her duet with hip hop star Nellie piqued my interest, but only slightly. Enter Slash. The guitar virtuoso from Guns n Roses and a star in his own right. His new Album, entitled “Slash”, is a compilation of many singers/songwriters with Slash doing what he does best. Bending and pulling strings and making music like only he can. Fergie is featured twice on the disc, firstly in a track called "Beautiful Dangerous”, and then as a duet with Cyprus Hill on a remake of

It has been said, that these things only happen to me. My friend Nathan said this. It is amazing sometimes how right he is. I want to share a recent visit to Subway with you, and extol the events that happened after. This past Wednesday, I visited the Subway on St, Margaret’s Bay Rd. I frequent this location often, as it is close to work. On this particular day, I ordered a 6inch meatball sub. The girl cut the bun, but was unsuccessful in getting it cut properly. She ends up tearing the corner, then heaping the meatballs haphazardly on the 4.5 inches of good bun remaining. She then put the veggies on sparingly, (I only ask for 3 veggies, they could be a bit more generous) and I paid and went to eat it. I unrolled the paper, and I had to peel a piece of cheese from it. Apparently the cheese didn’t like the look of the sub either. Anyway, as I was eating, I heard a number of swear words emanating from the back area. The F-Bomb was passed around, and a bit of laughter. All well and goo

Two years ago, an 18 wheeler and I went toe to toe. The 18 Wheeler won. Let me take you back to the day it happened. March 2008. While travelling on Joe Howe Dr heading to work, I notice that there is an accident up ahead. The traffic is stopped, and so I signal and start to move out into the outside lane, as to avoid the accident. I suppose at this point, that the driver of the truck, feeling big and good about himself, his truck being that indestructible force he wishes he were, took particular offence to my trying to pull in front of him, and decided to prove he was the “Bigger” man by tearing the front bumper off my car. After a short shouting match, which included a few expletives, the company of the truck sent out an insurance adjuster to review the damage. All Fine and good right? Wrong. It would seem that a “Good Samaritan” Cab driver witnessed the accident, and felt the overwhelming need to clear his conscience and come back and pour his heart out to the officer on the sce

Babies On Board My wife Jocelyn and I, like many other families have small children. Anyone who has small children know they can be a handful. Taking these kids to the mall or Department store adds a whole new level of insanity. These areas of shopping pleasure do try to make it easier however. They have graciously provided a small number of spaces near the front of the stores, designated specifically for parents with small children. What a wonderful thing for them to do, in theory. I recently had the distinct pleasure to visit Wal-Mart recently, And I’d like to share my experience. First off, I want to say I in no way am attacking Wal-Mart, and I want to state for the record, that I applaud them in their fruitless attempt to help parents. That being said, let’s continue. So Julian, Adora and I drop Jocelyn off to work, and decided we need a few things at Wal-Mart. It is a decent Sunday afternoon, so we head over. After some jovial singing on the way, we pull into the p