Is This REALLY a Law?

Laws, they protect us and the people around us and help our society run smoothly.

So obviously they are important to respect and they make sense if we are still using them...
...right?

Not Really.  If you look up some of the laws we have within Canada... you'd wonder if perhaps the Government was a tad...drunk when they wrote them.

A couple interesting ones where I can tell aren't even followed are:

" Comic books which depict any illegal acts are banned"

In a city in Quebec it is "Illegal for a teen to walk down mainstreet with their shoe untied"

These aren't really follows. Of course there a some banned comic books but...I have seen MANY comic books showing illegal acts that are availible in stores.   Shoes untied? REALLY?   I can highly doubt that's really followed.  That's a little outrageous.

A few that I think are a tad outdated are:

In Alberta " If you are released from prison, it is required that you are givena handgun with bullets and a horse so you can ride out of town."     and " Businesses must provide rails to tie up horses" .

In Toronto "you may not drag a dead horse down Younge St. on Sunday".

I'm pretty sure horses aren't used often as a mode of transportation and I pretty sure they arent going to give a just-released convict a GUN and WHO is going to be dragging a horse down Younge Street? It is to busy now with cars to even walk across Younge Street.  

Some other just interesting ones were:

"Citizens may not publicly remove bandages"
"The colour of house and garage door is regulated by city bylaws ( a purple door gets you a fine)"
In B.C its " illegal to kill a Sasquatch".


Some of these laws are extremly outdated and some are just outrageous because some of them are as "illegal as J-walking" since I've never seen or heard of them being regualted or anyone being arrested or fined for breaking one. Perhaps the governments makes these laws just for kicks to have some fun or maybe they were being serious but it makes me wonder what type of people run our country and whether oe not they pay attention to the laws that were passed years ago.  

Just a Sexual Object

It's been in the media for a long while. It started off that they wanted to but now it seems a requirment.


The Sexualization of Women.


It's a little understandable. Sex sells. We all get it.


BUT, then there is taking it TO far.  There are now music videos and songs out there that are completly unessassary! Talking about women as if they are only sexual objects that are to be controlled and want sex even tough they say no. Just get them drunk and they will put out.  It's DEGRADING.


I would consider myself proud to be female but when I hear songs like these I feel embarrased!  Do people honstly beleive this is how it works? No. There are women who have morals.


The male singers who usually write these songs are disgusting.  Do they have no RESPECT for women?
Sure there are songs done by women that are pretty bad as well but the majority of big songs that deal with this are sung by males.


Example:  Sex by Chris Brown.


Probably one of the most pornographic songs I've heard. The entire song is about the process of him 'gettin down' down with a girl and making her scream his name.  Thanks, good to know you think your good in bed.

'Girl you're really in for a treat now, but don't fall in love cuz,
We just havin' sex,
I'm gonna get you wet,
We not makin' love tonight.
Hickies all over your neck,
Kissin' all over your body, babe,
Girl you gon' get it tonight.'
Basically he is telling the girl to not fall for him because he isn't going to be there in the morning.  This isn't makin' love becuase we have feelings, it's sex, a one night stand becuase I think your smokin'.

At this part, it's not overly bad. There are many songs about one night stands out there.

'Girl you can thank me in the morning.
When you wake up feeling hella good.
Feeling like you want me.
I didn't realize how much I made you scream, yeah. '

This is taking it a little far. Very concieted.  Making it seem like she was the only one that wanted it and he just went along with it because she was 'all up on him' making the girl seem like a needy, sexual women who wants to use him for sex.

'It's gon' be the best,
Best you ever had,
I can promise that, baby,
I lay you on your back,
Then between your legs,
I can make 'em spread, baby. '

Taking his ego to far now. He only ever talks about how good he can get a women to feel and how he can make you want it so bad but you never hear him mention how he is feeling. Why'd he go to have sex in the first place?  Just for fun?

The rest of the song is him describing what he is going to do to her and how much she wants it...

Another song that is degrading to women is Blame it on the Alchol by Jamie Foxx ft. T-Pain.
The ENTIRE song is about how a he hits on a girl, she says she doesn't want it so he waits till she gets drunk enough and then he goes and has sex with her while she doesn't really know what she is doing.

A little degrading?  She said she DIDN'T want it.  So I'm just going to get her a little drunk and she'll be all up on me. WOW.  That's sad.



As a women I am insulted by a lot of these songs and I know many other women are as well.
Then these situations are reflected into everyday life when women are approached as sexual objects.

 "You know you want it".

The sad thing is, it's getting WORSE.

What's going to happen then?

Broken Free

It is time for me to depart this world and return home. You have shown me great things about you, both good and bad, but for the bad I see hope. You are learning how to break free from the stereotypes and the messages you face every day. Within this class, we were not taught about media, we were taught to think about media. We were shown what to look for in what the companies tell us and how not to be fooled by their tactics. We need to take these skills and use them to be smarter than most others. We are able to think about what we see. We now have the responsibility to make informed decisions and not follow the herd. I only hope that when I leave, through the same doors as you, that we all remain independent thinkers. Be smarter than those who think you are weak and gullible. Coming to this word was quite an experience and I have learned much. I am sure to take home with me, the stories and memories of my time here.














For the final time,
May the will of Corrilon be in you favor,


The Blade of Corrilon

Who are you to tell someone how to parent their child?

Recently a news story about a canadian couple raising a child to be gender neutral, exploded all over the net.
Here's the original article below;
http://parentingsguide.com/2011/05/canadian-couple-wont-reveal-childs-gender-the-mommy-files/

The article talks about how the family lets the children choose what toys they want to play with, what they want to wear, if they want to be home schooled or go to a public school. So why are they under such fire?

Our culture and media is obsessed with gender. It's how we are placed in a demographic by the media, it's used to defined our actions as 'manly' or 'girly'. It's such a part of our society today, that anything that crosses over the line into the opposite territory there seems to be a media fire there to voice their opinion.

But why is that grey area between boy and girl such a big deal?

Media doesn't always seem to accurately portray transgendered, or gender neutral individuals in a very positive way.

It's not like someone who is gender neutral or transgendered has any effect on your life whatsoever, them being who they are or want to be doesn't hurt you in any way. Everyone should be intitled to live their life the way that makes them happy, and if you don't like or agree with someone else's lifesytle, then look away.

So why, as a society do we feel the need to be entitled on how to tell someone how to parent their child?
I interpreted the story as simply a human interest piece, stating the story, letting it raise some questions and to really get people thinking about how their parenting style is different to this on, and how they might be open minded to accepting this way of parenting a child.

Think of the way your parents raised you and the colours as well as the types of toys they gave you. Where they associated with your gender?
The pressures of gender seperation influence parenting styles, and helps shape how the next generation view gender.

I personall support these parents in how they are raising their child, becasue ultimately it is their business how they raise their child and nobody else's.

If your interested in viewing some more opinions, check out this disscusion lead by Dr.Drew sharing their thoughts on this specific article.
http://fitperez.com/2011-05-25-gender-free-child-discussion?from=PHheadline

The New Cool

May I ask why your people care so much about personal image, about what is "cool"? Every day, the meaning of cool changes. The names of the most popular musicians change. New fashion trends develop and become popular, while others are banished to the back of the closet. What does it mean to be "cool" and who decides it? And if something is "cool", does it make it more important than everything else?

I have seen on my journeys a type of people that are viewed with more importance then most others; they are more popular then the rest. They dawn the most expensive garbs, they possess the newest technology and are the most social among you. They can be seen where ever an area of social gathering exits. Your places of learning, the local indoor market; as well as the television, on billboards and all over the Internet. You crown them as the leaders of society and strive to be like them. You do as they say, buy what they tell you, all in hope of becoming like them. But here is where I wonder, do you need to be like them?

You empower those that think they are better then you; you allow them to lead and abuse you. What is the definition of "cool" anyways? I always thought it meant that something was frigid to the touch. You need not be the the slaves of the cool tyrant. Be an individual do, what you want to because what ever you do is the coolest thing around.

Now It's Set

This is just a quick update considering I only finished my last blog a day ago.

The NBA finals is officially set to be the Dallas Mavericks of the Western Conference to face off against the Miami Heat of the Eastern conference.

This means that each team is the champion of their own respective conference... but who is going to be the team to be the league champion?

If memory serves right, then it will be the Miami Heat to win the title, and it is a tough argument for sure. Wade, Lebron, Bosh and the healthy Udonis Haslem is a strong line, but the Mavericks won't go down without a fight.

The Mavericks lost to the Heat a few years ago in the NBA finals, were Dywane Wade led his team to the title. He since then has recruited some more talent, but so has Dallas.

You should already know my stand on Dirk and the Mavs, and I still hope that they win, not only because I favor them, but because Dirk doesn't have a championship ring. He won the NBA MVP in 2007, but has not gotten to be named on a championship team.

Dirk has been phenominal, and I can't wait to see how this series turns out.

With all the talent on these two teams, I wouldn't be surprised if it went to all 7 games to decide the winner.

The Fashion Industry Wears the Pants (and designs them too)

It's hard to believe apart from designing clothes, shoes, and accessories; the fashion industry can also manipulate and influence the public as well. The fashion industry creates a huge impact in our society, sometimes without us even realizing it. People are fascinated with keeping up with the latest trends and must-have items. Even if it's an ugly fur miniskirt or mustard yellow liquid leggings, fashionistas are bound to conform, no matter how ridiculous the garment may look. But then again, fashion is art, so it may appeal to some and not to others. If the designs weren't associated with fashion houses like Gucci, Prada, or Louis Vuitton, people would view them differently and with a more open mind. The public is also inspired by notable designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander Wang, and Marc Jacobs. Fashion designers can be seen as iconic to many people interested in pursuing a career in the fashion industry, or who are simply just interested in fashion. Similar to actors or musicians, it's pretty amazing when a designer starts off at design school and later on becomes a style influence for the world.

Personally, I enjoy the designs from Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and Louis Vuitton. Even though these brands are contrasting, in terms of style, they all still appeal to me. Marc Jacobs' designs emit a fun, bold, and quirky essence, while Alexander Wang's work has an effortlessly cool and edgy feel to it.

It's a diverse place out there in the world of fashion and we can quite easily be swept away by it.

THE BOOK OF AWESOME

Sometimes we just need to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Come on, let's just chill for a minute and forget about essays, assignments, and all the other things that worry us. And let's just pick up The Book of Awesome...

This book is truly, well, awesome. The idea to write a novel entirely comprised of a collection of the little pleasures in life is so simple, yet so genius. The author, Neil Pasricha, has successfully managed to put a smile on the faces of all his readers. Say you failed your math test, fallen out of a relationship, got into a fight with your parents, or are just having a bad day; The Book of Awesome can make you forget it all. Even after reading one entry, you automatically feel a sense of relief and start to feel the smile spreading across your face. I love Pasricha's down to earth and comedic sense of humor reflected in his writing. Sometimes we take too many things for granted and we don't notice all the awesome things in life-until someone points them out. So I thank you, Mr. Pasricha for making our lives that much more awesome.

And now for some of my personal favourites:

When you're watching one of your favourite movies and you realize you don't remember how it ends

You get to relive the excitement, the drama, the suspense, the action...

The smell of the coffee aisle in the grocery store

After the fishy smell of the seafood section, you suddenly inhale the fabulous

smell of coffee beans. Mixed in with hazelnut and hints of vanilla, you pause to enjoy that heavenly scent.

The smell and sound of a campfire

The relaxing crackling sound and smokey fumes drifting around the air as

you sit in a circle with your friends and family...

Remembering what movie that guy is from

The moment in a movie when it dawns on me that I know that actor or actress, but sadly can't figure out who it is yet, bothers me for the whole movie. I'm not even kidding; it's like an annoying person constantly poking you in the back. But then the missing puzzle piece kicks in your brain and you figure it out-YES!

Stomping dry crunchy leaves on a sidewalk

CRUNCH TIME.

Correctly guessing if the door is push or pull

You just saved yourself from 2 seconds of humiliation there, partner. Congrats!

The moment after you wake up from a nightmare and realize it was all just a dream

You wake up with a jolt and feel your heart pumping like mad and feel the sweat glistening on your forehead...and then look at your alarm clock. "It was just a dream, it was just a dream..." and peacefully slip back under the covers.

Seeing a liscense plate from home when you're somewhere really far away

"Look! LOOK! They're from CANADA! NO WAY NO WAY..."

(Annoyed sleeping guy in the passenger seat: "And I'm supposed to care, why?")

The moment on vacation when you forget what day of the week it is

You totally erase your work-filled schedule from your mind and lose your sense of reality. Sit back, close your eyes, hear the sound of the ocean, and sip your ice-cold drink. It doesn't get any better than this.

The universal fry-sharing policy

Just make sure you don't take the one perfectly sized fry sticking out of the box; that one's off limits buddy.

Typing in your username and password at the speed of light

Suddenly you're this temporary computer whiz-SKILLS.

The moment on a roller-coaster when you get to the big hill and before you go down it

Just so you guys know, I probably won't be the best person to sit next to on a roller-coaster; just ask my friends. Well, unless you want to be deaf in one ear for the rest of the day.

Taking a spin on a shopping cart

Suddenly you're a little kid again with both your hands on the bar, foot underneath, and back leg hanging out like a figure skater.

The sound of water lapping against a dock

Close your eyes and take it in.

Passing under a bridge on the highway when it's pouring rain

Enjoy those 2 seconds of blissful silence.

AWESOME!

Don't Follow Them

Role Models.

They can be important. They motivate you to do better and to strive for your best.

The problem is, a lot of role models we see everyday are the BAD ones.

For example, celebrity role models.
A few not so great female celebrities:
Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Ke$ha, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Momsen and so on.

These are people we see everyday and despite us attempting to ignore them they still weasel their way in. Not only to us but for younger girls who don't really realize the negativity of it all.

Britney Spears was at one point a good girl.  But as many have seen in the media in the past years she has spun completely out of control. No panties in public, drug issues, her 55 hour marriage with Jason Allan to her overly sexual image and to think she is a mother.

Same goes for Lindsay Lohan. She was respectable at one time but she threw her career away for parties, extreme drug issues and even has spent time in jail. Even her father is worried about her influence over her younger 15 year old sister.

Miley Cyrus at one point was a HUGE role model for girls. Her Hannah Montana faze was perfect.  Then she used the excuse 'I'm growing up' and begins to party, has been seen with drugs begins to become overly sexual in her music videos and even pole dances at kids choice awards.

Taylor Momsen was famous for her roles in The Grinch and in Gossip Girl. She is just a year older then most of us being at the age of 17(1993). She has been quoted when saying extremely sexual sayings and promoting female masturbation several times in interviews. What she wears is just WAY to sexual for someone her age let alone to even be worn in public.







Many do turn a blind eye to it and say "oh they can do what they want. It doesnt affect anyone."
But it does. Every day.  When someone decides they want to be like them, then they follow the trend.

Celebrities in general are VERY influencial over people of all ages which is why we need a cleaner image for people to be influenced by and to take on as role models.

NBA Finals?

So, I was right and wrong about a few things this post season.

Derrick Rose is the league's MVP for the 2010-11 season, and the youngest in history.

The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat (seeds 1 and 2) are in the Eastern Conference finals.

But, neither the Los Angeles Lakers, or the San Antonio Spurs are in the Western Conference finals. Both the number 1 and 2 seeds are out, and the 3rd and 4th seeds are in the race for west supremacy.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks are battling it out right now, and I did not see this coming.

The Thunder weren't thought as a playoff team because of how young the team is, but they have rose over the adversity and have said "why not be a playoff contender?".

Mavs fans are overjoyed this year, finally having a solid playoff run, and the outstanding play of Drik Nowitzki is definently making it hard to ignore the large possibility that this spuad of players can win it all this year.

After 4 games already played in the west finals, OKC is down 3 games to 1, and would need to win 3 games in a row to knock off the Mavericks. The defensive and offensive intensity that this team has is too great for OKC to handle in my opinion, because the depth they have on the entire roster is amazing. Oklahoma has 2 prominent offensive options in Russel Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Sixth man James Harden as well, but still not enough.

Kevin Durant has led the league in scoring the past 2 seasons... and he's only 22.

But OKC being young and actually one of my favorite teams, I think the Mavericks have offensive and defensive firepower on the starting line and the bench that beats out the thunder.

Going to the East, the Bulls and Heat series is moving along with the Heat at a 3 games to 1 advantage.

For a Bulls fan like myself, it pains me to say this, but the Miami Heat are going to beat Chicago in the East. This is due to the fact the series is best of 7, and Chicago would need to win the next 3 games to beat out the heat, while Miami needs 1 win. I don't think any team in history has come back from a 3-1 deficit.

When a team has the talents of Dwyane Wade and Lebron James on the same team, with a complimentary third option in former Toronto Raptor Chris Bosh, the offense alone is too much for the Bulls to handle. Three all-stars on one team is too much for one on the Bulls, even if that all-star is the MVP.

So with Oklahoma and Chicago down 3-1 in each series, it looks as if the NBA finals is going to between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat.

Though I like the Miami Heat (not as much as the Bulls), I am on the side for the Dallas Mavericks to win the title. It's a personal opinion of mine, and I believe that it is possible. Regardless of who wins that series, it is going to be an exciting one to watch.

The Heat have their own spark in Wade and Lebron, but the Mavericks Drik Nowitzki has an advantage in this series. Dirk plays at the power forward position, and the two power forwards that the Heat use most is their Starter in Chris Bosh and the back-up Udonis Haslem.

Drik has thrived in the post-season this year. His offense is clicking at such a high level, nobody is really able to guard him or block his shots. In the OKC series right now, he's got great defensive players (Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison) guarding him every game, and he is still making his shots. And when he gets double teamed, Dirk has no problem passing the ball to the open man.

Chris Bosh is all offense, and most of the time, he only contributes 18 points per game. He'll get a block here and there. And he gets rebounds... on the defensive end. Not very impressive, plus lebron james, who plays small forward, tends to get the same amount or more rebounds than Bosh does in most games.

Bottom line, Bosh has a lack in defense that Dirk is going to take advantage of. Even if the Heat put Lebron on him, who occasionally plays the 4 spot, Dirk has height, length and shot form over him. Drik Nowitzki is about 7 feet tall, his arms are long, and a majority of the time when he shoots, he brings the ball very high up AND fades away.

And the Mavs bench is, again, much better than the Heats overall, and probably one of the best in the NBA. Jason Terry is their sixth man, and he'll make guards like James Jones and Mike Bibby looks foolish.

To cap it off, a nice series to come. I hope Dallas wins, but don't count out the Heat.

So the question is: Dallas or Miami?

Have You Ever Had A Dream?...

Have you ever had a dream? A dream to of doing something positive in our world, a dream that would bring truth to teenagers struggling to dispel the many myths created by today’s media. Myths of what it means to be popular, successful, beautiful, thin…

I had this dream. It started with the love of media and film production. But the dream was bigger than just being a producer or director. I wanted to make a statement, I wanted to help people understand the truth and send positive message. My target, same as the media: teens. At the time of my dream, I was working as a volunteer behind the scenes at Rogers TV Mississauga. It was apparent to me, with all the variety of shows offered there was not one specific to teenagers. Thus, my dream began...

Don’t you love the shows that require your participation for it to succeed? Like voting for the winner on “So You Think You Can Dance” or “Canadian Idol”. You feel a sense of importance, you are involved in that show since you’ve created the outcome and have been asked to express your opinion. I began to envision a television talk show where teens wouldn’t just influence someone else life, but their own as well. These shows would have experts that would discuss the facts of current teen issues and deconstruct the media’s false messages.

Fast forward to May 2011, where I am currently co-host and co-community producer of a new live show on Roger’s TV called “Teen Talk”.

The first four shows had discussions around teen relationships, use of alcohol and marijuana, worry and anxiety and healthy eating. With the help of the teen input on the internet and through live calls the experts discussed myth’s in todays media. Since the show is live, teen viewers call in with their own questions or experiences towards that weeks topic shaping the show. As well, the week prior to each show teens can chat, share experiences and ask questions (via Facebook) that will be brought up on air. Now’s your chance to get involved in my dream, or start your own - you run the show! Call in, ask questions, give in your personal stories, let your fellow teens know the truth and how you feel! All teens are also invited to contribute to the topic of future shows. The show gives you a chance to benefit yourself. While teenaged viewers negotiate different meanings for each topic, this show drives to undo what the media has done by letting their audience know the truth and undoing the harmful lies. Trends blaze through our society like raging fire, fulfilling everyone’s urge to fit in. Products are bought and actions are taken usually because of the rage or fad. We have the chance to drive this in a positive direction. Let the dreams begin!

A changed perspective

Since I began this media studies course, my perspective on how media impacts society has completely changed !! a simple trip to the mall fills my mind with thoughts of how all of our society just falls into these categories. there are the people who follow all the trends, there are the people who absolutely shut themselves out from what society tells them to do and then there are those people who kind of fall into both sides and that is just like me. I love keeping up with the latest trends, but no matter how "hot" or popular something is ... if i don't like it i wont wear it !! i find it so sad that some people compromise their own style in order to feel like they belong. i think people need to embrace their own style but truth be told it takes a while to find it. I used to be one of those people who always cared about what people thought. i could never afford the really expensive brands ... so whenever my friends got rid of an abercrombie and fitch sweater for examples .. i would jump at the chance to wear it and have it for myself. its absolutely pathetic how i felt soo much better about myself just by wearing a sweater that all of my friends had. but now that i look back on it everybody else probably felt the same ... or else they wouldn't be wearing the sweater to . now that I'm older Ive learned to embrace the things that i like.... and my clothes don't make me fit into a crowd ..... my clothes make me stand out. yes i wear things that other people like and i guess you could say that they are within all the trends, but i love taking things and making them my own. so i have developed my own style of not really caring what people think ...... i wear what i want to wear and how i want to wear it ..... i sure hope people can develop the same thing ... that way our society would be a much cooler place rather than having a bunch of fashion clones walking around our streets.

To Infinity and Beyond...

"You've got a friend in me, you've got a friend in me..." Toy Story 3 clearly had a friend at the 83rd Academy Awards. And that friend came in the form of a little gold statue. Without a doubt, Toy Story 3 outshone all the other nominees for the Best Animated Feature Film category. I mean; do you honestly think that a movie about a kid training a dragon could beat this classic Disney film series? Get real.

I think it's pretty amazing how the Toy Story movies managed to be so successful; from the very first film in 1995-all the way to the 2010 last movie in the installment. The really intriguing thing is how-how did it manage to stay at the top?

Well for one thing, the storyline definitely contributed a whole lot to the success of the series. When Toy Story came out in 1995; the concept of toys coming to life excited the general audience. This idea sparked an thought in our minds: what if toys really did come to life as soon as we weren't looking? I mean you never know... Just kidding. (Unless you actually believe that theory, then that's cool too). There wasn't a lot of movies at the time that played around with this idea, so the Toy Story creators reached a whole new level on the imagination scale.

The details in the animation also helped the film franchise gain all its fans. Toy Story was the first full computer-generated animated movie created! All the little details that the movies include really give it style. I've always liked how classic toys; such as the barn animal sound effects wheel, Etch A Sketch, play-doh and monkeys in a barrel; are shown in the flicks. It's pretty cool that the audience is able to spot board games such as Monopoly and Sorry in the movie; you have to admit it's pretty legit.

But the one thing that sets this Disney movie apart from the others is the characters. The characters just have so much depth to them; and that allows the audience to get more attached to the story. As the movies progressed, the audience was able to relate better to the characters. If we all didn't love Buzz Lightyear so much, we probably wouldn't care at the scene where he figures out that he's actually a toy. We would have been like "Ha, the loser can't fly. Big whoop. This movie sucks, when is it over..." Yeah, you guys get the picture. And of course all the characters add their own sense of humor to the story-they're honestly all quite hilarious. Whether it be Rex being silly or Ham making yet another sarcastic remark, it still gets me every time.

So if any of you claim to be too old for a Disney movie; just know that you're never too old for Toy Story. There's always something for everyone; and in our teenage years some of the pop culture references or jokes we didn't get when we were younger now start to make sense. To all the "big kids" out there, I encourage you to give these movies another chance. "...But the thing that makes Woody special, is he'll never give up on you...ever. He'll be there for you, no matter what."

The Businessman Says "Meeeeeth"

I've been noticing a lot of pointless activism lately. I don't mean to say that activism is a bad thing, but a lot if it's being done by people who don't seem too intelligent. Mainly I'm looking at people fighting the advertisement of drugs. Aside from subliminal messaging, I can safely say that I've never seen a commercial for The Friendly Stranger Cannabis Culture shop. They say drugs are advertised in movies, but I've never seen a movie that centers around drugs without the drugs destroying the protagonist. Chiko

A Scanner Darkly Cherry Bomb and Trainspotting, for example

Anyone who says they find positive messages about the use of drugs is finding them because they're looking for them. Like politicians that watch cartoons to prove that Goofy is gay. They say it's the media that gets kids hooked on drugs, but the case is that it's drugs that get kids hooked on drugs. People use drugs in order to escape from a world that they despise, not because their wiped consumer minds tell them to. They then consume not because they're told to, but because they need to. Have you ever gone to the 32nd floor of a corporate building to buy coke out of a briefcase via a man in a suit, smoking a cigar? Doubtful. Teenagers buy and use drugs recreationally with other teens. Corporatocracy doesn't tell kids to do drugs. Other kids tell kids to do drugs.

Top Teams, What do the Playoffs Hold?

So the NBA regular season is coming to an end, and the playoffs are right around the corner. The playoff picture itself is set, and the regular season standings arent about to change drastically with only about 1 game left for every team in the regular 82 game season.

The 2010-11 season has not dissappointed, if anything, it surprised everyone.

Teams made combacks, some fell, trades were made, good and bad, young teams rose, and pride was restored to some of the biggest franchises in NBA history.

Two of the biggest success stories for this year have to be the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls. Both teams have stepped up their game this year, and are the top teams in their conferences and subsequently, the top 2 teams in the NBA.

The Spurs were having the best start of the year this season, holding onto the best record in the entire NBA for virtually the season, and will most likely end it that way. To be fair, the Spurs have been a very consitent playoff team for the past decade, winning 4 championships during that time, but this season everyone saw a change.

Tim Duncan gets less touches, but the teams offense takes a step forward?

The Spurs have been known for their defence in the past, but now have incorporated probably the best offensive play the team has seen in a long time, while keeping the same old intenisty on the other end of the court. It will be nice to see if the trio of Parker, Duncan and Ginobili, can lead their team to another championship, and each of their own 5th championship ring.

Maybe they can also add some exciting plays so that people know who they are.

And now, the Chicago Bulls. I'm not even going to deny it, but I think that the biggest reason for their success this year has to be the improvement in play for 22 year old point guard Derrick Rose. The Bulls have made the playoffs for the past 3 years, since Rose was drafted to the NBA. But the Bulls were always sliding in their, never among the elite teams, let alone the top of the conference.

With Rose establishing a more than decent jumper and 3-point shot, his offense has become more versatile, and not just fantastic drives to the bucket.

Chicago has also been without their top 2 big men in Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for about a combined 45 games this season. The injuries looked to end the Bulls season early, but Rose took leadership of the team, and has led them to their first 60+ win season since the Jordan Era.

Derrick Rose is also the top candidate for regular season MVP this year. He is the only player in the NBA who is in the top 10 of scoring and assists (24 PPG and 8 APG).

If he wins it, he will also be the youngest player in NBA history to win the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.

Moving onto the playoff picture, here are the top 4 seeds in the Eastern and Western conference:

East: (1) Chicago Bulls, (2) Miami Heat, (3) Boston Celtics, (4) Orlando Magic

West: (1) San Antonio Spurs, (2) Los Angeles Lakers, (3) Dallas Mavericks, (4) Oklamhoma City Thunder

There is no doubt that one of these teams will be leaving the post season with a trophy and some rings. Personally, the Bulls are my favourite east team, and my favourite overall to win.

The problem is, I don't see them going all the way. I would love to see that happen, but nobody has seen how far the Bulls are capable of going in the post season. They haven't gotten past the 1st round of the playoffs in the 3 years with Rose, and though they have improved immensly over the past year, they have alot to prove.

With that said, the playoffs are a completely different game than the regular season.

This is proved as recently as last year. The Cleveland Cavaliers, with Lebron James, had the best record in the NBA, but were taken out of the playoffs quickly by the Boston Celtics. Lebrons gone to Miami now, and Boston has been struggling lately, but how well they will play in the post season is a different conversation I don't want to get into.

The Los Angeles Lakers went in as a good team last season, but had late season struggles. They had a losing record over their last few games, and did not have the best record in the Western Conference either.

But they have won the NBA Championship for 2 years straight.

Being optimistic, the Bulls are still my favourite pick for playoff success. I do see the Bulls possibly sneaking in, but I believe that the east championship will go to the Heat. They have overcome most of their chemistry problems, and their antagonistic foes the Boston Celtics are looking bad after loosing Kendrick Perkins in a trade to OKC.

The Orlando Magic, I don't see at all because they have Dwight Howard, and that's about it. The Magic are a roster of over payed players that are good, but aren't as good in my eyes as they are portrayed. Plenty of veterans that are fairly consistent, but out of their prime.

And with Dwight Howard having alot of foul issues, regular and technical, I could see Dwight getting in trouble, if not ejected, in the playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will see a championship one day, but it seems to far out of reach for such a young team with not enough experience.

The Mavericks always make it to the playoffs, but almost always get kicked out during the first round, and don't make too much noise if they get to the second. Their playoffs success is not endearing.

And the Boston Celtics have lost their intensity, and identity. Kendrick Perkins didn't get to play in the playoffs due to injury last year, but he is a very supportive teammate, and when he got traded before the deadline this year, the Celtics have lost their strength in the post, as well as their identity and fire as a team.

In the West I see the Spurs or Lakers getting the championship because they are proven title contenders that can finish and win it all. It comes down to how much they really want the championship this year.

My NBA finals predictions are:

Bulls vs. Spurs

or

Heat vs. Lakers

But again, the playoffs are a different game, that can be very surprising.

At this point, any team has a chance at glory.

Concerns With the Ever So Popular Twilight

I love vampire and supernatural books as much as the next person so I picked up the novel Twilight in grade seven at a book fair when the book was unheard of and newly released. I noticed a few odd concepts in the novel but at the age of 13 it doesn't register to a full degree.  By grade 9 the book was flowering with the popularity it was receiving and I read it again. I was disturbed by the new things I found that I now know isn't natural.

Edward Cullen. Main hot, sexy male character.

He is a stalker and a pedophile.

He watched Bella as she slept? He thirsted for her blood? He followed her home? 
There and then, the alarm bell started going, but Bella STILL fell in love with him! She's okay with the fact she watches her. She's okay with the fact that he thirsts for her blood and wants to EAT her.  Usually you would not be turned on or attracted to someone who takes their free time to watch you sleep or wants to eat you...you get a restraining order.

To top it,  he is over 100 years old. She is 17.  Can you say Pedophilia?
Think, if he did show his age?  He'd be ANCIENT.

Why is he in high school again? WHY would you want to repeat the thing most can't wait to get out of?
Possibly Edward has had hits to his manly pride as well. After all, he does Sparkle like a diamond in the sun.  What happened to the TRADITIONAL vampires? The ones who stayed inside all day? Who were afraid of crosses? Who hated garlic?
They were replaced with sparkling, human loving vampires like Edward.

Miss Bella Swan becomes SO RELIANT on Edward. Ditches her friends, ditches her friends and  lies to her father several times throughout the series.
Then he breaks up with her suddenly.
What does she do?
She sits, in a corner and mops. For MONTHS. In the SAME clothes.  She refuses to talk to anyone and shuts out the world.
WHAT?
GO GET SOME HELP.
She is a boy. We get it. You loved him but hunny, get over it.
Then he comes back and she goes on crawling back to him like a sick little puppy.

What does this teach the young girls of today who read these books?
Be reliant on your man.
WOW.
Independence? We fought for that! Why do you need a man? You can live just fine without one. Don't make me start quoting the Pussycat Dolls and their "I Don't Need A Man" song.

"I don't need a ring around my finger, to make me feel complete" -PCD
Yep, but Bella does. At the age of 18, she ditches University and her family and goes off to marry Edward. Smart move. Way to give up your entire life for a man.

Now after going though Biology in grade 9, I realize a HUGE problem.

BELLA GETS PREGNANT?

HOW?

That is biologically incorrect.

He has no blood and no semen therefore not only is it not possible for him to have intercourse with her, it is impossible to make her pregnant.
Also, WHY would you want the child of a vampire who will rip its way out of your body when its ready to come out?

Smart thinking...I guess they didn't think people learned biology. Or did they just wish for us to ignore the basic facts of reproduction?


Call me critical because I can't enjoy a basic vampire novel but I can only ignore so many details before it becomes unbearable to read without thinking WHAT THE...?

Good Old Time's

AIGHT, My first blog.... sooooo exciting.

What's better than Nintendo 64 as my first topic, or not. I got my first gaming console back in 2005-ish, a Nintendo 64 from my cousin. In my honest opinion the game's WERE amazing, i would find the picture of the game i was looking for on the game cartridge's (...Fail), then smack it into the console and play one of the best classics ever, Mario kart or Jame's Bond! YEEA... No. But like i said, the game WERE amazing... now they are gerb... GERRRB! Well that is just my opinion, when i hear people saying they still like the game im just like, uhhhh dissapointing, the game has a resolution of like 10 pixels, but what ever if you want to play it go for it...

Relationship between a guy and a girl

Have you ever been in a relationship? Or had a crush on someone? Or been in love? Well let me tell you from girl's perspective about what typical girl feel during the relationship.

Starting a relationship usually starts off as friends. Friends sometimes turn into a closer relationship such as, best friends. Best friends are not just a friend, but are friends that are like sisters or brothers. Sometimes friends know you more than you know yourself. Moreover, Best friends know more about your feelings, even before you tell them what's wrong. But, now the thing is, this best friend of yours turned into someone you're in love with. At first you don't know your own feelings, or know how to react around them. You constantly, want to impress this guy by wearing your favourite clothes, favourite jewellery and favourite shoes. Tiny impressions that were never taken into consideration such as, piece of a hair out of a place or even, how you walk is driving the girl insane. As the girl is thinking about tiny things that the guy will never notice, the guy whom confronts her saying he likes her. The girl feels like she has gotten everything. She starts to flirt around him and makes sure he is in love with her, just as the girl is in love with him. The guy on the other hand, thinks being "mysterious" and not texting back the girl will ATTRACT the girl more. Well WRONG. Every time, "mysterious" act, will motivate the girl to dig her own grave. She thinks about every possible solution about why he is being a jerk. Why he can't be like Romeo who dedicates all his life for a love one. As she compares Romeo and Juliet's scenario, she confronts her girlfriends and gossip. She vents on her friends, asking for advice. Some friends will say his not worth it or some say move on. Well what happens when you know that guy is not the greatest person, yet you know for a fact, you're in love with them. It is for a fact that, if you move on, there are millions of guys out there who can be so much better to you, yet you're in love with a total jerk.

Oh drat. So by this point the girl: is thinking about the guy and wants to talk to him. She is waiting for a text, even though the guy fully said he is busy. Then, from this stage, girls would exaggerate everything to one extend, and thinks about "Why is he putting THAT over me?", "Does he not like me?" Moreover, guys want to solve things and make decisions on the spot; on the other hand, girls likes to talk about it and want explanations.

Furthermore, as the situation appears as the couple couldn't handle the hardship anymore. Then, the girl mostly likely would confront the guy without any breakup intention to "talk". On the other hand, the guys usually think when girls say let's "talk" they refer to it as "breakup" or "serious talk". The guy however, will act cool and bring up the conversation about breakups. The girl's intention was obviously to just talk. Not Breakup.

With all the reasons, guys move on fast on to another girl. Flirting with girls, like her never had a girlfriend. Or even, on the stage of picking out his next girl. This is the difference between girl and a guy. Girl likes to talk about it, while the guy wants to solve everything according to that spot.

Behind the screen, you cannot judge people by how they talk. However, I wanted to share my point of view on how girls have more dedications and things to worry in the relationship than guys.

Monday Night TV date

On a Monday night, with little homework and nothing to do what is your first instinct? Most teenage girls will turn on the tube for eight o'clock, switch to Much Music and sit down for a two hour date with Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl. Both shows are filled with a world most of us could only dream of, but why? Why would we dream of a world filled of lies, betrayals, secrets, cheating and stealing?

Pretty Little Liars is built off of the concept of a small town, rich families and dark secrets. Secrets centered around the death of a girl who appeared to be as innocent as the average 7th grader, but as the story progresses all the personal information she knew about her so called best friends begins to unravel. Everything from student and teacher affairs, stealing your sister's boyfriends to questioning your gender identity. These scenarios on their own sound unbearably delicate to handle and would most likely make the lives of teens today unpleasant and stressful. PLL has become so captivating because of the way these deceptions are presented. Remember the small town and rich families mentioned above, families willing to keep secrets private to avoid humiliation and foreclosure, family members committing similar acts and parents that are unwilling to accept their children's true identity. The young ladies with these secrets are constantly decked out in the latest fashions,surrounded by expensive shops and cars. Not only this, but they also seem to luck out when you feel that the last few threads of the web of lies will come undone. Someone or multiple people that the girls only know as A seem to have control over their lives because some how they know the details to all of their secrets. The main thrill to watching the show is the race to see if you can guess who A is before they tell you. The show being wisely thought out, leads you in different directions to keep your interest.

A parallel to this is Gossip Girl which has the same general scheme, connected through family and friends, relationships and lies. GG has had more deceptive turns than you can count and many more in store for the future. GG also has a secret identity, an internet blogger unidentified to all, who updates Manhattan's elite young adults with each other's secrets. Again this show holds the ideological messages that are in PLL.

The similarities between the two television programs are endless, hidden identities, rich, beautiful, happy, glamorous people all trying to keep their status. The pair both shed light on the latest in peer pressure issues among teens, such as sexual orientation, drugs and alcohol giving both the "positive" or fun side and the negative down side to each issue. They also give the audience the opportunity to choose their own meaning. The best example of this is attempting to determine the identity of both A and Gossip Girl.

Even with all of these details both shows are still captivating, thus being able to keep rating high and keep viewers interested. Don't believe me? keep an open mind and tune in next Monday.

Taylor Vs. Talent

Look at this picture. Where do your eyes go first? Is it his glowing chocolate brown eyes, his perfectly placed 'messy' hair, that smooth, soft face or his chiseled, tan body? What more could you ask for in an actor?

His physical appearance is the reason for his casting as 'Jacob Black' in the overly popular movie 'Twilight'. Catherine Hardwicke, the "Twilight" director, chose Taylor Lautner for a reason. Since the target age group for the "Twilight" movie was 12 - 15 year old females, she used a young, attractive man to portray one of the main male characters and thus, reel in the viewers. This decision appeared to be a success based on the fact that the first "Twilight" movie in the series made over 7 million dollars in the first few nights of showing. Has our pop culture community seriously come down to this? Do we disregard lack of any talent what’s so ever for drop dead gorgeous looks? Unfortunately, even though Taylor Lautner may be attractive or a very kind person in real life, the reality is that he has weak acting skills. Like most of the popular actors and actresses of our time, he seems awkward on screen. Many new young actors and actresses appear stuck portraying a similar character, role after role. I hope that soon new actors will become famous because of their talent rather than their looks.

We are blinded by beauty. Lets try to see beyond that.