My Breakfast

Breakfast is so many people's favorite food.
It became an even more popular meal when scientists discovered that sugary breakfasts are even better to kick start your brain for the day.

Excited, I decided to indulge in a rare treat... MAC-DON-ALDS! Mcgriddle, hash browns and O.J. (Juice not Simpson) and now my head is alert while my stomach is... not.

Just don't eat mcdonalds and then go and read about pageant girls.
It'll hurt your stomach and your self esteemed.

I'm hot.
My boyfriend tells me so.

Mesmorizing

http://www.planetdan.net/pics/misc/tetka.html

Trying Hard Not to Be Political

Everyday I try to approach my blog with a fresh spirit. One that's not bogged down with all the ennerving details of the politics that surrounds my life here in the Big Smoke.

But, seriously folks, it's so hard to get on that especially when the government makes it so easy!

Enter the latest complaint: The Canadian Government back in the day establishes a number of services to assist and better the lives of all Canadians. From job training, to social services to helping underserved youth get a leg up, these programmes were necessary in defining the high standard of life we Canadians pride ourself on.

Now outsource for help, fund with grants and let them do the good work.

Cut the funding. And, render the services so precarious that they hang by a thread.

A few days ago, the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto convened a meeting of local activists last week to brainstorm. Jack Layton was there, Liberal MP Allan Tonks was there as was Maria Minna.

Guess who wasn't there... Go on, give it a go.

Minister of Human Resources Belinda Stronach, who represents the riding of Newmarket-Aurora. Canada's most dispised bird of fascination. She has no credibility now, so it's not like she's got anywhere to fall!

I really feel that assisting these programmes is so necessary, because, if the government does not assist them to operate then who will. Canadians aren't known for their inclination towards charitable giving. Trust me... I have to fight hand tooth and nail to get even a few dollars to assist underserved youth experience music education that's tied in with their existing curricula.

It apparently hurts so much to give that even the government can't bring itself to do it.

Way to make an example.

Fear: You have your Guns. We have our Moose.

While London grapples with the ascending fear amongst its citizens fueled equally by the recent appearance of suicide bombers and escalated with an ill planned "shoot to kill" law.
On days ago, 1 innocent South American man fled in terror, not from a proposed terrorist, but, by Bobbies, sworn to protect the innocent. Unfortunatly, the outcome was horrific. The man, chased into a subway, pinned down and then shot 5 times infront of the general public. This man's only link to the terrorists responsible for the attack on the London subway? He shared the same building as the suspects.

I read a fabulous quote today in the paper that sums this whole tragedy up:

"one cannot have liberty without life itself, and it is the primary duty of the state to preserve the lives of its citizens."

Perhaps London bobbies need to be reminded of this.

Meanwhile, here in Ontario, a local OPP officer was involved in a tragic car crash. No murderous suspects, no high speed car chase, there was nary of conflict, except for a stubborn moose and a high way.

Yes, Canadians have their problems just like the rest of the world. However, unlike the rest of the world, one of our problems involves moose.

Canadians drive in terror, fearing that may be the time that they must come face to face with a Moose on a Highway!

Stop laughing. It's scary.

Ministers I've Emailed

Bothered by the apathic complaints on the decisions of the government, I've taken to emailing ministers in order to have my voice heard.

Perhaps it isn't the most direct, but, at this early stage in my political life, I feel that it is the most respectful. It began with the success regarding the implementation of a discount for Autoshare members in Toronto who purchase Metropasses.

The second was to Ontario Finance Minister, Greg Sorbara. I have yet to receive a response as to why that whole rejection of the LCBO report. If you want to write to him you can do so here: gsorbara.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

The third was to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Geoff Regan, on the matter of trolling, the ineffectiveness of NAFO on controlling quotas. In fact, I read that Canada participates in destructive activity of trolling as well! Even though we have declared a number of Atlantic native bottom dwelling sea life as endangered!

So how hypocritical are we? You want to write to Geoff Regan, you can do so here: Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The responses are simply 1 out of 3. I'll let you know when I get a response from either federal or provincial, please, feel free to let me know if you decide to write to a minister.

Maybe it does nothing, but, at least I made a motion to attempt to be heard.

Panna Cotta VS Blanc Mange

Who would win?

BK&BH Part 3 - Where to buy on strike

Say the strike happens, where are you going to go and buy your alcohol?

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Go to Québec or another province.
2. Wine Home Delivery
3. Work with an independant agency. Each agency has a roster of producers including non LCBO products as well its regular LCBO and Vintages offerings. Many will now deliver to your doorstep however note that you have to buy a minimum of a case.
Log on to their website to sign on to their newsletters so you can be upto date with what they have in stock:
Rubaiyat Wine And Spirit Merchants
Rogers & Company
H.H.D. Imports
Wine Online.ca
4. Purchase directly from a local producer. Ontario has some of the finest wine's in the world! Maybe this is your chance to try them!
There is a world beyond the LCBO, hopefully this will give you some help.

Bedknobs & Boozehounds Part 2

Today I read another article concerning the pending strike from Ontario's Liquor Workers. The strike, scheduled for this coming Thursday will see all unionized staff of Ontario's LCBO's hit the picket line because they are dis satisfied with the suggestions in that $600,000 report the governmnet commissioned I previously brought up.

This report is the same one that moments after its release Finance Minister Greg Sorbara canned. In my mind, I got wound up because it is 200 MILLION DOLLARS OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE PROVINCE!

At first glance, you can see the worker's pain. On one hand they want the best for their future, their children's future and they know this report would HAVE to do some good. On the other hand, they fear job loss, loss of benefits, loss of wages and in short it would have to effect their current standards of living.

Oh wait... what's that I hear? Is that the cry of whining children unable to read the fine print? Shall I get you a pair of glasses? Is that any better Joe(sephine) Nameless LCBO employee? Why don't you share with the world your enlightenment.

The rejected offer included job security, no layoffs, no store closers and what's this? An 11 PERCENT WAGE INCREASE! DANG! That's more than 9.75% wage increase offered to OPSEU workers in a contract signed last month.

This strike is a joke, it makes light of the privilege of striking. Why strike when the offer was canned in the first place?

I just want to know who's lame ass suggestion it was to hit the picket lines?

Don't expect me to shed any tears for you for you intent on maintaining your $21.80/hr job stocking shelves full of liquor. You're turning down an opportunity to increase your standard of living, not only financially, but in terms of the expendible income Ontario would have to pump back into public service.

I'll let Napoleon Dynamite say it for me:

Ontario Liquor Workers are all just an... Click Here

Sex More Offensive then Violence?

It seems in the video gaming world this is the trend. Sex in a video game rated for Mature (17 and over) gamers warning of "strong sexual content, intense violence, strong language, blood and gore, and use of drugs." is still too overt for 17 year olds and MUST be pushed up to an ADULT ONLY title for sale to gamers 18 and over.

Apparently, in one year you go from innocent to harlot without warning.

It was just revealed that a secret scene, appearing in all copies of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, has the player interact in a highly sexual scene with a prostitute. Allowing the gamer to determine angles and sexual positions. The scene is entitled "Hot Coffee" and can only be revealed with the use of a secret code and a downloadable mod.

Currently, it's available to Playstation 2 and PC versions of the game. Sadly, for those of us on Xbox we must wait for our own version of the mod.

So thanks to the strong leadership of the American parents' groups and New York Senator Hillary Clinton, big name retailers, such as Wal-Mart have pulled the title off of their shelves. But, don't fret, you can still buy it in independent retailers :)

Microplay & Electronics Boutique come to mind.

This is all well and good, but, this still raises the question that Sex in comparison to violence is 10X more desirable to feature in video games sold in the United States. Don't bother emailing me about how it's also changed things in Canada. Canada doesn't have an independing gaming review board and we just go along with the verdict of the US based Entertainment Software Rating Board.

I'm not saying that children should watch sex, but, simply, what is the lesser of two evils here? Grand Theft Auto is a brutally violent game that hinges solely on the protagonist's ability to successfully kill with fists, knives, guns, and threshers. When we live in a world that is witnessing a dramatic increase in terror acts initiated by children in their homes, their towns and their schools. Metal detectors and police, bent to deter the smuggling of arms, are permanent fixtures at some schools.

Adults left scratching their heads wondering how on earth we got to this point and they stand blind to the cries of "KILL MEEEEE" eminating from their child's video game of Half Life. Go figure.

Come on. Strike a balance. Violence will happen in life but are we equipping the next generation with the tools necessary to cope coming to face with it?

We obviously are sending the wrong message when the act of sex is publically forbidden in a game where the objective is to get ahead by brutal murder.

Smart.
Real 'effing, Smart.

I'm going to lock my door riiight after I buy a copy of this game.

I bought a Psychic Report

I think I'm losing my mind! Before I could stop myself I clicked "Accept" and the transaction was completed.

I am the proud new owner of a complete psychic chart for me and those in my life.

It is bitter sweet to say the least.

If you want your own chart go to http://www.astrology.com/
$9

Punctuate!

In a recent chat with a friend I typed the following:

KarmaCake says:
I don't know how to be honest. But, I know which one is me

What did I mean?

I really don't know.

It could've been different... if I only punctuated.

Heart Break Hotel?

Once and a while something creeps up on me that forces me to try and understand the differences between men and women. The funny thing is, what once started off as a crack has grown into a canyon and subsequently my understanding has failed to keep up.

So here I am.
Standing an inch off the ground looking out of a massive hole in the Earth and wondering WHAT THE HECK I'M DOING DOWN HERE!
Luckily enough, I'm not the only one down there. There's millions of other women and a few gay men scattered along the precipice. And, very few of us have scaled any higher up then a foot.

The truth is, time may go on, and we may get more technologically advanced, but, women continue to want the same things out of relationships: Love, Security, Marriage, Children and to just have the opportunity to get old and die together.

But, I didn't say when.

Men still run, fearing for the mortality of their single lives and deny that they too want similar things. They're just overt that they don't want it now. NEVER NOW!

Funny thing is, if men could just listen to their partner, many will just discover that their partner wants the same things out of life.

Let's use me as an example:

I want it all. But, not now. Maybe 4-5 years down the road... But, I DEFINITLY don't see myself getting married anytime before 30 and I definitly don't see myself having children immediatly there afterwards. So Boys, don't be so frightened, if you proposed marriage to me now, I probably would have to regretfully decline.

What do I see? Myself, on a beach, enjoying the prime of an already too short time on Earth and my boyfriend telling me I look gorgeous. I politely say thank you and return to sipping on my uniquely tropical beverage.

So here's my advice out there for ladies in love: He wants to go out on a saturday night with his buddies, Let him. He wants to go to Thailand and sleep in a hammock for a year, Let him. In the meantime, you enjoy your life and soon enough he'll realize, the best place on Earth is tucked in close to You.

You just need to take the risk to accept his needs or else you're going to be down at the bottom of that canyon!

Bedknobs and Booze Hounds

Ontario acquiring over 200 million dollars in additional revenue annually is completely possible. That is if the Ontario Government agrees to auction off the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and its licences to sell alcohol — as well as open up competition against The Beer Store locations.

However, 30 minutes after the 81 page $600,000 report was released, Finance Minister Greg Sorbara rejected it.

Why? I don't know.

But, 200 million dollars additional revenue annually translates into 1 brand new 300 bed hospital a year. Or that's what the Toronto Star tells me.

Does this make me angry? Yes.

200 million dollars can do a lot of good in this province. But, I'm starting to believe the province government isn't so concern about doing good for the province as much as doing good by themselves.

Pageantry in Canada

Last night I went to the Miss World Canada 2005 finals. And, like most people there I went to watch my favorites take to the stage. However, like last year, this year's pageant continued to shock and dismay me.

This year's winner, though beautiful, is vacuous. Her onstage answers gave a glimpse into a sheltered, empty and hollow personality. When in the face of stellar competition I, as well as the entire audience, was shocked when the winner was announced.

A winner standing solo accepting the crown, with no peers rushing towards her, with the audience gasping as opposed to cheering you KNOW something wasn't write.

But, it's always the way. And, at the end of the day you should never put too much value in the collective opinion of 5 strangers.

'nuff said.

So many things to blog about!

So little time!

What's gotten my knickers in a knot today? Well, truthfully, not a whole lot!
There are a few topics I want to touch upon because they get me wound up when brought up in conversation, such as:

1. Bicyclists. Why? Because they want to behave both like a car and like a pedestrian. Why it ticks me off Because they nearly mow me down when I walk down the street!

2. Lack of Career Support for New Immigrants. Why? Because thousands of qualified professionals from education to medicin are being denied the opportunity to apply their qualifications in Canada. Why it ticks me off The Government claims there is a brain drain, but, the truth is we have qualified professionals driving cabs instead curing illness. Let's not be egotistical, lets implement a mentoring program to get these folks working!

3. Groceries prices fluxuate depending on your community. Why? Because butter is $5.00 at the Dominion at Bloor/Spadina, $4.00 (and change) at the ValuMart in Manulife and $3.00 at a No Frills. Why it ticks me off Because it's idiotic. Grocery stores, regardless of being apart of a chain, have prices based upon the neighborhood. Does anyone see that they are taking us for a ride?

4. Grocery Gateway is now back to Longos. Why? Because they took away my payment at the door, changed the substition guarantee and have reduced the variety in stock. Why it ticks me off Because it's annoying.

5. Pretentious Flakes. Why?Because they all want to be Paris Hilton. Why it ticks me off Because they are fake and seem to think that idiocy is superior to intellectualism. Ugh.

That's it.
in a nut shell.

ahahahahaha
m

Arm Chair Charity

So the truth is I didn't win a pageant therefore I am unable to help the children of the world through my victorious beauty. Beaten, but, not defeated, I turn to alternative methods to make a difference, I now realize it doesn't need a tiara, and the voice of one strong in spirit is just as good as one strong in swimwear.

So I sponsored a child. His name is Abdoulazizou and he lives in a community called Sangara in Niger. Apparently he lives close to an area that is one of the last known resting grounds for Hippos.

I still can't believe that it only takes $5000 to raise a school.

Want to help?
Drop me a line!

Summer Drinks

Tell me, what's nicer then a cool caffinated beverage on a hot summer day?
Well, what if you add some alcohol and make it a party?
When I was in Greece there was a drink that we drank all the time on the beaches of Tripoli: The Frappé.

But, this ain't no Starbucks jobby!

True, it's made with instant coffee which to any java purist it's I'm sure sacriligeous. Does it make it better to say that the Astronauts drink it?

I spike my Frappés with alcohol and call it a night, but, really it's all good in the end!

What you need is:

1 Mason Jar
1 cup of water
1 tsp of instant coffee (or cold left over coffee is okay too!)
Coffee Flavoured Liquor (dispensed at your leisure!)
1 tsp sugar
Ice Ice Ice!

Put everything in the jar, cap it and shake shake shake! It'll get cold, frothy and look really fun!
Pour into a glass, throw in a straw and drink on a summer patio.

To get fancy... fill your glass 1/8 of the way with cream and slowly pour in the coffee mix to create layers then spoon the foam on top.
Everyone will ooo and aah and think you're a culinary genius.
You'll smile, thank them and tell them it's a lie because Karma Cake is the TRUE Genius. You're mearly the minion of my bidding.

You're done reading this.
Get in the kitchen and make me a Frappé, Minion!

Hermes, Poker and why I think Oprah is Daft.

1. Poker night @ Condo-Nasti (which is now, Condo-Clean!) Friday the 15th? Bring your favorite dip, snack, cocktail or what have you. Wear your lucky shirt and get ready to LOSE IT ALL TO ME! I'm banking on beginners luck!

2. Hermes rejected Oprah from their Paris Store? Why? Do we care? YES! And, I'll tell you why PLUS why this is newsworthy!
THERE IS A PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE OPRAH IS NOT GOD!

Yes, she has helped make reading fashionable. Yes, she is a fab rags to riches story. Yes, she has encouraged a nation to take a closer look at the foods they eat and won a battle against the American Beef Producers (or who ever it was.) YES, she is the favorite "One person to meet before I die" of beauty queens near and far. But, please, ENOUGH ALREADY!

If Hermes does not want to service Oprah Winfrey when they were previously engaged, or closed, then it is their perrogative to do that. It's okay! It has nothing to do with race, or just plain ol' maliciousness, it's just life. Sometimes you win some and sometimes Hermes is closed.

So classless to complain to the press. So American.

Oprah, just to let you know, please RSVP for my poker game. Otherwise, there may not be any room for you. FYI.

Live 8 Made Me Laugh

"These concerts are the start point for The Long Walk To Justice, the one way we can all make our voices heard in unison. By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children." - Bob Geldof

Interesting. Too bad it didn't work.

A recent article that appeared in the Sunday Toronto Star had hit the streets to talk to folks aged 14-46 on whether or not they got the message of Live 8. Shockingly, they didn't!
They went to see their favorite bands and they left happy they saw their favorite bands. The unified voice of people who love Barenaked Ladies, Madonna, Celine Dion and Jann Arden! They cheer in riotous fits of glee without even knowing why they are there.

They couldn't answer a single question right, including, which country had their debt cancelled. One poor concert attendee offered Africa as their bid for a winning answer. On the right track, but, there's a fundamental difference between a country and a continent. If THAT is apart of the unified voice! Woe to Africa, I'm truly sorry for my country's ignorance.

I think that Live 8 is an event to make the Western World feel better. I honestly believe that the event will do little to make politicians take notice and make a gracious nod to the cause. A one day festival will hardly resolve poverty even if the G8 leaders cancels the debt of Africa.

Bigger issues lie at the root of Africa's problems and include exploitation by the Western World, corruption of some of Africa's political leaders, complexity in terms of size and language (2,000 languages & 59 countries!!), and an unequal global trading system.

So what is the solution? Maybe choosing smaller battles to beat? Focus on one part of Africa, make it strong and then move on! Millions of dollars are stolen by the corrupt from the public purse, how will a one day festival solve this?! The concert barely even taught the BILLIONS that attended that Africa isn't a country it's a Continent!

So what if it Live 8 was a financial success, at the end of the day, the Western public, filled with its politicians & G8 leaders of tomorrow barely know the fundamental principals that the concert was trying to bring awareness to. I promise you that today, two days after the event, Live 8 was already forgotten about.

Give the public a concert and they will party for a day.
Give the public the knowledge and they will change the world.