Adam Giambrone hasn't even announced his candidacy for mayor of Toronto yet, and he's already got his campaign in full-swing.
He posted this video today on YouTube. It's a short and rather amusing, low-production "vote-for-me" video.
The aim, I suppose, is to attract younger voters. But will it work?
Young people are notorious for not voting.
Well, Canadians in general seem to be notorious for not voting. In the 2008 general election, only 59.1 per cent of Canadians voted. But the younger population is especially reluctant to head to the polls.
Although this YouTube tactic could potentially work very well. Not only because it's using a medium used by the younger generation, but because it's funny. It's a very humorous video.
He doesn't give the air of a stiff-necked politician, like our current Prime Minister.
In fact, the video seems closer to a College Humor spoof than a serious campaign attempt. Well, to some extent it isn't serious. But I think that's exactly what makes it so appealing.
So, Keep it up Giambrone. The whole World Wide Web is watching. Well, at least the Torontonian section of it is.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Rocco Rossi
An article published today in The Star says Rocco Rossi (mayoral candidate) won't put new bike lanes on certain streets. He even wants to look at removing existing bike lanes.
He says he would move lanes to quieter streets parallel to major roads.
Yeah, that will be GREAT for getting over the Don Valley. Bikers can just follow the quieter road that runs parallel to the Bloor viaduct.
Oh wait, there isn't one.
Rossi also wants to put the planned Transit City lines on hold until later."His promise to kill bike lanes on Jarvis will win him support in neighbourhoods such as Rosedale, Moore Park and Leaside," says the Star.
Well that's true. People who live in those neighbourhoods get up every morning and drive their large, gas guzzling vehicles to their downtown offices. Why should they worry about those who can not or choose not to own a vehicle? Why do they have to worry their pretty little heads about the majority of the population who have to take public transit or power their own way to work?
He says he would move lanes to quieter streets parallel to major roads.
Yeah, that will be GREAT for getting over the Don Valley. Bikers can just follow the quieter road that runs parallel to the Bloor viaduct.
Oh wait, there isn't one.
Rossi also wants to put the planned Transit City lines on hold until later."His promise to kill bike lanes on Jarvis will win him support in neighbourhoods such as Rosedale, Moore Park and Leaside," says the Star.
Well that's true. People who live in those neighbourhoods get up every morning and drive their large, gas guzzling vehicles to their downtown offices. Why should they worry about those who can not or choose not to own a vehicle? Why do they have to worry their pretty little heads about the majority of the population who have to take public transit or power their own way to work?
The article says that Rossi's ideas about removing bike lanes shows a lack of understanding of Torontonian values and what is going on at city hall.
It's hard to believe this egg-head is from the Liberal Party.
Let's hope Toronto is smart enough not to elect Rocco Rossi.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Somethings Broken: Kim Phuc Speaks at Ryerson
"Before the war, I was never afraid. Then one day soldiers came pounding on our door very loud. And that day I knew fear," said Kim Phuc. Her voice was soft and level as she spoke to students at Ryerson University.
Kim is best known as the naked nine year old girl in the photograph from the Vietnam war taken by Nick Ut, an AP photog
rapher. In the photo, Kim is running from a napalm explosion, burnt and screaming from the pain.
The morning after that photo was taken, it was known all around the world. Nick Ut won a pulitzer prize.
It has changed the way we look at the Vietnam war and at all wars.
During her talk, she spoke about her childhood before and after the war, before and after that photograph and those four bombs.
"I was nine. I knew nothing of pain. I'd fallen off my bike and it hurt," she told the crowed with a smile. "But napalm is the most terrible pain you can imagine. It's gasoline burning under the skin."
(Keep in mind, water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Napalm burns at 800 to 900 degrees Celsius.)
Despite the painful memories and the painful scars, Kim Phuc spoke eloquently and with a light heart, making jokes and laughing easily.
I'd heard that she is a very happy person willing to share what she was learned. But I don't think I believed it until yesterday.
She spoke of the horrible things
that happened to her. But she never spoke with bitterness or anger, which surprised me.
If I had been in that situation, I would be furious with those involved in the Vietnam war. I would probably just be a warped, frustrated old woman. I wouldn't be able to talk about the experience with as much grace, understanding and enlightenment as Kim does.
Her acceptance is truly something to admire.
Kim now lives as a Canadian citizen in Ajax with her husband and two sons. She travels regularly to speak about her experience, raise awareness and promote peace.
Kim is best known as the naked nine year old girl in the photograph from the Vietnam war taken by Nick Ut, an AP photog
rapher. In the photo, Kim is running from a napalm explosion, burnt and screaming from the pain.The morning after that photo was taken, it was known all around the world. Nick Ut won a pulitzer prize.
It has changed the way we look at the Vietnam war and at all wars.
During her talk, she spoke about her childhood before and after the war, before and after that photograph and those four bombs.
"I was nine. I knew nothing of pain. I'd fallen off my bike and it hurt," she told the crowed with a smile. "But napalm is the most terrible pain you can imagine. It's gasoline burning under the skin."
(Keep in mind, water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Napalm burns at 800 to 900 degrees Celsius.)
Despite the painful memories and the painful scars, Kim Phuc spoke eloquently and with a light heart, making jokes and laughing easily.
I'd heard that she is a very happy person willing to share what she was learned. But I don't think I believed it until yesterday.
She spoke of the horrible things
that happened to her. But she never spoke with bitterness or anger, which surprised me.If I had been in that situation, I would be furious with those involved in the Vietnam war. I would probably just be a warped, frustrated old woman. I wouldn't be able to talk about the experience with as much grace, understanding and enlightenment as Kim does.
Her acceptance is truly something to admire.
Kim now lives as a Canadian citizen in Ajax with her husband and two sons. She travels regularly to speak about her experience, raise awareness and promote peace.
Haiti: Speedy Text Message Relief (re-posted from school blog)
More than $25 million dollars has been donated to the Red Cross by Canadians since Haiti was hit by an earthquake last week, said a Red Cross spokesperson Tanya Elliott on Monday.
Such speedy fund-raising was made possible by today's technology. Phone companies have made it possible to send a text and instantly donate five dollars. Or, people can donate any amount of money online.
Last week, the government told Canadians they would match donations up to $50 million dollars.
On Tuesday, the International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda, announced that the government is contributing $80 million dollars to relief efforts in Haiti.
It seems the government has finally kept a promise.
The CBC has made a web page about Haiti Relief information. It includes a list of all registered charities and a list of numbers to text to instantly donate money to a charity.
Text message donating is a good idea. It has probably gotten a lot of younger people involved. It’s easy and hassle free. People are more likely to punch in a number, a few letters and press send.
According to the Canadian government, 665 Canadians are still unaccounted for, 13 have been killed and 1,206 have been evacuated.
Such speedy fund-raising was made possible by today's technology. Phone companies have made it possible to send a text and instantly donate five dollars. Or, people can donate any amount of money online.
Last week, the government told Canadians they would match donations up to $50 million dollars.
On Tuesday, the International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda, announced that the government is contributing $80 million dollars to relief efforts in Haiti.
It seems the government has finally kept a promise.
The CBC has made a web page about Haiti Relief information. It includes a list of all registered charities and a list of numbers to text to instantly donate money to a charity.
Text message donating is a good idea. It has probably gotten a lot of younger people involved. It’s easy and hassle free. People are more likely to punch in a number, a few letters and press send.
According to the Canadian government, 665 Canadians are still unaccounted for, 13 have been killed and 1,206 have been evacuated.
Dancing through Time
I danced at P
egasus Dance Studios for more than ten years.
I tried ballet for a few years but the rule-oriented form of dance wasn't for me.
I took tap classes and loved them.
Alana Hock taught these classes. Alana opened her own studio in Ottawa, Dance With Alana, which I hear is very successful. She was the reason I went to class, and when she left Pegasus, I left tap.
The one class I stuck with for the most time was modern dance.
Modern dance is a much more relaxed style of dance. It does not require shoes or specific clothing. Mainly, it focuses on the interpretation and expression of feelings through movement.
Janice Pomer (author of Perpetual Motion) was my dance teacher for many years. I love Janice. Dancing in her class made me feel so much more comfortable with and confident about myself.
Pegasus is open and welcoming. They do not focus on the competitive aspect of dance and that makes dancing much more satisfying.
Also, pilates classes with Briar Munro are great. They're so great actually that you forget how much work you're doing and you feel great afterwards.
Check out the Pegasus website or their blog.
egasus Dance Studios for more than ten years.I tried ballet for a few years but the rule-oriented form of dance wasn't for me.
I took tap classes and loved them.
Alana Hock taught these classes. Alana opened her own studio in Ottawa, Dance With Alana, which I hear is very successful. She was the reason I went to class, and when she left Pegasus, I left tap.
The one class I stuck with for the most time was modern dance.
Modern dance is a much more relaxed style of dance. It does not require shoes or specific clothing. Mainly, it focuses on the interpretation and expression of feelings through movement.
Janice Pomer (author of Perpetual Motion) was my dance teacher for many years. I love Janice. Dancing in her class made me feel so much more comfortable with and confident about myself.
Pegasus is open and welcoming. They do not focus on the competitive aspect of dance and that makes dancing much more satisfying.
Also, pilates classes with Briar Munro are great. They're so great actually that you forget how much work you're doing and you feel great afterwards.
Check out the Pegasus website or their blog.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Saving the Environment, One Ex at a Time
Want to save money, be trendy and help the environment? Buy some Exes.
MYEXCLOSET is the place to get used designer clothing. This site sells used and vintage clothing (some big brand names and some not, but all hip and in good condition). Every piece is hand-picked by the staff, so there is a good selection of fashionable, unique pieces.
A former school mate of mine, Cassie Cowie, thought up this brilliant idea last summer. With the help of her friend, Hayley Dineen, the site was up and running in a matter on months.
The site operates in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, but anyone in Canada can buy from the site. If you're living in one of those cities, contact your city's Closet Manager to get rid of some Exes. Contact information is online.
What's on my Ex wish list?
Also check out Fashion Television's article and Slice.ca's articles about MYEXCLOSET.
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