....but this one was just so much more me!!
I hope you have a good one - see you soon for some drinky drinky!
xxx andrea
Friday, July 27, 2007
Happy Birthday Erin!!!
Hey Erin - Happy Birthday! This card seemed appropriate...
....but this one was just so much more me!!
....but this one was just so much more me!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Another Celebrity Trainwreck....
This one is too astonishing to resist commenting on: Lindsay Lohan has been arrested for a second DUI and cocaine possession. Apparently Lindsay's assistant quit late yesterday, and when her mother arrived to pick her up, Lindsay chased them in her car. The assistant's mother called the police to report this, and when they picked her up, Lindsay's blood alcohol was over the legal limit and she had cocaine in her pocket. This is just weeks after she left rehab, and just days after she turned herself in for her May DUI/automobile crash.
In spite of my hatred of drunk-drivers, I actually feel sorry for her. Of all the retarded female celebrities in the drunken/coked-up Hollywood scene, Lindsay actually seemed to have some talent. I enjoyed Mean Girls, always thought that she was pretty funny on SNL, and though bad, her music was nowhere near as bad as Paris Hilton's. I don't see how Lindsay can avoid jail time at this point.
There is a Britney Spears/OK Magazine scandal brewing today as well, but it is being way overshadowed by this.
In spite of my hatred of drunk-drivers, I actually feel sorry for her. Of all the retarded female celebrities in the drunken/coked-up Hollywood scene, Lindsay actually seemed to have some talent. I enjoyed Mean Girls, always thought that she was pretty funny on SNL, and though bad, her music was nowhere near as bad as Paris Hilton's. I don't see how Lindsay can avoid jail time at this point.
There is a Britney Spears/OK Magazine scandal brewing today as well, but it is being way overshadowed by this.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Toronto, Taxes, Public Spending, Etc.
There has been a debate this week over taxes in Toronto. In a nutshell, the City of Toronto is facing a financial crisis and severe deficit if one of two things doesn't happen: the first option is to raise taxes; the second option is to cut spending. Anyone who lives in Toronto knows that spending on city programs is already too low. My last two trips on the TTC were appalling: over an hour to get from Yonge and Queen to College and Crawford; and 45 minutes to get from Queen and Niagara to Yonge and Queen. Crime in the city is down, but crime committed by youth is rising - fairly obviously a byproduct of decreased spending on after-school programs and social spending in general. The city is responsible for social services such as welfare and social housing which are already ridiculously inadequete.
Critics argue that spending in Toronto is out of control and the government just needs to "get creative" in finding solutions to the budget crisis. These people have a point - spending scandals such as the computer leasing scandal (which involved "Conservative" members of council, as usual) show us that spending habits can be improved, but there is much more to this issue.
In 1995, as part of the provincial government's "Common Sense Revolution" the City of Toronto was amalgamated with its surrounding suburban cities, and social spending was downloaded from the province to the city. The result is that Toronto is saddled with disproportionately high (compared to the province as a whole) social costs, without the power to impose income tax. There was the usual rhetoric surrounding this change, including the typical neo-con natter about belt-tightening, budget-shrinking, and tax-slashing. Of course in spite of the supposed 20% (provincial) income tax cut I allegedly received for my belt-tightening, all of my expenses rose significantly including the cost of public transit, payment for eye exams, and the "health care premium" which is essentially an income tax. Had my 20% income tax cut amounted to more than a few hundred dollars a year, I would probably have found these fees for services palatable, but such is life as a low income worker.
Meanwhile the gap between rich and poor has been rising at an alarming rate (this article is based on the American experience, but Canada is facing the same problem). Wealth is growing in our country - the problem is that it is all being concentrated in the hands of the very few.
I'm not sure exactly what the point of this post is. I saw the new Michael Moore flick Sicko this weekend, and it has re-inspired my activism about social spending and health care, I suppose. Anyways, whether or not you agree with me, I think it is important to be aware of these issues. That is all!
UPDATE: Shortly after I wrote this post, Toronto Mayor David Miller announced that there would be massive funding cuts to the TTC and other city services. One of the proposed cuts is shutting down service on the brand new Sheppard subway line which cost $1 Billion to construct. Some are accusing Miller of fear-mongering, which may be true. I think the issue illustrates that there is an urgent funding crisis that needs to be addressed. There is an interesting debate about the issue at the Globe and Mail here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070719.wttc0719/CommentStory/National/home not sure how long that link will last.
Critics argue that spending in Toronto is out of control and the government just needs to "get creative" in finding solutions to the budget crisis. These people have a point - spending scandals such as the computer leasing scandal (which involved "Conservative" members of council, as usual) show us that spending habits can be improved, but there is much more to this issue.
In 1995, as part of the provincial government's "Common Sense Revolution" the City of Toronto was amalgamated with its surrounding suburban cities, and social spending was downloaded from the province to the city. The result is that Toronto is saddled with disproportionately high (compared to the province as a whole) social costs, without the power to impose income tax. There was the usual rhetoric surrounding this change, including the typical neo-con natter about belt-tightening, budget-shrinking, and tax-slashing. Of course in spite of the supposed 20% (provincial) income tax cut I allegedly received for my belt-tightening, all of my expenses rose significantly including the cost of public transit, payment for eye exams, and the "health care premium" which is essentially an income tax. Had my 20% income tax cut amounted to more than a few hundred dollars a year, I would probably have found these fees for services palatable, but such is life as a low income worker.
Meanwhile the gap between rich and poor has been rising at an alarming rate (this article is based on the American experience, but Canada is facing the same problem). Wealth is growing in our country - the problem is that it is all being concentrated in the hands of the very few.
I'm not sure exactly what the point of this post is. I saw the new Michael Moore flick Sicko this weekend, and it has re-inspired my activism about social spending and health care, I suppose. Anyways, whether or not you agree with me, I think it is important to be aware of these issues. That is all!
UPDATE: Shortly after I wrote this post, Toronto Mayor David Miller announced that there would be massive funding cuts to the TTC and other city services. One of the proposed cuts is shutting down service on the brand new Sheppard subway line which cost $1 Billion to construct. Some are accusing Miller of fear-mongering, which may be true. I think the issue illustrates that there is an urgent funding crisis that needs to be addressed. There is an interesting debate about the issue at the Globe and Mail here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070719.wttc0719/CommentStory/National/home not sure how long that link will last.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Posh Spice - The Mechanical Animal
So, I know that this is kind of old news now, but I meant to comment on it earlier....
Am I the only one who found Posh Spice Victoria Beckham's appearance at the Spice Girls reunion tour announcement somehow frightening?
The zero body fat, orange skin, implants, and weird hair make her look like a fembot. I almost like it in a Marilyn Manson/Mechanical Animals way, but somehow I doubt that was the look she was going for.
I am moderately hungover today, after drinking several glasses of red wine last night, and then staying up late watching episodes of My So Called Life on the Internet. I never really watched that show when it first came out, so it's all pretty much new to me. I find the clothing very nostalgic and amusing - the ugly/oversized grunge look - classic!
Am I the only one who found Posh Spice Victoria Beckham's appearance at the Spice Girls reunion tour announcement somehow frightening?
The zero body fat, orange skin, implants, and weird hair make her look like a fembot. I almost like it in a Marilyn Manson/Mechanical Animals way, but somehow I doubt that was the look she was going for.
I am moderately hungover today, after drinking several glasses of red wine last night, and then staying up late watching episodes of My So Called Life on the Internet. I never really watched that show when it first came out, so it's all pretty much new to me. I find the clothing very nostalgic and amusing - the ugly/oversized grunge look - classic!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Meet Die Mannequin...My New Favourite Band....
(Die Mannequin at SXSW)
A couple of weeks ago my friend X asked me if I wanted to go to see his friend's band Die Mannequin at Lee's Palace. I was a little reluctant because, well you know...I'm old...but I decided that it could be fun and could possibly be a bit more exciting than watching 5 hours of television instead.
The band was amazing. Totally big, brash rock n roll, but without the usual Toronto poseur douche-baggery...I won't mention any names, but I'm sure you know who I mean. Of course in my usual nerd-ish fashion, I had to check out their myspace page to find out more...the band is fronted by Care Failure who was the best female front person I've seen in years (X introduced us and she really is as cool as she looks), and it turns out that the bass player is Tony from Cheerleader, who were another great Toronto band I've seen a bunch of times. They have been touring constantly it seems, and they have opened for All American Rejects, Buck Cherry, and Guns N Roses.....ha. Watch out for them, they are wicked.
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