Negotiating Biculturalism

“How much is the parrot?” a woman asked.“Wow, ma’am,” uttered the owner, “this is a very expensive parrot, because he speaks both Spanish and English.”

“Oh really?

Can you get him to speak in both languages?”

“Sure you can. Look, it’s quite simple:

If you pull the left leg he speaks English.” And he pulled the parrot’s left leg. “Good

morning,” said the bird. “And if you pull the right leg like this, he speaks Spanish.”

And the parrot said: “Buenos Dias!”

At which point the woman asked: “What happens if you pull both of his legs, will he speak Tex-Mex?” “Noooo,” answered the parrot, “I will fall on my ass.”

When Am I Ever Going To Use y=mx+b????

As a part of my volunteer job with CAS, I tutor a couple of foster kids and I have been for the past year. Every week I visit them and tutor them in mainly math, but in other subjects as well.
I now have 15 students, 13 of which I am paid as a private tutor and the 2 foster kids I mentioned.

My students are from grade 1 through 11 and all of them have trouble with/need a little extra help in math.

One of my grade 11 students and I were working on her math homework one day and she grew frustrated after a few questions.
She asked me when in "the hell" is she ever going to use "y=mx+b" (linear equation... for those that don't know, it's the equation you learn through high school ... the unit where you find midpoints of a line, the x and y intercepts etc... Have I lost you?).

Anyway, I get what she is saying. We don't always use all of what we learned in math. You may think math was pointless because the field you are in now career-wise depends on everything but linear and quadratic equations.

But what she didn't seem to understand was that what she is studying in math now is just a more advanced level of all of her accumulated knowledge in math over the years.

She is able to learn now because she has the knowledge of the basic concepts she has learned since the first grade. She has little interest in this fact. She has more interest in how much money I make tutoring because she sees her mom pay me every week. She also knows I tutor her neighbours and friends and have 15 students. She knows I get paid cash. She can add cash and coins VERY quickly. She's 16, and to her, seen cash is a big deal.

I asked her then, what was the point of her reading Charlotte's Web back in elementary school? Is she ever going to live as a pig and have a spider friend? Of course, being a 16 year old, she rolled her eyes and carried on doodling in the margins of her lined paper.

She then looked at me with a grin like she has an advantage in our little debate and said, "You work in a daycare right? And a group home? When was the last time YOOOOU used y=mx+b?"

Me: "Today".

What Would Oprah Do?

Can we please cut the damn binary of woman as the body and man as the mind?---i.e. "Think like a man. Act like a lady?.

Why perform like a woman on the outside and think like the "innovative" and "rational" man in your mind? 
Why is rational, innovation, logical, technological and intelligence all masculine traits?

Why is it that the performance of manners, etiquette, positivity, acceptance and sensitivity all applauded and awarded and done the best by women? ... It's not. 

It's done by right-minded people who have a damn sense. Women are innovative and logical and rational. But to certain men, we are not? 

Perhaps we aren't rational and logical to those SPECIFIC men who help create children and easily walk away? Perhaps we're not intelligent because we raise our fatherless sons and daughters alone, endure the infidelity, the abuse and sexual degradation? The victim blaming?

Oprah tells women do act and think like a woman---an intelligent, rational, innovative, sensitive, positive, inclusive woman. Some of you might think that she is blaming women for enabling men's maladaptive and frankly, "fuck up" sort of behaviour. However, she's not. She's not blaming women for men's behaviours, but encouraging a stand against it. Don't let them do what they do.  

She speaks of compromise and individuality. A man is not an accessory, but he is not the 
entire relationship either.

There are good men out there... although you may think it's rare. But wouldn't you rather spend your time on that good man WHILE be sure of your own individuality than to waste it on some fuck up who doesn't know who he is?



Read on.

______________


If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. 
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay. Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.

Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be. Slower is better. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy. If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't "be friends". A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.

Don't settle. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is. Don't stay because you think "it will get better." You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better. The only person you can control in a relationship is you. Avoid men who have a bunch of children by a bunch of different women. He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently? Always have your own set of friends separate from his. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.

You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within. Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are. Even if he has has more education or in a better job. Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less.

Never let a man define who you are. Never borrow someone else's man. If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you. All men are NOT dogs.

You should not be the one doing all the bending... Compromise is two way street. You need time to heal between relationships. There is nothing cute about baggage... Deal with your issues before pursuing a new
relationship. You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you. A relationship consists of two WHOLE
individuals. Look for someone complimentary...
not supplementary.

Dating is fun... Even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right. Make him miss you sometimes... When a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him ~ he takes it for granted. Never move into his mother's house. Never co-sign for a man. Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need. Keep him in your radar but get to know others.

Scared of being alone is what makes a lot of women stay in relationships that are abusive or hurtful: Dr. Phil says... You should know that: You're the best thing that could ever happen to anyone and if a man mistreats you, he'll miss out on a good thing. If he was attracted to you in the 1st place, just know that he's not the only one. They're all watching you, so you have a lot of choices. Make the right one. Ladies take care of your own hearts... ❤

2013: Happy New Year!

I look forward to starting off 2013 with a nice clean slate... as I did in 2012, 2011 and DEFINITELY 2010. 

This clean slate I'm talking about doesn't mean I erase everything from the past. I realize this now.

It is an addition to the clean slates I had collected from years back. I just keep stacking them. Why?

If you start with a clean slate every year, you're left with nothing but replaceable, disposable and temporary (365 days) worth of events, memories and lives. If these important things are easily replaced, then why did you spend all year with them?

My clean slate isn't that way. It's more of an addition to the positivity... the laughs.

For a lot of people, 2012 was rough. I know these people and these are good people with good intentions and big hearts. They see the new year as not just a place to restart, but to rebuild. 

My good friend had a rough year this year. Although I don't know the details of this part of his life, I feel as though he will get through it. He has a positive outlook on life and seems like the type of person to find peace within himself to overcome life's obstacles. This is an important aspect--- to be at peace.

In 2012 I met some amazing people that made me laugh, cry (happy tears) and tell bad stories when I was intoxicated. I shared great food with them, had intelligent conversations. I met their families and children and they were so welcoming I felt I played an important role in their lives. I reconnected with people and I let go of some that I felt were idling in my life but there were no hard feelings. I stood up for myself and for those who could not. I got my degree, I'm starting a business and it seems there are an endless amount of things I need to get done that I'm excited for this year.

I'm sure that I've done wrong as well. I've let others down, gave up on them for my own advantage and had to lets them be. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes not so much!

Many people are doing the 2012 in review... and it's a lot of negativity. If you have to let people go, then do it. But don't wish them pain and suffering. That's not letting it go, that's dwelling on ill feelings.

My 2012 in review: Two thumbs up. I hope to double this in the following year and many after that. I hope to share my experiences with all of you. For those that are a part of my life, I appreciate all that you have done to keep me happy. I will be sure to do the same.

Happy New Year Everyone!

xoxo

UPDATE: Executive Charged for Salvation Army Theft

David Rennie faces 51 charges from $2M theft

Last week, I blogged about the $2 Million dollars in theft of toys and food initially donated to the Salvation Army by the well-intentioned people and corporations of Toronto. The theft was discovered after an internal audit and the Executive David Rennie was suspended back in September of this year.

Now, police have released to the media that Rennie faces 51 charges after the stolen items were found in warehouses in Brampton. When shipments came in, certain items would be put aside for strict control and redistribution without the permission of the Salvation Army.

Rennie currently faces the following charges:

10 counts of theft over $5,000
2 counts of possession of stolen good for the purpose of trafficking
17 counts of possession of property obtained by crime
7 counts of theft under $5,000
Criminal breach of trust
Traffic in stolen goods over $5,000
Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
Traffic in stole goods under $5,000

Spreading the Bad Word

Freedom of speech. It is a beautiful thing. Unless you're using it to-- oh I dunno -- claim the Holocaust never happened perhaps?...

People tend to believe that freedom of speech has absolutely no limitations. WRONG.

Limits on speech were incorporated in the criminal code in relation to treason, sedition, blasphemous and defamatory libel, disruption of religious worship, hate propaganda, spreading false news, public mischief, obscenity, indecency and other forms.

For example, James Keegstra, an anti-semite who also happened to be a school teacher in Alberta decided that he was going to teach his students a lesson: THE HOLOCAUST NEVER HAPPENED.
According to Keegstra, the genocide of Jews NEVER HAPPENED. Gas chambers, extermination, the dead bodies of victims... it was all made up!....

What a goof.

He Knows How To Kill A Dream

Santa Claus is coming to town! Well... According to a 24 year-old drunk man in Kingston, Ontario, Santa isn't real. As adults, we very well know that. But for kids, it's the greatest time of the year aside from their birthdays and getting to eat 5 pounds of sugar filled treats on Halloween.

So who is this dream killer? Unfortunately, the police haven't released the identity of the real life grinch. Apparently, it strolled down during the parade telling kids that Santa isn't real.

Can't Even Go For A Pizza

A 17 year old girl was attacked twice by the same attacker while waiting for the TTC train. It has been reported that on October 30th and November 12th, the same man believed to be in his late 40s early 50s attacked the same victim around 7am on the Bloor-Danforth line.
Not only did this victim have to suffer through one assault, but a second one by the same perpetrator. I think we can all agree that one incident is traumatizing enough.

$2 Million in Toys and Food Missing

Oh where is the humanity...

The Salvation Army in Toronto reported that 2 Million dollars worth of toys and food have gone missing. An internal audit back in September has sent a former executive director from suspension to dismissal yesterday (Monday, November 19th). Although no charges have been laid, many people are assuming that David Rennie was responsible for the theft, however, he may have been penalized for the lack of  security over the donations.

I would like to remind the public that regardless of the heartless individuals that steal for those who need it most, please don't be discouraged in donating food and toys or even your time, especially around the holidays. We may have family dinners and presents to open, but some people don't have a place called home to retreat to. This is the time when we not only think of the new iPad we're going to get, but think of how privileged you are to even have one. 

This is just as immoral as the man that recently stole 3 boxes of poppies. I know I know, 2 million dollars versus 3 boxes of poppies. Regardless of the monetary value, isn't it still immoral? Isn't it still wrong?

Who the hell are these people?

This Is How They Do Obama

I rarely write about politicians on here. I avoid it because of all the mess!

But this was really interesting. This image has been circulating through social networks with the claims that various Shell gas stations had an Obama doll hanging from a noose on display. The claims were from Florida, Texas, Mississipi and so on.

One news report claims that this was a hoax. They say that this photo was actually from a novelty truck that had ALL politicians with a noose around their neck. But that only the photo of Obama was taken and posted on the internet has a national prank. How do we know if this was a prank or not?

It was apparently taken in North Carolina and the two owners of the Shell Gas Station on Bay Meadows Road near Interstate 95 all the way in Jacksonville, Florida deny involvement.

Various figures were screaming RACISM when this photo emerged. Some say, "Don't be so quick to scream racism"... Ok, true. This may all be a hoax.
BUT... being the only black president the U.S. has every had, has Obama's counterparts' race ever experienced lynching because of their "whiteness"?
Yeah I didn't think so.

So when a single image of an Obama doll appears on the internet, you get why people are screaming racism right? Prank or not... Someone made it, hung it, displayed it...

I hope that this tasteless prank urges all the Obama supporters to go and vote today.

Don't vote for the candidates solely based on their race. Vote to support the candidate that you believe will make a positive difference.