In response to an article in this April's Esquire magazine (see here).
I laugh. Squarely. Directly. And in your face. I laugh out loud and I can’t stop. “I’ll tell you why I cheat. I need to.”
You sound like a whining child rather than the man you claim to be.
Before even turning the page I anticipated the argument. Genetics. Body vs. Soul. Never once do you consider that our Soul, our ability to create wonderful art, to delve into the mysteries of the universe, and yes to both love and be loved, is all that separates us from the animals around us. Perhaps you are proud of your animal instincts? However your inability to control them is the reason you are not a man.
You pity your friends who don’t cheat, you commiserate with the married women you fuck, you lament “the flawed and antiquated apparatus of marriage”. Answer me this then. Why the hell did you get married? The feeling of power you get from cheating? Either that or maybe daddy cheated on mommy? Or was it the other way around?
There was time when I may have envied a guy like you. Good looking, probably a jock, supreme confidence, right? But high school is over pal. And if there is one thing I learned as I grew into a man is that the girls who go for guys like you are the one’s I don’t want to be around. You may be giving into to your body’s desires, but dude, so is she. You’re not human beings; you’re two soulless shells fucking. Your life is like a porn film and buddy, yes that is an insult.
The one thing you fail to mention in the article is, of course, your wife. I wonder what she would do if she found out? Does she believe marriage is antiquated too? I sure hope so. One day you’ll come home to find her in the arms of another man.
Ah! The sweet justice that destiny will unleash when, in a flash of anger and humiliation, your arguments and logic are flushed like so many toilets into the sewer that is your life.
Then, perhaps, you will associate cheating with what it really is: betrayal.
You may be a male, Anonymous. But don’t insult me by calling yourself a Man
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
A letter on Health Care
Dear Editor:
Congratulations are in order. The U.S.A. has finally joined every, single other industrialized, democratic, civilized nation on the face of the earth and voted to implement "universal" health care. Remarkably, debate on the merits of universal health care are still going on!
In the future, I have no doubt it will be a generally acknowledged fact that health care has absolutely nothing to do with democrat vs. republican, socialism vs. capitalism, or any of the other ridiculous comparisons being used to frame and bias the debate.
What it comes down to is that health care is (or should be, anyway) a fundamental human right.
Good luck, U.S.A... the road to the future has finally been paved. Don't crash, though... you won't be able to afford the surgery.
Congratulations are in order. The U.S.A. has finally joined every, single other industrialized, democratic, civilized nation on the face of the earth and voted to implement "universal" health care. Remarkably, debate on the merits of universal health care are still going on!
In the future, I have no doubt it will be a generally acknowledged fact that health care has absolutely nothing to do with democrat vs. republican, socialism vs. capitalism, or any of the other ridiculous comparisons being used to frame and bias the debate.
What it comes down to is that health care is (or should be, anyway) a fundamental human right.
Good luck, U.S.A... the road to the future has finally been paved. Don't crash, though... you won't be able to afford the surgery.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
You'd better Privatize... (?)
So, lately there has been a lot of talk in Ontario about privatization.
Basically throughout all levels of government, the selling off of crown corporations has suddenly become a hot topic.
Ignoring, for obvious reasons to those who know where I am employed, the provincial scene I'd like to focus on the municipal level... i.e. The City of Toronto.
We are in the midst of a race for mayor (wouldn't a great future post discuss Adam Giambrone as a surrogate for the sleaze prevalent in politics these day?) and most, if not all have come out in favour of selling city assets to help us through this "unprecedented economic turmoil" and the sky high deficits it has generated.
Bad idea? In my opinion, yes.
It seems to me that the push for a private TTC stems from the belief that private business' are, by definition, "more efficient". And that the free market will force it to "work better or perish".
What if our TTC were more efficient... the question is more efficient for who? I would argue that in terms of service and price not much would change. I could definitely see the operating costs of a privatized TTC being much, much less. And, potentially the profit being much much more.
But it is important to consider WHERE those cost savings and extra profits would come from.
I bet, hands down, that right away the cushy union jobs that the TTC currently generates would be absolutely torn apart.
Some people would be ok with that. There is a lot of anger in this city about the pay and benefits that TTC employees get. I usually turn the question "why do they get such high pay and benefits" around so that's it "wait a minute, why don't I get that great pay and benefits?". I bet it is so that the CEO of your company can live in his $10 million mansion!
So, a private TTC would cut costs by turning their jobs into minimum wage position? maybe not that bad but you bet they would fight to turn their employees into a McDonalds on wheels type setup.
How about profits? Well, you know that route that is always half empty? GONE. The transit network is about to get a whole lot smaller. Sure, grandma takes that bus to her appointment every week... but she can afford a cab, right? Government run transit is accountable to providing service to the citizen. Private transit has no accountability except profit.
So how, exactly is privatization supposed to help us, the consumer? You know they are not going to drop fares because people already pay. And, we know some routes are not profitable, how is service going to be improved by closing routes?
What about the free market? If New Bus Company A is doing a crap job, wouldn't new bus company b be an option? Let the market decide, right?
That's a nice thought. And, you know what? I agree... if we are talking about neighborhood dry cleaners, or maybe the local barber. If one does a shitty job, no prob go to the next guy. But would that concept extend to transit?
Well, let's perform a thought experiment here... imagine, for just a moment, that TTC IS for sale. It must be split between at least two companies. A furious bidding war ensues. The eventual victors...
Bell and Rogers.
I don't know how much you are paying for internet/ cable/ phone but if the "free market" in Ontario is any indication, well, I imagine you are getting screwed.
I really don't know many people who don't complain about these two companies. Whether it's the complete lack of customer service, the draconian contracts, or the super high costs everyone has at least one thing to say about the telecommunications industry.
So how would applying the same model to the transit industry make things better?
P.S. Highway 407, anyone?
Basically throughout all levels of government, the selling off of crown corporations has suddenly become a hot topic.
Ignoring, for obvious reasons to those who know where I am employed, the provincial scene I'd like to focus on the municipal level... i.e. The City of Toronto.
We are in the midst of a race for mayor (wouldn't a great future post discuss Adam Giambrone as a surrogate for the sleaze prevalent in politics these day?) and most, if not all have come out in favour of selling city assets to help us through this "unprecedented economic turmoil" and the sky high deficits it has generated.
Bad idea? In my opinion, yes.
It seems to me that the push for a private TTC stems from the belief that private business' are, by definition, "more efficient". And that the free market will force it to "work better or perish".
What if our TTC were more efficient... the question is more efficient for who? I would argue that in terms of service and price not much would change. I could definitely see the operating costs of a privatized TTC being much, much less. And, potentially the profit being much much more.
But it is important to consider WHERE those cost savings and extra profits would come from.
I bet, hands down, that right away the cushy union jobs that the TTC currently generates would be absolutely torn apart.
Some people would be ok with that. There is a lot of anger in this city about the pay and benefits that TTC employees get. I usually turn the question "why do they get such high pay and benefits" around so that's it "wait a minute, why don't I get that great pay and benefits?". I bet it is so that the CEO of your company can live in his $10 million mansion!
So, a private TTC would cut costs by turning their jobs into minimum wage position? maybe not that bad but you bet they would fight to turn their employees into a McDonalds on wheels type setup.
How about profits? Well, you know that route that is always half empty? GONE. The transit network is about to get a whole lot smaller. Sure, grandma takes that bus to her appointment every week... but she can afford a cab, right? Government run transit is accountable to providing service to the citizen. Private transit has no accountability except profit.
So how, exactly is privatization supposed to help us, the consumer? You know they are not going to drop fares because people already pay. And, we know some routes are not profitable, how is service going to be improved by closing routes?
What about the free market? If New Bus Company A is doing a crap job, wouldn't new bus company b be an option? Let the market decide, right?
That's a nice thought. And, you know what? I agree... if we are talking about neighborhood dry cleaners, or maybe the local barber. If one does a shitty job, no prob go to the next guy. But would that concept extend to transit?
Well, let's perform a thought experiment here... imagine, for just a moment, that TTC IS for sale. It must be split between at least two companies. A furious bidding war ensues. The eventual victors...
Bell and Rogers.
I don't know how much you are paying for internet/ cable/ phone but if the "free market" in Ontario is any indication, well, I imagine you are getting screwed.
I really don't know many people who don't complain about these two companies. Whether it's the complete lack of customer service, the draconian contracts, or the super high costs everyone has at least one thing to say about the telecommunications industry.
So how would applying the same model to the transit industry make things better?
P.S. Highway 407, anyone?
Monday, March 1, 2010
Just an average guy vs. the world
Well, hello there... yes, it has finally happened. A series of unlikely events have converged to finally fulfill my destiny... to be a blogger.
Throughout the evolution of myself it now seems so obvious... I mean I started the [BT] email (and its associated philosophy), I rant and complain all the time, why not share my brilliant insights with the world?? Exactly.
So what, you may ask, has led me to this point? It happened in a hotel room in Charlotte, NC... no its not like that but...
Item # 1 is the most inspiring thing I have read in a long time... the incredible, incredible journey of Roger Ebert (i read the story before his appearance on Oprah today). Now, you all know who he is... the "two thumbs up" film critic from the 80's. He was the fat one. But, after reading hsi story I have a new name for him: HERO.
You see, a few years ago he got sick. Really sick. But the grace, humour and spirit with which he has faced his challenges is a truly inspiring take. The story is here and here.
If you take away one thing from it... take away this:
"I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out."
By contrast, the next few items come close to making me sick to my stomach... each one an example of the steep path to complete and utter uselessness that pop culture is becoming.
Now, it could be that I am just getting old... but how is it remotely sustainable that "Speidi" (that would be spencer pratt and heidi montag from the MTV show "the hills") can actually develop and deploy their own iphone app?? I am not making this up. You can read about it here.
I mean, fuck. I love celebrity gossip as much as the next guy. But for once could it be about, you know actual celebrities. I mean, these two? Some of the most annoying people in the world. For all intents and purposes, they are useless. Put them to the "ebert test" above... no joy whatsoever emanates form these plastic people.
A couple more things could fit into this category... e.g. Keeping up with the Kardashians had like 5 million people view it!! And the cast of Jersey Shore makes like $10K just to show up at night clubs.
Ok, so maybe I'm a little jealous... but, for the most part, this whole lack of actual culture out there is depressing!
Throughout the evolution of myself it now seems so obvious... I mean I started the [BT] email (and its associated philosophy), I rant and complain all the time, why not share my brilliant insights with the world?? Exactly.
So what, you may ask, has led me to this point? It happened in a hotel room in Charlotte, NC... no its not like that but...
Item # 1 is the most inspiring thing I have read in a long time... the incredible, incredible journey of Roger Ebert (i read the story before his appearance on Oprah today). Now, you all know who he is... the "two thumbs up" film critic from the 80's. He was the fat one. But, after reading hsi story I have a new name for him: HERO.
You see, a few years ago he got sick. Really sick. But the grace, humour and spirit with which he has faced his challenges is a truly inspiring take. The story is here and here.
If you take away one thing from it... take away this:
"I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out."
By contrast, the next few items come close to making me sick to my stomach... each one an example of the steep path to complete and utter uselessness that pop culture is becoming.
Now, it could be that I am just getting old... but how is it remotely sustainable that "Speidi" (that would be spencer pratt and heidi montag from the MTV show "the hills") can actually develop and deploy their own iphone app?? I am not making this up. You can read about it here.
I mean, fuck. I love celebrity gossip as much as the next guy. But for once could it be about, you know actual celebrities. I mean, these two? Some of the most annoying people in the world. For all intents and purposes, they are useless. Put them to the "ebert test" above... no joy whatsoever emanates form these plastic people.
A couple more things could fit into this category... e.g. Keeping up with the Kardashians had like 5 million people view it!! And the cast of Jersey Shore makes like $10K just to show up at night clubs.
Ok, so maybe I'm a little jealous... but, for the most part, this whole lack of actual culture out there is depressing!
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