Entry #8: Looking forward to the New Year

As 2013 comes to a close, we should look at what has happened this past year and begin 2014 as a new leaf. One of the major stories in 2013 is the death of Nelson Mandela and how much he has changed South Africa. During the time of war, Mandela stood up the government and told them to stop shooting and killing innocent people for doing nothing. By him doing this, they saw what he was giving to the people of South Africa, and this was not acceptable, so Mandela was put in jail for 27 years. Here is the last part of the speech in which he said that landed him in jail

“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” ~ Nelson Mandela

27 years later, the people of South Africa wanted Mandela freed from jail because they saw what he was trying to do, Mandela was trying to change the South African governments ideals. After the fall of the current government, Mandela ran for the presidency of South Africa and won the election. 

Mandela passed away December 5, 2013 of health related illness; he will be missed by the world.

As we look towards the New Year, we should reflect on what we have done this year, and see what we can change/improve on ourselves, but do not make it a huge change, just a small change. I will also be taking a Career Options course (Career Options II) to see what options I have so I can run for Ward Councilor for the City of Kitchener. I am very curious on what you all want to as a career or have as a career.

Entry #7: Greed and The Greed Factor

Greed is defined as intense and selfish desire for something, esp. wealth, power, or food. There are two people in this world: there are greedy people and there are people who are giving. For most of us, we have seen that people, in today’s world are greedy, why? It is quite simple to answer: Power and money. Yesterday, I was watching CTV News at Noon and in the evening at 6pm, there was this 16-year-old man (in my eyes, he is not a child after what this person did, he is a man, not a child) this man, was driving drunk, and murdered 4 people. In court, the man’s lawyer applied the affluenza to the man. By applying this, the man was set to probation. Yes, probation, no jail time, why, because this man’s parents taught him, that richness (power and money) can buy justice. The judge noticed this and said he is not responsible for the deaths of the four people. This is a prime example of greed, people WANT money and power, but since people have a certain amount of money that comes from their jobs, they do not get all they money they want. That is when the lottery comes into play, if a person wins the fifty million dollar jackpot; they say they will give it to charity. To me, that is a lie, because the greed inside the person, their brain will tell them “no its your money, all yours, don’t share it. This is what I like to call The Greed Factor. The Greed Factor is in everyone’s mind, even though people will deny it, they cannot hide it from others. The worst time of year The Greed Factor comes out is Christmas, yes, Christmas, the happiest time of the year, is actually, the most greediest time of the year. Because families will fight other families over a specific toy or item they need for a family member. To be quiet frank, I am disappointed around this time of year because of the Greed Factor. The best example I can relate to a film and real life on the Greed Factor is the malls at Christmas time and from the film Jingle All The Way. The malls (to me more specific Conestoga mall in Waterloo and Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener) are absolutely crazy because people want and need items because they left the Christmas shopping to the last minute and are frantically trying to find the items they have on their list for the family. This ties in with the film Jingle All The Way, in the film Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character Howard Langston, is trying to find a special toy for his son Jamie Langston. But a mailman played by Sinbad, wants the same toy for his son. Throughout the film Howard and Myron (the mailman) fight to the end to get this toy. At the end of the film, the only person without the Greed Factor is Howard’s son Jamie, who gets the toy, but does not want it anymore and gives to Myron to give to his son for Christmas.

That is my take on Greed and my theory on The Greed Factor, Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas break and there will be new sets of blogs in 2014.

Entry #6: New Allegations

I have decided that every Tuesday in the new year, I shall post on current issues worldwide, but today, I decided to take action because I have some sad news about Rob Ford, I was  looking on the CBC and CTV news apps on my iPhone and looking at their breaking news on my Facebook page, there is much more allegations on the Rob Ford scandal. It not just the crack-cocaine, marijuana, cocaine, and his on-going drinking problems, Ford also tried to buy the crack-cocaine video and the new allegations show that Ford has done heroin, one of the most addictive drugs in the planet.  The story goes as told “Toronto Mayor Rob Ford made attempts to buy the video of him smoking crack and also allegedly used heroin in April of this year, newly released police wiretap documents suggest. Ford allegedly offered Rexdale gang members $5,000 and a car in exchange for the video of the mayor "on the pipe," according to phone conversations between Dixon Road gang members intercepted by police in the Project Brazen 2 investigation. Also on the wiretaps is a conversation about Ford using marijuana and heroin in the early hours of April 20, 2013. The allegations are unproven and have not been tested in court. The latest documents, including wiretaps from phone conversations, were ordered released by Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer.  Lawyers for media organizations including the CBC fought for the release of information to obtain, or ITO, documents since Alexander (Sandro) Lisi was arrested and charged with extortion in early October. The latest release describes phone conversations among Lisi, Elena Basso, who lives at 15 Windsor Rd. where Ford was famously photographed with three young men, and various gang members in Rexdale. Ford himself does not speak on the wiretaps. However, the mayor’s name appears frequently, mostly in relation to obtaining the mayor's missing phone and the alleged crack video that was being offered to the mayor for money. Alleged gang members are heard on the wiretaps to say the mayor had offered $5,000 and a car in exchange for the video showing him smoking crack, according to the documents. Mohammed Siad, the owner of the video, was not satisfied with that offer. He is heard on the wiretap telling another member of the Dixon City Bloods that he was going to see Ford and ask for $100,000 to $150,000.The following events appear on the wiretaps from the early morning of April 20, 2013:

• In a conversation between Elena Basso and Liban Siyad, she mentions Ford was at 15 Windsor Rd., suggesting Siyad come over to meet with the mayor.
• Siyad says he was to deliver drugs to the mayor.
• Abdullahi Harun tells Siyad on the phone that Ford is smoking "dugga" or marijuana, and has "so much pictures" of Ford doing "hezza" or heroin. Siyad asks Harun to photograph the mayor doing drugs because the photos would be worth money.
• Siyad says "that the mayor of the City Rob Ford was smoking his rocks today," and "advised he was at [15 Windsor] house and that he will put a picture up on Instagram."
• Lisi calls Siyad to say Ford is "freaking out" that he is missing his phone. Siyad says he can get it back. Lisi threatens to "put heat" on Dixon Road.
• Siyad didn't heed the threat, since he says he has photos of the mayor "on the pipe."

Later in the wiretaps, it's alleged that Siad was kidnapped by other members of the Dixon gang and threatened over his attempts to sell the video. In the documents the police say they had no evidence to confirm the kidnapping. Lisi was the focus of the initial drug-trafficking investigation, but the mayor appears in other surveillance reports. The time period for these latest wiretaps begins just after reports first surfaced of a video that purported to show Ford smoking crack cocaine. At the end of October, police revealed they had obtained a copy of a video file that was consistent with what the media had reported in the spring. In early November, Ford did an about-face and admitted to having smoked crack cocaine while serving as mayor of Toronto, despite having denied for months that he had done so. He also admitted to drinking to excess and to being “extremely inebriated” in a separate video that emerged after the Toronto Star paid to obtain it, which showed Ford ranting and swearing. There was also an uproar over a crude sexual comment the mayor made when speaking to reporters about allegations that appeared in a police document. Council moved to strip the mayor of selected powers in the wake of the many admissions the mayor made about his behaviour. A large majority of councillors urged the mayor to take a leave of absence, but he defied their calls to do so. The drug-related scandal involving the mayor has made headlines around the world and had dominated Ford’s daily business at city hall for months. Ford, 44, has served as the mayor of Toronto since 2010. He still has another year to serve under his current mandate.
Long before stories of the drug video emerged this past spring, Ford often found himself in the midst of controversies as mayor. A conflict-of-interest challenge nearly forced him from office, though he won an appeal that overturned a removal order and Ford was able to hang on to his job. Ford also faced a defamation lawsuit that was dismissed. The mayor has faced criticism over his commitment to coaching football, his personal driving habits and his workload.” CBC News. This is not only sad, but it is a serious cry for help, as a citizen of Canada, I urge Mr. Rob Ford to take a leave from his duty as mayor of Toronto and get help.

This is not a laughing matter anymore, I am sick of hearing people make fun of a man who has a drug and drinking problem, if that was you on the news everyday making headlines, the world looking and laughing at you, would you get help or would you stay and become a fool and a laughing stock?

Entry #5: Stress: A student’s Pain or Drive

Stress: A student’s Pain or Drive

Stress is one of the most common found things in a student, in the workplace, and in everyday life. As a student, I have been to both educational institutions, I mean of course University (a former Political Science student) and College (a current and alumnus of Conestoga College) I have seen my strengths and weaknesses. When I attended college, when I was 18 years of age, I was very excited, because I was going to get an average of seventy-five percent (75%) to head into university to study one of my favorite topics, politics and political science. As I was achieving and working hard towards that average, I had the biggest drive to get into Laurier. I did my research, and I looked at the program itself and it just spoke to me as an interest. A little history on my interest in politics and public transit, when I was eleven (11) or twelve (12) years of age I turned on the television to CTV’s question period, and I watched the late Jack Layton give a speech to the House of Commons on why Canadian’s need some kind of break (unfortunately I cannot remember what the speech was for, but anyways) he really spoke to me, because, I am a kind of guy who wants everyone to be happy and to get a break, now since Layton’s passing, I watched one of Justin Trudeau advertisements on why he is focusing on the middle class rather than the political class. He also spoke to me, since then I have been a Liberal-NDP hybrid supporter, but I am not a Conservative. To Public transit now, I have been taking Kitchener-Waterloo’s public transit (called Grand River Transit or short form is GRT) since grade 9, I have seen improvements and reductions, and I do not believe I will ever get m license because of this service.

            Back to stress now, during my winter term in 2011-2012 year at Conestoga, I turned 19 and bought two (yes 2) bottles of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, I loved it, then my dad mentioned I should go and try some cherry whiskey and cherry brandy, I enjoyed that as well, since then I drank causally, not everyday. Of course when I graduated I was very emotional, mostly angry, I am not too sure why, but the smallest things would set me off, since then, I have much more control over my anger, and I do not do ridiculous actions. When I got to university, during the exam period, the stress got to me, and I went and bought three (3) bottles of Smirnoff flavored vodka, two bottles were gone within 2 weeks because I was drinking it everyday, every morning, lunch, supper, even when I did not want to drink, I would drink it. Then one morning, I caught myself drinking straight vodka, and my stomach and my brain told me “I have problem.” I have been sober for 11 months. Since that time I have turned my attention away from alcohol and more into hockey and politics and my future plans in Waterloo region.  
      The point of me revealing my dark past is that, we are all human, we make mistakes, this mistake taught me that even when you have nothing and your at rock bottom, just find that little spark in your heart and in your mind, you can break free of your addiction and your problem. They belong behind you, not in front of you.