They're banning cell phones on high school properties across Toronto. 

I completely understand this move, knowing first hand just how common it is for students to abuse the use of cell phones during class. Not only are they texting during school hours, by hiding the phone under the desk, I've actually known people who answered their phones during class. 

My only problem is that we're getting to the point where if we want a behaviour stopped in our schools we have to create a ban. Kilts get too short we ban them instead of enforcing a 'length' rule. Cell phone use is abused and we ban cell phones from school properties instead of placing rules on when they can be used and following through with a punishment. 

We're not helping future generations with all these bans. In fact, we're hindering them by failing to teach them the meaning of self control. 

Besides, in terms of the cell phone ban, I doubt it'll actually be followed. There are no clear guidelines as to what disciplinary action should be taken if students fail to comply, and if the students decide to ignore  the ban, I don't exactly see principals taking the time to write them all up, and I really don't see them suspending hundreds of students at once.

...Or glorifying a killer. 

NBC is facing criticism, mostly from the families of victims, for airing scenes from a package sent to them by the man responsible for the Virginia Tech shootings. 

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/usreport_usa_crime_shooting_nbc_dc

My first instinct is to agree with the critics. I don't see a reason to make the surviving victims of this crime and the families of those who didn't survive have to watch the man responsible for this over and over in the media. NBC claims that it is trying to understand and explain the mind of the killer, I say leave that to the experts. In a way, the killer is being glorified, being immortalized in the media world. And who knows how many unstable minds are watching this, idolizing him for his horrendous acts. Who knows how many copy cats are going to come of this insane need to detail those horrors in excruciating detail. 

There was a shooting. Too many people died. Why can't we just pray for all those affected by the tragedy and let them move on with their lives instead of shoving it down their throats again and again.

We won! YES!!! 

No thanks to Raycroft of course, at least Maurice had the good sense to pull him. 

And Bryan's goal, freakin' awesome!

All I gotta say now is GO DEVILS GO!

Another little ficcie partially based on real life. Like I said, my friends and I are all 'special'. 

I was watching 'The View' this morning and they were talking about how there's debate in the States at the moment about whether or not the Bible should be taught in public schools. 

*Please be advised before you continue reading that anything I say is not meant to insult anyone. It is simply a statement of my opinion, if you disagree please feel free to post your own opinions on the matter*


First off, The Bible it is a great piece of literature that has been studied for thousands of years now and it is the best selling book of all time. That alone, despite any religious tones associated with it, should be enough to make it something worthwhile teaching about. 

My only problem with its teaching is the question of who will be teaching these students. I don' t think it would be fair, in a public school, to teach the bible from a religious perspective (unless of course that was the purpose of the course). I think it should be taught as an incredible piece of mythology that may or may not have occured, and students learning about it should be allowed to question it and speak their opinions on it freely. 

I took a world religions class in University and I'll never forget the heated debate/argument that was generated when we began discussing the Bible. Personalities clashed on whether the Bible was God's word or simply a great anthology of stories that were possibly borrowed from other civilizations around the world. My point here is not to argue which side is true, it is simply to bring attention to the fact that the Bible is a subject of interest even to those who are of other religious beliefs or not at all religious. 

So, should it be taught in public schools? Absolutely, as an optional course for those interested in learning about the book. In my opinion, however, this class would only be successful if it were taught and moderated by someone without a religious agenda.
 

...so I thought I'd drop a line. 

Leafs are still in 11th place in the conference...thanks to the shitty performance @ Buffalo.  *baffled* I will never understand how you can lose a three goal lead in 13 minutes, only with the Leafs I tell ya. Oh well, at least McCabe looked yummy as ever, if we can't get a cup at least give us some eye candy, lol. 

And spring appears to be here at last, we've actually managed to go above zero a few times this week. We all know what that means...the school girls are gonna be pulling out their kilts, lol. 

Speaking of which...*rant warning*

It appears that the catholic school board wants to ban kilts because the girls are wearing them too high (let's just say Paris Hilton would be proud). I've got an idea for them. Back in the day, when nuns ran the schools there was this thing called punishment. When students did something that was against the rules they would be punished by, oh I dunno, getting a letter sent home, or being suspended. Maybe they should try that? Nope. Instead of enforcing the rules that have always been in place about the length of kilts, they're just going to ban the items altogether. That's really going to teach those kids a lesson...NOT!

And end rant.

I've been waiting for responses from the graduate schools I applied to in mid december and finally got one in the mail today. 

Not accepted. 

Well actually, it was more like: We regret to inform you...blah blah blah. 
This really blows. A perfectly good, professionally written paper and crisp envelope waisted on that. Blah! 
I keep trying to tell myself that it was only one school and maybe one of the other three will accept me, but that's not really helping any right now. I'm not sure exactly what I'm feeling right now to be honest, a little disappointed, a little hopeful, a whole bunch of  numb. 

I realized, as I was re-reading the letter for the hundredth time, that they don't really understand what's riding on this. They might think they do, but really they don't. This is my future, my family's future. What the hell else am I gonna do if I don't get in? 

Oh well. Just gotta wait it out and see.

Rant Warning! 

I am proud to say that I am a Canadian. We are always thought of as kind and helpful.  We've done everything in our power to help other countries at their time of need. But when do our actions stop being heroic and become hypocritical?

We were heroes when we sent financial aid to the disaster torn countries hit by the tsunami in 2004. We were heroes when our firefighters, doctors and nurses rushed to ground zero after 9/11. We were heroes once again when hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans. 

We were heroes when we sent our troops to help Afghanistan rebuild. 

We were heroes when we sent our troops to help Afghanistan rebuild?

Thousands of our troops were sent overseas to help a country that was in shambles due to poverty, terrorism, and a corrupt democracy . A heroic agenda indeed if it were not so hypocritical. 

They are fighting a corrupt democracy...like what we saw come to light with the sponsorship scandal?

They are fighting terrorism...like what we saw when 19 men were arrested for running a terrorist training ground, promoting terrorist propoganda and being in posession of bomb making materials?

They are fighting saving families from poverty...like the 552,000 Canadian families that have incomes below the poverty line, the 250,000 Canadian families that pay more than 30% of their income on rent, like the nearly 40000 individuals, (5000 of whom are children) who are presently homeless...In Toronto Alone!?

No. We're not heroes. 

When it comes to Afghanistan we're hypocrites. 

We, who cannot take care of  the rights of our own people, are fighting for the rights of others. 

We would rather spend 9 billion dollars to help another country when our own is not, although we don't like to believe it, in much better shape.  We would rather send our troops to their death in a foreign country, than use them to better our own. 

We stand on guard for thee....right.