Doesn't this guy remind you Michael McDonald on MADtv?

I'm sure every Canadian has now well acquainted with Koodo Mobile. If you aren't, you probably live in a hole somewhere.

Koodo has delivered perhaps the most agressive advertising campaign since those darn McGuinty public school ads during the 2007 Ontario general election.

Koodo has been exposed to death on TV, radio, internet, newspaper, billboards, malls, and transit vehicles and stations-- the whole media schbangle. Their motto is that it's Canada's fat-free mobility provider. Their use of Helvetica font plays on the "Nutrition Facts" labels you find on all Canadian food products. I suppose the 80's fitness fashion is just trying to be corny and playful.

Koodo is the result of Telus Mobility's product differentiation strategy, and it's intended to be the youthful and discount branch of the larger cellular service provider. This is Telus' second attempt at marketing to the youth demographic, after a failed attempt with Amp'd Moble. Anyway, Telus is just playing catchup, as all the other major cell phone networks already have established youth-oriented brands: Rogers has Fido, and Bell has Solo and Virgin.

With its aggressive advertising, it seems difficult for me to not listen. From its website, Koodo emphasizes fat-free mantra, with its no-frill, no access fee, no activation fee, no contracts, per-second billing approach.

Looking at their plans, though, I have to say that I'm pretty disappointed. There is absolutely no cost savings compared with my existing Telus plan. Koodo is just a repackaged version of the same crappy and expensive plans-- which is to be expected, since why would they lower prices at the demise of its parent Telus brand?

The only thing slightly different is the "Koodo Tab," which is essentially the 'catch' of having no contracts. Essentially, users can put up to $150 of the cost of a new phone on a tab. Then Koodo will apply 10% of a user's monthly bill toward paying off the cost of the phone. It's really not much different from getting the $150 credit for signing 3 year contracts.

Sadly, Koodo might as well be dumped like TV fitness machines it's attempting to mock.

Enjoy the commercials:
Mobile Diet Infomercial - [youtube.com]
Mobile leg lifts - [youtube.com]

Do you know what I'm getting fed up with? Loyalty reward cards. Almost every store's got them, making our wallets the size of cute square-shaped bagels. I was thinking about all the different cards that I could potentially own, and I think it's quite frightening. Here's a list just on the top of my head:

• HBC Rewards - The Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters, Designer Depot
• Shoppers Optimum - Shoppers Drug Mart
• Sears Club - Sears
• Air Miles - Rona, LCBO, Shell, Dominion, The Shoe Company
• PC Points Mastercard - Loblaw Co. Supermarkets
• iRewards - Chapters, Indigo, Coles
• Dividends Card - Staples Business Depot
• All-Access Pass - American Eagle
• Eddie Bauer Friends Card - Eddie Bauer
• Prestige Card - La Senza
• Love Your Body Club - The Body Shop
• Esprit Club - Esprit
• Signature Member - Bluenotes
• Scene Card - Cineplex Entertainment cinemas
• Moviewatcher - AMC Cinemas
• Pier 1 Imports Rewards - Pier 1
• Blockbuster Rewards - Blockbuster Video

Sure, I may have surrendered and opted for a few cards, but when will this marketing scheme blow over? Are you as tired as I am, when the cashier asks you if you have a [insert reward card name] card?

One card that has been ingrained into my head is the iRewards Card, the loyalty program for Chapters, Indigo, and Coles. When I worked there in high school, managers would continually push the sale of these cards. In fact, iRewards sales was one of three benchmark figures that determine store performance. Because I worked in the Multimedia section of the store, where the books were most expensive, there was a big push to sell these cards, since they were eligible to save 10% on their (big) purchase. The dialogue would often start like this:

[Matt finds a Oracle book for a customer, and places it in his hand]
Matt: Okay, here's the book sir.
Customer: Thanks for your help.
M: You're welcome. Oh by the way, have you heard of our iRewards program?
C: [In a hesitant tone] Um, no.
M: Well, if you become a member of iRewards, you can automatically save 10% on regularly priced books.
C: Oh really? That's pretty good.
M: Yes, you can use it at any Chapters, Indigo, Coles and on our website, and it is a yearly membership of just $20.
C: Oh it costs me? Oh forget it.

Uh huh, it's always fun selling these cards. When the customer goes to the cashier, you can be assured that he's going to hear about iRewards again. Argh!

Anyways, I wonder if there is any research about the effectiveness of these loyalty programs, given that we are now flooded with them. Do I prefer to go to Chapters because of the iRewards Card? Probably not, given that it's hard to buy books from any other book retailer in the suburbs. Perhaps proponents can make the argument that it may encourage customers to buy more.

Another concern I have with these loyalty cards is the customer information that they generate. While most retailers have privacy policies that state that customer information is never sold to other organizations, membership information is definitely used internally to investigate customer spending patterns. Should we be worried about this kind of practice? Perhaps not, I'm not too sure.

Anyway, what loyalty cards do you own?

Here's a email exerpt of corny but clean jokes I received from Housing and Residences. They're actually quite refreshing to read.

Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Wendy.

Wendy who?

Wendy today. Sunny tomorrow.

Knock, Knock.
Who's there?
Nobel.
Nobel who?
No bell, that's why I knocked!

Knock Knock
Who's there !
Bless !
Bless who ?
I didn't sneeze!

My neighbourhood is getting quite ghetto.

Although I've discovered my street's ghetto-ness for quite some time now (and I'm sure many of you who know where I live can concur), an interesting incident last night has affirmed this conclusion.

Last night, like every Monday, my sister and I wheel over to the Milliken pool for our weekly swimming adventure. Anyways, as we drove past through our ghetto street, you will begin to realize the difficulty of manoeuvering past my street.

For years now, our little quite crescent street in my suburban Markham neighbourhood has become a local street-basketball court. However, it didn't totally dawn on me until last night when a little boy, which seemed to be accidental, bounced his basketball onto the trunk of my car. Thank God that my poor baby didn't see any dents. I saw the terror in the little boy's eyes, so I let it pass-- though knowing me, I wasn't really going to really do anything about it.

Planners, remember when suburban streets were engineered only for cars? Well, miraculously my street is the quite exception. If people didn't know better, they would've mistaken my street as a rec centre.

Basketball program on the street is so extensive that through my casual obsevation, I could spot about three leagues:

• Elite - Consist of young teenagers, with their GANGSTA clothing


• Wannabes - Consist of junior elementary school students who so want to play on the Elite, but are too young or inexperienced


• Pee-Wee - Little Primary school children who play with those short Fisher Price plastic nets

Yes, so if the basketball games are in session, despite which league, you're looking at having to stall a few moments and have the players clear out a small narrow path for my little Sentra sedan to pass. You can tell that I'm a little annoyed.

Although basketball dominates as the sport of choice on this street, the occasional street hockey, bicycle drag racing, skipping and waterfightting could also be witnessed.

I just find it strange that as other suburban kids hide inside their homes and play XBOX, the children on my ghetto street enjoy to do what they do on the street.

This doesn't apply to just children. In the evening, you will see young and old adults bringing out their comfortable patio furniture and plot it on the driveway and just chill, laugh and shout.

Do you know my street is starting to resemble? My crazy street is becoming Harlem in the suburban sphere. Maybe it's a bit cliche, but I picture Harlem as a place where people chill on the street, sit on the doorsteps, play baseball, and where fire hydrants become the source of a waterpark for children.

As a man of Planning, I must say that despite a few annoyances when driving and dodging these kids playing on the street, I really support and encourage it. It's good to know at least that the kids aren't sitting in front of their computer all day (like me), but doing something healthy and active that they enjoy. Also, it just brings a bit of street liveliness and comradery, not to mention more eyes on the street means less opportunity for people to commit crimes.

So all in all, we have a good thing going about on our street, and despite that it is a little ghetto, I do enjoy and am proud of living here.

A revolution is unravelling in our suburban neighbourhoods and maybe this will quickly spread, but just let it be known that its origins was a little crescent at McCowan and Denison.

Update (May 23, 2007):
Apparently, I have become e-famous from a certain Redflagdeals.com thread. I'm very flattered that one of my musings has brought upon so much discussion! This is awesome.

But I have to say that a specific user, UrbanPoet, adequately summed up the gist of my article:

I think you guys are missing the point of the article. They dont mean its literally ghetto.

I think they trying to make the point that stereotypically ghetto things like hanging out on street blocks, shooting hoops in the hood, and adults sitting on front steps talking loud is actually a positive thing for a neighborhood.

I think you guys are missing the main point of the article.

[...]

This type of thinking is common. It's been reinforced by the writer Jane Jacobs (see Dark Age Ahead, the life and death of great American cities).

You can also check out articles by australian David Engwicht. "the nature of eco-city" in reclaiming our cities and towns.

I love my Markham, and the word "ghetto" is not to be taken in the literal sense. I in fact appreciate the fact that kids roam around the streets, because afterall, the streets should be for the people.

I officially declare the following people need to be shot.

• The person who invented suits


• The person or persons who established suits as the understood business attire for men

Let me get grab some bullets at Wal-Mart and off we go.

Maybe it was wrong of me to shoot the former, because I agree that suits are sexy, and as an extension of that, suits often make men look sexy / sexier (...give me a moment to ponder), but I hate to wonder, why isn't there a more accommodating business fashion protocol for the Summer?

We've been recently holding several multi-stakeholder roundtables at work and the boss-man wants me to represent the Ministry as he puts it, "professional business chic." Ever since I was a little boy, my mom has told me to check up on the weather so that you can dress accordingly. Needless to say, wearing a suit in extreme heat alerts is not what you call dressing for the weather. To make me even more glistening in perspiration, the Ontario Government has issued energy conservation efforts across all buildings in the city, which leaves office temperatures at about 24 to 25 degrees. Don't get me wrong, I commend the Government's initiative to set a good example for the rest of the province, but I swear there was a layer of dripping sweat concealed under the layers of suffocating cotton, and I'm sure many men at the meeting can concur.

My question is, who the fuck decided that suits be the understood fashion for business? Why hasn't there been some public upheaval of men to stand up and refuse to wear something that is absurdly inappropriate for the summer climate?

I refuse to believe that men out their enjoying sweating in their suits in scorchingly humid conditions. I refuse to believe that men out there want to make little personal saunas for themselves. And I utterly refuse to believe men enjoy showing off their wet marks on the back of their dress shirts... as purely evident in the office.

For that reason, I would like to start a grassroots coalition for wearing weather-appropriate attire in the workplace, with particular emphasis on stigmatizing suits as being overdressed in the Summertime.

Who's with me? Probably no one, but that's okay.

On a side note, what I find most irritating is that there is definitely a fashion gender injustice in the workplace and it is most evident in the summer months. While men are expected to at least sport a dress shirt, tie, dress pants and dress shoes, females can pretty much get away with wearing almost anything; anything from fitted tees, low-rise dark-coloured denim, sandals, shorts-that-appear-to-be-skirts, capris, spaghetti straps- the list goes on. In the office, sporting a polo on "Uncasual Mondays to Thursdays" would be considered being underdressed and be given this unspoken word that I've violated the eternal sins of the office environment.

Where's the equality? If ladies can wear spaghetti straps to work, so can I. Hmm, maybe only its equivalent. If ladies could wear shorts-that-appear-to-be-skirts, then men could at least wear khaki dress shorts- not that you would catch me ever sporting that, but that is besides the point. Men everywhere need to stand up and fight for fashion equality.

Sadly sometimes, it seems to be true what they say: girls definitely have more fun.

I think I have pussy-envy... sometimes. (Take that, Freud)

Don't worry, I'm in no rush to get a sex change.

I thought I'd share a story; I like stories. It's quite weird, yesterday was just one of those wacky days.

I went to Wal-Mart to return something for my mother on my way home from Scarborough Town Centre. As I'm sure you've all encountered the infamous "greeter" that stands around at every store entrance. It would be fine if these individuals actually did some greeting.

I don't know if you've seen some of the Wal-Mart ads. There are often images of a very cheerful greeter who always has a cart ready in their hand to offer to you when you come into the store. Seriously, I have yet to have someone welcome me to Wal-Mart and hand me a cart. Yes, I perhaps may not want a greeting, and not want a cart, but however it's the whole principle of it all that I'm disappointed at. They are communicating a message that is inconsistent with how they truly operate.

I won't even begin to discuss the sale of ammunition in a this so-called "family store."

As you know, the "greeter," in addition to "greeting" also has the responsibility to make sure that they sticker shut every shopping bag that comes into the store. Every time I enter the store with other shopping bags in my hand, I always attempt to steer clear of and avoid his or her eye contact- this case being no exception. I absolutely hate it when they sticker my bags. Not only is it sending a clear message that "I'm guilty until proven innocent," but it simply just spoils the shopping bag for future reuse (because seriously, who wants to have a ugly green tag with a Wal-Mart logo lugging around your shopping bags?)

Anyways, so as I enter in the store, I follow the same protocol, and slide right in. Then suddenly, I'm yelled at the "greeter" who grabbed my shoulder, loudly called me "hey", and made sure that my bag was sealed by their infamous theft deterrent stickers. Seriously, it was just crazy. Anyways, I understand that that's what the greeter had to do, so whatever, I didn't get upset with him and just shrugged it off.

This brings me to the next question: how effective is this Bag Sticker program anyways? Seriously, if someone really wanted to steal, I'm sure they can do whatever they need to slip the item in. Why are they wasting their McJob dollars on something that not only accomplishes nothing, but also decreases the value of the shopping experience?

It just boggles my mind. I'm going to rethink my patronage at this establishment!

I thought it might be good timing for an update.

Yesterday, the other students I had a chance to get a chance to go for a Legislature Tour. I was totally stoked on going, since I unfortunately had to cancel my appointment last term due to some last-minute branch meeting.

I remember when I was just a little boy in grade six when we last had a tour of the Ontario Legislature. But obviously, being like all the other crazy elementary school kids, it was more of a chance to fool around and play, rather than paying attention and listening.

But this time, ten years later, I did pay attention. Wow. This is how I've evolved. Ten years. I'm proud of myself.

The tour was pretty good, but shorter than expected. I remember some interesting tidbits that I thought I would share:

The Main Legislative building is actually not entirely symmetrical as you might think. The west portion of the building has four floors, while the east portion has three. Apparently, there was a huge fire back in 1913 in which people were welding on the roof. The welding equipment was apparently left unattended, while the construction crew was off for lunch. Sparks permeated into the building, and because the columns where made of (I believe) copper, the columns melted and collapsed. And there goes the building's west side. The west side was then rebuilt using marble, which were less vulnerable to fires.

The tour guide pointed out that there was sort of an image of dinosaur bones on three of the columns in the west wing. I thought that was totally neat. But after some Google searching afterwards the tour (or if you remember from Grade 10 Geography), marble is a metamorphic rock. It takes intense heat and pressure to transform it to marble, which obviously make it impossible for fossils to be still embedded in it. That totally ruined the "coolness" of it all.

Opening Sequence

Morphing Sequence

Back to the tour. Another interesting factoid is that in the Chamber, the government side and the opposition side of the house is exactly two swords' length in apart from each other. This was done to deter any violent brawls. Hmmm. Interesting.

The other students and I also had a bit of time to check out Question Period. I love Question Period. It's definitely much funner to watch in-person than on the tube. You can better hear all the lewd remarks from the opposition when cabinet member is speaking. It's nice to know that there's a nice live sitcom just across from the office.

Did any of you want to be a Page back in the day? Man, I so wanted to be a Page. I thought it would be totally neat to meet Bob Rae, who was then premier. I remember having this feeling that if I was in a room full of powerful people, then I would then become powerful too through the powers of osmosis. Anyways, it didn't happen. Apparently, go to school two hours a day, and spend the rest of the day performing Page duties. It is hard work and you are compensated $10 a day.

That's not bad for kid!

In prison you spend the majority of time in an 8 x 10 cell. At work you spend most of your time in a 6 x 8 cubicle.

In prison you get three meals a day and at work you only get a break for one meal, which you have to pay for.

In prison a guard locks and unlocks doors for you. At work you carry a security card round with you and you have to unlock and open all the doors yourself.

All your expenses are paid for you in prison, you don't have to work or buy a TV or pay taxes whilst at work they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for the prisoners.

In prison you spend most of your time looking through bars from the inside wanting to get out whilst at work you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.

... have a great weekend everyone and enjoy the sunshine.

In surveys performed by famous sexologists, Masters & Johnson, Kinsey and the studies at National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) have been in consistant with one particular finding. Here it goes:

Educated people -- as in those with at least a University/College degree -- reported a signficantly higher rates of sexual activity, masturbation, sexual-positional variety and sexual experimentation. All three studies have suggested that because educated people are aware and more exposed to sexual issues, thus education is seen as a liberating experience.

So didn't hear it from me -- though I do encourage. All you educated peoples of Canada, show what your education is made of, further prove these studies right, and go forth in the world!!!!!!!

I love sex class, wish me luck, I have an exam tomorrow.

UPDATE:
Weekend was wonderful Had dinners with mom and grandma on Friday and Saturday-- and spent the rest of the time either sleeping or working on my work report. That's all.

Classes are going well. Sex class continues to be my best class-- although her humour is kinda getting retarded-- its like she's waiting for a laugh, but it just aint funny sometimes. but neverthess, she's a cool prof. oh yeah. BUS 111 is full of crappy work. holy moly! distance ed: never again!!!! Job opening start tomorrow... here we go again. :S

I'm taking Management Science this term. This is an artsy elective for specifically for Engineers and Mathies. And of course, since it is time for me to find a hot engineer and be a wealthy homemaker, it just makes sense to take MSCI. The demographic is hotter than I imagined ;)

Anyways, we have a two-page assignment due on Friday and seriously, some are freaking out and posing a billion questions -- what font size should it be? how should it be structured? First of all, it's an OPINION paper-- wait, it's not even a paper, it's just simply a short answer question. GEEZ! it's TWO 'EFFIN PAGES! Just write the g-damn thing!!!!!!

MY ANTSY-NESS:
I don't know why but there's been something wrong with me. On campus, the everthing is turning me on. I think I have a condition. The other day, there's someone around the co-op building, leaning towards the wall stretching and doing lunges. Lunges turn me on-- maybe because lunges means it is a start to one's workout.. and maybe that's sexy. But yeah... couldn't stop looking.

Today was sooooo warm and nice-- actually a little on the humid side. Anyways, there was a jogger-- could be a student, i'm not sure-- anyways, just jogging jogging away, and as I walk by, perhaps decided to cool down and poured bottled water all over.

drenched.
liquid. rolling from the neck, down to the chest.
absorption stops as water reaches abs.
WHY ARE YOU TEMPTING ME, LUCIFER!!!!!!!!!

There is this tree on campus that turns me on. This tree looks like Angelina Jolie. I've noticed this tree since the Winter term when I would go to work. Since then I see that tree completely differently-- it's so weird, the shape of this tree just looks like Angelina!!!! and now that the leaves are growing in, it really loooks soo cool!.. oh my gawd, I feel like humping that tree.

Now that's environmental preservation! ;)

Maybe because summer is here: you can finally see some skin-- not to mention the thinness of vintage t-shirts these days. ;) mmmmm. It's nice to see people outside-- there's more people outside now in the Spring term, than the Fall term with two times of the population. But yeah, it's nice to see people chilling outside. Makes me happy. People sweating makes me happy too. mmmmm sweat, mmmm

One thing that is disappointing is that no one has yet played beach volleyball on campus. It better cum soon---- wait, that's me. Oh dear lord, help me.

UPDATE:
We're passed the 2.5 weeks threshold. We have only 11 more days of work! ELEVEN! and then we do it all over again with another school term-- which I will not be looking forward to-- particularly because of the living arrangements-- but again, must suck it up-- something I've become very good at (pun intended).

Easter weekend was a lot of fun and completely exhausting. Finally got a chance to see the Producers; somewhat disappointing. Maybe because my expectations were a little too high, since everyone who I have spoken to who has seen it said how good it was. Anyways, Mamma Mia is still much better-- they're similar in a way that they don't really have a cohesive plot-- just random things that happen that don't contribute to the plot. The singing was okay, the jokes were quite funny, tho tonnes of gay and racial jokes and so blatantly American-- that kinda bugged me a bit-- they didn't even try to Canadianize the production-- c'mon where are we?

Sunday was my dad's baptism/communion/confirmation night. It was quite the night, it's interesting to see how things have changed in our house. My dad has somewhat transformed quite a lot in the past few years. He is no longer that moody, insensitive, unhappy guy that he used to be. Maybe I'm not sure if it is him that changed, maybe it was also me. But whatever it is, we have become a lot closer; but we still have that distance. He seems a lot more happy and openminded. it was a very cool experience-- this is my first baptismal ceremony after my own :) very cool.

DICKIES:
Because of my massive amount of emails regarding how I should enlarge my penis, I'm going to talk about just that-- penis size. I wonder how many orders these companies actually have from all that spam. Yes, trouser snakes are man's best friend-- just like dogs-- see how appropriate it is aptly called that as well! We use it to relieve ourselves (in more ways than one), we listen to it, it gets us into trouble, it wakes us up, it entertains us (and others), and most obviously, it makes us men. hmmmmm.. do you think it i water it, it'll grow?

I had an interesting conversation with a friend a while back about schlong size and how if it really matters or not. I think we both came to the conclusion is that it does-- to a certain extent. I think there is a "range of resonable acceptance"-- too large or too small won't do. The cliche, "its what you do with it" surely applies, but she brought up the fact that perhaps the actual SIZE isn't an issue, but a matter of confidence-- and confidence is sexy. So too "small" might, cause someone to be insecure. So corresondingly, too "large" might spark a little cockiness (pun intended again) and that's no fun.

But then again, I think wee-wee size is like money. (and no, that's not what I mean) Everyone wishes they had more money, like how everyone always wishes their pecker is larger-- regardless how much "money" a person has (tho this is an overgeneralization)

Also, contrary to popular belief, there are studies that have concluded that there is not correlation between shoe size and member
size. So guess, it's not what they say, Shima! LOL! What about whether tightie whities restricts the growth of the joystick -- what do you think? I'm undecided on this matter. I'm thinking that growth of the member is mostly genetics and perhaps wearing something tight won't exactly affect it -- at least anything significant. But then what about those corsets that women wear to make them look thinner-- doesn't those corset-ish lingerie help the stomach retract the "excess fat"-- so wouldn't the dong do the same? (But then a dick is not "fat", hmm) Hmmm, tough call, tough call. Haha, they have recently talked about the correlation knob size to the size of your nose. HAHA. We'll see what the studies say :P

What do you guys think? (Man, there's lotsa weiner names-- i have purposely bolded them all, could you name any?)

Another note:
take a look at the lovely manties collection; I think you'll be enlightened to try a pair :D

Update:
My goodness it's finally friday. This quiet Reading week is over :D I'm officially a graduate of Introductory AutoCAD! I want a diploma, dammit! I wanna learn FormZ now. Anyways, I have no idea when I'll get to apply my knowledge-- that's is if I rememeber what I've learned. The instructor was pretty good, very patient with us. Though I did rant to my Academic Advisor / Boss the "Architectural" nature and bias of his classes and the next day, she addressed the complaint (annonymously). She's a pretty cool lady: she's like my mom. (Aww, I miss my mom.) They *do* care about their students. :D

Nothing else to report. It's been pleasantly quiet. I like indeed. I've been a lot happier the past few days. The weather has been so good. The warmness makes me really happy-- soon, just soon, we will be wearing t-shirts and tanks again! woo! skin makes me happy. lol

---

Here we go,
So yes, banks are retarded. When I was ten, my dad decided to open a bank account for me at TD so I can learn the value of money through my 'red pockets'. Anyways, there was no more than like $100 in that account, and I remember lending like $70 to my sister for her (ugly) prom dress. Anyways, I later then worked at McDicks, and they forced all employees to get a CIBC account which brought me here to date.

Anyways, I get a notice from TD saying that I have a "dormant account" and you will be charged. The balance in my account was $4.26. If I do my math correctly: ($100 - 70 - 4.26 = @ $25.74) they charge me about 25 bucks (How many lottery tickets is that?).

What the hell? First of all, I'm giving you money (for quite a long period), and you're charging me? What the fuck? I'm sure you've been wisely using my miniscule amount money into investments. To put it into perspective: I am PAYING for them to keep my money for them to invest and make more money. Perhaps I'm a retarded planner, but this doesn't make sense to me. I need to get my hands on starting a new bank and jump on the bandwagon to charge customers for having banks keep money. Hmmm. LeeBank, I like, I like. Who wants in?

I ended up closing that account and of course with the TD-Canada Trust merger, my TD branch at Brimley/Steeles have closed and I had to trek all the way to Pacific Mall to do it. Argh. I get there, and they say that they can't find my file, and then they explain to me that the merging of branch locations has caused a lot of confusion. I'm like, you're a bank, there better not be confusion. Besides, I don't care-- who decided to close my branch? Geez!

So yes, banks are officially on my evil list. DIE DIE!

Update:
The weekend was just excellent! I had early Chinese New Year dinner on both Friday and Saturday-- the food was just fantabulous! Remember back as a kid, when we got all dressed up and got new clothes, got pretty lanterns, see the intense dragon dances-- aww, Chinese New Year is fun.

Work has been the same old. Not much work. I'm blogging at work as we speak; but again, you can't blame me for doing this-- I'm simply blogging to stay awake, as if I just sat there and did nothing, I'd just naturally cross my arms and put my head down. That's not good Matthew, not good.

Here we go,
Today, I'm here to talk about public display of affection. I was on the FedBus this weekend both to and from Toronto. And both times, I've encountered a couple demonstrating their naughty selves right in the seat in front of me. I simply do not understand why couples decide to use school bus facilities-- yes, a school bus-- a bus intended for little children but completely filled with grown burly university kids-- and play the wonderous game of "Make Believe" and pretend that it is their cosy living room loveseat. Oh my gawd, it bugs me so.

On my way to Toronto, let's call them the "Friday Couple," has definitely won my vote for the most pitiful just gawd-awful experiences for naughty behaviour in public places. Let me fill you in on the dialogue as we are completely stuck in traffic on the 401:

After a long off-and-on-makeout session, they are facing each other and gazing at each other.
"Oh Jon, you're the best"
"No, you are"
"No, you are!"
"No, you are"
I roll my eyes as this continues. They begin to giggle and tickling begins as now they are causing a big scene. After a while of giggling, they make out some more and they continue to stare at each other at long durations.
"Oh, hold me!" the girl said.
"Aww, this feels so nice"
"I'm soooooo cold" It was kinda cold and suddenly I recall that same dialogue in Titanic. I laugh in my head.
"Oh yeah? Well then... " They make out some more and sounds of moaning is fills the area. This is when I cannot take it any longer, I closed my eyes and I put on my discman and listened to my Britney Spears.

For the love of Pete (Shima: mmmm Pete) people, it is a School Bus. People don't have the option to not observe-- I cannot get off the bus, or face the back, or do anything. Do us all a favour: Abstain until AFTER you get home or gouge my eyes and burst my eardrum; i guess perhaps this is too difficult for some.

Well, the "Sunday Couple" was just utterly pathetic. We line up and wait for the bus at McCowan Station, and already I see them making out. I do remind you that it is 15 below zero and I don't know about you, tonsil hockey in the blistering cold is a bad idea. I hope they're carrying a mega chapstick because saliva and the blistering cold, are not an ideal combination for lips. Not to mention, who would like to kiss a pair of cold lips? Nevertheless, we get into the bus, and this couple has to find a seat close to mine. Fifteen minutes into the ride, they make out. I don't hear what they say, but this guy makes out with his eyes open- making me very suspicious of that guy. lol.

They do some cuddling and that sort, whatever, I don't really care. But I've noticed that every time they make out, the guy is looking elsewhere, not concentrating at the work at hand (That's very bad employability skills)-- focus my dear! He looks around has if someone is watching him-- which is true, the whole back half of the bus is. What do you expect, you loser.

Anyways, his pathetic downfall surfaces as I catch him doodling on the fogged up window as he makes out with his girlfriend. Oh my gawd, how did this guy get a hot girl like her-- do yourself a favour, PLEASE FOCUS!!!! This is not a test to see how efficient you are with your time! HAHA, he's probably a Waterloo Engineer!

By the way,
FYI: I'm saying this only because I'm jealous. :D I think it's time to post a personal ad, hmmmmm "Bus make-out buddy wanted."

Update:
Wow, it's almost been a week. Oh my, its been a long long gruesome week with nothing to do. Oh my gosh, remember when I said my big boss (since everyone I work for is my boss, I have to diffrentiate) was ill? Well, he's all better, but he hasn't been in! He's not in, thus, I cannot do any work. Instead, I've been delivering packages, sending stuff to UW Graphics, typing-- and still the majority of the time is doing nothing. Hehe, the question is: should I be complaining? This has sparked a somewhat big debate with my roommates.

Our lovely house on Amos has a new roommate, Gary. He's a friend of mine originally a friend of Shima's. This will be interesting, Gary's a pretty cool guy-- he works at Curry in a Hurry at the University Plaza. lol. Roommates have been generally okay-- except for the physical fighting at times; they do this a lot. It's weird because I don't see much of this-- since Mr. Skinny (me) doesn't and can't fight. They makes a lot of noise (at reasonable hours), and goes 'boom boom.' Paul has been sleeping early-- which is relieving some of my troubles from last term. and perhaps because I'm not as intolerant as last term, things are going well, I suppose.

Here we go,
On another note, one thing I've noticed is that I think too much. Especially when I'm here in Waterloo, I find it difficult to effectively and to fully trust a person to speak of my problems, my fears, and simply what's on my mind. Do you know sometimes, you just need some kind of assurance that everything will be okay? I tell people things, usually because (1) I need a second opinion about my thoughts and (2) Just so that someone knows what I'm thinking and what's going on. Seeking advice is usually not my objective, as often my problems are petty, recurring and unresolvable.

Indeed, I know that I'll be okay surviving the Winter here; I've done it before. But sometimes, it gives me comfort when someone is there for me, so-to-speak. That someone is readily available keep an eye out on me. That someone knows exactly what's on my mind. Sometimes, I fear that one day I'm just going to go insane and explode and that no one would be aware of what has gotten into me. I'm sure its not likely to happen (touch wood), however, that's what I fear.

That's perhaps why I miss my parents so much. I have learned one thing from going to university. Well, two things: (1) I should have gone to U of T (lol) and (2) To appreciate and honour your parents. (I need to work on the "honour" part). You don't realize how important they are, and how much they contribute to our lives, until they are no longer present to do that; but I guess that's how life is-- we learn to appreciate something only when it is no longer here.

Parents are perhaps the only people who you can truly count on at any time. Without a doubt, I have good friends-- no, I have GREAT friends-- friends that I can speak my mind about, friends I can count on, friends that understand what I'm feeling, but understandably, they should and must put their needs first.

That's what I feel when I'm here in Waterloo; I feel alone. There isn't that occasional physical checkup on me-- to see how I am doing. I could die in some snow warphole tomorrow and no one would know (at least for a few days). Freedom is actually quite scary to tell you the truth. Freedom comes at a huge expense. I wish I could be closer to my roommates; I still am very superficial around them-- as I don't feel that trust-vibe between us. And me sitting in front of a computer all day at work by myself in my office doesn't help at all about not thinking about loneliness. That's why I hate Waterloo so much-- not because of the horrible and overpriced food, not because of the lack of things to do (b/c there is), not because it smells like shit. If I was a permanent resident in Waterloo (tho God forbid), and studying in Toronto, I'd probably be feeling the same thing.

I think that's a wrap ladies and gents.

"When Christ said: "I was hungry and you fed me," he didn't mean only the hunger for bread and for food; he also meant the hunger to be loved. Jesus himself experienced this loneliness. He came amongst his own and his own received him not, and it hurt him then and it has kept on hurting him. The same hunger, the same loneliness, the same having no one to be accepted by and to be loved and wanted by. Every human being in that case resembles Christ in his loneliness; and that is the hardest part, that's real hunger."

-- Mother Teresa

so yes, what a stressful week. i managed to do 2 chapters of statistics exercises in one night. argh. so yes, i had my statistics midterm today. there was definitely good news and bad news. The good news is that I managed to do okay (after comparing answers after the test), the bad news is that I completely had no idea that Chapter 8 was on the exam! I ended up studying the textbook during the examination (it was open book). Craziness. I was like majorly panicking!

As for my interview, it went well. Remember, I told ya guys that I switched interivew times with a friend of mine? Well, the CECS people did not notify the interviewer, and gave me this funny face when I went in.
"You must be John. Oh yes, I'm not Tiffany"
"Oh thank god, I thought perhaps you had a sex-change"
(I personally thought that comment was rather inappropriate. But whatever.) I again stumbled on some questions, but I felt more confident about this position, just because I'm more qualified in terms of my technical skills. I find guy interviewers very intimidating (even more so).

What else. Today is the beginning of the 30-Hour Famine at the Student Life Centre and buddy old Lizzie was in the Hip-Hop Club and performed at the Great Hall. They were excellent-- and actually inspired me to perhaps take up the Club in the Summer term! I would join this term but with Imprint and Konja, it's a little overwhelming.

I will be staying here this weekend in Waterloo, because I need to study for midterms. My grandmother has come back to Toronto (Today) and because of that, my sister has offically invaded my room. I feel so loved. :D It looks like I will be stay in Loo the following week as well, because Bowie is urging to stay since she is staying. Argh, I'm still pondering whether I can last 2 weeks. lol.

RANT DOSAGE

Do you know what pisses me off? Okay there is this person, we'll call him "Bubba." Bubba claims he is a really religious person-- he is a Christian to be exact. Well, I think that it is great that maintains such a high level of faith in god-- as sometimes, I wish I had the same. Anyways, we've had a lot of serious discussions on some common controversial matters about religion and again, I respect his views, as I do mine.

Getting to the point, he sometimes indirectly criticizes me for some of my "immoral" actions (e.g. using illegal software, etc) which I guess it's fine, I realize that some of those actions are wrong. However, he himself does "immoral" things himself. Just the other day, Bubba mentions that he has a few assignments to finish this week. (And for once, he has some work). Basically, he ends up just getting assignments from his friends and copies them and then continues to distract other who actually do accomplish their own work. The nature of Bubba's academic program, I can see can faciliate lots of assignment copying, but it not only pisses me off that he can get away with doing nothing (and distracting others), while I'm here, hibernating in my room all the time writing papers, studying for midterms etc. I understand, nobody's perfect, he's human like others-- what really bugs me is this criticism he has on me, and how he is doing exactly the same thing and continues to portray this "I'm so good, I believe in God" persona. It's really irritating.

...

In some funny news: The Globe and Mail has out a new University ranking issue. Waterloo was ranked 9th in Canada for graduate studies in law, 8th in medicine and 8th in business. The funny thing is that UW does not have a Law, Medicine and Business Program!!! Have a great weekend, all.

Wowsers, already August 13.. oh gawd. NOO!

Anyways, a nice day at work I suppose. My manager is on bitch-mode yet again. Just because I didn't get to work on the new gift markdowns on the weekend, she bitches at me. I told her that I worked on setting up the back-to-school tables and did some MAJOR spring cleaning in the gift room in the shipping/receiving bay-- all she can say is "So you didn't start the markdowns?" "But.. " "So you didn't start the markdowns."

Argh, she just doesn't appreciate my work. But nevertheless, I know I work hard and other managers know that. I'm starting to miss Chapters. Haha, it's funny because I can never seem to leave the place. I donno, I get a satisfaction at Chapters-- that I'm making a difference. It's a cool feeling. It is likely I'll be back for Christmas (I know, call me crazy)

On Saturday, the whole family went to see the Jays game for my Dad's 50th Birthday. It was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed the cheering and yelling. LOL. They ended up winning the game (against the Rangers), which was a nice end to a good day. :D

---

Today, I want to talk about Crazy Anti-Pop Culture people. I can't stand them.

Okay first of all, I would consider myself a pop-culture kinda person-- I like top 40 music, I like hollywood movies, I like MSN, I like popular TV shows. But what I really despise is those people who have to look down upon anything in the pop culture scene. A pure example (though a very old example) is I remember back in computer's class, a certain someone-- we'll call her "Carol", used to love the band Staindand she has admitted it when they weren't so popular, but once "It's Been Awhile" was playing on KISS92 (The Top40 Station), she like "Oh God, ew, that song is playing on Kiss 92."

I'm like "What the hell?" It irritates me the fact that people try too hard to be "different", to be a cultural rebel, to be a bitch to those who do enjoy pop culture. Their desperate intention to not conform sickens me. If you like the song, you like the song-- doesn't matter if it's played on KISS92, Edge, or 1050CHUM.

A former co-worker from Chapters brings me to another example. She simply strives too hard to be different. She shops at Value Village, listens to indie punk music, and condescends at me because I enjoy 3 Doors Down and Matchbox Twenty. "OMG, radio stuff?", she replies. My interpretation from her response is: "All radio music is shit." hmm.

Statements like "Oh God, ew, that song is played on Kiss 92." and "OMG, radio stuff?" is simply saying "I want people to think I'm different and that I refuse to conform to what's popular." Back to my former co-worker: If she thinks pop-culture is so bad, then why is she working at Chapters?!?-- go find yourself an bookstore independent or something.

People have to realize that the what i call the acute-nonconformists are indeed conforming even though they continue to represent themselves as "different". They are simply conforming as nonconformists-- but you don't hear me say, "Oh god, you like that song? How could you, it's like not on the radio!"-- it's just ridiculous.

Pop-Culture is exactly what it means: It's what's popular. I don't really care if you don't like Staind on Kiss 92, I don't care if you don't like the Spice Girls, I don't care if you don't like Friends. Just don't prejudge something as negative just simply because it's pop-culture, or high-culture, or underground-culture for that matter. If you don't like Matchbox Twenty, maybe you don't like the Rob Thomas' (lead singer) voice-- that's a legitimate answer.
In anything, just judge things at face-value. THAT is what makes people unique and different.

bonjour mes amis, not too interesting of a week to mention-- but i'm really trying to enjoy the last few weeks of summer-- but lemme tell you, I've enjoyed my summer indeed.

despite some boringness at work.. it's been great, good times, good weather, good friends, and most of all, no important worries-- that's the big one. well.. there are worries, but seriously, they are in the back burner and are things that would be nice to have "resolved", but really, i'm happy regardless-- so knock on wood-- i'm happy.

Jen, Eug, Mar, Bow and I went to have Shanghainese food on Saturday, which was quite delectable-- and pretty darn cheap for Shanghainese food. Anyway, Eugene used the excuse of tiredness to go downtown and drop some stuff off for a buddy of his-- but we won't buy that eugene.. but don't worry, we'll forgive you when you treat us all to dinner. ;) ;)

so yes... off to downtown we went... which was fun indeed. we went to Nathan Phillips Square, stared at the beautiful view and chatted quite a while-- til 12.30... but on our way there, I bumped into my sister on Queen Street-- talk about coincidence.. she was going clubbing with her RyeHigh friends-- anyway, great night-- oh yeah..... Jenn gave me a passionate kiss... i asked Jenn to do me in the back seat-- but that wasn't happening.. but i must persevere!!!

Sunday, I went shopping with Mark and Eric... disappointing fall line (esp AE), disappointing-- wow, seriously, Markville is McGiviney-- oh good old highschool.

----

Okay back to the Simplified-Traditional Debate-- first of all, thanks for all your comments, I really appreciate them. I really enjoy these forums.

So yes, I still believe that Simplified Chinese is unnecessary. Perhaps Jenn is right, I'm biased-- I've never been too exposed nor did I receive any Simplified Chinese education, but in my opinion some characters seem unproportioned-- or "ugly" as eugene puts it-- I think "unproportioned" speaks much better in this context.

And perhaps Leo is right saying that it has raised literacy levels. I'm not sure. But Simplified Chinese is simply Chinese-shortform-- that's all it is (no duh). They still continue to use those funny looking things beside the character for pinyin (or pronunciation). So I'm not sure how Simplified Chinese is making people read more effectively-- maybe someone can educate me on this one.

But if the whole point of Simplified Chinese is simply that it is "less to write," the question is, is it necessary? Yes, it is more efficient but is it soo important so that the entire country have to simply covert to this new form? Yes, HK and Taiwanese people surely use a quasi-simplifed-chinese in everyday writing, especially when they write so "leew" (or "cursive")-- i think that is completely acceptable and okay, but we should not deliberately change formal writing -- it is like saying "LOL" is acceptable in current formal essays.
Maybe Canada should make a law to eliminate all short-sounded-vowels in writing-- that definitely would save us time. But why change for the sake of change?

Chinese is a beautiful language (in writing :D ) and it is fine the way it is (well, not that I know a lot, lol). The Qin Dynasty contributed greatly to unite the once many forms of the Chinese written language. It brought the Chinese people together. Language is an important emblem for one's culture, but through Simplifed Chinese, we are doing the reverse-- continuing this growing separation of the Mainlanders and the others.

This is Matt signing off.
God made me special.

Cyberspace, definitely a efficient place for people to gather information-- we can get what we want and when we want it and of course, where there's convience, there's a market for it. Yes, I'm here to Rant about Cyber-Giant Amazon.

I was just checking out some prices for this Old CD (The Prentenders) for my father. And of course, you do the normal check: Amazon.ca, CDnow.com, and HMV.com. To my realization, both CDnow, and HMV Canada, has teamed with the evil Amazon. Suddenly, 3 sources for Music has become 1. I just wonder, when is this "swallowing" of companies going to end? Like how Sears swallowed Eatons, like now Indigo swallowed Chapters, like how Amazon swallowed, HMV.com, CDnow.com, Borders.com, OfficeDepot.com, ToysRUs.com and the list goes on.

Perhaps I am a hypocrite, becuase I do, work for a quasi-monopolistic bookstore chain which has definitely impacted the independent bookstores, however, enough is enough. Sooner or later, consumer sovereignity will cease to exist, becuase the smaller companies simply cannot compete with the upper hand of the leading businesses. Our consumer choices will continue decline.

Perhaps others may see this "swallowing" as efficient, and a great way to grab the customers of the "swallowed" businesses and companies like Amazon has indeed expanded its product line, through this tactic. And perhaps, that's just the way it is with Market economies, however, we must stop this merger-madness. Sooner or later, I'm afraid we'll be invaded by Wal-Marts, Home Depots, and god forbid, make me, the Chapters bookseller, take online orders from Amazon.ca, ewww. If this keeps up, Chapters.ca's fate is inevitable. I'm sure.

This is Mattism and this is rant.

Hey everyone! Greetings from the Porter Library! Well, I have a few minutes into my next class... and since it's not enough time to get out my books and read, I'd decided to blog! YAY! I'm starting to think that Kristin Kreuk is giving this site bad feng shui! Hahah Is she not hot enough for you, my lovely visitors to visit?!? hahah! it's been almost a week and a half and i'm tired as hell.... last night we played BIG 2 for shots! WOO HOO! well, the point was simply to make Steve pissed drunk, since he just turned 19! and we soo did the trick! (sorta) haha. .ok, on to my obsessive compulsive disorder... i don't know why... maybe because of many missed classes and being hours late for work when i worked at Chapters Waterloo, i have been very obsessive to check whether my alarm clock has been (#1) set at the right time (#2) make sure that it is in the desired AM or PM (i always get it wrong) and (#3) making sure to turn in on! Espeecially when I have 8.30 / 9.30 classes almost daily. So, every night i would have to check almost half a minute to check whether the alarm meets all three of my criteria. and often in the middle of the night, i wake up and i, in panic, would get up thinking that i'm late, and go through the same half-minute procedure before i go back to bed. and the funny thing is that i ALWAYS wake up minutes before the alarm rings!! AHHH!.. please people, heal me from my disorder! (And no, not going to class is not an option, as it would violate my new years resolution)

Oh yes.. first of all, i little warning to everyone: Well, i'm sure many many of you saw my hair on Monday, and i'm sure you all loved it so... mm hmm....hahahhahah!! just a little reminder that the place that i got the haircut is at Market Village across from Bell World... i don't know what the name is.... so yeah... so do refrain from getting haircuts there in the future... see? you never lose out when you read Matt's Blog!!! hahah.

Anyways... i am curious why people don't take no for an answer... fuck... well... the hair dresser bitch asked me earlier on whether i would like to have my hair washed and i replied "No"... and then i got on the hair stool and she inspected that my hair was very thick and dense... sure, i agree with her... but basically pleas to have my hair washed so that she will have an easier time to cut my hair... i replied "No" once again b/c i don't wanna spend more $$$... but she stubbornly asks me again and again.... does she think that i'm so stupid that she is just trying to scam more money on me?...i was thinking in my head: "if you were a real hair dresser, can't you just spray my head with water like the others?" i got so frustrated with her that i politely shouted, (i know that sounds impossible) "i don't have enough money!!!"..... but to my realization after, I had a 20 in my wallet!.. hahha... (doing the math: haircut $10, wash $9.... so 10+9=19) hahha.. anyways.. she saw my 20 and acted like a bitch to me.... not that i care.... hhahah.. so yeah... I repeat: Market Village across from Bell World...

5 days of school left! boo hoo!

did i mention Market Village across from Bell World?