School Security?

Some times you just have to shake your head.  Tonight I am watching the news and U.S. schools are looking at all kinds of new exciting technologies that can be used in school classrooms to help in the case of a gun attack.

First there was a kind of bank vault type of contraption that up to 15 kids could quickly run into and close.  Sort of a bullet proof steel panic room that would sit at the back of the classroom just in case.  Then there was the Teacher's chair that was bullet proof allowing the teacher to hover behind it and deflect bullets.

Of course no kid would be complete without a bullet proof backpack and iPad cover.  The theory being the kid could hold these out in front of them and deflect any incoming shrapnel.  Now this would all be funny if it wasn't so sad!  Here is a country that is disgusted by chemical weapons being used in Syria but probably has as many children killed each year by gun violence in their own back yard. 

I don't blame Obama, I think he is doing what he can with the hand he was dealt.  But getting any sort of gun control passed through their Congress is damn near impossible.  After all, Obama doesn't really run the country, in actuality it is Ted Nugent and the NRA!

I am not saying that in Canada things are perfect, but I am damn glad that when kids here start their first day of school they can be excited to see their friends, use their new pencil crayons and wear their favorite t-shirt! 

Consultation

"Consultation", it a favored buzz word.  It is often used in political dealings, in business or anytime there is perceived to be an impact on another party.  I am not against consultation, there is certainly a time and a place for it.  But sometimes I don't think it is needed.  Sometimes it just opens an ugly can of squirmy worms.

This is how I feel about the current consultations going on in Terwilligar about the transitional housing project that is currently trying to break ground.  The Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre plans to build such a facility next year, on land leased from the Anglican Church.

From what I have read in the news, the facility will house people who have formerly been homeless but are now ready to transition into their own homes.  They will pay rent, it will be about 20% less than someone not getting support but they will still be self sufficient.  This is not a half way house, it is not a home for the criminally insane, it a basically an apartment like thousands of others in the city. 


So why I ask is there a need for a public consultation!?   I actually find this discriminatory and insulting.  People are asking if "they" will be allowed to drink in their home.  Really?  Are you allowed to drink in your home or do you need permission from all of your neighbors?   Of course alcholism ONLY ever happens to the poor.  It NEVER happens in middle class families!?  Never!

If I see one more well to do white women talking to the media about how she is so "concerned" that they will be so isolated I will puke.   Get off your high horse and be honest about how you really feel.  "They" make you uncomfortable.  I see these women standing talking to the media with another apartment building in the background and I think...what the hell is the difference?!  Many of the folks in that building don't have a car, take the bus, have lower income households.  Some may even drink or lord knows what. This project is planning to offer shuttle service to various stores and services.  In a well to do building this would be referred to as an "amenity".

And so I ask again, why was there a public consultation for this project?  What does it serve?  All it does is bring out the ugly prejudice of people and make those who may have already had a hard kick in the ass from life feel even less wanted.  Have some freakin compassion people, climb back in your SUV, drive into your attached garage and go into your perfect house.  If you ignore them they will ignore you!

Mistborn Trilogy

Since I have been turned back on to books I have become a reading machine. Well not quite Cliff or Liam level, but I have been polishing off many books. I think for me the critical difference is reading on the iPad. I like being able to adjust the light, the font, the font size. I like being able to just buy a book from iTunes on the spot and start reading. I am sure a reader is similar but I happen to have an iPad so that works well for me.

After 7 months of continuous reading I finished off the over 12,000 pages of the Wheel of Time series written by Robert Jordan. The last few books were finished by Brandon Saunderson after Jordon passed away. The final book was pretty epic. One of my friends that read the book said he found it too dark, however I was OK with that, after all it was the final good versus evil, world gonna end type of story. That shouldn't be sunshine and lollipops. One of the things I found most interesting is that the final battle was not all about Rand. Actually he played a small part really. It was about all of the other characters and their will to fight and survive that really tipped the scale. There were many times in the book when I felt hopeless and then something would happen that would make me cheer and think there was a chance. It was an amazing read with some of the deaths and characters that lived a surprise.  And Lan, what can I say about him...he has been one of my favorites from the very beginning!  The world Jordan created was so rich I may have to read it again one day as already many of the details of the 14 books is fuzzy.

After finishing this one I wasn't sure what to read next. I have realized I like the fantasy genre so my WoW friend (Bloodburner) recommended the Mistborn Trilogy. This is also written by Brandon Saunderson so I thought I would give it a try. I just finished the final book today and had a good cry at the end. It was one of those happy/sad endings that also had the good/evil, ruin/preservation theme. I like how Saunderson writes, he doesn't waste words and moves the story along really well. He has a lot of cool concepts such as Allomancy and the ability to burn metals that provide various powers such as strength, speed, etc. The story has the nobility who are the haves and the Skaa who are the have nots and their attempt at Rebellion against the Lord Ruler. There are Inquisitors who have spikes for eyes and are almost impossible to kill. The main character is a young street urchin named Vin that is half Skaa/half Nobility and is a Mistborn. You would need to read the books to understand what that means but suffice to say she is bad ass!

 Now I need to find a new book or series to read. I think it was Liam who recommended Kingkiller Chronicles? I am open to suggestions. I can't bring myself to read 50 shades of grey, doesn't sound interesting at all. I think I will stick to the swords and shields kind of fantasy as that floats my boat!

The Hip

Tonight I was watching a show about a Tribute band called "Practically Hip", and it reminded me how much I love "New Orleans is Sinking". Every time I hear this song I want to have a whiskey and a cigarette in a skeezy bar while the Hip rock it out. I don't smoke or like whiskey but it just seems fitting for this song. I think the hip would be amazing so see in that kind of setting!

WoT

In August a friend suggested I read the Wheel of Time series.  I was looking for something to read and had never really read any fantasy books before.  He suggested I start with New Spring and go from there if I liked it.

Well needless to say I got hooked.  Seven months later and I am getting close to the end of the series.  I recently finished "The Gathering Storm" which was amazing!  There have been many moments in the series where I couldn't put the book down, but I think this was so great because a few stories came to a head.  For months and months the Rebel Aes Sedai's were camped outside of the White Tower until Egwene was taken captive.  I really enjoyed her campaign to gather support from within the tower while she was a prisoner and getting daily beatings.  But the real excitement came when the Seanchan attacked and she linked with the Novices and kicked some Seanchan ass!!

The other major event was Rand.  The poor Dragon Reborn was almost dancing with the Dark One himself, corrupting things as he walked by with his shadow of evil and death.  It's understandable with everything he has been through, especially being collared by Semmeriage the Forsaken.  A heart stopping moment occurred shortly after when he almost killed his father Tam and nearly took out the "world" with his suspicion and rage.  The best moment was when he had a life changing epiphany and realized he has another chance to do better!  What a great moment in the story.

Oddly Matrim Cauthon also has been a pleasant surprise.  He was such a bugger early on in the books and yet his storyline has become some of my favorite stuff.  Blood and bloody ashes he is hilarious!  He now has to go to see the "snakes and foxes" about Moraine, which should be awesome.  I have missed her from the story for long enough.  Her and Lan were the two characters that got me hooked in the first place.

This book was the first book written by Brandon Sanderson after Robert Jordan died.  The transition has been really seamless as it is still Jordan's story but Sanderson's words.  If anything I find him a little less wordy which suits me just fine.  In previous books there were definately a fair number of "wtf" chapters that seemed realatively useless.  I guess if your book series has 12000 pages, you are entitled to some unnecessary words, errr..paragraphs... I mean chapters!

So now back to reading the Towers of Midnight.  The final battle is getting closer every day.  The "miasma's of evil" are getting much more frequent, but Rand is almost as ready as one can be to fight Evil itself.  I am excited to finish the book but like any good story I will miss it when it is over. 

The Year is Almost Done

It hard to believe that December is almost over and we will be heading into a new year...how the hell did that happen?

Today we had the family over and it was a really nice day.  I have a small little family but we are close and feel nice and relaxed together.  Last night we went to Chad's family function as well and had a good time, the fun gift exchange had some silly moments.  I totally wanted the Chia pet but my number was too low and I didn't get to steal!  Chad's young cousin passed away very suddenly from cancer just after xmas last year and although it must have been hard, his parents and siblings came and celebrated with the family.  I saw a few tears but I  admire their courage to move forward in spite of such a terrible tradgedy.

This year wasn't terribly eventful for me which is what I like.  My closest friends had some highs and lows this year.  The lows are difficult but often they can be used as an opportunity for a fresh start.  The highs are great as I get to see friends fulfill some of their dreams.

On a personal note, I found work this year really challenging.  The account I work on and people I work with are great, but the level of stress was high and the level of satisfaction was low.  I am one of those people that is motivated more by client satisfaction than by money and I feel that client satisfaction is becoming an oxy moron.  Is anyone happy with anything anymore?   Too many days I felt like I was running an uphill battle.  O well, I gave myself the "suck it up princess" talk and will go with my plan to just Giver.

I have gotten back into reading this year in a big way.  A friend turned me on to the Wheel of Time series of books.  I started with "New Spring", and then got rolling on the full series.  I am now well into book #7 of 13.  The 14th and final book is coming out January 8th!  Very exciting, although I will not be done the rest by then.  These books have been wonderful and an excellent escape from all of the work crap.  Other than the first 16 chapters of book #6, I have loved all of it.  I have even seen Cliff's word - "Miasma" - used on a number of occasions in the books. (ie. A miasma of evil bubbled up through the earths surface).

All l in all its been a pretty good year (other than the work thang) and I look forward to 2013.  I am always grateful for my health and try never to take for granted all that I have.  Life can be so hard for lots of people and in the scheme of things I have nothing to complain about.

Time to go read some more in bed in our new - "micro fleece sheets".  Man those things are soft!!   Like I said, its the little things : )

Mists of Panderia Cinematic

The Mist of Panderia - World of Warcraft game expansion is coming out September 25th.   This is the fourth expansion of the game.  So far there has been:

World of Warcraft - (or vanilla as people often refer to it)
The Burning Crusade
Wrath of the Lich King
Cataclysm
Mists of Pandaria

With each new expansion Blizzard creates a new cinematic for the game.  They are usually really impressive and this one is no exception.  It is quite funny too!