The Wildlife of Toronto

I’ve been taking daily walks within my very urban neighbourhood in Etobicoke, and it’s surprising how much wildlife exists here, amongst people, in large urban parks.

So far, I’ve seen rats, mice, skunks, raccoons, fox, coyotes, wild turkeys, gray & black squirrels, hares, deer and garter snakes. You would think that we lived in a jungle of some kind but these animals roam the parklands mostly during dawn and dusk.

I’m always impressed by how adaptable they are to coexist in the urban landscape and ingenious they have become to thrive alongside us.

2025 has brought the housing crisis in the GTA to a crescendo, despite house sales being at an all time low due to the recession. As we encroach further into wildlife areas every year, despite conservation initiatives, it is humbling to see these animals share their spaces with us, while most humans find them annoying. I hope we prioritize cohabitation over aggressive encroachment to ensure we can all coexist. All species have a right to our planet. Exterminating others for self propagation will only beget self extermination eventually.

Garter Snake in West Deane Park

Its going to be only America first

Donald Trump was sworn in yesterday. Being Canadian, the only concern we have is how its going to affect our economy since 80% of our business is with the United States.

However, tolerant as I am, I am quite stupefied by his speech. Let's take it piece by piece, shall we?

"the economic  'carnage' will stop" - Let's see... America is based on consumerism. Their lack of regulation and war mongering caused the economic deflation and minor recession in 2008. They are no longer part of the G8. There was a G20 in Toronto and not the usual G8 meeting to accommodate the US presence. What economic 'carnage'? America caused its own economic problems.

"threats beyond the border will be shut out" - Ok. So, when the UN protested and couldn't find any weapons on mass destruction, americans still invaded Iraq. The world was against them but of course, THEY know best. Then, they went on to tell Iraqi people how to elect government and live.  Because only Americans (who have been around for about 300 years at best ) know how. They didn't learn from Vietnam, Korea, Afghanitan and Iraq. They never will learn. Now they are interfering in Iran and Syria. We all know that these entire expeditions are driven by greed and capitalism. Why state the obvious, right? Guess what happens when you poke the bear! Threats beyond the border will be shut out... how? Wake up! When you cause the problem, deal with it!

"jobs will stay in America" - Really? You want to clear out all of silicon valley, which really provides you with all the technology you need to attack the rest of the world. Or are you looking to wipe out the entire service sector which was built on the backbone of immigrants (legal or otherwise). Who is going to do all the work??? Caucasian males? That's the plan as per your speeches, right? Good luck!

"the rest of you are on your own" - We already know that and we always have been. Where have Americans been? America has never been involved in anything unless it served their own purposes somehow. Nothing about them is selfless and the rest of the world won't bat an eyelid as China, India and Russia walk away to strengthen their own economies. Then again, aren't the Russians taking over the United states. Isn't that why they helped Trump get elected so he could bankrupt the US. Perhaps Russia can invade via Alaska. Its ok. They like Canadians. We care.

Good luck, Americans! You picked one hell of a President. The least you could have done was elect an idiot who was pleasant on the eyes! Even Regan was more patriotic than the imbecile you now have for President.

Parking Nightmare

I live in Etobicoke, which is in the west end of Toronto and I am in desperate need of a designated parking spot. Why the desperation? Allow me to elaborate...

My husband bought a new to-be-built stacked townhouse before we were acquainted with each other. Somehow, him purchasing a townhouse and us crossing paths, coincided. Hence, what was supposed to be a bachelor's den became new couple's love nest. "Our" new townhouse was accompanied by 1 underground parking spot. We immediately realized another spot would be required.

Once we moved in, we found other owners willing to rent spots that they were either not using or had secured to use in the future. So, our problem was solved. 2 years later, the gentleman we were renting the spare spot from decided to move to Hamilton and there suddenly emerged a parking problem. However, because the townhome community was experiencing so much turnover, another rental spot became available almost immediately and again, we found our parking problem quickly resolved.

Now, 6 years in, the community seems a bit more established. Toronto is experiencing quite a real estate upheaval with house pricing sky rocketing, thereby, making relocation difficult for a lot of residents. Two days ago, the family I rent my current spot from informed me that they needed the spot in a month and half as they are buying another car. And without warning, I am in the hole again. Though, this time, the solution won't be simple. No one moves in the middle of winter and I doubt there are any spots in the underground parking area available to rent. So, what am I to do??

1. I have an advert in Kijiji which really demonstrates my desperation.
2. I am begging the builder, who has rental buildings adjacent to us to rent me a spot. No luck there.
3. I am going to canvas the houses on the opposite side of my street to allow me to rent a spot on their driveway... I doubt I will have much luck there.
4. I am begging the City of Toronto to issue a parking permit to let me park on the street. Bureaucracy at its best!
5. My last resort is to move in with my parents in Markham till I find a spot, which won't bode well for my marriage.

The lengths to which I have to go just to park my car when I get home. It really shouldn't be this hard!

Moonlight

Ever wonder what they mean when they say, 'the moonlight spilled in through the open window' or 'by the light of the moon'? On a night like tonight, it is a thing of magic. It was a full moon 2 nights ago and though the midsummer moon has begun to wane, it is extremely bright. Almost Eerie. On a cloudless night like tonight, the brilliant light of the moon illuminates all it touches. It spills in through the windows and bathes everything in a soft white glow. Almost ethereal. Brings on thoughts from Macbeth...

By the pricking of my thumbs 

Something wicked this way comes...

Facebook Comments

Facebook has currently 1.23 billion users and I am one of them. There's even a song that conveys quite comically the perceived purpose of facebook to its most common users. For some, it is a self marketing tool and for others to promote their public, private or home based business. There are predators on FB and innocents as well, who really shouldn't be on FB but their parents felt it would be acceptable to enter in a fake date of birth and create a profile for them. There are charities on facebook, some legal and some illegal. There are activists, anarchists, narcisists and a whole range of mentally unstable people. Some people use it as a platform to speak out regarding what they consider an injustice and others use it as a platform to discredit the people speaking out. If you could take a step back, you would see that FB is really a more open online version of the real world, without the boundaries of decorum, civility and integrity. Since FB has been online, there has been a sharp increase in suicides amongst teens. There has also been an increase in awareness for different diseases and their cures. It is so easy to write something horrid about anything and anyone if you are hiding behind a wall of the internet. You wouldn't dare do it in public for fear of physical retaliation.

There is so much hate and intolerance in the FB world. Much like the Medieval times, the ignorant are given the tools and the ability to spread mass outcry and histeria about things that have been happening for years without anyone noticing.

For example, the dophin killing festival in Finland. As sad as killing a dolphin might be, the meat is shared across the entire village. How is it any different from killing wild salmon, whales etc? Another example is the Dog Festival in China. It happens once a year and though I agree torturing an animal is inhumane, killing a dog and eating it is no different from killing a goat and eating that. If dinosaurs were alive, we would be lunch. Research has shown that some animals do keep their prey alive as long as they can during the consumption process as it keeps the meat fresh. Though I am no advocate for this kind of consumption, torture is prevalant in nature and we, humans, have been inflicting it, not only on animals but also on ourselves for millenia.

In the real world, if someone were to make a statement, that could be contested, there would be a plethora of comments issued in favour or against it. In the facebook world, if you make a statement and someone comments, you can choose to delete their comment if you don't like it. So easy to discount an opinion that didn't find favour with you. All in all, Facebook encourages the darker sides of the human condition - cowardice, narcissism, intolerance, self importance, vulgarity and depravity. Now, would the good be enough to outweigh the bad, such that we continue this everlasting addiction to broadcast our own business while spying on others. Is that the Facebook way?

Disclaimer : I do not own any rights towards the Facebook song and Logo. There are just used as reference in the material here.

The Red Violin

It's back to the grind tomorrow and I attempted a last ditch effort to effectively utilize my leisure time today with a meaningful film.

Though I find most technology an annoyance and irrelavant, i.e. GPS, I have to agree that PVR is quite useful. Till date, I have not managed to watch the Red Violin from beginning to end. I've caught snippets of it while surfing through the online guide at the most inopportune moments. Today, with luck being in my favour, I discovered that said film was playing this afternoon on Showcase. I was, thus, able to secure a recording through PVR to watch later this evening.

I was finally able to follow the entire story uninterrupted. It did not disappoint though the entire Samuel Jackson portion was hardly inspiring. The film was neither riveting like the English Patient, nor grief inspiring like Schindler's List, nor satisfying like the Shawshank Redemption. Nevertheless, it kept you thinking long after the movie had ceased. Particularly interesting were the storylines in Italy, Viena & China. For a blood veneered violin to have survived centuries, passing from one hand to another, used and abused and finally restored is truly inspiring.

I personally believe, we leave something of ourselves behind in our possessions and there is a 'chi', if you can call it that, that flows from it to the person taking over that possession. Perhaps that is what gives antique furniture and instruments so much character. If they could tell stories, can you imagine what we could learn of our past, of ourselves and of our actions. Something to ponder when you find yourself browsing on Craig's List or Kijiji...

Can you cook?

My single girlfriends always complain that whenever they go out on a first or second date, the gentlemen's quest for discovery always include the irksome question of all time... Can you cook? Which begs the question... why do they ask?

I'm curious and am eager for enlightenment. Is it because they are hopeless in the kitchen? Has cooking for ONE lost its allure? Is it due to sheer laziness which enables a disdain for anything culinary? Was there a traumatic kitchen episode in childhood which lead to Culinary PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)? Are they afraid she's into the RAW diet? Does it question their machismo? Are they concerned about food poisoning? Are they sizing up their competition (the next Iron Chef)? Or are they simply curious?

Whatever the reason may be, single women everywhere vehemently abhor the question. So interesting, how three little words can wreck such psychological havoc.

Is the way to a man's heart really through his stomach? Gentlemen, if you are looking for Date #3 through #5, please refrain from this particular query, no matter how tempted you are and how innocent the question might seem. For a single woman, it conjures images of frigid winters, the depths of hell and an eternity of gluttony driven exploits featuring you. If lost for sensational conversation, stick with the weather & your health. 😊

Happy New Year - 2015

Welcome to 2015! Much like 2006, this is going to be my year of change.

Just to give you some perspective - in 2006,  I lost 47 lbs, started wearing contact lenses (abandoned the hideous spectacles that made me look like a female Urkle) and became assertive.

This year, I plan to change - physically, financially and professionally. Why? Because it's time. I'm stuck in a philosophical quicksand a.k.a proverbial RUT.

Physically: I'm 48 lbs overweight. Most of it, I gained unceremoniously post marriage (since 2010). My husband has managed to become 20 lbs lighter and fit over the last 4 years. I, however, seem to have consumed and doubled the pounds he discarded. At 35, that's a step away from my health committing suicide,  as per my beloved spouse.

Financially: I've incurred some necessary debt. We have a mortgage (we need to find a larger house with a basement & private garage in Toronto) and I had to succumb to purchasing a new car (Nyx). Brutus (my old Toyota Echo) tried to kill me on the 401 in July last year,  hence the necessity.

Professionally: I'm a Purchasing Professional for one of the largest builders in Southern Ontario. I'd like to think that my work environment is stable but one can never be too sure in these uncertain times. I want a professional license to increase my net worth.

As I said, a year of change.  How do I plan to do this? I'm not sure yet. The weight loss part is easy. The other 2 are remarkably more difficult.  Any suggestions are welcome! In the meantime, I need to purge my kitchen of sinful delights and tighten my purse strings.

For anyone reading me rambling - Happy 2015! May your new year be filled with health, wealth, bountiful happiness and success in all your goals.

Transit

Something needs to be done about transit in the city. The 401 is perpetually stagnant. TTC is horrendously outdated. The only saving grace in Toronto is the bus service which is surprisingly adequate. As I am stuck in traffic, not moving faster than 10 km / hr, I ponder transit systems in other world class cities like London, Paris, New York, Rome etc and wonder when Toronto will join their ranks. As my thoughts meander in this way, a curse from my husband brings me back to our current problem. We are a half hour late for an engagement and as always, my excuse is traffic. 

Read

There's nothing like a good read. My husband does not find spending time within the confines of home with a good book, at all appetizing. However, I am quite unashamed of being quite bookish. At present, I find myself quite unable to tear myself away from Tasha Alexander's A Poisoned Season, the second in a series of historical mystery novels based during Queen Victoria's reign. I happened on her penmanship quite by chance, while reading an article on Michele Moran, an author, whose work I read voraciously. She had mentioned that Tasha Alexander was her favourite read, so I had no choice but to sample some of her work. I was hooked. A hint of humour, a pinch of adventure, a smidgen of romance and a good helping of mystery made my surrender with reckless abandon complete. My poor husband has despaired of his meals as I am too absorbed to cook, much less, provide him with something to eat. Somehow the paltry allures of spinach, eggplant & chicken breasts fail to divert one's attention from a seriously delicious murder mystery.

Stonehouse Cemetary in Etobicoke

With the weather being much improved, I was able to undertake a short stroll to the bank. The Stonehouse park which lies at the intersection of Sedgeley Dr and Martin Grove Rd, rarely offers a distraction. However, having time to explore my surroundings, I came upon a gated family Cemetary quite by accident. It must have belonged to a family that may have resided there about 2 centuries ago when this part of Etobicoke was barely inhabited, much less a dense section of Western Toronto. 

Peering through the gates, I noticed a few broken tomb stones. Some more or less intact and visible despite the weeds and brush. What I saw surprised me. 

Mr Robert Stonehouse had lived till the ripe old age of 115 at a time when medicines were few and far between and life expectancy was between 45-55 years. 

Another curious thought. Why would someone settle so far from Old Toronto when roads were composed of dirt and rock and transportation consisted of horse and carriage. The rails were not fully functional back then. 

If anyone has any information regarding the Stonehouse family, please share as I'm curious of what became of the family and about Flossie. Did they have a farm? Who was Flossie? What happened to their home? Why is their Cemetary in such disrepair? So many unanswered questions.

The Common Cold

Ever wonder why it's called the common cold? As I lay on my bed, sniffling while my husband is clickity clacking on the keyboard beside me, I find myself in a state of uncommon annoyance. I'm congested. If I sit up and bend my head forward, my nose begins to run. I'm flushed and it is definitely unbecoming. More blotchy than flushed. I am tired of sleeping. Reading makes my head hurt. TV makes my eyes hurt. Cant eat as I don't have taste buds. My only entertainment, currently my husband, is ignoring me. It has no right being called the Common Cold. It's uncommon, debilitating and annoying. I sincerely protest! I'm sick and I hate it!

Call it anything but Shakuntala

We had a date with the theatre this weekend. We had high hopes for an entertaining evening, reminiscing the better parts of Hindu prose and mythology.

We were sorely disappointed. Shakuntala, a tale of love and honour, written by Kalidasa was grossly misrepresented in this theatre production at Pleiades Theatre at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.

I had seen Anita Majumdar on stage prior to this production in the Misfit. It was very entertaining. She played 6 different characters in a riveting one-man show and did it with such energy and finesse, that she captivated her audience who stayed behind an entire hour or more for questions and an opportunity for a tete a tete with her and Deepa Mehta.

It grieved me to watch her become the weakest link in Shakuntala. She did not evolve into the character at all. It was as if Shakuntala had been kidnapped and Naznin had taken her place to complete the production. Her king and companion, Sanjay Talwar's Dushyanta was the most over-dramatized and extremely cliched Queen that had the gall to play the Majestic yet love-lorn Dushyanta. The lead characters were completely outstripped by the supporting cast. The Brahmin friend to Dushyanta, as well as Shakuntala's two female companions were stunning in their performances.

Its a pity that a production that had taken so much care in creating the atmosphere, composing the rhythmic screenplay and directing an English adaptation of a age-old story of love, could have gone wrong with the casting of their lead characters; thereby destroying the breath-taking illusion they had so painstakingly endeavoured to create.

Banks and why we love to hate them

I have an account with a local bank... we'll refer to it as AB. About 6 years ago, AB was actually A and B. Two separate entities. Then, something quite normal in the financial sector took place. They merged. I originally had an account with B. I was happy with it. Excellent customer service, lovely hours of operation and most of all, a commitment to making every transaction perfect.

Then A & B merged. All of a sudden, all the lovely qualities B used to have slowly began to wane. The hours of operation still remained... in fact, they were now longer. But the commitment to service and attention to detail avalanched to the depths of chaos.

Now I'm left with a feeling of uncertainty and distrust in the bank's ability to maintain any of my accounts - whether it be chequing, savings, visa, RRSP so on and so forth. And the crux of the problem lies in my inability to put in all the effort required to cancel all my accounts to switch everything to a different bank. There's also certain conveniences that would be inconvenient to do without... the bank is in close proximity to my home, is open till 8 pm and is easily accessible across the province and country.

But still... though I am unwillingly glued to this dysfunctional relationship, it is a cord that I am reluctant to cut. Does that mean I am lazy and a glutton for punishment? Or does it just make me human? Why is it that I feel so guilty and distraught after the angry phone call with the customer service representative? I have done nothing wrong. Neither has he. Why are we all paying with so much misused energy for the glaring inefficiencies of this ridiculously horrid entity - the Capitalist pig of a Bank.

And such I spend many wasted hours pondering on what makes me do the irrational useless things that I do.

Civilians in a war-torn state

What happens to civilians in a war-torn state?

When "super" powers like the wretched Americans decide to impose sanctions on a country torn by turmoil, what happens to the people living there? Those that do not serve the reigning government and carry weapons, those that do not have the power to decide what happens next, those that have average jobs and live to support their families... aka... the civilians... what happens to them?

Brutality, hunger, rape, violence and humiliation. Wonderful that powers like the cowardly UN and the f***ing United States of America should think that value of an average human life is so meagre that they abandon it to drown in blood and death.

Our future looks bleak if the bloody Americans and their puppets, the honourable members of the United Nations continue their reign of holy terror on any country that dares to fight back. Such is the case with the Gaza strip, Iraq and soon, India.

When armies were starting to gather at the war ridden border of India and Pakistan, the US underhandedly offered to support Pakistan indirectly. Their agenda... all those US camps established to fight "terrorism" in Iraq and Afghanistan... where would they place them, if they didn't support Pakistan? Its not about fighting terrorism. Its about benefiting their tumbling economy from the spoils of war. Humanitarianism and anti-terrorism is just a facade.

After all the atrocities they have committed why isn't the world turning on them? What is stopping us? Someday, it will be our turn... someday, those inhumane red-neck freaks will turn on us, Canadians, Indians, Japanese, Chinese and you know who you are and where will we be then? Support the cause... the non-violent war of words, of opinions, of virtue, of humanity. Fight for us... the humans who inherit this planet. Fight against Capitalism & Imperialism!

Freedom, Hunger and Heels

Management was away today. Quiet. Serene. Peaceful. Is it me or is everyone more productive when their every move isn't being scrutinized and criticized? If walls have ears and eyes, why are they missing a nose? Wouldn't it be politically correct, if walls could have all aspects of a face, at least in speaking.

I had a burning desire to accomplish today. Nothing could reign me in. I plunged through so completely with such vigor that I forgot all about my supper. Until of course, my stomach protested and I had to relent. One must! You see... stomach rules mind. If ones stomach is satiated, one's mind can pursue things of greater importance.

Also, I discovered the many inadequacies of carrying large cumbersome objects while attempting to glide in high heels. Quite difficult. Poise cannot be maintained. Must keep in mind for future reference. Such I end my discourse on what I learnt today. More soon. Stay tuned.

Orient Express

An adventure in the orient. That's what I call driving in Markham. Its not for the faint of heart. Your car and your person will never feel more precious. My personal favourite for a wonderful morning scare is the delightfully overcrowded intersection of Hwy 7 and Kennedy Road. Cars will come at you in all directions whether you choose to go straight, turn right or left. Its like being in Hong Kong without the sky scrapers. Another personal favourite is Pacific Mall parking lot on Saturday afternoon. Finding parking there is an art. If you can find a spot in 2o min, you are King of the world.

I love shopping for pirated DVDs in Pacific Mall. Phenomenal efficiency. 10 DVDs for $20 and as you hand her the ones you want... she quickly flips one after the other saying... DVD quality, DVD quality, only 80%, DVD quality, DVD quality, 85%, in theatre, DVD quality, 80%, 95%. She expectantly hands them over to you ... decision needs to be made on the spot. You look a bit stunned, but not to be outdone... you separate the inferior losers saying... I DON'T WANT... Enunciating every word as if she could not possibly comprehend you until and unless you say each word clearly with significant pauses. Then of course, you look embarrassed ... either you're just being cheap for not forking over the $20 or you're insulting her by assuming that her grasp of the English language is almost as bad as your grasp of Cantonese. Either way, you walk away congratulating yourself on a job well done. 10 DVDs for $20... where in the world would that be possible except Pacific Mall.

Markham also boasts a wide selection of every oriental cuisine known to man. From Thai and Vietnamese to Japanese and Korean, you name it, Markham has it. And what surprises me most is how they can perpetually remain so skinny. To be honest, it irritates more than surprises but there you have it. Markham... the haven for all things Oriental!

Tiff '08

So, I was determined to attend TIFF this year. In an effort to make good on the promise to myself, I bought a 10-pk ticket set from the TIFF website in August. Tickets had to be picked up from the Festival Box Office, Downtown.

Unfortunately, in true form, I completely forgot about it after that and continued in happy ignorance that I'd have plenty of time to figure out which films to watch sometime in September. And thus I would have continued in this way, had a colleague of mine not decided to resign. You are probably at a complete loss... what would my colleague resigning have anything to do with TIFF '08. No, I don't work in films, either.

I'm blessed with the happy coincidence of having her farewell at the new Milestones in the Toronto Life Building. Luckily the AMC was next door to Milestones and the python-like line up quickly dispensed with my temporary amnesia. I rushed home to recover the e-mail which gave me details about where to pick up my tickets and how to register for the movies I wanted to see.

Not realizing how many people take the TIFFs seriously, I was caught off guard at the counter at the Box Office when I went to collect my tickets. Most of the movies I had wanted to see were sold out. I finally managed tickets for Il Resto Della Notte (The Rest of the Night), Parc, Mothers and Daughters and At the edge of the World.

Il Resto Della Notte - Italian/Romanian
This was a gripping experience. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more had I been able to understand Italian but the subtitles did it justice. It was bold yet sophisticated. It addressed many issues such as the condition of immigrants in European countries, drug trafficking, marital problems and the difference in classes. It begins with an Armenian maid working in an upper class Italian home in the suburbs. Due to a case of missing jewellery, she is relieved from her position and is forced to return to the slums in the city. And the story dramatically shifts its focus from there on, gliding between three central groups of characters (the upper class Italian family; the Armenian ex-maid and her burglarizing boyfriend & his adolescent brother; and the drug addict/Italian convict fighting a custody battle for his son), weaving a tight web of deceit, insecurity and a hope for the way things cannot be. The film was well made and well directed and the performances were simply superb.

Parc - French/English
I have to say that I was completely lost through most of this film. The director had warned us prior to the movie commencing that this film was a bit of an enigma and it definitely proved to be so. It begins with a boy walking briskly through a park with a golf club. He continues walking for sometime and seems depressed. This continues for at least 5 minutes. He stops at the door of his house and the news blaring on television seems to be about vandalism in various parts of France. The story continues in this fashion for awhile. The french upper class family is trying to cope with the son's depression (he wants to be a vagrant, he is dissatisfied with the world and he was cut from his soccer team at school). In the meantime, there is an introduction of a middle-aged, married man named Paul, who suffers from extreme self-loathing and is in a dysfunctional relationship with his wife whose purpose in life seems to be - to remain in a perpetual state of unhappiness. Between depression and attempted Crucifixion in a gated community, the movie seems unbelievably long and ill-contrived.

Mothers and Daughters - English
Originally, I expected this movie to explore the warm yet turbulent relationship between mothers and daughters. The movie was quite different. It was like a documentary exploring the the internal relationship between 3 pairs of people who are eventually all connected to each other in some way. The 1st pair - an established, whimsical writer and her unemployed, poetic daughter who have a violent parasitic relationship that they just cannot seem to grow out of. The 2nd pair - a quiet, nervous, conservative housewife and her independent, focused daughter who is a psychiatrist. The 50-something father leaves the mother to start a new family, leaving the mother at a complete loss as to how to go on living. The daughter who was close to her father feels betrayed, and is now burdened with the sense of responsibility towards her mum who she now has to help take the next step in life. The 3rd pair - a independent native woman with a painting business who lost her daughter to drugs and is looking for her grandchild, lends assistance and support to her client, a young single professional who finds herself pregnant but cannot relate to motherhood as her birth mother had given her up for adoption. All three pairs are connected to each other in this documentary-like movie about the dysfunctional relationships between mothers and daughters. I found myself to be a bit dissatisfied as the movie only concentrated on maternal relationships that had gone wrong. It would have been nice to see a good relationship represented as well.

At the Edge of the World - English
This was a brilliant documentary about the Sea Shepherd's quest to save Whales in the Ross Sea. The crew represent a group of people who are against illegal whaling in various parts of the world. With their limited resources, they make an effort to prevent poaching in whale sanctuaries. The purpose of the initial documentary was not for televising during the Toronto International Film Festival but to show the world how the Japanese are violating International treaties in the Ross Sea by whale hunting under the pretext of research. The cinematography was stunning, the adventure was captivating and the premise was unconventional. Unfortunately, though they did everything from ramming into the Japanese vessels to stink bombing them, the Japanese were not deterred. They held the Japanese shipmates under citizen's arrest for violating international treaties but Japan was not reprimanded for their illegal whale hunting as they are a G8 country and a worthy adversary. Currently, the Japanese "research" ships are still sailing the ROSS sea, hunting whales, and are accompanied by the Japanese military to prevent any interference from organizations like the Sea Shepherd. Whales are now an endangered species and hunting them is illegal everywhere. Much like seal hunting in Canada which is inhumane but Canada has yet to make it illegal. For more information about the Sea Sheppard, please refer to http://www.seashepherd.org/

All in all, the TIFF 08 was an eye opener and I am waiting with bated breath for TIFF 09. Will be better prepared this time around to attack the box office :)

We do it all for the love of film!

To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question!

So I awoke to a sense of vagrant disinterest this morning. I did not want to climb out of bed. Furthermore, I did not want to inch myself to the beckoning water closet. And least of all, did not want to primp and preen myself in order to get to work. Work... hm... are you sure it is absolutely necessary to go to work every morning?

I think not. The occasional faux sick day should be completely acceptable. Especially when the lazy warmth of the rising sun is embracing the comfortable cushiony nook of nightly repose. I slip my hand out from under the covers and reach into the warm rays breaking through the dark reaches of my room. I pull at nothing in particular and sink back into the billowing goose down comforter. I close my eyes and hope that night will return so I can enjoy a few more moments of dreamy respite. But the light has now shifted to my face and I cannot pretend...

I drag my feet to one side and wait. Perhaps I shall be lucky and there might be a few more minutes to spare in idle splendour but one glance at the despicable alarm clock is enough to ensure that night's sweet spell must wane at once and be followed swiftly by a flurry of instant activity. But my lethargic body has other ideas in mind. My weight shifts to allow my body to slowly inch itself to the cold, sharp edges of the bed. I shiver as the comforter shifts and more uncovered flesh is exposed to the crisp air blowing from the tornado-like motions of a portable fan. I sigh and lower my lashes, to protect my reluctant eyes from engaging the world that seems to be unravelling around me.

And then comes a sharp female shriek that could put a wild west damsel to shame and I bolt upright in bed. I am now awake.

A state of affairs

The American dream. Millions of people all around the world strive to be part of it. Those in third world countries watch Hollywood blockbusters and imagine a world with no hunger, no suffering, no struggling for existence and no meaningless mortality. Sounds very la vie en rose, doesn't it?

Ever speak to a Mexican or Canadian about their American Ally and most will turn up their noses and scoff. Majority of the world's population does not look upon Americans kindly. Most like myself, find the average American arrogant, ignorant, rude and unbelievably self absorbed. In matters of politics, the evil eye is more in accordance then the acknowledging nod. The Bush administration doesn't quite comprehend the concept of foreign policy. It's really not their fault. I mean, you can't really be expected to understand the world if you've never had the courage to leave Texas and explore it.

Be that as it may. This new fascination with Iran... Really? Now that the US has successfully destroyed the millennia old civilization of Badhdad, best turn their attention to the neighbouring Persians. Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Vietnam and South Korea weren't enough to allow the Americans to see that their interference in cultures they did not understand, came to no avail. They claim that they are liberating people and de-clawing terrorists by destroying weapons of mass destruction.

Ever wonder how many weapons of Mass Destruction exist in the US today? They are the only ones that has ever used them in full combat against another country (Japan). What is so wrong about the rest of us defending ourselves in the same way the US defends itself. Especially the Middle East. They've already raped and pillaged Iraq. Now they're after Iran. How is it that, their economy is on a sharp decline yet they seem to constantly be in funds such that they can propagate war and make threats at the drop of a hat.

I think the world should rise up and say Nay. I think that the United Nations needs new blood. I think the US is getting a taste of their own medicine. What does a people know about the value of life if they've never had to fight for existence or justice on their own soil. What gives one country the right to tell another how to live under threat of invasion or destruction. To impose their will on those, who do not have the resources to fight back. Patriotism, Totaliarinism or Terrorism... its a matter of perspective.

Every great nation/civilization has fallen. History always repeats itself. The meek will inherit the earth and it will all end in a whimper.