The Coffeehouse

That was the title of a presentation going on in a study room at the library, no jokes. Some of the study group rooms look out right into a main hall of the adjacent building, so that one of the walls of the study room is actually a floor to ceiling window, and whoever is in that room "studying" is pretty much stared and gawked at by whoever is passing by in the hallway. I walked down the hallway and noticed at huge bright pink sign saying "Attracting Women 101" and on the chalkboard "class in session". I'm pretty sure the room did not pass fire regulations as it was packed, with very good looking men (puzzling?). I pass by 15 minutes later, there is standing room only, and now they have some females in the audience (attempting to disprove the 101 theories, no doubt). I was trying to take a picture with my camera phone without looking like I was taking a picture (ie, by pretending to talk on my phone), but it wasn't working so well and I gave up, hmph!

I went to a student experience panel about a month ago at a university here in Toronto. It was part of an Xppression Against Oppression week the university's student union was holding and there were several students and faculty members on the panel who spoke about their summer experiences volunteering or working overseas and in "Third World" countries. Not many students attended since it was held during the midterm period, and those who did appeared to be genuinely interested in the topics and wanted to know how they would be able to obtain internships, work, or volunteer positions abroad. One panelist had gone to a west African country, I forgot which, and described his experience volunteering at an orphanage. He told quite a story, "no electricity!", "everybody speaks English!", "poverty!", "bathrooms are holes in the ground!", "sleep on the floor!", "corruption, violence!". I've never been to this west African country, but he's probably telling the truth, and people need to be told of what goes on beyond their safe university campus (unless you're at UCLA or York, then UNsafe campuses).

I go to a lot of political events, many of which have a socialist, anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist theme, even borderline Marxist. There is a lot of talk about the power of the labour force, grassroots efforts, and armed resistance. I support armed resistance. Under the right circumstances, armed resistance is the means by which many who have been oppressed and occupied have been able to regain their freedom. And, let's face it, it makes no sense to be civilly disobedient when you've been shot at with M16s and F16s for the past 60 years. We sing a lot resistance songs at these events.

So clearly, I don't have a problem with the overall messages and purposes of the above. What I find though is a lot of the time, the messages get romanticized and lose their essence. It becomes glamourized, "help the less fortunate, yeah!", you get caught up in the "foreigness" and "otherness" of the experience.

In the case of the student speaking of his totally "African" experience, it was tough, but cool and exciting to have to light up candles at night to be able to see. It was nice to go back to a proper porcelain toilet, 'cause people back there had to go in the BUSH. Yes, it's different, it's harsh, but it is what it is. We don't need to turn it into a freak show. Give it the proper respect and attention for what it IS, not for how it compares with what it ISN'T.

In the case of the politcal events, the meaning of resistance often becomes skewed, "you gotta fight the MAN". You get caught up in the "ra-ra!" songs and the rhetoric, and the feeling of being "revolutionaries" and fighting for the oppressed. Why are you a socialist? Why do you support armed resistance? People become more attached to the hype and the romanticized image of becoming a freedom fighter or a "lefty", rather than the actual struggle and actions. I'm probably guilty of it as well, but we all need a reminder to ground ourselves and reflect back to the real reasons behind our actions and political support.

If it's an important message that needs to be spread, you won't need to add glamour or spice it up to give it attention. Just let it be...

I wasn't adequately warned before watching this, but I will warn you. The following video is not for the weak-hearted, it is quite disturbing...

Iranian-American Student Abused By UCLA UCPD With Tazer Gun

An article about headphones and iPods was in yesterday's Toronto Star.

For those who don't want to go through the whole article (and I don't blame you), it basically talks about how there's this new phenomena where everybody is tuned into something via headphones and tuning out of their surrounding environment. The writer tries to argue for the this new trend, but I feel like she didn't know how to word her support. I don't have an iPod or any type of mp3 player. My new phone I got back in August has an FM radio, but I rarely carry my headset for it, I have yet to tune into it outside my house. I hate this new headphone trend. I think that it isolates people even further from society. I understand listening to music, recordings, or the radio for entertainment purposes or to pass the time, but to wear them EVERYWHERE, to get from any Point A to Point B, is a pushing it a little, and I would say extremely selfish, for a lack of better word. I think our social fabrics are constantly being ripped and torn by trends that focus on communication via technology and are removing the need for physical "real" person-to-person contact and communication. If you read through the article, the writer notes how people use their headphones as excuses for not talking to people or to pretend that others don't exist (ie, homeless people, panhandlers, even salespeople), and wearing headphones somehow makes it alright not to return that random smile someone may have given you, or walk through town as if there aren't other people walking around you.

Heaphones isolate you from the rest of society for that period which you wear them in. People have a right to wear them and live in their little music bubbles, fine, but individuals living within a society also have a responsibility towards others (call me an idealist). Humans are naturally social beings and it's normal for people to make small talk on the subway, or smile at a person as you walk past them. I'll be the first to admit that I've had conversations with perfect strangers on the bus just because I've felt the need to socialize, it's refreshing. I remember reading elsewhere about how there are lots of people who live in huge metropolises with millions of people around them, and still feel extremely lonely. It's because of this increasing lack of socialization that people feel so lonely, and the headphone trend is only contributing to this problem. Lack of socialization causes much distress and psychological problems for people. Loneliness is one of the many reasons people may feel the need to commit suicide or commit violent acts because of anger or for attention. We should all have something to contribute to the general mental and social health and well-being of our society. At the same time, I don't expect everybody to suddenly take off their headphones and start up random conversations, many of us are introverts, but the simple fact that a person is not wearing headphones while sitting next to another person is recognition of other individuals sharing the same space, and that in itself is a form of socialization.

If you normally wear headphones and listen to music throughout most of your day, try reading a book on your commute instead, or go a day without them, for the sake of others.

I've neglected you o faithful blog. I've been crazy busy...

- annotating stuff on Wikimapia
- making useless things
- café-hopping
- studying French. My prof started instructing us completely in French...oh mon dieu!

Here is a picture from my café-hopping.

This is the second time I've ever been tagged, thank you Digital Niqabi!

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Height: 5'3-ish

Color: In coffee terms, double-double. Or maybe one cream, two sugars. Okay, my make-up foundation says "fawn" (?!). But it actually differs from one season to the next, I become like 3 shades darker in the summer :D

Piercing: 1 per ear. When I was still in me teens (not THAT long ago!) I would've gotten a nose ring, an eyebrow ring, and a couple of more on my ear if it wasn't for my parents who said I'd look like a cow and wouldn't have let my into the house. I won't look like a cow and still-kinda-sorta considering a nose ring...[NOTE: OK, funny story. Three years ago, I volunteered at a summer arts day camp for two weeks. For some reason, on the first day, I decided to put on a fake nose ring (gem-sticker kind) and it looked really REAL and really good. It stuck on well most of the time, however it proved difficult when I wanted to blow my nose or scratch it and because of this (and nobody seemed to notice the "nose ring") I wasn't planning on wearing it for the remainder of the camp. But towards the end of the first day, a couple of the campers approached me about it and started asking me "did it hurt?" and "what did your parents say?", and I flat out lied to them because I didn't want them to think I was "fake". Anyhoo, so I ended up wearing a fake nose ring for two weeks straight. It was hell.]
Tattoos: If only I could...

Right now
Time: 10:55 PM
Mood: Content
Taste: Oatmeal n'raisin cookies
Weather: Chilly, partly cloudy
Bad habit: Biting lip, not cleaning my room
Current crush: Someone unattainable, practically speaking
Biggest regret: I don't thinks I gots any, I think everything happens for a reason, and there is nothing that could've have been done to change actions or outcomes. I've definately done some stupid things though...
Perfume(s): Armani Code
Thing I want to do: Clean out junk from my computer, clean my room (right)

Favorite
TV show: I have a lot, but I can never remember to watch them. If I watch them it's the odd time I turn on the TV and happen to be lucky enough to find them on.
Book: A Million Little Pieces - James Frey, Palestine - Joe Sacco (Amazing comic book)
Non alcoholic drink: Virgin Pina Coladas, yumm.
Milk drink: Lattes, other than that, I'm not a big fan of dairy milk, but I do drink lots of soy milk.
Brand: None really
Color: Green
Emblem: I dunno?
Perfume: None
Designer: None
Chocolate: Lindt Lindor, trufffllleesss

Have I Ever
Broken the law: Probably
Misused credit card: How do you misuse a credit card? I've never maxed it out...
Skipped school: Of course, although at some schools I attended you had guards at the door who wouldn't let you out once you got in until the end of the school day
Fell asleep in the shower/bath: No
Had children: Nope
Been in love: Yes, it sucked, I don't think I'll do it again
Been hurt: Yes, that sucked too

Random
Have a job: Yes, at my university library
My CD player has what in it right now: The Underdog Project - It Doesn't Matter
If I were a crayon, the color: Umm, that dark reddish orange one.
What makes me happy: Sushi

When/What Was the Last
I got a real letter: I believe it was last summer
Got an email: A couple of hours ago
Thing I purchased: Monthly bus pass
TV program I watched: It was last weekend, I can't remember
Movie I saw in the theaters: Nacho Libre
Hugged: My sister's friend, I was just at my sister's highschool commemcment
Place I was an hour ago: My old highschool
Song heard: Habaytak Tanseet El Noum - Fairouz
Phone call: My sister
Was depressed: Two weeks ago

What Comes to Mind When I Hear
Car: Car-pooling
Murder: Bloddy knife
Cape: Superman!
Cell: A plant cell
Fun: Cotton candy, even though I hate cotton candy, that's the first thing that came to mind
Shoe: My new black pumps
Crush: Fanta
Music: Fairouz!
Love: hearts, in general
Chalk: School

I tag Abed (I know you just answered a bunch!), Omar, and I guess that's it. I don't have blog friends :(

Unless anyone wants to randomly answer this in the comments :D

I've been wondering about this for a while. What are the etiquettes or rules surrounding relationships with friends-of-siblings or siblings-of-friends? Are they a taboo like office relationships, or are they acceptable? If yes, how does one go about developing a relationship without sabotaging the initial relationship with your sibling/friend? If it's not acceptable, then why?

Does anyone have insight on this?