Texting and Walking

Over the past year this has become a controversial problem, and I really don’t understand why. Yes, it is annoying to have someone suddenly stop to check their phone in front of you. It is also hilarious when you watch someone walk into a wall, or door because they are looking at their phone. But, can it really be a crime? In my opinion: no, no it can’t. Here are my reasons why.

See, even Bieber! He even has bodyguards!

Stopping while texting....

This is ridiculous. Is it only now that we notice the annoying people who sharply stop in front of us? No! If anyone has gone anywhere in Toronto where people like to shop, or I don’t know...walk? Since you probably have, you have likely been stopped short by someone who just abruptly stops because a) they are lost, b) they do a human U-turn when they realize where they are and run into you, c) they are stopping to go into their purse, or d) they want to look at the window of a store. This happens everywhere, and not because of just texting. So, unless you are going to make all abrupt human stops illegal maybe you should think about how everyone (including yourself) behaves while walking anywhere.

A Good End To A Good Story: American Horror Story (Spoilers)

This week concluded the first season of American Horror story, and the final season that deals with the Harmons, and the many ghosts of the Murder House. Yep, all girls out there can begin the deepest pout in knowing we likely will not see Tate Langdon ever again. (The horror!!!) While at first, I was furious at the decision I have actually come to terms with it. All in all the point of the show was made pretty clear at the end that haunts don’t just end because we humans will it to end. Honestly, even the characters ended their stories respectfully, and for that I give the writers some serious credit on that. Going into this more I am going to begin to explain why the characters stories actually ended really nicely, and in a mostly non cliche way.

Bella Swan Wishes She Was Her

1. Violet

She honestly seemed to like Tate so much that she would look past all his actions, and try to tell herself that he didn’t remember he killed those kids, or that he has changed. She accepted that he was a monster, a monster that she loved, but she loved her mother and family more. In the end she gave respect to those who cared about her most, and sent him away. I liked this because it was honest, and showed that Violet may be a teenager, but has a head on her shoulders. One that will not allow some silly boy to  blind her from the truth. Who would date a serial killer? Considering a certain book/movie kind of ruined the strength of women by allowing her female character to look past all the monstrous sides of her love and just accept it. Violet believes in justice, and she knows the best justice for Tate is to not let him have what he wants: her. It was a very mature thing to do.

Activism For The Sake Of Activism

Clearly, we blame her.(What?!)

I’m sure many of us have seen or heard people doing this throughout our lives, but at the same time watched either it not fulfilled, or people speaking in part for a cause or problem they do not understand. I decided to write about this today due to coming across a news article (Right) about a liquor board ad that was recently taken down. Reason why? The ad “clearly” was placing blame on rape victims, saying “it was their own fault they got raped”. I looked at the ad, and it CLEARLY does not state anything of the sort. Some people called the ad “graphic” and its message “disgusting”. If anything, the ad is providing awareness of the dangers of alcohol. Being honest about the fact that alcohol is not measurable in effect on any human being, and really the effects vary from mild to extreme in any given group of people drinking. You may be an efficient drinker, who gets  drunk enough to just be having a good time, where a friend of yours can have even less to drink than you but somehow end up so drunk they wander away from the group, talk to strangers, and even start obnoxiously showing their body off because the part of the brain that makes logical decisions isn’t really in arms length for them. For them, there is no morally right way to act.
 

Therefore the ad is just trying to open your eyes to being more cautious with not only yourself but with your friends. The author and many of her readers state that the term “She didn’t want to do it, but she couldn’t say no” is a sort of blame on the victim. It’s not. This is where people take their voices to far, and comment on things they do not understand. Like for example, that rape isn’t just what a boogie man in an alley way does, but it is what anyone can do to another person. Male or female. Rape doesn’t just happen to slutty dressed girls. No, it can happen to a completely sober person, and another person who takes advantage of a situation that is in fact socially normal. And over drinking is socially normal. It is so common that people aren’t surprised by it, and most times expect one person in their group to go too far. this is where the ad steps in and says “take care of each other” because likely your friend either is passing out with this person, and can’t physically say no, they feel the situation is normal and should just be ok with the sex, or is fearful of other consequences (like,say getting punched or kicked). As another commenter on the article stated the ad’s message is similar to that of “"she didn't really want to get ran over by a truck but she couldn't get up" and is in no way putting blame on the victim. For whatever reason, your friend is not in a position to say no, or even if they are the assailant won’t let them, or even hear it.

4 Things That Frustrate Mostly Everyone

Annoyed Marli

I have recently been noticing a bunch of small things that people tend to do, that I find annoying because of how common it is. This includes friends, and sometimes my family. I know I have done a few of these too, but it just gets to be too much in large batches. As someone who has had tattoos for over around 10 years, a lot of these are tattoo related annoyances. Sorry.

Everyone. Everyday.

1. Complaining About Money Problems

This is a big one for me. I loathe it when people tell you how shitty their money issue is, mainly cause it is a horrible conversation starter. You know it is just going to be an angry rant and eventually you will join in on it as well, or seethe quietly beside the person talking at you. The worst money issue discussion comes from the people you work with.  You know, those people who are getting the same pay as you, same hours as you, same taxes as you, and sometimes same rent price. What is it that you want me to say? “Hey, I know! I am going through the EXACT same crap!” Well we both know you won’t let me say that, so I stand there nodding instead. All the while I want to grab your voice box, and stomp it to bits on the ground. Now I must add that while everyone needs a quick rant about the shit they are going through, when you do this to everyone you see anytime money, or working comes

Fall Line Up: Sexy and Shameless

This fall line up has gone through pretty well. I have to admit that the newest shows have actually garnered my attention. Along with a couple shows that have either made me sit there dumbfounded at the fact that they got green lit, or that they have become so clever by the newest season that I’m dumbfounded it got this far.

American Horror Story

American Horror Story
First to talk about is American Horror Story for it’s wonderful abundance of weird. (The weird that makes you continue watching, however.) There is actually something for everyone. At least under the age of 50, and maybe a few exceptions that are above. (Cool parents for the win!) My mother for example would probably find it odd, and be too creeped to continue further past the second episode. This is also the woman who watched all 5 seasons of Queer as Folk with her daughter. (My mother is a critic.) Although, for my generation, this is like giving condoms to teenagers. Easy sell based on the fact that it is supernatural related. Then enough older references to movies like Rosemary’s Baby, Poltergeist, and even Beetlejuice. It can easily get a crowd, as it is a viewer magnet.  

#firstworldproblems

I am not a fan of the Occupy Toronto, and fellow Occupy Canada movements, basically because I feel that the message has lost its meaning at this point, and are undermining the worse problems out there. Specifically not in the First World Countries. I think the main argument has long since been lost in the muddled rantings of people who have now taken advantage of parks, found themselves a home they won’t get evicted from (in some cases, Toronto being one of them) and even got donations for food, generators, and hygienic products to get through the winter. Um, how about you send that to the orphaned kids living on the streets around the world at the age of 6 who would just be happy to get a warm home, and a hot meal. Or even for our own homeless people here in Toronto who struggle to get into a shelter, whose health is so degraded that they actually cannot get a job due to their mental/physical health from years of living on the streets. Who wish they had a job, or a school that they could leave to protest the corporations! I bet some of these people wish they had a real toilet to use.
Why in the world do these adults need these things? I am sorry to sound un-empathetic but when you live in countries where there is even a small possibility for a homeless person to get into a shelter, or a place where kids who are orphaned have places to go no matter what, how can you be that ignorant and selfish!? No, these things are not perfect in out First World Country, but they are available and a work in progress. These things, should be what we should protest for more of. It may not be easy, or what one wants to have to go through but at least there is a way, unlike for all those families living naked in the more economically challenged countries in the world. Where protesting gets you shot, or being homeless means that you are left to die in the streets cause you are worthless.

Adults Need To Stand Up

Over the last few weeks many of us have found out about Zachary Quinto’s coming out to the public. Which of course was caused by a recent suicide of a gay teen in the states. (Coincidentally of the same name as the one who committed suicide in Ottawa.)

I have read a few articles of his interview about coming out, and he manages to make it not about his sexuality, but about the need for gay bullying to stop. Only using his sexual preference as a way to talk to the press about anti-gay bullying, and of course with the press wanting to know more about him. He graciously avoids these questions, and keeps on topic. I think it is safe to say that he is a very good speaker, and also good at ignoring superficial questions.

From an objective standpoint Quinto’s only real reason for coming out randomly was due to his desire to stand up as an adult, and be a voice for the gay teens out there dealing with a vicious world. Quinto is lucky to have hollywood behind him, and knowing this he originally kept very much under wraps about what goes on in his bedroom.