First, start with getting back the money GM and Chrysler scammed us for.  Taxpayers have yet to see any significant return on their "investment".

And FYI, Toyota is voluntarily going to the public and apologizing.  America had to drag Ford to court for their Ford Pinto (Ford actually factored "human lives" in their cost-benefit analysis with that scandal).  Going after Toyota like this can only discourage such honest behavior from other companies in the future and that hurts everyone.

It's all anti-import sentiment speaking here.  That's all it is.  Don't follow America's lead when Toyota has provided jobs for us.

Lent has been underway and I've set it up to be one of the biggest personal and private challenges I have ever faced.  I am my own worst enemy.  It is my hope that I will come out of this a better man.

"I'm here.  I'm now.  I'm ready...  Don't give away the ending."

Dear TTC Union,

When we pay your exorbitant fees that seem to rise with every year, when a portion of the city's tax dollars (i.e., public money) goes towards your salaries and infrastructure, we expect an acceptable level of customer service.  We do not expect your workers to be taking a nap at the collection booths or taking seven-minute coffee breaks, especially after a fare hike.  Now, you have the audacity to whine about being put under more scrutiny of the public eye through video cameras and photographs?  Here's the solution: do your jobs so that there is nothing wrong to videotape or photograph.  Don't blame the public that pays you and don't blame the upper management that has put up with years of you taking the city hostage and costing Toronto millions in lost business.

Work-to-rule?  You already seem to be doing the bare minimum and you want to hurt Toronto's revenue even more?  The memo is right, an attitude of "complacency and malaise" has seeped deep within the union's ranks.  Keep this up and you'll be surprised how powerful public outcry can become.  We only ask for workers to do their job.  Stop this insubordination.

Sincerely,

A Torontonian who hopes for a better TTC upon his return.  Driving downtown is balls.

So, going by the top leading ones by number of results:

I am music.
I am cool.
I am not the father (phew!).
I am awesome.

Good to see the insulting ones score substantially lower.

Oh, and give "Justin Bieber is " a try as well for some funny results of what the world is searching on him.

I'm sure starting over was a theme for a lot of people who had lost their jobs in this economy.  And I thank Him for the strength, courage, and support for me to start over in the face of utter failure and defeat.  I was humbled to the core of my character, or else I would have grown to be a terrible person, unfit for a family.

I would never have thought I'd end up here when I was 17.  Going forward through 23, everything isn't as blurry anymore.

"You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready"

When I think of imagery for this song, I imagine myself traveling alone on a wide open road in the desert, looking out the window.  Or walking along some highway near sunset as cars pass by.  Or along The Road in post-apocalyptic America (too much Fallout 3, haha).  Psychoanalyze that, ha!

Lyrics:

I felt for sure last night
That once we said goodbye
No one else will know these lonely dreams
No one else will know that part of me
I'm still driving away
And I'm sorry every day
I won't always love these selfish things
I won't always live...
Not stopping...

It was my turn to decide
I knew this was our time
No one else will have me like you do
No one else will have me, only you

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

Amazing still it seems
I'll be 23
I won't always love what I'll never have
I won't always live in my regrets

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine...

But, for those feeling burnt-out,

Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk but not become weary.

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

Born to a throne, stronger than Rome
But Violent prone, poor people zone
But it’s my home, all I have known
Where I got grown, streets we would roam
But out of the darkness, I came the farthest
Among the hardest survival
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak
Except no defeat, surrender retreat

So we struggling, fighting to eat and
We wondering when we’ll be free
So we patiently wait, for that fateful day
It’s not far away, so for now we say

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

So many wars, settling scores
Bringing us promises, leaving us poor
I heard them say, love is the way
Love is the answer, that’s what they say,
But look how they treat us, make us believers
We fight their battles, then they deceive us
Try to control us, they couldn’t hold us
Cause we just move forward like Buffalo Soldiers

But we struggling, fighting to eat
And we wondering, when we’ll be free
So we patiently wait, for that faithful day
It’s not far away, but for now we say

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And everybody will be singing it
(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And you and I will be singing it
(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And we all will be singing it
(Ohhh Ohh Ohh Ohh)

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

When I get older, when I get older
I will be stronger, just like a Waving Flag
Just like a Waving Flag, just like a Waving flag
Flag, flag, Just like a Waving Flag.

"The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness."

I refuse to take part in this tiring rat race with no meaningful end.  I see now it's simply one thing leading to another ad infinitum. Most of the women seem to ask of me to have some really long-term plan and certainty of the future.  Or expect to have long-term security through their man.  The recent recession has proved otherwise; there is no such thing.  To base a relationship on that, well, I am sorry but that is a disaster waiting to happen down the line.

Also, it's that time of year again, where the usual questions about the future are asked.  I don't particular enjoy reliving this moment for the second time; but it happens nonetheless.  The dislike comes mainly from the subtle expectation to have a detailed answer.

Not having a concrete answer ready and the uncertainty of the future used to scare me but now, not really.  From my experience, thinking and planning far into the future has been a futile exercise; things never turn out the way you expect them to.  (Think "Reality vs. Expectations" scene in (500) Days of Summer)

I realize now I have let my mind create unrealistic constructs and expectations on where I should be and let my heart turn cold, neglecting a lot of things important in life.  Important things that belong in the realm of the heart and not of the overly rational mind.  (To quote Jerry Maguire, "No heart!")  Id est, I have been doing things with no heart and only cause I thought it was expected of me.  Too much ambition and expectations it seems.

So, as I move forward and patiently and sincerely fill out applications with complete disregard to early deadlines, I will do what I feel most comfortable with: going with the flow, letting whatever happen happen, and adapting as necessary.  To quote Bruce Lee, "Be like water."

I realize I am no shark after all.  But I am no swan yet either.  (Up in the Air reference).  Nonetheless, I want to be part of the latter - content with living modestly and comfortably with people all around.

"It's just a moment.  This time will pass." -U2 - Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of

We have come to a point where going outside means not just being in the public eye of the city you are in but also in the public eye of the Internet world.

One picture on Twitpic has caused quite a stir, leading up to paper newspapers running a whole-page story and a subsequent TTC review on the incident.  This could potentially cost him his job (and thus, the ability to pay the mortgage and support the kids) which would really suck in this climate of unemployment.

Though, of course, it was not the intent of the photographer to take someone's job away.  He found it funny and I am sure so did a lot of people.

But it illustrates the growing fact that no matter where we are, we need to be aware of our behaviour.  Anyone with a cell phone camera can pull this off.   So don't act like a fool in public.

This also means we must consider the ramifications of posting something on the Internet.  You are speaking to a global community and could easily offend anyone.  I take a lot of photos of my "adventures" / daily life but I don't post them all up on Twitpic (just mainly of delicious meals I eat, haha).

I consider, to the best of my ability, whether I am violating anyone's privacy (subjects in the background/foreground) and any other possible consequences before posting.

And well, on two extremes, maybe the guy above will still be enjoying his sleep not worrying about an inquiry or there may be sweeping reform changes throughout the TTC staff in the months to come.