Full Review of Doc Zone: Apocalypse 2012

I watched this documentary on CBC a few weeks ago called Apocalypse 2012. I'm watching it again as I write right now, and I will give my researched and well thought-about input on each sub-topic. You can watch the documentary online here for free.

The entire documentary is about the mass hysteria of humans preparing for the end of the world, which is believed by them to be on December 21st, 2012. Will the Apocalypse finally truly arrive? Will the world finally end? Or will it end as we know it?

Lorne Dawson (Professor of Religions & Sociology at University of Waterloo)

                                          We live in a very apocalyptic culture. People want something to believe in because of all the knowledge we have. It feels like we know almost everything about the world, but at the same time, almost nothing. The advancement of knowledge is also advancing fear. Apocalypticism is being used as a New Age Movement. Dawson says that most people sit back in fear and think what can I do? There's nothing I can do. But there is something you can do, depending on your beliefs. The advantage to this Apocalyptic Movement is that they give you something to do. "It seems there's a certain kind of a desperate edge to taking something like a Mayan myth to try and make sense in a kind of brick and brack manner but maybe that's evidence of just how fractured our social existence has become." All these theories and such can just be a mash-up of the insanity in our minds as a society.

John Hoopes (Professor of Anthropology at University of Kansas)

John believes that even without the Internet, we'd still be as lost about this idea as we are today. There will never be a true answer until we all witness it together as mankind. All the information we have must be doubted as well, for "it's very hard to tell what's real and what's fabricated these days." That is the beauty of deception in scientific evidence.

The Mayan Calendar

The ancient Mayans invented a Long Count Calendar thousands of years ago. They divided this calendar into 13 B'ak'tun's. The final B'ak'tun, as viewed in ancient scriptures (writing in caves), seems to end on December 21st, 2012, according to the Western Calendar which we live by today. But the stone with the 13th B'ak'tun on it is clearly eroded, so it is just a predicament that this is supposed to symbolize The End. Most Mayans today don't even believe what is scaring the rest of the world; they believe that the cycle just starts all over again! So it will be the end of the world as we know it.

David Morrison (NASA Scientist)

People who write to Morrison are so fearful. They have fear of witnessing this catastrophe, so they are threatening to commit suicide, kill their children, etc...just to avoid thinking about this event any longer, or worse, being a victim of it. He feels for these fearful people, but at the same time, he laughs at peoples' theories that are not proven by NASA. "How do you want me to react? That's total nonsense!" he says to Geryl's predictions. Even Morrison believes that the Apocalyptic idea is just a capitalistic idea."After December, 2012, they'll think of something new to make money."

Nibiru Collision

This Planet X is believed to either crash into Earth or pitch Earth out of its orbit. This was supposedly discovered by the ancient Sumarians and it is supposed to come by every 3600 years. But scientists say that a planet the required size of Nibiru would have to be visible to the naked eye - there is no such planet visible to the human eye, thus no threat of this collision.

Solar Tsunami

Solar flares are large eruptions on the Sun. They are common on the Sun, but lately, they have been stronger and larger, causing more radiation on Earth. It's very rare to predict specific solar flares or even to know when the maximum is. Morrison assured that there is nothing about the Sun that can threaten people. But Doomsday theories predict that the solar flares will act as magnets with the Earth, causing Earth's temperature to continuously rise.  

Switch in the Earth's Rotation

Every 300-400 000 years, the Earth's magnetic poles flip, which is theorized to cause the Earth to spin in reverse. There is also the theory of the Earth's inner core of overheating, which can cause this reversal as well. Morrison says the Earth has never changed direction. But believers predict landslides, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, wars; a large catastrophe, as the mere aftermath of the Earth's reversal of rotation. Morrison calls this cosmophobia. The first thing that comes to mind to people nowadays when they hear of the smallest incident is "Will it hurt me? Is it going to destroy the Earth?" This fear of the end of the world has locked into everybody's brains. Even if it's subconscious, it's there. The fear at least is there, if not the belief. But that fear is what causes the belief, in the end.

Coast to Coast: 2012 Topic

George Noory feels like a psychiatrist to all his listeners of his radio show. They believe the end is coming, but they also believe there's a way to prevent it, or get through it. His motto? "We are all in this together and eventually we're going to get through it together. It's going to be a rough road! I'm not trying to kid anybody. I'm not trying to sugarcoat this. We are going to have some hills and valleys. This is going to be a roller coaster ride you had better strap yourself in for."

2012 The Movie

This movie features a lot of catastrophes which, in the storyline, lead to "the end of the world". The movie may have caused more of a scare in the world, and it is logical. The story is made up, however there are facts tied to a majority of the events in this movie. The director of this film, Roland Emmerich, read a lot of books about 2012 and some of them really scared him. The film has grossed worldwide with a total of $767,918,347.

Apocalypse 2012, The Book

Lawrence E. Joseph believes that he has put together really undeniable scientific evidence that our way of life is threatened seriously and soon. He was asked by a high school student, who was viewing his speech at her school, if a solar flare would actually be deadly for us. He believes that there would be many untimely deaths. It's the perfect time now to prepare for these things. But now, some time after publishing his first book, Apocalypse 2012, he has stopped believing it'll even happen. "In all honesty, my thinking has changed." 2012 has just become a universal deadline, but there's no evidence besides the Mayan belief that anything will happen specifically on December 21st, or even specifically in this year.

Patrick Geryl

You will see a very bright Sun and you will know that you only have a few hours before everything happens. You need to get prepared. The nightmare about the end of the world haunts Geryl. He sees everybody dying, nobody listening to him. It's like a type of depression. He believes there's a hidden calculation that solar flares will hit the Earth which will cause the reversal of the Earth's rotation. The proof he believes is in an Ancient Maya writing which he believes predicts an Apocalypse on the last day of the Long Count Calendar. The challenge will be to survive the tidal waves. One option he believes will be to ride it out on a boat, but you will lose your directions with the cataclysm's effect on the compass. Geryl believes that about 20 000 people in boats might make it. He wants to build a doomsday-proof community in the mountains of Spain for people who may not want to use the boats. His dream is to have several different locations for the safety of these future survivors.

Christopher Powell

Powell believes that the Mayans probably predicted change on the last day of the 13th B'ak'tun, but it remains a mystery of what exactly these changes are. As an archaelogist, he explains the erosion of the only piece of the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar with the end date on it leading to this large Apocalypse 2012 confusion.

Hunbatz Men

Men believes that something is wrong in the consciousness of the universe and mother earth is continuously repeating herself saying something is wrong. He believes that something is going to happen. But he believes that 2012 is just a reference point rather than a specific time. This doesn't mean, however, that he won't encourage his students to come to his school to meditate on December 21st, 2012. Many people will be coming to meditate with him.

He spoke about 2012 as the New Solar Age, back in 1980. He believes that we are approaching something new, but it could be better or worse. He believes that if we're all in a silent prayer at the moment of that large solar flare, it will transform into a rainbow bridge joining the two poles of the Earth.

José Argüelles

Dennis McClung

He sat back and watched more and more wars, economic catastrophes, storms, and so on, just continuing to grow. He stopped writing the book he was researching for, and decided to stay safe at home with his family and become more eco-friendly, in case that helps. If this fails, he will move to a survival community in the hills of Arizona. His friend Jim, who is helping him move if needed, has been panning for gold, because he believes that it will be the only currency left after the cataclysm. McClung says that there are many theories which point to 2012 as a time of change. People say he is putting fear in people but the way he sees it is that he's helping people to not have any fear.

Pam Walters

Walters wants to build an underground colony out of shipping containers in a small town of West Virginia. She felt somehow that she had to do this, because she had a sense since the 1980s that something was coming. She heard of Planet X, Nibiru, and believes that it is already causing a magnetic pull on Earth which is increasing the Earth's temperature. What's worse is that she thinks that the government knows it and isn't telling anyone to avoid mass hysteria. But there already is hysteria in this World.

Leap of Faith, Bell Rock

Peter Gersten believes that humans exist in a computer program and at 11:11 AM, December 21st, 2012, it will shut down. He believes that he has received a sign to jump off Bell Rock in Arizona at this exact time to save the world from "shutting down". 

Money

Dawson believes that most people don't mind paying a bit for information and such, but this can only go to a certain extent. McClung sells supplies to survivalists with the same beliefs as him in order to help them plan and execute their survival quests. Geryl & De Cordier know they will need big money for the survival units. Right now, one unit costs about 50 000 Euros.

Judith Carol

Carol is pitching a line of clothing to high-end boutiques with a logo that she believes will transform the neurons of the brain.

Larry Hall

Hall is in the midst of designing a large, high-tech, high architecture quality underground community for other survivalists. He says that he has had to cut back on advertising because of the response he's gotten. Half a floor goes for $900 000 American, and a full floor for $1 750 000 American. All the luxuries a human could possibly want are included in the structure of this community.

Brian Camden

Camden is building bunkers all around the world for private individuals and corporations. The largest one can fit 1000 people but wants to build one for 15 000 people and says he can build one for 100 000 people. A family-sized bunker in the side of a mountain costs about a half a million dollars. The strange thing is is that Camden hasn't bought into the Apocalyptic idea himself. He is making money over people's fear.

My Thoughts

There is a business to all this apocalypticism; even with researchers. They probably have no idea as to what they're going to do with their supplies, bunkers, and all their other investments if 2012 does not happen. Is it all just a game that everybody is playing in order to strengthen capitalism for the future, or is it just to get you by until the day comes, in order to witness everything? The relations between science and the Mayan Calendar are evident; something is going to happen. This doesn't mean, however, that 2012 is the year it will happen. If you research other religious beliefs, these relations will freak you out even more. Some beliefs are too far-out and unbelievable in my opinion - but that doesn't mean they're not true. 2012, like Morrison said, is just a time reference. Catastrophes happen. A major one is coming. Will it end the world? Yes; as we know it.

End of the World

People ask "Do you believe that the world will end in 2012?" Replies are always either "Pssht, no, that's BS!" or something leaning towards a yes, with some proof. Either way, there is always a subconscious fear.

I was writing a book on eschatology (the study of the end of the world). I started researching almost a year ago. I've always been interested, but I never believed in myself to actually write it. Now, I realize that facts are changing every second, the scientific ones at least. I have my religious notes, and my scientific notes. But what really matters for a topic like this is my philosophical thoughts.

I try to distract myself from this topic on which I'm very keen, by trying to focus on school and music. But I always seem to get right back to researching, thinking, and discussing theories on the end of the world. I've decided to update my blog more frequently, with a feature every time - a religious eschatology segment, or a scientific area, or even just something recent that has occured. I've given up on writing the book, because I think the blog will be better, and will attract a lot more people. So stay tuned, and tell your friends. Even if they say they don't care, inside, they really do.

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Regret

Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together.

Taylor Swift wrote these words inside the album cover booklet of her newest CD titled Speak Now. She wrote two pages full of her thoughts on how important it is to speak up at the right time. It made me realize what I've been lying to myself about for too long.

You can't go back in time to change the if only you always think about in your mind. That's why "saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial." Live in the moment in order to prevent future regret that you might have, thinking what if I had done this differently? You want to be one of the old geezers who look back on what they  remember and smile at the little things, not one of those who only remember their regrets.

If there's a time to make mistakes, it's now, while you're still young and innocent. These mistakes (mostly) don't have a large enough influence on your future to hold too much regret. You learn from your own mistakes, thus it's better to start this personal schooling now and end it early. You only get life for so long, so enjoy as much of it as you can, without regret! If you forget to speak up today, that's alright for now. Just remember to next time.

I always told myself I regret the past because things could have been different, but I could never figure out how they could have been different. I realized after reading Taylor's words, that it was all a matter of communication; I just didn't have the gut to speak up. But it's alright now, because mistakes are what structure the soul. There's a difference between mistakes and regret.

You control your own future, your own thoughts & regrets. You'll always wonder what could have happened if only you had spoken up. Mistakes can be forgiven. Regret is what you feel when you cannot be forgiven, but it only happens when you waste your time not taking action.

"I don't think you should wait. I think you should speak now."

Manners

Where are your Manners?

Manners are said to be on of the rules of society. They're just there to set a polite and innocent image for yourself. People who do not follow them are considered rude. So am I rude for setting my own rules for my relationships with friends? Does this mean the polite ones are good and the rude ones are bad? No; you can't use manners as a way to distinguish between good and bad. In fact, there is no such thing as good and bad. They're just images of models developed by the human mind, influenced by the society we have created. Who's to determine what's good and what's bad? Isn't it rude to call somebody bad?

I hate the words sorry and thank you, or any alteration of those . My close friends know this, and so they're careful not to say them to me. I don't even want strangers to say thanks when I open the door for them at the mall, or sorry when they accidentally fall on me while riding the city bus. I hate it.

An apology means that something considered wrong by both parties was done, and so there is now regret. Either that, or it's just to be polite; it's just a manner. I don't want people to do anything wrong and then apologize for it, or just apologize for the heck of it. Sorry is just a word anyway; it doesn't really ever correct a wrong. So take a step out of your safe little box, and take action to make it up to whoever you want to apologize to. An apology comes from a feeling in your heart, not from the awareness of manners in your mind.

Thank you is just the aftermath of a good feeling, or (again), it's said to be polite. You thank somebody after they've done something that affects you. Have you ever wondered why they did it in the first place? It's because they care; they feel good just by inferring they've made a difference by observations after they've done their deed. A thanks doesn't strengthen this feeling; it instead makes you feel like you were only needed for that deed, so you are now dismissed. But it's a duty, for example, as a friend to help your friends. Just like a firefighter says to a little girl after she thanks him for saving her from her burning house, Just doing my duty, that's what you should feel when someone thanks you. When it's a politeness thing, of course I'll let it slide, otherwise it's not acceptable by my laws. Together as humankind, it is our duty to help each other. So perform your duty and feel good about it when you do. Don't accept a thank you, because you're sticking around to continue helping out your brothers and sisters, as is your duty.

Do you apologize to custodians in a public sector when you walk on the floor they just mopped? Do you thank them for mopping it? That's your ego feeling superior to them, thus not being polite to them. In situations like these, I will apologize or thank the other person, but in others, it's enough for them to receive a smile as a thank you, or other words that acknowledge your regret or gratefulness. A lot of the time, these facial expressions and gestures can say a lot more than a mere thanks can. Same thing with the variables of making it up to somebody rather than apologizing. Just be careful when speaking to me; don't mind your manners! ;)

Betrayal

Have you ever loved someone so much and then gotten betrayed somehow? Maybe not even betrayed; maybe you left them for some reason. There’s always that barrier after this happens between two people. Whether or not you start talking again, there is an invisible force keeping you apart. They say love is strong, but even that cannot break this barrier, for sometimes, it is love that constructs this barrier.

Imagine that person you thought of when you read that very first sentence. A few years from now, you find out they’re dying. If you truly ever felt something for them, whether they’re a friend, lover, or parent, you will always feel the need to go see how they’re doing. Guilt remains afterwards if you don’t go. Maybe you hated this person after whatever happened between you two. The heat of battle built this barrier.

If you were to read about someone dying in the newspaper, it would just blow over. If you were to read about your ex-teacher dying, you might feel something, even if said teacher failed you back in your freshman year. There is never enough hatred in a sane human mind to wish death upon someone you have talked to. That is how the ego works; it has to relate to you in order to truly feel something in a situation for somebody else.

Now go back to that person’s deathbed. What would you say? Would you apologize for what happened? Would you just stare at them in awe for the person they’ve become, for the person that this world is losing? If you would truly feel something, ten that love burnt inside of you this entire wasted time. But you’ll never know till you’re really there beside their deathbed.

Be proud of the relations you have, and enjoy every moment of it. Don’t ever say goodbye; you don’t ever want a true farewell.

Endings

“An ending is nothing but a new beginning.”                       -Myself

I hate goodbyes. But I never want to look back at one and regret it. Life is too short for that. So I like to cherish the memories of all the good times; the laughter, and the smiles that came and went. Because I know that there’s still more out there.

For the past little while, I’ve been stressed to the bone. My mind will erupt if I don’t keep my balance with insanity. I’ve told myself that it’s all because of the schoolwork and extra-curriculars, but I know that those are just the distractions that keep me from jumping off the cliff.

I’ve been spending hours just thinking. Stress doesn’t always come because of a physical form. Sometimes, you need to make some decisions as to who you’ll leave behind in your journey, and what hitchhikers you’ll pick up along the way to your very last farewell.

I hate endings. But I love them too.

Lately, it’s been difficult deciding how to go about life nowadays. But today, in the desk of my seat in my new math class, I found a Chinese fortune – the ones from those fortune cookies you get at Chinese restaurants. It said “Getting together will old friends brings new adventures.” I realized how true that is with my view on endings and goodbyes. But it’s true; you’ll go on new adventures with old friends, leave some behind and make new ones, but there will always be a few who are always there.

That’s called true friendship.

Growth

All it takes for a plant to grow is water, soil, and sunshine. It’s so simple; you’d think that other living organisms would grow in a similar way. But reality is: it takes so much more for a child to grow; shelter, food, water, and love. Without the support and care, a child’s future is bound to be bent or broken.

A few years ago, I went to the market with my dad and we bought a small bamboo plant as a decorative piece for my new bedroom. I watered it every day being careful to not put too much. I made sure my curtains were open during the peak time of day, so the plant would receive enough sunlight but not so much to burn it. I watched it grow and grow, measuring its outstanding height as it grew. I stabled it when it became too tall to hold its own structure, giving it support for as long as it needed. I almost treated it like a child on its own. But then, everything changed.

I didn’t care for it anymore. I was too distracted to give it the food it needed. I wanted to keep my bedroom as dark as my thoughts. I didn’t even notice how much it died – until today.

Why is it that you can care so much for something or someone and then suddenly just not give a shit? Distractions are healthy sometimes but when they change your views on loved ones, you can be so blinded as to not even notice what you’re losing - until it’s too late. You always feel some regret, but for some, it’s as easy as pushing it to the back of your mind. For others, it’s not. I used that bamboo as a symbol to myself - until I lost my hope. What does it take for you to completely lose your faith in something or someone you love?

Apologies

True forgiveness lies not in your regretful thoughts, but way beyond. To yourself, your ego is your identity. For example, I hate Bush. It is not you that hates Bush; it’s your ego. It wants to be released, to become your skin. But those who become aware that your true identity is in fact the Aliveness inside of you, are the ones who truly feel. (A great book to read about the Aliveness inside of you is A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle.)


What is the difference between a true apology and a mere sorry? It doesn’t matter how big the problem is - a simple sorry never fixes it. Honestly, I believe that no problem is ever fixed between two people, no matter what the relation, because it is always mentioned again later in life. This may cause a more severe argument. You never get over something, unless it’s the flu, or you have amnesia. It always comes back into your thoughts.

A true apology comes not from that one s word, but from inside of you, where the Aliveness lies. If you truly resent what happened, no matter who is at fault, you will feel the need to apologize. It doesn’t matter what kind of person you are; if you truly regret what happened, you will apologize.

This apology is never delivered as I’m sorry, or can we just forget all about it, but instead in a thought-about way – poetic, if you will. The words and the thoughts rush to your head like blood, and you know right then that you have to step up to the plate and apologize. If you’re truly sorry, you know you will never be able to forget about it. Instead, you can overcome it.

If it sounds stupid to you at this point, you have never felt true regret. There will be arguments between you and others in the future – no doubt about it. Perhaps sometime in the future you will feel true regret and you will want to apologize, whether it’s to yourself, to a peer, or to Whomever you believe to be your God. Whoever it is, if it is a true apology, they will accept it. Humans have a neural sense for other humans' feelings. Some read it better, but all humans feel something inside. Some may have let that true identity out completely (as in they completely got rid of their ego) and let these feelings wander. Are you up for tearing off that skin of ego?

Memories

“…sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.”

 -Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

I spent my childhood in that neighbourhood. Every inch of the sidewalk owns a memory I never wanted to lose. On my last day, I was shooting hoops at my favourite of the three parks in the area, something I loved to do ever since I can remember. On my last shot, a piece of chain fell from the mesh. I kept it in my pocket ever since.

I felt like I still had a piece of my childhood with me. One filled with love, heartbreak, exclusion, anger, and adventure. Nobody ever wants to lose their childhood. Memories are too important to lose or forget, and so I learned to write them down. Maybe that’s why I felt so lost and hurt when I lost the chain a few days ago.

I feel naked without it in my pocket. Last time I lost it, it found its way back to me, somehow. For some reason, I don’t think that will happen this time.

But in the past few days I’ve also learned to let go. Memories will always be with you, but you never lose your identity when you lose a possession.

I still have the memories inside of me. They have become my identity, but this possession was not.

Seeking Answers

Everybody has a place they seek out to for answers. When they’re feeling down, they’ll wander around and up in the same spot once again. Perhaps this is because they think better, away from the world, away from the root of their problems. But the problem follows deep inside their thoughts. The sound of nature in the place they go to is never enough to down their thoughts. Why is it that they always seem to find an answer through the voices in their head? Is it the effect of the place, or is it all inside of you? What is it about this place that guides them to the answer?

Who Are You?

Who are you? Imagine you were asked to create a profile based on any of these three characteristics about yourself:
• Your religion

• Your personality

• Your future or current career choice

You might answer Christian, friendly, media. Easy questions to answer, right? But have you ever though deeper than these simple answers?

Your religion may be anything; Christianity, Hinduism, Islamism, Sikhism, or even Atheist. There are so many. What if I asked you, When did you become a Muslim? Most people would say Since I was born. or Ever since I can remember. Usually there is only one answer to why you follow the religion you do; your parents. They teach you right from the start to believe in the same religion as they were taught to believe in. Nowadays there are people who say they follow a certain religion but they don’t really believe in all of it. I like to call these people the Indecisives. I certainly am an Indecisive. Why? Because you tell yourself your whole life that you follow a religion, but then one day you realize that you don’t really know enough about it or believe in what you do know about it. That’s when you do some soul searching, and then make a decision of whether or not you follow that religion. It may end up that you don’t follow any religion, or you change religions because of the style of beliefs of another, or even a slight belief in a mixture of religions. You might be afraid to change your mind because of family or because of your current religion. You might think My parents will be angry with meor even God will be angry with me for disobeying Him, even though you're already doubting Him. But remember that it’s you that believes (or doesn’t believe). You’ll still have that urge to search the world for others who have similar beliefs. There are so many people who can influence your belief, but in the end, it’s all on you.

What do you do when you have a bad morning? Two answers. A. Suck it up and fake a smile at school or work. B. Ruin everybody else’s day. The majority of people go for the first answer, but sometimes it’s just too hard to pretend. Why do people go for the first answer? Because they know that others will question them or feel bad. Who’s the influence again? Other people. You might even act like somebody you’re not because you want to stay within your current “friend” circle. Well, guess what? There’s always another group of friends who will accept you for who you really want to be because they’re like you to. You just won’t know until you let yourself out. You can never adapt to being someone you’re not. One day, you’ll just get tired of that voice inside your head telling you to shut up and stop acting. It’s really not that hard to be yourself.

Think ten years from now, if you’re in school. If you’re not in school, think back to when you were. You’ve got a dream in mind. You want to go out and be, for example, an architect. But your parents want you to be a doctor and take over their office. All you think is damn. Flush away your dreams, follow their rules. Ten years from now, you’ll be giving an old man a yearly check-up with a frown. He’ll think it’s because of his hairy and wrinkly back. You know it’s not. You’ll think back to right about now and say to yourself What if I had stepped up and talked to Mom and Dad about being an architect? But you didn’t. Now it’s kind of too late to change your career path. So make the right decision now. Don’t let your parents’ dreams influence you; it’s your dream. You dared to dream it. Now achieving it isn’t too far.

This might change your mind about what you believe in, who you are, and what you want to do. I most certainly will be giving my future children their own free will, and support them for who they are. Will you?

Tim Horton's vs. Starbucks

There has been a debate about coffee in Canada ever since the two main coffee franchises opened up; Tim Horton’s and Starbucks. Some similar traits between the two are the facts that they both serve coffee and donuts, but they both serve more coffee than anything else. One thing that mainly differentiates the two is the prices. Tim Horton’s is cheaper and more preferable to employees of smaller businesses, but the reason why it is so much cheaper than Starbucks is because of their unfair trade running through Timmy’s business. The coffee bean farmers who supply Tim Horton’s with their coffee are being paid unfairly. Starbucks ensures that these farmers earn their money, so they price their drinks higher. Think of it this way; you help the lack of farmers in the world earn their fully deserved salary and prevent them from leaving their jobs and joining other industries. The amount of farmers in the crop industry is decreasing daily. Soon, there will not be enough crops produced for the world.

In a more personal manner, Starbucks alters your drink exactly the way you want it – (usually) no extra charge! Tim Horton’s can add some flavour shots and such for extra money. Though Tim Horton’s is the fastest growing coffee franchise in Canada, Starbucks is catching up.

The majority of businesses are going green at this point in the marketing world. Starbucks is taking this to the extreme. They offer sleeves to put on your coffee cups to avoid your hand burning. The catch: these sleeves are made from 60% post consumer fibre. Even the cups are made of recycled paper. Tim Horton’s doesn’t offer sleeves – in fact, they double their cups which are not made of recycled paper or fibres to prevent your hand from burning.

So you tell me, which do you prefer; Tim Horton’s or Starbucks, and why?

Sad Songs

I personally love listening to all kinds of music, as long as its got some meaning to it. Sure, a lot of these songs end up being classified in the general "sad" category. But there are so many different types of "sad". People ask me sometimes why I always listen to "sad music". I don't. I listen to music with meaning. Now, it could be that there is a lack of non-sad music with meaning out there. But I don't necessarily like a song for its lyrics. Sure, the lyrics could be helpful at times, depending on how I'm feeling. A good example of this is Comfortable by John Mayer. It's got great instrumental to it. The violins are amazing. And the lyrics are in fact sad. The main thing I'm wondering is, does a sad person necessarily have to be listening to sad music? If somebody listens to sad music, are they sad? I know it's stupid, but I hate when people ask me why I listen to a specific song, because it's sad. Another example, Fix You by Coldplay, or Where Are You Now? by Honor Society. Every song seems to have at least two meanings to it; one from the singer and one from the person being sung to. What do you think?

Multiculturalism

One difference I've noticed between schools, cities, countries, etc. is the amount of multiculturalism. Here in Canada, in most places, multiculturalism is greatly welcomed, whereas in other parts of the world where it is popular for immigrants to travel to, there are issues.
In schools, there are always "groups" of people. A lot of the time, this differentiation is because of race and/or religion. But often, in Canada at least, groups mix. This has probably only started in the past couple decades. Same thing at workplaces. Sometimes, a whole city can be highly populated with one race, and so they become negative towards the small population of "other races". No, I am not pointing out Brampton in particular =P
There are so many news stories that occur because of racism. The aftermath of the 9/11 revolved around negativity towards Muslims, but not only they were affected by this, but Sikhs and Hindus as well. The recent Qu'ran burning idea in Florida by the pastor Jones spread a lot of tension. One thing we must consider is that America is a free country, so he could do what he wanted. It's not right, but it was allowed. The tension around the new mosque they're building in New York City is because of media. Media tells us what they want us to know. But a lot more happens in this world.
So what is your view on multiculturalism? Are you a part of the people who accept everybody? Are you a part of the people who don't mean to, but it just happens that you stay with certain religions or races? Or are you just completely against hanging out with people of other cultures?