Down with windows

2007-08-15T01:08:00.001-04:00

This is interesting...I don't really understand how I could score a tie between Brazil and the UK, what the similarities are I just don't know!

what country is the right for you?
created with QuizFarm.com

Marketing Madness!

2007-08-10T09:04:00.000-04:00

It is so incredible that consumer attention spans have erroded so much in the past year that marketing practices that have been the norm for the last century are as fickle as the weather here in Toronto. Could this be a result of over stimulation? mass marketing reaching into to many corners of our lives? or simply consumers adapting to an environmental stimulus that serves little purpose for survival and thus is tuned out as unimportant.

Recent research done by the United States military demonstrated that a soilders vision is approximately three degrees of clear vision or less, and that a mind constantly analyzes that soilders surroundings and refocuses their eyes on the most eminent threat in the vicinity. By using electrical stimuli the US military has been able to create a devices that better enables a soilder to prioritize targets according to the danger level poised, not just the threats proximity. Enabling soilders to track more targets faster, and avoid danger before it actually becomes dangerous.

If we translate this into an urban environment, the urban jungle not urban warfare, we may be seeing a stage in our development influenced by mass advertising. Constant bombardment by advertisements each trying to trick our brain into identifying that ad as "the most eminent threat" and theirfore gain our attention for 3-4 seconds to convey a message we don't need may mean that our minds have learned to de-prioritize these messages as they never pose a threat and do not hinder our lifestyle. This then causing us to focus on other threats in our environment, like traffic, bicycle messengers, and beggers.

Long Over Due Updates!

2007-07-09T22:27:00.000-04:00

Alright, so this has sat empty for quite some time, due to rash over-committing that has only recently come into perspective and focus enabling me these few moments of rest to update this weblog. I find it particularly fitting that this time of rest comes during my trip to Vancouver on business, as everything here seems relaxed and contemplative.

Speaking with my friend Carolyn today, after a meeting with the Vancouver Olympics Organizing committee we were discussing the differences between Canadian cities. Carolyn said that in Vancouver people work to live, as opposed to Toronto where people seem to live to work. What struck me was that I could not determine if I thought that was a good thing or not. Its odd but I had a hard time with this concept. Its very simple really, yet at the same time I began to think about how much my work defines what I do, and who I am. I began to wonder if I could live in a city like Vancouver because of this, or if Toronto was that much more suited to me.

I like the pace, the movement, the purpose behind everything. At the same time I find a trade off between the natural environment here that pulls you in, and makes you want to go exploring, and the drive that I feel in Toronto to do more, be more, and experience it all. Here in Vancouver, I feel like I can just sit back, relax, and let the world slip by. I don't quite fit in with that lifestyle yet although its nice for a vacation. I will enjoy the pace when I get back to Toronto on Wednesday.

Even more I'm looking forward to experience New York next weekend, and comparing the contrasting impressions between these three cities further!

2006-12-15T13:28:00.000-05:00

It seems I get bloggy once in awhile, then it fades away for months before I even remember I have this thing. While I'm posting today I might as well keep going with some updates!

AIESEC Windsor,
Transition is starting soon. We have elected our new president who's term will start on March 1st 2007. I have to admit this is just now becoming difficult to accept. I've been spending my nights thinking about all of the work that still needs to be done before our local committee is secure. Much is left unfinished and now I leave it in someone elses hands while trying to accomplish as much as possible before its time to hand in the keys to the office.

And then what happens?

I have to start considering what my next steps are. Two paths in front of me. I can stay in AIESEC, either locally or apply for a national team or I can head for the future. Lots of thinking to do very soon. Any suggestions?

Our Invisible Nation Builders

2006-12-15T13:13:00.000-05:00

This post (the first in too long) is actually a response to another blog written by an old aquaintance of mine. Reading her post left me wondering a great deal about what a nation builder to a Canadian is. In the end, after reading comments to her post I found myself being more concerned with what a nation builder IS NOT. To see the original post please click below:

Tara Janzen

To credit Harper with unifying the public and getting them more involved in politics I think would be jumping the gun, or atleast not giving credit where credit is due. To use an example given earlier,

Mr. Bush unified Canadians againsts the United States...while I do not agree with that statement he did win the award. (puzzled)

The last person to unite the political will of this country was not Harper, or even Martin (although he was the victim of that will). The last time I remember seeing a unified Canadian will was when we ousted the Liberals. We would have to give credit to Justice John Gomery for that miracle. (or even the liberals who started the whole mess if looking for the macro elements responsible)

Any political interest that Harper has generated in Canadians is certainly overshadowed by the carelessness exhibited when declaring, without the consent or even debate by parliment that Quebec was a nation within a nation. Purely political purpose, meant to steam liberal momentum (it worked) but destroying in one single sentence the work of hundreds of people, and millions of dollars that were spent over decades in an attept at unifiying this nations english and french factions.

Just when I was starting to like him too.

While political interest across this country as risen, I would credit that to a public that was
rudely awaken by the sins of the former Liberal party. People have realized that a political system only works when the people are actively involved. Harper is not the cause of this new involvment. He is more the product.

We did it!

2006-09-11T07:30:00.000-04:00

AIESEC Windsor Signs its First JQ Since 1999!!

We did it. AIESEC Windsor will be bringing in an intern to work at the R J Cyr Company developing export markets and opening regional offices abroad. I can't tell you how proud I am of our team right now!

Are You Kidding Me!

2006-06-09T15:50:00.000-04:00

Today I began a new job. It was just an introduction to the team and a brainstorming session for a few hours but I left bewildered none the less.
Its a high tech firm based here in Windsor. They have jointly developed with DamiliarChrysler (DCX) a series of ultrasonic microscopes for the purpose of non-destructive testing (NDT). Let me explain why this is so important...back in the dark ages, every hour or so a manufacturer such as DCX would take a car off the line and begin ripping it to peices. Just to make sure that everything was solid, If they found weak welds then they would have to go back over every single vehicle produced since the last tear down and find where the problem started. One word..EXPENSIVE. With Ultrasonic Microscopy a machine can test the integrety of a weld as it is being made. Right down to the internal structure of the weld nugget itself. If a problem occurs that machine can sound an alarm, or stop the assembly line, or take corrective action. It can even keep a record of every weld and its internal structure for statistical analysis later! Say it with me now...HOLY COST SAVINGS BATMAN!
Now I went for an interview with this company. They are partnered with the University and decided to hire a group of three students to co-ordinate all marketing and expansion activities. I am currently an undergraduate student, and my job will be opening an entirely new division of this company headquartered in Dublin Ireland that will cater to the bio-medical industry. I will be responsible for developing all our marketing strategy, and possibly product development to address the needs of this booming sector. For most companies such a position would only ever go to a senior executive with the experience required. Did I mention however that I'm an undergraduate student?
This is career launching stuff, after three or four years here I'll be 15 to 20 years ahead of my peers in the job market. I just love the fast track. Lets hope I'm up to the task, one things for sure...I've got a TON of homework to do tonight!

Check This Out!

2006-06-09T14:32:00.000-04:00

To much time on your hands, not enough hobbies, and an excess stockpile of Diet Coke and Mentos equal a Las Vegas style water fountian show in your own backyard, or should that be carbonated beverage show in your own back yard?

Also check out an animators hilarious life or death battle with a new animation that seems to have a mind of its own...click the link and select replay to see the whole scene.
War of the Stick Men

Angela's AIESEC Blogger

2006-05-22T22:09:00.000-04:00

As you may know my girlfriend is in India right now on a program AIESEC runs called CEED. (Cultural Envoy for Exchange Development) Check out her blog to see all the crazy adventures they get into! Some of these posts worry me tons!
"crossing these roads is like playing Frogger and we don't exactly have the best concept of our location. Haha."
Love the humour...don't like the playing in traffic! ;-)

Angela's AIESEC Blogger

You can also check out Llorene's blog if your interested in more updates about the trip and some photos!

Llorenes Blog

Be wise when listening to the forked tongue of hatred

2006-05-20T17:54:00.000-04:00

I would like to draw your attention to an unofficial translation of a letter by Mr. Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad, President of Iran to George Bush, President of the United States of America. (click title to read)
Letter to President Bush
I think this letter outlines the ignorance and contraditory nature of the bush administration but also how seductive the voice of hatred can be. When reading this letter it is important to note that while Mr. Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad chastises President Bush for "anti-christian behaviour", namely practicing hatred and murder he is also justifying to himself the hatred that he himself not only practices but preaches to the masses. This is a man who has as a mandate of his term in office the distruction of Isreal. No matter your view point on the legitimacy of that nation for Mr. Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad to berate Mr. Bush's religious devotion but to then turn around and justify his own anti-islamic view points of murder and hatred towards another people is horrific. While this man is praised by so many comments on this website those readers fail to consider the contradictory nature of the letter itself.
(I would also like to draw your attention to another article http://www.islamicity.com/education/understandingislamandmuslims/ I quote from the top of that page " Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness" How now does Mr. Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad equate that to hatred)

What struck me most when I was finished reading was that I agreed with so much of the letter. My view of this man changed radically. Slowly however I began to see the dual nature of his speech. How in one sentence he would ridicule bush's actions and then defend the same actions that he himself practices. This is the danger poised by those who practice hatred. They know they are ill received by the masses and they adapt their messages as such. He does not say dealth be to the jews, he hides behind legalities and what he calls "common sense" to draw people in and gain trust. This is practiced by almost every hate group in the world. A white supremist will never recruit new members on a message of the inferior nature of other races but will instead tell you that it is only natural, and god given that black people associate with black people and white people associate with white people. He will tell you that this is how it was for centuries, until you trust that he is not a man filled with hate but a rational and logical person. Once you start attending meetings however they slowly change their message as you become more receptive. Mr Najad practices the same soft tongue. He speaks about the nation of Isreal having no legitimate history, until you begin to buy his message that he is simply trying to set straight what is natural. Then he draws you in with more powerful hatred once he has a trusting audience.
This kind of hatred is why the world needs organizations such as AIESEC and other programs like it that break down borders and stereotypes so that people can see first hand what the true nature of humanity is. Men like this poise far to great a danger to allow ignorance to reign.

Restless Nights

2006-05-16T02:28:00.000-04:00

It's 2:20 in the morning and I can't sleep. Its been like this for days now. I tried everything tonight to try and get some rest, shut down the computer, made sure every email was responded to, I've got the day planned out and scheduled so I don't lie awake planning it in my head. I've got no excuse for why I'm still awake at this hour.

Except one.

Angela is in India, and I can't seem to close my mind long enough to ignore the fact that she's not next to me right now. Even with the computer off I seem to gravitate towards it as if at any minute it will spring to life and there flashing on the screen will be a message from her.
I miss you Ange, hurry home!

Testing The New Widget!

2006-05-14T08:05:00.000-04:00

I'm still trying to decide what blogging account I should use, but I think blogger.com just stepped up a few spots when I found this really cool dashboard widget that will make it SUPER easy for me to post on a whim. Just trying it out for now though, I'll tell you more later.

Switching services?

2006-04-27T07:09:00.000-04:00

I'm giving Blogger.com a try, just because really. I have blogging accounts right now at blogger.com, wordpress, and dotmac.

Dotmac and wordpress have the nicer templates, and dotmac is so easy to publish and track everything.

However I am a member of AIESEC, and everyone else in AIESEC seems to use blogger! as such I feel the pressure of social conformity exercising its power over me. I'll give it a try as I do like the interface!

*Update* Ok, looks like blogger wins, on the count of that quick updating widget I found for my dashboard (for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about a dashboard is like a second desktop that a Mac has where you keep widgets and tools to make your life easier. Similar to yahoo widgets and others like it except that it only shows up when you want it to)