What's Wrong with People?

This was seen on the roof of the parking lot at Yonge and Hayden in Toronto.  Wtf is wrong with people?

Strict Chinese Style Upbringing: Good or Bad?

Amy Chua recently published a book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, about bringing her half Chinese, half Jewish children in a more traditional Chinese American style.  An excerpt can be found in the Wall Street Journal. 

People are already criticizing the article, saying that it is abusive.  I do agree, but only to a certain extent. I also find it very strange that an American-raised woman would want to raise her kids the "old fashioned way."  Immigrant Asian parents did that for a reason - they wanted their kids to be successful.  Most who came here were from lower income families with NOTHING and now that they're middle class, want their children to be middle class.  They raise their kids with classical music (and for those who want their kids in sports, tennis, swimming and now, golf) because that's what wealthy people (whether it be locals or colonists) did.  They want their kids to major in subjects that will lead to successful careers because they want them to have a stable life.  A B.A. in English, especially these days won't lead to that, considering that many print publications are downsizing or folding.  In any case, a lot of magazines want people with JOURNALISM DEGREES (soooooo WTF, IMHO).  Having these things is a symbol of success.  It's not really that different from newly middle class families in Europe back some 200 years ago.  Anyone who doesn't truly get that needs to read a little more (I'm looking at you, Jezebel commenters!).

Latin lovers fight to keep the language in Ontario’s schools

Latin lovers fight to keep the language in Ontario’s schools

I'm glad that they kept Latin in the curriculum. I had a great time learning the language, even though it was only for one year. Honestly, I know EXACTLY who the idiots who think keeping Latin in the curriculum is "too Eurocentric" are. I know them, and they're usually multigenerational Canadians who just want to be "extra-sensitive" or less likely, militant non-muligenerational Canucks. They often don't know much about people from other cultures, except those they work with. They don't "get" that many people from other non-European cultures are and have been learning European-based languages, arts and so forth for years. They don't seem to get that for many, it's actually part of the culture. I mean, have these idiots checked out their kids' schools stage bands/orchestras lately (and when I mean lately, I mean, like the past 20 years)? Unless one is from a small, all-white town, it's unlikely that the school band isn't at least 30-40% Asian.

The politically-correct nuts are ruining good, polished culture as we know it. Excluding traditionally European languages, arts and customs from the curriculum (and not really spending much time introducing non-European culture to MOST SCHOOLS) in the name of multiculturalism and political correctness does nothing but make our children less polished and sophisticated. I mean, in addition to the awful styles kids and young adults are wearing and people's lack of table manners knowledge (especially if they're over the age of FIVE) the lack of exposure to any kind of music other than what's on the radio (don't always blame the school curriculum really makes a lot of kids look even more idiotic than certain individuals who're in politics today (I'm looking at YOU Rob Ford and Sarah Palin!). Parents could have done their job by turning the radio onto stations that play other things or for the past 10-15 years, GO ONLINE. 

I'm beginning to think that I should run for office.  Maybe I can get rid of the idiots who are in charge of things right now. 

How Will Suburban Schools Handle the New Influx of Immigrants?

IS language the main issue here or is it influence from peers and from family? I knew kids whose parents did not speak English well, yet they managed to not only finish high school, but go to university as well. They did not need to go to school in their own language - they were just told by their parents that it was important for them to study. They knew that by not studying and not going to university­, they're always going to be poor.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Huffington Post article on 40% of Americans believing in Creationism...

Read full article here.

To that, I replied:

Something's really, really wrong here and I think it's sad that people don't believe in good science. What's happened to respecting intelligen­ce? It's no wonder people are complainin­g about immigrants from certain cultures getting ahead. Um, yeah, that's because those cultures respect a good education as well as REALLY being well-round­ed. Do you know how many Eastern European and East Asian kids took classical piano? Growing up, practicall­y ALL my piano teacher's students were either Ukrainian, Chinese or Korean. Most of my multi-gene­ration Canadian friends picked up a classical music instrument for the FIRST TIME in middle school.

Mike Layton Needs to Shut Up

regarding the whole Maclean's thing.  It's old news.  In addition, neither he nor the Chinese Canadian National Council truly understand private boarding school culture.  That said, let me reiterate the fact that Maclean's should NEVER have spoken with graduates of Havergal College.  They don't represent the majority of Toronto, after all (this is not an insult.  It is FACT).  If they wanted a private school perspective, then yes, it would they would have been good sources (I would be a good source too, by the way).

I also think the Chinese Canadian National Council is mostly made up of old line Chinese Canadians or small town radicals who don't exactly or always represent later immigrants - those who came in the 70s or later like my parents.  In any case, Mike Layton should concentrate on REAL problems.  Otherwise, he's just showing his political legacy privilege (he's the third generation to hold office, from what I understand).  Mike, it's time to move.  Go do your REAL job.

The Don Cherry Issue

I'm sure by now, everyone's heard about Don Cherry's quips at Rob Ford's inauguration.  As I've said time and time again, this guy needs a good stint with an etiquette coach.  Ford needs to know that there's a time and place for everything, and Don Cherry does not belong at City Hall.  We as Canadians know that he's not known to be politically correct and will just about say anything any time he wants.  That's why it was completely inappropriate for the mayor to invite him to City Hall.  Of course, Ford doesn't exactly know what appropriate is, knowing his background.

I do find it interesting that Cherry was criticizing the "crazy lefties" for being elitist.  Traditionally, NDP supporters were anti-elitist!  In fact, that was the very reason WHY David Miller was elected mayor in the first place.  Torontonians, who for some reason don't like good polish (Miller's opponent was John Tory, who is a traditional conservative and much more sophisticated than Miller when he first took office) tend to elect someone who is kind of  "off" to many.  I actually don't think Toronto has had anyone who has any sort of sophistication in a very long time, and definitely not since I was eligible to vote.  I do hope that eventually, people will come to their senses and realize that "good polish" is important to our city.  After all, we always want to be "world class."  If you want to be like that, you need a "world class" mayor.  Rob Ford is NOT a "world class" mayor - at least not unless he cleans himself up a little, since he does have some good ideas (at least when it comes to public transit).  Anyone know of good image consultants or etiquette coaches?