I love you.

     Today I propose one small step for man, one giant step for mankind, in the right direction. A step towards loving yourself. A step towards acceptance. A step towards a positive use of the media. I want to take a stand against cyber-bullying, from the little bullies and the big corporations. Confidence shouldn't be muted by media screams, simply so that they can sell it back to us. I am more than a size 8. I am more than anonymous insults directly spat over the internet or indirectly spat into beauty products; 2 for 1 special anyone?
    In local news, a student at our school recently decided it would be funny to make a slander account, mocking other students. It wasn't funny. Our student took a stand and fought hate the way we always manage to, with #CBLove. We fought our problems the best way possible, with #CBSolutions.
   Ideally, everyone would jump on this bandwagon, bullies included, of course. We could all spread love instead of anxiety. You deserve that, you deserve that because you are an individual, you are beautiful, and you are important. I love you.
   We've learned, from the media, to pick on flaws to make ourselves feel better. Calling someone fat doesn't make you any thinner, calling someone gay doesn't make you any straighter, and calling someone retarded doesn't win you any Nobel prize. However, calling someone beautiful can turn their whole day around, and you'll feel better too. Spread the kind words, via twitter, a secret post-it note, or face to face. Let people know that they are lovely the way they are, that includes you. It's easy to get suffocated by your own insecurities when you're always breathing in. So take a deep breath, appreciate yourself, and spread the love.

Just a friendly reminder from another human being, you are not alone.

Photo sources: Tumblr (Original Authors Unknown)

Independence - Freedom - Happiness

    Today I felt very inspired, inspired to travel to Vietnam, all due to this episode of a travel show, Departures! One of the hosts, Scott Wilson & Justin Lukach, put it best when they said, "people see Vietnam as a war, not a country." This was accurate of my own views of Vietnam. I had completed a research assignment on their war last year, but never bothered to look into the broader picture. After seeing that episode I was dumbfounded by the rich culture and friendly people they met among gorgeous scenery. So, feeling inspired, I looked into some more Vietnam trivia, from the ever reliable, Wikipedia.

• Population 87.8 million
• Area 331,210 km² (size of Germany)
• Has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era (2.6 million years ago)
• Ranked 16th worldwide in biological diversity, being home to approximately 16% of the world's species
• Bicylces or motorcycles are the most common form of transport in the cities
• 85% of population identify as Buddhist
• Unemployment at 2.3%
• Literacy rates at 90.3%

More importantly, as far as I'm concerned...

• Round trip flights, Ottawa to Ho Chi Minh, start from $1,682.82 

Here are some great pictures I found of Vietnam, from National Geographic, to give you a taste of what I'm now day dreaming of!

A Bitter Too Late

Twas the night of elections, when all through the land
All the creatures were stirring, from NY to Los Ang.
The poll stations were hung, in the public, with care
In hopes the eligible voters soon would be there

Some adults were nustled, all snug in their bed,
With visions of the economy boosting in their heads.
But some with no beds, not even a cap,
Had to settle outside for a long winter's nap.

On the White House lawn there was such a clatter,
"So why bother vote, if I don't even matter!?"
Pompous politicians argue over cash,
But regardless, stocks grow and they crash.

- A Short Sattirical Poem By Self, Based On Twas The Night Before Christmas

      I'm currently watching the CNN coverage of results and as anyone with a basic comprehension of the electoral college system (very few Americans) can tell you... the system is awful. Quoted as "a filter from pure democracy". To put it very simply, an entire state votes for one candidate, based on 51% + of the votes. Whether or not this system is effective is one thing but the repercussions are clear. If you live in a red (Republican) state your vote for Obama is pointless, so why even bother voting? Based on the twittersphere for example, is very Pro-Bama, as many youth are. However, that is not being reflected in the votes adding up on my television screen. It doesn't matter if 99% of Americans are Democratic, it matters what 51% of VOTERS are, well I suppose even that is a stretch... 51% of Electorates are what decide America's 4 year destiny....

Just a short cynical rant on the red, white, and blue (literally).

A basic graph of the electoral college votes in the last presidential election - Source: Wikipedia