Live Strong!

In the battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything.

Ever wonder what those yellow wrist bands people are wearing are for?

It says "Live Strong" on each of them. It is slogan of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF).

Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and 6 consecutive time Tour de France champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong, the LAF provides the practical information and tools people living with cancer need to live strong.

Their mission is to inspire and empower people with cancer to live strong. They serve their mission through education, advocacy, public health and research programs.

Learn more and support them at www.livestrong.org

Those 5 people

Remember those 5 people I mentioned on June 5th?
Well, I got a chance to meet and hug 4 of them in the last two weeks.

It was great in a way, but then I also feel sad that I may not meet them for a long time as I leave in the next couple of months.

I guess humans are never satisfied with what they have.

Then again, I would get to see the last of the 5 in a little while. What I would feel, however, by then, is another mystery.

Hum...

Sportsmanship or lack thereof

The F1 Grand Prix hit disaster yesterday.

14 of the 20 cars that were suppose to compete in the Indianapolis race track withdrew from the race before it started.

Why? Michelin failed to supply them with tires safe enough to endure the fast 175mph turn 13 of the track, and even their back-up tires failed to do so. Ralf Schmacher crashed his Toyota F1 car during practice at that turn. This came after FIA, the sport's governing body, warned Michelin not to sacrifice safety in favour of performance just weeks earlier.

Michelin and the teams supplied by them proposed a chicane and was supported by all teams but Farrari. However, FIA would not allow such a change to the course because of fairness.

Michelin and the 7 teams that own those 14 cars apologized to everyone about the withdrawal, saying it was for safety, however, some were hinting that Farrari and FIA lacked sportsmanship.

I think those people were wrong. They were the ones who lacked sportsmanship. They could surely slow down because of their own shortcomings at that turn and continued to race. It would be to their disadvantage, but it would be fair. Then again, it would be risky to rely on the drivers to restrain themselves in a race. However, blaming other teams who would not change the race for their own mistake was shameful of them.

It's unfortunate that the race had to end this way, but at least, it's fair and it's safe. Yes, it may not be good from an entertainment perspective, but F1 is a sport first. The worries of those who think F1 is lost in USA may be rightly so though, since many Americans would fail to see through the surface.

Mr.and Mrs. Smith

Honesty sure is the best policy between couples.

I am not giving out anything, but if you plan to watch it, don't continue reading. I don't want to give you expectations.


Now, if you are sure you don't mind or you already watched it, here is what I think.


I liked Brad Pitt, and I liked Angelina Jolie. I had my doubts with how they would do if they work together, but I gave them a bit of faith. Then again, the fact the film was produced by the same people from Borune Identity had something to do with it.

Great movie. Great action, great comedy and most of all great acting.
Of course, it doesn't hurt to have great company watching it with me!

I liked the their marriage counsel parts.. Funny.

They stuck close to reality, where they should, and gave it a bit of slack where they could.

Go watch it!

Stupid kids?

For the longest time, I have been wondering why there are people holding stop signs like ping pong (a.k.a. table tennis) racquets at crossings near schools. Don't kids in this country know how to cross a road themselves? Schools have too much money to waste?

Moreover, those people are not just near elementary school. They are at secondary schools too! Now, that's weird.

As far as I know, crossing a road here is very easy compared to where I came from. Cars have to stop 90% of the time!

Are the kids in this country stupid or something? Surely, they seemed more naive than the ones I met before, but come on, high school teenagers?

FINALLY, today I know. Apparently, you can't legally charge a minor for negligence. Therefore, if a kid runs into a road and damage himself AND you car, you can't really sue him for your damages.

Obviously, the kid doesn't buy third party insurance for his stupidity. What do we do?

Make it so that you have yourself to blame. Give a guy a stop sign and have HIM in charge of those kids. If YOU fail to stop for that toy stop sign, you are screwed.

If the crossing guard fools around and the kid still runs out, the city is screwed. You sue the city, since the he, the city employee, is responsible for the actions of the kid in his area.

The wonderful world of law. Now I know why people are ranting about the lack of responsibility of people. It's nurtured since we were kids!

Finally!

Where am I?

For the last WEEK, I thought I was in an inland tropical forest. Stuffy and hot.

Where was that thunder storm in the forecast?

Finally got a much needed shower today.

I know I am going somewhere with this weather, but even there is not this bad for this long.

Then again, at least I don't get frostbitten from this.

Misinformed

Again, I was misinformed. Oh well.

Apparently one calendar year is same as one academic year.
I am finishing my programme next June, leaving me with two months to find a job.

Also, there is no way around the system, pay up!
I must take 2 more courses at least at Ryerson to get my certificate.

Finally, the exam formats of both my courses has changed since the previous announcements.

On the bright side, I finished two big projects!!
On top of my exams, another project will be assigned in a few hours though.

Tinkles down my spine

Love is a strange thing.

It's wonderful most of the time, but sometimes, it's like a drug with an addiction and lots of side effects.

I crave for love when my mind is not on track.

It gives me tinkles down my spine just to hear the voices of either of my previous lovers or even just imagining them.

Sometimes I wake up with tears in my eyes from a dream of my lovers and a sharp heartache afterwards. Wide awake in an instant. I guess I wouldn't need an alarm clock if I can master those dreams. Then again, that would probably kill me very soon.

Some serious side effects.

Never-the-less a miracle drug, indeed.

Old friends

I have got in touch with a few of my old friends lately.

It seems that some of them are doing well.

This brought mixed feelings.

All that I have seen lately for the job market has been really sad. The majority of my friends are doing poorly in the market. It feels great that some are doing well. It bring some hopes to my upcoming change of direction gamble.

However, this also makes me wonder if I could have made a different decision, since the conditions that I assumed and based on may not be so true after all.

I know I have the potential. I just am not sure which way to go.

One of those days

that I feel like I wanted some company.

I wanted to hang out and have a drink at a patio or backyard.

I like my parents, but I prefer friends or lover today.

Nice day out, not sunny, not hot and cool enough.

Felt like I could use a hug. There are five people that I really wanted to hug today.
Two of them are in the opposite side of Earth, one is busy with her mind, one is out of town and one has been avoiding me.

Looks like my luck is out.

I watched Courage Under Fire again tonight. It's quite a drama. I guess the emotional scenes got to me. I really missed those five.

3 meters

How far away from a fire hydrant should we park?
3 meters. How long is 3 meters? 10 feet.
How long is 10 feet? Quite long.
How do I know when it's far enough?
I estimate with my steps.

My estimate was off today.
$30 fine.

From now on, I will bring my measuring tape along.