Hollow Halloween

When I was a kid, I remember my dad taking me and my brother out trick or treating on Halloween.

We’d go around the neighbourhood, door-to-door, yelling out “trick or treat” and happy smiling faces would hand us loads of candies.

We’d often run into other kids in the neighbourhood – our classmates from school – being taking around trick or treating by their parents. We’d then walk together with them, going from house to house, comparing “loot.” Our parents would walk together, talking about parent-type stuff.

It was a nice community feel, that happened once-a-year. You could feel the excitement in the air, not just from us kids collecting candy, but also by the sense of strength that comes from knowing you belong. Everyone was having fun together in the community.

These days, it isn't safe anymore for kids to go door-to-door. Parents paranoid about what the psychos living next door might be giving out, opt for non-traditional, non-community methods of trick or treating.

Parents these days take their kids to the mall, dressed up in funky outfits. Store clerks hand out candies, coupons and other goodies. Some offices have their annual “bring your kids to work” day on or around Halloween, so that the kids can come into a safe environment and get treats.

There is something dreadfully wrong with society, when we can’t trust our neighbours next door. If you really can’t trust those living next to your home – who can you trust?

Where community spirit once was, has now been replaced with fear, paranoia, and the sad realization that our world is no longer a happy, safe and wonderful place to be.

There could be a grow-op with drug dealers next door, a child pornographer, or worse – just some ordinary Joe Average, with an average job and a peaceful life. Nothing wrong with that Joe Average. But you’ll never know who is living next door, because of the fear and paranoia which lurks in the mainstream press.

We’re always reading about some twisted sick people somewhere doing sick twisted crap to some poor sap that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But these news reports taint our vision to the point where everyone is evil. Everyone is out to do no good.

 

The worst part about all of this isn't that we can’t live in peace in our own neighbourhoods. Nope – the worst part is the lost community feel – the lost feeling of belonging to something just by being home.

There will be parents from my generation, raised with good old fashioned Canadian values, that will take their kids out in the neighbourhood to go trick or treating. 

Good for them.

They will watch their kids like a hawk. Check their candy and other goodies before allowing them to consume anything. But they don't let the negativity in the press dampen their spirits, or worse, control their beliefs.

Yes, there are bad people out there. We have to be more mindful and cautious because of this. But when we allow the few bad apples caught in the media to change our lives, the evil doers of society have won.

And good always wins out over evil.

Or at least that's what I was taught when I was a kid.

Let's keep teaching that to kids today. 

Out Spun: Say Good-Bye to Discs

A little while back, I went to one of the big box electronics stores to buy some blank CDs and DVDs. I’ve gone to this store, and it’s competition, for years to purchase blank CDs and DVDs to store audio, video and other digital files.

I was shocked when I went to the almost non-existent spot in the store left for removable media, to see a slim selection of blank CDs, DVDs, even the more recent Blueray blank discs weren't stocked very well.

I asked a passing store clerk if this was all they had, and he told me it was, as they just don’t sell as much of these as they used too.

As hard drives constantly become cheaper, and virtual storage in the cloud becomes more popular, people aren’t burning their data to disc anymore.

I remember when CD burners first came out, circa 1990’s. They were extremely expensive, running at least $1,000 for a decent one, and blank CDs cost about $15-$20 per disc.

Then DVDs came out, killing the CD industry, and when DVD burners came out, the movie industry tried to get them banned, as they witnessed the demise of the music industry thanks to people copying and sharing music CDs, instead of buying them.

Today, the music industry and to a lesser degree, the movie one too – continue to suffer from failing to adopt to the changing nature of digital media. We not only have CD and DVD burners, but Blueray burners aren't uncommon either.

Though that may change, as bigger hard drives at dirt cheap prices flood the market. Why spend hours burning your own discs, when you can just plug in a portable hard drive that stores many more hours of movies and music?

It’s a sign of progress, but in a way, it’s also a sign of the times.

We’re moving away from big tech, and gravitating towards mobile devices. With smart phones, tablets and laptops always on and connected to the Internet, we want to be able to access our movies, music and other data at anytime, from anywhere.

So, people will buy more hard drives, and get more space on cloud storage platforms. But we probably won’t be lugging our hard drives wherever we go. We’ll probably set up our own media servers (I already have one myself), which allow us to access all the information on our hard drives at home, from anywhere at anytime over the net.

I can watch movies, listen to music, and even remotely access my desktop computer from my mobile devices, simply by logging onto them using apps on a WiFi or 3G or better connection.

The days of creating menus, chapters, and burning our own discs are long gone. Now just dump everything in a folder, and log in to play.

Progress is awesome. But I’ll miss the creative aspects of choosing images, background sounds and animations for menus, creating chapters, and even taking the time to burn a disc just right.

Reminds me of making mixed audio tapes in the 1980’s. This was long before digital media was even an idea. You’d sit in front of your radio, waiting for your favourite tunes, and then stumble with two fingers to press “Play” and “Record” together to capture that song on a 60-minute audio tape.

Ah, those were the days. Sometimes you’d slip, and only hit “Play” and curse as the song you wanted played on, but without you recording it. Sometimes the tape you were using would unravel, rip, or even get “eaten” by the tape deck.

But there was something very romantic – in an old school geeky kind of way – about making a mixed tape for a friend, a party, or even just yourself.

Good-bye discs, you’ll be wherever blank tapes, eight-track-tapes, and records now call home. Long gone, but never forgotten.

Will a Hurricane Cancel Halloween?

This past weekend I dressed up in costume, and went to my social meetup group’s Halloween party. I had a blast doing something I haven’t done since high school – dress up for Halloween.

For years I've had this metallic-like gold shirt. Never had the opportunity to wear it, and the girlfriend would never let me wear it in public. Don’t ask how I even got the thing!

Finally, this past Saturday, I managed to get this forbidden piece of clothing into my wardrobe for my disco costume.

There were wonderfully amazing characters dancing the night away – from Supergirl and Batman, to Catwoman, Devils, a cowboy, even a pimp and a hooker – though they came separately.

Halloween is a wonderful time of year, where even us adults can have a little make believe fun. But the real joy of the season, is trotting around with your kids, collecting treats from neighbours and friends.

Will Hurricane Sandy – dubbed by the media as Frankenstorm – quash any hopes of parents across North America and beyond of taking part in this yearly tradition?

Here along the Eastern Seaboard, much is already closed or shutting down to prepare for the worst case scenario – a superstorm attacking the major metropolitan areas that line the coast. From New York City, to Boston, all the way up to Toronto and Montreal in Canada, billions of lives are being disrupted by the coming winds and rain.

New York’s transit system is shut down, for fears of flooding, many in Boston have boarded up their windows, and stocked up on batteries and bottled water, and here in Toronto, the Red Cross is warning people to have enough basic essentials to last 72 hours as a preventative measure.

Here in Toronto, ON., Canada, the storm’s affects will be hardest felt this evening, and into tomorrow, with remnants dousing us on Halloween.

Children looking forward to dressing as their favourite characters, and being led by their parents around their neighbourhoods yelling “trick or treat” may be saddened as the howling wind and rain keeps them from this long-standing tradition.

I remember going trick or treating when I was a kid. My dad would take my brother and I out the day before to shop for Halloween costumes. They weren't as elaborate as they are now for kids, back then they were cheap plastic things, that usually ripped while putting them on. Thankfully duct tape was a Canadian invention!

On Halloween, we’d rush through our dinner, despite my Mom’s nagging about taking our time, because we were so excited about what was to come.

Then after what seemed like hours, my Dad called us downstairs to get ready to go. We’d get into our costumes, grab our “loot bags” and my Dad would take us out for a night of going up to house after house, yelling “trick or treat,” as we were handed candies, chips and other goodies.

We’d always meet up with other kids from the neighbourhood  and we formed our own distinct groups. There was us – the kids – all running, laughing and having a good time swapping candy, as we ran ahead of the other group – the parents – lagging behind, keeping an eye on us so we stayed out of trouble.

We’d go around the neighbourhood  circle back to our home, empty our bags of candy, and then go out again for another round of candy hunting fun.

Although October in Canada and much of North America is known for colder, wetter weather, I never remember a Halloween that was rained out. There were a few close calls, but the skies always seemed to part just long enough, and early enough, for my Dad to take us out for a night of candy collecting fun.

Although keeping kids from trick or treating is the least of the problems a superstorm like Hurricane Sandy can cause, it’ll be a sad break from tradition if Halloween has to be cancelled because of it.

Why Human Resources Departments Get a Bad Rap

The mere thought of having to deal with a person from the Human Resources – or Talent Management Team as they are now anointing themselves – often sends a cold chill down most spines.

Why?

Originally, those in Human Resources did just that – manage the staffing needs of a company. But back in the day, those staffing needs were simple, there weren't big recruitment firms, online job boards, contractors/consultants, term employees, temps and the constant fear of being sued if ya messed up.

These days, Human Resources (HR) departments have become too tenacious for their own good. They have seeded themselves too deeply in the basic functioning of the workplace to be any good. Their reach has grown, but their knowledge, skill and ability has not.

Today, HR is often responsible for all hiring, firings, lay-offs, employee rules and regulations, and sets the tone for the corporate culture.

Many in HR are so overwhelmed with the enormous tasks they are expected to perform daily, they just don’t take the time to do the things which really matter.

And when HR stops doing the things that matter – or any department, team, or individual stops this – they frustrate, anger and offend those they were working with or for.

That’s why people think so poorly of their HR departments, and why so many potential employees hate dealing with anyone in an HR role.

Human Resources does the bare minimum, because that’s all they have the time and people resources themselves to do.

So, asking hiring managers what they mean by key terms and concepts in their job requirements doesn't happen. This leads to HR constantly short-listing the wrong people for the same position, which angers and frustrates not only the hiring manager and his team that really need a body in that role, but also all those potential employees, that end up thinking the company is so disorganized that they’d never want to work for it.

And that’s the real caveat when HR screws up. Although it may have short-term consequences for the teams and departments looking for people in key roles, in the long-term, HR’s lacking generates negative messaging in professional circles, which can and does cost businesses good, quality employees and contractors.

Every professional association event I've ever been too has had at least one or more “horror stories” from someone that is great at what they do, highly respected by their peers and colleagues, and involves a company’s HR team failing them so much, they feel the need to warn everyone never to work for or do business with that company.

Executives need to real-in their HR departments, cutting off their deep-routed roles to limit them, so they can do the role an HR team does best – recruitment and retention of employees.

That’s it. That’s all. That’s what HR departments do best – and when you let your teams and departments do what they do best, your company does what it does best, and you grow your business.

And ultimately people in and outside of the company won’t have as many –or if done right – any – negative experiences with HR. So the reputation and respect of the HR team increases, instead of decreases.

Governments Shouldn’t Be in the Smoking Business

Smoking is a filthy, disgusting habit. Millions of people worldwide smoke and they all stink like the exhaust they pump out into the atmosphere.

Smokers toss their used matches and cigarettes on the ground wherever they happen to be – littering our parks, streets, and public spaces.

And we all know smoking kills. It’s the leading cause of lung cancer, and a key factor in many other fatal and non-fatal diseases, illnesses, and health problems.

According the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada:

• 37,000 die in Canada from smoking
• 6,300 non-smokers die each year from second-hand smoke
• Approximately 1 million Canadians will die over the next 20 years directly related to smoking and second-hand smoke

Those are startling numbers. Yet smoking will never be made illegal in North America. Because the governments are on the take.

In Canada we call these “sin taxes,” they are the taxes governments collect on things we know are bad for us, but governments let them be sold anyways.

Traditional “sin taxes” in Canada are alcohol products and cigarettes and cigars.

Though one could even argue that a gas guzzlers tax is a sin tax, because it taxes those that choose to drive environmentally harmful vehicles, we’ll stick to the traditional ones today.

Specifically smoking, because although alcohol also changes people’s behaviour  and can have negative health impacts, smokers are the only ones that are exceptionally filthy and disgusting.

You don’t see many engaged in drinking booze tossing their used beer bottles and wine glasses out their car windows. People who have a drink socially rarely stink like cigarette smokers that have a smoke during a social function.

And although you can become dependent upon alcohol, alcoholism is more of a mental illness, than one caused directly by the alcohol itself, while the nicotine in smoking products is highly addictive.

Smoking should have been banned a long time ago.

But because governments in Canada and the States make billions off of the taxes charged on cigarettes, cigars, and other smoking products, smokers have been relegated to isolation, instead of given 90-days to get their last cigarettes before they disappear forever.

Smoking is banned in most workplaces and public buildings these days. There are some places where you can’t even smoke outside. So smokers are forced to find hidden corners to feed their addictions. While their addictions are killing them, they are paying for politicians high salaries.

One day, I hope smoking will be a thing of the past. Cigarettes should be available only in a museum, showing what strange and bizarre habits we humans had once, a long time ago.

Though I imagine, until the governments which make money off the lungs of smokers, cigarettes will continue to little the ground, just as smokers litter our air.

Winter Fashion – Big Boots, Short Skirts, and Cut-Off Tops?

Although I’m a guy, I think I have a decent fashion sense. I know what I like, and more importantly, I know what looks good on me.

But I never can figure out the latest trends in fashion. Like the current one which seems to be making it big as we transition from summer to winter-wear.

I see all the kids today sporting big flimsy-looking boots, the shortest of mini skirts, and cut-off tops. For winter!?!?

Really?

I can’t get over the un-matching look of boots and skirts, but on a more practical side, how will this “outfit” protect someone from the elements? The belly shirts are cute, who doesn't want to see some hot gal showing a little skin?

However, showing some skin in a North American winter is like going to a baseball game with a basketball. Sure you can toss the ball around the field, but you’ll never hit a home run.

Here in Canada and much of North America, winter means cooler – if not downright cold – temperatures, snow and ice storms, and freezing rain.

You should have footwear with a good, solid bottom, that gives you traction, and warm clothes that will keep you dry.

Short skirts may make any man turn and look. But a frigid cold woman, obviously under-dressed for the weather just makes me wonder: “what the hell were you thinking?”

When I was a kid, my parent’s wouldn't let me leave the house without the proper attire for the weather.

Yeah, I was the guy with the big snow suit that took forever to get on and off. But I was always warm and dry.

Today, I don’t wear big bulky snow suits, but I've learned to always dress for the weather. And I still am always warm and dry.

When You Start a Business, Everyone’ an Ideas Person

I’m starting the next big thing in digital media. We’re going to be grand. We've got a great product and service, which is just starting to become in high demand. The demand is growing, as mobile devices grow in popularity and functionality.

And I have the know-how to make it work.

We’re going to be mega-huge with a capital MEGA. I know from the reactions of those I talk to when I’m asked by strangers: “so, what do you do?

When I go to business or social functions and tell people what I’m doing, their eyes light up, all excited, as they ramble off ideas for my business to engage in.

Some of the ideas are pretty darn good. I take notes. I do – thanks to my iPhone.

Brain storming good ideas for products and services isn't hard. Even those who say they haven’t a creative bone in their bodies can come up with the most imaginative concepts.

I've got so many wonderful ideas, we’ll be good for several generations.

What I need as I start my business is good old fashioned money.

Money makes the world go ‘round, and it is the foundation for the success or failure of any business concept.

Problem is, when I ask people how they’d fund their idea, they tell me that’s my problem.

Gee – thanks!

Give me a great idea, tell me you want to be part of the next big thing, yet when I ask you how to make it happen, you tell me you don’t know?

Why don’t you tell me something I haven’t heard – like ever!??!

Every time, I ask if they have a funding formula, or idea for how to generate income on their idea, they tell me, that’s my job – they’re just the “ideas person.”

If we were all ideas persons – or for the grammatically correct – people – then nothing would ever get done.

Coke a Cola, McDonald’s, even your favourite mom and pop cafe would never exist, because although all were great ideas, money makes things happen – or not happen.

At business and social functions, I just laugh it off when I’m told money is my problem. The voice in my head though is yelling and screaming at the ideas person though.

And because –so far – no one but me can hear the voices in my head, I’m guessing it’s correct.

The voice in my head is yelling about how idiotic, stupid, dumb and some things I can’t repeat in a public, family-friendly environment, the ideas person is.

Creativity is an amazing talent.

Implementing that creativity is an even more amazing talent, because it makes it real.

And in anything in life, from business, to personal, to social worlds, making it real is the bottom line.

Apply to Keep from Burning Yet You’ll Catch Fire!

Over the weekend, sunscreen giant Banana Boat announced a recall of one of their popular sunscreen lotions because of the risk of fire.

You read that right – fire!

According to Banana Boat, the lotion in question doesn't dry fast enough, and if exposed to extreme heat, there is the risk of it – and the person wearing the sunscreen – of catching fire.

As of this writing, one person was seriously burned after the Banana Boat sunscreen he was wearing erupted into flames, after he applied the lotion, and then began to BBQ.

What a world to live in, where even the potions, lotions and creams we apply on a regular basis can ignite and cause serious injury.

The greater irony of a sunscreen, which is supposed to prevent you from burning your skin, that can actually cause third-degree burns is humours in a sense.

But the real issue here is quality control.

It wasn’t all that long ago, when quality products and services actually existed. The old adage was almost always true – you get what you pay for. However, even the lowest priced items were safe, and usually did the job.

These days, even when you spend money on what you think is a quality, brand name product, you take your chances, as corporations have cut corners to the point where you really just don’t know.

You really just don’t know if that juicy thick steak you’re about to bite into is going to give you food poisoning. You really just don’t know if the breaks in your car will keep you from rear-ending the guy in front. You really don’t know if the sunscreen you applied will keep your skin from burning – or in the case of Banana Boat’s recall – catching fire.

I miss the old days – which weren't that old and long ago – when you didn't have to second guess anything, because you really did know that the products sold on store shelves were at the very least, safe.

Big, greedy corporations – and small and medium sized ones too – are the primary offenders here, as they overlook obvious safety concerns to save a buck. But the ultimate scapegoat is our politicians for cutting back on government employees paid to look in and enforce the laws, which were originally put in place to keep us safe.

As governments cut costs and lay off enforcement officers in all sectors, or cut salaries to these support staffs as they often raise their own wages, we end up with zero to no quality controls in place, as big business doesn't see the need to obey the rules.

And as businesses continue to let quality controls go, we all suffer, as the goods and services we purchase which may actually cause us harm increase, yet the penalties for allowing these dangerous products in the marketplace decreases.

So we as a society become increasingly cynical, yet accepting of shoddy products and questionable services.

It’s a recipe for disaster as the longer companies are allowed to get away with inferior products, the greater the risk to us all.

Passing the Canadian Crown Royal

Canada is known far and wide for many things. We are a hockey-loving nation, with great beer, always friendly people, and we have kept the peace globally in many United Nation’s war-torn regions.

Some even know that our ultimate ruler is the Queen of England.

What? You didn't know?

Canada is officially a constitutional monarchy, which means Queen Elizabeth can overrule our parliament any time she wants too.

So far, we've been lucky that the Royals haven’t interfered with the Canadian political system – so far.

Actually, like many political figures, the Queen’s presence in Canada is mostly just that, a figure head roll. All pomp and no circumstance.

Every year, there is talk in Canada and many other countries where the Queen, or other Royally ruled nations, about the relevancy of a royal leader.

And we’re sure to hear about it again soon in this country, as one of the greatest Royal representatives Canada has had passed away today.

Former Lt. Governor Lincoln Alexander, passed away today at the age of 90. Alexander was the first black person to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) and was Lt. Governor for Canada’s largest province, Ontario, from 1985 to 1991.

The Lt. Governor represents the Queen’s interests for the province he represents.

I remember Lincoln Alexander as being one of the last people in that post, that didn't use it to forward his own political causes and beliefs.

Others have since used the title to push forward their own political ideologies, and pet projects.

Regardless of who or what was represented in a provincial Lt. Governor role, they ultimately represent the British Royal family, and their interests.

Before the industrial revolution of the 1900’s, royalty really did rule. Kings and Queens sent their knights and soldiers out to raid other lands, to expand their territory.

It was the era of wooden sailing ships, horse-drawn carriages, and loyalty to one’s King or Queen above self.

Times have changed – yet many countries around the world still have a royal as their official head of state. These Royals – as with the British – are really more political eye candy than constructive contributors to the governance of a nation. 

They make the usual public appearances, do charity work, and announcements of good will and world peace around the end of the year.

But they don’t really serve any substantive purpose that greatly influences a nation’s growth or prosperity.

Back when Royal families ruled, they really were the leaders of a country. Making the decisions which affected how their citizens lived their lives.

These days, it’s usually the tabloid press capturing royals in uncompromising positions, which causes them to lose public faith, trust and respectability.

The Queen may have the final legal say in many countries, but she lacks the will of the people to achieve greatness for any nation she “governs.”

That’s because over the years, we've gone from dictator-like royals, which unilaterally made decisions for the whole nation, to democratically elected political systems where politicians are voted in – and out – of office based on the public’s perceptions of who should rule.

Former Lt. Governor Lincoln Alexander was a wonderful representative for the Queen. But as we remember him, maybe we should think towards the future, and remember that although Kings and Queens were important to our becoming the democratic states we live in today, they are outdated, archaic political structures that need to be eliminated.

It’s time we moved on from Kings and Queens, because today’s world leaders aren't any more or less royal than you or me.

Halloween is Hard – Even for Adults

Earlier this week, I posted a request for help on Twitter, as I try to figure out what to wear for Halloween – which is less than two weeks away.

NO! I’m not going trick or treating! I’m going to a Halloween party being held by my social meetup group. Although costumes are optional, it’s more fun if you dress up.

And how often do you really get to go out dressed as your favourite television character, movie star, or some evil demon, war lord or other fictional creature?

That’s part of the problem – or rather is the problem. There are so many possibilities, how does one choose?

I got some interesting responses to my Twitter request via posts and direct messages, including dressing up as a munk, Dracula, a 1970’s porn star, even a Smurf.

You can get costume ideas from junk mail too. Saw a flyer the other day for a major Canadian retailer, which had – of all things – a Ketchup packet costume. Not a whole bottle of the tomato-based condiment, nope – just a plastic packet.

Who’d want to dress up as a topping best served on greasy fries and burgers?

I’m struggling figuring out what to wear, but I’m not ridiculous.

Though I suppose that too makes part of the decision – a Halloween costume is a glimpse into a person’s personality, character as it is a visual representation of one’s imagination.

In a sense, you have to be brave to go incognito, because although you’re in costume, you’re showing off often unseen elements of who you are.

Though sometimes you can be too daring – or plain dumb. A few years ago I was working for a major Canadian bank, and woman who brought the sandwich cart every day dressed in practically nothing. To this day, I still haven’t a clue what she was supposed to be – I asked her, and she answered, but I was so astonished and distracted I didn't hear her.

After she had left our team’s area, I asked a fellow colleague what he thought of her costume. He said, it says she’s a young, beautiful, single, woman.

Yes, she was stunningly beautiful, but so very inappropriately dressed for the office. To me, it explained why she’ll be the sandwich lady forever.

Funny, I remember that Halloween story every time I start yacking about Halloween. And it would be nice to be memorable.

Maybe I should dress up as the sandwich lady for my Halloween party?

Then again, maybe not.

The Crazy World of Free Online Classified Buy and Selling

Thanks to the Internet, online shopping is as common as water these days. You can purchase just about anything online that you can in the real, physical world – from tech and toys, to even cars.

But ever try and sell used stuff on Craig’s List, Kijiji or a similar free online classified website?

Makes me wonder if you get what you pay for doesn't just extend to buyers, but to sellers too.

I did my research, scouted around the sites to see what my older stuff was selling for by others. Grabbed some good quality pictures of the items I had for sale. Got detailed descriptions, directly from the manufacturer’s websites for accuracy. I even made sure I was posting in the correct sections, and that I wasn't cross-posting or breaking any of the rules.

Then I waited. And waited. And – oh – wait a response.

“Cash price?”

Uh?

As I’m not a retail or big box store, I assumed everything for sale on these websites is listed for cash. I’m certainly not going to take a cheque from someone I don’t know. If you take the time to actually read the rules, and safety guidelines which are posted on these sites for safe buying and selling, they even warn you to only do business in person, in a public place, and for cash.

I responded: “Yes, I take cash.”

And I got back: “I know – nevah mind.”

WTF?

Maybe I’m missing something here, but I thought that’s what this person was asking? Perhaps if he, she or it wrote a complete sentence, clearly expressing their question, I’d be more able to answer!

Then I started getting ridiculous counter offers. I anticipated people wanting to barter, that’s often the nature of these things. But some were so bargain basement low, I might as well be giving it away for free.

Oh yeah, I got someone asking if they’d take a trade in fresh strawberries. Seriously! Here I am, selling off some old tech which is in excellent condition, just not currently in use, and I got someone offering fruit in exchange for it!

I did not even consider for a millisecond responding to the strawberry nut case. Actually I did, but because I was taught if you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything, I restrained myself.

I did get some serious sounding interest, within a reasonable price range, and I responded asking for the usual information you’d expect to exchange with someone who you were about to engage in a business deal – their name, number and when they could pick it up.

None responded. Maybe it became to real for them and they suddenly realized their allowance, unemployment welfare cheques or food stamps wouldn't cover the cost they themselves had negotiated, because as soon as it was time to do business, they disappeared!

Maybe I should have taken the strawberry nut case up on his offer? Then at least I’d have something to munch on while I contemplate the craziness of these free online classified sites.

It Doesn’t Matter Whether Obama or Romney Get In, The World of Work Has Changed for the Worse

Every election, at all levels, and in both Canada and the States, the “j” word crops up as one of the key election issues.

That “j” word is “jobs.”

As Americans gear up for November’s presidential elections, more hype surrounding jobs and job creation creeps into the campaign, as both candidates claim they have a magical method to give the growing unemployed ranks of angry voters a gig.

Every election it’s the same political bullcrap, as global economies continue to falter, amid economic uncertain times.

It doesn't matter if you support President Barack Obama, or his opponent Mitt Romney, neither of their job platforms will work. They both are based on traditional means to stimulating the economy, which in turn usually creates job growth.

Stimulating the economy is important and need be done. But that’s NOT why America – and Canada – isn't working.

It’s because of recruitment firms stealing a piece of the employment pie, as they convince companies large and small that it’s better to hire consultants on a per-project-basis, rather than full-time, salaried, staff employees.

Of course it’s good – for the recruitment firms, which earn their keep by providing these temporary contract consultants. But it’s bad for the consultants, who eventually find themselves out of work and unemployed again when their contracts end.

And all contracts end – that’s the whole nature of contracting. Hiring permanent, salaried, staff employees have no end date to their jobs. However a contractual, temporary, or “term employee” is hired from a specific start date to a specific end date.

Contracts do get renewed, extended, even occasionally renegotiated. But none last forever. And most contractors don’t get complimentary benefits which are granted to salaried staff employees.

That’s part of the sales job which these recruitment firms pull over employer’s eyes to get them to do business with them.

Why pay someone benefits, through the good and the bad times, when you can hire someone hourly, without having to fork out benefits, just for the work that needs to be done?

It’s this lack of job security which has killed the middle class in North America. As the economy sours, and companies terminate or fail to extend or renew their contracted consultants, a mega-huge segment of the population suddenly finds themselves, unemployed, and without any means of providing a roof overhead, food in their tummies, and clothes on their backs.

And because this is such a mega-huge segment of our North American workforce – thanks to greedy recruitment firms more interested in making profits off the backs of hourly contractors than putting people into permanent work situations – as companies axe consultants, they no longer have any money to spend in the economy.

So it doesn't matter how many new products or services are introduced through government incentive programs for business innovation – no one is buying those new products or services. So the economy continues to spiral out of control.

It’s a catch-22 situation which politicians are aware of, but turn a blind eye towards because they don’t want to interfere in the rights of one company to make a buck.

However, they should be concerned, because these recruitment firms have a very negative impact on the economic engines of Canada and the States. Already both countries are less competitive internationally because of the shift in the economy from salaried, permanent staff towards hourly, contracted consultants.

For the past five years, there has been talk in economic circles of changing the international currency used to compare all other currencies. Since the start of the industrial revolution at the turn of the 1900’s, that currency has always been the American “Greenback” Dollar.

As America’s economy slumps lower with every full-time, salaried staff job lost to a recruitment firm’s contracted out consultant, the talk in economic circles is to replace the American dollar with an Asian currency as the new standard for measuring the currencies of the world, as many Asian countries economies are growing.

So wake up Obama, Romney and the rest of you politicos trying to sell voters on the “j” word with useless outdated and ineffective stimulus programs that don’t work.

We need government intervention and incentive programs to encourage companies to hire salaried, staff employees to grow and develop for the long-term. Not casual, contracted out consultants that are here one day, gone the next.

Or else one day, we all will be looking for work.

The Insanely Dangerous Things We Do to Get On TV

Yesterday, “Fearless” Felix Baumgartner became an instant television star after jumping over 38-kilometres (23.61 miles) above the Earth,on verge of space.

The Austrian dare-devil dropped about 1, 100 kilometres per hour (684 miles per hour) breaking several world records, while becoming the trending topics on most of the social networks, and having his space-suit-mug plastered on all media around the world.

This isn't the first – and it won’t be the last – insanely dangerous thing someone has done to garner instant fame. Remember this past June when Nik Wallenda walked across Niagara Falls on a tight rope?

Both dare-devils survived their crazy stunts, and both made the headlines for the next few days.

Maybe it’s the reality TV generation we unfortunately are in, but it appears the only way to get on television these days is to be doing insanely crazy stuff.

From shows which test people’s level of bravery like Survivor, to ones that test our patience like The Jersey Shore, you don’t have to be a talented actor or have any sense of real intellect or creativity these days to get on a major network.

Just being beautiful and allowing yourself to be humiliated for all to see appears to be the norm.

And if you aren't beautiful, or willing to be voted off the island, you can always jump out of a balloon high up near the barrier between space and Earth, or walk across Niagara Falls.

Why do television networks produce this puff? Whatever happened to shows which actually made us think, feel and laugh?

Truth is, broadcasters have always catered to the largest and widest possible audiences. That’s why they are called “broad” casters. It’s like fishing, they toss their net of shows out into the viewing ocean, and whatever people fall into their net they contain with mindless drivel, while the rest escape to their digital, on demand podcasts.

Perhaps that’s why television and radio are dying – because of the failure of broadcasters to keep pace with the competition from the on demand digital media.

Television and radio broadcasters on the major networks in both Canada and the States have reported significant drops in their viewing and listening audiences over the past decade.

Over a decade ago, on demand digital media didn't exist. We were forced to watch and listen to whatever television and radio programming network executives thought we wanted.

Now we the people are calling the shots. With on demand digital media, we the people are our own program directors. We may occasionally surf late night television, and tune into local radio shows for our morning commutes. However more of us are just saying no to the broadcasters stilted and stale programming choices, as we discover shows that actually mean something to us on our podcast catchers, and other digital media such as Netflix, Apple TV, and on demand networks and shows available through other similar systems.

Although watching someone free-fall from a low Earth orbit may entertain and amaze us for 15-seconds, that 15-seconds of fame is long gone almost as fast as it began.

To really have a successful television or radio show, you need a stable of steady, regular, dedicated viewers and listeners. Tossing out the old fishnet and hoping you catch something is very fleeting, and won’t build a dedicated fan-base to sell advertising.

And if you don’t continue to sell advertising, eventually you won’t be in business, because that’s what pays the bills.

But hey, look on the bright side – at least you can get your 15-seconds of fame. Well, so long as the broadcast television and radio stations continue to exist in the ever growing world of on demand digital media.

How much time is left?

Better hurry up.

Fifteen-seconds doesn't last long.

Nope.

Not long at all.

American Election Brings Out the Worst in America

Electioneering isn't a new thing – we all know how elections in much of the world are engineered by all sides so their candidate is in the end, the winner.

However, the American election this year seems to be hitting new lows.

Today there was an article trending on the social networks about Lindsey Lohan supporting Mitt Romney, highlighting her troubles with the law, drinking and spiralling out of control as reasons to support Romney’s campaign for the leadership of the free world. 

Obviously, it wasn't written by a Mitt Romney supporter – probably a Barack Obama campaign team member.

Though Romney’s campaign team isn't innocent either, often playing with the supporting press, running stories about the lies the current president of the United States tells to get re-elected.

With all the negative press both sides are dishing out about their competition, it’s impossible to really know what either politician thinks about anything of importance.

And that’s the real victim in all this negative electioneering, because all the other fluff is just that – fluff.

What really matters, isn't whether some washed-up alcoholic celebrity is supporting one candidate over another, or even who’s calling who out on lies.

What really matters is just what will either person do with the political power they are given, should they be elected?

Elections are a lot like hiring someone. I don’t know about you, but when I am sitting across my desk from someone who’s looking for work, the last thing I want to hear – or even expect to hear – is what the competition won’t do. Candidates for a job typically tell me what they WILL do should they get the job – and that’s important because I need to know that before I put someone on the payroll.

And elections are a lot like job interviews, only the candidates are vying for a gig with enormous responsibility.

However, if you follow all the hype both candidate’s political machines are spewing forth, you’d seriously wonder if either of them is really up to the task of tackling that responsibility.

Makes me proud to be Canadian – although our federal elections aren't as colourful  at least our Canadian politicians tell me what they’d do if elected.

And in the end, that’s all I really need and want to know.