fairly-biased.blogspot.com

Bye Bye Blogger

2009-04-20T22:05:00.006-04:00

In order to provide you with more timely updates, I have decided to move my hosting service..

please visit my new site @ http://fairlybiased.tumblr.com

I am also working on an exciting new side project to be announced soon at the new website.

See you on the other side!
Andre

Tertiary Series: Security for criminals

2009-04-18T17:05:00.000-04:00

I always love a good irony and here's a great one:

"Faced against such a highly secure means of transmitting of information, however, it's near impossible for law enforcement to listen in on and nab suspected criminals."
Blackberry is the Smartphone of Choice for Gangs and Criminals

Whoops! Didn't see that one coming..

"Now, if only they can make it smaller.." - some gangster

Try out the new Google Pervert

2009-04-17T22:04:00.001-04:00

I didn't know Google was into the peeping-tom business until I read this:

Google camera trolling streets of Canadian Cities

"Strange-looking vans and cars are prowling the streets of 11 major Canadian cities and taking pictures of homes, lane ways, yards and people as part of the controversial "Street View" feature offered by Google Inc.

The feature allows someone using Google Maps or Google Earth to click on a street or a building and see a picture of the area. The service's ability to allow onlookers to swivel 360 degrees even gives Internet voyeurs the ability to take a virtual stroll of neighbourhoods."

A person being interviewed on the radio even said that this feature is not necessary but interesting because it allows you to see your own street, which he claimed is "pretty cool".

Here's what you should do if you want to see your own street live in 3D, HD, and whatever other (expletive) D you can think of..

Go to front door
Open door
Walk outside
Explore using the two cameras between both your nose and adjust your head for a better viewing angle.

Unions gone wild!

2009-04-15T21:17:00.000-04:00

France is in a labour dispute involving recently laid off union members who kidnapped their employers and barricaded themselves in workplaces in protest.

"Workers at a factory operated by U.S. firm 3M held their French manager hostage overnight to protest against plans to lay off half the staff."
French manager blocked in office by angry staff

"Hundreds of French workers, angry about proposed layoffs at a Caterpillar office, were holding executives of the company hostage Tuesday, a spokesman for the workers said.
It is at least the third time this month that French workers threatened with cutbacks have blockaded managers in their offices to demand negotiations. Executives were released unharmed in both previous situations."Angry French workers hold Caterpillar execs in offices

If the managers didn't regret hiring these people before, they do now.

Tertiary Series: Terrorism Double-Standard

2009-04-13T01:15:00.000-04:00

I'm usually not a fan of biased editorials, especially from a Conservative newspaper, but this piece on the recent Tamil protests raise some interesting points. (re: Protest may affect afternoon rush hour)

Surprisingly, I'm on the fence on this one..

Macbook Air Killer

2009-04-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

I'm a big fan of anything with the potential to dethrone Apple's reign of darkness - and this might be one of those things..

See more here: http://www.adamobydell.ca/

Editor's Note: Dear Dell, your advertising bill will be in the mail.

Q&A: Are their things to avoid when applying for University?

2009-04-08T23:03:00.001-04:00

I was surfing a forum and noticed an interesting topic. Some had asked, "Are their things to avoid when applying for university?"

A poster simply replied, "Yes, bad grammar."

Editor's Note: On vacation until Tuesday, April 14 - in the meantime, I will be working on my photography so there will hopefully be some original pictures on my blog for a change. I might get my chimps to post something Saturday, we'll see. Have a good Easter weekend.

Tertiary Series: Money in Your 20s

2009-04-06T21:14:00.000-04:00

Here's something I wish I knew earlier..

10 Financial Commandments for Your 20s

Bye Bye Depression..

2009-04-04T18:44:00.001-04:00

Scientists have discovered a way to help you forget traumatic experiences..

"To help people with these kinds of post-traumatic stress disorders ..... you might just want to minimize the emotional association between the memory and the highly disruptive and negative emotions that people have in this context."
He says the research may well conjure "Orwellian" notions of mind manipulation and thought control.
"But that's not really the goal of this. The idea would be (to use it) in a therapeutic way," Salter says, referring in particular to post-traumatic stress prevention.) (Article: Erasing traumatic memory possible, researchers say)

See, this is why I worry about scientists and their "advancements". Look, it's not the goal that people worry about, it's the effects of your crazy (expletive) experiments. In this case, the "Orwellian" notion of mind manipulation and thought control (which by the way, means the same thing) is the consequence that worries people. See, you gotta come out of your labs sometimes and just check out the world. It's a different place now, there is a black President.

Editor's Note: This goes for you meteorologists too. Don't say it's going to be sunny when everyone is holding an umbrella.

Baseball cap shopping, Recession edition

2009-04-03T19:28:00.001-04:00

I need to buy a new cap because my old one is worn out. If you didn't know already, I try to push my clothing to the limit and don't necessarily replace them unless it's deemed hazard to public health.

I shopped around and found this...

It's a retro Toronto Blue Jays baseball cap from their glory days back in 90s. I figure, if I am going to buy a cap, I might as well buy a baseball cap. Anyway, when I saw it, I knew I had to have it - so I made it a priority to check it out the next time I went to the mall. Let's fast forward a little bit..

I held the cap in my hand and turned it over, the price tag read, $35.99. In the famous words of my boss: W-T-F? Since when are baseball caps 40 bucks?! I mean, this fabric that wraps around your head?!?!

Whatever, I'm more mad that no one told me the recession is over.

Editor's Note: See this cap @ http://www.lids.com/pid/20109500
Editor's Note2: Wait until you see my article on the Dell Adamo.

Recession Shopping: A Recession Sized Meal

2009-04-01T21:47:00.001-04:00

I don't know how much this costs, but damn.. this is 1220 calories worth of Mexican goodness. (Source: http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/taco-bell/big-bell-box-meal-version-2)

I must try this out.. will give a review if I live to tell about it... If you've tried it, and would like to write a review, you know my email. If not, just ask me through email.

March 2009 Round Up - Top 4 Popular Posts

2009-04-01T21:32:00.007-04:00

It's been a thrilling month of birthdays and fat families. Here are the top four posts of March.

For the second month in a row, Country Style's Win (Crap) Everytime Event! is in the top four.

Have a great April!

Exam-ing Urgency

2009-03-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

Spring always reminds me one thing: exams. You must be hating me right now if you're in school, but trust me, I'm going somewhere with this for your benefit. I still remember spending countless nights cramming for a semester's worth of material. Don't worry though, I'm going to try and change your mindset.

I knew this guy who drove from Mississauga to Coburg (140 km) on a full bladder. When he finally got to the washroom, well you can imagine.. The process of cramming for and writing an exam is like going to the washroom after holding your full bladder for way too long. The key is to remember how good it feels when it's done..

Good luck on your exams!

Tertiary Series: The Importance of Litercy

2009-03-28T22:29:00.001-04:00

Let me tell you why literacy is important...

see more pwn and owned pictures

Tertiary Series: Beautiful Calendar Wallpapers

2009-03-27T21:56:00.004-04:00

Head on over to Lifehacker for some beautiful March calendar wallpapers!

http://lifehacker.com/5163817/grab-40%252B-beautiful-march-calendar-wallpapers

Oh, is it April already? Shoot, my bad. Well head on over immediately so you can use it for a few days.

Re: Bad Grammar

2009-03-27T01:36:00.008-04:00

One of my readers pointed out an unforgivable grammatical error in my last post, Service with a Frown. I would like to personally apologize to the fans of this blog. Due to the current economic recession, I had to outsource much of the editing to baby chimps in order to remain competitive.

Fairly-Biased.Blogspot.Com would like to reaffirm our commitment to delivering high quality content at no costs to the reader.

Editor's Note: What did you expect? We're chimps!

Service with a Frown

2009-03-25T21:37:00.004-04:00

I am shopping for a couple of big ticket purchases lately and realize that customer service representatives do not take "young" people seriously - let me give you a few examples:

I went into a Mazda dealership on a weekday and I was approached by a man in his late 40s. He didn't take me very seriously when I told him that I was looking for a car and I received poor service as a result. He also kept asking for my parents. Every person who walks into a dealership is a potential customer - you should be talking to them like they're worth 20 grand.
Looking for a digi cam and they say that the best thing to do is to go to a store and play with it. So I went to Black's and was approached by a sales rep (another guy in his 40s). I told him that I was looking for at picking up photography as a hobby so I need something suitable for a beginner. He told me that the one I was looking at is really good, and that he sold a lot of it. He also told me the specs of the lens (which is written on the lense itself!) but nothing else. Then worst of all, he just walked away! I turned around and couldn't find him!?

Three random guys in a factory who are not in sales.

I think I've unlocked the secret to seeing the real side of customer service reps.

They don't care two (expletives) about you if you look like a kid
Unless you're fanning yourself with a brown stack of Sir Robert Borden's finest (hundred dollar bills), you're not going to get a stare.
Therefore, if you want an accurate evaluation of customer service, go shopping dressed in something that makes you look too young for your age or wear something that looks like you're trying to pawn something off to them.

Editor's Note: Black's and Mazda were both added to my boycott list.

URGENT POST: Anti-Americanism is Not Unfounded

2009-03-24T00:00:00.003-04:00

I usually don't post two days in a row, but it is absolutely necessary to bring this to the attention of my readers. I think there is a reason why many Canadians harbour anti-American sentiments. Fox's late night bullshit show, Red Eye, commented on General Andrew Leslie's claim that Canada will need an "operational break" in 2011 (re: Chief says army will need 'operational break' in 2011)

Let's flip this around: if Rick Mercer made a parody about the American troops, the US will surely invade us. The sad part is that these comments are directed at our troops, who have thus far fought valiantly given the workload. This show was especially in poor taste considering that four of our bravest just came home from Afghanistan today (Thank you for your service, God bless). Look, at the end of the day, we're on the same damn team. We literally "fuel" your wars, so don't make us hold that against you.

To the members of the Canadian Forces, thank you for your service, we're sorry you had to hear such insensitive comments. Keep fighting the good fight.

Tertiary Series: House with No Steps

2009-03-23T21:43:00.000-04:00

see more pwn and owned pictures

Fat Family can Sure Use a Recession...

2009-03-21T20:38:00.001-04:00

Editor's Note: Thanks Chris!

I wish I was too fat to comment on this article, but I'm not, so here goes..

Mr Chawner said: "What we get barely covers the bills and puts food on the table. It's not our fault we can't work. We deserve more."..
"All that healthy food, like fruit and veg, is too expensive. We're fat because it's in our genes. Our whole family is overweight," she added.
(Read: Family who are 'too fat to work' say £22,000 worth of benefits is not enough...)

Here's a summary of what each family member is receiving:

Mr and Mrs Chawner receive £177 per week in income support and incapacity benefit.
Mrs Chawner is paid an extra £330-a-month disability allowance for epilepsy and asthma, both a result of being overweight.
Mr Chawner gets £71 a month after developing Type 2 diabetes because of his size.
Daughter Samantha receives £84 in Jobseekers' Allowance each fortnight while
Emma, who is training to be a hairdresser, gets £58 every two weeks under a hardship fund for low-income students.

The clincher is, in my opinion, "We barely cover the bills and put food on the table"? are you (double expletive) kidding me?! It looks like you should stop putting food on the table. They should get taxed for consuming too much food.

"We used to work for the government." - Family of 8

Tertiary Series: For those who are Security Conscious...

2009-03-20T19:30:00.001-04:00

This is for those who are security conscious...

see more pwn and owned pictures

see more pwn and owned pictures

Best Birthday Present Ever!

2009-03-18T22:17:00.001-04:00

I got the best birthday present ever and I have the Ontario government to thank for it. I was checking the mail sometime ago and received something from the Ministry of Transportation. Half-heatedly expecting a bill and praying that it wasn't a ticket, I opened the envelope and found a limited offer to purchase a shiny sticker for my car! The offer was valid until my birthday and failure to comply would mean a remove of my driving privileges. So on my birthday, I bought myself the most expensive birthday present ever.

My sticker looks way better than this shitty photoshop-ed one from 99'.

The joy of growing up...

Editor's Note: One year licence plate sticker renewal = $75.

Tertiary Series: Tweaking your Bittorrent Client

2009-03-16T21:13:00.000-04:00

Here's a guide on tweaking your bittorrent client for those of you who are fans of sticking it to the man.

Tweak uTorrent's Settings for Faster Downloads

Editor's Note: I do not condone sticking it to the man. I would rather not stick anything to any men.

DIY: How to Get into the History Books

2009-03-13T23:59:00.002-04:00

I believe that everyone wants to be remembered for something. This is true from the guy who tried to break the world record by stuffing the most straws in his nose to the pot-smoking hippie who won the most gold medals at the Olympics. However, if for some reason, you're average at everything or just too damn lazy to do anything remarkable - then I have a solution for you..

"This kid is going places." - Ma

The key is to just suck at something - but you can't just suck an average amount, no, the secret is to do so poorly that you'll get in the history book as "the other person"...

Here are some examples:

Be the French guy Vince Carter dunked over
Be the guy who got bluffed out of 10 million dollars on the World Series of Poker final table (if you know poker, I'm talking about Sam Farha),
Be the guy who got beaten by an eight year old in the Guitar Hero Championships.

Either way, you're sure to make a name for yourself. I can almost guarantee it.

Tertiary Series: iPodME Converts your Videos into iPods

2009-03-11T23:30:00.000-04:00

For my lemming readers, this link will show you where to download iPodMe, a program that will apparently convert your videos into iPod format. This should be useful since (from what I hear) iPods are very imcompatible video players.

Anyways, enjoy!

Article of Interest: iPodME Converts Your Video to iPod Friendly Format

Editor's Note: I have not tested this software because I refused to be ripped off by Apple. The only thing I will buy from them is their stocks.

Review: The Curious Case Benjamin Button

2009-03-09T22:39:00.001-04:00

I was bored one Saturday afternoon and decided to check out The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I must say, I quite enjoyed it - it wasn't action-packed or anything, but it was a weird kind of drama - one of those "artsy-fartsy" type of film. I think it got snubbed at the 1st Annual Slumdog Millionaire Awards. Anyways, it took me about an hour and half, but I think I've solved the curious case of Benjamin Button...Benjamin is, in fact, a pedophile. See photographic proof below:

Editor's Note: No seriously, it's a good movie. I think you should check it out.

Horatio Cane, Miami's One Man Show

2009-03-07T02:49:00.001-05:00

I know Horatio Cane (David Caruso on CSI: Miami) is known for his bad acting and one liners, but when you compile all of the clips together, you get one great show.

Editor's Note: Ray Ban is the official sponsor for CSI: Miami (can you tell?). Done for the weekend - see you Monday!

Sean Penn: Equal Rights Hypocrite

2009-03-04T21:35:00.001-05:00

I am having issues with Sean Penn's Acceptance speech at the Oscars, and this is rare, since I don't have issues with many things. (Sarcasm fail?)

"I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support..."

So are you saying that people should be ashamed of themselves for voting with their conscience and/or religious beliefs? Shame on them? Shame on you and your grandchildren (in advanced) for your reverse persecution. I hate political analysts from Hollywood.

Free Hugs!

2009-03-02T21:49:00.003-05:00

If you were lucky enough to be in downtown Toronto on February 8, 2009, you could have gotten a free hug. Tanya Neumeyer, her brother, Ian, and a few friends decided that it would be a good idea to carry around big signs and give free hugs to strangers.

"Even if somebody doesn't hug you, people smile and I think that's really the main thing, to brighten somebody's day," he said. "I kind of felt it would be awkward. But it's not awkward at all, it's so natural. I think people just want a connection and it's so easy to do this. People are so scared ... that a lot of people don't hug and that's a shame."(Article of Interest: "Free hug offer startles downtown shoppers" )

What the Star failed to report was that the hugs were originally on sale for $10. She got the the idea from a YouTube video, "Change the World for Ten Bucks":

"Neumeyer, 26, said she got the inspiration from a YouTube video and a group called We Are What We Do, which has a book called Change the World for Ten Bucks..."

Unfortunately, business was slow because people were too busy being productive members of society.

(Picture by Andrew Wallace/Toronto Star)

February Roundup: Top 4 Posts

2009-02-28T23:54:00.004-05:00

Without further delay, here are the top four posts of February 2009:

Country Style's Win (Crap) Everytime Event! (This one was in January, but it's too popular)
Frugal Tip: Grow Your Own Hai r
Review: Gran Torino
Groundhog Willie, you lying S-O-B.

More articles to come! Have a great March.

Tertiary Series: Crazy Home Office Set Up

2009-02-28T23:52:00.001-05:00

I don't know if you would call this a "home office", but I found this while browsing through blogs on office organization and set-up. This is every nerd's heaven right here..

If you have any cool set-ups, gears or anything else I can share - feel free to send it to me and I'll posted it here.

Towards a Hunger and Violence Free Zimbabwe

2009-02-26T23:24:00.001-05:00

Former opposition leader and now Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, promised that there will be no more hunger or violence now that he is PM.

“The transitional government will make food available and affordable,” he added. “No Zimbabwean will ever go hungry again... Our hospitals must be places of healing... On Monday, all schools must reopen. This Monday."("No more hunger or violence, says PM Tsvangirai")

That's a pretty balls-y claim considering that most first-world countries still struggle with these issues. C'mon sir, even Barack "God's gift to the world" Obama promised hope and change. It could be change for the worse, but at least he didn't exaggerate. No more hunger or violence?! Your lack of political experience is as obvious as a neon thong.

In the photo: Morgan, is not going to feed anyone by holding out his hands, Tsvangirai.

Shoe-throwing is a Popular Form of Protest, Act II

2009-02-24T22:14:00.001-05:00

Did I not tell you that shoe throwing is a popular form of protest? Wen Jiabao, Premier of China was attacked with a shoe by a protester at Cambridge University today (whenever I wrote this, I don't remember). Unfortunately, his shoe failed to make contact and campus security was able to subdue the assailant before he was able to throw the other shoe.

"Hey, Stop it." - Wen to shoe-thrower

(Article of Interest: "Protester throws shoe at Chinese Premier Wen JiaBao")

Mr Wen was coming to the last part of his address when a young Western-looking man with dark hair stood up, blew a whistle and shouted: “How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator? How can you listen to these lies?”
The man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, then took off his heavy shoe and threw it at the stage missing the Premier by a few feet.
“Stand up and protest, you're not challenging him,” he shouted in a European accent as he was bundled out of the room by security staff.

I wasn't surprised at the attack. no I knew it was going to happen again a long time ago. I'm just surprised that the security staff at Cambridge is more competent than Bush's secret service agents.

My Contribution to Society

2009-02-22T17:24:00.001-05:00

I want to share with you the student debt clock by Debt 101. You can check out here...
It's currently at 13 billion dollars, do you know how much of it is mine? It's nice to know that I contributed to society without lifting a finger.

Editor's Note: Sorry for not posting for the past couple of days. I have been sick; congrats to all those who wish for me to be sick, you win.

The Robinho Show

2009-02-18T20:51:00.001-05:00

Groundhog Willie, You Lying S-O-B

2009-02-16T20:17:00.001-05:00

To explain why Groundhog Willie is a lying s-o-b, I direct your attention to the temperature on the week of Willie's prediction:

Courtesy of The Weather Network

Six more weeks of winter my ass. He should have watched An Inconvenient Truth.

First Signs of a Failing Economy

2009-02-14T16:29:00.001-05:00

A few days ago, I read something in the Star that disproved my theory on the current economic situation. If you've been following my blog, you'll notice that I don't think there is anything wrong with the economy. Well, I concede - I was wrong because a 16-year-old student showed up at this interview despite being stabbed earlier in the day.

(Article of Interest: "Stabbed student shows up for job interview")

"Staff at the King West Vets veterinary clinic said the Central Commerce Collegiate student showed up on time for his 1 p.m. co-op placement interview."

By the way, they went through with the interview and then called the police. Worse, they couldn't even tell him if he got the job! These capitalists make me sick.

"He did really well on the interview and we were very proud of him for sticking to the appointment," said veterinarian Kent Ackerman. He wouldn't say if the student will get the job."

I sure hope he got the job.

Tertiary Series: Step Fail

2009-02-13T22:05:00.000-05:00

see more pwn and owned pictures

Review: Gran Torino

2009-02-11T22:56:00.009-05:00

Gran Torino is an inspiring movie on the changing dynamics of race relations in the U.S. It is recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the Ten Best Films of 2008. Clint Eastwood also won Best Actor from the National Board of Review and is nominated for the Critics' Choice Awards. Clint Eastwood's performance was excellent of course, but that much was expected. Why, you ask? Anyone would be good if you surrounded yourself with a team full of amateur actors with little to no experience.

Supporting Actor: Bee Vang as Toad Lor - did an admirable job. The 17-year-old from Fresno, California was a pre-med student at the University of Minnesota. "His only previous acting experience was membership in a drama club." (http://www.thegrantorino.com/#/aboutthefilm/cast/beevang/)

Supporting Actress: Ahney Her as Sue Lor - also did a great job. She was sixteen when she won the role of Sue. "Although she had not acted professionally, she loved performing and had trained for three years at a local drama school." (http://www.thegrantorino.com/#/aboutthefilm/cast/ahneyher/)

Supporting Actor: Christopher Carley as Father Janovich - The only one with any professional acting experience. He guest starred in The Sopranos, Law and Order SVU, Numb3rs and House. He was also in a couple of independent films.

Did I mention that Gran Torino was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood? Look, there was no doubt that Clint Eastwood was good, especially when he surrounded himself with a bunch of amateurs. It's like Michael Jordan playing against a bunch of kids in a small town rec league HE created - where is the challenge?

Think I'm being harsh? I'll give you three words to prove my point: Million, Dollar, Baby.

Editor's Note: Morgan Freeman won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in Million Dollar Baby

Number of Days it took the President to Mess Up

2009-02-09T22:13:00.001-05:00

It's only been 15 days (at the time of writing) since the glorious inauguration of the 44th President. Today, President Obama admitted that he made a mistake by nominating former Democratic Leader in the Senate and long-time mentor, Tom Daschle

"I think I screwed up," Obama said in a wide-ranging interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper. "And I take responsibility for it and we're going to make sure we fix it so it doesn't happen again." (Article of Interest: "Obama: 'I screwed up' on Daschle appointment")

Daschle withdrew his nomination after it was discovered that he had more than $150,000 in back taxes. This is however, NOT his first screw up. Click here to see a list of his questionable nominees..

A survey of America's mainstream media reveals that Obama and America are still on their honeymoon as many of them fail to mention his previous errors in judgement. Big ups to NPR (National Public Radio) for picking up on this story.

(Editor's Note: Why doesn't spell check pick up the word "Obama"?)

London is Crippled

2009-02-07T18:23:00.001-05:00

I'm sure everyone remembers the 25 cm snowstorms followed by the 5-10 cm "flurries" from this past month (we can go as far back as last year). Well, London is crippled by a 8 inches (around 20 cm) of snow. (See article: "Braced for another eight inches of snow")

C'mon 20 cm? I know you don't get snow much but if I can drive 40 mins to work in a small Japanese car with no snow tires - you can take on some friggin' snow.

Snow in the UK, you can still see asphalt. Photo: Reuters

We're in the Money

2009-02-05T21:09:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but I had a very nice shopping holiday over December despite the poor deals that offered no real savings to the consumer. I received my VISA bill at the end of the month and let me tell you, I have been penny pinching throughout January to make it past the month, but pinch no more, as the song goes, "we're in the money!"

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced that the Conservative government will run a $40 billion deficit over two years. (Read "$40-billion recipe to juice the economy").

"The budget, tabled Tuesday in the House of Commons, will see government spending increase by nearly 11% to $206.8-billion and revenue drop roughly 5% in the 2009-10, leading to a $33.7-billion deficit.

I did the math, 40 billion over two years divded by around 33 million people and what do you have? Around 600 bucks each! I would like to take this time to let the government know that I accept all forms of payment including Paypal, credit card, certified cheque, direct deposit, practically everything except government issued IOUs. Then I started to make a shopping list of all the things I would buy..until I read the fine print of course.

"The budget casts a wide net, and throws money at a number of fronts. A chunk of the spending programs are designed to expire after the second year. There are permanent personal tax cuts, about $12-billion for infrastructure projects, and financial incentives to persuade households to undertake home renovations. Some analysts said that, surprisingly, the budget did not have a core focus"

First of all, I don't own a house or any infrastructure?! Why does the government decide how I spend my money? I feel as though I would do a much better job stimulating the economy, especially in the industries of beer and popcorn. I guess it's back to penny-pinching for me.

Tertiary Series: Google Search Images By Dimensions

2009-02-03T23:07:00.002-05:00

Did you know that you can now search for google images by certain sizes? This will make searching for wallpapers a lot easier. Read this entry, courtesy of Lifehacker

Article of Interest: "Find Images by Exact Dimensions, Make Wallpaper Search a Breeze"

Frugal Tip - Grow your own hair

2009-02-01T04:00:00.002-05:00

A new fad of mine is browsing personal finance blogs and I am currently following a couple of great sites. They usually give some excellent tips on budgeting, debt & savings, as well as other tips that will hopefully prevent you from financial disasters. One common theme shared by many bloggers is the importance of frugality. Frugality is the practice of spending as little money as possible. After reading some of these tips, I feel compelled to share one of my own with you.

Frugal Tip 1: Grow your own hair
That's right! Instead of a fancy toupe or wig, we should grow our own hair. It's really easy - let me show you how:

Ingredients:

Water
Fertilizer

Directions:

Slap some fertilizer on head
Water

Savings: $$$$$

Feel free to share this with anyone you know.. enjoy!

Editor's note: Male patterned baldness is not funny, frugality is. GO CARDS!

January Roundup: 2009 will be a Better Year

2009-01-31T17:13:00.004-05:00

Well it has been a month since I started this blog - I guess time flies when you're having fun. From now on, I will be posting the top five entries at the end of each month and changing the tagline below the heading. Enjoy! Please continue to visit and tell your friends about this blog.

Thanks,
Andre

Top 5 Entries of January

Tertiary Series: I want to be like Mommy!

The Starbucks Taste Test Challenge

The Declining Economy Conspiracy

Two Magic Words to Get Rid of Your Debts

Ask the Reader: What the hell was that?

Country Style Win (crap) Everytime Promotion

2009-01-30T22:16:00.001-05:00

I was going for an afternoon coffee break and decided to go to the Country Style just across the street. I ordered the usual medium with two milk when a chick cut in front of me and asked the cashier, "what's this promotion you're doing?" The cashier responded, "it's our Tim Horton's roll-up-the-rim..well I shouldn't say that.." Another girl working at the sandwich bar jumped in, "It's our turn up a winner event. Every cup's a winner!" I was excited at prospect of winning every time, but I also knew that the prizes could not be very good. Well I was wrong..

If you can't read it, that says "Free Brookside Almond Sample"

the prizes were downright crap. After downing my coffee, I "rolled up the rim" and found a FREE almond sample! Look, you can't have a prize with the words "free" and "sample"! I told a co-worker about it and she told me that she won the same thing. So I asked her what the prize looked like, and she replied "It's a sample. It only had four nuts and I couldn't even taste it, though I'm sure it was very good."

Other prizes include:
1 of 200 Prizes from Hamilton Beach
1 of 5 $1000 Gift Cards & discounts from Mark's Work Wearhouse
1 of 50 luggage sets from Samboro
1 of 25 Ultra Chef Grills from Napoleon Fireplaces & Girlls

The only thing worth mentioning is the 1 of 10 trips for four to Orlando. (It's probably Orlando, Ontario.)

Click here for more details on the contest.

Editor's Note: There is no Orlando, Ontario.

Flaherty Needs Credit Counselling

2009-01-27T21:27:00.007-05:00

A girl goes to the bank to borrow money and said she absolutely needs it because her family is going through a rough time. Her dad was recently laid off by the car company that employed him for the past twenty years. She claimed that she only needs the money for a couple of years because she will get a higher paying job after upgrading her degree.

The bank approved her because she had pretty good credit in the past and seemed to be able to manage money. She thanked the loan officer, left the bank, and went shopping for a new pair of shoes.

Photo by: Blair Gable / Reuters

Article of Interest: "Ottawa needs to stimulate economy: Flaherty"

"Flaherty spent $141.09 -- with tax -- to buy a pair of black work shoes, a sign perhaps that his budget will help put Canadians to work."

All I have to say is, those shoes better not be in the budget.

Signaling at a Right Turn Only Lane

2009-01-26T23:31:00.002-05:00

I was coming out of the gas station one time and saw a right turn only sign. There was a median in the middle of the road to prevent cars from turning left, so I turned right and without signaling. My dad asked me why I didn't signal and I replied "Because I don't have to! What else was I going to do? Turn left?"

Now, it's never a smart idea to talk back to your traditional Asian parents, but I did anyway. I still stand by it today because it makes no sense. It's stupid to signal at a right-turn only lane when we only have two signals. No one would signal left unless they were doing something illegal and I didn't need to signal right because I was going to do it anyways. So next time you see a right turn only sign, remember to not signal.

Editor's Note: You have to signal right if there is an option to go straight. Use your own judgment when pulling off this stunt. Side effects include nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach and diarrhea. You may also get a ticket. The author bears not liable for the consequences of your action. Exercise caution when attempting to be a smartass.

Recipes from Kraft Canada

2009-01-24T17:14:00.003-05:00

Here's a recipe courtesy of our friends over at Kraft Canada.

RITZ Crackers & Cheddar Cheese Bites

Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Makes: 1

Ingredients
2 RITZ Crackers
2 slices Cracker Barrel Cracker Cuts Old Cheddar Cheese

Directions
Top crackers with cheese.

Link: http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/ritz-crackers-cheddar-cheese-112452.aspx?e=email

Editor's Note: This site was forwarded to me by baby.

Men can have babies too!

2009-01-23T22:00:00.003-05:00

Well, not exactly. But men can have kidney stones and if left undetected, you can turn out to be pregnant!

"It's not kidney stone, doc tells N.L. woman moments before she gives birth"

"The eastern Newfoundland woman says she didn't realize she was pregnant until she was rushed to Carbonear General Hospital that night and an X-ray didn't turn up any kidney stones."

How do you not know that you're pregnant for nine months? What happened to all that crap about the connection between a mother and her child? To be fair, the article said that she did not experience any of the usual symptoms such as morning sickness. Well, lucky you.

Bottom Line:

If it feels like you have the stones, get it checked out..you might be pregnant. (of course that goes for men and women)
The miracle of birth is like having kidney stones.
Finally, the pain of labor, also like passing kidney stones.

Tertiary Series: I want to be like Mommy!

2009-01-21T21:44:00.006-05:00

Editor's Note: If you are working full time like me, you will sometimes receive the odd fwd from your co-workers. This one is especially good, so I thought I would share it with you.

After it was graded and the child brought it home, she returned to school the next day with the following note:

Dear Ms. Davis,
I want to be very clear on my child's illustration. It is NOT of me on a dance pole on a stage in a strip joint. I work at Home Depot and had commented to my daughter how much money we made in the recent snowstorm. This drawing is of me.... selling a shovel.

Mrs. Harrington

A Tribute to George Walker

2009-01-20T21:43:00.008-05:00

I remember coming home one September afternoon to planes smashing into the World Trade Center. History will judge George Bush on his tenure as President of the United States. As Bush said in an interview, he will probably not live long enough to see the verdict. Regardless, one must admit that his time in the office wasn't a stroll in the park and he gave us some memorable moments. These include bombs falling on Baghdad, the toppling of the Saddam Hussein's statue, the complete abandonment of a city devastated by one of the country's worst hurricane and one of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Still, we should thank him for demonstrating the importance of politics. For those who were interested in politics before Bush, we should thank him for keeping us entertained. So, as a tribute to Bush, I will highlight some his most memorable quotes:

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - September 2000

"They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the commander-in-chief, too." - Sept. 26, 2001

"There's no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail." - Oct. 4, 2001

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - Aug. 5, 2004

"The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place." - May 27, 2008

"I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." - June 26, 2008

"Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people." - July 4, 2008

Quotes taken from "Bushisms: U.S. leader sets standard for mangled phrases during presidency"

God bless him; if it wasn't for you George Walker, I would have taken up another major.
But today is the dawn of a new era. On this day, the US installed its 44th President. What's so great about Obama anyways? What was so captivating? Why was it a defining moment in US history? What was it that made the world stand still at noon, even if only for a couple of minutes? I really didn't know the answer until I watched this:

Oh now I remember, he's the first President to share the same name as the dictator of the country you just toppled. Wow, that's a strong message. Way to rub it in.

Ted Rogers Rips Us Off From the Grave

2009-01-19T23:47:00.006-05:00

Article of interest: Rogers hiking basic cable rates 5.2%

Ted Rogers continues to rip us off from the grave as he raises basic cable fees by 5.2%.

"Despite the weakening economy, all of Rogers’ 2.3 million basic cable customers will see the price of their basic Cable rise from $28.49 a month to $29.999 per month, an increase of 5.2%.

I mean it's basic cable; the reason why people have basic is because they can't afford (or prefers to save) the cash. It's no wonder why people download TV illegally. If there was more competition in Canada, then they wouldn't be so damn arrogant. I personally don't see the point in saving Canadian companies just because they're "Canadian". After all, money is more of a universal language than English. If you can't keep up, then beat it. It's not like Ted Rogers would rush to the aid of Canadian culture since he was the one who renamed the Skydome, "Rogers Centre" (At least he spelled it Canadian/British).

Tertiary Series: How to Get Satisfaction from Tech Support

2009-01-17T00:00:00.001-05:00

Read this article, Are You Getting Satisfaction From GetSatisfaction.com, from the Web Worker Daily on how to get great tech support.

Editor's Note: I am currently on vacation right now, this article was written automatically by the computer

Adolf Hitler is Alive?!?

2009-01-15T19:39:00.011-05:00

Editor's Note: I know I said that there would be no posts until next week because I was busy but I felt absolutely compelled to comment on this...enjoy!

I don't know if you have seen this Robot Chicken video called Lil' Hitler...if you haven't, here it is:

So, what did you think? Pretty funny huh? Well not to the real Lil' Hitler - Cops Take Away 3-Year Old Adolf Hitler. Apparently, a couple in New Jersey named their son "Adolf Hitler Campbell"(I hope you feel bad now for laughing at that video, jerks).

"On Friday, officials from the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services took into protective custody Adolf Hitler Campbell, 3, and his younger sisters JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, 1, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, 8 months, according to the Holland Township Police Department."

Talk about your prototypical "redneck" family. They makes King of the Hill look like Queer Eye and I'm not even saying this just to insult anyone. I will highlight some points to prove my point;

"...the kids were confined to certain areas in the house,"
"Those children look outwardly healthy, but they didn't have much freedom,"
"the couple was unemployed and received government assistance to pay their rent.

You see why I had to post this even though I was on holiday,

This is just too easy.

Review: Beyonce - I am Sasha Fierce

2009-01-14T00:24:00.002-05:00

I am reviewing I am Sasha Fierce, Beyonce's third solo album since ditching...shoot I forgot their band name already...anyways, no matter. Firstly, you are NOT Sasha Fierce. You are Beyonce Knowles-Z. Finally, you're not just a boy, hell you're not even single. I'm so sick of radio stations that prop up singles by overplaying it.

Summary: This CD sucks. I give it a two out of a possible two (middle) fingers up.

Editor's Note: I will be busy over the next few days and will probably not be posting, but you'll be spammed if there is a new post. Have a great weekend!

The Starbucks Taste Test Challenge

2009-01-12T22:43:00.001-05:00

Do you know why I started drinking Starbucks?

Just Kidding.

I'll admit, Starbucks is turning into some sort of culture or brand. It represents a certain economic class or social status. (disregard the above picture of course, the drink = classy, the gut = not) There is also no doubt that Starbucks costs a lot more. What I disagree with is the argument that Tim Hortons' coffee tastes better.

Sure Tim Hortons is Canadian and there is no doubt that it's a "household name". Some might say that it put Asian hockey on the map...

But I challenge you to a quick taste test. Do the following:

1. Go to Tim Hortons, order a medium regular (one milk, one sugar). Absolutely NO double-doubles! this is not a test to see who can mask their coffee the best.

2. Go to Starbucks, order a tall coffee, also regular. (Trust me, a small at Starbucks is at least a medium in Tim's)

3. Take a sip of the Tim's (then spit it out). Then take a sip of the Starbucks coffee (and just savour the goodness).

Administrative Update: Launching of the New Tertiary Series

2009-01-12T18:54:00.004-05:00

There will be an update on the website...

Anything I find interesting from someone else's blog will now belong in a new section, Tertiary Series. This series came to fruition when I realized that many blogs basically recycled the same stories (including this blog). Hopefully, this will be more effective at crediting other people's secondary work.

Editor's Notes: Today is the one-year anniversary of the day that changed my life. May you live happily and healthily ever after, 1433.

Is my Degree Worthless? (Part II)

2009-01-11T22:00:00.001-05:00

This is the second of a two-part series on your education and money.

Article of interest: Is your degree worth $1 million -- or worthless?

"Some degrees are a step back. Thinking of a master's degree in a liberal arts or social sciences field? Let's hope you're in it for the love of learning, because on average there doesn't seem to be any financial payoff."

Thanks for the heads up. I really wish someone had told me sooner (I apologize to my friends who are still doing their MA, keep fighting the good fight). I mean, I'm all for learning, but a man's gotta eat (well) and live (in a huge ass house).

For those of you who are still planning your life though, you have been warned.

Royal Visit to Canada

2009-01-10T21:49:00.005-05:00

In a move that will sure please his fans, Barack Hussein Obama chooses Canada as his first international get-a-way destination (Barack Obama to visit Canada after inauguration).

"This has got to please the government and please Canadians, in general," says Robert Fife, Bureau Chief of Canada's equivalent of Fox.

I personally welcome his visit because we haven't had royalty since 2005, when the Queen Mother visited Alberta with Prince Philip. I just thought he'd pick somewhere warmer...maybe he's coming in the summer. (I wouldn't get my hopes up Nunavut)

The Declining Economy Conspiracy

2009-01-07T21:03:00.002-05:00

Sure, the stock market is falling like crazy and GM may go bankrupt, but I have never been more convinced that the average Canadian family is okay (despite "economic data" that prove otherwise). As usual, I think a picture is worth a thousand words...

I took this picture the day after boxing day at a Tommy Hilfiger in a not-so-affluent part of Toronto. I found one size large shirt - needless to say that it wasn't the best looking one either.

But for those of you who believe in something more astronomical...

In case you can't read it, the fortune reads, "The stock market may be your ticket to success."

I rest my case. The economy is fine - so go out, spend and be merry.

University, a Financial Choice (Part I)

2009-01-06T20:37:00.001-05:00

I know quite a few people who are applying for university this year. Let me begin with a piece of friendly advice, choose a financially sensible location. If you're unconvinced, just spend two minutes playing around with the OSAP Repayment Calculator and enter the following

Estimated total expected debt on graduation: $30,000 (7500 x 4) (I know that seems a lot right now, but it should be that much in four years)

Click "Calculate Monthly Payment" and voila. Assuming your prime interest rate is 6% (fat chance), you will be paying $393 per month after graduation FOR NINE AND A HALF YEARS.

Trust me, that's a lot of coin. Let me show you what 400 bucks a month for 9.5 years can buy you...

That's right - it's like buying the A3 you never drove. Did I mention that it's fully paid and loaded?

Note 1: Part II to come...

Two Magic Words to Get Rid of Your Debts

2009-01-06T00:07:00.001-05:00

If you know me, I sometimes stay up late and watch TV infomercials while surfing on the web. (Talk about multitasking in the 21st...) There have been many greats such as The Magic Bullet, which is a personal favourite of mine. But this one really got to me...

You can find out the technique to eliminate your debt here:
Debt Cures Book Review - Is Kevin Trudeau's Latest Book A Scam?

Anyways, Trudeau was saying that there are two words that can help you clear out your credit card debt. You probably know which two words I was thinking of at first, but I looked it up out of curiosity and found out that the two words were identity theft.

I don't need to tell you that lying to your credit card company is fraud and you can't cure your debt by going to jail. If you're going to lie to your credit card company, you might as well call them up and say the two words I was thinking of ... At least you will have the satisfaction of releasing your anger in an explicit yet legal manner.

That being said, I feel bad for the poor suckers who bought his book (please do not buy this book).

Chick Fight on Ice

2009-01-04T19:44:00.002-05:00

Check out this fight between Alexander Semin and Marc Staal...I'm not sure if Don Cherry would approve of this...Notice Semin's European b!tchslapping technique, very trendy in the fashion capitals of Paris and Milan. (Courtesy of frostynuts)

Tertiary Series - Cracked.com: 9 Most Badass Bible Verses

2009-01-04T14:57:00.009-05:00

Who says the bible is boring? (Courtesy of Crispy)

Cracked.com: 9 Most Badass Bible Verses

Ask the reader: What the hell is that?

2009-01-03T15:17:00.001-05:00

What the hell is that on my pork chop rice?

Five Year Old Needs Life...

2009-01-02T13:31:00.002-05:00

I've been trying to beat this game, Taiko no Tatsujin on DS, for the past week with a q-tip for a stylus and a real stylus (only played on and off). I am on the medium level of difficulty (second of three levels) and I get 90%+. I'm pretty proud of myself since I'm not that good with video games. I wanted to see if people posted videos of this game...now I expect some people who will do ridiculously well - but...well, just watch this yourself.

Even if the kid doesn't get perfect, which is virtually impossible with only two hands, at least the drum beats sounded right. It friggin' puts me to shame...this kid is FIVE for !@#$'s sake. FIVE! If I wasn't busy working full time...

2008 Wins Worst Year Ever.

2008-12-31T01:09:00.003-05:00

On a personal level, I think 2008 was the worst year ever. I can't wait for it to be over so I can turn a new page in my life.

2008 was also nominated for the following awards:
Worst Weather Ever in Toronto
Biggest Flop Ever
Worst Economic Turnaround
Most Memorable Year
Least likely to succeed
Least likely to be invited to the reunion
Class Clown

With that, I wish you all the best in 2009 and I look forward to churning more posts in the new year.

Happy new year!

Update 1: Here's a preview of the new articles due out in January..
- Five Year Old Kid Needs to Get a Life
- "We did it!"
- Two Magic Words
- Introducing the new "Ask the Reader" Series
- Choosing a University, A Financial Choice
- Choosing a Degree, ALSO a Financial Choice

Shoe-throwing Crosses Cultural Barriers

2008-12-29T17:20:00.000-05:00

I know this is old news in the blogosphere, but it's an instant classic (I'm all about the oxymoron). I cannot leave this one out before the end of 08. I mean, I don't think even Bin Laden hates Bush this much.

Then this happened, Iraqi Journalist Who Threw Shoes at Bush Was Tortured in Jail, His Brother Says ...well what the hell did you expect?

Anyways, thanks for making shoe-throwing an accepted form of dissident.

Random Photography: Winter Days

2008-12-28T17:58:00.000-05:00

I still like winter better than summer..I forgot why though..

Update 1 (December 28, 2008): I wish I could take a picture of the wind - I could definitely do it if I had a camcorder (now accepting donations)...

Record Lows...

2008-12-27T19:39:00.003-05:00

Did you know gas prices hit 67.9 cents per liter on December 24? That's the lowest since I can remember - took a picture of it, click on it to enlarge.

You know the economy is doing bad when gas prices are half of what they were in the summer and people are still having trouble paying for it.

A Message from Our Queen - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Christmas

2008-12-25T14:02:00.007-05:00

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

I would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Where the hell is Santa?

2008-12-24T15:21:00.000-05:00

It's Christmas Eve and he should be making his rounds now. I hope he doesn't run into any problems. Anyways, you can track his whereabouts here:

http://www.noradsanta.org/

Personally, I thought NORAD was for tracking terrorists and space invaders, but there you go...apparently NORAD can take a day off from official business.

Note 1: It's official, Santa is Canadian. (Santa a Canadian, declares citizenship minister) Canadian Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney declares Santa a Canadian and by proxy, the his territory of residence. This is only made possible because Santa is sitting on a billion barrels of untapped black gold. If it weren't for that, Santa can be Norwegian for all we care. Look, how the hell else can Santa afford giving kids presents? He's loaded.

Sony Cyber-shot DSCT77

2008-12-24T00:55:00.000-05:00

As a part of my campaign to reduce personal debt, I will ask myself one simple question when deciding whether or not to buy something: do I NEED it?

I have reached the conclusion that I absolutely NEED this...

Sony Cybershot DSCT77

My TV is possessed

2008-12-23T00:27:00.000-05:00

I'm watching TV one night and it craps out - it looked scrambled. I was on my knees for a couple of hours trying to fix it to no avail. Testing the damn thing was the most annoying part since I have to leave the TV on and sweat it out. Did I mention it only breaks when I am watching something that cannot be interrupted? Brandon Jacobs was breaking a tackle, had an open field and SHHHHHHHHHH. It's almost 2009 for !@#$'s sake.
I should not have to reach to the back of the TV and wiggle the coaxial cable in order to watch the only football game available on basic cable. Did I mention that it changed channel by itself today? The !@#$ing thing is possessed...

(Note: At the time of writing, my five years old Acer laptop crashed, requiring a restart. Luckily, it was auto-saved, otherwise I would've broken my laptop.)

Intro

2008-12-22T21:41:00.000-05:00

I am returning from a four-year blogging hiatus. It's been a crazy journey and I won't bore you with it here. I just want a place to keep anything interesting - feel free to share your stories and ideas with me. Send me an email at fairly.biased@gmail.com

Currently looking for pro bono help:
Writers/Bloggers
Website/Graphic Designers