Black's Only School Decision

I'm white...Caucasian if you prefer that term instead.

I wanted to state that from the beginning so there's no confusion.

I certainly don't consider myself a racist but I may be guilty of a little racial profiling from time to time. Who isn't? Over the years I have had many good friends of all races, colours and religions. The world is a melting pot after all. To be honest, normally I don't see colour...I see stupidity and ignorance instead.

I don't care what colour you are or what country you come from...if you're stupid or ignorant then don't expect me to be too forgiving.

Having attempted to make that perfectly clear I'll move on to the topic at hand.

Earlier tonight, a proposal to create Canada's first black-focused public school was approved by Toronto District School Board trustees. They recommended the creation of an alternative school that features a curriculum and teaching environment oriented around black history and culture. The vote, which was very close, followed a debate on the controversial proposal, which critics believe is a plan for segregation, while supporters believe it could keep more black students in school.

Does anyone else think this is counterproductive to what black people fought for for so many years? And if you think all blacks in this school district are in favour of the idea, guess again.

Under the current guidelines set forth by the Provincial government, the school would have to be open to all students regardless of their racial background but do you really think that's going to happen? The main difference is the supporters feel with a more "black friendly" (my term) curriculum, the black students would have a better chance of staying in school and graduating.

I'm sorry...I went to school with several black classmates and they all graduated under the same guidelines and curriculum the white, aboriginal and asian students had to study. And do you know how they managed to succeed? They studied and went to class. They asked questions and did their homework. They didn't look for an excuse or blame the system. They held themselves accountable and graduated.

I don't think the current school system is failing these black students. I think they are failing themselves and perhaps their parents should shoulder some of the blame as well. Don't blame a system that works well for everyone else. Look inward and ask what you should or could be doing to improve.

There are so many temptations and distractions that can be used as excuses. It is the parents job to know what their kids are doing and to keep them in line and on the right path.

If you talk to any successful African Canadian or American and ask how they got where they are today, I'm sure they'll all answer "hard work".

By the way, I really dislike the term "African-Canadian" or "African-American". If you were born in Canada....that just makes you Canadian. I don't go around saying I'm Scottish-Canadian. Where my ancestors came from is great information for the family tree project but I was born here and Canadian is what I am.

What concerns me now is what can of worms have they opened? If Muslim students begin struggling, do they open up a school that will focus more on their culture? I'd say they have that right now that the precedent has been set. Where will it end? Schools for gay and lesbian students? Schools for pregnant teens? And lets not forget the aboriginal kids.

Don't even get me started on Black History Month. I'm not anti-black, I just don't understand why one group of people should be singled out over others. Where's my White History Month. How about the Caucasian Pride Parade in downtown Toronto in the summer? The history of the black people in North America is well documented but how long do we have to cater to them and apologize for what our ancestors did? Hell, my ancestors didn't do anything to begin with.

Sorry, I'm getting off topic.

In the end, I truly hope the drop-out rate improves among the black students in Toronto but I honestly don't think this little experiment is the answer. It isn't even a band-aid on the real problem.

Clip of the Week - January 28/08

I don't know how I've forgotten to post these videos in the past but I finally remembered.

Now I can't say for sure if this guy is still doing the weather in Charlotte, North Carolina or if the drugs finally took their toll on him but he is by far the craziest weatherman I have ever seen.

His name is Mark Mathis and after you watch these clips you'll probably wonder if he forgets to take his medication on purpose.

Either way it makes for some very interesting moments.

Keep Your Computer Safe

I'm not a computer expert by any means. I'm self taught through trial and error and sometimes a lot of error but in the end it has all been for the best as I've learned a great deal.

I've also spent a lot of time surfing the web and making friends with others with a lot more experience than myself.

For those of you like me who might not have a clue on some things that can help keep your computer safe, clean and running well, here are a few things that you might want to consider.

Anti Virus Protection
This is key to any PC that you must have software installed that will protect your computer from nasty viruses and programs that can damage your computer or steal information.

My personal choice for AV software is from a company called Eset and it's called NOD32.
It works great, is one of the most highly rated programs and it's easy on your computer's resources so it won't slow you down. It scans your email as it is downloading for added protection and it has never failed me yet.

Kaspersky AntiVirus is also an excellent product but I never learned to like it. Another highly rated AV software is BitDefender.

Programs to avoid in my opinion are Norton AntiVirus and McAfee AntiVirus. They will clog up your computer and once they are installed it's damn near impossible to get all traces of them uninstalled from your computer when the time comes.

Firewall
No computer should be without some kind of a Firewall to block unwanted attempts to access your PC. If you are running Windows XP or Vista then it came with a very basic firewall and it's better than nothing but just barely. You would be wise to get a stand alone firewall to keep your system safe.

My choice is called Look 'n' Stop Firewall. It's simple yet very effective and does a tremendous job. A good firewall will help to block spyware, keyloggers and make your computer invisible to hackers.

Other good Firewall's include Outpost Firewall Pro and Zone Alarm Pro.

Anti-Spyware Software
Many people feel spyware is more dangerous than a virus. Spyware can appear on your computer if you don't take precautions or do regular scans. Spyware can steal your identity information, monitor your internet use and in many ways take over your computer without your permission or knowledge. Quite simply, spyware might be your worst enemy.

The software I have chosen to combat the problem of spyware are SpySweeper and Ad-Aware SE Pro. These are both excellent programs and when used properly will keep you free of any intrusions.

Privacy Software
Your online activities are not private. Surfing records, downloaded files and some identifying data is stored on your computer. Privacy software will keep your private information just that—private. It can also remove old, unused and unwanted information that will build up over time on your computer and eat up hard drive space.

I have two programs that I use on a regular basis (daily). The first one is absolutely free to download from the internet and is called CCleaner which is short fro Crap Cleaner. That's exactly what it does. It cleans all of the crap left behind off your computer. Go and download this one right now if you haven't already. The other program I use is Window Washer. This one will cost you money so if that's an issue then CCleaner will do a good enough job to keep you happy.

Anti-Spam
Take control of your E-mail Inbox and lock unwanted spam and malicious content out. Spam scams are here to stay, so fight back with a powerful spam filter.

Once again I have come to favour one program over all others and that is MailWasher Pro. This program lets you safely preview and delete bad email before it gets to your computer - never download another spam email to your computer again!

There are others similar but I have found this one to work best for me.

So there you have it, the basics to keeping your computer safe and free of troublesome trojans and spyware. A few preventative measures can keep your computer safe and running trouble free.

Down Under Madness

I've never been to Australia but I've known may people who have gone there on trips, for school and I know a few who have lived there for many many years.

Despite the fact that I've never stepped foot on the soil down under, as an educated man I know there are many good and not so good things about the country. Like any civilized land it is a country of mostly good people and a wonderful living environment. However, I also know that like here in Canada it has its seedy areas and dangers but certainly nothing worth warning visitors about.

Any traveler with half a brain knows that trouble can be found no matter where you go in the world, you just have to be smart about where you go and what you do. I certainly don't need a government agency warning me about such things.

That doesn't appear to be the case in Australia however as their government has released one of the dumbest travel advisories I have ever heard.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smart Traveller website warns of terrorism, dangerous winter driving, heavy snow, ice and wind chills, as well as tornadoes, earthquakes and forest fires in Canada.

It also lists Canada in its second safest category (Exercise Caution) with places such as Chile, South Korea and Latvia as being safer and with terrorism being the top concern.

What are these people smoking? "We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Canada because of the risk of terrorist attack," the website reads. Knock on wood and please correct me if I'm wrong but has there ever been a terrorist attack in Canada? Sure it could happen but it could happen in any country for that matter.

To warn travelers about Canadian tornado's or earthquakes would be akin to warning visitors to Australia about the chance of a Tsunami or Hurricane (Cyclone, or whatever they call it down there). When was the last time anyone was killed by an earthquake in Canada? Sure a tornado can pop up in a summer storm but it is a rare occasion at best. You're more likely to be attacked by a Dingo at the Toronto Metro Zoo.

The section on climate almost reads like a horror novel. "Heavy snowfalls and ice in the winter can make driving dangerous. The wind-chill factor can also create dangerously cold outdoor conditions. ... The province of British Columbia in western Canada is in an active earthquake zone. Alberta and British Columbia are also subject to avalanches. ... Tornadoes can occur in some areas of Canada between May and September. Bush and forest fires can occur any time in Canada."

Let me examine this statement a moment. I won't argue that we can get the odd heavy snowfall but for most parts of the country that only means a foot or two at most and the weather folks always give you plenty of warning. You can see much higher amounts in the mountains or on the East coast but odds are good if you've planned a trip to either of these places in the winter, you know this already. In my 40 years of living in Canada, I can't recall any storm in Ontario that has overly concerned me. My biggest fear was how long my back would last while shoveling.

It can get very cold and the wind chill at times can make things quite bitter but do you know what we Canadians do to combat this? We either don't go outside or we wear winter clothing which keeps you nice and toasty warm. If you're dumb enough to show up in Canada in January with a spring jacket and sandals then you probably deserve the frostbite you're going to get.

And then there's the talk of forest fires. Here's a tip...if you're walking through the Canadian wilderness and you see smoke, go in the opposite direction. Sure a forest fire can be very dangerous but honestly, how often do you hear of anyone being caught or killed in one. If you're in the wilderness then odds are you have a canoe or a pontoon plane. My advice would be to get in one or the other and haul your asses out of there.

The whole report is a disservice to both Canada and any Australians who might like to visit one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

There are dangers here just like anywhere. If I was to warn visitors or give advice to our Australian friends before they came to Canada, here's what I would suggest.

Between November and March I'd suggest you bring warm clothes or visit a mall when you get here and purchase some. If you're renting a vehicle, make sure you keep it gassed up and a keep a couple of blankets in the car. If by some stroke of bad luck you do happen to slide off the highway and get stuck, a full tank will allow you to keep the heat on and the blankets don't hurt either. I'm thinking if you're planning on doing some winter camping in the wilderness then you probably don't need my advice since you no doubt already know what to expect.

From March to November you can expect nice weather. In fact, when summer rolls around it can be hotter here than in Florida at times with temperatures reaching the mid 30's Celsius. Bring sunscreen, wear sandals and be prepared for both heat and rain. Pickpockets, muggings and other small crimes are no more likely to happen here than they are in any Australian city.

By the way, there is no warning for Canadians about Australia on Canada's Foreign Affairs website, except for an advisory to be wary of pickpockets and to avoid demonstrations because they could turn violent.

Does this mean if I go to Australia any time soon I should bring some riot gear just in case? I'm guessing no.

Clip of the Week January 21/08

If you're a football fan I really hope you were able to watch the Division Finals this past weekend because I have a strong feeling that the Super Bowl is going to be a snoozefest.

The undefeated Patriots and the underdog Giants will meet in this year's Super Bowl and after two great games on the weekend we must now prepare for a let down because it's my opinion that New England (who I don't like at all but have to give them the respect they deserve) will roll over Eli Manning and his New York team-mates.

It's going to be ugly.

In fact the Ontario Lottery Corporation may have predicted the outcome without even knowing when they produced this advertisement which my fellow Canadians have probably seen already. But it's still funny enough relive.

Florida Trip Journal 2007-2008

The following, for those who are interested, is a brief but lengthy log of my family's holiday vacation from the time we hit the road on the morning of December 14th to our return on January 9th. This will give you just a bit of an idea of what we did to celebrate the holiday season on the sunny and warm Florida Gulf Coast.

Day 1 - Friday December 14th
My mom, dad and I loaded my car and were on the road at 3:00 a.m. With one storm ending and another on the way we did our best to travel between them. For the first time in all my trips South I actually saw the sun in Pennsylvania. Light snow in New York and part way into Pennsylvania but then it turned much nicer. Lots of ice in the trees down to Harrisburg as well. We stopped driving around 5:30 p.m. and rested for the night in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. I was ready to see a bed.

Day 2 - Saturday December 15th
Up and on the road by 4am for another long day on the road. A little rain and heavy traffic at times but overall it wasn't a bad commute. I'm sorry ladies but I have come to the conclusion that the worst drivers on the roads are women. If it isn't the case, you certainly have plenty of fellow females who are adding some weight to the rumour. We arrived at Scott and Erin's at 5:20pm. Out for a quick supper at Outback Steakhouse...mmmm prime rib, and then home for an early night.

Day 3 - Sunday December 16th
I slept in late and it was a quiet day. Shopped at the WalMart, played cards and relaxed. Also kept an eye on the computer to try and get news on the big snow storm hitting back home. I'm glad to be in Florida but wondering what's happening at the house.

Days 4-10 - Monday Dec. 17th to Sunday Dec. 23rd
Mostly shopping during these days and relaxation in the evenings as we continued to prepare for Christmas. I've come to the conclusion that it's much easier to spend money rather than earn it...but I think we all knew that already. WalMart is like a second home to me now and the massive malls are almost as familiar. Went to have the car detailed and it looks like new all washed and waxed and the inside cleaned.

Day 11 - Monday Dec. 24th
Scott and I were up early and on the road to join the masses for the final pre-Christmas shopping day. We traveled up the road, over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and into Tampa where we found the International Plaza Mall which is a gigantic two level mall. It's an impressive place but most of the stores were well out of my price range. The Apple store was nice to visit though. Erin had to work today so it was just the four of us for our annual Christmas Eve supper at Outback Steakhouse. We used to eat at Ponderosa but sadly they no longer exist anymore to keep that tradition going. It was a quiet evening at home as we prepared for a busy Christmas Day.

Day 12 - Tuesday Dec. 25th
Up early for breakfast and then it was present opening time. It was a very good haul for all of us with lots of new toys including a new laptop for me, diamonds for mom, iPod and telescope for dad and two iPhones for Scott and Erin. We were spoiled as usual. It was then off to Erin's parents house for supper, more gift opening and a lot of laughs. Both sets of Erin's grandparents, mom and dad and sister Ashley were there. By the way it was in the 80's and sunny today...not what I'm used to for Christmas but I'm not complaining.

Day 13 - Wednesday Dec. 26th
Scott and I went golfing today at Stoneybrook Golf Club just down the street from the house. The good news was I played better than the last time I played that course but the bad news was I still didn't play great. Scott had a good round though. It was nice to get out on Boxing Day to play 18 holes on a warm day and I got to work on my tan a little bit. I was quite sore in the evening since I hadn't played in almost 3 months.

Day 14 - Thursday Dec. 27th
Most of the day was spent around the house relaxing. Late in the afternoon all five of us jumped in Scott's truck and headed for Tampa to watch the Montreal Canadiens play the Lightning at the Forum. It was a packed house with lots of Habs fans in attendance and of course we had our Montreal jerseys and hats to fit in and cheer our team on. Our seats were awesome and the Habs won 5-2. It was a fun night and worth the price of admission.

Day 15 - Friday Dec. 28th
More shopping on a very hot day. I actually got some tan this day as I spent time waiting for my parents to shop. It was a quiet day overall which is always nice.

Day 16 - Saturday Dec. 29th
Mom, Dad, Scott, Erin, Ashley and I hit the road for Tampa to spend the day shopping, or browsing as I would describe my involvement. It was a full day at the International Plaza and the place was very busy with lots of sales. Of course even the sale prices were more than I was willing to spend at this ritzy place. Supper was spent at The Cheesecake Factory which was very nice and very filling. The Tons of Fun Burger was truly more than a mouthful. It was a good day.

Day 17 - Sunday Dec. 30th
Another quiet day mostly spent around the house. Watched some football in the afternoon and then a couple of movies in the evening.

Day 18 - Monday Dec. 31st
It was an overcast day with scattered showers so our plans changed and we didn't do much. Did a little shopping with Mom, Dad and Scott. We had a very good lunch in Sarasota at Cheeburger Cheeburger. It was very filling and tasty. In the evening Erin's sister Ashley joined us for food, games, cards and champagne as we rang in the New Year 2008 together.

Day 19 - Tuesday January 1st
Other than a quick outing to Walmart with Scott it was a day spent at the house watching college football, playing games and eating lots of food on this first day of the new year. Erin's sister Ashley and her parents Lynette and David also spent the afternoon with us. It was a small but nice gathering.

Day 20 - Wednesday January 2nd
Slept in a bit but got up and booked a campsite online at Presqu'ile for mom and dad for this summer. It seems so far away right now. Out and about with ma and pa on a much cooler day as we visited the Outlet Mall at Ellenton and checked out a few other places. Home for supper and a relaxing evening.

Day 21 - Thursday January 3rd
Woke up to a very cold morning for Florida as the temperatures were just above freezing. Thankfully it wasn't expected to last more than a day or two. Scott, Mom, Dad and I headed for Myakka River State Park to check out the wildlife and be one with nature. The gators were scarce today thanks to the cold weather but plenty of varieties of birds. We also made our way down to Lido Beach by St. Armand's Circle. After supper at Red Lobster it was home to watch TV and play a few games on the Xbox 360 before calling it a night.

Day 22 - Friday January 4th
Woke up feeling a little ill today so I decided to spend a quiet day resting around the house and watching some movies. It is expected to be a busy day tomorrow for mom and dad's 45th wedding anniversary party here.

Day 23 - Saturday January 5th
This was a busy day as mom and dad celebrated their 45th anniversary today. I took mom and dad out for a little light shopping while Scott and Erin got things ready at the house. Upon our return we were joined by the Hinman's, Ashley and Grandma Lusk. We had a delicious turkey dinner, presents were given and emails from friends back home were read. Mom and Dad also received a letter personally signed by the Prime Minister and another from the Premier of Ontario congratulating them. After supper we played some games and then relaxed. It was a good day. Of course dad and I also kept an eye on the World Junior Hockey Gold Medal game which Canada won. They beat Sweden in overtime for their fourth gold in a row.

Day 24 - Sunday January 6th
Another day of relaxation mostly. Mom, Dad and I went up I-75 to the Ellenton Outlet Mall for a quick visit and then to lunch before returning home. Spent the afternoon playing games on the Xbox 360 with Scott and then a quiet evening as we get prepared for the trip home.

Day 25 - Monday January 7th
Up fairly early and started to get ready to leave as we're expecting to hit the road very early tomorrow. We had a lot of stuff to pack and we managed to get a lot of it in the trunk of my car. Safe to say the load won't shift any as it is packed tight. Scott and Erin worked today so the folks and I did some last minute running around before coming home, having supper and calling it an early night.

Day 26 - Tuesday January 8th
Up at 3:00am, finished packing the car, said our goodbyes to Scott and Erin and on the road by 3:45am. Dad and I shared the driving duties as usual and the trip went well overall. Traffic was OK for the most part until we got up around Richmond, Virginia in time for rush hour at 5:00pm. The only problem occurred on I-275 when a dump truck went flying past us and kicked up a rock which hit the windshield and cracked it on the drives side. I was quite angry as you might imagine. The crack spread about 8-10 inches before it stopped. We decided to get off the road and grabbed a motel in Fredericksburg, Virginia as we figured 15 hours driving was enough for day one. The temperature was very warm and mostly dry the whole way which was nice.

Day 27 - Wednesday January 9th
It was another early morning as we were up and on the road by 5:00am. It was a long day with the some rain to start and then sunshine and high winds the rest of the way. We saw several transport trailers and one fifth wheel camper that had been blown over by the winds. We lost a little time in Wilkes-Bare, Pennsylvania as we took an off ramp to get gas that didn't have an on ramp but thanks to my GPS we were able to go cross country a bit and back on to I-81. We also had a delay at the Ivy Lee bridges at the Thousand Islands. Due to the very strong winds the transports were not being allowed over and they were only letting vehicles over in one direction at a time. We finally make it to the house and got the car unpacked and relaxed.

Despite the cooler weather it was nice to be home again but I do miss the heat and weather of Florida already. It was a great trip and I only hope the warm weather returns to Canada sooner rather than later. I should also thank my employer for allowing me the time off. Luckily it was a slow time at work so I wasn't missed too badly.

And a reminder you can check out more photos from the trip by clicking Bundy's Photos in the right column.