Can we just talk about Veterans for a second?

Now, I am by no means a military supporter - in fact, I strongly oppose Canada's involvement in nearly every war they've been involved in, including out military presence in Afghanistan. However; I, for one, am thoroughly disappointed with our federal government at the moment, and the reason is predominantly military related.

It's not often that I pick up three newspapers, go to the local coffee shop, read all three and look for blog topics - in fact, this is the first time I've done it (it's fun, btw, you should give it a try). Unfortunately, today was the day I decided to try it. My first paper was the Toronto Star. I didn't get passed the first page before outrage struck.

The headline reads 'This Must Stop.'

Intriguing, to say the least. Well, to me, it is. Was. Whatever. The point is. I started reading the article. Apparently, the Canadian government would prefer our soldiers dead to injured - as paying out disability is more costly than the one time payment they give to families of the deceased (rest in peace, god bless, and all of that). According to this article, under the new system, injured soldiers are paid a $250,000 lump sum, rather than the way it was done previously, with a $4000 per month settlement. Let me break this down real quick. Let's say that a soldier lives for 40 years after that lump sum is paid. Before this new system, they'd have been paid (approximately) $1,920,000, rather than the lump of $250,000. That's nearly eight times the amount they're currently getting. While the nearly 2 million dollar sum I've just illustrated is quite a lot of money, let me point out that without these soldiers, injured and otherwise, our country would be very different.

We would not have helped in either of the world wars - we would not have gained the reputation of a force to be reckoned with. We would not have patriated from Britain. We would not have any of the freedoms we now hold dear.

How strange that our Conservative Government sees penny pinching as more important than any of that. Every single soldier is important - every single one deserves compensation.

Sorry, every single one deserves proper compensation. I don't know about you, but I'll be writing a letter to my MP this week - and I don't even have any soldiers in my immediate family.

Some things are more important than money. This is one of them.

Can we just talk about Michaëlle Jean for a second?

If you don't know who this is, you should leave. Just kidding, don't leave. But seriously, pick up a newspaper once in a while. This is Michaëlle Jean. She is the current-and-soon-to-be-former governor general of Canada. Her term (are they called terms?) ends on October 11. So here's the deal. While most people aspire to be cabinet ministers, or even the prime minister, I personally aspire to be Michaëlle Jean - or rather, the Governor General. Seriously, she's appointed by the QUEEN. THE QUEEN! I love the queen, but that's tomorrow's blog.

Alright, so here's the thing about Michaëlle Jean. Her big thing, over the past five years, has been stopping, and preventing, violence against women.

Her other goal? Break the "Two Solitudes" within this country - her words, not mine. This, of course, refers to the -phones. Anglophones and Francophones - English speaking and French speaking Canadians -but also refers to general relations between all groups (racial, cultural, gender, and linguistic). Essentially, Jean wanted a unified Canada, and while that wasn't accomplished during her stay as our Governor General, I think she's done a wonderful job in representing Canada.

One example of her excellent representation; Just this year, after the earthquake in Haiti, in which she lost a good friend, the godmother of her daughter, Jean made a speech, completely in tears and partly in Haitian Creole, thanking the cabinet for moving quickly, and the Canadian Media for extensive coverage. Personally, I think this show of emotion exemplifies exactly what we need in our leaders, and I am proud to be a Canadian under the capable 'rule' of the queen and Jean as a designate.

From here, Jean will be appointed as special envoy to Haiti for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, with an aim to fight poverty and illiteracy and raise international funds. She's a beautiful woman with a big heart and a mind for politics.

I, for one, will miss Michaëlle Jean, though I am fond of David Lloyd Johnston... but that's another blog, as well.

Can we just talk about Pixar for a second?

This is andy, from Toy Story 3. I saw it on Saturday, and I have to say, it's a great film. Now, here's the thing that bothers me about it.

Dude, seriously, isn't Andy hot? Because I honestly saw him and was like "Not only is he going away to school, but dude got fiiiine" (because I talk like that.)

So this brought me to thinking about Pixar.

They seriously don't mess around. You don't often see a bad Pixar film, and if you do it's usually because of personal preference rather than it actually being bad. They've got this thing down; they can make anything relative. Toys, Bugs, Cars... it doesn't matter what they're taking - Pixar can just make things talk, give them wonderfully developed characters, and make us love them.

Now they've started doing things in 3D. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. The stuffed bear in this film looked like he was actually fluffy enough to touch and cuddle with, and I've never felt so close to Woody and Buzz (who still managed character development even in this, the third film!)

All in all, if you've not seen this film yet (Chris!) you really need to. Long live Pixar!

P.s. I cried for the whole last half hour.

Can we just talk about mullets for a second?

Okay, now.. i'm pretty judgmental, and by no means perfect, but there are some things that are just inexcusable.

ONE OF THESE THINGS IS WHAT WE CALL A MULLET.

business up front, party in the back? No thanks. No parties here, thanks, unless they're full fledged ones.

Honestly, today alone I think I saw three mullets when I was at work. One of them asked for my number! Another was a woman!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH PEOPLE, IT ISN'T THE (whatever era the mullet was popular in) ANYMORE!

Seriously, what is this, Wayne's World? Get a hair cut.

Can we just talk about HST for a second?

So today, we started getting taxed a bit more in Ontario. They're calling it HST - which stands for the 'Harmonized Sales Tax'

Right.

So, I work at a grocery store (the epicentre of success, I am) and I know a thing or two about HST. Seriously, I know like two things. First, gas. Gas goes up in price. Big fucking shock there, guys. You need gas, the Government needs money, therefore the government wants to earn money on gas. Super. Now that that's out of the way...

For those of you, like me, who don't buy much gas, you're def wondering what stuff is going to affect you. Well, my friends, I can help you out there! Some interesting tidbits; bottled water. Used to be pst, now it's hst.

Good talk.

But, um... beyond how it's going to affect my grocery bill, there's the way it affects our national (provincial?) identity. So like I say, I work in a grocery store (Food Basics, specifically). Up until now, we've had a discount on provincial sales tax for natives.

Now, personally, I don't agree with exemptions, or certain aspects the exemptions, at least, but I'm not okay with this.

What they're doing is, they're saying there are no exemptions for July and August. So all summer, natives will be paying both parts of HST, 13%. However, starting September first, they will pay reduced HST, which is the same as paying just GST yesterday (5%). It's ridiculous; just a ploy to make more money in the short run.

Which brings me to my point; They're going to separate it for some things, but not all. Stuff like Children's clothing, that sort of thing - stuff that's always just been GST, will now be reduced HST, which is so stupid because how harmonized is it if it's still just able to be split?

In conclusion, HST is just a way for the government to charge us more and make us feel like we're spending less. "It's better because now we're only paying one!" the average layman will say. Wrong. They just worded it that way to make you think they're helping, while they get more money by charging more for gas, flights, and other services.

Basically, the government's like "OMG guyz, can we has more money of yourz? Happy Canada Day!"

Sucks that we just sort of have to sit around and take it, doesn't it?

Can we just talk about blogging for a second?

I don't know much about blogging. I mean, I get it's general concept, but really I know nothing of it. Here's the thing; I'm not that interesting. I mean, sure, I'm mildly hilarious, and yes, I have ridiculous opinions that I'm not afraid to voice in person, never mind on the internet.

Now, I don't have a problem with blogging, I just don't really know where to begin. I reckon this is a good spot.

Why am I doing this?

Good question, valued reader. (seriously. You're valued, don't you forget it)

Well, I'm doing this because I firmly believe that everyone has something to share. Chris, my good friend, suggested that I begin blog writing after I mocked someone else for doing it, and so I have decided to take his advice and give it a go. Chris is the type of guy who shares his gifts with the world, which I find both inspiring and amazing. Honestly, I'm jealous that he can bring joy to so many people through performance and laughter. He's brilliant.

But I digress. I'm doing this because I figure that if I can make one person laugh every day with the ridiculousness that will be this blog, then I'll have shared something with the world (sappy sappy sappy). I also think that this is a good way to vent. And hey, if I don't have to repeat the same story eight times to eight different friends, then that's just an added bonus, isn't it?

Anyway. Those, so far, are my thoughts on blogging.

And so, along with HST, comes my blog into the world.