"Waiting On The World To Change"

Inspired by Amber's question about the lyrics' meaning(s), I've decided to post a response to the hit John Mayer single, whose name you can read in the title.

I dunno. I prefer to think that if you want the world to change, you have to work to help make it happen. It's simple thermodynamics (if there is such a thing): a system left to itself will fall into disorder.

Beyond that fact, I believe in the existence of evil, and I generally don't have faith in the human race as a whole. So a strategy of waiting for change isn't enough for me to be comfortable with. It seems like a defeatist attitude, even if it's warranted. Believing that change is impossible is never going to make anything better.

One last thought: the last point the song makes is that one day we're going to be in charge of the world. My question is, will that by default make the world change for the better? Not if we still think it's impossible.

Thanks again, Amber!

-Bernier

"Easter Monday"

Since it’s that time of year again, I’ll share my thoughts on the day that follows Easter.

I’ve always wondered why this day is even mentioned on the calendar. Nothing particularly significant happened in the Biblical account of the first Easter. And so far as I know, nothing historically important has taken place on the day following Easter in any given year. Why then is it mentioned? Why aren’t Easter Tuesday and Wednesday mentioned as well?

Then there’s the notion of making Easter Monday a holiday. I’ve never understood this either. Good Friday is a holiday. It’s a day off. It makes sense to me, both from the Christian story and from the standpoint of strategic calendarship. (I’m pretty sure I just invented a new word. Perhaps once I decide what it means, I’ll blog about it. But most likely not.) You could say Easter Sunday is a holiday. This makes sense from the Christian story as well. Maybe because the day falls on a natural day-off, maybe they felt bad and decided to make Monday a day off. I get that, but not really.

Where else is there a 4-day weekend throughout the year? The only other time two holidays come so close together are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. And they’re one week apart. So I don’t really get what the point would be in having two holidays in such close proximity. Especially with holidays whose dates change every year. A bigger peeve for me is that it’s only a government holiday (so far as I know). Why is that the case? Why should only government employees get to enjoy this imaginary holiday? Don’t make me use the discrimination card. I really hate doing that.

Throughout high school, I’d go to class on Easter Monday, and think of all my friends in public schools who got the day off in addition to Good Friday. I was a tad jealous, and even pondered why they would get it off when we in a private Christian high school would not. I never had an answer. But it never really bothered me. I figured we had enough random days off throughout the year falling on random dates that we would still be OK.

Hopefully someday I’ll get some of them answered. But if not, that’s just fine too.

-Bernier

It's Been A Week

It has come to my attention that I haven't updated my blog since last Saturday. That means I've gone a full week with no activity. And I hardly even noticed until just now, so I figured I'd write something.

I wonder why I've gone this long without updating. Perhaps it's because I know That Guy is going to critique each post thoroughly and mercilessly shortly after they go up. Perhaps it's because I wrote lots in the beginning, and am now entitled to take a break. Perhaps it's because I realize that only 2 people (that I'm aware of) read this. Perhaps it's because my life and the world both got uninteresting at the same time. Perhaps it's because of the overwhelming disapproval this blog receives from my friends. Or perhaps I simply forgot to write something. I suppose I can only speculate.

I really don't have anything to say right now. I just had to write something so as to avoid going silent for too long. That just wouldn't be how I roll.

And kudos to Amber-Lee and Matt - the aforementioned "2 people".

-Bernier

Back When I Was Young...

Something I’ve thought about recently. Back in grade 6, my family went on a cruise in the Caribbean. Being 11 years old at the time, I spent a lot of time involved in the “Camp Carnival” activities. These activities took place all over the ship, doing all manner of things. Often we’d all branch off to do some sort of search/scavenger hunt, scouring the boat. At the time, I never thought anything of any of it. Now that 7 years have passed and I recall that week at sea, I’m kind of surprised I was ever allowed to do what I did.

Here I was, 11 1/2 years old. In a foreign “country”, having never traveled before, wandering around a giant boat that has 14 floors (whoops, their called ‘decks’ on a sea-faring vessel such as a cruise ship). There are some 3-4 thousand people from all over the world on it. We’re meeting in locations all over the ship, with nothing to get there but a small color-coded map. Add to this the fact that I’m responsible for the supervision of my two younger siblings. Plus, it is after all a ship. There are wide-open decks and a lot of open air between the deck up top and the deep ocean below.

With all this going, I’m not quite sure why my parents allowed me to run around as freely as I did. Maybe it’s partly because this was still 7 months before the West knew what terror was. With all the unfamiliarity, and being only 11, I probably had no business being left to myself that long. I mean, my brother is about to turn 14. There is no way in heck I would allow him to run around freely on the ship, nor expect him to figure out where everything is and be able to get there from any given location.

Still, when I look back, I know that for myself, there was no problem whatsoever with me wandering around alone. I was fully capable of finding every room and knowing how to get there. Good grief, I knew the entire ship after only the third day on board! Maybe that was the adventurous/explorer side of me. Maybe it was the independence/responsibility that comes from being the oldest child. Maybe I was too carefree for my own good, and it didn’t come back to bite me. Or maybe I’m wrong about my brother. Who knows? All I know is, had I been the parent on the trip, I doubt I would have allowed so much freedom at such a young age.

-Bernier

Something a Guy Just Shouldn't Say

Note: I cannot independently verify the accuracy of this post. But I will tell it like it's truth regardless.

For those who don't know, Tony Romo is the All-Pro quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. His girlfriend happens to be Jessica Simpson. Now Jessica, allegedly, is planning to release a country album sometime this year (what has this world come to?). So naturally, she'd like to try out some of her tunes on her boyfriend. So around a romantic dinner, they listen to her tracks. Tony, being the good boyfriend, says he likes it. He ever goes so far as to say that her music sounds like Carrie Underwood.

Now that's a pretty stellar compliment! I mean, I personally wouldn't want to be told that, but I imagine any aspiring young female musician would consider if the highest form of flattery to be told she sounds like the reigning queen of country music! There's just one problem: Carrie Underwood happens to be Tony Romo's ex-girlfriend! Needless to say, Jessica wasn't too happy to hear that from him. We'll see what comes of it. Personally, I think Tony can look forward to a song in honour of his blunder somewhere on Jessica's upcoming album. Seriously, that was something a guy just shouldn't say. I thought I'd share it with you. And again, at this time I don't know if that's truth or tabloid. Keep your ears open.

As a post script, I don't know if anyone has noticed or not, but in Carrie's video for All-American Girl, her football-stud sweetheart's jersey looks an AWFUL lot like the one Tom Brady of the New England Patriots wears. Same number, similar colours. (Shrug) think about it.

-Bernier

Ban Ki-moon

I'd like to share with you something that has upset me. For those who don't know, a gunmen walked into a Jewish Seminary in Jerusalem and began firing on students, much like we've seen at Columbine, Dawson College, Virginia Tech University, Northern Illinois University, and elsewhere. (This is upsetting enough, but I will focus on something else that bothers me.) In response to the attack, leaders all over the world have condemned the attack. And good for them. Then there is the response from the Secretary-General of the United Nations - the top administrative official in the world. His name is Ban Ki-moon. This was the statement released on his behalf:

"The secretary-general is deeply concerned at the potential for continued acts of violence and terrorism to undermine the political process, which he believes must be pursued to achieve a secure and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-state solution."*

I have no doubt in my mind that the Sec-Gen is sincerely concerned. But play close attention to where his concern lies. He's concerned about the violence and terrorism because it puts yet another stumbling block along the road to peace in Israel/Palestine. But that seems to be where his concern ends. His concern is not for the safety of the people in Jerusalem. His concern is not for the fact that Anti-Semitism is alive and well. (Remember, it was a Jewish Seminary that was targeted, as opposed to a public place such as a shopping mall.) He does not extend any condolences to the family, friends, and classmates of the victims.

Instead, he expresses remorse that the political process has been set back. He's disappointed that a tricky situation has become more difficult. He should be. But more than that, he should be appalled that a gunman would walk into a Seminary and target totally innocent civilians who were studying peacefully. And if we want to take this farther, he should be mentioning that the attack was tantamount to attempted genocide, as the attack was strictly against Jews.

But he doesn't do any such thing. When other world leaders are condemning the attack and calling it "vicious", "barbaric", and "appalling", the man at the top does nothing of the sort. He does not issue one word of condemnation. Not one word of disapproval in the actions of the killers. Shame on him. Look at the statement again. Half the statement is simply expressing his political opinion about the Israel-Palestine conflict. He barely even acknowledges the atrocity that took place. Again, shame on him.

As a concerned global citizen, I am disappointed in his apathy toward a humanitarian issue. As someone who loves the nation of Israel, and cares deeply about Jews, I am appalled and offended by the racist indifference Ban Ki-moon exhibits. Once more I say, shame on him.

-Bernier

* http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7282567.stm

Monetary Gratuities

Tipping. Something so simple, yet something so controversial. Well ok, I’m probably the only one who finds this controversial. And I must say, I didn’t realize how unconventional my opinion was until I started talking about it with friends and had them look at me sideways like I had 2 heads.

So anyways, I personally don’t believe tipping should be necessary. Almost anywhere. I am of the opinion that a server’s job is to serve. Their job is to make sure I am looked after. And while I certainly appreciate the service, at the end of the day that is their JOB. It’s what they’re expected paid to do. If I feel like offering them a small extra sum because of outstanding service, I will do so. But for normal service which is expected by every patron, wherever they go to eat, I don’t feel I should be expected to tip.
That said, there are places where refusing to tip will all but get you expelled. Like fancy restaurants and when in other countries. In such instances, I don’t hesitate to tip. But I don’t go overboard either.

Another part of my reluctance to tip is due to the nature of my own job. My job is Stock Coordinator at Bombay, a home furniture store. Under normal business conditions, my job is primarily to assemble furniture, place it on the floor, receive shipments, maintain the back room, assist customers in receiving their merchandise, and help out on the sales floor. When customers come to pick up furniture they’ve purchased or ordered, I assist them in getting the box(es) to, and sometimes in, their vehicles. I do this because it’s a) good customer service, and b) part of my job. Having worked at Bombay for 6 months now, I have loaded over 150 vehicles with furniture. Sometimes in strong wind, sometimes in rain/snow, sometimes with heavy loads, sometimes getting cuts and scrapes in the process. In the course of these 6 months and counting, I have received a grand total of $0.00 in tips from appreciative customers. Why? Because this is my job. It’s what I’m expected to do. So with this as my background experience, it is difficult for me to understand the necessity or obligation to tip a server simply for serving.

Recently, in the face of mounting opposition, I have begun tipping regularly, though not up to some people’s standards, and not out of gratitude. My strategy now is basically to round up to the next dollar. To be 100% real, it’s not for the service, it’s so everyone with me at the time can shut the heck up. That’s my brutal honesty for today.

Should anyone feel so inclined, I welcome feedback, even debate, on this issue. I know very well that not everyone agrees with me on this topic.

-Bernier

Letter To Mike Huckabee

For those who don't know, I have a huge interest in American politics. In the current presidential race, I was a supporter of Republican Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas. He announced yesterday that he was dropping out of the race, now that Senator John McCain has clinched the Republican nomination. I decided to send him an e-mail. Here it is:


Governor Huckabee,

My name is Josh Bernier, I am 18 years old and reside in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I have been a fan of yours ever since you were profiled by New Man magazine. Since that magazine was released, I have followed your campaign almost religiously. Seeing you in the race, knowing where you stood on social issues and your record as governor, gave me someone to genuinely cheer for during this campaign season. Both as a follower of Jesus Christ, and as a concerned world citizen.

Now that the race has come to an end, I sit here and look back over the past months, and I am so grateful for how far you've come in this contest. I recall watching in the fall and being annoyed that CNN never mentioned you or seemed to include you in their polls. I remember pondering the potential that an endorsement from Chuck Norris could bring. I remember watching excitedly as you became a "first-tier" candidate. I recall shouting for joy when, against all odds it seemed, you took Iowa in convincing fashion. I recall getting your e-mails asking for contributions and wanting to help but, without a home state, could not do so. But beyond that, I remember always being proud of you for where you stood on issues, and your ability to defend your record unashamedly. I always appreciated your unwillingness to run attack ads. This showed strength and integrity, and it helped allow me to be proud to tell my friends and colleagues, "I support Mike Huckabee."

I only wish I was an American citizen, and therein could've helped out in more substantial ways. But being a Canadian who knows that what happens in America has repercussions for the entire world, I was hoping that faith and optimism would be enough. Oh well, not this time.

I hope to see you again in 4 years, unless Sen. McCain were to run for a second term as president. Thank you for all you've done and tried to do for America. Know that your fan base extends beyond the 49th parallel. I pray that you recover and reflect during the next few days, and that you continue to work to bring about real change in the world. God bless!

-Bernier

Wings Comparison #1

This entry will be my opinion of the wings at the Smitty's Lounge, at how they compare to the wings of the Pony Corral.

Comparison #1: PC's Teriyaki vs. Smitty's Teriyaki
No contest here. Hand's down my vote goes for Pony Corral. Much better all-round teriyaki taste.

Comparison #2: PC's "Suicide" vs. Smitty's "Killer"
This one was close. I'm gonna go with a tie on the spicy factor. Both flavors leave the lips burning pretty good. I give them both points. As far as taste goes, slight edge in favor of Suicide. Also, the Killer sauce was primarily chilis, like those you'd put on pizza. So props to Pony Corral for having a more unique sauce.

Another observation: the wings at Pony Corral have more breading, and therefore more mass. There is much more wing to each wing. Additionally, PC goes heavier on the sauce, for which I give them credit.

Bottom Line: If I'm served wings, I'll eat 'em and I'll enjoy 'em. With that said, Smitty's just doesn't measure up to the Pony Corral. I do give them points for the spiciness of their "Killer" wings, and also for having a 39 cent/wing deal on Tuesdays and Thursdays to match the PC. But given the choice, I'll take the Pony Corral anyday.
So the score stands at Pony Corral : 1 Challengers : 0. I'll have another comparison for you another time.

-Bernier

Heart Disease

Something I’ve thought about a bit:
I keep hearing on commercials, ads, and medical brochures that the leading cause of death in Canada is from Heart Disease. This should inspire us to do a couple of things.
1) We should try to raise awareness about the disease, and even been moved to help canvass or contribute to the fight in some other way.
2) We should take a moment to reflect on just how good we have it in our society.

Think about it; where else in the world is the standard of living so high that something like heart disease tops the list?
- Our health care system is strong enough that AIDS and other epidemics are not the leader.
- Our streets are safe enough that violent crime isn’t the leader.
- Our water quality is high enough that water-borne illnesses don’t lead the way.
- Our society is wealthy enough that poverty-related problems aren’t the leading case.
- Our government is politically stable enough to ensure that rebellion, civil war, and humanitarian crises don’t lead the way.
- Our life expectancy is so high that heart disease even has an opportunity to be the leading cause.

According to the CIA World Factbook of 2007, Canada’s average life expectancy tops 80 years*. This is the highest category the Factbook affords. Only a handful of countries currently achieve this level, most notably Sweden, France, Switzerland, Japan, and Australia. Clearly we are in the very elite of the world when it comes to life expectancy.

Since 83% (5 out of 6) of deaths resulting from coronary heart disease occur in people over the age of 65**, coupled with an aging population, our society is prime for this being the leading cause of death.

The next time you hear the statistic in the news or on some sort of bulletin, take a moment to pray for those who suffer and die from heart disease. But before you say Amen, make sure you thank God that you don’t live in a country where they can only DREAM that heart disease was their leading cause of death.

-Bernier

* https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html
** http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4726

My Sister Got Her Learner's

Oh. No.

Actually, it probably shouldn't be too bad. I've never seen her drive, so I can't say she'll be terrible at it. But this is going to change things around here, and that is something I'm not really looking forward to. Like what's going to happen when there's 3-4 of us going to a restaurant, and Laura gets to drive? Even with Dad sitting beside her, I dunno...

I guess it's not gonna be so bad just yet. But in 9+ months, when she goes for her road test and gets her license to drive by herself, THEN where will I be? Suddenly SHE'LL be taking the Tribute all over the place to hang out with her friends. Suddenly SHE'LL be offering people rides just because she feels like driving. And, heaven forbid, she may suddenly start getting to drive and make ME sit in the passenger seat! This is not good. I don't approve. You know, nobody ever thinks about how this affects the older sibling, do they? Those are all MY priveleges for being born first and being responsible first.

Alright, I'm probably being over-selfish about this. I guess she should have a shot at independence too. Looks like I may have to get used to bumming rides again. Oh well. I'll enjoy these next 9 months while I can. Who knows? This may just inspire me enough to buy my own car! My friends will be happy about that.

-Bernier