I Don't Like Bella Swan But I Like The Books!

So I don't know if you know anything about this Twilight craze. I'll briefly explain (SPOILER ALERT!!!!). It is a teen fiction series about a girl, Bella Swan, that falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen. I work with books and I wanted to know what was so great about this one. I read the first book in the series, Twilight. I thought it was okay. I actually thought it was kinda of boring. Not a lot happened until the end. In fact, I noticed the movie added stuff (other vampires killing man on boat) to make it interesting enough for film (Hollywood). But I liked it enough that I read the second, New Moon. I just finished it and I thought this one was much better, I was really into it and read it really fast.

This was when I understood it. It is a fantasy about true love. That is why girls and women love it so much (or they love Edward so much - *gag*). But now this doesn't explain why girls as young as eight like the book. Do they really understand it or just read its 'cause its popular?

Anyways, that's for another rant. I want to talk about how much I don't like the main character, Bella, (the character, not the actress). In New Moon, Bella and Edward broke up. Then for like 90% of the book she befriends Jacob. Only she was totally using him and leading him on. She held his hand, they held each other, but she thought of him as only a friend. Then at the end of the book, Edward comes back and it was like "Thanks a lot Jacob but Edward (your mortal enemy) is back, so f-off". I thought this was very cruel. He was younger than her and totally in love with her. She was so selfish.

I am not the only one that thinks the main character is horrible (see Deconstructing Bella Swan). People think she is whiny, dependent, a bad role model, and the series is sexist. I just think that she is not a relatable character. I don't like her personality, the way she talks or acts.

There are people who hate the whole series altogether. In my opinion, they only hate is because it is so popular (or because they just don't like vampires). That's not always a good enough reason to hate something. They just say that because they don't want to conform.

The sad thing . . . even though these books pissed me off so much, I'm still going to read Eclipse.

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The Meaning of Canadian Thanksgiving

I realized the other day that I knew more about the history of American Thanksgiving then the Canadian version. So I looked it up on wiki.

Apparently, the reason for giving thanks changed throughout the years depending on what the event was at the time. It started with Martin Frobisher who celebrated safely returning home after exploring the Pacific Ocean. At the same time, Samuel de Champlain arrived with French settlers and they gave thanks for their own reasons. Later, people gave thanks after various wars ended. But mainly Thanksgiving is a time for people to give thanks at the end of the harvest season. Canadian Parliament defines it as . . . . "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October".


So now I know. I used to celebrate Thanksgiving as just "Turkey Day" because I didn't like that people celebrated the pilgrims taking away land from the First Nations people (I don't think that's something we should be proud of and I think it's offensive to indigenous people). But now I know that it isn't so much about that. Thanksgiving is really just a time to be thankful for our fortunes, family, and health. I've been told that my whole life ... I'm just actually realizing it now.


Happy Thanksgiving.

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Legalize Marijuana, Criminalize Alcohol

There is a lot of controversy about weed being legalized. I believe it should be legalized. While I am not a fan of how our government spends tax payers' money, they could earn a lot of revenue by collecting taxes on sales of marijuana. The country will also save a lot of money because the police don't have to waste their time filling out paperwork just because someone smoked a joint. And I believe that decriminalizing weed would make it less attractive to teens that smoke it to rebel against authorities.

I do think, however, that there should be restrictions, such as a maximum amount you can carry, no smoking in public, age limit, laws against driving under the influence (generally, laws similar to those of alcohol).

When you compare the effects of alcohol to marijuana, I think that alcohol can impair your judgement more than an equivalent amount of weed. What I mean is that I think that people under the influence of weed are more aware/under control compared to people that have been drinking.

Most people that smoke weed become very calm and peaceful. They rarely want to cause mischief and can be easily entertained with mundane things. Whereas drinkers are ready to party and cause shit. Drinkers are also more likely to become angry and violent and want to drive places.

When it comes to health, I don't think pot makes you dumb. It can have negative long term effects if the substance is abused, but so can drinking.

I think a room full of stoned people are less likely to do something illegal than a room full of drunk people. Therefore, I think the world would be a better place if marijuana was legalized and alcohol was criminalized. Not that I want booze to be banned.

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Brag or Bitch About Your Grades

This post is your chance to tell everyone how well (or not so well) you did this semester. Don't be shy. I want to know how you did. I myself have some bragging and bitching to do.

So make a comment and let everything out! I am sure a lot of people with sympathize with any problems you had. And I do not mind listening to bragging as I have been known to do that myself.

Bookmark this post to follow the discussion.

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Jury Duty? Are you kidding me?!!!

I got jury duty! I can't believe it. I received a letter at the end of January with a date, time and location for the selection process. But I'm in school and don't have time for this bull that can take weeks (it could blow my whole semester).

So I called the juror office and they said that they didn't know that I was a student and they would postpone the date. I got a call a couple of days ago . . . it was extended until June (which falls in the beginning of my summer break).

That may sound fine but now my problem is that I need the summer to work my ass off so I can pay back loans and save for the fall semester. I don't think they'll care about that though. And even if I was lucky and it was postponed until after my schooling, I still need to work my ass off to pay back the rest of my loans before serious interest kicks in.

So I'm screwed. I'm relieved that I don't have to do it during school but I still need to work in between. I know it's my duty but it f***ing sucks! They have made me so mad by putting me through all of this worrying. If it had happened at a good time I would have loved the experience.

So I have been researching some ways to get out of it. It should already help that I'm going to be in a miserable mood. I heard that you should act really smart, stubborn, over confident, unstable and you should jump to conclusions and make assumptions.

You must think I am an ass for bitching about it like this, it has just come at the worst time.
Has anyone else had an experience with jury duty? Do you know of any ideas to get out of it (I wont do anything drastic, I can be pretty shy)?

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Buy a Reusable Bag!

What's the deal with reusable bags?

With concerns today about the effects of global warming and maintaining a green lifestyle, reusable bags are becoming a hit. It takes up to 1,000 or more years for plastic bags to biodegrade in landfills. Yes, plastic bags are (eventually) biodegradable. However, as oil-based bags bio-degrade, they break down into smaller, more toxic polymers which contaminate soil and waterways that enter the food chain.

Why should we use them?

They are stronger than plastic bags and can hold more. They are more durable and easier to carry. I walk to and from the grocery store, so reusable bags have made a big difference. Also, the store where I shop charges 5 cents for every bag, so I save money too.

What is my opinion on reusable bags?

I love them. I think they are great. They are better for the environment and have a lot of other benefits. I use them all of the time (as much as I can). I own about a dozen of them, in all different shapes, designs and sizes.

And if you don't like them, you'll have to get used to them. Grocery stores in Canada, such as Loblaws, is going to start charging for their plastic bags, and some are already phasing them out completely.

There are so many different bags to choose from!

Most of the reusable bags I have seen cost $1.99. My favourite ones are the LCBO, P.C., and Indigo bags. Now when I look for reusable bags I also look for style. I don't like the ones that Walmart sells because they look really cheap.

The LCBO bags are plastic and they are much bigger so they are good for protecting my purchases in the winter. The Indigo ones are great because they have flat bottoms and a little zipper pocket on the inside.

Anyways, I do not think I would buy a reusable bag for more then a couple of bucks unless I really like it.

It sounds like reusable bags are the perfect solution!

Not necessarily. There are some purposes that plastic bags are much better for. For example, it is great as a lunchbag that can be thrown out when you're done with it, so you don't have to carry it around everywhere. Also, sometimes you don't know when you are going to do some shopping. Reusable bags basically should be carried at all times and that isn't always convienient.

What does the future hold?

It makes me happy when I see more and more people carrying reusable bags, it shows that more people are starting to care about the enviroment. And I think that even small efforts like these promise a healthier planet to come.

Final Thought

Reusable bags are not just good for the enviroment, they save money, protect your purchases, and they make it easier to carry things.

You can help the environment too! Next time you are out shopping, pick up a couple of reusable bags and bring them when ever you go out. They'll grow on you.

Resources

ReusableBags.ca

ecoACTION

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Warning Labels on Plus-Sized Clothing?

A professor in the UK argues that clothing labels, on sizes 16 and up, should include obesity help line numbers. This is intended to help curb the high rate of obesity in the UK that is consuming their health care resources and government spending. Here is the article, found on wptz.com.

U.K. Professor Wants Government To Fight Obesity

"A leading professor in the U.K. said that obese people should be warned about the health risks of their weight when buying clothes, according to The Daily Mail.

Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said that oversized clothing should have obesity help line numbers sewn on them to try to reduce Britain's obesity crisis.

The professor made the recommendations in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal.

Sir George Albert, the U.K.'s national director for emergency care, joined other health professionals in their recommendations. He wants the government to take a more proactive response to obesity.

The suggestion would be to put the label on all clothes with waist sizes over 37 inches for boys or 31 inches for girls. Women's clothes over size 16 would also get a label.

The paper reported that Sattar also believes new urban roads should only be built if they include a separate lane for bicyclists.The professor also said that new housing complexes should all include sports facilities and park areas.

Britain's obesity problem could bankrupt its health system if nothing is done to stop it, according to Sattar. The British Medical Journal reported that more than half of the U.K.'s population is overweight and more than one in five adults is obese.

Treating obese people in that country takes up about 9 percent of the health budget, the Mail reported.

Sattar thinks there should be more political intervention. He told the journal that he also wants food manufacturers to display nutrition information on the content of all meals and snacks at retail and catering outlets.

"People clearly have some responsibility for their health, but society and government have a responsibility to make the preferred, easy choices healthier ones," Sattar said.

Sattar said in the journal that education should be provided at all levels to change behavior towards diet and physical activity, and obesity made a core part of all medical training, according to a press release."

My Opinion:

Shopping for clothing can already be hard enough on a person’s self esteem. Embarrassing and degrading women further is not a good way to cut down on health care costs. In fact, this may actually increase health costs for prescription drugs which these women may feel are necessary to live a happier life.

In addition, the article says that obese people use up 9% of their health care budget. But I think that this is not a high enough number to call for radical change. Maybe the government should be more concerned with curbing violence, car accidents, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and so on.

Notice in this article there is no mention of anorexia help line numbers on sizes extra small and lower. This professor is not concerned with health issues or costs, but is actually concerned that UK women should try harder to look like fake supermodels.

Discussion: What do you think about this proposal? Will it help or hinder health issues?

This video is related to this post. It's a Dove commercial from their real beauty campaign.

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Duggar Family: Crazy Courtship Ritual

The Duggar family is on a show called 17 Kids and Counting. I was watching it the other day and I found one of their practices very interesting. The oldest son in the family was in the process of "courting" a young women. This meant that no dating was permitted. He asked the girl's father for permission to get to know his daughter better. After what I think was a couple of years he then asked the father's permission for his daughter's hand in marriage. He proposed to her but the most affection he felt comfortable with was putting his arm on her shoulder. Later that evening he asked the father's permission to hold his fiancee's hand. The first kiss and intimate relations were to be experienced with marriage. Also, even after they were engaged, they could not go anywhere alone; they had to have a chaparone.

While I respect these families' choice to ensue courtship I cannot help but have strong negative feelings about this. To save the first kiss for marriage sounds fantasic and respectful but I could not imagine what it would be like for grown adults to not be allowed to express their love to each other. And they do not have any privacy . . . and they are adults! I do not believe that sex and kissing should be held off until after marriage. People should have the freedom to do as the please with their bodies. It is a beautiful way to express a person's love to another and no one should be ashamed of that for any reason.

I also find it unfortunate that this process of courtships seems to only value the men's decisions. He was asking the father for permission and not her mother. I think that people should do what makes themselves and others happy. If the Duggar women want to be courted I think that is fine. But I cannot imagine the parents being okay with their daughters rejecting this practice and choosing to date. When I have children I want them to have respect for their partners but I would put enough trust in them that they will do this on their own without being pressured into it.

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Is it okay to skip class?

What do you think . . . Is it okay to skip class?

In the Beginning: I start off each semester with a vow that I will go to every class and stay for the whole class. But that promise is worn off very quickly sometimes. This semester I will usually go to class but only stay for the first hour and a bit (each lecture is 3 hours). And sometimes I skip the class altogether.

Excuses: I think this is largely because the classes are pretty boring this year. The professors just cannot keep my interest and attention for too long. I have had classes that I find very interesting, its not like I have a problem with paying attention to things. Also skip class because there are a lot of distractions in my life. Not all of them are major but I have work and money to worry about. But I also am distracted by the fun things I want to do like reading, playing games, watching movies, going out, blogging, etc.

On the Bright Side: There is one class that I have not missed once this semester. . . financial management. Accounting and finance is not my strong area. I find these classes to be the most difficult so I go to learn as much as I can and get clarification. I do all of my homework (that will be graded), I do enough studying, and my grades are really good and stable.

My Thoughts: Even though I am paying to go to class I do not take advantage of the valuable resources that can be obtained by actively listening to lectures and that makes me feel kind of guilty. But I am completely happy with my grades so far (on the honour role) and the semester is almost over.

I think it is not the responsible thing to do but I feel that I am getting what I need from the courses and I am proud of my accomplishments. My learning style does not always include verbal reinforcement. Most of the time my best learning comes from just reading the text.

Your Thoughts: What do you think? Is it wrong that I am not going to class? Or is it okay? Does it matter?

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