Look in the mirror

I saw an article today claiming that the aged and pregnant in this city find Torontonians lacking in manners. This comes only a day after I read about a study that showed Torontonians as the 3rd most polite city when compared to others in the world. The politeness study used actors pretending to need assistance, and measured the frequency of people willing to help. They did this thousands of times in various cities, and Toronto came in 3rd with a frequency of do-gooders higher than 70%. The other article just talked about how some pregnant and old women can't always get a seat when they take public transit, and concluded that Torontonians are some of the rudest people ever.

Well excuse me! I'm all for giving up my seat to those who need it. I do it all the time and always have and see other do it as well, but I can also understand how in some situations people might be reluctant for fear of a mighty wrath at their expense. I've seen it happen too often.

These people being offered a seat need to be polite in return. If a person offers you their seat, don't yell at them saying "what, do I look like some feable old lady to you!?". And if you'd never snap at a kind stranger like that, realize that some have. Then there's the all too embarassing fat belly mistaken for a pregnancy scenario. I saw it happen too. And another poor fella I saw a while back, squeezed over to the side so that a pregnant woman could sit down next to him. Shortly after, I heard her yelling "gtf over there, don't sit next to me, stop touching me!!!" He wasn't touching her. No one saw it. They were simply squished in together due to her size, and it bothered her that he shifted in his seat. It's not the guy's fault she's mad about not knowing who the father of her child is or whatever...but he got yelled at nonetheless, and quietly, embarrassed, moved to another part of the train. That's not fair.

I myself had a run-in with a milder ingrate the other day, but an ingrate just the same. I see an open seat, but step aside for a middle-aged woman to take it instead. She sits, and I stand. No biggie. I'm one of few people standing, it's not very crowded, but as she gets up to exit the train, she decides to walk directly behind me, instead of using the rest of the wide open isle I made sure was left clear. Despite all the available space she somehow manages to trample over my small back-pack on the floor, at my feet, and stumbles a bit as she walks off it. I ignore it, but instead of proceeding to exit the train she pauses. "Excuse me?" I hear. I ignore it. Then another more direct "Excuse me?!? I tripped over your bag"...but she's not excusing herself, oh no, she's asking for me to acknowledge and apologize for what happened to her...trampling over my bag and almost tripping herself. Yeah, I'm sorry...I'm sorry you're such a cluts and trampled my bag like that lady.

It's funny how some of these same people who are so in need of a seat always muster up super-human strength when it's time to shove everyone out of their way to the exit and up the escalators. The saddest thing of all is, those that trully deserve a seat will never speak up and will quietly suffer and stand.

Some tips. If you're a young male taking public transit, unless you're the only person in the train/bus, do yourself a favour and just stand...stand in some far off corner where you won't be in anyone's way, and pray that those same seat and clear path-demanders will extend you some courtesy and move a bit when your stop comes up.

Futbol...the cure for what ails ya

One can't help but be amazed by the World Cup's ability to do just about anything. It brings the world to a stand still, it brings us all together, and brings joy to billions around the world. Whether your team wins or loses, you cannot deny the benefits to your overall wellbeing brought on by the inevitable feelings of euphoria from the experience of it all.

I'm amazed that even in a country like Canada, where soccer is hardly on the radar screen, one can go to any pub during the World Cup and be part of the experience...meeting total strangers, yet acting like best friends for 90 minutes, even if they are rooting for opposing teams...it's amazing.
In one place, it didn't even matter that the Oilers were playing their game 4 of the hockey finals, all the TV's (except a small one in the corner) had the World Cup on, and not even live games, but re-runs.

I only wish there was some way to more evenly distribute this feeling across the world. Some nations simply never make it to the big show, and their supporters will never know the feeling. Although I feel for them, I personally have no such issue as I am a supporter of the greatest soccer power to ever play the game...Croatia of course...who never miss the World Cup. But, for the sake of the non-perennial soccer nations, FIFA should consider designating one wild-card spot...going to one nation each World Cup, decided by a lottery or a committee perhaps, and not based on soccer ability (help them hire some ringers so they don't get embarassed). Maybe a nation that's had a particularly rough time in the last little while, and could use some good news and fun. C'mon FIFA you can spare 1 out of the 32 spots...just ask Brazil to sit the next one out...they could use a break from hogging all those tropies.

Our home and toxic land

There’s been a lot of talk lately about high levels of toxic material found in the bodies of Canadians. It seems pollutants from industry, food, and life in general find their way into our bodies more readily then previously thought, making us more toxic and thus susceptible to illness and decreasing our quality of life. The federal government is very concerned and is initiating body-toxin testing programs, as well as putting pressure on neighbouring American states from polluting so much.
Pftt, and we thought we were the top of the food chain because of our dominance over the planet, but the truth is we're just too gross for even the hungriest beasts to consider sampling us for dinner.

While we can’t avoid being exposed to pollution and we can prevent further toxification, we can limit the amounts coming in, and we can remove toxins that have accumulated in our bodies from years past. I'm reminded of a semi-biographical novel I read years ago. It was about an eccentric old gas station attendant, who despite his age and seemingly dull occupation, had a great outlook on life and was in great physical and mental shape. Yet, he achieved this peace and health not by denying his urges, dieting, etc. but by simply offsetting the bad with the good. When he felt like a smoke, he had a cigarette without feeling guilty about it, but later on he'd eat a bowl of healthy fresh vegetables, reversing any ill effects the cigarette may have caused. So, although they say you shorten your life by 8 minutes with each cigarette you take, those 8 minutes are not necessarily lost forever. I share this example because it stuck with me, and not because I advocate guilt-free smoking. Smoking is disgusting, but so are many of our habits.

Here are some quick tips on how to remove toxins from your body:

1. Semi-annual detox program: Fast for 2 days eating nothing solid. Drink plenty of filtered water and detox formula. Drink a glass of detox formula (consisting of filtered water, organic lemon juice, pure maple syrup, and cayenne pepper for taste)every few hours or when hungry. Day 3-7 or beyond if you wish, eat light meals consisting of brown/basmati rice, and steamed vegetables, fruits. Eventually integrate fish and poultry. Then, when it's all done, go back to your old filthy eating habits, and repeat the clense every so often. You're body will thank you. You will drop weight though, a desirable or not, depending on the person.

2. Sweat. I don't need to tell you how to sweat...do whatever.

3. Meditate or relax as you prefer...you need to cleanse body and mind.

4. If and when you do indulge in unhealthy desires, don't feel guilty about it. The feelings of guilt will intensify negative effects on your body, while savouring and enjoying your guilty pleasures can actually minimize ill effects.