Attack of the iPod People

You've seen them, white wires growing out of their ears, oblivious to all around them. These "Pod" people. When you ask them a question they respond with a "huh?" and pull out one of the wires from their ears. That's right, I'm talking about iPod users.

They're everywhere. They can be your friend, your neighbour, your sister. It seems like they can't go more than a few seconds without being plugged in. In fact, I saw a guy playing in a Beach Volleyball tournament with those telling white wires sticking out of his ears.

What are the tell-tale signs of an iPod user? Consider the following:

1. White wires protruding from their ears, leading to their arm, or pocket, or some form of carrier.
2. Vacant looks, i.e. very little awareness of what's going on around them.

They may also exhibit:

1. Head bopping, in time with the music they're listening to.
2. Audible singing, or the mouthing of the words of the song they are listening to.
3. The wearing of a baseball cap, canted to one side (the "down and locked" position, as I like to say).
4. Baggy, hip hop style, clothes.
5. Hoods covering their heads and/or staring at the ground for fear of eye contact with anyone.

However, the one true sign you've seen an iPod Person is those darn white wires coming out of their heads.

Although I don't begrudge someone for listening to music that they like, whenever it's convenient, I just think it's gone a little too far. When people are listening to their iPods and become oblivious to their surroundings because they have the volume turned up (a majority do, according to statistics, even when informed of the possibility of hearing loss), then it becomes a hazard to the general population when these iPod People jaywalk, ride bicycles and drive cars. Not only could they seriously injure themselves, they could hurt other people too. Here's a grim thought: will we see statistics showing the number of deaths directly attributable to iPods?

Are iPods going to become the new cigarette? You'll only be able to use them in certain designated areas? Apple will get sued because of deaths caused by the use of iPods? Is Apple the tobacco company of the new millennium. Well, if someone can successfully sue McDonald's for millions of dollars because they spilled the hot coffee they ordered at the drive thru in their own lap, then I don't think Apple getting sued because of the hazards associated with using an iPod is farfetched. I think I'll have a good chuckle when that happens. But until then, I have one thing to say to current and future iPod People...

Be careful out there!

Wings Over The World

9/11 Schools

Why are there a rash of school shootings of late? It's the beginning of the school year. Surely Mr. Smith's math homework is not that overwhelming. Wait...most are being perpetrated by non-students. Why is that? Why are people (all seem to be male, strangely enough) going into our schools and just killing students. Kids with hopes, and dreams, and a future...snuffed out before they can be unleashed into the world. Could those that were killed have been our future Einsteins, or Ghandis, or Oliviers? We'll never know.

In the aftermath, our schools are becoming fortresses. Not of learning, but of fear.

Fear and suspicion are breeding in our schools, just like they have in our airports and airplanes. Metal detectors, video surveillance, armed security, physical searches, intrusive questions. These are not just the norm in our airports, they've become de rigeur in our schools too. Why is that? Why have we come to this?

The obvious reason is to protect our children. But what was the catalyst for people going on shooting rampages in our schools? Have the fears of 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan driven people over the edge? And why schools? Because they are the most vulnerable? The students are the most innocent and defenseless? The reason the shooter went into the Amish school was because he knew there would be little resistance for him to get inside. The reason he gave in his final note for committing this act was that it was because he had molested children before and he was getting the same thoughts 20 years later. More often than not, it seems a shooter's motivations centre around revenge. Why do they think they can resolve their issues by killing people (mainly students)?

We once felt reasonably safe in airplanes (except for the anxiety of crashing), before they became weapons on September 9, 2001. Is the same thing happening in our schools? Are we breeding a new generation of neurotic people who will go on to commit similar crimes? Look at the people who were molested in childhood, only to go on and commit these heinous acts themselves (Mr. Foley being the latest high profile perpetrator).

Is making our schools an armed camp they way to go? Children need and deserve our protection as they try to learn in what was once a safe environment. Do they not enjoy the same feeling of security as when we went to school? Violent acts have always been around. During my school years, a student was stabbed during school hours, when I was in Grade 8. Also, a student was shot at the high school I went to a couple of years after I graduated. These were city schools, but they weren't economically depressed neighbourhoods. These areas were populated by hard working, middle-class families. That seemed a lifetime ago. Violence in schools has always been around, but what is the difference now. The post 9/11 environment?

Has the nightly news showing religious fanaticism, war zones and military might influencing our children? Is showing the video feed from a "bomb cam" sending a message to our children that it's okay to solve your problems with the use of weapons? Is this constant exposure to violence in the news, in TV shows, and in video games finally taking its toll on our childrens' psyche?

Maybe this issue needs to go beyond being a philosophical question and moved into our labs and think tanks. Violence in our schools is not a recent phenomenon, but it certainly seems to have escalated. Ask why. Dissect the minds of those that perpetrate these crimes. Dig deep. Explore every avenue, however innocuous.

We must find a solution. Our children...our future depends on it.

Wings Over The World

Belinda the Neophyte

What is Belinda Stronach thinking? Does she think that she can join public life when she became an MP and not have her personal life scrutinized?

You've probably heard by now that Belinda has been named as the "other woman" by the wife of tough guy NHLer Tie Domi, in her divorce papers submission. In an interview, Belinda said that she did not want to comment, because the impending divorce was a matter for the courts. I can accept that. Why muck up an already messy situation? But she went on to state that her private life was not for public consumption! Pardon?!?!? Tell us Belinda, since when has any public figure, especially a political figure, not have their dirty laundry hung out for the world to see? And you haven't exactly flown under the radar. Your very public break up with Peter McKay, coming to mind. And to top it off, you say that this wouldn't have been an issue if you were a male politician. Give yourself a shake!

Public figures, be they politicians, actors, or just plain filthy rich, male OR female, are subject to public scrutiny. Because for some reason, many people feel the need to read about their favourite celebrities. Just look at the sales figures for supermarket tabloids, and celebrity magazines. Why is that? Are we truly interested in their lives. Do they represent a world we'd like to live in, or do our own humdrum lives need spicing up, as we live vicariously through the latest spat between Angelina and Jennifer?

Regardless of the answer, the fact remains that Belinda's relationship with Tie has been outed and people want to know. Since people want to know, journalists are going to ask. Denying them information will just cause them to dig deeper. Belinda, take a cue from your ex, Peter. Recently, on a visit to Halifax by Condoleeza Rice, there were some suggestions that there was chemistry between she and Peter. Did Peter issue statements? Did he deny any relationship? No. He kept his mouth shut and a one or two day story remained that, instead of carrying on for several days, and in many different media sources.

Hey, wait a second, dear reader. Let's just step back a second. Maybe Belinda has an agenda here? Maybe she knows this is a one or two day story and she wants to extend it by employing these tactics? After all, as it's been said before, there is no such thing as bad publicity. Maybe she's just trying to get more press to fuel her political ambition? She's not heading for a Liberal leadership candidacy this round, maybe she'll try next time? Maybe she'll use this incident to gain notoriety? The next Liberal leadership run probably won't happen for a few years. By that time, people will have forgotten about this. What do you think? Could someone who failed to take more than one year of university, and was president of Magna because daddy owned it, have enough wherewithal to accomplish such a campaign?

I leave you to be the judge.

Wings Over The World