Need to Pay More Attention to What's Happening in Canada

There are many issues and problems in Canada that needs to be talked about and addressed.  There is one particular issue I noticed in myself.  Many are probably in the same boat.  It essentially is that we need to pay more attention to what's happening in Canada.  With what's happening in other parts of the world, more specifically the United States, dominating headlines, it's easy to focus on that.  The death of George Floyd is a prime example is dominating headlines (as it should) and we are focused on that.  But that doesn't mean we should focus solely on that.

I recognize that I know more about what's going on in the United States than Canada.  I need to change that.  Social media is a way to find out news and to see what's trending.  That's how I find out about stuff.  I don't always go out of my way to find out about what's going locally, provincially, and nationally.  It's one thing to say one should do more of that.  It's another to actually do it.

Am I out of touch?  Am I not informed.  Not necessarily.  It's easier to focus on things dominating the headlines.  Such things as COVID-19, George Floyd, and the rioting for instance.  That's what currently dominating headlines.  Lots of things are in the news, but they don't get even half as much attention as other stuff.  I get why.  But that doesn't mean we should just stick to what is dominating headlines.

You might think it's easy to say that.  I have already acknowledged that in a round about way. Again, that's why it's good to look at all news and not just what is in front of our faces.  Hopefully I'll try to make more of a conscious effort in this regard.  Saying and doing are two different things.  I don't keep ear close enough to the ground when it comes to Canadian news in terms of a wide range of news.  COVID-19 in Canada is one of the few things I hear about most times which proves my point.  We could use some positivity in this world right now.  I know it will be hard, but it's out there somewhere.


That's enough news for today.  I know I won't be able to avoid it, but it can burn one out.  Now to do something else.  Movie, video games, continue binging "Seinfeld?"  Not matter what, I need to take my mind off the dominating headlines for now.  Be well and stay safe.  See you on the flipside.

Song of the Day #65 - "My Number" - Tegan and Sara

Have always liked this song, but have been loving it more lately.  Interesting to find out in the description of the audio (read it for the first time) that Hawksley Workman produced it and the rest of The Business of Art.  It's interesting what you find out.

If I gave you my number
Would it still be the same
If I, if I saved you from drowning
Promise me you'll never go away
Promise me you'll always stay

"My Number" by Tegan and Sara
YouTube link

Song of the Day #64 - Zachary Lucky

Recently, as I sometimes do, after listening a discography playlist I let Spotify randomly play songs.  An artist by the name of Zachary Lucky came up.  Went on to listen to the rest of his music.  As I was listening to his music I noticed he mentioned Saskatchewan a bunch.  I came to realize that he is Saskatchewan's answer to Del Barber.  If any of you know who Del Barber is, you'll get it.  Honestly though, he does that style of songwriting like many artists like Del Barber.  I discovered Lucky is from Saskatoon.

Here is the song that randomly came up thanks to Spotify.  It caught my ear.  It's the title track off his 2016 record Everywhere a Man Should Be.

"Everywhere a Man Should Be" by Zachary Lucky
YouTube link

Cyber Bullying Needs to Stop

The other day I heard about and read the story about the death of Japanese pro wrestler Hana Kimura.  She committed suicide.  It stems from cyber bullying.  She was on a reality show on Netflix Japan.  From what I've read on Facebook, there was an incident on the show where Kimura slapped a guy for accidentally ruining her gear.  This is what lead to the cyber bullying, harassment, and abuse. The article doesn't say what happened on the show that lead to this.  Apparently the abuse was so bad that people went as far as to kill herself.  That's what she ended up doing. We don't want it to be real, but it is all too real.  It is a problem on major social media platforms.

Even though most people have been sending their condolences to her family, friends, and fans; there are still some people saying disgusting and vile things in regards to her death.  Former WWF superstar and one of the early divas Tammy Sytch aka Sunny made a post on her personal Facebook.  She said some pretty shitty things.  Here is the screenshot of her post which I saw on Twitter.

This is a garbage take from a garbage person.  Her reputation proceeds her.  This post just adds to it.  She used Hana's death to make herself look like the bigger person because she rose above the cyberbullying, abuse, harassment, etc..  Really?  So she has never thought about killing herself.  Does she want a cookie ?  You would think since she has gone through the same thing that she would be empathetic.  Considering who we are talking about, why would she?  Seems like she wanted an ego boost hence this post.  Does she want people to kiss her ass or something?   That last bit makes no sense at all.  It took bullies for her to make money.  Right...  Getting people to pay to see her naked and do things on Skype isn't something to brag about.  She really doesn't want to ruin her trashy reputation.  Trashy is putting it nicely.

I checked her personal Facebook and the post is gone.  It's no surprise that it is gone.  I had to rant.  It's just enraging when people who have experienced the same thing are like this.  Oh and it's convenient she said this considering Hana's recent death.  Ugh.

Some platforms are doing much better in trying to combat this than others.  But the platform with the most criticism for it's long history of cyberbullying, abuse, harassment, etc. is Twitter.  Even though they've said in the past they are going to do something about it.  In the past they've announced and rolled out tools to combat this, but they do nothing to address the core issue.  Those tools just sweep it under the rug so you can't see it unless you actively search for the abusive tweets

Twitter needs a major overhaul. Those tools they've rolled out over the years are not doing anything to reduce the abuse on its platform.  But they won't admit it.  Social media as a whole needs to keep doing more.  The cyberbullying, harassment, abuse, etc. will always be around in some form or another.  The point, it's needs to be curbed.  Even though Twitter is one of the worst, there is always more social media platforms can and should do.


Posting, tweeting, uploading. and snapping videos, pictures, and other things are can be seen as the the modern suicide note.  All of Hana's tweets and pictures before her death were that or so one could say.  The world can see them at a moment's notice.  It's something you don't want to see.  You never want to see someone in pain.  It's unfortunate that it had to end the way it did.

I read on article on Forbes (it has good points about the topic it covered regardless of what I think about Forbes) and one quote is not just in relation to child abuse and Snapchat that the article was addressing.  It works for all forms of abuse online.

"We cannot wait for the next tragedy before tech companies are made to act."

It's true.  We can't wait for the next tragedy before social media platforms do something or do more.  But tragedies are occurring and these platforms are still not doing enough.  Again, it's not going to stop and the abuse will be around in some form online.  It shouldn't be.  I cannot emphasize enough tech companies and social media need to do more.

Hana Kimura was only 22-year-old.  Sure you might think she was too young.  In reality, age is can be seen as irrelevant.  Suicide at any age is terrible.  She has a bright in wrestler.  Now we'll never know how far should could have gone in her career.

The sentiment of being nicer to each is being echoed all over the world.  It's true, we need to be nicer to each other and not just online.  But the reality is it's easier to be negative and hateful.  You can't say you've never been hateful.  If you say you haven't, you're a liar.  It's something we need to work on.  Sure it will be hard, but in the end you will be better for it.  I will be better for it.

Hopefully the people who said all those things that drove Hana to suicide feel some sort of guilt and remorse.  The old adage is "it's not what you say but how you say it."  There are times where that is true.  But when you are going as far as to tell someone to kill themselves, the intent is clear.  I don't understand how someone can tell someone online to kill themselves.  What's worse is they would never say that to someone's face.  They hide behind keyboards thinking they are bulletproof and they don't have to be held accountable for their words.  That couldn't be further from the truth.

This debate and conversation about abuse online in it's many forms will rage on.  It's touchy subject that will always need addressing.  For now, that's all I am going to say about this.

Rest in peace, Hana.   I hope you are now resting easy.  Condolences to her family and friends.  Peace be with them.  Godspeed.

Song of the Day #63 - Jason Mraz

Sometimes after finishing a discography or whatever on Spotify, I just let random songs come up.  They are usually similar to the artist I just binged listened to.  I finished listening to John Mayer yesterday and I let Spotify do its thing.  "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" by Jason Mraz came up.  I haven't heard it in a long time.  I got in the groove.  Catchy song.  So good.

"The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" by Jason Mraz
YouTube link

Song of the Day #62 - "Star a War" - The National

"Start a War" by The National is a song that I've recently discovered.  It's off their 2007 album Boxer.  I like it.

"Start a War" by The National
YouTube link

Song of the #61 - Dream Theater

This is the story of my first time listening to Dream Theater.  This is before Mark gave a proper introduction to them at Covenant Bible College (CBC).  I was told about Dream Theater by Mark, but I never listened to them prior to what happens in this story.

Living at the farm with my dad, we had a computer with Windows 98se on it.  This was in the mid-200s or so.  At this time, Windows Media Player had a search function and it would bring up search results like a browser.  I never had anything to download music.  Even if LimeWire was compatible with Windows 98se, I never heard until I was at CBC.  Anyways, the interesting thing was you could download or listen to music you found in that search.  Thanks to Mark, I searched Dream Theater and I came across today's song of the day, "Octavarium."  I listened to it and it blew my mind.  24 minutes of mind blowing amazing music.  Something I'll never forget.  I even told Mark that this song blew my mind.  So good.

I owe it all to Mark for not just telling me about Dream Theater, but also getting me to dive head first into Dream Theater at CBC thus becoming a fan.  Very glad I did.  Thank you.

"Octavarium" by Dream Theater
YouTube link