Be Kind or Else

February 28, 2014

The godfather of all award shows, the Oscars, is on Sunday night and I have to admit I have not seen one of the films nominated.  I am a bit of a movie buff but not the movies that Hollywood nominates for Oscars or Golden Globes or any other over rated award.  I just watched a great dark comedy with political satire and black humour.  It was written by Bobcat Goldthwait, who you might remember as a standup comedian with the high pitched awkward voice. God Bless America is a 2011 release based on a recently divorced and unemployed salesman named Frank Murdoch.  Frank is a regular guy who has had a bit of bad luck including a recently diagnosed inoperable brain tumor.  While at home drinking beer and wallowing in self-pity, he watches a reality television show about a spoiled, discourteous teenage girl who is followed around by cameras while her vulgar tongue lashes out at everyone in her path.  At that point, Frank has an epiphany and decides he has had enough of an America that is rude and hateful and where people get rewarded with fame and riches for their disgusting actions.  He decides to put an end to it by killing everyone he feels represents these behaviors.  He kills Chloe the reality star teenager and while doing so he is witnessed by Roxy a teenager who feels, like Frank, that the mean people of the world must die.  So the two embark on a “Bonnie and Clyde” like adventure.  Their biggest target is the show “American Starz”, which is American Idol in disguise. Frank feels that this show is the worst of what pop culture has to offer.  Three somewhat talented humans play God over desperate young people who feel their only value is to become successful. As Frank elegantly states “how can we be a civilized nation if we are not civilized.”

As the movie progresses, you begin to feel that perhaps Frank and Roxy have a point even though intellectually you know they do not.  Are Frank and Roxy so far off the mark?  Their reaction to people’s unkindness is bizarre, but the truth is North Americans are obsessed with reality shows of people who are mean, and who treat others like dirt for the home viewers enjoyment.  I don’t suggest we go out and kill everyone who is mean, but perhaps we can take a moment and think of Frank the next time we feel the need to humiliate and treat others like our personal garbage can.

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com

It’s all about the money

 

February 27, 2014

The headline read “Arizona governor vetoes controversial antigay bill.”  The headline should have mentioned the real reason for the veto.  The real reason comes down to what it usually comes down to and that is MONEY.  Senate Bill 1062 would essentially allow business owners with strong religious beliefs the legal right to refuse service to gay and lesbian customers, allowing them to be free from lawsuits or legal actions.  The bill passed on Thursday of last week and as quickly as it passed, protests began.  Major companies like American Airlines, The Marriot and Apple quickly protested that the economy would be severely hurt.  The Apple Company, that had planned to open a plant in Mesa Arizona, creating 2000 jobs, was questioning their decision to do business with the state. The National Football League that is bringing the 2015 Super bowl to Arizona was subtly suggesting the law be vetoed or the super bowl might find a new home.  Super Bowl games can bring 50 million dollars plus to the local economy.  According to the Arizona Travel Impact study, the state was host to 33.1 million visitors, spending 865 billion dollars in 2012.  I am sure, that a ridiculous law that discriminates against any group of our society would not look well on the state.

Governor Janice Brewer stated that the law was unjust and would not be right to discriminate against any one in our society.  The optimist in me would love to believe that good and justice triumphed over discrimination, but the cynic in me believes that money and its impact prevailed.  As for the store owners and Arizona senators who felt the need for such a law, the answer is very simple.  Place a sign in your window stating that you will not serve gays, lesbians, Asians, Jewish people whomever you want.  We will see how long you will be in business. Hard to believe in 2014, we still have to worry about such nonsense.

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com

The elusive pot of gold

February 26,^, 2014

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to find your own pot of gold?  A couple in California know what that feeling is like and all they did was go for a walk.  While walking on their property, they discovered a tin can sticking up from the dirt and when they went to discover what it was they were stunned.  They dug up three tin canisters filled with 1,427 gold coins, some of which were very rare and in pristine condition.  The coins believed to be from the 1848-1855 gold rush are valued to be worth 10 million dollars.  The couple plan to keep a few coins and sell the rest on amazon. There was also the priest in Nottingham who purchased a painting for 400 pounds.  He liked the frame and the colours in the painting.  It turned out the painting was from the 17^th Century Flemish artist Anthony Van Dyck.  The painting was worth 400,000 pounds.  The priest was hoping by selling his painting he would make enough money to purchase new church bells.  I think it is pretty safe to say he can purchase more than church bells.  How about the young man who went to the estate sale of a not very well known Motown musician, and purchased a collection of albums at 50 cents apiece.  When he brought his albums home he discovered one of them had a 1964 passport issued to Marvin Gaye.  The passport sold for 20,000 dollars. 

How often do these discoveries happen?  If you have ever watched the PBS show Antiques Roadshow, probably not that often.  Many people go on the show with grandmas trinkets filled with anticipation, only to discover they have to return to work on Monday.   There are many who believe that one day they will discover the next million dollar item.  How else can you explain the popularity of garage sales, estate sales and antique shops?  Every time I walk into an antique shop, I have that same anticipation.  What if I discover something that will make me a millionaire?  The only problem with this hope is that everyone else has the same hope.  With the internet people can look up the items and know what the value and rarity is.  I think the majority of these discoveries are just a matter of luck and being in the right place at the right time. 

I will continue to frequent garage sales and antique shops and maybe, just maybe I will find that elusive treasure.  It is like winning the lottery, I doubt that will ever happen either but you never know.

 

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com

If you can’t stand the heat…

February 25, 2014

Television, movie and radio star Alec Baldwin is leaving New York and the media spotlight.  This really isn’t of great importance but it got me pondering about movie and music stars and how many of them whine about the lack of privacy they receive from paparazzi and fans alike.  The old argument has always been that you have chosen a career that puts you out in the spotlight and you benefit greatly from this career financially and socially, so stop your bitching.  I have to say that I do subscribe to this way of thinking, but in Alec Baldwin’s farewell commentary written for the New York Magazine, he brought up an interesting point.  At one point in New York, everyone who was a New Yorker respected movie stars and musicians.  As Baldwin stated you kept 5 feet between you. John Lennon loved living in New York because he was never bothered.  He could walk the streets and people would say hello and maybe ask for an autograph.  In the 1970’s there was very little paparazzi chasing him down the street.  

Today there seems to be an insatiable need for the public to get non stop information about anyone who has appeared on television or movies.  Even people who are not actors or musicians but like to have 15 minutes of fame feel the need to have every detail of their lives plastered everywhere.  The Kardashians are prime examples of a family with so much fame and wealth and I still don’t know what they do. Where would shows like TMZ be if no one cared about what they had to say?  There has always been animosity between media and stars, and for some reason that hatred seems to dwindle when the stars are promoting a movie of new CD release.  They need them and they hate them.  Alec Baldwin accused the media, twitter, his coworkers, his producers, the neighbours anyone and everyone for his reason for leaving the spotlight.  The only person he didn’t blame was himself.  He has been known to have had anger issues and substance issues and has displayed them in the public view so how can people not be interested in his life if his actions call for attention.

If you don’t want to be bothered or harassed then don’t do things that will bring attention to you.  Don’t attack the paparazzi, don’t drive drunk, don’t do drugs, and don’t have affairs on your partners.  In other words go to work, perform your craft and try and live a good life with your family.  You are famous and you will always be in the spotlight, but if you show some gratitude and dignity you won’t end up with a scandal plastered on the pages of newspapers and magazines.  On less of course that is the only way you can sell yourself and keep yourself in the spotlight.

Cheers

Grace

TASTE

Owner/operator

www.tastepc.com

Trying to find a balance

February 24, 2014

I just took a work life balance quiz on the Canadian Mental Health Association website, and have concluded that my work life is completely off balance.  I actually already knew that before I took the test but I figured I would confirm it.  Owning a restaurant means on average I work 55 to 60 hours per week.  Canadians on average work 36.6 hours per week with Albertans working on average 39 hours per week.  When you think of 36.6 hours per week it doesn’t seem like a lot but this is an average.  A recent survey done by Employment and Social Development Canada found that 2/3 or Canadians work 45 hours per week and 1 in 4 work 50 + hours per week.  If you own your own business, you probably fall in the last category.  Studies of people who work more than 50 hours per week, found that overwork leads to psychological and physical distress.  Many have increased levels of anxiety and depression and the satisfaction rate of workers is a pathetic 45%.  More than half of Canadians don’t enjoy their work.

So why are we working so hard and so many more hours to be more depressed and less satisfied with what we do?  People are working harder and longer to pay off an increasing household debt.  The credit monitoring agency Trans Union estimates that the nonmortgage debt of Canadian households sits at on average $28,853.00.   As Canadians try to pay off their debt, they are still living a life style that got them into the debt in the first place.  They work longer to make more money to pay off a debt and continue to increase their debt with the same purchasing habits.  We live in a consumerist country where purchasing stuff is what gives us happiness, credibility and acceptance among others.  We live with a philosophy of the more we have the more we want.  The 32 inch television now needs to be the 55 inch television.  We purchase so much and then turn around and sell it in the annual garage sale only to go out and purchase it again.  I have donated items to Good Will and then gone out and purchased it again.

At the beginning of this year I had committed to write a blog entry every day in 2014, and what I should have committed to was find a better balance in my life.  I have decided that when I leave the restaurant I will make a conscious decision to do something I enjoy regardless of how minor the activity may be.  Lately the activity has been a glass of wine and the newspaper.  It isn’t much but it’s what I enjoy and I guess that is a good start to finding the work life balance.

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com

Small town I don’t think so

February 23, 2014

 

We took a drive to Brighton Ontario today.  We picked a place on the map that we had not been to before and off we went.  We got our directions from MapQuest, no GPS in my 10 year old truck and 1 hour and 56 minutes later we were at the lighthouse in Brighton.  The municipality of Quinte has one main road with the majority of their stores, being antique shops, and Bed and Breakfasts. The street was actually called Main Street.  We made a stop at the very tiny beer store where everyone seemed to be ordering Lakeport beer and of course everyone knew each other.  Did you watch the game was the big question and “go Canada go” was the response.  It was a typical small town and small town people.  We walked down to the marina because there was not much else to do.  There was a restaurant which was closed and a few boats docked at the small pier. My big city thinking led me to comment to Paul that the area could do with some development.  It was very pretty but didn’t have much.  Just as I was making my big city comment, I noticed all the signs on the lawns of nearby homes that stated No Waterfront Development.

Whenever I go to these small towns, I begin to think I might be able to live here.  The quaint main street, and the nicely manicured century homes all seemed very appealing. Knowing your nighbours and having a sense of community were things I have thought about before.  Of course I usually come to my senses and realize that small town living would drive me crazy. I have spent my whole life in the city with the noise and the traffic and being able to go to any kind of restaurant, concerts, and museums.  I enjoyed my day in Brighton but I was happy when I saw the Welcome to Toronto sign on the 401.

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com

Canadian and Proud

February 22, 2014

I woke up this morning and thought what a great day to be Canadian.  We live in a great nation with a good healthcare system, a strong education, peaceful and free. The world, for the most part loves us, thanks to decades of peacekeeping and military aid.  Having said all that the best reason to be Canadian is because we kicked some U.S. butt at the Olympics.  We told the world don’t mess with us because we are curling and hockey champs.  These are our games and if you want the gold you have got to step up to the plate.  We were the first nation in modern Olympics to win both male and female gold in curling.  I’ll admit I don’t know much about the game and I don’t know if I will ever participate in a match.  I don’t like sweeping and I don’t like being in cold places so that pretty much rules that game out.  If they could come up with curling on a beach, I would consider it.  The fact that my ignorance of the game is apparent does not mean I can’t appreciate the task that this group of men and women has accomplished.  Then there was Thursday’s gold medal game in women’s hockey.  What a fine example of keeping your composure, persevering and showing the world that it is never over until, excuse the cliché, the fat lady sings.  How about our men’s hockey team stepping up and getting the job done defeating the U.S. team 1-0 making it to Sunday’s final.

Did we feel great because our nation won, or did we feel great because we beat the United States?  Our friends to the south have always been our rivals.  I think as Canadians we have a tendency to compare ourselves to this great nation, known the world over as a super power.  They may have world famous movie stars, New York delis, and Chicago Jazz but we have gold in curling, and president Obama owes Prime Minister Stephen Harper 2 cases of beer.  It better be Canadian beer because we make that better too.

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com

Help I need a better day

February 21, 2014

I don’t know about you but I have a list of things that bother the hell out of me and today they are all coming out me from all sides.  I have heard the Progressive Conservative commercial about Justin Trudeau wanting to legalize marijuana so many times today.  I am not a fan of Trudeau but give me a break.  The guy admits to smoking marijuana and all of a sudden the whole country will be walking around smoking and pigging out on chips.  That ladies voice and her concern for her young children is enough to make you want to pick up a joint and smoke it.  Then there are the numerous idiots I have had the pleasure of bumping into.  Why do people insist on walking on a sidewalk that is clearly marked Pedestrians use other sidewalk and then they complain that they can’t get past?  Of course you can’t get past that’s what the sign is for.  Then there are the goofs who make a u turn in the middle of a busy street because they missed their turn.  Let’s inconvenience everyone else because I am so special.

 

As you can tell today has not been a good day and it has only begun.  I’m going to take a deep breath and meditate for a minute and pretend I am sitting on a beach having a pina colada. If that fails I will remember yesterday’s great victory the women’s hockey team had over the United States and enjoy the men’s victory today.  Hopefully!

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com  

Anywhere in the World

February 20, 2014

Philip Seymour Hoffman, a great actor who died earlier this year had his estate distributed and as expected he left everything to his partner and his three children.  One condition he requested was that his children be raised in one of three specific cities in the United States.  His three choices were New York, Chicago or San Francisco.  He felt his children would be surrounded by art, literature and culture if raised in these areas.  It got me thinking about where I would want to live if I could have three homes anywhere in the world.  I asked Paul where he would want to live and his answer was quick and precise.  He would want a home in Toronto because this has been his home for over 25 years.  He chose San Miguel in the Azores because his family is still there and his third selection was anywhere in the Caribbean. He didn’t even care which island as long as it was hot and had a lot of sandy beaches.

I admire Paul’s quick response because my three choices took a little longer to arrive at.  Number one for me was New York because of the immense amount of restaurants, food trucks and outdoor food stands to choose from.  New York is the cutting edge for new food trends and I would love to be a part of that.  My second choice was Victoria British Colombia because of the incredible views, great weather and the high standard of living.  Average winter highs in Victoria are 8 degrees, pretty good compared to the rest of the country.  I would still be living in Canada which to me will always be the greatest country.  My third choice was anywhere in Australia.  This continent was ranked 2^nd in the world in average wealth, with a high GDP and low poverty.  It has a fantastic school system with adult literacy ranked at 99%.  It has the 4^th highest life expectancy with a strong health care system.  It is surrounded by the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, has the Great Barrier Reef, rainforests and mountains.  The weather is fantastic and beaches lie everywhere.  Not to mention they make some incredible wine.

I doubt that I will ever be able to have three homes anywhere in the world, but it is fun to think about.  Take a few minutes and think about what places you would want to live in and picture yourself on a beach, or maybe a double decker bus in London or the Eiffel Tower in France.  Maybe one day one of them will happen for you.

Now I have to think about what three albums I would want if I were on a deserted island.  That’s going to be a lot harder.

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com

sometimes the truth is painful

 

February 19, 2014

Have we gotten to the point where we cannot say anything without offending someone?  We cannot disagree with any group or religion or culture without being called homophobic, or bigot or racist.  People need to stop worrying about what other groups do or say.  Just because you don’t agree with it doesn’t mean you are right and everyone else is wrong.  A McGill university student politician learned the hard way that comedy is not politically correct.  Hoping to relieve some tension during exam time, he sent a video that had been going viral on the internet.  The video has President Obama kicking open a door and the caption read “Honestly midterms get out of here”.  The video had been on the internet for a while and had already been on late night television shows.  Someone took offence to this saying the video portrayed the stereotype of young black men being aggressive and violent. He was accused of being racially insensitive, asked to apologize and undergo sensitivity training.   Is the stereotype of young black men being aggressive brought onto their community by young black men being aggressive?  According to the United States Justice Department 37% of homicide offenders between1980-2008 were black men between the ages of 18-24. There are many reasons for this statistic but the fact remains it is a statistic.  I have seen the video and the last thing I thought about was a stereotype of young black men.

At least once a week I get a comment about how I don’t look Portuguese.  I don’t have black curly hair or hairy arms and the next time that happens I am going to go to the Human Rights Commission and demand an apology and sensitivity training.  Give me a break.   When people make comments about how Portuguese people are great cleaners or only work in construction, the only thing I think about is how pathetic the person is for saying that. Does it mean they are completely incorrect?  Not really because there are a lot of Portuguese people who are cleaners and construction workers.  The Portuguese community has given themselves the stereotype.   Does the person making the comment believe that all Portuguese people fall into that category?  I hope not but if they do, I know the real situation so who cares what they think. I feel sympathy for their ignorance.  Even if I bother to make a comment to correct them, I know it is a waste of time.

There are genuine cases of hatred and bigotry and any form of aggression or malice should never be tolerated, but there are also cases when there is some truth to what is being said. It is not always easy to look in the mirror and ask did I have anything to do with this belief.  Does it really matter to me what everyone says or thinks at all times or am I confident enough to know what I contribute to society.

Cheers

Grace

Owner/operator

TASTE

www.tastepc.com