In memory of Aaliyah

I can’t believe that it has been ten years since Aaliyah’s death. On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah and eight other people were killed in an airplane crash in the Bahamas. They were heading back home to the US after shooting her last music video for “Rock the Boat.” She was a very talented singer, dancer and actress. R.I.P Aaliyah.

Below are some of my favourite songs and videos from Aaliyah.  

CNE's Doughnut Hamburger

I got the chance to try the doughnut hamburger from The Ex, thanks to my sis and Mr. J. The burger is one of the new offerings this year. I was looking forward to trying it and was wondering how all the flavours would come together. I took a big bite and it was alright – there was nothing special to say about it. The taste was not amazing and it wasn’t gross. What I didn’t like was that the flavours didn’t go together – the sweetness of the doughnut and the saltiness of the hamburger meat just didn’t mesh well or enhance the overall taste of the burger. I would rather eat each one separately. After eating it all, all I wanted was a Krispy Kreme doughnut. If you go to The Ex this year, I say try the doughnut burger but its nothing to be dying to try or to eat again and again.

R.I.P Jack Layton

August 20, 2011

Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

Above is Jack Layton's last letter written days before his death.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/08/22/pol-layton-last-letter.html


For information on the funeral check out CBC's website at
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/08/22/pol-layton-funeral-plans.html

CNE

CNE officially started today! It will be open until Sept 5. For all information regarding the attractions, food, events, shows, and other details check out http://www.theex.com/

For those of you that love coke and deep fried stuff, make sure to try the deep fried pop. It is one of the many things you can enjoy at the food building this year.

Final Destination 5

This week I went to see Final Destination 5 and I enjoyed the latest instalment. I like scary movies and the Final Destination franchise is supposed to be scary and gruesome, but it’s not that scary for me. I mostly go watch the films for the death scenes…they are interesting, crazy, bloody, gory and some are even funny.  Check out the death scenes from the first four movies.

All five films have included some pretty cool death scenes and for some reason there is one death that made me laugh a lot (check it out below). A lot of people in the theater were laughing as well. I think it’s the crazy way she lands on the floor and the distorted way she ends up looking at the end.

Also check out the trailer for Final Destination 5 and go watch the movie if you haven’t seen it yet.

Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera

Here is the new video for Moves Like Jagger from Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera. The song is stuck in my head now, especially the whistling.

Boardwalk Empire: Season 2

On September 25th the second season of Boardwalk Empire begins. It is one of my must see shows. I recommend it to everyone...except kids. If you haven't seen the first season, you have plenty of time to catch up before the new season begins. 

Below you can check out the trailer and tease for season two of Boardwalk Empire - Golden Globe winner for best Dramatic Series in 2010. 

6 lbs makes a huge difference

This is just crazy!!! Cynthia de la Vega from Mexico lost her crown and the chance to compete in Miss World because she wasn't able to lose 6lbs. That's insane...six pounds?!?!?..you can't even notice if a person has lost six pounds. I have lost 5 pounds and I look the same. I need to lose another 10 or 20 for me or someone else to see a difference. The people at Nuestra Belleza Mundo Mexico are completely nuts! Six pounds is nothing. I say go out and eat, eat, & eat and gain another 6 lbs and then maybe I'll buy the crazy excuse.