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-One; From the beginning to
April 19, 1998
-Two; April 19, 1998 to June 6, 1998
-Three; June 8, 1998 to July 22, 1998
-Four August 3, 1998 to October 12, 1998
-Five October 19, 1998 to December 23, 1998
-Six; Jan. 1,1999 to August 22, 1999.
-Seven; Sept. 2001 to Jan, 2002.
Back to Ryan's Rant of the Week
Welcome summer!!!
I have to say taht I have been utterly crushed by the onset of warm weather. My motivation to work even has been replaced by an overwhelming urge to go outside and play.
In the summer I love to be outside. Hiking, biking, swimming, walking, reading a book on the grass. In the winter I spend a lot of time wishing it were summer and walking outside anyway, even though it's cold. If I had my ice skates I'm sure that the rink down the street would get more attention in the winter.
My main problem right now is that I had a workout buddy last year who had a similar schedule to me, we both worked at night for the most part and so we would hang in the day time, doing all sorts of great outdoor activities and then go to work.
Now I work days, when all of the recreational activities go on in a big city apparently, and then in the evening the friends whom I spend my time with are all tired from their day or don't seem to want to do anything workout-ish, and frankly I am often tired from a day of work as well.
So I think that we should start a movement, one where we all get to enjoy the sunshine and yet go to work in comfort. Be outside in the heat and play and be active and healthy during the day, and work at night.
I would suggest that we move the regular work week from 9-5 to 4-midnight. That way we can play in the sun, then get home and sleep or do laundry and then sleep, and then go out in the day time, go to shops and stores, play in the park etc. And go to work more envigorated, and energized from a day of activity and fun. We'd be more efficient and effective and we'd all be a lot happier people. Who wants to be out an about in the dark anyway, why not spend the hours that most people spend watching brain-killing tv shows like Lost and Survivor doing work and being productive.
I mean how can we be expected to be productive and effective when we spend the best part of our day indoors working and the evenings indoors watching tv? Although maybe it's about lifestyle choices. Like I biked to work today when I could have just as easily taken the bus and metro. I walked around last night with my cousin when we could have taken a cab. I biked to church and then went for a ride with a friend who chose to blade while I biked, instead of taking a bus. Casue it was gorgeous out.
So maybe we don't exactly have to move the work day but it would provide more opportunity and motivation for us to be healthier and let us spend out time more effectively.
Just a thought.
Email me at ryan_fea@hotmail.com
I was in mall the other day coming back from buying some computer parts, and I stopped in the magazine store in the Place Ville Marie building downtown. When I stopped in I grabbed an orange juice and a pack of gum and took them to the counter.
Once I got to the cash register I said hello and asked the cahier how she was doing that day. It came as a shock to me when she responded with a surprised and somewhat confused look on her face... and a bit of a stare. Then she informed me that she has just realised that it was the first time in quite a while that she could remember anyone asking her how she was or even saying hello.
This, of course, spawned a short coversation about how the downtown of a city the size of Montreal should be more friendly. No one had said hello to this woman for several days if not longer and there had to have been at least several hundred people in there in the past several days. I mean we're talking about a mall passage that has, literally, thousands of people walk by there every day. It stands to reason that even more walk by in the winter time as this underground mall passage is part of the underground city, and series of interconnected malls, shops, cinemas, restaurants, métros, the train station and promenades that are connected through underground tunnels and passages that spans a few dozen square kilometers, and it's winter. Anyway, suffice it to say that there are thousands of peopel wandering by there every day.
So what's wrong with this city? Or is it the city? Think about it, there are thousands of people wondering around and they completely miss that there are other people around. Are we so completely busy, pre-occupied, distracted, or self-absorbed that we can't even ask another humanbeing how they are, or at least say hi?
Have we become so busy that we can't remember to practice the smaller details of social descency? Or are we so aware of the hollowness of attempting to use those little curticies? Are we so tired of saying things that we don't really mean that we've just stopped?
If it is the latter I don't think that it's a conscious decision. Since we have people noticing the lack of those politenesses. At the least it's not a societal thing, since we haven't all decided to throw away the commonly held conception that you should say hello to someone before expecting them to perform a service for us. Some of us may even mean it when we ask someone who they are doing. Although it is often obvious that most people don't.
This becomes frustrating and is possibly why many people have stopped with the common greetings altogether. If no one else cares how you are why ask how they are right? Well maybe if we all kept it up, didn't over use it, but actually meant it when we asked one person a day how they were, and made sure to great peopel who are there to help us when we expect something done for us with a polite attitude and maybe even a smile, then we would get those smiles back.
Frankly, I am not the little ball of sunshine I once was, but I know I still appreciate a smile from someone around me.
So go ahead, do yourself a favour and say hi to someone and mean it, ask someone how they're day's going, heck smile at a random stranger in a well lit public place with lots of people (no sense in getting mugged or worse right? - frienly not stupid). We could even make a new friend here or there, even if it's just that guy who rides the same bus to work every morning who starts saving you a seat, or the restauranteur who always remembers your favorite sandwich, you can have allies in the world around you, just by being polite. It works for me most of the time.
Tyr it out, the worst thing that'll happen is that you'll get better service at your lunch-hour sandwich bar... or you'll accidentally pick up the hot waiter.
Happy St. Valentines Day everyone, I hope yours is better than his was,
Email me at ryan_fea@hotmail.com
So I've now gone an entire year without making a new rant, sorry about that.
Apparently while I wasn't commenting on it, the world didn't think I was watching either. I have a question for you, but it a long one, and it requires a story first.
There a country in this story, it's a diverse country that has a real problem with itself. A real chip on its shoulder you could say. There are many kind of people who live there but it is rampant with racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism, which are all quite systemic. Even the government participates in the proliferation of all of these.
Well, this country, most obviously driven primarily by financial interests and secondly by a desparate lack of national self-esteem, decided that they were superior to other countries. In fact they have on several occasions, in the recent past, consistantly pushed around their neighbouring countries, and violated the will of the Uniter Nations repeatedly.
The next thing they did was to declare war on a smaller country that was not a major world power, and forceably occupied it. All the while proclaiming that they knew what was best for the world and that they needed to bring their way of life and their philosophy to this backward country.
Their next step was to set up a provisional government with regional representatives who were figure heads in name only, to try to substantiate their claim on the country, and then make all the decisions without that government's input anyway. Policing, arresting, and enforcing based on their the foreign power's ideals and sociopolitical philosophies.
SO what was next you ask? People started to try to resist this occupation. Who wouldn't? Someone has just taken over your country, killed your leaders, bombed the hell out of your people and cities, and tried to tell you that their guns on your streets, and the annihilation of your way of life, just to have it replaced with their's (which doesn't seem to be working out smoothly in their own country), frequently killing innocent civilians, many of them children: is all for your own good.
So once the local population has gotten tired of the bullying, to say the least, and by bullying I do mean shootings, bombings and random arrests, and the start rebelling, the visiting states... I mean state, starts to round up mass numbers of "trouble makers." These trouble makers are placed in large camps, where they are kept concentrated in one place and under control.
Well I have to stop telling this story, as I am getting creeped out, but my question is as follows: Am I talking about The United States over the last year, or Nazi German in the Second World War?
They both thought that what they are doing is for the better of the world, they both thought that their way of life was superior to that of all others, and they both wanted finincial control of the resources that they used. And they were both allowed to get away with it, by their own people because of an enormous need for national self-esteem.
My point is that the United States wouldn't let any other country behave like this, I mean they even joined in with the second world war after it was clear that the germans were going to lose, and every other country in the world had lost good lives and equipement for a good long time... well maybe the states is just slow... I don't know. Are they even aware that they are doing exactly the same thing as countries that they have themselves invaded and then left, in order to stop an occupation of another's country. And they aren't even doing it tactfully. Which I will not tell anyone how to do, for all I know there could be world leaders reading this, just waiting to impose their way of life on others.
One last thought, I'm going to do something that gets most people in states accused of being a traitor, quote thier President. On a recent trip to England, when faced with protesters and picketing, George W. said something along the lines of "it's just good to be in a country the has freedom of speech." While his staff would no doubt, if they are worth their salt (and I think they are, cause they try to keep him away from domestic policy), try to say he was comparing England to Iraq before the occuaption... if they could think of it fast enough, but the tone of voice, the timing, and the inflection all gave me the distinct thought that he was talking about the USA.
Now I like the states as my neighbour, we don't always see eye-to-eye, but I do hope that all of my american friends get their right to freedom of speech back one of these days. In the mean time REM can feel free to stay with us in Canada. They ROCK!!!
Happy Winter Everybody!!
Ryan
Email me at ryan_fea@hotmail.com
Well, it's definitely winter now. There is snow on the ground and it is here to stay. Which makes sense cause it's nearly December and I'm in Canada. :)
Anyway I know that with the end of summer and the onset of winter many people can start feeling the winter blues, the holiday season is especially bad for some people, as it can be very isolating. Everyone is indoors all day and the sun is often missing from the skies all day. It's cold and you have to cram yourself into crowds of people when you are doing anything social, because no one wants to be outside.
Well there are some things that you can do to help yourself with that. One, make sure and invite people over to do stuff. If you do it first then you won't have to brave the cold, cause they are all coming to your place, not to mention if you have apotluck or something then you will get most of the leftovers and you won't have to cook for a week.
There is also the issue of being active and energized, it's a good idea to make sure that you are getting enough sleep, but also staying active. Go for a walk when it's nice out, well nice for winter anyway, bundle up and have a stroll. There are also, enormous malls in most major cities, and some smaller ones, where (if you live in those urban centres) you can take off your coat and walk around for hours. You don't need to buy anything, although I am sure that they want you to, you can window shop or just walk up and down the mall. People watching is fun there in the winter time. All of the hotties you see out in the summer time looking all buff and stuff will probably be in the mall looking for fabulous sales for summer clothes and stylish winter stuff.
I'm sure that you can think of several things to keep yourself happy and active in the winter, there are sometimes winter carnivals that you can go to, with ice sculptures and contests for the best impression of Jack Frost or Frosty the Snowman.
HOLY %$#@ I just checked out the local forcast on environment Canada's website. It looks like it's supposed to be abover freezing for the next four days so maybe the snow isn't quite here to stay for the winter... or is it? that's the problem with winter it's so uncertain, even about it's own weather.
Anyway good luck, and be careful out there, salt eats your shoes and those icey patches are a real hazard. But gosh darn it that doesn't mean that you can't still make a snowman on you lunch break. Is that a carrot nose or a carrot...?
Happy Winter Everybody!!
Ryan
Email me at ryan_fea@hotmail.com
Winter is fast approaching and there are a lot of things going on in the world. I have oft had this cross my mind, and sorry if isn't the deepest topic for such a long break from ranting, -although I think it highly important- but does it HAVE to be the top's responsibility ALL the time to bring the condoms and lube?
I really don't want to get into the details about my own sexual proclivities, but I have noticed that there seems to be the idea in the world that it is the person doing the penetrating that is expected to provide condoms and lube. Even in straight relationships, the one doing the entering is always the one expected to bring the gear. The same, I've noticed, with the gay community. If you're the one doing the inserting you seem to be expected to bring the protection.
This of course is not what I would call fair. I mean sure they are the ones putting something inside of someone else, but really, isn't it everyone's responsibility? The people who are having something put inside of them, one would think, have a responsibility as well -both to themselves and their partner.
Now I know that everyone has a choice when it comes to sex, as to whether or not to practice it using safer sex practices. That's not what I am trying to talk about. What I mean is that if someone finds it important to practice safer sex, (it is something I would encourage - since resposibility is a good thing in my mind - no one is perfect I know that - I'm not judging here I mean it!!), then it would make sense to me for both people share the responsibility of providing the necessary supplies.
Is it fair for the bottom to take the stance that since the other person does the inserting that they are responsible for the lubricant and the condoms? Sure they should have condoms and lube, but why not the bottom too? I mean they are getting their rocks off too.
Heck often the top is the one doing most of the work, making sure that both people are having fun - don't tell me they aren't either cause I know better. Why should the bottom, not doing the majority of the work, but getting just as much and sometimes more enjoyment out of it, not have an equal responsibility to provide condoms and lube as well?
I've noticed the attitude with many a lot of gay man that "if you're gonna fuck me then you have to bring the condoms." And that sounds fair at first until you realise that condoms, and lubricant, cost money. Yes you can get free condoms and lube here there and everywhere, but they aren't always the best brands and they aren't always the right size or feel or whatnot... there are a lot of condoms out there - they are fun to try all of by the way. So sometimes there is a great deal of expense involved, and when you are having sex more frequently supplying that can get pricey. Lube is like, what 7-50 dollars a bottle depending on the brand (there are some really slippery price ranges for ya-, and condoms range from 7-12 dollars or so a pack. Imagine being the only one to buy those when you have a regular sex partner or sex on a regular basis, or both, and being the only one providing the protection. If you have sex once a day, 30 times a month, that's 30 condoms -3 boxes- and at least a couple bottle of lube or more. So that's about 70 dollars a month on condoms and lube, give or take a little.
So not everyone has sex once a day but even half as much is 35 dollars a month and so why not share that cost and make it 17.50 each? You know? Share the fun; share the costs.
Guys, if you're into getting that g spot stimulated you should at least try sharing the costs involved in rubbing you the right way. Now tops, that's not taking you off the hook. You're getting your jollies too so poney up the cash. But basically if you're going to have sex and you expect there to be protection, have some available... both of you. Besides it will avoid the annoying occurance of someone running out and someone else not having any.
Email me at ryan_fea@hotmail.com
Okay so it's been longer than a week this time. Sorry people. I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day. I also hope that you are having good times no matter what you are up to.
So what to rant about. Let's try people who think that they are more important than than really are.
I can hear several people out there saying "huh?" I'll explain, maybe with an example. Let's take this guy at work a couple of weeks ago. He's a supervisor in the training portion of the place I am trying to get out of with another job... any other job would do. I'll call him Martin, cause that's his name. Anyway he started in on the training group one day when he took over for our regular trainer, and he acted like he was some drill sergeant in the millitary. If it hadn't been somewhat funny I would have up and quit my job just to not have to deal with that guy.
He was litterally all "I'm your supervisor! I'm the boss! Look at me when I am talking to you!" It has always bothered me when people think that you have to be staring at them to be paying attention. I, personally, don't like it when people act like I should be defferring to them just because they are in the room when I have seen no reason to give them the slightest bit of respect... and they're disrespecting me and demanding that I kiss their ass? That's rediculous.
Some people just need attitude adjustments. They think that they can be rude to everyone else by pushing them around and mouthing off to us all. It's annoying to say the least. And I think that they next time someone cuts me attitude like that I'll just leave the room. Or bitch-slap them. Maybe get some sense back into their arrogant and artificially inflated heads.
But whatever, I suppose that some people think that in order to feel good about themselves they have to delude themselves into thinking that they have the right to push people around. Or at least try to convinice themselves of that. Some people just don't get it that in order to be respected that you need to earn the respect of others.
Of course that isn't something that is all that foreign to the gay community either. The usual gay boy thing of thinking that one can just be a bitch to everyone for no reason and think that there should be no reason for people to dislike them for it. It's so annoying when people think that they can give you attitiude just for walking into the room. And then how they react to finding out that they aren't all that and that you couldn't care less what they think, they get all huffy. And suddenly you're a bad guy cause your mere pressence pointed out how pathetic and stupid they are acting.
One of the worst examples of people who thin that they are more important than they really are, other than rich people, are fag hags. You know those straight women who think that they run the world just because they ghet hang out with or be best friends with a gay boy. Now I'm not referring to fruit flies, the sane and very cool girls who just happen to like hanging out with gay boys, I'm talking about those obsessed fag chasers who will eventually die alone and barren, cranky, old women, who think that they will eventually end up sleeping with some poor fag who has no idea exactly how nuts this woman is. These fag-hags think that they are the reason these boys exist. Just so that she can be cool, "My best friend is a fag so I'm cool." They're the type to think that they run the poor little fella's life and be VERY protective. Mostly of them being happy with another man cause god forbid that he be happy with someone else, since she might lose her little hold over controlling his life. They tend to be somewhat hostile no matter what. They also tend to fail in thier heterosexual relationships quite a bit. Since they are too busy being cranky to worry about being nice to anyone let alone their boyfriends. They usually get dumped cause they are too much of a bitch for anyone to feel obligated to be around, since most people in a relationship feel that they should spend time with their significant other. It's just too hard to spend time with someone who acts like a complete btich all the time.
So the point is if you are one of those people who thinks that they should act like a jerk or a bitch and that you are justified in doing so just be virtue of being you, you should either think again or at least be at ease with the idea of no one really taking that much pleasure in being around you for very long.
Email me at ryan_fea@hotmail.com
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