Print Edition: November 6, 2013
Just give me the money
This Halloween, I heard a couple of stories in which people just handed out loonies or toonies at the door instead of candy or healthy substitutes (pencils, apples, etc.). I was surprised – I guess it might be cheaper and less labour-intensive than going out and purchasing boxes of candy, much of which is later (or pre-emptively) consumed by the purchaser, but it seems to make an already consumer-tainted celebration even more meaningless. We’re not even enjoying the process – it’s just the social custom to hand something out at the door.
But I guess this just follows a growing trend of giving money instead of gifts. Instead of really thinking about what someone would like, or what the meaning behind a holiday is, we’re just meeting expectations. How hard is it to stuff a 20 into a store-bought card?
Not that candy is all that meaningful. I guess I’d just like to see holidays go back to the other kind of green.
![senate-opinion]](http://ufvcascade.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/senate-opinion.png)
Keep the Senate
The Prime Minister appoints senators. Not so good when we’ve got the government we have, but democratizing the senate won’t help. Not in today’s politics, which is more about buying and selling votes than the common good. Democratizing the Senate will pour more money into unneeded elections, election scandals, and landfills of lawn signs.
At the same time, we need the Senate to stick around. The job of the Senate is to take a second look and examine bills under public review. Even if they’re a rubber stamp from the PM, they are a necessary speed bump before bills become law.
However, the Senate does need reform. First, a pay-cap. There are plenty of experienced and educated Generation Y-ers out there who could do a great job in the Senate, and they don’t need $135,000 a year, they’d be fine with $60,000 and some dental care.  We should focus on a good clean fight next election; get the Blue Tories out of power, and make this country more honest and stable for everyone at every age – not just the fat cats at the top.
Why does healthy food taste so bad?Â
My mom is always trying to eat healthier and she always tries to hook me into participating. I’m not against healthy food or anything, but when I eat I want to enjoy my meal. Who would actively pass up fettucini alfredo or steak and potatoes for steamed fish and vegetables? Not I, my friends! My relationship with good food is still going strong after 18 years, and I’m not willing to give it up for fewer calories.
I would appreciate science even more should researchers be looking for a solution to improve either the nutrition quality of fatty (delicious) food or the taste of healthier food. Technology has progressed so far, and yet we are still unable to find a delicious balance between flavour and healthiness? Spices can only do so much; we shouldn’t expect them to carry the burden of trying to make bland nutrition delicious. If good-for-you food tasted like full-fat, full-carb items, then I’m sure people everywhere wouldn’t cringe at the sight of it; but as long as it continues to have that grainy, earthy, dissatisfying flavor, then it shall never appease my selective palate.
Too old to play video games?
What do you mean I’m too old for video games? If I want to log over 100 hours into a single game, that should be my decision. Do I think it’s a waste of time?
Of course.
I know those 100 hours could have been spent doing other things, but I don’t play video games because I want to be productive. I play them to zone out, to catch up on my couch-potato duties, and to relax.
Some people read. Some people hike. Some people scrapbook. I game. Why don’t the other hobbies have negative stigma?
It feels like I’m still stuck in the 90s, when gamers were labelled computer geeks, and expected to conform to the image of a skinny, greasy, pimple-faced male who will still be living in his mother’s basement at age 30.
I especially enjoy the stabs by those who sit on their couch all evening and weekend watching TV.
In a digital society, you’d think this view of gamers would have changed.
