So newly re-elected extortionist...er, I mean "mayor", David Miller, is looking to tax commuters to Toronto, via a surcharge on public parking.

 

 http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_5624.aspx

 

 You gotta love this guy. He's got a TON of class. Too bad it's all LOW. I wonder WHY he didn't pitch this idea BEFORE the election? Maybe because it would have sent him, to the bottom of the electoral food chain, perhaps? Na. I'm just being paranoid. I'm sure it's all just a coincidence.

 

 Miller says he sees this as a way to "convince" people, to take the transit instead of their own vehicles. I think the phrase "strong arm", is far, more appropriate. He ALSO claims, he's doing this as a means to reduce smog. Which, if you are schooled in "political-speak", literally translates to, "I want MORE of your money. The likes of which, I'll spend recklessly. Just as before".

 

 Obviously, Miller hasn't taken any of Toronto's public transit in the last ten years. If he had, he'd CLEARLY see why people opt for taking their own vehicles. This despite the already astronomically high cost of gas and parking. Toronto's public transit vehicles didn't get the nickname "Vomit Comet" for nothing. They're slow, congested, filthy, and most importantly, DANGEROUS. Take it from me. A person who has had three TTC bus and streetcar drivers in their family. Ask any one of them, or any of the current drivers. Quite often, you take your life into your very hands, just boarding one. I've observed firsthand, unstable mental patients go completely off the charts psycho, just a few seats away. Or been harassed by drunken rowdys. Think any of the other terrified passengers are going to come running to your aid to help you, should something like this occur? Think again. They'll be just as afraid as you are. And of course, there's always that one, delightful schmuck, that boards the bus or streetcar, and spends ten minutes trying to bargain his way into a free ride with the driver, because he shouldn't have to pay a fair like the rest of us.

 

 Mayor Miller? You get what you pay for. So even if you decide, in your infinite greed, to hike parking fees, I STILL WON'T TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT. Why? BECAUSE I VALUE MY PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, THAT'S WHY. So you can kiss my a$$. I'll just have to ride my motorcycle longer into the season, and when I am unable to, I'll take a damn cab. I'm not lining YOUR pockets, at the expense of MY health.

 

 "This has been a public service announcement, by the people with half a brain."

 

 Gh0sT

 

 I'm a firm believer that, occasionally, your subconscious speaks to you. Here's an example of what I'm refering to.

 

 With the riding season winding to a close, I was still at a loss, as to what to name my Kawasaki Ninja. In the course of my life, all my vehicles have had pet names. Always with some kind of story related to the choice. For example. My Hurst Oldsmobile 442 is appropriately named "Bad Omen", because I was almost killed in my first Hurst, and my second reincarnation of the original, has a nasty habit of being rear ended by careless drivers. So for the sake of sticking with tradition, I needed an appropriate name. Simpley picking one out of thin air, would just seem inappropriate to do.

 

 Now, here's where the story gets weird.

For the last few weeks, every time I headed out on the bike, I would have Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher", playing in my head. Over, and over, and over. Thing is, while I conceed they are chalked full of musical talent, I've never been a real mark for Van Halen. At least anything post-David Lee Roth, that is.

 

 Then suddenly, out of the blue, I made the connection tonight.

 

 I wasn't hearing that song repeatedly, for the sake of it just having a catchy beat. In fact, I didn't even own that piticular album. So therefore, I couldn't even play that song, if I wanted to. I was hearing it, because my brain was trying to get me to make the connection, between one person's life philosophy, and how I felt about my bike.

 

 In short.......What does David Lee Roth, and a Ninja sportbike have in common?

 

 Answer: Both, are just about "having a good time"!

 

 So from this day forth, in tribute to one man's philosophy, my bike will simpley be known, as "Diamond Dave".

 Here's to the innovator, of denimless chap-wearing!

 

 Gh0sT

 How about purchasing this nifty, little tree ornament, for your local Jane and Finch neighbour!

 

 http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_5544.aspx

 

 There are certain things in life, you DO NOT do.

 

 Piss against the wind, tug on Superman's cape, and lastly, HECKLE A COMIC.

 

 http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_5432.aspx

 

 Apperently, the young "African Americans" who attended Michael Richards' show, didn't understand the dynamics of a Comedy Club BEFORE they entered it. If they had, they may not have found themselves in the situation they were in. Or, just maybe, they purposely got themselves in that situation. We'll never know for sure. One thing I DO know is, they got their full, "15 minutes of fame", as they've been conducting televised interviews since about the incident.

 

 So for the sake of arguement, let me give you the 4-1-1, on the social structure of a comedy club.

 

 Firstly, the patrons in said club are, quite often, drunk. And occasionally, so are the performers. So that being said, almost anything can happen. Heckling, very often, is the end result. And it's no secret that, once you pipe off to a performer, you make yourself "fair game" for anything that comes from that performer's mouth. Occasionally, you may find youself in that situation, regardless. But especially, after they begin heckling. Just like these guys did, when they began telling Richards he was, "Not funny...Washed up...A has-been...". Etc, etc. You don't know the perfomer's personal limits. Some have been known to have almost none. But you take that chance when you heckle, and accept the risks.

 

 Here's an example...

 

 About seven years ago, I was in one such club. The Irish comedian was drunk, as was the one heckler in the front row. After a few minutes, the perfomer asks him, "What's your background?". "Italian", he says proudly. I gotta tell ya. The next five minutes, must have been the LONGEST in that guy's life. Every possible ethnic slur and joke imagineable, was tossed in his direction. "Typical f__king Wop. I bet you even have tomatoes and oregano growing in your backyard! You pizza-eating motherf__ker! Your got an Iroc parcked out outside as well?". But I give that Italian guy props. Because as the jokes grew worse, he just kept on laughing.

 

 Why did he laugh, and the African Americans didn't?

 

 Because he understood the dynamics, of what was transpiring.

 

 Now....Not to name name's, but there's been a laundry list of black comedians, who've made a fair dime off bashing everyone else BUT their own race. Much of that material VERY questionable, and "off the cuff". I'm curious to know WHY their names are not in the news as well?

 

 Curiously,

 

 Gh0sT

 

 

 Man....This guy is a piece of work:

 

 http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_5302.aspx

 

 Bono is alot of things. Self-rightous, self-congradulatory, holier-than-thou, cunningly deceitful, and an attention whore. Just to name a few. Now, we can add "Indian Giver" to the list.

 

 Bono claims, it's all about "principle". He makes that claim very often, and about alot of things involving himself.  Fact is, that couldn't be further from the truth. What really spurs Bono's behaviour, is, and has always been, two things. The first being, the never-ending need, to be the center of attention. The second being, of course, the accumulation of wealth. Neither of which he'd actually have, were it not for the North American market. Because, let's be honest. For the longest time, U2 was a major flop in Europe. It's only after they arrived on North American soil, that they actually began to make something of themselves.

 But how quickly I digress....

 

 I find it ironic, considering the insane amount of airtime this man actually receives, that the vast majority of the globe, is incapable of seeing past his transparant exterior. Or, what appears as so to myself. I can't get five minutes on the phone with my local M.P., regarding a serious concern in my neighbourhood. However, my Prime Minister, the man we elected to power, to govern over US, to look out for OUR needs, will pencil in an entire afternoon for THIS man. A musician, who doesn't even live here, and is completely ignorant of our country's issues at hand. Just so Bono can tell HIM, how to spend OUR money. Because apparently, there's no poverty, violence,  physical or mental illness in Canada. There's no debt, either. As a result, we're all swimming in the same degree of wealth he is. Even his own bandmates were quoted as saying, they were growing tired of Bono's antics. What does that tell you about what kind of person he is, when even his closest allies can barely tollerate him at times?

 

 The media, and our elected officials, need to pull their heads out of their a$$es, and stop catering to this glorified snakeoil salesman. He's not Christ-like. He doesn't have supernatural knowledge. He's not all-seeing, all-knowing. What he DOES have, is the ability to bewitch an audience. Apparently, even those with political clout.

 

 Course, so did Adolph Hitler. But that didn't make him right.

 

 And neither is Bono.

 

 "EVERYONE in Hollywood is genuine. REALLY!" :)

 

 Gh0sT xxx

 

 
 
 

....here's proof I'm STILL alive!!!

 Where have all the REAL men gone?

 

 This is a question I ponder with greater frequency, each and every time I turn on the television.

 

 It seems society has deemed the posession of masculine qualities, as something archaic and deviant to the social structure. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that, at this point in time, it's almost considered an abomination. But has anyone stopped to ask just WHY that is?

Keep in mind, when I say "masculine qualities", I'm not refering to anything unlawful. Beating your wife, bullying your neighbour, or any other antisocial, overly-testicular activities do not count. I'm merely refering to those qualities protrayed by men, even so little as two generations previous. Simple traits, like standing up for yourself physically, portraying the courage of your convictions, enjoying masculine hobbies, or displaying certain core beliefs, without feeling the need to apologize for them.

 

 And that's EXACTLY what it feels like society has come down to. Like when I first meet someone, I should also first apologize for my masculinity. "Hi. My name _____. I apologize for having a penis, while you don't.".

 

 Well, like much of what society spoon feeds us today, I think.....

 

 THAT'S THE BIGGEST, HYPOCRITICAL, CROCK OF S__T, I HAVE EVER HEARD.

 

 From my perspective, the problem lays not with the male gender, but with a society, that doesn't seem to know EXACTLY what it wants from it male participants. So is it any wonder WHY men today, are so utterly confused? The media portrays us, as overly-masculine, bumbling idiots (Think sitcom stars Ray Romano or Tim Allen). Neolythic throwbacks, incapable of thinking for ourselves, without the presence of a strong, female in our lives. Our worth is devauled, because of our inability/outright refusal to knit, practice yoga, watch ballet, or partake in any other "metrosexual" activities.

 

 At some point in time, the notion that all men could be all things, was brought about. The reality is, that's just not possible. There's a host of variables that come into place, from the time of his birth to his eventual death, which dictate a man's personal tastes, values, and core beliefs. Some may be pliable; some etched in stone. The point being, if the traits etched in stone, are not detrimental to the man physically, emotionally, mentally, or romantically, then why pressure him so badly to change? Especially if it puts him extremely out of his comfort zone, to the point of being psychologically taxing?

 

 In short...Exposing someone to change is good. Pushing it on them is bad. You wouldn't want it done to you. Don't do it them. And if you feel the need to change them that much, then maybe you should question the compatibility of your choice of mate.

 

 "My name is Gh0sT. I enjoy wearing tight, leather pants, and watching two guys beat the shit out of each other."

 

 :)