5 reasons to ditch your TV

1. You have a computer. I know you do, because you’re reading this and I won’t believe that you’re reading it on your phone. Everything a TV could do, a computer could do.

2. It’s bulky. It is.

3. You have goals. This isn’t to say that you’re not working on your goals because you have a TV, but what if you didn’t? Would you spend more time taking a class, reading, getting in shape? Probably.

4. You have relationships. Spend the time building them. Turn off the TV and talk to each other.

5. It doesn’t matter. That sounds pretty bleak, but I have a television that isn’t hooked up to a cable network. When people ask me if I’ve seen that new show about 15 people vying for one cocky jerk, the one where10 brides-to-be fighting over plastic surgery so they can look “perfect” for their wedding, or the one that follows a bunch of socialite housewives as they spend their husband’s money, I’m relieved to say I haven’t. Sure, it’s entertainment, but if it wasn’t there, would you do more things that matterd?

Breaking News Bulletin

News Release

A Young t-shirted bear has stepped forward today claiming to be a long lost cousin to Slacker, the somewhat eccentric, accented English speaking bear of YouTube fame.

Speaking with her lawyer at her side, the young bear known as “Clipper” stated that she has known about her relationship to Slacker for some time now but was afraid to come forward fearing the mob of press hounds. When asked about her anonymity in a normally open and populous community that the bears inhabit, Clipper responded by saying she was separated at birth from her family and was raised by sea otters. This claim appears to be backed up by a higher than normal affinity for the water, particularly sea water and a slight briny scent that can be noticed on her fur.

Clipper insists that she has no desire to lay any claim to what some sources say is Slackers’ considerable fortune and only wishes to reestablish contact with someone she can share a latte and the occasional smelt or dried herring.

Sources close to Slacker say that he is somewhat surprised by the claims made by Clipper but with his usual southern manner is taking it all in stride. Slacker himself could not be reached for comment.

Stay tuned as our affiliate in Hamilton reports from Slackers residence.

———————
*I did not write this, but I did receive it in my inbox

****Update****

News Release
At a hastily called press conference this morning the mysterious Clipper, as she has become known to the adoring public, revealed that she will journey to Calgary via Toronto this weekend in hopes of setting up a rendezvous with her recently discovered cousin Slacker of YouTube fame. It is rumored that Slacker will be in Calgary sometime during the month of February.
A stunned hush fell over this reporter as Clipper revealed that her christened name is Victoria Clipper and that her brother Otto, of the long distance speed swimming Otters, will accompany her on the trip. Victoria stood somewhat timidly behind her brother, who looked resplendent holding his last endurance race medal. She appeared to rely on him for emotional support.
When asked if she would submit to a DNA test, where did she learn to speak English, and has she been in contact with Slacker, she replied that the “questions are making me feel uncomfortable”.
Thus ended the press conference.

Books I’d Like to Read

I’m hoping to get back into the swing of reading – something I’ve lost touch of ever since Twitter came along. I realize being on Twitter involves reading, but I trust you know what I mean.

The following is a list of books I’d like to read or think I should read… or listen to on my iPod. Have you read them (or happen to have the audio files for them, hmmm?) and have any feedback?

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The Art of Leadership by Max DePree
Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki
Brand Royalty by Matt Haig
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore
First Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham
Harry Potter: The Story of a Global Business Phenomenon by Susan Gunelius (re-read)
Level Three Leadership by James G. Clawson.
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina
Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Six Thinking Hats by Edward De Bono
StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Trust Agents by Julien Smith and Chris Brogan
Unmarketing by Scott Stratten

Also I would like to read something by Soren Kierkegaard, and am just waiting on which book would be the best for me to read.

And also -
Into the Wild by John Krakauer
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
What is the What by Dave Eggers

I also seem to be under the impression that I have nothing but time…

New blog, same mediocre writing

Welcome to the NEW www.ispeakcanadian.com! Yes, that’s right! New, but really not improved – well, a little bit because now it’s WordPress! Why the change from Blogger? Well, Blogger and YouTube are both now owned by Google. Both of those websites use different accounts of mine and I couldn’t be signed into both simultaneously. As most of my posts contain videos, I was constantly being kicked out of one site or the other. Oh Google. How you should have thought of this.

Anyhoodle, I think you might need to re-subscribe by RSS if you roll like that, and on this one you can subscribe by email.  (Mom, you’re looking for the “Sign me up!” button on the bottom right. Over there —>)

Looking back, looking forward

I love the end and beginning of the year, solely because reflecting on the past 12 months is always so much fun! Here is my personal 2010 roundup -

My year in numbers
5165 tweets sent
28 videos uploaded
27 years completed successfully
14 trapeze sessions taken
8   months spent with the love of my life
7  organizations volunteered at
6  events planned
5  weddings attended
3  events emceed
4  other countries visited
2  other Canadian cities visited
2  trips to the US

My 2011 goals in numbers
10 books to read
15 “AFI Top 100″ movies to watch (to complete my list!)
1+ events to emcee (I don’t have anything lined up yet though!)
4 trips to take (at least!)
1 course to take (which one? Who knows!)
1 new regular volunteering opportunity

My non-numerical 2011 goals
Film more videos with Michelle and others
Film more videos with Slacker
Learn more about love
Save more for retirement
Take more pictures
Write more – blog, journal and letters
Think long-term with decisions
Do everything in my power to have the best year of my life!!

I made a list like this last year, and it was pretty weak, but I managed to do ALL OF THEM!

Strangest Scam Ever

Have you ever wanted to go to work and be showered in gifts all day long? That is what’s happening at my workplace right now. Strangely, they’re being sent to someone who no longer works with us.

Let’s call her Sheila. Sheila realizes one day that her Facebook account has been tampered with, and then receives a call from J.C. Penny asking if she had ordered something from Sephora (Sephora took over J.C. Penny makeup counters about 4 years ago). She thought the man on the phone was trying to scam her into something, so didn’t give him much info and didn’t get any from him. No, she hadn’t ordered something from Sephora, and so they let her go after mentioning they had retrieved her phone number from our corporate website. 15 minutes later, a package shows up… from Sephora at J.C. Penny. Our receptionist/front door staff unknowingly sign for it and it’s all of a sudden in our possession. 

Sheila now doesn’t work there anymore and the packages continue to come. When I say this, I mean that in two weeks our receptionist has turned away “8 or 9″ packages, while 7 have slipped through the cracks when taken to one of our other buildings.

Her former assistant has called J.C. Penny who insists that these are legitimate purchases and that they can’t really do anything about it. Or the person who she is calling (whose name is on the package) no longer works there. The local police have been informed, and visited today for the first time, two weeks later. Sheila’s credit card has never been charged for these packages.

Potentially more than 16 packages that have been paid for have been delivered by someone who doesn’t work at J.C. Penny to someone who doesn’t work at my organization within the last two weeks.  And you want to know what’s in the packages? Well, we opened one and it was a gift. In gift wrapping.

Who could possibly benefit in this scam?!

Slacker Has a Message