Canadians, Start Counting Your Bytes

So the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission approved a measure that allows internet providers to instate usage based billing (UBB). This means Canadians could be charged for their internet usage per byte.

On one hand this might decrease my dependency on facebook-- significantly. On the other hand, I spend a fair amount of time researching academic journals online. While the libraries at my disposal again and again prove their immense value, some of the stuff is just online (and of course only accessible because of the fantastic library systems here).

A Question or Two

What does this mean for the burgeoning field of digital humanities in Canada? Will digital innovation become more expensive, more difficult to engage in because more funding is required?

What does this mean for activist organizations that use the internet to engage a larger community, to advertise events, to hold forums across the nation and the globe?

What does this mean for libraries, institutions already stretched thin for funding, that provide free internet access?

What does this mean for people who need to use free internet resources in order to apply for jobs, apply for income assistance, search for housing?

Safe guards?

Luckily, in Canada, the government seems keen on safe guards. What this means for independent internet providers in Canada is that they only get a 15% discount on the rates from the major internet providers, inhibiting the abilities of smaller internet providers to sell competitive rate packages. Okay, even the safe guards aren't that great.

What can I do? Let Your "Voice" Be Heard:

So check out this site and sign the petition with openmedia. The CRTC has also received videos and letters from concerned Canadians. Productive and constructive creativity is encouraged!

Moving In and Catching Up

This past weekend, I chucked my life into a truck and hauled what seems like a disproportionate amount of "stuff" to our new home. Now this "stuff" all seemed too important to let go of at the time, and while our ample storage space accommodates such mysterious accumulation, I can't help but ask myself why I have this much "stuff." The excuses piled on. Do any of these sound familiar to you?

Excuses:

1) I'm emotionally attached to this "stuff";

2) I might need it someday;

3) I've used it before... (okay, years ago, but still...); and

4) I don't have time to sift through it all right now.

Calling myself out:

So a couple days later, sitting in a thing-filled (though large and happy) apartment, I find myself reflecting on these excuses.

1) "Emotionally Attached"

If I don't remember I have something until I open the rust (and dust) lined box, how emotionally attached am I really? If, instead of opening the box I had simply hucked the container and its contents I would have had one less thing to pack, one less thing to unpack, and would have been none the wiser of what I was "missing."

2) "Future Need"

When will I need this box full of sidewalk chalk? And if I ever do need it, why can't I just pick up another box from the dollar store?

3) "Past Use"

This excuse helps to justify excuse number two when it comes to once well-used items. For example, I can probably throw out those two year old pair of running shoes. They were useful two years ago, but the ones I have now are useful... now.

4) "No time"

If I had time to pack the misc. and unknown items that are languishing in two boxes in the apartment, then I probably had time to donate them as well.

* Please note that this article does not pertain to the pathological hording of books which 1) are endowed with significant emotional attachment (especially when laden with notes, a special edition, or just... you know, you read it) 2) will always come in handy at some point in the future, 3) were obviously helpful in the past (hence will be helpful in the future), and 4) seem to overflow to the point where it would be more time consuming to sift through them and determine which ones I could pry from the new bookshelf we had to get because of my book hoarding.

Accessible Education

I can't help but be passionate about accessible education. In the last two years I've embarked on a journey of un-learning traditional learning methods and re-learning the importance of a multitude of learning styles, needs, and places of learning. Learning has changed my life and I am privileged to witness the way learning changes lives outside of my own, the way it can empower people in the moment of learning and in the rest of their lives. So if learning is so powerful, why not make it accessible to everyone who wants to learn? Why not reduce barriers to education, open 'alternative' spaces of learning, and adapt education models to suit a variety of needs? Why not foster a learning environment that encourages individual talents and interests to grow?

Why do these demands sound so unreasonable?

Okay, so I'm asking a North American education model to revamp the way it functions and to reconsider the economic principles it is based on. But I'm not the only one asking. Check out:

Ken Robinson's entertaining (really, he's very funny) 2006 TED Talk.

In this video, he expounds upon the need to re-imagine education and foster creativity instead of punishing creativity, and how these steps ultimately remove similar, significant barriers to education. To me, this is such an inspiring video and I can barely wait to chat about it with you via the next post and comment section.

Accessible Education? You bet I'm all in for this idea.

Burgers-- tasty, tasty burgers

An American Creation Perfected In Canada

Yes, you can thank America for the marvelous invention of the hand-held, ground beef patty. Apparently rapid industrialization of the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries signaled the horizon of more than just literary Modernism (though I'm not sure what more you'd need). Industrialization and urbanization stimulated the demand for quick and portable food. According to Pam Fessler of NPR, the origin of the hamburger is hotly contested by hamburger-ites across America. Some say it originated in a diner in Connecticut, others link it to a vendor in Wisconsin, and still others tie the innovation of buns-as-meat-holder to two vendors at the the World's Fair in St. Louis, MO.

Wherever its origins lie, the burger is now a staple in North American cuisine often gussied up in teriyaki sauce, bacon, mushrooms, cheese, pineapple, pickles, and even doughnuts. The burger's versatility is part of its brilliance. And though America may claim the roots of the burger, I believe Victoria has perfected it.

Where to Sample Victoria's Burgers

Looking for a burger joint? You will not be disappointed here. Victoria is home to some of the tastiest burgers starting with Pink Bicycle, a gourmet burger restaurant with a catchy name, hip atmosphere, and prime location in the heart of downtown. Try their truffle fries (seriously, they're delicious) with their Blue Flame Beef burger, topped with blue cheese and chili mayonnaise. Go early to snag a seat. Pink Bicycle has been open for more than a year, but still draws a crowd.

Spinnakers Brewpub makes some of the best french fries in Victoria. They are thin, flavorful, not too greasy, with a little bit of crunch. The pub is a little out of the way for bike bound folk on the other side of the Johnson Street Bridge, but it's worth the trip if you're hankering of a solid burger (nothing fancy), excellent fries, and even better beer.

My good friend and burger connoisseur claims Smith's Pub flips the best patty. Smith's, a traditional British pub, is located right across from the Victoria Public Library, and while patrons crowd the bar on the weekends, you're bound to find a table during the day and most weekday nights.

But if you want the ultimate, delicious burger...

While Pink Bicycle may offer the fancy burger, Spinnakers the fries, and Smith's a solid, standard, homemade patty, the place I go to satisfy my burger lust is Fifth Street Bar and Grill. When I'm looking for a juicy, flavorful, rich burger that melts in my mouth I know enough to order the fire-grilled barbecue buffalo burger at this bustling restaurant/bar in the Quadra Village area.

My partner and I wandered down last night for the burger and Canucks game and lucky found a seat in the bar on a busy Friday night. I forgot my camera, and we tried to take a picture of the glory that is the buffalo, but couldn't quite capture the lighting needed on a smart phone and couldn't quite avoid the strange looks from other patrons. But the buffalo burger, a patty, homemade with meat marinated in barbecue sauce nearly melts in your mouth. The chipotle-mayonnaise sauce adds just the right zing, and the classic lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickle toppings lend that fleeting sense that you are meeting your veggie needs as well. Be prepared to get a little messy, though I think that's part of the delicious gestalt of this burger experience.

What's your favorite burger? What are you looking for in a burger? And have you ever been to Fifth Street Bar and Grill? What did you think?

I hope you enjoyed this post and get a chance to try a couple of these burger joints along your own all in journey!

All In

A New Inspiration for a New Year

(Who or what inspired you this year?)

This year, inspiration for my new year's resolution sprung from a kitten named Tucker. Tucker refuses to do things half-way. If a toy mouse catches his eye, he focuses all his energy on playing. When you pet him, he likes to touch your nose with his and gets so into the petting that he will forget himself entirely and bite your nose (lovingly of course). And when he sleeps, he sleeps; you just can't wake him up. Whatever Tucker does, he does it with all his little heart. He is all in, and this year, I want to be "all in" too.

Maintaining Momentum by Sustaining Passion

One of my biggest challenges is maintaining momentum. Maybe you find this a struggle too. As the days go by, my enthusiasm for exercising, waking up early, or writing daily wanes, and as my enthusiasm wanes so does my drive to develop new habits. After reading a few productivity blogs (excellent ones include Zen Habits by Leo Babauta and Sid Savara's Personal Development Training blog), it seemed that maybe one of my problems had to do with my hesitation to jump in with all my heart. Yes, exercising will be good for me, but if I have better things to do or if I have a "heavy" workload then I can skip the gym. Sure it's nice to wake up early, but what if I'm really tired? Writing daily sounds nice, but what if I'm not inspired. I built in excuses that predicted and precipitated failure. This mentality refuses to be "all in," refuses to wager and risk and to allow passion to unfold. Rather, it kept me one foot in and one foot out, only half committing to the goals I set before me.

Instead of predicting failure, "all in" means predicting adventure, happiness, and personal success through hard work and maintaining momentum. It means finding the toy mouse and playing with it till I'm exhausted and then doing it again the next day and the day after that and so on. It means putting myself out there, risking failure but predicting success.

All In-- So What?

What "all in" means to me is committing to be present, committing to be engaged, and committing to live a full and joyful life. What "all in" means for this blog is a commitment to regular posts about living a passionate and present life and looking forward to sharing these adventures with you and hearing about yours as well.

As a current Master's student treading in the world of English literature and TA-ing, posts might include a bit about fantastic books, teaching practices, productivity, delicious foods, events in and around Victoria, and maybe a little bit about politics when I just can't help myself. Hopefully this will be a space for all of us to explore different topics, different passions, and be inspired to be a little more like Tucker.

This is a new path for me (and for Tucker too since he's only 8 months old), and one I hope you'll join us on.

Thanks for stopping in! Tune in for Saturday's fun and fluffy blurb about diving "all in" for the best burger in Victoria. Warning: this may be contentious.