It's easy to start feeling glum this time of year with the excitement of the holyday season behind us and the New Year steadily progressing towards its conclusion.

Maybe you didn't quite stick to your resolutions, or the chaotic demands of the work week have gotten you down - let's face it, the dreary weather doesn't exactly help. Whatever the case may be, here are ten small things that you can do right now to instantly lift your spirits.

By following the instructions bellow, you can quickly improve your outlook until the milder summer months come frolicking by.

While each of these steps may seem ridiculously obvious, all together they are highly effective strategies for becoming more productive and content. To begin:

Early morning is an enchanting time of quietude and tranquility. It is a time to collect one's thoughts and ruminate over the impending day. The elderly and young have been savvy to this knowledge for years!  Remember back to when you were young and the wild pleasure you got from waking up before everyone else to watch Saturday morning cartoons. 
While we all relish those few extra minutes of snooze time, especially during the infamous Montreal winters, do yourself a favour and make the extra effort to get out of bed - as painful as it may be.

Savour the opportunity to do things that you might otherwise not find time to do during the tumult of the week. Maybe you want to brush up on your conversational Italian, or master a new chord progression. Whatever way you chose to spend your time, try setting your alarm clock an hour earlier in the morning, and see the difference an early start can make on your outlook.

Tips for waking up early:

  -Drink plenty of fluids before bed and let nature run its course in the morning
  -Move next door to a railway crossing or in a flight path
  -Adopt several large dogs
  -Set an alarm

2) Clean your living space

You can never underestimate the importance of a clean and tidy living environment. Cleanliness may not be godliness, but there is no reason not to live like a god. Start by making your bed as soon as you get up in the morning - even something as small as this will have a positive effect on your mental state.

Although it's easy to let things like laundry and cleaning "slide" during the craziness of the work week, it is well worth the effort and time to do a big weekly clean. Sunday is a perfect day for such a purpose, as a tidy living space will give you a fresh outlook on the week.

3) Learn something new every day

Learning something new - even if it's only one word - makes you instantly smarter! So the next time you have five minutes to spare, crack that dictionary and ameliorate your vocabulary.

4) Get physical

There is no shortage of reasons why getting active is good for you. But for our purposes, short bursts of intense cardio will suffice. Such physical activity triggers certain neurotransmitters in the brain that alleviate pain, both physical and mental. If getting to the gym is not an option, there are plenty of exercises that require no more than a towel or mat and some good tunes.

5) Cook something delicious

Nothing is as uplifting for the human soul as the aromas of our favourite dish simmering over a low flame. If you are not feeling up to it, you can always skip out on a big production and go straight for certain foods that have been proven to increase serotonin activity in your brain - for those of you who don't know, serotonin are pretty much tiny chemical explosions of goodness.

Some of the best foods include:

  -Greek yogurt

  -Dark chocolate

  -Swiss Card

  -Muscles

  -Blue potatoes

  -Asparagus

  -Honey

  -Cherry tomatoes

  -Eggs

  -Coconuts

6) Pamper yourself

Take some time and treat yourself to a long hot bath. If that's not your style, then a good shower will do. Bust out your best clothes and get dolled up. Even if you have nowhere to go, there is no reason why you can't still feel great. Go ahead, put on that your silk shirt or walk around in your new shoes. Clothes might not make the man, but they sure do make him feel like one.

7) Go somewhere you have never been before

Even if you are the kind of person who does not like to stray from your comfort zone or the beaten path, travelling to new places is a great way of broadening your horizons and learning new things. Remember that it is important to have as many new experiences as possible in order to keep growing as a person. Take a chance and go somewhere new. The worst that will happen is that nobody will ever hear from you again.

8) Have an adventure

Forget all the stress that comes with parking and finding directions. Take advantage of the city's public transit to have a spontaneous adventure. Instead of spending another weekend in front of the computer, take a trip to one of Montreal's many green spaces and recharge your spirits. With the wind in your hair and the fresh air at your face, you will be wondering why you haven't done this is so long. 

9) Get positive - anything is possible

With each passing year, science is confirming that the thoughts in our heads influence the universe around us....or at least this is what they say is going on.  If that's is too much to think about, then just remember that if all else fails, having a positive mental attitude is the first thing that you can do to improve your situation. While changing your outlook is not as easy as snapping your fingers, the one thing that you have control over in this world are the thoughts inside your head. The next time you start feeling down in the dumps, make a conscious effort to filter out your negative thoughts. You will be amazed at how effective this can be. 

10) Get inspired 

In all honesty, is there anything greater than the feeling you get from listening to beautiful music or reading amazing literature? It doesn't matter in the least what it is that moves your soul, but whatever it is, do it more often! Droning through life without taking time to remind ourselves why we work so hard and keep so busy is a sure way of getting some major grumples. There are so many amazing things in this world, there is no reason why you can't experience at least some of them.

 It's August and 7am on St Catherine Street East. A group of people gather and begin to assemble scaffolding outside Foufounes Electriques, comprised of kids as young as 15 years old to people as old as 38, they've come together to prepare for Under Pressure, a day-long event celebrating graffiti, hip hop, and counter culture. During the day graffiti artists paint the walls of the local businesses around Foufounes Electriqueswhile DJs spin records, B-boys break dance in a competition, and skateboarders skate in the half pipe. Under Pressure brings in people from all over Canada, the States, and even Europe and South America. Why would people come from all over just for graffiti? Well there's more to the event than meets the eye.

            Under Pressure is North America's largest outdoor graffiti convention. Graffiti writers from all over North America and other continents come to paint the walls of Foufounes Electriques. While the painting goes on, there are several tents to check out, even a tent for children where they can colour pages, collect stickers and get their faces painted. If you want to support the event, there are tents selling t-shirts, hats, bandanas, and the last remaining Under Pressure magazines. At night after the painting is done and all the awards are handed out, inside Foufounes, there is a free hip hop show. Not too bad considering the talent that comes to perform at the concert, last year it was Masta Ace, a famous rapper from New York City. It was one of the best free shows ever put on in the history of Under Pressure.

            I wanted to understand the history and challenges of putting on a large scale graffiti convention, so I spoke with Flow, one of the original creators of Under Pressure. I started by discussing with Flow anarchists or people who believe graffiti is an outlet for anarchy. I wondered if Under Pressure attracted these types of people and if this was problematic for the event organizers. Flow's answer shocks me, "That's the whole reason we started the event in '96." He leans back in his chair and folds his arms across his chest, "The police were lumping graffiti in with violent crimes and muggings and raping, and they were equating everything into one section of crime so we started the event to try to change the public perspective of graffiti."

         The first Under Pressure was held in March of 1996 and was called Aerosol Funk. It was held inside a loft with 11 graffiti writers, and three DJs (A-Trak, Devious, and Blast), and Tactical Crew break dancing. After the production the event organizers decided against doing another indoor event due to the hazardous environment created by the paint fumes in a confined space. A few months later, they decided to organize an outdoor graffiti convention, and Under Pressure was born.

The first outdoor event was held at Mount Royal and Henri Julien, an area with a lot of foot traffic. For the first few years the event moved around from Foufounes Electriques to Guy and St Catherines and then back to Foufounes again, where it has remained for the last 12 years.  Flow tells me about the positive response by the public. "People were outside and stopping and looking and saying, Oh there's people doing this graffiti and they're not all scum bags and no one's getting killed here. It's not such a bad thing." How can art be violent?

           The artists chosen to write at Under Pressure respond to an announcement that Flow puts on the convention website. All artists send three pictures of pieces they have painted, including their name and the city they're from. Afterward, Flow goes through them personally and chooses the artists himself. I ask him if it's hard to choose, and he tells me the problem is more about getting the registered applicants to show up the day of the event. Due to no-shows, wall space is given to artists who are at the event and willing to paint, but may not be as talented as the registered person. Flow tells me that blank spaces means the wall would get hit for sure. This is only the beginning of problems for the organizers.

       Before Under Pressure starts the event coordinators begin a poster campaign which asks graffiti artists--and people in general--not to paint in the area. Posters are placed on the lamp posts around St Catherines and on the walls of Foufounes, nevertheless some years it seems the poster campaign is done in vain. Flow folds his arms across his chest again and tells me about one year Under Pressure lost wall space from a business off of St Catherine because someone was doing acid tags on the windows of one building, in the back and on the side of the building. Now event organizers try to push the message two weeks before the event out of respect for the businesses.

          I talk with Flow about building the relationship between Under Pressure and the businesses around Foufounes. "It became much easier to stay at Foufounes because we already had the wall space procurred and already established a connection with the business owners. Initially it was harder to ask for permission to paint the whole thing. At first we had to approach all the business owners and ask for permission to use their wall space and explain the whole event a little bit obviously, and try to make sure that it was portrayed positively." Not an easy feat given the nature of the event and the reputation Under Pressure had to overcome.

         Recently the biggest problem facing Under Pressure has been the use of their images by Chevrolet without permission. Two years ago Chevrolet came down and took pictures of their cars in front of the murals painted at Under Pressure. Some event organizers were upset and filed suit for damages. I ask Flow where he stands on the issue, he sighs heavily and begins to tell me that he's not sure what to think. He believes that Chevy should have hired some graffiti artists to paint them a backdrop, but at the same time it's not as though they parked in an art gallery and took pictures in front of some paintings. On the other hand the artists who painted at the event registered to paint those walls and are not being recognized in the Chevy ads. He says, "I'm kinda on this fence 'cause it's in the public sphere." He finally shrugs his shoulders in resignation.

          I ask Flow if this is a common theme with Under Pressure where businesses try to affiliate themselves with the event. He begins to tell me about past years where Red Bull and Sprite have driven their company cars up to the event and tried to hand out free samples. On the face of it this may not sound problematic, but Under Pressure gets part of their funding for the event through sponsorship. Without these funds Under Pressure cannot afford to bring in big names for the after show, pay businesses for use of their property, or buy the supplies they need for the volunteers and event participants.

         Under Pressure has dealt with some forward thinking sponsors as well. Flow discusses the year Absolute Vodka sponsored the convention, "They were nice about giving away the branding and logo, they said 'just throw our stuff here,' and we even had an ad on the back of the magazine designed by our people so it was our branding, our styling, that was nice." Sponsors like this are far and few between though.

         One thing impressed upon me is how much money it takes to put on an event of this size. Besides getting the wall space, money is the biggest challenge for Under Pressure. Flow tells me that as the event grows so does the need for money. Even though the event looks like it has plenty of money, Under Pressure could always use a little bit more. I ask him what the most expensive costs are and without hesitation he immediately answers, "Scaffolding, and some of the building owners take money too, so we can use their wall. The parking lot takes money so we can use the parking lot, because they aren't making money that Sunday." To me it feels as though there's a lineup of people with their hand out waiting to get paid by event organizers.

          Curious about the respect Under Pressure gets from Montrealers I ask Flow about graffiti appreciation in Montreal and for Under Pressure. Flow tells me honestly that he feels event goers have become too accustomed to it and don't appreciate what they have in the graffiti convention. He says "It's a good event, but I think that if it [Under Pressure] went away for a while, in a couple of years people would be like, remember Under Pressure, that was cool, we could go down there and...you know." Flow gestures with his hands.

         I ask Flow if he's afraid that getting the wall space again would be hard if the event coordinators did decide to put Under Pressure on hiatus for a few years. He shakes his head no and says they've developed such a relationship with the businesses that they would get the space back without any problems. He says "They [the businesses] understand now that the area is such that it would happen anyway." The area around Foufounes lies just east of the city's gentrification projects on St Catherine. This part of the city gets hit pretty hard with graffiti, but with the area being gentrified who knows what will happen to the space around Foufounes.

         At one time Under Pressure was not the only well-known graffiti convention in Canada. Toronto also held a graffiti convention, I remember in the past driving to Toronto the weekend after Under Pressure for their event. I talk with Flow about those conventions and he shakes his head and begins to tell me some upsetting news. "No. There was the 416 event and then they stopped and did Style in Progress, but that stopped too. The mayor [Rob Ford] doesn't like it. The mayor of Toronto, he's a big idiot, he doesn't like graffiti, he doesn't like bikes. He thinks we're all queers. So, the administration of Toronto has helped curtail graffiti acceptance in Toronto, even though Toronto has a bigger graffiti scene. Montreal is well known for our graffiti scene, the nice stuff and the bad. I guess you can say we take the good and the bad."

         Why should you support an event like Under Pressure if you don't like or do graffiti? For one thing understanding graffiti is essential to appreciating it as an art form. Just being able to spray paint from a can does not make someone a graffiti artist, it takes skill. Understanding graffiti means that it is understood that graffiti is not about violence or vandalism. That doesn't mean that vandals don't do graffiti, sure they do, but true graffiti artists would never paint swear words on buildings just because they can. Again, it goes back to the skill of the painter and what is painted, not vulgarity just for the sake of painting it. Graffiti at its roots represents freedom, freedom of expression. Without freedom of expression where would we be? We would be repressed by images that have been preapproved for our viewing. I know there's bad graffiti, but Montreal has a wealth of beautiful graffiti, just walk around and you'll recognize it. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Most people do not take beauty seriously when it comes to careers. When thinking of beauty school many people will still conjure an image of Grease's "Beauty School Drop Out" song in their minds. This image needs to be reinvented because today's beauty schools provide the training for women and men alike to create a successful and respectable career. With vocational training becoming a popular choice for students here in Quebec, many people are looking at beauty academies in a new light. When looking into beauty academies (or any vocational training school for that matter) it is well worth considering a public school because public vocational training is completely free for residents of Quebec.

 The Gordon Robertson Beauty Academy

One of the best public beauty academies in Montreal is the Gordon Robertson Beauty Academy. The Gordon Robertson Beauty Academy is located in the West Island of Montreal in Beaconsfield and their programs provide training for all aspects of the beauty field. The Gordon Robertson Beauty Academy was built in 1994 and was the first school of its kind located on the West Island of Montreal. The school is part of the Lester B. Pearson School Board and is named after Gordon Robertson who was a friend of the school board and a strong supporter of vocational training programs. The programs offered include:

-Become an Aesthetics Professional

-Become a Hair Care Professional

-Become a Professional Electrologist

-Become a Body Care Professional

-Become an Entrepreneur in the Beauty Industry

On the Gordon Robertson website they provide 5 questions to ask yourself if you are thinking of joining their beauty academy:

1)      Do you want a career in the beauty industry?

2)      Do you want a career that is in high demand?

3)      Are you a hands-on person?

4)      Do you want to own your own business?

5)      Do you want a fresh start in less than a year?

If you answered yes to most, or all of these questions, then The Gordon Robertson Beauty Academy is probably a good place for you to be.  All of the courses are offered solely on a part-time basis except for the aesthetics and hair care courses which can be taken full-time or part-time full time for 12 or 24 months respectively. Gordon Robertson is an English school, so all of the courses are offered in English only.

Gordon Robertson Beauty Academy

240 Beaurepaire Drive

Beaconsfield, QC

H9W 6G4

514-426-5096

http://grc.lbpsb.qc.ca/ 

 Interview with a Gordon Robertson Graduate

(Photo of Amanda and I at the Interview: Amanda is on the right)

Amanda Carrier is a graduate of the aesthetics course at Gordon Robertson, and she offered to share some of her experience with me. We decide to meet for drinks so that I can ask her questions about the program that she completed.

Amanda is a 23 year old with a lot of drive and determination. She completed her aesthetics course a couple of years ago and is now halfway through the highly competitive professional photography program at Dawson College. She loves fashion and hopes to become a fashion photographer one day. She is brimming with creativity and it is no wonder that she loves to make things beautiful. She is a small girl with bright red hair, and very fair, porcelain-like skin. Her love of fashion and makeup can be seen right away through her stylish and fashion forward appearance. She carries herself very confidently. We order martinis and sit down at a table to proceed with the interview.

Stephanie: So, what course did you take at Gordon Robertson?

Amanda: I took the Aesthetics course.

S: What did the course cover exactly?

A: It covered makeup, waxing, facial treatments, body treatments, and a little bit of business and customer service skills.

S: How long was the course? When did it start and finish?

A: The course started at the end of August and went until mid-June. Just like high school or elementary school.

S: How did you find the teachers? Helpful?

A: The teachers were really nice and very passionate about what they taught. I was very impressed by them.

S: What kind of form did the course take? Was it mostly hands-on?

A: When we first started it was mostly theory, for about a month. Then at the end of the course we had to learn a little bit about business which was also mostly theory, but everything else in between was completely hands-on practice.

S: Who did you practice on?

A: For a month we practiced our skills on each other. Then we were allowed to bring people in to practice on, like friends and family members. Then we started getting real clients.

S: Yeah, I read about that on the website, apparently people can make appointments and receive spa quality treatments from the students for reduced prices? Is that right? Are those the clients that you're talking about?

A: Yes. It was mostly older women who came in. They were always really nice and patient with us. Every week one person would be manager. Basically you greeted the clients and assigned them to a student. We always had to tell the teacher what our facial treatment plan/makeup plan was before we started. The teacher would double check and ok our plan. We did facials, back facials (a facial for your back), makeup, waxing, manicures, and pedicures.

S: What did you spend the most time learning?

A: We spent the most time on facials. There was a lot to learn about skin types, skin condition, skin diseases, so on.

S: Did you have to complete a stage to graduate?

A: Yes we had to do a stage at the end of May. We had to work at a spa, for free, to see what the job was like.

S: What would you say the best and worst parts of the course were?

A: The best parts were the teachers, and learning about makeup. I love makeup so that was my favourite. We got so many makeup items that we were allowed to keep. Big palettes of all different colors, makeup brushes, almost everything that we would need for our kits. The worst part for me had to be the girls in my class. They were so lazy and never wanted to do anything, especially with the clients that came in. They would ask dumb questions in class, like why does the skin have three layers? There is no answer! It just does! I was taking the course very seriously. It is a career program! It seemed like the other girls weren't though. That's the only negative thing I can say though. Everything about the school itself was great.

S: Thanks for all the information! I'm sure it will help someone out to read about your experience!

A: You're welcome!

Montreal is a great place to pursue vocational training programs. There are many vocational schools on the island where students can learn a variety of skilled trades. Successful and stimulating careers can be pursued through vocational training programs. Students can study cosmetology, hairdressing, plumbing, computer servicing, restaurant and hotel management, culinary work and more. Vocational training programs are a good choice for anyone who is ready to work hands-on.

Here in Quebec, vocational training programs are designed in collaboration with employers and are suited to regional economic activities. They also reflect the needs of the current labor market. This means that graduates usually have no trouble finding a job in their field, and most programs will even set students up with internships that can turn into full-time jobs after graduation. In fact in Quebec 75% of vocational school graduates find full-time work within a year, as there is currently a huge demand for skilled workers. Another amazing thing about pursuing vocational training in Quebec is that through public schools it is completely free for Quebec residents! This helps to encourage more people to study skilled trades.

There are many great vocational training schools that offer their courses in French, and there are also many private vocational training schools in Montreal, but this review will examine the top five English-language, public vocational training schools in Montreal. Let's get started!

5) Pearson Electrotechnology Centre (PEC):

5000 René-Huguet

Lachine, Quebec

H8T 1M7

514-798-1818

http://pec.lbpsb.qc.ca

This school belongs to the Lester B. Pearson School Board, and it is the only English public school of its kind in all of Quebec. It has been open since 2007 and the programs offered include: Electricity, Installation and Repair of Telecommunications Equipment and Computing Support Courses. Sometime in the near future the school will also be offering a Heating and Plumbing program.

Classes for all three programs are offered either during the day from 8:00 to 3:00, or in the evenings from 3:30-10:30. The school features state of the art equipment and all training involves hands-on experience with the highest safety standards. The school partners closely with many businesses including Videotron, Belden, Commission de la construction du Quebec and more. Students are offered many training opportunities through the school's various connections.

4) West Island Career Centre (W.I.C.C):

13700 Pierrefonds Blvd.

Pierrefonds, QC

H9A 1A7

514-620-0707

http://wicc.lbpsb.qc.ca

The West Island Career Centre belongs to the Lester B. Pearson School Board and offers training for a wide variety of skilled trades. They cover the fields of healthcare, automobile mechanics, interior decorating and visual display, residential and commercial drafting, and accounting and administration. The specific programs include: Accounting, Administrative Professional, Assistance in Healthcare Facilities, Automobile Mechanics, General building Maintenance, Health, Assistance and Nursing Care, Home Care Assistance, Hygiene and Sanitation in Health Care Settings, Interior Decorating and Visual Display, Medical Office Specialist, Medical Secretary, Residential and Commercial Drafting, and Starting a Business.

This school offers a "Student for a Day" program which pairs up potential students with current students. They are able to spend the day at the school, attending real classes before they decide if it is the right school and/or program for them.

3) PACC Vocational Centre (Pearson Adult and Career Centre):

8310 George Street

LaSalle, QC

H8P 1E5

514-363-6213

http://paccvoc.lbpsb.qc.ca/

The PACC Vocational Centre belongs to the Lester B. Pearson School Board. The school offers vocational programs in the fields of food services and tourism, administration, and health. The programs include: Retail Butchery, Food & Beverage Services, Professional Cooking, Pastry Making, Accounting Studies, Administrative Professional , Pharmacy Technical Assistance, Home Care Assistance, Health, Assistance and Nursing Care, Dental Assistance, Assistance in HealthCare Facilities. There is a great variety of programs available to students.

An interesting note is that PACC offers their students an amazing resource free of charge, the online use of the language learning software, Rosetta Stone!

2) Shadd Business Centre:

1000 Old Orchard

Montreal, QC

H4A 3A4

(514) 484-0485

shadd@emsb.qc.ca

The Shadd Business Centre is part of the English Montreal School Board. The school has been around for over 15 years and their reputation is highly respected. The Shadd Business Centre boasts an impressive job placement rate for qualified graduates. The programs that they offer include: Accounting, Assistance in Healthcare, Pharmacy Technical Assistance, Secretarial Studies, and Starting a Business.

All programs are full-time, but students have the option to sign up for daytime or evening classes. The Shadd Business Centre is very aware that many students are going to be balancing full-time jobs with school, and their flexible scheduling options reflect that.

1) Rosemount Technology Centre (RTC):

3737 Beaubien Ave

Montreal, QC

H1X 1H2

514-376-4724

http://www.rosemount-technology.qc.ca/

The Rosemount Technology Centre is one of the largest English-language technical career training centres in all of Quebec. It belongs to the English Montreal School Board. The school offers amazing programs that are hands-on, and all of the featured trades are very in demand in Quebec. Programs include: Automated Systems in Electromechanics, Cabinet Making, Computer Graphics Techniques, Furniture Finishing, Industrial Drafting (CAD), Industrial Machine Operator, Machining Techniques, Numerical-Control Machine Tool Operation (CNC), and Printing and Digital Layout.

The school employs a work-study assignment within all of their programs which allows students to use their newly learned skills in real working environments. This often leads to job opportunities in the future.

I met David McGimpsey years ago at open mic night. His passion for food and writing instantly convinced me to take his class at Concordia University. We sat down for pigs feet, beer, and conversation at a blue collar diner in Pointe St Charles. My transcriptions of our interview are marked with the tar-coated laugh of a regular. Here are some choice excerpts of our conversation

Comedy writing workshops:

There's a reason somebody is writing jokes for Reba. And it's not because they're terrible. The reason they're writing jokes for Reba and you're not is because they're good at it. "Compartmentalize jokes, the same ones are happening"

The SNL Live From New York has the best bit on comedy ever" I found the one phrase that makes everything funny, "Chris Farley enters room".

On Smoking:

In some bars in Philadelphia you can smoke. If they can do it in Paris, they can do it anywhere. If they can somehow convince people in Paris not to smoke indoors.

"Vegas will the last place obviously they ban smoking, they want you in a state of whatthefuck..

Philadelphia is really hard because in the city itself they've done that but it stops at the county line, They don't want to give all their business up. But in a state with a lot of working class coal miners its pretty hard to convince them its ok if you die from working in the coal mine but you're not allowed a cigarette."

On Sports

NHL: They wouldn't be fucking around so much if they didn't have such a loyal fan base. When it starts again they'll be right where they were.

I love sports because they mean absolutely nothing. You can believe and have all these emotions but at the end of the day it doesn't matter. Nothing will change.

"I never confuse sports with a social function or event"

Sports as nationalism.

I love games because it gives you an opportunity to care about something that doesn't mean anything. Because you know it doesn't mean anything you can let yourself so a little bit.

Music

I don't like the Beatles ok, that's my crime.

The internet is crazy. I made fun of Bruce Springsteen being old. And his response to this "I hope you die"

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ --------------------------------------

Food

What are your thoughts on food blogs?

I like them when they're good, as long as they're directed through the person. I don't like food blogs as much as I like blogs about food by cool people.

So it's good writing?

The problem with writing food writing is that it has a built in flaw, monotony. Because you travel you eat well, every story is the same, "I ate here it was delicious, I stayed at this hotel, fucking fantastic". So what you say to get around the monotony. Do your research and go to places so you're not necessarily writing a restaurant review. If you're writing a blog about you're sort of burdened to tell a story about yourself in some way because the ultimate thing is that it's a given. It's a given that the steak is delicious. And it's sort of hard to make that story compelling. You blog or you write it you say the same thing over and over.

If you put yourself in then that's new and that changes with every story and that makes it way way more interesting. It's no longer a review you don't have to be goldilocks about it, "This is too cold this is too hot".

Do you think that reviews are still relevant with Yelp, or on the internet where everyone is a critic?

No I don't. I think they can still work. They can be. Like the New York Times story on Guy Fieri that was great. So there you have a piece like a restaurant piece but with humor.

Do you think magazines like Lucky Peach have established food writing as a field outside the dining section?

That's the problem with what people think I do.  They say, "Come review my restaurant" and I don't do that. I don't write reviews. I've never written a book review. If I read a book that I didn't like, I don't care.

Why is it called pate chinois?

The working class fare of the Quebecois can be attributed to their own opinions of self. The image constructed by generations of Quebecois stuck between the snobby English and the snobby French. They are humble people. Peasant food and lots of it to feed workers. There is a pride in living on needs not wants.

We all need a favor at some point. The problem with  favors is that you always owe them back, indefinitely. Like Bing Crosby in White Christmas. But there is a solution and that solution is bribery. Cooking as defined by most of my friends can be summed up in two succinct phrases "take-out" and "microwave". Home-made treats are so few and far between that, "Can you help me lay down the flooring in my house all weekend?" suddenly becomes appealing when you add "I just made spaghetti". Bonus prize for overachievers, ask over someone you fancy. One home cooked meal and he'll be uh checking your pipes and other home repairs in no time.

Combining elegance with timeless fabrics such as lace, linen, wool and others, Norris' personal aesthetic and technique have garnered her a dedicated following in her local area. Recently, this following has bled into the more 'fashion-oriented' cities in Canada such as Toronto and Montreal. Alongside her scarves, which range from men's classic infinity scarves to feminine lace scarves stand Norris' leather and fabric bags.

Living proof 'it's all about who you know' Krista can thank friends for encouraging her to start making money off the hobby she is clearly very good at. These friends and family are also the solid foundation of Krista's following and in this case; being from a large suburb proves advantageous. Krista's large circle of friends from high school are her biggest fans, wearing her designs proudly, unknowingly advertising her line.

Krista has never been your typical small-town girl; she decided to indulge her curiosity and travel after enrolling at Carelton University in 2009 and studying for a year. Taking her 2^nd year off school and embarking on a journey alone, she travelled to London, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Making friends around the world and putting herself in situations that challenge her, Krista almost felt satisfied. Since then Krista went back to Europe and travelled Paris, Holland, Ireland and England. Her enthusiasm and spontaneity exude from her line as well as her travel attitude, as she dances her way to different cities promoting her line.

While Krista's line blossoms, the possibilities are endless insofar as her 'why not?' philosophy keeps her nourished. Sewing started as a personal interest that she thanks her Oma for teaching her. Now, as her hobby turns into a success, Krista is smitten with appreciation and ready for whatever comes her way.

What were you doing just before you sat down to answer these questions?

I actually had a meeting with a buyer at one of the stores I sell in, and dropped off more spring stock!

This is all still very new to you. Did you ever expect to have such a great response to your designs?

I started actually selling my scarves after a friend asked why I didn't. He introduced me to a store owner who was happy to see if they would sell - and they did! I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think anyone would buy something I made.

What inspired you to start sewing and where did you learn to do it?

I started sewing at a very young age with my Oma. She was a seamstress and also did projects on the side, and I would love being around all the fabric. She taught me how to make small bags and purses.

How has your aesthetic developed since you started selling scarves?

I've noticed I really lean towards textured fabrics. Along the way I also added my leather tag which now I wouldn't make anything without.  

Have you considered branching out, and selling other accessories or clothing?

Yup, I actually have sold a few leather bags. I've thought about clothing, and I might eventually.

Where can people buy your scarves exactly?

Viens Avec Moi, house of clothing, Ottawa

Schad, Ottawa

Schad Blu (in the fall, men's) Ottawa

Belanger & Martin(s) boul.  St.Laurent , Montreal

Now, since you are a little more experienced in the field, where specifically do you find your inspiration?

I just trust the fabric I like more. At first I was trying to think what other people would like, but I've learned that what I like, other people usually will too.  I don't know if I find inspiration, I find fabrics and textures that I can see something with.

What sort of environment do you enjoy working in?

A space with a lot of open room. Fabric takes up a lot of space and you need to be able to lay everything out. I would love a huge loft with a lot of windows, as I currently work in my basement studio. I'm always playing music while I work too, keeps me in a good mood.

How many hours a week would you say you spend sewing?

Right now probably 10.. on various projects. In the fall it was probably 15-20 hours.

Is there an overall theme that you can relate your work to?

Probably just classic style. I am not too trendy and love the classic fabrics; wool, plaid tweed, lace, linen.

Who is your biggest influence?

My biggest influence is a close friend and mentor who has really taught me to look at life from a 'why not' perspective.  Nothing is outside anyone's reach.  

What are your goals for K & N in the foreseeable future?

I would like to expand just the Fall/ Winter 2013 scarf collection into multiple cities. Eventually I'd like to add other products but it's more important to me to do one product well and see it grow, than create a whole collection but it not really go anywhere.

If you are interested in more information, visit  Krista Norris' designs

If you're interested click here for Arielle De Pinto's designs

There are many discrepancies in terms of the origins of crochet and knitting; however, the earliest evidence of the craft in action is its popularity in Europe during the 19^th century. Machine spun cotton thread became widely available and inexpensive in Europe and North America after the invention of the cotton gin and the spinning jenny, displacing hand spun linen for many uses. The simple pleasure of creating a unique piece of clothing is a therapy many of our grandmothers have taught us or tried to- and also a representation of fine dedication and delicacy.

The knitting aesthetic has taken on new formations and its development has transformed into a modern yet thrifty, hip hobby. Another example is VogueKnitting; a quarterly publication just under 25 years old, whose aim is to give 'the ultimate knitting experience.' The VK magazine has a variety of patterns and charts where anyone between advanced beginners and advanced knitters can knit vogue patterns in the comfort of their own home. This concept takes knitting to a new platform and with a high-end name such as Vogue attached to it; the image of knitting has shifted.  

Crochet has developed into an art with a variety of methods, formations and fabrics, along with fashion. People are crocheting lace, linen, wool, satin, metal etc. Just the same as how we wear all of these fabrics for clothing accessories. Thankfully, for the development of fashion, we have the liberty to wear practically any material that we can possibly crochet or sew.  Crochet has always been a great creative outlet for women [now for men as well], and it's become a much easier hobby to access as the cost of fabric is not as expensive as it once was.

Zellars is a great spot to purchase cheap yarn and needles. Here are some other suggestions to get you started if you want to get in the mix with crocheting.

Mouline is an awesome shop in the Mcgill ghetto, with knowledgable staff and cheap yarn

Effiloche is a little more expensive, but it offers quality fabrics, yarn and workshops.

Espace Tricot is another great spot to learn how to knit the Monkland Village.

For the past ten years, Marc has worked as a filmmaker, including a brief stint in Hollywood.  Marc, 35 years old today, looking not a day over 28, was only 22 years old when he won a National Film scholarship and moved to Toronto to work as a post production assistant on the movie "The Score" with Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando and Edward Norton.  Although he never met them, this experience, along with developing a slew of contacts in the film industry in Los Angeles is what made him decide to give a shot at Hollywood. 

He told me he moved to LA in September of 2001, just five days before 9/11.  As the result of the attacks, the film industry as a whole really took a big hit and Marc ended up working on low budget films and had a hard time finding work.  He stayed for about a year and a half.  I asked him what it was like living in L.A. in general.  "Culturally, I didn't like living in LA.  I felt like I was in a zoo to be honest."  He describes LA as a city with a façade, a fake, artificial place where everyone believes their own lies.  Yup, sounds about right.  He was also 3000 miles away from his family and friends so that was pretty hard on him.  "I did it for the experience and I'm glad I tried it out".

After the LA stint, Marc backpacked his way through Europe for three weeks during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.  "I just basically said I'm gonna do a buffet tour of Europe cause I don't know when I'm ever gonna be able to come back here.  I went to something like 11 countries."  Marc spent the bulk of his time in Germany due to the World Cup, but he also did his share of hoping on one train to another and staying at hostels for spans of two days at a time.

It is exactly this open mindedness and willingness to learn new cultures and perspectives that brought him to the hub of Canadian pluralism: Montreal, Quebec.  "That's one thing I love about Montreal, is that you have so many different cultures here, it's like a bit of everything."  Despite growing up in upstate New-York, Marc was always in touch with his French Canadian roots as three of his grandparents are Quebecois.  He explained to me that he always had a piece of Quebec within him.  For one, his grandparents spoke French at home, ate poutine, and followed Les Canadiens de Montreal.  He moved here four years ago and calls it one of the best decisions of his life. 

This love of Montreal took birth during the layovers he had when returning from back and forth trips to Kingston to visit family in Trois-Rivieres.  "I would visit my family in Trois-Rivieres by train or by bus, and I would always have a layover in Montreal, so I would just wander around Montreal, and I just slowly fell in love with the city just by walking around during my layovers". 

Marc is a regular guest on CJLO (Concordia University radio station) sports show "The Game Misconduct" which airs every Sunday afternoons from noon to 2pm.  He told me that one day, he decided to tune in and just called in.  That call on the air lasted about 30 minutes.  Being an avid NBA basketball buff, he was talking to another basketball buff, Phil Boileau aka @sportingphil.  "I started playing basketball when I was four, so it's just ingrained in who I am."  Their love and passion for the game of basketball led Marc and Phil to recently launch their own NBA basketball site together, HoopsLounge.com.

On October 19^th 2012, the New York Knicks played the Toronto Raptors in an exhibition game at the Bell Centre in Montreal.  Marc was there with a media pass in hand.  This was a very special moment for him.  He recalled particular events that took place on that day, which really stood out for him.  The first thing he mentioned was meeting Walt "Clyde" Frazier.  Here's a quick bio:  Now announcer for the Knicks, Frazier is considered by many one of the best point guards of NBA history.  He played for the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1977 and led them to two NBA Championships in that span.  "Growing up in New York State, I was a huge Knicks fan.  He was before my time but he's a legend and icon and it was amazing just to shake his hand." 

Another memorable moment for Marc was going into the Knicks locker room after the game and meeting some of the players, including long time NBA veteran Jason Kidd.  "I ended up talking to Jason Kidd about him growing up in Oakland playing hoops with Gary Payton and Steve Nash.  The three of them would play pick up ball. --  Just having a conversation about ball.  Man, I loved it."  I could tell just by listening to Marc talk about his experience at the Bell Centre that day, that this was really something he enjoyed a lot and that meant a lot to him.

Now that I had a better understanding of Marc's love for the game of basketball, it was time for me to test him.  I asked him point blank.  Who is your favorite basketball player of all time?  "This is not an easy question because I'm a history buff so I like to look at guys from different eras, and I would say Pete Maravich.  He was before my time, but "Pistol Pete" Maravich played in the NBA from 1970 to 1980 and was a college basketball legend playing for Louisiana State University (LSU).  He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division 1 scorer with 3667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game.  "He played 'showtime' basketball before there was 'showtime' basketball; behind the back passes, full court passes, no look passes and he could score from anywhere.  - He was a white guy playing like a black guy in an era where no one did that.  Everything he did is a big part of the game now and no one did it before him.  He was a pioneer." 

Although I agree with everything Marc said, I couldn't understand how his answer was not Michael Jordan.  I personally think everyone's answer should be Michael Jordan. As we continued to discuss Pistol Pete's style, he mentioned two guys from today's era whom he thought played most like Pistol Pete: Steve Nash and Minnesota Timberwolves sophomore sensation Ricky Rubio. 

Now that we had established who the best of all time (in his opinion) was, it was time to find out who, in his opinion, was the best in the modern era.  "I wouldn't have said this a year ago but now I would say LeBron James.  Since he won the title, and the Olympics, he's figured out how to play at a superior level now and his confidence is out the roof. --  He's not intimated, he's not timid.  He used to play like a bull in a China shop and now he's just full throttle, and that's scary."  We were both on the same page with that one.  LeBron is a beast, no question about it.

Next, I discussed the state of hockey in Montreal as a parallel to basketball.  Most people would argue that Montreal is primarily a hockey city, but Marc says that this is only what the media feeds us.  I asked Marc why he says that.  He first acknowledged the fact that Montreal is definitely a hockey town.  He is quite aware of this fact given his French Canadian roots.  His grandfather is from small town Quebec and was a Canadiens die hard.  Despite him having a very fond understanding of the importance of hockey in this city, he is also aware of an increasing social phenomenon happening in Montreal.  "Because of the influx of immigration from Latin American countries, African countries and European countries, there is a younger generation of people, say between the ages of 15 to 30, who LOVE the game of basketball." 

One of the reasons Marc knows this is because of the all the basketball jerseys, hats, jackets and other clothing gear he sees people wear when he walks around Montreal.  Another reason is the reaction he gets from people when they find out that he, like them, he a huge basketball fan.  "When ever I start talking basketball with people, their eyes light up.  Ohh you're a basketball fan too?"   The third point that Marc brought to the table is the social media aspect of things.  He noticed last year, when this thing known as hockey was still being played, that NBA games were trending big time on twitter, and this, while Habs games were being played.  Marc believes that's definitely saying something. 

"Yes, we love our hockey in Montreal, but there is also a an overwhelming rise for the love of the game of basketball and the media are slowly but surely realizing it.  We love hockey here, but there's also a love for other things.  The mainstream media is slowly clueing into it.  Obviously they have their contracts and their stipulations to support hockey because it pays the bills right?"

Logically, my next question was if Montreal had any chance of, like our neighbor Toronto, having its own basketball franchise in the NBA.  Basically, his answer was yes, but not any time soon.  Given the fact that the main fan base for the NBA lies between the 15 to 35 demographic, most of these people are still young and don't have solid permanent careers and as a result cannot afford to fulfill the regular season ticket holder criteria.  If we would ask this question in say 10 to 15 years from now, the answer could be surprisingly different.  "The biggest problem is that these 15 to 35 year olds can't afford season tickets.  If we could wait say 10 years, when these people would have more stable jobs, I think that would be a really good starting place to get a pro team."

Catch Marc doing his sports talk radio thing on "The Game Misconduct", which airs on Sunday afternoons, from 12pm to 2pm. He's always available on Twitter via @montrealmarc discussing his passions for Sports, Film, and Culture. And visit his recently launched website HoopsLounge.com for a fresh take on basketball from the streets of Montreal. On top of all that, Marc is currently writing his first book "The Rope" about surviving the tragedy of his father's suicide. He's a busy guy, and a man of many hats.

And Marc's objective, in his own words: "To become a major voice in Canadian media, harnessing different platforms to express my uniquely insightful, honest, creative perspective."  Go check him out.

The issue of Sexual Education is extremely crucial if we want to locate society's endemic problem with how to address sexual orientation properly. 

Even though we have come as far as addressing homophobia as a social disease, the symptoms still linger in different avenues. Most significantly, they seem to be prevalent when we consider children in Elementary Schools, and students in High Schools. These are the institutions where derogatory and discriminatory language is usually learned, from children who create defense mechanisms as a response to the void that is their lack of sexual education. It is no wonder that minors are confused and uncomfortable when they first discover that there are other acceptable combinations that exist for romantic relationships.

The key concepts that the Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Education address are: Health, Health Promotion, Health Education, Sexual Health & Education, Sexuality and Sexual Rights. According to the guidelines for Sexual Health in Canada, "Sexual Health is a key aspect of personal health and social welfare that influences individuals across their lifespan (2)." These guidelines are designed to:

1. Help professionals who are concerned with the development and implementation of sexual health programs.

2. Provide a detailed framework for evaluating existing sexual health education programs.

3. To offer educators a broader understanding of the goals and objectives of broadly based sexual education.

1966 was the first time that education officials in Canada drafted a grade 9 course discussing the reproduction system. Since then, the developpment of the Sexual Education programs across America have continuously broadened. Major changes were made in Ontario school boards with regards to sexual education in 2010. This new explicit curriculum consists of a more detailed version of the previous one. For example, terms such as 'vaginal lubrication' and 'anal penetration' have been introduced to the curriculums for grade 6 and 7 students. According to Howlett and Hammer, writers of Ontario to Introduce more explicit sex education in schools, published in the Globe and Mail, some parents with religious backgrounds threatened to pull their students out of school as a response to this 'higher education.' Many parents believe that more explicit sexual issues should only be dealt with between families, in the comfort of their own home.

The Ideal System

In reality though, these issues are going to be gossiped about amongst students, whether it is in the class room, or in the school yard. Having said that; it would benefit parents, students and teachers if such topics were learned in a controlled and appropriate manner. The truth of the matter is, we have no control over what happens outside of the classroom, and in order to ensure that the students are not malinformed, unaware, or embarassed about the inevitable discussion of sexuality, we should provide it for them. 

 "Critics said topics such as homosexuality are best left to parents to discuss with their children."

 There will always be objections to these changes but we have to consider reality, which is that our society is constantly changing and so should our education system. Prejudices only surface when discrimination is emplaced, and when that happens our marginal society forces people to feel like they are on the outside and out of the norm.

This crual education should be taken far more seriously than it currently is. Most schools have an anonymous question method where students are asked to write any questions that they have on a piece of paper, and these questions are addressed in class. Leaving it to the students is just an easy way out. In fact, most students take this opportunity to be innappropriate and ask outlandish questions. THIS is where problems start. Instead, teachers should be laying out the taboo topics from the beginning, to ensure students are not confused or shocked when it get's brought up by another student in class. 

Some believe that the issue of Sexual Education, is one to be addressed at home between families, others want nothing to do with the topic and expect teachers to handle it. What is important to remember is that all family situations are different, and many people are not blessed with healthy relationships when they go home.

The Real System

Image source: Google

As long as there is prejudice against LGBT, there will be prejudices against BDSM. In order to conquer this social disease, we must start from the very beginning. Instead of sheletering children from what they will inevitably figure out on their own, we should embrace these taboo subjects and make them just as much a part of our educational system as fitness, or health. "If repression has indeed been the fundamental link between the power, knowledge and sexuality since the classical age, it stands to reason, that we will not be able to free ourselves from it except at a considerable cause, " as famously stated by late philosopher and social theorist Michael Foucault. Perhaps, Foucault had it right and repression is the main lingering symptom to what we now call a social disease. The only way we can find out is by treating the symptom properly.

Works Cited    

Isabel, María. Villanueva, Martinó. The Social Construction of Sexuality: Personal Meanings, Perceptions of Sexual Experience,and Females' Sexuality in Puerto Rico. Blacksburg, Virginia. 1997.

 Hammer, Kate. Howlett, Karen. Ontario to introduce more explicit sex education in schools. The Globe and Mail.

McKay, Alexander. Sexual health education in the schools: Questions & Answers. (2005)

The Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education

Empty Nest Happy Ending
by: BeatnikCanada

It's official - a full season of hockey is not in the cards. With November cut, 135 games have been cancelled, leaving the 2012-2013 season delayed. Though the circumstances were different, no one wants a repeat of an entire season lost to lockout as it happened seven years ago. But is this where NHL is headed and what are the NHL odds for the season?

In latest negotiations, Commissioner Gary Bettman, proposed a 50-50 split of hockey revenues, but the offer was dismissed by the NHLPA. Reportedly being the best offer the league could make, concerns heighten as the future of the sport is in jeopardy for the remainder of the season. Fan favorites, such as the Winter Classic and The All-Star game also hang in the balance. Bettman has also implied to the media that negotiations may only become increasingly complicated to settle since the NHLPA has refused to kick off talks with the league's proposal starting point. While the league isn't willing to budge as far as the starting point, players are concerned over their existing contracts.

As the dispute over economic balance continues to unfold, one thing is certain - hockey fans will not be cheering for their beloved teams this month and will have to stay tuned to find out if the NHL as a whole can pull it together, sooner rather than later.

(Original Link to Article - Dated October 26, 2012)

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl-lockout/2012/10/26/nhl_cba_talks_nhlpa_lockout_full_season_deadline_passes/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Luis F.T.
1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.
Montreal, QC H3G 1M8
Canada
Web : http://www.montrealites.ca
Email: no.helmet.montreal@gmail.com

Montreal, QC --October 31, 2012 - The results of a new study reveal a substantial reduction in the risk of injuries to cyclists on streets where a separated lane bicycle infrastructure is available.

The analysis, led by Professor Ted Teschke of the University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health, focused on the comparison of cycling injury risks of several route types and other aspects. The research included almost 700 hundred participants that had been injured while cycling in both Toronto and Vancouver, in Canada. When comparing the route infrastructure at each place where cycling injuries had occurred with a random control site in the same trip, Prof. Teschke and his team found exceptional results. Separated cycling lanes had the lowest risk of injury to cyclists, while major streets with parked vehicles and no bicycle infrastructure presented a very high risk. Prof. Teschke and his team were able to conclude there is a substantial lower risk of injury to cyclists both on quiet and busy streets, but with a separated bicycle lane infrastructure. The examination finalizes by recommending public health support to increase bicycle infrastructure, which would lower bicycling injury risks.

This study comes at a time when multiple cycling accidents have been reported in Montreal, which have led certain individuals to focus on imposing mandatory helmet laws on cyclists, instead of the more logical and sound expansion of the bicycle lane infrastructure of the city.

# # #

Background

Lately, in Montreal, there have been a lot of cycling accidents reported in the media. These reports have resulted with the general public having the perception that cycling is highly dangerous. According to the most recent report made by Vélo Québec, in 2010, when Quebecers were "asked what keeps them from using bicycles as a means of transportation, four out of ten [of them] mention the risk of accident or injury. One third of cyclists see this risk as a deterrent, and 43% of non-cyclists agree. This perception is not confirmed by reality: in 2009, there was one death per 120 million km covered by bike in Québec".

The Issue

At the core of this issue, there are several proposals to partially solve this problem, including among those the imposition of a law to force cyclists to wear helmets. Proponents of this idea, cite numerous head injury reports involving cycling, arguing that city officials should step up with a mandatory helmet law to protect cyclists. Opponents, however, estimate that people have enough government intrusion in their lives, and should not be told what to do. In addition, there is concern that helmet laws would deter people from cycling, thus limiting the growth of this activity or refraining cyclists of casually using the bike-sharing system (Bixi). But before proposing any ideas or reaching conclusions, it is important to examine the cycling accident figures to have a better idea of what is actually going on.

Some Facts and Figures

The most recent assessment done by the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) is shown as follows: "In Montréal, the assessment of incidents between road vehicles and cyclists reveals that there are nearly 650 collisions annually. In 2011, the number of fatalities among cyclists remained the same, at 10% of all traffic fatalities. In 3 out of 4 fatal collisions, the cyclist's behaviour was the cause. This year, cyclists suffered 6 more serious injuries than in 2010 and 112 fewer minor injuries. It is important to note that helmets are becoming far more popular, reducing the risks of head trauma among cyclists." The same Vélo Québec 2010 report cited before confirms the SPVM's assessment: "More and more Québec cyclists own a bike helmet: 45% owned one in 1995, 61% did in 2000. This percentage climbed to 67% in 2005, reaching 74% in 2010. Thus, 2.3 million Québec adults own a bicycle helmet. Helmet use is increasingly common among adults. In 1995, the net rate of helmet use was 36%. Fifteen years later, it was 57%. In 2010, 65% of cyclists, under 18 years of age, wore helmets, a 3% increase since 2005. Of these children and teens, 62% said they wore a helmet at all times". On top of this, the SPVM has significantly increased, over the past 5 years, the amount of violations given to cyclists, which range from skipping a red light or failing to ride in the proper direction: in 2007 the Police issued 1877 violations, which have increased steadily every year for a total of 6809 violations in 2011 alone.

A general assessment on cycling safety, done by Vélo Québec shows the following statistics: "The number of cyclists who died due to an accident in Québec has remained stable for some years now. In 2005, there were 16 road fatalities; four years later, the toll was unchanged. From 1990 to 2005, five out of six deaths (84%) were the result of accidents involving a motor vehicle. In half of cases (49%), the cyclists collided with a car and in 30%, with a truck. Collisions between two bicycles or with a pedestrian were extremely rare: they accounted for just over 3% of cases. Finally, 13% of deaths were the result of falls or of collisions with stationary objects. From 2004 to 2009, the number of serious injuries fell by 40%, from 189 to 114. Cycling causes fewer injuries than most other physical activities. There are 11 medical consultations for every 1000 cyclists. This is half the figure for downhill skiing, three times less than running, four times less than baseball. (...) As many studies have shown, the more cyclists take to the roads, the fewer accidents occur. Faced with a greater number of cyclists, drivers are more aware of their presence. And as most people on bikes are also drivers, more cyclists also mean more drivers who are aware of cyclist behaviour and safety. From 1987 to 2010, the total number of bicycles more than doubled in Québec, and the number of regular cyclists has increased by 50%. Nevertheless, there was a parallel 58% decline in cycling accident deaths. Moreover, serious injuries fell by 72% and minor injuries, by 52%. In this respect Québec is not an isolated case. In the Netherlands, from 1980 to 2005, the popularity of cycling increased by 45% while the number of road accident victims fell by 58%. Canadian provinces that have invested most in cycling have seen an increase in cyclist numbers and a decrease in cycling accident death rates. This has been the case in Québec".

Forcing Helmets on People is Simply not a Good Idea

Taking a closer look at all these numbers reveals a very different perspective of what the media seems to be focusing on. There is no substantial evidence to suggest that cycling accidents have increased or that it is more dangerous than previously thought. What is even more interesting is the fact that the usage of helmets has substantially increased, despite having a law that requires using them. Some media reports keep pushing city officials to impose helmet laws, but the same reports do not seem to be showing the public the actual statistics. It would appear that the culprit in most bicycle accidents was not wearing a helmet, but, often, it is rather careless drivers or sometimes irresponsible cyclist behaviour. And although helmets do, in fact, protect against head injury, forcing people to do it does not seem like a solution to decrease accident occurrences. Instead, it seems that what is actually working is the expansion of the bicycle infrastructure and motorist awareness of cyclists.

A good example of how ineffectual bicycle helmet laws are is Australia. The Institute of Public Affairs Review based in Melbourne, Australia, published an April 2012 article that analyzes the implications and consequences of bicycle helmet laws in that country. Helmet laws were imposed for all ages in Australia since the 1990s, going as far as making it a criminal offense not to wear a helmet. Those laws, the article explains, have not improved injury rates and have caused general cycling discouragement. When looking at 20 years of research, no evidence has been found that wearing a helmet would cause lower cycling accident rates among riders. Though acknowledging the fact that helmets do protect against injury, the article contemplates also that head injuries are uncommon in cycling accidents. The author goes even further and discusses that cyclists who wear helmets engage in riskier riding behaviour than those who do not use them. As soon as the laws went into effect, cycling trips declined by about 30 to 40 per cent, and the author cites a survey that determined that people would ride bicycles more often if there were no such laws, which has prompted city officials in Sidney to recommend eliminating them altogether. Furthermore, the article finds more compelling data when comparing the health benefits of cycling with the accidents it causes: "By any measure, health problems associated with a lack of exercise are a far greater problem than cycling head injuries in Australia. According to the Heart Foundation, lack of physical activity causes 16,000 premature deaths each year, swamping the 40 or so cycling fatalities." The author concludes: "After 20 years, the results are clear: the compulsory bike helmet experiment has failed. We need to amend the law to allow adults the freedom to choose if a helmet is necessary when they cycle."

A Different Perspective

More recently, however, it is not just the media that is pushing an agenda on the public to impose helmet laws in cyclists. As it turns out, even doctors have called for the law, as it is shown in a recent CBC article: "Pediatricians are gathering at Ste-Justine Children's Hospital Wednesday morning to ask the Quebec government to make helmets mandatory for cyclists under the age of 18. (...) Dr. Tarek Razek, director of trauma services at Montreal General Hospital, agreed that creating safer spaces for cyclists around the city would have a greater impact than any other measure, including helmet use. But he said several studies have shown that helmet laws do not reduce ridership. (...) In Ontario, all cyclists under the age of 18 face $60 fines if they fail to wear a helmet. (...) The report said every single one of the cycling deaths in Ontario between 2006 and 2010 was preventable." While this cited doctor's opinion is hardly debatable, it is interesting to note he acknowledges the fact that creating "safer spaces" has more of an impact than helmet use. Though he manifested that "several studies" show there is no link between lack of ridership and imposing helmet usage, the Australian example seems to be the most compelling, because those laws have existed in that country for over 20 years, giving enough time to analyze the data. It is not possible to know for certain that what occurred in Australia would replicate here, but so far this seems to be the most plausible scenario. Additionally, while the CBC article cites the Ontario deaths could have been preventable, so could be a number of other activities, such as skiing, running, hiking, or even smoking. Focusing on only one element when there are even better options to prevent cycling accidents seems to be a narrow way of thinking.

Final Recommendations

It is easier to point out problems than to provide solutions or recommendations. People dying on the streets, because they simply go out riding a bicycle is a horrible tragedy. But accidents do occur, no matter what, even if the government attempts to prevent them from happening. The numbers are not going to be perfect when looking at cycling accident statistics. More often than not, the government makes the problem bigger than what it actually was. Officials in Australia were well intentioned and they probably responded to the majority of the public, when they imposed those bicycle helmet laws. But on the long run, it did not seem to work. One of the reasons as to why cycling is attractive to many people is the freedom. Taking that away from them means destroying that idea. With tons of rules to follow, imposing even more laws deprives individuals from having one of the last few experiences available to the residents of this great city.

Sources

Alter, Lloyd. "Building a Better Bike Lane." Azure: Design Architecture & Art 24.186 (2008):148-9. Design and Applied Arts Index (DAAI). Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Barker, Jill. "The Way to Go; Bicycles are Becoming the Vehicle of Choice for Commuters -and with Good Reason. Here are some Tips to Get You Wheeling." The Gazette: 1. Apr 19 2012. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

"BYCYCLING IN QUEBEC IN 2010." Vélo Québec. Web. 7 Oct. 2012.

"Cyclists." Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). Web 7 Oct. 2012.

Dabbour, Essam, and Said M. Easa. "Evaluation of Safety and Operational Impacts of Bicycle Bypass Lanes at Modern Roundabouts." Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering 35.10 (2008): 1025. CBCA Complete. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

"Doctors to call for helmet use law." Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). 20 Jun. 2012. Web 7 Oct. 2012.

Hinkson, Kamila. "City to Increase its Spending on Infrastructure by $4.1B; Repair Outstrips Growth in Financial Priorities." The Gazette: 4. Aug 31 2012. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

"Make City More Bicycle-Friendly." Toronto Star: 18. Aug 31 2012. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies; CBCA Complete. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

"Plus d'interventions policières sur les pistes cyclables." TVA Nouvelles Montréal: 25 Aug. 2012. Web 7 Oct.

Riga, Andy. "How Montreal can make Biking Better; More Routes; Gazette Readers Offer their Own Ideas, Suggestions." The Gazette: 2. May 17 2012. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Turner, Luke. "Australia's helmet law disaster." IPA Review. Institute of Public Affairs (IPA). April 2012: Melbourne, Australia. Web 7 Oct. 2012.

All images are reproduced within the Creative-Commons license content.

Over the last few years, improving the quality of life of cities around the world has become a priority for many government officials and grassroots communities. A city with good living standards brings new investment, attracts companies, and promotes growth. Many factors are taken into account when analyzing urban living standards, but the bicycle infrastructure of cities around the world has turned into an important issue. There are several reasons as to why cycling is such an important part of urban life and is now an essential component of city planning and development.

In general, cycling is less time-consuming for short trips (less than 5 km) than driving a motor vehicle. The already high number of cars, increasing yearly at a much faster rate than new roads being built, has resulted in heavier traffic, which evidently reduces average speed. Bicycles have become an alternative method of transportation that is pretty efficient.

It may sound a bit corny, but cycling provides a general sense of freedom: motorists have to follow very strict rules when driving, while cyclists can have more control and independence as to where they are going.

Several studies have pointed out some of the benefits of cycling: it improves cardiovascular fitness, it helps lose weight, it enhances mental health, it reduces stress, etc., just to name a few advantages.

On top of this, it is also an inexpensive activity if it is compared to the cost of driving a car, when the high cost of gas and insurance are taken into consideration.

It is also important to mention that cycling is good for the environment, given the fact that it is a zero-emission activity.

Given the many positive aspects cited above, it should not come as a surprise the fact that Montreal has embraced cycling as part of its identity and its values. To better understand this, it is important to write about some of the history of cycling in this city. It is also necessary to describe Montreal's cycling current situation, and point out some of the implications for the future.

Brief history of cycling in Montreal

Like other parts of the world, bicycles have been around Montreal since their invention in the 19^th century, but it was not until the 1970s, with the oil crisis, that cycling started to take off. New bike models started being developed and the entire bicycle industry experienced a real boom. In Montreal, the bike path infrastructure became a reality and new safety provisions for cyclists started to be taken into consideration.

By 1985, the Tour de l'Île was organized for the first time; since then, thousands of cyclists have participated every year in this event, which promotes cycling to people of all ages.

Historically, one of the values associated with Montreal includes the idea of having a city that is there to enjoy it to the fullest. And the evolution of cycling in the city went along that idea, which is rooted in its culture.

The current situation

The city has made important efforts since the mid-80s, resulting in an extensive bike path network (350 km). When compared to other North American cities, Montreal comes always on top, as it has successfully integrated cycling, not only as a recreational activity, but also as a method of transportation for daily commuters.

A good number of non-profit organizations that promote cycling (see Vélo Québec) are based in Montreal and continue making efforts to elevate its ranking as a bike-friendly city. A bicycle culture seems to be on the rise; both motorists and pedestrians have become more accustomed to bicycles, and more Montrealers are embracing the idea of cycling as a method of transportation.

The city has increased the amount of bike racks, installed new bike ramps on stairs, and allocated space in trains and buses. The number of bike paths is growing and the city makes an effort to keep lanes properly painted and on good condition.

The bicycle sharing system (Bixi) has had relative success and has even been expanded and promoted to a few other cities in the world.

Montreal's low crime rates have resulted in a positive perception of safety in cyclists, which is an important factor that often gets on the way of cycling development; for example, in other cities where less fortunate levels of crime are a major issue.

Montreal city officials are in tune with cycling development and continue developing ambitious projects that will extend beyond the current situation. Additionally, Montreal urban planners are taking into account the necessity of improving the existing bike network, while developing new ideas to integrate both motorists and cyclists.

Implications for the future

Though good efforts have been made, the existing bike infrastructure needs to be expanded. As the demand for cycling grows in Montreal, new bike paths need to be built and more streets need to be adapted to cyclists.

The fact that Montreal is on top of other North American cities is also a responsibility, because other cities are also improving their bike networks and the city needs to remain competitive with that reality.

Non-profit organizations that promote cycling in Montreal run the risk of being cut of funds from the city, given the current economic climate, which has a tendency of reducing budgets to overcome deficits. Private donations may partially help solving this situation, but Montreal residents need to understand the benefits of a city that is bike-friendly.

While Montreal motorists are getting more accustomed to cyclists, the current situation is still far from ideal. Several incidents have been reported in the news, which involve cyclists getting killed in accidents provoked by lack of signalization or agresiveness of motorists.

The existing bike racks get cluttered with bicycles and the city needs to increase the number of those, especially in places that are highly visited like certain landmarks or some metro stations. The available number of bike ramps on stairs is also limited and has to be expanded to make all areas more accessible to cyclists.

Certain bike paths have deteriorated over the years and have been practically abandoned. Though many regular streets have painted bike lanes, there are plenty of others that have no such signalization.

The Bixi bycicle sharing system is plagued with deficit and runs the risk of going out of business. In 2011, Montreal city officials had to bailout the Bixi company with a loan as high as $108M. It is necessary that the company turns into a more profitable and efficient business.

Montreal city officials need to further develop other non-tourist areas of Montreal to make them more bike friendly. Some Montreal neighborhoods do not have proper access to existing bike paths, if at all, and new residents of these areas have a hard time in learning how bike-friendly the city actually is.

Sources

Hinkson, Kamila. "City to Increase its Spending on Infrastructure by $4.1B; Repair Outstrips Growth in Financial Priorities." The Gazette: 4. Aug 31 2012. Canadian NewsstandMajor Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

"Make City More Bicycle-Friendly." Toronto Star: 18. Aug 31 2012. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies; CBCA Complete. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Riga, Andy. "How Montreal can make Biking Better; More Routes; Gazette Readers Offer their Own Ideas, Suggestions." The Gazette: 2. May 17 2012. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

"Bixi: A Stroke of Genius, but in Need of some Fixes." The Gazette: 6. May 05 2012. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Barker, Jill. "The Way to Go; Bicycles are Becoming the Vehicle of Choice for Commuters -and with Good Reason. Here are some Tips to Get You Wheeling." The Gazette: 1. Apr 19 2012. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Rabin, Roni C. "Seeing Tel Aviv by Bicycle; for Tourists, Cycling Offers an Intimate Glimpse of Real Life - but the City's Bike Paths are Works in Progress." The Gazette: 3. Dec 03 2011. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Harrold, Max. "'Nothing Will Stop Us,' Tremblay Says; Eye on 2013; Campaign-Like Speech Highlights Party's Successes." The Gazette: 3. Nov 07 2011. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Bruemmer, Ren. "Montreal Tops in North America; International Survey Cites Bixi and Other Infrastructure Initiatives by 'Visionary Politicians' in Ranking City Eighth in the World." The Gazette: 3. Sep 21 2011. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Peritz, Ingrid. "Cycling Helps Immigrants Get Fit and Fit in." The Globe and Mail (Index-only):6. May 21 2011. CBCA Complete. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Dabbour, Essam, and Said M. Easa. "Evaluation of Safety and Operational Impacts of Bicycle Bypass Lanes at Modern Roundabouts." Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering 35.10 (2008): 1025. CBCA Complete. Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

Alter, Lloyd. "Building a Better Bike Lane." Azure: Design Architecture & Art 24.186 (2008):148-9. Design and Applied Arts Index (DAAI). Web. 16 Sep. 2012.

All Flickr images are reproduced within the Creative Commons-licensed content.

Bondage & discipline, submission & dominance and sadomasochism are considered cringe-worthy fetishes in the eyes of many people in today's society. The purpose of this backgrounder is to highlight misconceptions of the fetish community while discussing its origins, development, prevalence in today's pop culture, and to interpret the future implications of this subtly growing subculture.

Origins of BDSM

Contrary to popular belief, BDSM has been around for a long time as a sexual phenome. Where did it start? Well, in 9^th century Rome, of course! Though it is difficult to locate the beginnings of fetish and BDSM practices, the earliest instances documented of BDSM are found in the ritual flagellations that were performed in Arteries' Orthia. However, we shall fast forward to a more telling and timely era for the purpose of this backgrounder...

The Leather community emerged in the 1940s, opening door for many closet gays, who had no where to express their oppressed sexual desires. During World War II, soldiers were exposed  to same-sex quarters. There, many confused people with varrying sexual orientations than the norm, realized that they were not alone in their unconventional desires. Along with the Kinsey Reports (1948 & 1953), World War II was the catalyst to the birth of underground leather clubs.  Members of these exclusive parties were usually attracted to extreme forms of sexuality, hence their distinguishing leather attire. Within these clubs and exclusive parties is likely where further experimentation developed and fetishes began to surface. In recent years, the leather community has become an umbrella term involving all sub categories such as: gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and everything in between (such as BDSM).

A photo by Tom Nicol, pioneer of leather pictures. Taken from L & M Cuirmale (see work cited)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6EMGUOfvcg

BDSM's role in society today

Though there was once a day in America when the only acceptable equation was man + woman = baby, we have grown to recognize there are many grey areas, and our world is not as simple as black and white. Since the 1990s, most leather clubs are no longer underground, and the community has developed into something larger, adopting more elements than its initial gay-male-only association. Now, it is considered more closely related to the fetish community and BDSM practitioners.

Despite the fact that social attitudes towards LBGT (lesbian, bisexual, gay, tansexual) today are generally positive in most urban areas, people are still forced to keep certain dimensions of their lives imprisoned, this being especially true for the BDSM community. The grey area that I have previously mentioned [everything in between], covers most of the BDSM culture and can also be called pansexuality. A term introduced in recent decades, referring to the rejection of sexual binaries and gender. The Oxford English Dictionary defines pansexuality as, "not limited or inhibited in sexual choice with regards to gender or activity".

Most people who consider themselves a part of the BDSM community refer to themselves as pansexuals. Pansexuality aims to challenge marginalisation and discrimination within predjudice societies, and promotes sexual orientation as being individualistic as opposed to binary. What sexual oritentation is to some people, is merely a western phenomenon to others.

So what does Pansexuality have to do with BDSM? Essentially, fetishes vary from person to person, but because pansexuality involves the love and pleasure of all beings, it has everything to do with BDSM. For one person, the pleasure of being dominated in the bedroom might be as far as BDSM goes for that particular person. For another, BDSM could mean anything from sensory deprivation (blindfolding, breath control), to the extreme flogging, sadomacosism, and anything that falls under the category of 'play'. Most importantly though, within every relationship that practices BDSM, it is always performed between partners of mutual consent.

BDSM does have negative connotations, and people often associate it with abusive relationships, but this is far from true. People who are part of the fetish community actively discuss their pleasures, their dislikes and often times use 'safe words' in order to alert their partner(s) when to stop. The solid foundation of the fetish community is based on the ability to be able to express true sexual desires. Juliet Richters, Richard O. De Visser, Chris E. Rissel, Andrew E. Grulich, and Anthony M.A. Smith, authors of an article Demographic and Psychosocial Features of Participants in Bondage and Discipline, "Sadomasochism" or Dominance and Submission (BDSM): Data from a National Survey, addressed the issue of abuse victims and proved that this is only a myth. According to their findings, "BDSM is simply a sexual interest or subculture attractive to a minority, and for most participants not a pathological symptom of past abuse or difficulty with 'normal' sex."

Despite the fact that BDSM has much to do with the leather community, it is only a branch from the entire 'leather tree' if you will. The BDSM subculture has a significantly different moral agenda that treats everything as erotic but not always sexual. Essentially, BDSM is the love of pleasure. While most people do not understand the idea of fetishes, or BDSM, to others it is a form of love. There is a lot of judgment passed on their lifestyle because it is not considered ordinary behaviour. So, where do we draw the line? Should there be boundaries when we are addressing sexual orientation? Moreover, is it morally acceptable to have professional dominatrix's who help people exercise their 'cringe-worthy' fetishes such as: drinking pee, breath control, hot wax or knife play? Well, in the famous words stated by former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, "There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the Nation."

Pop Culture & Future implications for the Fetish Community

Pop culture is a direct representation of what our society is currently invested in; it holds the entirety of phenomena such as perspectives, ideas, attitudes and memes that are preferred by an informal consensus within the mainstream of a (usually western) culture. Having said that; it is significant to take into account the subtleties which undertone our enjoyments, because these subtleties hold the collective unconscious of our desires. What is true about many urban western societies today (especially in Canada) is the widening spectrum of sexual orientation and desire. Embedded throughout mainstream literature, film, and even fashion are hints of BDSM, which alludes to our continuous growing spectrum of sexuality that our culture holds today.

Consider the inflaming popularity of E.L James's 50 Shades of Grey; an erotic novel that is essentially based on a relationship involving the sexual practices of BDSM. This book to date has sold over 40 million copies world wide. What is the appeal? If you ask most readers, their answer would be the erotic fantasies which are explored in the novel. However, for the most part, when people hear "BDSM", and are familiar with the acronym, they usually laugh awkwardly, feel embarrassed, raise an eyebrow, or mutter some sort of cringe-worthy remark, providing that they are disgusted with the idea of BDSM.

This is similar to the attitudes of most people only 50 years ago, concerning LBGT rights. As a developing society who has adapted to social norms, and prides itself on its non-discriminatory standards, we need to be aware that these social norms might change, not due to new developments but rather, repressed content that is now being surfaced. This 'grey area' where a lot of people fall under, weather it may be homosexual, heterosexual or anywhere in between, is gradually being accepted, first through popular literature and film. Another mainstream novel which perpelled the popularity of submission, is Twilight. Followed by an avalanche of phenomena surrounded by the erotica of vampires.

 In Canada, LBGT rights are the most advanced compared to anywhere throughout America.

Work Cited

Steve Lenius (2001): Bisexuals and BDSM, Journal of Bisexuality, 1:4, 69-78 http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J159v01n04_06

Richters, J., De Visser, R. O., Rissel, C. E., Grulich, A. E. and Smith, A. M.A. (2008), Demographic and Psychosocial Features of Participants in Bondage and Discipline, "Sadomasochism" or Dominance and Submission (BDSM): Data from a National Survey. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5: 1660-1668. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00795.x

Wikipedia, BDSM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM

Lei & Mark (2012): Gay Leather Fetish History, http://www.cuirmale.nl/index.htm

Kathleen A. O'Donnell (1999) ,"Good Girls Gone Bad: the Consumption of Fetish Fashion and the Sexual Empowerment of Women", in Advances in Consumer Research Volume 26, eds. Eric J. Arnould and Linda M. Scott, Advances in Consumer Research Volume 26 : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 184-189.