It is the year 2012, and the world is still incapable of accepting gay rights. More specifically, The Ugandian Government has proposed an Anti-Gay law. This law punishes those who don’t comply with all regulations with the death penalty. This disgusts me.

This attempt at implementing an anti-gay law is shocking. While parts of the world such as the US are working to legalize gay marriage nationwide, countries like Uganda are proposing the death penalty to those guilty of aggravated homosexuality . Remember the days of sodomy laws? Those were abolished for a reason. People do not marry soley for reproduction and money anymore, people can now marry for love. Uganda is a developing country yes. And they may differ in relgious beliefs and education but there is no excuse for application or support of a law which undermines an individuals freedom to love.

My hope is that the rest of the world will realize how heinous this law is and act in abolising any chance it has to become legitmate. FREE LOVE. Let each individual live the life they deserve and allow them to love whomever they wish. I advocate for universal acceptance of each individual REGARDLESS of circumstances.

LOVE LIFE.

In a span of 4 days from November 9th to November 12th, Canada Border Services Agents have seized around 7 million dollars worth of  cocaine at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

The flights were coming from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Trinidad and More than 54kg’s were seized from 3 bags.

I travel by air frequently and I am pretty naive about the drug smuggling issue. I have always figured “what idiot would try and smuggle drugs through a major airport?”. Clearly however, people in the past have been successful in doing exactly this. If every smuggling mission through Pearson Airport in the past had been unsuccessful, the chances are these recent failed smuggling missions would have never been attempted.

These reports suggest to me there is most likely a good success rate of drug smuggling through Toronto’s main airport. This is an issue, and hopefully the recent failed attempts will discourage at least some people from trying to smuggle drugs through Pearrson International Airport in the future.

Reading the blog “Morning Advantage: Public Transit Is Really the Way to Go“, it shows the health benefit one receives from taking public transit. When I think about the advantages of public transit, I think about saving the environment and saving money. Never have I looked at the effect it can have on an individuals overall health and wellness.

As shown in this article, public transit can save the average person $9,242 a year. Therefore, why when it helps the environment, saves one money, and improves one’s overall health and wellness does everyone not use it?

I believe the reason is convenience. In today’s world people have demanding schedules and the accessibility of a car allows you to go from place to place whenever you wish. It leaves each individual with a choice:

1) An extra $9,242 dollars in your pocket, more “free” exercise, greater happiness OR 2) You can choose to have optimal convenience, no extra money in your pocket, endure in less exercise, and receive more stress from “road rage”. The combination of less exercise and stress can also lead to an increasing chances of obesity.

Will you choose public transit? Or will the convenience of having a car outweigh all of the pros of public transit?

After reading Briana Mussatto’t article on Aritizia’s new New York 5th Avenue store, it has made me think about the similarities of this marketing approach to Zara’s marketing strategy. Zara’s main form of advertisement is store location. The company  situates it’s stores in the busiest shopping areas in places that “stands out”, Even I fell victim to this. The first time I had heard of Zara was when I was walking on Robson Street in Vancouver a couple years ago and I had noticed the store in a prime location near popular stores like Lululemon and Guess. Seeing this I felt the need to walk inside and check out Zara’s products.

Aritzia has done exactly this on the largest shopping street in the world. This will surely have a huge impact on making the brand go global and in my opinion it is the best way to market a clothing line. Strategic placement of stores has worked on me in the case of Zara and I imagine the Artizia store on 5th avenue will have the same impact on the millions and millions of people who shop on 5th avenue yearly.

Photograph of the hoarding shot by Mike Boland

After reading Madeline Weedle’s blog about the hockey company Bauer, I found it very interesting to see they are expanding into lacrosse. I have been playing ice hockey for the past 15 years and Bauer is my brand of choice. I have used 12 pairs of Bauer skates and more than 50 Bauer sticks during the past 6 years and I would not change brands. The company has the ability to earn large profits entering the lacrosse equipment industry.

While growing up and playing hockey, a very large portion of my teammates would spend the hockey “off season” playing lacrosse. Not only did my peers do this, but it is a trend all around the hockey world as seen in this article.

For the large number of hockey playing lacrosse players, the brand Bauer will already have a competitive advantage over other brands. Even though Bauer is new to lacrosse the hockey players are very familiar with the company and know the quality of equipment they make. This gives Bauer a huge edge on other start up brands, and enables them to make a large impact in the industry immediately. A very smart move for a brand that produces high end products.

Dave Watson a medical marijuana grower does not think home grow operations will boom. He states “If it was easy, a lot more people would already be doing it.”  Growing of marijuana was illegal before, so why would a lot of people be already doing this? Thus Mr. Watson’s theory behind why home grow op’s will not boom cleary makes zero sense.

In fact legalizing marijuana in the first place makes zero sense. What is the point of legalizing marijuana? More money for the government? Over the past year I have had the oppurtunity to learn about illicit drugs through drug addicts, rehab doctors, and downtown Vancouver City Police members that specialize in the downtown east side drug problem.  The number 1 lesson from all of these individuals was simple “say no to drugs“. They all stated marijuana to be the “gateway drug” meaning the drug people start with before trying harder drugs. Now marijuana will be sold easily, made easily, and best of all LEGAL! Why not legalize something that has caused so many issues in health around the world.

Would it be too much to try and come up with an ethical method of making money for the State?