Advice vs. reality

Whenever I pop onto Yahoo, pass a magazine stand, or scan through the newspaper sections, I'm always perversely interested in the "lifestyle & health" sections. The irritating headlines of what a boyfriend should act like or "how to make a guy fall in love with you" gives a sickening feeling of rot in my stomach.

Starting around the youthful age of around ten, many girls greedily subscribe to the popular "seventeen" or "ym" magazines for advice on love, dating, makeup and fashion. Filling impressionable heads full of unrealistic expectations of biblical proportions guarantees a generation of unhappy individuals. Men are no better, with magazines such as GQ, Maxim, Men's Health or FHM, gaining ground in the masculine psyche.

Taking an article from Yahoo 10 Things a Good Boyfriend Won't ask You to Do provides a one sided and narrow-minded standard on the "ideal" boyfriend. Here's a small taste...

#1. His laundry.

Some women prefer to do the guy's laundry. It all depends on the couple. Isn't it similar to women asking their husbands to mow the lawn, take out the trash and fix the roof?

#4. Make him a sandwich.

If there are no long commercials during the Superbowl then it is nice if a girlfriend can do that. It's similar to dragging a boyfriend to go shopping with her. It's boring as hell, and something you do because you care about the other person.

#10 Keep our hair long

This one makes me laugh because a lot of guys shave their beards to please a girlfriend as well. Not to say women shouldn't change things up with different hairstyles. It all depends on the female.

It's all fluff of course, used to fill up daily pages for entertainment, and so long as it's considered that way no harm done.

In three acts

For a while I thought I'd be subjected to waiting for well past a year for the release of the newest Poirot installments. Three Act Tragedy, also known as "Murder in 3 Acts" along with The clocks have been streamed on youtube by some very nice individuals! I usually add to my dvd collection at a later date if I find them.

For Canucks, Americans and other foreigners who can't wait for your local network to catch up, you can link to the episode below on youtube starting with 1 of 10.

Poirot: Murder in 3 Acts (unfortunately it has been removed)

There is also the release of the Clocks on youtube...

here's the link to 1 of 9

Poirot: The Clocks

The price of beauty

Right now newspapers are in a global uproar over the recent news that a website "beautiful people" kicked out over 5000 members for overindulging during the holiday festivities. I know some people are outraged but I think it's laughable.

Is it so terrible that there's a website for JUST beautiful people? I don't think so. It's sort of like J date, for the Jewish community only. In a way it gathers people who demand the equivalent of themselves, good looking by society's standards who are health conscious. It does seem a bit lopsided however... After all, women tend to value financial security more than appearance and many of the most successful men probably don't have the time to hit the gym. Is there a separate membership for the "okay looking" but super wealthy?

Whatever the case, exclusivity must be the key attraction. The ejection of members was just another brilliant PR move to spread the word and lure the most arrogant, narcissistic individuals into their club.

Curious? Want to join? Take a look ...

beautiful people

Below is an intriguing article that has a few disconcerting experiences when it first launched in Britain.

article in britain

Even more elitist is the site "A Small World" for the jet setting group of successful, well connected and A-type individuals of the world. You can't even browse the site without a special invitation. Sort of takes the song from the creepy Disney ride to a whole new level.

A small world

The business of happiness

I never appreciated emails that forward weird "positive" thinking messages, and even less the ones that you need to resend to other unwitting potential marks. Today I received the exact opposite. My friend forwarded a depressing article of how positive thinking is a scam and that smarter people are the grouchy, cynical, pissed off population who wake up every morning with nothing but a foul aftertaste.

It was an interesting article (links below) and it could very likely ring true. I couldn't help but smile at the arrogance of the friend who sent it to me, a non subtle way of proving that their years of self-analysis, self loathing, cynicism, selfish, egotistical behaviour was a sign of their intelligence and superiority. Love it.

Frankly I'm too lazy to think this way or that. If people want to buy self help books, read positive thinking books, and go to seminars... go ahead. Am I stupid or smart? That's all relative. If others want to wallow in their self hatred, disgust for the human race, drink themselves to a stupor, and write a novel about their angst ridden lives... again... go ahead. That's what makes life interesting. Variety.

I recently saw the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. I loved it for the bright colourful sets, gritty concept, mix of characters, and strangeness, but that's just my opinion. A refreshing story about what the heart wants and what we deserve. I won't pretend to be happy, let's just say I'm content... enough. I had a hell of year in 2009 so maybe I'm a fool to look ahead with a bit of optimism, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Seeking a Cure for Optimism

Globe & Mail comments

Up in the air

Lately I've been on a movie watching marathon as different people want to catch movies to kill off time away from family. I recently saw Up in the Air, the newest George Clooney flick. No surprises, funny at times... and certainly not much of an escape from reality.

It reminded me of a previous article I read in a newspaper of websites for extra marital affairs for those who are frequently travelling for business and living on the road. I found the idea of such a scheme to be both ingenious and depressing. "Up in the Air"... in other cities there is less evidence and less expectation if the third party can't bump into you in the supermarket. One website "The Ashley Madison", which sounds like some corny character from a smutty novel, has the slogan "Life is short, have an affair". Such simple words for acts that can lead to collateral damage to more than just the pocket book.

As we all kick off the New year we're burdened with so many pressures that society demands of us. Many people rush to the gates to get that perfect job, house, spouse and child, that by the time we acquire it all we panic because we're getting old.

They say New Year's is a time of summing up, and I guess it is. A person once told me "It's not that I want less, it's just that I find happiness with what I have." He was probably right, after all... life is short.

Happy New Year.