Next Gent

Sometimes opportunities present themselves and you jump. But you jump maybe in a slightly wrong direction. You miss the landing, you crash, and everything goes horribly wrong. This week's cultural topic is:

The Reset Button

Starting over from the point of failure? Vanilla Sky touched on the idea, but that was in the form a "lucid dream". Sad to say, folks, but that just doesn't exist. People talk about going back to high school or university or getting married or buying a house "knowing what they know now". Yeah a time machine would be nice - you could talk to your past self and fix little issues that had come up in your past in their future. This causes problems with the space-time continuum and according to Doc Emmett Brown "having information about the future can have disastrous consequences. Even if you're intentions are good, it can backfire drastically!"

I won't compare it to sports, because obviously many athletes would love to not have taken that penalty or shot the puck/thrown or kicked the ball differently, not to mention that happens hundreds of times of day in tens of different sports on hundreds of different levels to millions of different players in every single country in hundreds of different languages in tens of different dialects and if a reset button existed it would simply be re-reset by the reseter's opposition in an eternal dual of resets and time may even cease to continue. It does exist in some recreational golf in the mulligan, but it also usually results in a penalty stroke. OK - RESET.

Do you think Columbus got it right on his first try? Of course not. In fact, he tried four times to make it to India via the Atlantic Ocean before the Americas were officially considered discovered. (Not to mention - why does USA get a Columbus Day and Canada doesn't? Our 1490s history looks pretty similar to me...) Columbus is kind of a hero, but don't you think he would have preferred to have found India like he had planned? RESET.

It's like when you're cruising down the highway and you see that red and blue flash coming up in your rear view mirror. Hearts start racing, palms become sweaty and studies suggest that an overwhelming majority will reflexively hit the brakes. Makes sense, but if you are the one they want it's probably too late and if you're not the target, you probably don't have much to worry about anyway. You are in control. RESET.

Photography is always a hit and miss. Sometimes the shots come and some days they don't. The nice thing about photography though, is that you CAN try again. No one is going to know if the shot was the first shot or the last shot from a shoot. And the truth of the matter is that it doesn't really matter. Often all it takes is one. Photoshop helps too.

As we all know, my positing has been sporadic at best. A good friend of mine, Dale Vaughn, has a growlingly successful website, www.nextgent.com a type of open forum for the next generation of gentlemen. I have the opportunity to do some work with it and possibly get some great exposure, but here's the thing. In real life, there is not reset button. We learn from our mistakes and try again. So that's what I'm doing right now - getting the fingers moving, the mind rolling, and the creative juices flowing. You can look for me there soon, but for now, let's focus on not needing that reset button to (re)begin with.

What's Fair about it?

So I'm sitting here watching the Oilers get very badly beaten, waiting for the Flames game to come on after a long day of selling tires, buying cars and researching Alberta employment legislation on boring technicalities of sick day pay and I think to myself...holy crap it's been a long time since I posted on this less than often viewed blog of mine. That isn't very gracious of me and definitely isn't fair to anyone looking to read. On the subject of fairness, this post's cultural topic is:

FAIR TRADE

I was recently at Second Cup (yes, the generally accepted lower quality Canadian long lost step sister of the great Starbucks but went to it because it's close and I'm lazy) with no real purpose other than buying a pound of coffee. If you know me, you know that I have a pretty regimented routine in the morning and coffee is an integral part of that process. Just like any addict, I have very particular tastes that need to be satisfied and considering I haven't been to a Second Cup in what is likely 5 years, I had no idea what kind of coffee I was supposed to order. I asked the girls for something medium-dark with sort of a chocolatey finish and after much deliberation, they came to the conclusion that I would like CUZCO, a Medium roast Costa Rican bean which, when I got it home was EXACTLY what I wanted. Why they would call a bean from Costa Rica Cuzco, a town in the Peruvian Andes is beyond me but I got over it pretty quickly and now is besides the point.

The big thing, however, that caught my eye (not on the first half pound that I bought but rather on the second full pound!) is the Certified Organic Fair Trade factor. (Look for the label!!)

Now, I've never really been all that into hippie things like fair trade or organic and especially not veganism (which goes hand in hand with both but is not the subject of tonight's post) so I decided to read into it a little...like a good curious little boy. I mean, I knew the premise or the facts and why it exists and for those who don't know, allow me to explain.

Historically, Americans (Canadians included) have been the by far the number one consumers of international coffee and make up nearly a fifth of the entire worlds consumption. Since coffee harvesting is so labour intensive, small player farmers producing coffee for export are able to cover basic supply costs but are left to make up for cost of harvest, manufacturing and shipping and many are literally losing money by producing their crops. (There are other contributing factors, but let's not worry about them for now.) Fair Trade coffee, on the other hand, guarantees farmers minimum prices for their harvest and retail buyers will often purchase directly from the farmers in order to minimize costs and maximize farmer profits. Of course, there is a growers' co-op to oversee and protect the farmers as well.

So let me get this straight à la FAQ.

Q: So I get the same quality coffee for the same low price?
A: Not true. Fair trade coffee often ends up costing you, the end consumer, more money but allows the international coffee community to grow and improve their growing practices and remain sustainable and profitable so we Americans can continue to be addicted to coffee-based caffeine.

Q: People actually like paying more for things?
A: When it's for the good of humanity sometimes people don't mind.

Q: So if I pay marginally more money for dramatically better coffee that doesn't treat emerging Third World Countries like coffee producing sweat shops, how am I supposed to feel good about it? In the end I still have less money...
A: Feeling good is a matter of opinion. Just keep a positive attitude, maybe pick up a second job and you'll be buying fair trade for the rest of your life.

Q: Is fair trade coffee right for me?
A: Personally I don't like the taste of Folgers or Nabob anyway. Does that answer the question?

Q: If Starbucks thinks this is such a great thing to do, why don't they buy and sell exclusively fair trade, why do they still hate some farmers?
A: Baby steps, I guess. Besides, some people (even farmers) just aren't that likeable.

Q: Do I have to stop eating meat, stop washing and cutting my hair, and buy a VW van if I start buying fair trade coffee?
A: Of course not. All of those things are unhealthy and owning a VW can become costly and parts are difficult to find in times of repair.

Since having bought my Cuzco label Second Cup coffee, I have recommended Second Cup to many a person. The girls were helpful and I found a coffee that exactly met what I wanted going in. Will I go to that location again to purchase my coffee? Yes. Have I already? Yes. Do I like the coffee only because it's fair trade coffee? No.

So what's the moral of the story? It's not that horrible to drink fair trade coffee. Coffee chains look good. My wallet barely notices. Farmers are happy. My taste buds are happy. So is it "fair"? No. It's FAIR TRADE!!


Guerrilla Coffee Fare

Quotes

James: Hey Kai, that was some good cheese.

Kai: Yeah, I got it at Superstore. Do you want some more?

James: No, I've got enough dick cheese...WHAT?! Did I just say that?

Kai: Yeah, you really did.

James: I don't know why that was the first thing that came into my head. Shit.

Kai In Quotations

Some months ago, shortly after becoming one of they luckily recently re-hireds, I got sent a message on Facebook regarding some of my unemployment posts and the guest blog that I managed to snag on my good friend Dale Vaughn's Stop Surviving Website. I was requested an interview and I sat down one afternoon with a young journalist, Bryan Weismiller to give him my point of view on the bigger picture of being unemployed and finding work in an unspecified field. I promised him that if he did not manage to get the draft published after he had written the article that I would accredit him on my blog. Though readership is not particularly high on this site, it is as they say in the media, any publicity is better than no publicity! With that being said, enjoy.

Working to Live
By Bryan Weismiller

Recessions shouldn’t be depressing for young Canadians who’ve been impacted by the recent economic downturn. Young adults need to put their jobs in perspective to deal with being unemployed.

It could’ve been shoveling mud in South America that taught Kai Hochhausen to see the bigger picture. Working as a 25-year-old at an international recruiting agency, Hochhausen was laid off when the recession hit.

“It was a really big operation that just got slashed. I mean there’s nothing you can do about it,” says Hochhausen. “Looking at the numbers, I can totally understand.”

Hochhausen’s ability to disassociate himself from his work shows a high level of maturity. Travelling around the world has broaden his perspective and it helped him handle being unemployed. His travel resume includes stops in 32 countries across 4 continents.

“I’ve been so many places and dealt with so many people. I take that back and use it in real life,” explains Hochhausen.

In 2005, Hochhausen was travelling through Central America when Hurricane Stan tore through the region. He was in Antigua, Guatemala when violent weather conditions triggered a large mudslide. Many of the local homes were buried beneath a layer of mud and rocks.

Hochhausen, while studying Spanish, was part of a relief effort that worked to clean up the area. His main job was shoveling debris away from the local’s lean-to shelters. He recalls being shocked at how homes were constructed from five pieces of tin.

“You think- this is what people live in? Holy crap.”

The economic downturn affects everyone in different ways. However, its effects are particularly damaging to young people because of how they value their jobs. According to Isha Sharma, a Mount Royal University sociology professor, young people are more likely to take being fired personally.

“You are what you do these days,” says Sharma. “You base your identity on the kind of work that you do. Being fired really questions your identity. It maybe says that you’re not doing a good job.”

It’s clear that young people are particularly hurt by losing their jobs. It’s a dangerous reality, especially because young workers are amongst the affected by the economic downturn.

Statistics Canada recently reported significant employment losses for Canadian workers between the ages of 15 to 24. From October 8, 2008 to October 8, 2009, employment fell 10.5% for males and 6.9% amongst females.

There was also a 24.8% decrease in employment for workers making less than $10 an hour. Conversely, employment increased for workers who made more than $40 an hour.

If young Canadians continue to be affected by the recession then they need to learn how to cope with it. Life experiences develop the maturity that is needed to deal with unemployment.

“You eventually realize that your work is a part of you, but it’s not all about you,” says Isha Sharma. “You get a broader perspective and realize that there are other people who don’t have a job either. So you tend to blame yourself less and try to understand the larger implications of not having a job.”

Kai Hochhausen is currently 26-years-old and he now works in sales for a large auto-wrecker chain. He’s slightly older then Statistics Canada’s definition of a young worker. However, his perspective on employment makes him a good example for other young adults:

“I’m not only a sales manager. I’m an amateur photographer. I like to write. I like to play sports. I’m not my job. I work, so I can do what I love to do.”

-30-

The Basics

There seems to be a great deal of negative connotations around spending money these days. Though the Canadian government has recently declared the worst of the recession over, it seems to be that people are still very cautiously spending their money. Companies are still undergoing layoffs and many unemployeds can still not find work. Kai’s cultural topic of the week is:

CONSUMERISM

I was once at a family reunion where everyone had to give a little speech about who they are, what they do, what they believe, and demonstrate a special skill. My skill turned out to be wearing a Calgary Flames Jersey, putting on a cowboy hat and shot-gunning a beer. Glacier fresh-tasting Kokanee, it’s the beer out here. My uncle, on the other hand, spoke of the downward sloping demand curve – the basis for understanding economics.

Consumerism is not a new concept but the fear of it is. Economic principles and cultural norms suggest that we can stimulate the economy by spending, but what happens when there is no money to spend on an individual level?

The recession took its toll on many countries, companies, families and individuals. Those who made it out unscathed should consider themselves lucky. I have been in my current job now for about 9 months and the company is doing well by most standards but there will obviously be obstacles as no business is truly recession-proof, as I became merely one of the many statistics to be unemployed in the last two years.

I’m beginning to sound very textbook and uninteresting, so let me just simplify it for myself and for everyone reading…

When you have very little money, it’s simple: you should not be spending. Buy what you need at that’s it. In fact (to over-OVER-simplify) this is what caused the entire recession in the first place (along with other complicated refinancing plans and poor decisions by financial institutions and international bodies).

There seems to be this general understanding and acceptance of people who live outside their financial means and it needs to stop.

From time to time I get criticized for driving and older vehicle because it’s not as pretty or as fast as something only a couple years old. Driving newer/financed vehicles often can have as many if not more costs than driving an older vehicle that once all the balance sheet is laid out. Increased insurance payments coupled versus do-it-yourself maintenance projects can often leave you on a similar playing field. Obviously you don’t plan for emergencies and this is why you need to have a safe-hold. It’s not that I can’t afford to drive a nicer vehicle, it’s just that by driving a reasonable older vehicle I allow for other luxuries in my life: photographic equipment, snowboarding, international vacations, motorcycle, eating out, etc…

Financial advisors suggest keeping on hand at all times a minimum of three months salary in liquidable savings in order to safeguard any sort of job loss or accidental costs that may occur. Sounds pretty reasonable to me…

The easiest way? There is no clear cut method but savings have to be in your spending budget. You can easily budget fun, travel, luxury items and other big tickets into your spending but the most important key is to pay yourself first. If you can’t save money, don’t buy anything else. Just slow the spending. Buy essentials. No, a $2500 purse on sale for $1500 is not an essential item…

When it comes down to it, you are going to be the only one affected by your good or poor spending habits, so if you can either live with the consequences of living in debt or stretching yourself so far that you can literally not afford to splurge or you can just think a little.

Spending money is not rocket science, it is simple economics.

YOUR HOMOS

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUTTA MA MOOOOOOUUUUTH?! - Chris Tucker to Jackie Chan, Rush Hour

This will be a short one - like a refresher course cause it's been a while. This week's cultural topic is:

HOMONYMS

What's with people these days not knowing how to spell the words they are trying to write? English teachers are rolling over in their graves trying to figure out why it is such a big issue with kids (in particular) knowing how to use simple homonyms.

I would like to highlight the three most simply corrected spelling errors in commonly used English language - and I'm NOT trying to be a dictionary here...I just can't take it anymore!

You're/Your/ur
You're = you are. Your=possessive. Therefore, YOUR so cool is not correct. You're NOT cool if you're thinking that you're and your are the same. You're can be possessive as in you are possessive and have possessions but your not possessive cause that doesn't make sense. You're=U R does not equal Your=ur. .

To/Too/Two - I see two people messaging to each other using the wrong to/too/two all too often.

Their/There/They're. They're=they are. There=a place. Their=like your=possessive. They're going to meet us there with their friends. THERE, see the difference?

Shorthand - somewhat acceptable in t9 phone texting and even then is stupid in my books - books whose dictionaries don't even include shorthand! Ur buddies might think you're def pretty tight cuz ur party last nite was the sickest. Talk 2 u L8r! DUH

No, I'm not angry - It's grammar and grammar is simple if you follow the rules. Remember: Ain't NOBODY touch a black man's radio!


PS I really like this photo - From Zoo Lights 2009, Calgary, AB