In light of the current state of our world (fires, toxic water, viruses and immeasurable suffering of all Earth’s creatures), we all need to realize something very important. We have to understand that in order to bring real change, we have to stop waiting for some magical government to save us. With every little choice you make in your day about what to buy and support with your money, you dictate what the world will be. If you didn’t need another reason to never go on a cruise - did you know that Cruise ships just bulldoze overboard into the open ocean tonnes of garbage and plastic every week? There are no laws against this! In a time where our oceans are becoming more full of plastic than fish, it is shocking that this can be! Instead of waiting for a law to be made against this, boycott the Cruise industry! Let your consumer dollar force them to stop. Factory farming is another horrifying industry that we allow to go on. Animals are forced to live in misery and suffering Until they are brutally slaughtered. Footage of a factory farm in Iowa shows workers beating pigs with iron rods and smashing baby piglets onto the concrete floor. Like their life in these horrible cages isn’t cruel enough. Monsters! All of us for supporting this by not boycotting or speaking up against it! Do you really need to eat bacon? Oh grow the fuck up! Have you been so brainwashed by commercials for burgers and bacon that you have no will left to think for yourself and for what’s good for all? We need to let go of all the shit that these corporations have forced onto us since we were kids (just for their profits to keep growing, regardless of the suffering and destruction it brings). Stand up and start making responsible choices for the good of all sentient beings and the future of this world. You can easily choose plant-based burgers, pepperoni, etc.. I’m not saying you have to go vegan, but at least choose to have some vege meals throughout your week to help. Support farms that raise animals humanely. Just because your parents always ate meat, doesn’t mean you have to. You don’t have to be your parents - change is good and in this world, the only hope for the future. Teach your children to be kind to animals and all who dwell on this planet. My father was a hunter, but he respected animals and loved them. As an immigrant farmer, he would never have treated them so cruelly and tortured these poor innocent animals who think and feel just like we do. Again, what you choose to buy at the grocery store or order at a restaurant affects how our world will be tomorrow. How do we stop them from animal testing in labs? Only buy cosmetics that are Cruelty-free. It seems like such a small thing, but if we all do it, then companies that still torture animals will have to change, or lose their profits! China demands that all cosmetics sold there are tested on animals. Are you kidding me? It’s bad enough that they torture and kill dogs for meat, but we can choose to not support them! Put your consumer dollar to work, make these choices now or we will continue to go on a downward spiral of diseases and destruction until we are no more. I never post anything, but I feel that these are important conversations that we need to be having! Thank you for reading this, please share if you agree. 

The forgotten lessons

I admit that I am the worst blogger, I only blog a couple of times a year, and my last one was quite a while ago. I'm just not into being on the computer very much. Anyways, I am going to try to keep this one light (I know that my others have been tinged with the anger that arises from my frustration of the state of society). I basically feel the need to bring up a few points regarding all those life and social lessons which were always so crucial to bringing up a decent member of society. There are certain rules and lessons that parents no longer seem to be teaching their children, and it is not okay...

1) "Use your indoor voice" - seriously, it used to be that when we were in public places, we spoke quietly so as not to disturb others. Now, both children and adults get on the subway, or in a store, or an office or salon, and are speaking at full volume, so that everyone has to listen to their annoying conversations and/or children's squealing, whining, or worse. IT IS NOT OKAY! Have some dignity, and some respect for others around you and be quiet!!! There are others in the world besides you!

2) "Say please and thank you" - teach them to say these to everyone, in every situation!

3) "Greet all people you interact with with a Hello (Good Morning, Good Evening, etc) and a Goodbye when departing" - seriously, I've had the rudest children in my hairstyling chair, while sitting for a haircut, not even saying hello, sitting like a stupid zombie, and no thank you or goodbye when it's done. NOT OKAY!! These rude monsters grow up to be rude, classless, awkward adults. Teach them please!!!

If you've read my very first blog in 2010, you are aware of the disturbing and detrimental effects that our current generation of undisciplined, self-absorbed children are having on our civilization. To add to this horror is another disturbing trend that is further eating away at all that is right and enlightened. You see, our young women seem to be regressing in terms of the women's rights movement. So many generations fought so that women could be seen as equal in intellect, strength of will and body, workplace contribution, and in contribution to society in general. As well, women have strived to establish their own independence, free from dependence on a father or husband through their own hard work, determination, and self-respect. What do I see now? Young women in their twenties dressing like street-walking prostitutes (and not just when they are out on a Saturday night, but for school or work too!). What is it with the stripper heels? Seriously, I see these young women stumbling around like fools on these ridiculous platformed six-inch heels. Why? Don't give me that bullshit about them loving their heels (squeeling with delight like one of the ridiculous characters in those unrealistic "Sex and the City" movies). Please, they are pathetic fashion victims who are desperately trying to impress men by playing the role of some male porn fantasy. Have some self-esteem! Seriously, have some pride and dignity and dress how you feel comfortable, strong and confident. Don't get me wrong, I am no prude, and I am all for looking hot, we should all care enough about ourselves that we should strive to be healthy and as beautiful as nature intended us to be. However, the problem is that we are witnessing this extreme oversexualization of our young women. They seem to think that looking like a cheap hooker is o.k. It's not. It's degrading these young women and teaching them that they are just a sexual object with no power over their sexuality.

Now, here is where the real regression is occuring. I actually overhear young women talking about how they want a "sugar-daddy" (an older guy who is going to take care of them financially, usually in exchange for the pleasure of having them on his arm and of course, sex). Are you kidding me? Just ten years ago, when I was in my twenties, my friends and I would've been horrified by a girl doing this. We were so proud of the fact that we worked and could pay our own way, and buy our own things. Now, it's becoming socially acceptable to be an unashamed gold-digger? What is going on? Who is teaching these women that it isn't noble to work hard and make your own way in the world, but instead to try and weasel it off of others? One only needs to turn on the television and see these Reality shows that these young women are so happily watching. Just watching a few minutes of those bloody Kardashians is enough to turn an intelligent person's stomach. Seriously, they are a bunch of rich, spoiled, completely self-absorbed idiots whose main concern is whining over the fact that they couldn't get the manicure appointment at the exact time they wanted it. It is truly horrifying watching the mother pimp out these overly done-up, and disturbingly uneducated girls, to all kinds of materialistic promotions and photoshoots to make more and more millions. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that everyone has a right to make money, but what values are you promoting?With all of their money and privilege, why don't they do some good in the world? Open a school for girls, or some kind of charitable organization. Volunteer at a children's hospital, something, anything! Anything other than constantly shopping, doing their make-up, or fighting with each other over stupid, insignificant things. Seriously, in a country where people are losing their homes and children are going to sleep hungry, the American people still worship these self-important stupids? Sadly, it's not just the young women. I see women in their forties injecting their faces with fillers and poisons to look like their beloved celebrities. Really? Do you really want to look like those puffy, injected monsters on those rich, useless housewives reality shows. These women are scary! They look like lizards, some alien version of a human face with deformed lips and weirdly pulling tight skin on their faces. Do you really think this looks good? Why, because the plastic surgeon making thousands off of you told you he can make you look twenty? Just stop it. Stop it all. Stop watching these shows. Stop encouraging the stupidity and insanity. Please start teaching your daughters and nieces that this is not what a woman of dignity is. It is one who has dignity and self-respect, evident in the way she carries herself, speaks, and treats others around her, especially other women. If you are going around being catty and nasty to other women around you, you need to deal with whatever insecurities you have and get some self-esteem. The world is difficult enough for women. We need to see each other as sisters, and encourage each other to be strong and dignified, and appreciate the beauty within all of us universally. Teach your young women that they don't need to walk around like a porno-fantasy to be noticed. Girls (and ladies), get noticed through your good deeds, and through your confidence and independence. Thank you.

This royal wedding is ridiculous. The amount of money being spent on this wedding could feed the starving in Africa for five years!!! Seriously, in this day and age, in this economy with so many families suffering and struggling to get by, the world is happy to watch one over-priveleged family celebrate a ridiculously expensive wedding?? Royals are celebrated simply because they happen to be born into money (which throughout history came to Kings and Queens through wars spilling the blood of the commoner), and now we commoners are expected to "rejoice" over one of their family members getting married? Please! The only good person to ever come out of this ridiculousness was Lady Diana, who was actually concerned with helping the needy, cradling AIDS-infected infants in Africa, trying to bring attention to these areas of great suffering in the world. Of course the old bitch Queen Elizabeth didn't like her - she wasn't like the Queen - an oblivious snob living in a world of pompous privelege without a care in the world for those she could help so much with all her wealth and power. One can only hope that the son of Diana and his bride will be involved in ways to better the world, and help the suffering, instead of just thinking about what designer brand to wear to the next social event. God help us all.

I am constantly picking pop cans and bottles at work out of the garbage and putting them into the recycling bin (right next to it, of course). Why is it that those who seem to care the least about the planet are those with children, the ones who should care the most? You see, as someone who has made a conscious choice to not bring more children into this overpopulated world, I, in theory, could just not care at all in the sense that when there are no resources left in the future and I am dead and gone, what should I care? But I do, and I have a hard time understanding how these people with children, who should be thinking about what kind of planet their children will have to live on in the future, how they could be so lazy, and care so little? Wake up! The time to be lazy and not think about these issues is over. The LEAST you can do is recycle your recyclable items. Choosing to drive a hybrid, take public transit, or walking/biking is needed too, but I will fight the battle one thing at a time. I just want you all to care. Just care. Teach your children to care about the planet because let's face it, even if you had a trillion dollars, what's it worth to you if you don't have a planet to live on? If you don't have air to breath, or the seas have risen over the continents due to such rapid global warming? Nothing will matter. You have nothing if you don't have your health, and a healthy environment in which to live. Please, sit down with your children and watch amazing and eye-opening films such as "The Eleventh Hour", hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio, and also the incredible film "Sharkwater". Watch them, discuss, act. Thank you.

I have seen two disturbing trends that will be the fall of our civilized society if things don't change. You see, as someone who has worked in several career fields, (from my Psych degree spawned employment as a Distress Counsellor, to a Technician at a Sleep Disorders Clinic, to my current career in the Beauty Industry as a Make-up and Hair Stylist) I have seen a lot, much of it disturbing. However, even the most stressful suicide case has never plagued my mind as heavily as the behaviour I am seeing everyday in this modern-day world. The first disturbing trend is this generation of parents now with young kids who are not disciplining their children at all. I'm not kidding, I mean these kids never hear the word "No". There is this generation of monsters being raised now without any discipline. They are allowed to do as they please, and are encouraged to be completely self-indulgent with no respect for rules or others around them. I have many friends who are teachers and they tell me the same stories all the time. These kids are shocked to hear "No", and have no reverence for authority. You don't need a Psych degree to understand that if you are not taught any self-discipline, you will not be successful as an adult or as a good human being in general. You see, every aspect of doing well in school, work, athletics starts with having self-discipline. Keeping yourself healthy, and the best you can be requires your ability to say no to things and prioritize and focus on goals in every aspect of life. This current culture of self-indulgence will unleash on society a generation of young adults that don't give a shit about anything or anybody other than themselves, and their own comfort and convenience. What does that say about how much they will care about our ever-deteriorating environment? I have actually seen people drop their trash on the sidewalk as they were walking, and, get this, the trash bin/recycling bins are just a few steps off to the side! Are you kidding me? How lazy and disgusting are these slobby teenagers these days? It's bad enough that most of these teens are obese, out of shape smokers (still dressed in skin-tight shit), but the fact that they just don't care about anything is the fault of the parents. This learning starts from day one. You need to teach your child manners and how to be a dignified, respectful human being from when they are little. Babying them and letting them do whatever they want is NOT good parenting. You are failing at good parenting if you are creating a spoiled, whiny baby that you will later unleash on the rest of us when they leave your home. I am so sick of hearing parents speak to their children like they are developmentally delayed babies. Why are you baby-talking and coddling your five-year old? TALK TO THEM LIKE AN INTELLIGENT HUMAN BEING, AND THEY WILL BEHAVE AS SUCH! Seriously, talking to them like incompetent little degenerates will encourage them to be this exactly. I actually witnessed a woman taking apart the beautifully displayed coffee table with magazines and pamphlets on it because her toddler was ripping things apart. Instead of disciplining the child and telling him to sit still and stop touching things, she proceeded to bring all the things from the table over to our front desk and move everything around so that her child could spread out and take over the area! Are you kidding me????? I had to take several deep breaths from telling her what an idiot she is! When we were kids, if my mother or father told us to sit still, we would sit like soldiers for hours, if need be. There would not be a peep out of us because we had learned self-discipline. That same self-discipline has made me into the successful adult that I am. I have the discipline to work hard towards goals for work, and for my health and physical fitness. Another horrifying example, I'm sure we have all seen, is parents apologizing to the child for having to do something. For example, at the grocery store, a woman says to her bratty child, "Sorry, sweetie, just a few more minutes, o.k.? Then we'll go soon, o.k?" Asking the kid if it's o.k.???? Are you kidding me? Who is in charge here? You are not to be their buddy. You are the parent, and if they are upset with you for doing something they don't like, too bad!!!! You are not there to make sure they like you at all times - you are not doing anybody any favors with this, especially not the child!! O.k., so one more example before this turns into a crazy tirade (which I assure you, it is not, but an intelligent reality check perhaps). I witnessed a woman carrying a heavy box, approaching a heavy-doored entrance to the subway. Her teenage son was walking ahead of her, pants hanging down, ass out, shoes untied, slumping along. Not only was he not carrying the box for his mother, but, he went through the door, and didn't even hold it open for her!!! I watched her struggle and finally make it through, expecting her to shout out at him. Instead, she meekly says, "Sorry, you have to wait up for your mom, I'm slow!" What???? That kid needs a good kick in the ass. Actually, no, because the person at fault is the mother here. She failed, as a parent, to teach him the appropriate social skills. Can you imagine what kind of man this teen will grow up to be? Do you think he will ever open the door for a girl, or give his seat up on the subway to an elderly person? No way. And it's because his parents never taught him to have some social responsibility, to care about others and his environment, to be a person of dignity. This is not the responsibility of teachers, it is taught at home, and in every situation. If you don't want this responsiblity, then don't have children. It's as simple as that.

O.k., the other disturbing trend (then I'll end this post for today). The constant attachment people have to their phones/blackberries/whatever. This obsession with constantly having to text, constantly having to chat is ridiculous. We have lost all manners and civility. People are constantly texting when in the company of others at dinner, while walking on the street (not paying attention at all), and even in the shampoo sink at my salon! Seriously, I was rinsing this woman's hair in the sink the other day with water splashing and she answered her phone just to say, "Nothing, what are you up to?" What the hell??? So rude! Do we really need to know where you are at every moment of the day. Are you going to twitter everyone that you are taking your daily shit? Seriously, put it down, turn it off, and start talking to the human beings around you. Start being a social, friendly member of society again, instead of a detached robot, on the phone 24/7. You see, recent studies are showing that people feel more and more empty and depressed, and they don't know why. Well, the answer is simple. The more connected to this electronic crap you are, the more detached you are from real human connection. We are social animals. We need love, affection, and attention from our family and friends to be fulfilled and happy. You won't be able to fill that emptiness with yet more purchases of gadgets and bullshit material goods all the magazines tell you you so desperately need to be happy like those airbrushed models in the shiny pages.

Thank you