Don Tai (Canada) Blog

Having the unenviable experience of being out of work for a long time, I very much sympathize with this 29 yo Millennial. His name was kept confidential so I cannot contact him. If you read this, please drop me a line. It seems he did everything right, schoolwise, but society has failed him. Who is to blame for such systemic problems in finding gainful and meaningful employment?

I am currently working as an IT recruiter, a difficult and low paying job, where success is few and far between. Still, I get to help some people some of the time. Oddly, I find this one of the benefits of the job. I can also shed light on some of the quirkiness of the job search that others might not tell a candidate.

It is never easy to admit fault, but only through acknowledgment of an error can said error be corrected. In Toronto’s G20 summit in 2010 Toronto and other police and RCMP beat up and violated the rights of over 1,500 Canadian citizens. The police became the criminal element. It is only the passing of almost 2 years of time that this wrong is beginning to turn. Maybe.

Why I do not know, and totally unexpected. Uni driveway at 08:45. Hit the window, blocked others. Red faces, steam in the air. For those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad (Euripides). Am I, too, mad?

We always wonder if our neighbourhoods are safe from crime but are really never sure. Until now there has been little data released about crime by neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada. Recently the Toronto Police released a map of violent crime stats to the Toronto Star, which included gun shootings and homicides. While a statistician could pick apart the validity and lack of specific detail of these stats, for me they are interesting nonetheless. For home owners, find your neighbourhood and see the relative crime rate. For those thinking about buying a house, take a look at crime in prospective neighbourhoods before you buy.

Blurring the line between the real and unreal, magic does this without any sociological or physical penalty. When the lines blur between the real and unreal, people get committed to hospitals and take a regimen of drugs. People jump off bridges in an attempt to fly, only to meet their death. Lose control of this ability to judge and you are in big trouble. While losing this ability is rare and terrifying, magic does this on a daily basis, all in a safe environment. Magicians trick human nature all the time, and have been doing so since humans walked the earth. How much more interesting can this get?

I am not German nor live in Germany, but this looks like so much fun. Why they have papier-mache heads of people dressed in clown is unknown to me. If you happen to know please tell me.

As is the German carnival tradition, individual Schwellkoppe (“swollen heads”) or larger-than-life-heads made from papier-mache march with bands in between the floats.

These clowns all look pretty creepy. Who do they mock? Local politicians and businessmen? The three in the front all have the same metal emblem around their necks. What is this?

Some interview questions are simply very puzzling to me. They beg the question “Why do they ask them”, and what is there to be gained. Interviews are stressful events, and to ask a candidate seemingly idiotic questions that prove seeming little about their innate talents can be worse than pointless. These questions may show that the interviewing company treats their employees irresponsibly.

A case in point the question above: What is the next in the sequence SSS SCC C SC? This IT interview question is said to be from Google Corp. You can google for the answer, as I did. I found the solution here.

Weary, I am, though I do not tell anyone else. Why, you may ask, but to not burden others. For to trudge on, with a smile, is the right thing to do.

No one notices, and really, no one need notice. To those who have thrown up hands in frustration, I see your point. To those that have done something radical as a result, I also see your point, though we tell ourselves we will get through it.

At times it seems unbearable, but we trudge on. Oh, to Transform myself into a rock.

What is their message and why did they choose to dress as clowns? Kids would easily identify them as clowns.

Little Weed wanted to see the Buskerfest. Last year he thoroughly enjoyed the performances, which seemed to have influenced him to practice more Rola Bola and diabolo. Given the chance the elder Little Weed also came along. This year here in Toronto did not have the impact of last year’s performance, but was still quite enjoyable. In contrast to last year’s 32C weather, where we almost collapsed, this year’s 23C overcast was very welcoming. Here are some reviews of the performers we saw today, Sunday August 28 2011. Sorry I was too lazy to take photos.