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Well this debate is interesting...

word of the day: democracy: a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges. AKA: Canada

Gooood evening friends!

I'm watching the debate and I know a few things for sure
1. Stephen Harper is wearing some form of makeup
2. Stephen Harper is the calmest man ever
3. Stephen Harper's hair is also too perfect.

Okay, that's all. The reason I know only these three things because I just tuned in.. unfortunately not staying long, because I have to meet friends for a drink later. That sounds more glamorous than it is, I can assure you.

The good news is, I had an interview yesterday at eTalk. I was trying to keep it quiet out of fear of jinxing it, but I think it's okay to say it out loud now. I feel very good about it, I was happy with my questions/answers, the panel was wonderful and I just keep thinking positive.

What else is going on in my life? Nooooothing. School is making me stressed beyond sanity, I've been working so so so so so much (sort of) and I'm at the point of exhaustion. The unfortunate part of the whole thing, is I'm dying to have some fun.. so I'm forcing myself to see my friends.. though that tires me out further. It's a never ending circle. I can't wait to sleep.

The bad thing about sleeping, is that lately when I wake up... I wake up to my poor Jays losing. It's sad, and I'm sad. Hopefully that will change.

So for now, I'm going to watch some debate, eat some yummy food, and head out for forced fun.

Until next time,

Mister Famous, xo

Hi.... Bye.

Oh my, I have no time to blog, but I neeeeed to say "Hi!" So this is all my message will entail.


Until next time,

Mr. Famous, xo

One arm, Not a Problem: Greg Stewart

By: Britany Murphy

KAMLOOPS, BC--What do you call the man who leads the CIS in steals, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, averages 15.4 points per game, and is taller than basketball star Shaquille O’Neal?

Well, the CIS calls him the Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row. But most people, just know him as Greg Stewart.

He is a dual-sport beast playing basketball and volleyball. Stewart is an upbeat individual, which coincides with his game.

Any player winning back-to-back CIS Defensive Player of the Year titles would be a miraculous feat. However, it’s an almost impossible accomplishment once noting Stewart's unique presence on the hardwood.

Born missing his left arm from the elbow down, Stewart has never considered his disability a hindrance to his athleticism or playing abilities.

In fact, when asked if he believed one arm made a difference, he simply replied by saying, “You accept what you have and work with it.”

Stewart's positive vibes are quite contagious, making it clear that he has more than accepted his disability and bypassed it, proving his dominance among the country's CIS elite.

A Kamloops, British Columbia native, Greg’s preferred school was Thompson Rivers University which is also in his hometown. In essence, when he was recruited to the TRU WolfPack out of high school, it was an easy decision, being a natural fit.

The 7'2 centre has been deemed a major presence on the court by the WolfPack Head Coach, Scott Clark and with a unbearable size, it’s easy to see why Clark described his best defensive player as such.

Clark’s in his first year of coaching the WolfPack and when asked about Greg’s game he says, “The biggest thing is his defensive presence and other teams have to set up game plans for him because he is able to dominate and get rebounds.”
Throughout the season, the WolfPack’s head coach believes that Greg played picked up his game notably after January and that work ethic had a lot to do with his performance.

“He improved on his fitness and play, and that was good not only for him but the whole team,” Clark says of his standout player.
Stewart was also pleased with his work ethic this season, “I was not accepting, always wanting to do better!”

Describing Greg in just one word proved to be hard for Clark. Some of the words he came up with were ‘miraculous’ and ‘inspirational’.

“He’s overcome some adversity in his life but it’s still hard to put just one word on it.”

The head coach also says, “Personally, you never really see Greg as disadvantaged on the court. You see him as a great basketball player and as a coach you just push him to be the best he can be.”

With five years spent playing with the WolfPack, once again, Greg takes the negative,
transforming it into positive. Despite TRU not making it to the post-season, “It was a good year with a new coach and the team came a long way.”

With basketball and volleyball honours to his name, Stewart's resume is impressive to say the least.

Although Stewart is uncertain of his future at the moment, he is looking toward finishing his schooling at TRU, majoring in Human Resources.

Greg also had some encouraging words for any young players who might be discouraged from pursuing their basketball and athletic dreams for any reason.

“It’s all based upon what you want to do. Take opportunities when you can because they’re not there all the time.”

*NOTE: Greg has also played for the Team Canada’s disabled sitting volleyball team, which has won gold at the World Championships in 2002, 2004, and 2006. Greg is on the Roster for the 2010-2011 season.

Goodbye Winter!

word of the day: sun; self-luminous heavenly body; star.

My word of the day isn't anything big or elaborate, I just really wanted to bring on the sun so I thought if I mentioned it, maybe it would come sooner. (So lame right?)

TODAY, is the second day of spring. Although the sky is grey, and snow is in the forecast, I know that just around the corner my tulips will bloom, my toes will see sunshine, and my spring wardrobe will come out to play.

This week is going to be a crazy week for me and I'm trying to deal with it one day at a time. First, I have a million assignments to do. A 2000 word magazine profile, a 1500 word essay and Contemporary Canadian issues... edit two articles, prepare myself for a potential interview with Andi Petrillo, and study/write a stats quiz. With all that homework, I also had to work yesterday (Monday) all day.. have school today, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. I have to work Friday night, Saturday morning/day, Sunday day, and Monday day. So really leaving me know time in the world to do anything fun... But that doesn't stop me. I have scheduled a hair colour appointment for tonight (as my roots are horrendous), a coffee date with my first crush ever tomorrow night (haven't seen him in 7 years), and a scheduled/impromptu trip to Yorkdale for a to-die-for wristlet meets phone case by the one and only Michael Kors.

The unfortunate thing is I can't make it to a friends birthday this Friday because of my crazy work schedule. So I'll owe her a beer that's for sure!

When this week is over, I think I will return to some form of normalcy, will running everyday, yoga twice a week and more fun. Also next week, is the Blue Jays home opener. And if I didn't love my job before, I do now. My manager felt so bad for scheduling me all those days, she gave me both Friday and Sunday off next week so I can go to the home opener, AND the Jose Bautista bobblehead day on Sunday. Like can you even believe it? How lucky am I to have a job like that? Sorry to brag, but really.. it's amazing.

Internships are just around the corner, and I'm getting pretty excited for that too. It's so nerve wracking getting your resumes together, and applying. But it's such a rush that I really just can't wait to hear back from anyone who is willing to take me!

I think I'm going to go back to my homework now, this break was long enough. I'll try to keep on top of this during my crazy week.

OH. One last thing. I put my friends resume into the pot at work, I reeeeeaaaallly hope something comes of that. She is too amazing to pass by.

Until next time,

Mr. Famous, xo

Pray for Japan

Word of the day: tragedy; a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event or affair; calamity; disaster
- Pray for Japan


It's just one of those nights that you want to eat a piece of cake, a brownie, and maybe a chocolate bar all right after each other. Fortunately for me, I'm at my grandparents' house and they like to force feed me fatty foods. So, tonight after my freshly cut pear, I had strawberries in vanilla ice cream. Not nearly as fatty as the aforementioned options, but sugary enough to throw my healthy eating out the window. The good news is, they finally entered the technological era and got internet, which is both good and bad. Now, I can sit here and write to you and do homework, but also now, I'm addicted to the internet rather than reading a book, or really enjoying American Idol. It's okay though I guess.. I could just use some self-discipline and refrain from the internet. haha yeah right.

Anyway, the second boy I mentioned yesterday (the one i shouldn't like) and I had a great chat today and thing are back on track. Which, let me tell you makes me super nervous. I keep saying I want a boyfriend, but when I start to get close, I get freaked out, claustrophobic and run screaming through the streets. A friend told me that it's because he isn't the right guy for me, but I'm not sure if I agree. I mean, maybe that's true.. but maybe it's just because I'm scared to get hurt again? So instead, I'm trying to focus on school work, work work, internships, and friends.

I wrote my to-do list yesterday.. it is as follows:
stats assignment

Contemp essay
study for contemp
profile (magazine)
magazine presentation
apply for internship
edit articles

I feel like I'm missing something.. so I'll have to figure that out. In the mean time, I'm going to dream about summer, friends birthdays, visiting Londy-Loo and Blue Jays.. Good night world.

Until next time,

Mr. Famous, xo

Rexdale Crime

Students easy targets for Rexdale crime

LISA MACNEILL & SAMANTHA O’CONNOR

Rexdale has a reputation as one of the most dangerous areas in Toronto, but many students who come to Humber College and The University Of Guelph-Humber are not aware of the amount of crime that takes place here on a regular basis.

Rexdale resident and self-proclaimed retired hustler, Stones* said that students are naïve to the amount of crime in the area, and are considered easy targets for robberies and assault because of their lack of streets smarts.

“They [Street involved youth] see these kids, they see food – a bunch of rich kids that don’t know where the hell they are. They don’t know that they’re in the ghetto,” he said

Students face dangers on and off campus everyday, because of where the school is located. In 2005, Toronto’s City Council named the area as one of the GTA’s 13 priority neighbourhoods according to the Pathways Education Network.

“Down here, random stuff will happen, like, people think that bad stuff doesn’t happen to good people, but bad stuff happens to good people,” Stones said.

Many students, they say, have been victim to harassment, assault, and theft since they moved to Rexdale to attend school and over 10 student houses have been robbed in the last two months, according to recent accounts in the neighborhood.

Kristie Greco, a second year Kinesiology student lives in the subdivision across from the campus. Her house has been robbed twice since Thanksgiving.

The latest was around 7pm last Monday night, while Greco and her roommates were out of the house. Whoever broke in came through the bedroom window, and took three Mac laptops, two IPods, and a charging dock. The police were notified but took four hours to arrive at the scene. “Don’t take any suspicious activity too lightly,” said Greco.

Stones also says that the subdivision directly across from Humber doesn’t really count as Rexdale, that there are certain areas that the real thugs live.

“I need to tell you the honest truth, the real guys are seriously in Rexdale, in Martin Grove, Kipling and in Jamestown, they don’t leave those places, you know? They don’t

come to Humber College.” He says although everyone is a target.

Students need to understand that there are differences in lifestyle and mentality between Humber and Guelph-Humber students, and those who have grown up in the area. Stones says that there really isn’t any way to prevent being mugged, that some people rob people just for the sake of robbing, “If someone sees someone, and you have something that they want, it’s gonna get taken… that’s just it.”

For Rexdale residents, gang activity, shootings and robberies are a part of everyday life, according to published estimates. There are seven main Rexdale gangs, with the majority affiliated with the Crips. “Like, some people, everyday they put their books in their bags, some people around here strap a gun to their hip,” Stones said.

An officer from the 23^rd Division who did not want to disclose his name says that students should “know the surroundings, and know whom you’re dealing with” to ensure their safety when leaving campus.

Norah Roberts, a third year Guelph-Humber student studying Public Relations says during her first year in 2008, she had a bad experience.

“I lived on residence, and a bunch of us girls were walking in the subdivision across the road, when two guys started following us. We got a bad feeling, so we started running. Then, they started chasing us. It got really scary, when a car with four more guys started slowly driving beside us, following us. They ended up leaving us alone, but not without scaring us first.”

Local rapper/producer Casper Tha Deadly Ghost was born and raised in the area, and said that if you “be cool, stick to yourself, and act respectful”, you will be less likely to have someone bother you.

Other safety precautions students can take include, walking in open, lit areas, and talking on the phone when they are alone, but this does not guarantee that nothing will happen.

“You can walk confident as much as you want, if someone sees someone, and you have something that they want, it’s gonna get taken,”…”There’s guys out here that take shit just to take shit…It’s different, it could be for anything still, could be for money. I know a guy that robs shit just to rob shit. He has two gat in his pocket just to rob you.”

According to Stones, adding more security guards on campus won’t make much of a difference in terms of student safety. He calls them Robo-Cops.

“What would they have? Batons? You could put more security guards, more cops, it wouldn’t help. People are hustlin’ for money to feed themselves. If they don’t hustle, they don’t eat.”

He says the only thing that will diminish the amount of crime, is an end to poverty, which he doesn’t see ever happening.

The police source agrees that poverty is not coming to an end, and it’s hard for people to avoid criminal acts.

“It’s very hard to live in those neighbourhoods, with a gang mentality and keep on the straight and narrow, despite your best efforts, because you have to worry about yourself the whole time.”

He also urges students to report any illegal activity they see and assures that tips will always be kept anonymous.

*Some names have been changed to protect the identity of interviewees, some of whom were known personally by the reportorial team.

Photo Taken by Kayla Cameron-Redyk

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