Cognitive Right of Passage

So this morning I had the pleasure of writing a 3-hour statistics exam. That’s right, I had to wake up early on a Saturday morning and spend 3-hours hunched over a calculator resolving the mysteries of probability. Feel my pain. So what was the probability of this actually being a pleasurable experience?

0.5010 (that means 50.1%)

It’s kind of bizarre that I feel so frickin’ amazing right now. I think it has to do with the fact that I don’t have to crunch numbers for a long time, perhaps never again if I play my cards right (probability of never doing statistics again: 90%). However there is a small part of me that will miss statistics.

The good thing about a subject that is math-based is that there is usually a solid answer involved. Often I am wrapped up in the world of social science, where A + B = C or Xxx or Σnough(already) or α(L*ser) or if there has been a history of bad breakups then potentially A + B = FoC - off (where FoC = fear of commitment). There are just no concrete answers when it comes to humans.

With statistics, however, I know for a fact that there are right answers because I manage to get most things wrong. That being said, I am proud that I’ve finished a statistics course. It feels like I have gone through a right of passage and now I am entering the cognitively elite (probability that they will accept me: 0.2%).

Ironically, Mr. Cognitive-right-of-passage (that would be me) was so excited to finish the exam, with mere seconds to spare, that he quickly folded up his papers, skipped joyfully out of the room, and managed to forget to answer the Bonus Question:

Who is the Prime Minister of Canada?

That is a tough one. Well if I take the square-root of stupidity, multiply it by the weasel coefficient, and divide by all the cows in Alberta… wait, this can’t be right. I keep getting x = George Bush. Hmmm…perhaps I’ll have to keep my class notes for next semester.

(probability that I am going to drink beer tonight to celebrate: 100%)

Trivial things about me

Finally, the gossip that ya'll need. Often I write about such light subject material (such as racism and creating change), so today I thought I'd get a little more serious...

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Daniel!

1. The condom - originally made from Daniel - was invented in the early 1500s.
2. Daniel can taste with his feet.
3. About 100 people choke to death on Daniel each year!
4. The state nickname of Iowa is 'The Daniel state'.
5. Britain's Millennium Dome is more than double the size of Daniel.
6. A lump of Daniel the size of a matchbox can be flattened into a sheet the size of a tennis court.
7. There are six towns named Daniel in the United States.
8. Until the 1960s, Daniel was not allowed to enter Disneyland!
9. Never store Daniel at room temperature!
10. An average beaver can cut down Daniel every year!

I am interested in - do tell me aboutherhimitthem

What valuable little tidbits of info did you acquire when you searched yourself?

Born Into Transformation

"When I have a camera in my hands I feel happy. I feel like I am learning something...I can be someone." -Suchitra, 14




Change is hard to create. In my studies I have spent the past semester engaged in thoughts of how to create and promote change. It is not easy. We resist change out of fear of loss- losing security, pride, the support of loved ones, our routines, and our money. Some change is well needed; some change is heartbreaking.

Change is quite often scary. Sometimes we are forced to change without consenting, while other times the fear of the unknown is motivation enough to stay how we are. Sometimes the best thing to do is not to change.

Change takes time. Because change takes time, often when we see no immediate results, we become discouraged and give up. It is natural to not want to invest our energies into creating change if there are no positive outcomes. Patience is difficult; change is a small leap of faith.



I have just had the privilege of watching a film that is about transformation. It is called Born Into Brothels and it tells the story of a group of children living in the red light district of Calcutta, where their mothers are sex-trade workers. The children are given cameras, taught how to use them, and then capture the world through their unique perspectives. It is inspiring to watch the process.

Often times I can personally reach points of frustration with myself, with life, with my culture. It is during these times that the inevitable questions are raised, “What’s the use? Will my efforts even make an impact? Why do I bother?”

If you can relate to these questions, then check out the film… it is a form of often needed nourishment. If you cannot relate to these questions, then check out the film. Then dare yourself to ask questions.

Here’s one…

Change will happen whether I like it or not, so how can I engage with the world so that it can be positive?

You Can't Always Get What You Want

When I was a young boy my father used to give me some wise advice. I would be standing in the toy isle at Zeller’s saying, “Dad, can I have the new He-Man action figure? I really want it. I HAVE to have it.” He would turn to me with a smile on his face and starting singing…

“You can’t always get what you want”

This would proceed to annoy me to no end, and if I were feeling particularly volatile, I would grace the world with an entitlement tantrum. I would then conclude with a solid two-hour sulking session. What a little brat I was.

Well thank God those days are far behind…

(Insert screeching wheel sound here)

Okay, the truth is that I am still in many ways the young boy who has wants that are unrealistic, desires that go unrequited. Except that now I am older and supposedly more mature, with emotional skills to deal with rejection and compromise.

The question that I am now exploring is, “What is the value in being denied, in not getting what I want?”

It is not the easiest question to answer. My first response is to say, “Yeah, yeah… I know the world doesn’t revolve around me. We don’t always get what we want.” But that’s not even answering the question. I want to think about the actual benefits of not getting what I want.

I usually apply the theory of “I know what’s best for Daniel”. However, when I don’t get what I want, this very theory is compromised. If I want something and it is not granted, then perhaps I am not as apt or capable as I initially esteemed myself to be. Which raises another question, “Do I actually know what’s best for me?” (I’ll save this one for another day)

So what is so great about rejection? About denial? Well my tentative answer is that it keeps me exploring options. I get to experience alternative ways of joy and of living that I might not have initially considered, or have been even capable of imagining. If I allow them to, rejection and denial can lead to motivation to improve myself and to learn from the alternatives. And if I am able to put things in perspective, I usually find… I get what I need.

And that’s a pretty amazing thing.

Professional Crastinator

PROCRASTINATION: the deferment or avoidance of an action or task which requires completion by focusing on some other action or task. For the person procrastinating, this can result in a loss of productivity, stress and a sense of guilt. While it is normal for individuals to procrastinate to some degree, it becomes a problem when it impedes normal functioning. Chronic procrastination may be a sign of an underlying psychological or physiological disorder.






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Shit. Writing this blog takes effort.

Do I really want to write tonight????

(Daniel pauses to open a new internet window, checks his email, his bank account levels, the weather forecast, googles “the implications of sexual deprivation”)

I mean does anyone actually read this blog anyway?

I wonder what’s on TV?

(Daniel wonders into the living room)

Oh, yeah… Access Hollywood… sweeeeet. Tom and Katie are having a tiff… God, he’s such a freak. Brittney’s had a baby scare… Sean Preston fell from his highchair. Poor little guy, the last thing that kid needs is brain damage considering the genetics that he received.

Oh, right… I should really finish that blog.

Hmmm, I’m sort of hungry… I wonder if there’s anything in the cupboard?

(Daniel opens the cupboard, eats a chocolate chip cookie or five, then stands with the fridge door open and blinks blankly at the condiments for seven minutes)

(phone rings)

“ah, hello?… no Jimmy’s not here… who’s this?... oh, hey Minnie… no your son’s not home right now… school’s going really well, thanks for asking… yup, working really hard…barely have time to eat… for sure, I’ll tell him you called… bye”

What was I doing?

Oh, right… gotta get that blog done…first a quick trip to the bathroom.

(Daniel goes to the bathroom, reads an outdated copy of GQ, squeezes a few black-heads, Q-tips his ears, analyzes the state of his nose hairs…when he leaves the bathroom he realizes that the sun has now set and the apartment is dark)

I should turn some lights on.

Oh, I wonder if anyone has sent me an email?

(Daniel checks his email, then googles “appropriate nose hair”)

Hmmm… perhaps I should start that paper that’s due tomorrow.

No, I should finish that blog.

I wonder what’s on TV?...

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Quiet Drive in the Country II

This week I decided to enter into a relationship. It involves me, a financial interaction, some rubber, and multiple opportunities for a ride. Communauto (click to get more info) has accepted me to join the cult of the car-share!

As I've previously mentioned, there are many benefits of joining a car-share... the main arguement lays in the reduction of cars on the road. It allows me the freedom of a vehicle without actually having to buy one. It's a win-win situation for me and the world.

In my false notion that Montreal is light-years ahead of other Canadian cities, I initially assumed that there were not many other car-share options out there. I was surprised to find that there are actually many options. I did a quick google search to see what sort of options are out there, and found a lovely little sight called Carsharing.ca.

There are more than 15 cities in Canada with some form of car sharing. Perhaps even your community has an option? If not then maybe it's something that you'd want to bring up with your municiple politicians. This is the future of urban transport... bicycles, buses, and car-shares.

It's the best of all worlds. You get to keep your legs strong and you get to escape to the country when you need to.

No monsters involved.

Quiet Drive in the Country

It's a rainy day here in Montreal... leaving me with dreams of escaping the city for a quiet country drive. Tomorrow I am going for my intake appointment with Communauto (a community care share organization). I will have access to a car when I need one, which will come in handy when my friends and family come to visit me (hint, hint).

A car-share organization is a smart way to reduce the number of cars on the road, to save money, and to decrease pollution through emissions. I can write more about it if interest is expressed. But for now I will leave you with a quick video clip about driving through the countryside... get nice and close to the screen!