Disqus - Latest Comments for RaWeiss

Re: Our house did not burn down this weekend

RickWeiss — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 12:12:47 -0000

Mark, very glad to hear it wasn't more serious than it was! House fires are a terrifying thing.

Re: What's the worst car you like?

RickWeiss — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 17:00:26 -0000

I have a soft spot for the Pontiac Aztec. Yeah, I agree it's ugly, but I appreciate what they were going for with all the lifestyle accessories that were designed for it.

Re: Plymouth Voyager III

RickWeiss — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 09:43:36 -0000

What a great concept! If only it wouldn't become an owners nightmare after 4 years. As you say, hybrid technology might make it more feasible.

Re: Solitude, Fear and My Battle Against Depression

RickWeiss — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 13:45:31 -0000

Justin, thank you for sharing your story. It takes courage, sir.

I've spent the last 11 years working on managing depression, and while I've learned a lot, it's an ongoing process. I still have bad days, but it's been a very long time since I've felt real despair. I'd be happy to talk about it with you sometime.

Depression and anxiety are an irrational inner struggle, but in my experience, it has a bright side. As Evelyn said, as long as we don't give up, depression goes into the scrapbook of things we experience and in its own way enriches our life stories.

Through reading and cognitive therapy, I've gotten to know my own mind very well. It's helped me learn to manage the things I cannot control (a major trigger for me), and focus on changing the things I can, one hurdle at a time.

Re: http://gisuck.tumblr.com/post/1140956700

RickWeiss — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 14:02:59 -0000

That's ingenious!

Re: Breakfast in (North) America

RickWeiss — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:26:31 -0000

I subscribe to your position of tolerance, understanding and freedom for all to express their religious and cultural beliefs. I strive to live these morals in my day-to-day life, and to question bigots who fear and hate out of ignorance.

It does become difficult when I ponder whether a newcomer to a country affords the citizens of their socially-liberal new home the same respect.

I was deeply disturbed by the story of the 16-year-old Brampton girl who was murdered by her father and brother in 2007 for asserting her freedoms as a Canadian, contrary to her family's conservative Muslim beliefs. Disowning their daughter would be sad, but preferable to murder.

Do you think it's possible the family in front of you was judging you, in your own city and country, as a heretic? How does that thought make you feel? It's unlikely, since they were eating in public at a neighbourhood diner. I'm just putting that tough question out for discussion. :) It's one that I struggle with.

Re: The Zombieland Guide to Self-Defense – Rule #33: Swiss Army Knife

RickWeiss — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:12:30 -0000

Hey, I've been thinking about this lately myself.

In my club, we train to visualize attacks coming from zones, rather than specific types of attacks. That way, you have one or two techniques for dealing with a strike from the left (like a roundhouse or haymaker), another few for strikes coming from directly in front (like a jab or front kick) and again 2 or 3 defenses for attacks from the right (like a spinning kick, or left hook).

Those same defensive actions can also be slightly adjusted (i.e. close your fist, form a knife hand) to turn them into a strike. That way, the punch you were about to throw can become a block part-way towards its target.

Re: When is it Your Resposibility?

RickWeiss — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:00:04 -0000

It's true, often acknowledging the situation is enough to diffuse it and give the victim an opportunity to escape. And if they don't take that opportunity, what happens later behind closed doors isn't something you have any control over.

I have a friend who, due to the neighbourhood he lives in and where he spends his free time, steps into situations frequently. His talent isn't as much in defending physically, but verbally. He's skilled at word-combat, and he's never actually told me a story where his interventions led to a violent encounter for him.

Though he has had the girl turn and assault him after he berated her boyfriend, on numerous occasions.

Re: Lansdowne Park could be public space worth caring about

RickWeiss — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:26:13 -0000

These are great videos, Mark. I'm glad you shared them.

I may be mistaken, but I see the development of these public spaces as going two ways.

Big businesses are able to use large malls and power plazas because they can draw people there with advertising and the clout behind their names. Their operating platform suits this format. Though these aren't true public spaces.

Small businesses, like restaurants, independent grocers, shops and boutiques all work well within the town squares that James Howard Kunstler advocates for.

I'm all for the urban square. It builds communities and provides a destination for meeting and socializing. But can business development areas representing groups of small businesses make a large enough impact when it comes to developing public and private land?

I think its going to take a huge shift in the habits of the population to force these changes.

Re: http://rlangdon.tumblr.com/post/428835675

RickWeiss — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:27:05 -0000

Good luck Rayanne! Congrats on the new opportunity to shine. You always do.

Re: We think we know, but…

RickWeiss — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:00:38 -0000

I love language as well. I find it fascinating how our thoughts are guided by what we're able to express through language. Language can expand our thoughts or limit them.

Culturally, languages can lack ways of quickly and accurately describing certain concepts and thus culturally, it's difficult for those concepts to exist.

Cross-cultural communication can sometimes be difficult when ideas don't translate well between languages. Concepts can be "lost in translation".

Re: I see what you did there…again…

RickWeiss — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:44:30 -0000

No doubt about it, both are well designed interiors. And you know, it's not all that different from the 1st gen Mercury Mystique I've got.. ;)

Re: Plastic bag fees, inflation and lessons for bottled water

RickWeiss — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:29:01 -0000

I think the success of the bag campaign is that it was a separate charge. Maybe an non-refundable $.05 charge per bottle would be the most effective to dissuade people from buying unnecessary bottled water.

That said, I don't see the issue being people who get thirsty while walking down the street and stop at the corner store for a bottle of water. It's those who buy cases of water bottles and drink 5 non-refillable bottles a day.

Larger refillable containers, or in-home filters are the way to go.

Re: On PodCamp, Epic Parties, and Brand in Flames

RickWeiss — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:29:18 -0000

Chris,
It's fair that there are liability issues that make sponsored drink a touchy subject. I completely appreciate that.

What about other types of "freebies" or ad-ons to get people excited about the event and add value to it? Things like finger food, free pool or other games/activities for people to engage in while mingling.

The general consensus among the group I discussed it with (about 10-15 people) was "I'm glad I didn't bring a friend. Sure they'd be supporting a good charity; but we'd feel bad that they're not really getting anything out of their mandatory donation."

Did I miss something at the Tequila Rain party?

Re: On PodCamp, Epic Parties, and Brand in Flames

RickWeiss — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:27:16 -0000

Chris,
It's fair that there are liability issues that make sponsored drink a touchy subject. I completely appreciate that.

Re: mesh 2008 and meshU: Schedules are live

RickWeiss — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:30:32 -0000

A very nice line up. I wish I hadn't missed out on the student tickets.