Dear President Bush… 2
As the end of your term in office approaches, you are now beginning to reflect on your leadership through one of the most controversial presidencies of all time. The last 8 years will forever change the world and the future of the United States. In your bid to win the Presidency back in 2000, you ...
Technology: The Good and the Bad 1
Last night we rented a movie. When returning the movie this morning on my way to see the dentist, I was reminded how technology has helped us avoid mundane time-consuming tasks. Just one decade ago, I might have been late for my dentist appointment if I realized that the previous night I had forgotten to ...
Future of Electronics
As new technology perpetually increases power efficiency in electronics, the future of living “off the grid” becomes increasingly more attainable. While shopping for gifts this Christmas I came across a self-powered camping lantern that never requires batteries and never requires bulbs. The Freeplay Indigo lantern is powered by LED lights that have been tested for ...
Eco-Friendly(er) Go-karts 3
Go-karts have really evolved since my Dad first took me go-karting in Michigan way back in 1985. Back in those days, the gas-powered go-kart engines made your clothes smell like exhaust fumes for the rest of the day. You’d always see the mechanic working on a broken-down kart, and there would be a backlog of ...
Ugly Offshore Wind Farms?
People will perhaps always oppose change no matter how good the change really is, but one understanding that has eluded me is why would anybody in their right mind oppose the use of wind as a source of electricity? It’s completely clean, quiet, renewable, and windmills are nice to look at. What more could you ...
Environmentorontotalitarianism 1
En-vi-ron-men-tor-on-to-tal-it-ar-i-an-is-m [en-vahy-ruhn-muhnt-or-on-toh-tal-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm] -noun 1. the state of being Jim 2. the state of being James 3. the character or quality of an autocratic editor-in-chief of “The Urban Country” Definition based on the dictionary of George Here’s my makeshift Halloween costume from a few weeks back. I went into work that day without a costume and ...
Toronto on Waste
In a time where there are still places in the United States where people literally throw away cases of empty beer bottles because there are no recycling programs or bottle-deposit programs in place, I’m proud to see my city being progressive about reducing waste. The City of Toronto is pushing Coffee Shops to encourage customers ...
5 Reasons to Hate Low Gas Prices 2
Han’s parents arrived on Thursday from China for a 3-week visit, so this weekend I was driving a lot to show them around. People normally complain about high gas prices, but I love it when gas prices are high. Sure, I might pay more for food and to fill my car, but the benefits of ...
The New American Dream
In an October 3rd article, I was challenged by an Urban Country occasional reader and friend Kam on my definition of freedom. Kam wanted to know how I think people can achieve what I’ll call the “New American Dream”. To recap that article in a nutshell, the “New American Dream” is freedom from the banks, ...
Air Conditioner Overuse 2
Have you ever been prompted to put on a sweater or a jacket in the middle of the summer while inside a building? Seems like a downright waste of energy doesn’t it? Well it happens a lot in North America and I find it completely ridiculous. This weekend is my first weekend in what seems ...