Ron A Smith.com

Firstly, check out Stuff White People Like and Black People Love Us. Hilarious sites!

Now, on to my blog.

I imagine I am going to get crapped on pretty good for this blog article (probably from any white Christian person reading) because White Christian People love Africa. Not only do they love it, they are passionate about it and can’t WAIT to tell you that they have been there to help and why it is such a noble cause, yada, yada, etc, etc.

Anyone been on Facebook lately? Come on, I know you have, I will bet twice today at least. Notice all of your white Christian friends on there, smiling with a bunch of black people in the background? The picture is obviously related to their “mission trip” Photo album. It’s as though white Christian people need a great, noble excuse to go on vacation (“Ron you asshole, it’s not a vacation – we are going over there to help people”). Right.

Obviously people are going to say “Ron you have never been on a missions trip, you have no right to say the things you do.” True, I don’t. I have no problem with people going there to help, not at all. But really, do you need a photo op on facebook where you can show everyone just how damn awesome and selfless you are. It’s annoying.

You get the conversation all the time from people that go. “It’s so bad over there, it’ so sad, they have nothing.” And they are probably right. Yet, this person speaking is probably decked out in American Eagle, living in a quarter million dollar house with their parents. And you know the people who have been, every time they see something that reminds them of Africa they will bring up the fact they have been.

Example:
Ron: “it’s rather hot out today wouldn’t you agree?
Christian White Person: Yes, it is hot but not as hot as when I was in Africa, its way hotter there, did I mention they are poor and that we should do something, yada, yada,”

Once again, I don’t have a problem with people going (well, maybe I do) and these people don’t need to advertise it.

Tim Hortons
Has anyone been winning Role up the Rim at Tim Hortons? I sure as hell haven’t and I am an avid customer. Seriously, nothing – 0/30 at least. There is a new coffee place down town Sarnia called “Coffee Culture,” great brew, free internet, check it out.

Satellite Radio
For the past couple of weeks I have had the privilege to drive in the presence of satellite radio. I must say for a guy that listens to music as much as I do, I was VERY impressed with it. No commercials, loads of on demand music with plenty of variety.
I know the argument “you shouldn’t have to pay for radio” to which I will now argue “true, but time is also money and I hate wasting my time listening to commercials – HATE!”
Also I love, love, love talk radio and there is more than enough on Satellite radio.

If it wasn’t for CBC Radio 1 I would have switched to satellite radio. What’s that you say, you don’t listen to CBC? Wow…… amazing radio, Canada doesn’t know how lucky they are to have something so class.

Cigarette Butts
The western culture has (for better or for worse) jumped on the “green” band wagon. So why is it I still see (daily) some asshole flick their cigarette butt out of their moving vehicle? What is your problem? You don’t want that filth in your car but it’s alright for our sidewalks? Do smokers not see their butts as garbage, filth or waste? Wake up people.

Cooking
You know what I am finding more pleasure in? Cooking; especially for other people. STOP! Put down the phone, cancel that order of pizza and invite someone over this week, prepare them a meal and break some bread (at my place, a few beers too!)

GPS Navigator
I bought a top of the line GPS, loved it, then realized that google maps kicks ass and promptly returned it.

My Focus was Victimized
To the prick that thought it was funny to key my car from one side to the other a few weeks back, I hope you get hit by a car; preferably mine.

Modern church is a place that deems itself trustable. One of the few organizations where you can drop yours kids off and feel safe about doing so. I attend a church myself and I must say that I feel this way; I feel save & secure. I feel it’s a place where you can come for refuge if need be.

History thought has the tendency of reminding us frequently that there is a always a darker side to things.

Adolf Hitler was an evil man, no doubt about it but what if I told you that he felt strongly convicted by the Christian God to eliminate the Jews and take control of the world? Viewing from a distance (or decades) you could see with his momentum building that maybe God was on his side? This is clearly speculation of course but the church did support his actions (out of fear possibly). Never the less they did and if you ever get a chance to view the “Hitler Memoirs” he appears to represent a man strongly convicted by God.

The Pope is in America this week. He is here to talk about how America needs to stand strong in their pursuit on terrorism. What he isn’t in America to talk about is the MASS about of court cases, convictions, scandals, sexual molestation out breaks that his fellow clergy men are involved in. 50 years ago the image I am getting is that if you dropped your kid off at church that it was common the Priest had his way with your child.

I tell you this much, if you looked at the Pope as the CEO of “Child Care Inc” with his churches as child care centers and the priests as it workers – that corporation would have been shut down LONG AGO and the CEO would be serving a MASSIVE jail sentence for running such a muck of a company. But they aren’t running a company, just a church.

In the 50’s, 60’s & 70,s Canadian Native children were subject to “Christian schooling.” The thought of these places was that the children would be intergraded into western culture through loving Christian teaching. I am sorry to say this but the Native communities present problems with depression, alcohol and drugs doesn’t stem in the fact that are lazy good for nothings or that they are pre-disposed to drug use. No, the problem lies with the white mans interpretation of what they deemed better for them. Unfortunately for them they received the loving care of these “Christian learning centers.”

Let’s take it WAYYYYY back to my beautiful home country of England. They became Christians in the medieval times where the thought was still present that the strongest God was with the country with the best army. England’s flag is white with a red cross through it. The reason for the cross you ask? When England set off on its crusades to murder/fight their opposition they wanted their foes to know the power of their God and that they were about to meet their maker.

How can you take Gods story; one of love, redemption, peace and prosperity and also associate it these events? I know people will think “well these people were clearly not Christian” and I would have to reply “no, they had a conviction from God that there actions were correct and operated the best they knew God to be.”

How are the above mentioned Gods stories as well?

Today I am 24.
The following are the events that took place in my life in the last 365 days.

Nathan and Rachel got married and being the best man, I caught the bouquet
I am going to be an Uncle! Love you Natalie
Granddad, Natalie and I traveled to Europe
Jordan Parker and Laurie Knight get engaged!
My sister, husband and kids come to Canada to visit
Roommates: Scroad, Oravec, Nathan, Darryl, Vinny
Moved into the Toshmahall
I resigned at my beloved Suncor
Started my new job at OLG Casino
Celebrated a year of singleness!
Jesse comes home, leaves, comes home and is now leaving again
I finally got up on ski’s, I didn’t end up in the hospital

More to write but I am going out to celebrate.
Cheers.

Being in Fort McMurray is a melting pot of different nationalities. In my group alone my working peers are descendents of India, Pakistan, Korea, Newfoundland and England (me).

This makes for interesting lunch topics.

Today for lunch I had some lovely pork. Looking over at my Muslim counter-parts (Ishti and Mishu) they weren’t eating it. Ishti said to me “Ron how is the pork?” to which I replied “excellent!” He laughed and so did Mishu. I then realized I remember them telling me about “forbidden food” and that pork is one of them.

After they finished laughing I said “you know guys, this is another reason why being a Christian is better than being a Muslim, I can eat what I please!!!” (Oh my past pastors would love the “evangelizing” I am doing!)

I have had some amazing conversations with them in regards to their faith and they have let me in on how culture plays such a huge role with their believes and neighboring countries.

Today, we got talking about “the end times.” For those readers at home that aren’t familiar with what end times are, it’s about the second coming of Christ and the end of the world.
I didn’t talk about Christian modern views vs. post modern views; instead they informed me about how Jesus plays into their views and their version of “the end times.”

It appears they believe in Jesus but more like a man and that he will return a second time and die. He will also return from the descendents of Mohammed claiming to be a Muslim - very interesting stuff.

Essentially, they have more of a Universal belief (that is, that everyone goes to heaven). They condemn the radical Muslims that represent them so poorly in the media. I laughed and said “yes, we have those people too.”

Having them condemn the actions of certain people in their faith made me realize that as Christians, we too have those people that make Christianity appear “crazy, racist, radical and evil.” This got me thinking “how different are we really to our Muslim brothers and sisters?”

For those of you that don’t know, Christians and Muslims are related (sorta). The Jews (Christians) are descendants of Abraham’s son Isaac. The Arabs (Muslims) are descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael. Same Dad, different mothers.

Which brings me to my next point that women are still the root of all evil… haha

As I am driving with Mark Colquhoun to the airport yesterday I say to him “man, I feel like I am missing something” to which he makes a comment about asking my black berry for advice on what I am missing.

Mark and I traveled to a environmental convention this week and I brought my black berry along. I dazzled Mark with its capabilities of finding restaurants effortlessly, navigating around a busy city and texting friends…. All while driving!!!

Mark drops me at the airport. I check in, do the luggage thing and am waiting to board the plane. “I better check my blackberry” I think to myself. Left pocket first - wallet, right pocket next - keys….. Panic sets in, inner pocket – cigar: Do you remember in the movie Home Alone and the mom realizes they left Kevin behind? Yah that was me. Mom just realized she left her son at home. SHIT!

In that one instant my world is instantly changed – I’m disconnected. No one can get a hold of me; I can’t get a hold of anyone. I don’t know anyone’s number. I can’t check my email to see the address I need to get to once in Toronto. I can’t even call home to ask to see if my black berry is there… I don’t know my home phone number.

Lost.

I get on the plane and think of how I am going to survive; it isn’t looking good. The pilot comes on and asks everyone to turn off their mobile devices. Bastard! He was saying that just to humiliate me in front of all the other black berry clan members on board.

The plane lands and instantly it lights up with rings and vibrations. The plane comes alive with real time information… damn you all!!!! I get off the plane and realize how naked I am. No connection with anything, hell, I would kill for even a spam message right now. As I walk around and see everyone else enjoying their time connected I see for the first time a glimpse of what people look like who use their phones while walking. I was laughing hilariously to myself because I never noticed it before. I’m always too busy being those people!!!

I got to work today in Fort McMurray. Everyone has been calling to see when I was arriving, “didn’t you check your emails?” They ask. I inform them about the “incident.” We gather for a moment of silence and encouragement; they know that it’s going to be a tough week for me. Not to worry though, I am having it purolated to me as speak. Thanks Val!!

The bible has always been a fascinating book for me. Personally, I think everyone is intrigued by it; that sense of mystery that draws you in. I remember looking at it back in the day, not knowing anything about it and wondering “what is the big deal anyway?”

Now that I read it and the more that I do, I realize there is so much more to learn and that there is so much I don’t know.
Since reading it, I have encountered many that are interested in it and I encourage them to pursue that interest.

I have met many that have been reading the bible a lot longer and a lot more than myself. Some of these people are fascinating. You get a real sense that even though they don’t understand everything they read, the knowledge they have grasped they are doing great things with. They aren’t forceful with their knowledge, share it often and are always open to learn more. These people are a great influence.

There are also those however, who really believe that they are holding all the pieces to the puzzle. Although they are quick to say that they don’t know everything, in their next breath they are able to tell what is and isn’t correct and how you “don’t get it.” That’s frustrating.

There are a lot of things I am confused about with regards to the scriptures.
One thing that strikes me is understanding how a poor, oppressed, cast down-upon, marginalized nation can write a book that relates to a white, non-oppressed, rich, upper-class, north American?

How am I to believe that when the scriptures are talking to these marginalized people about being a fruitful, honest and multiple nation that they are also referring to me?

Could it be that the scriptures were addressing a certain type of persons at a certain type of time, spoken in a language that when converted to English only cheapens the real expressions that was originally intended?

I find myself wanting to know this. Who wrote it, when was it written, who was the intended audience, what factors influenced it and why? I think by answering these things we would be in a better head space to interpret what is really happening in the scriptures.

Call me a heretic but I think a lot of the mainstream Christian views and ideologies are wrong. So either I am way out of line or there is a message yet to be conveyed and that the story is constantly unraveling itself.

Just in case Dave didn’t get a chance to see the super bowl commercials this year. Here you go.

Doritos

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When you cant get a hold of people that know how to make food….. turn to the internet.

So, I am losing my job soon. Which, no matter what way you look at it…. sucks. People have encouraged and I am full of encouragement with lines like “I will find something better,” “I will be alright” and “I will figure it out.”

I have been saying for years that “Sarnia is my home” but I am starting to think that maybe it isn’t my home. My sister is giving birth soon; my Granddad, Mom, Dad and brother are here. My best friends are here, my community is here but people leave their home towns all the time.

I feel homeless in my own city?

By taking Sarnia out of the equation I ask myself “where is home?”

Home could be anywhere.

When my job comes to a close I will be left with a real question….. Where do I go from here?

My conversations with people about money usually goes like this “I am in so much debt, I need to cut back.”

Well, why are we in debt in the first place? Excusing those people who have kids I would say that most people acquire debt in trying to rid themselves of what they believe to be the biggest disease known to man: boredom.

Now, I excuse those people who have house and car debt since, for the most part you will go into debt for these purchases. For the rest of us it’s mostly credit cards or small loans that we have racked up.

Looking back over my purchases for the last 2 months I have picked up a Wii with games and controllers, alcohol, day trips, eating out, movie purchases, etc. All things I bought to cure my boredom with money I didn’t really have and used credit to acquire.

I would say that 90% of my credit card and small loan debts over the last 3 years have close ties to me trying to cure my boredom. So I decided to stop the bleeding of my funds and stopped buying things that are not “must needs.”

So what does this mean for my social life - Down the crapper right? Not necessarily.
I put together a small list of things I will be doing or have already begun to do to cure my boredom and help relieve my debt strains.

Borrow friends movies or T.V Shows
This is so key especially with TV series. Chances are your friend isn’t watching that season and a TV show can help with weeks if not months of nights when you have an “I’m bored” attack coming on.

Get Invited to Eat Out
This is an art that I have come to master over the years (especially when I play the single young man role). The meal will be excellent because your host is trying to impress you and chances are you will eat better and have more than if you did dropping $30 eating out.

Read a Book (borrowed from your friend obviously)
The best thing about reading other peoples books is that they come highly recommended so they will probably be good and when you are done the book, you can spend an evening talking about it with the person who leant it to you.

Be active and take advantage of our parks, play grounds and trails
These parks don’t exist because your kids need a place to go when you want them out of the house. I am sure most people have a football, basketball, soccer ball, etc sitting around. Get out and use it.

Stop Buying Clothes (or at least hit up value village or winners)
If there is anything I am learning, its taking advantage of deals and specials. If you have to get an article of clothing, shop around. Don’t be so quick to jump on the first thing you see. Take your time with it, have fun but be careful. Chances are, if you are “shopping around” you might find yourself wanting more than the one shirt you are looking for.

Treat your Car as a Last Resource
Not only will you make Dave happy by reducing your environmental impact, but seeking other means of transportation can be fun. Using the bus, biking (bumming rides of friends who are going in that direction) or asking yourself “do I really need to go there?”
Anyway, these are just a few. I am sure there are a million more I haven’t brought up.

Its that time again.
Super Bowl Time.
Ron loves to watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. Dave would rather shoot himself in the head.

Ron Smith and Dave Hoy-Walterhous discus the thought of there actually being no good or bad people…… just people.
You decide.

Ron Smith and Dave Hoyt-Walterhouse are back and better than ever for the 2008 year.
Feel free to view our video and lets get on with the Vlogging!!!

As always, my good friend Dave shed some light on his on going struggles with consumerism and the “green effect” as I call it.

I don’t watch TV, as little as possible but I promised myself that I would watch The Biggest Loser this year (in a fun way of trying to lose weight – or as Steph would have me say “changing my lifestyle.”)

So here I am, on my couch, changing my lifestyle and I notice that something is different this year with the commercials; they have changed…. For the better!!!!!! It appears that companies actually do care about the environment!

Every commercial was urging me to “do your part, save the planet.” Wow, finally, the companies I look to for guidance on how to be happy have come up with an amazing plan for me to finally contribute to saving the planet. So, what did they suggest….

BUY THE PRODUCT.

Oh yes, the corporate engine figured it out – buy more….. of THEIR product. You see, their product saves the world. Yes sir, they finally manged to make a product that doesn’t hurt the environment.

Right.

In actual fact it’s a bunch of crap. Here is what I think on the matter.
The world is changing, global warming? You would have to be an idiot not to realize something is up (John Silvestri, enter your opposition here). Political figures, actors, scientists and the regular joe alike are starting to point fingers at corporations for the pollution in this world. So the corporations response to it all is not to buy less of their product (which would ultimately be the key) but instead it’s to buy more of their “environmental friendly” products. If anything, this global warming crisis has meant HUGE BUCKS for those corporations that make it appear like they give a damn about the environment.

For instance, I was watching a laundry detergent company advertise their “cold water” usable detergent. They boast that people who use cold water instead of hot while using their product will be able to have clean clothes AND theoretically save the environment because they didn’t have to heat their water.

So you, the consumer thinks “holy crap, this is revolutionary” and go and stock up. Your clothes are clean, you just saved the world and you didn’t have to do anything other than buy their product. Wow, thank goodness the corporation is hear to help me, I thought this environment thing was going to force me to change my lifestyle.

Interesting how this laundry company didn’t say anything about how they still use HUGE plastic jugs for storing their product, not to mention the chemical pollution created while they manufactured their product.
If this company really wanted to be real about saving the planet, they would say things like “stop using 4 loads of wash a week” “whats wrong with hanging up a shirt you wore that day that is perfectly clean?” “why not hang dry your clothes” “why not wash your clothes by hand?”

But, that’s the beauty of buying. Buying crap got us into this mess, so buying more (the right stuff) will get us out of it.

Click here for a funny comic strip.

Recently I had the privilege of viewing “The Story of Stuff” (you can watch it too; click here)

I have a huge problem watching these kinds of videos. Mostly because it was so well made and conveys its message so insightfully that after watching it you feel motivated to get involved.

Get involved…. But how?
Ah yes, the how part. Seriously, I don’t know.

I do know that I am going to host a showing of the video at TheStory in downtown Sarnia with Dave for the first weekend of February. (Don’t worry; I will make a facebook group for it to properly advertise it)

I want to get a gathering of people together to talk about the video and discus what it means to and for them. Personally, the ideas of living differently in regards to being more resourceful scares the crap out of me because I am so small and the problems we face is so large. A lot of me wants to forget about it and let the government handle it so that they can tell me how to live more resourcefully. Although, I think this is too serious an issue to leave for the government to figure out.

Relationships can be a great thing. I say ‘can’ because they can also be troublesome.
The best/worst things about relationships are commitments to one another. Commitments come in many shapes and sizes: Promises, possessions, love, children and marriage.

If you are in a relationship with a person, of course you love them; when things are good. When things are good you make commitments to each other. You commit by confessing love, moving in together or saying “I do.” However, when things are bad, the word commitment is the last word brought up.

I look at a commitment as an act of binding yourself to another. When you commit, you are pretty much saying “my life is not my own; my thoughts, actions and possessions are bind to and with the person I am committed to.” That’s pretty heavy.

I don’t think a lot of people have ever truly understood how to be “committed.” We are selfish people by nature and selfishness has no place in a commitment.

It’s sad to see when two people who have expressed commitment to each other fall away from that promise. There are so many factors that attribute to couples breaking up: Financial struggle, social differences, family, etc.

So what do you do? What if the person you committed to looks entirely different today? What if that person doesn’t keep to the things they promised to you? What if you aren’t keeping to your commitments?

I don’t know.

Marriage is the ultimate form of commitment and shouldn’t be taken lightly. I feel that in my life I may be faced with the thought of wanting to leave my wife (future) or my friends will express the same thoughts. What do you say, what do you do in this matter?

We live in a society where we constantly change and upgrade. Does the word commitment still hold any substance? No one wants to hold people to their commitments.

Do I give an ignorant answer of “never break up, no matter what” or “lie in the bed you made;” that’s pretty harsh but at the same time I feel that is a correct answer.

Last night I was invited out for dinner to my sisters (Natalie) boyfriends (Scott) place for dinner.

It was great. The food was good and the environment was awesome. I found myself in a living-room with Scott’s parents, their two kids and their 2 kids. It was a busy room to say the least.

What I found amazing was the focus on family. The family interacted so…… complimentary. They all knew each other, well. Why do I feel so un-easy about expressing family in this light? Is it that most of us have lost this amazing attribute?

What is it about watching a family operate the way it ought to (created to) seems to be so, different? What can we learn from it?

A lot of my friends seem to watch a lot of TV. This, I find to be rather bizarre. Personally I don’t watch TV (unless the Raps are playing) so this “TV strike” isn’t going to affect me at all. This session of rambling is dedicated to most of my friends who will now have to figure what life without the newest shows looks like.

Friends, To find out how you are effected by this, Click here to see how your favorite shows made out.

From what I have made out, the details of this strike seem to surround writers’ economic participation in new media appearing (they want a cut from the monies made on TV to DVD and TV to internet). I think the stakes are much bigger than this though because film and television aren’t just forms of entertainment that we watch to veg out on the couch to. No, television plays a HUGE role in keeping the public up to date on the latest consumer products, vacations and secret pleasures.

This strike really illuminates and demonstrates our role as viewers and consumers of the media, which is designed to drive us to the checkout counter.

Let’s break it down simply:

TV shows don’t keep ratings for bragging fights. Ratings are used to gage how much companies will pay to have their product displayed on their commercial spots. We, the un-knowing audience can be sold their product and not even know it. For the latest and greatest shows, companies pay very hansom to be featured in commercials spots. With no new shows premiering, less people are interested in watching television and in return, fewer companies are willing to pay for the advertising spots.

As a by-stander, one can’t help but think how long these huge television companies can resist paying their writers an additional 4 cents per DVD purchase when viewers of “Lost” aren’t learning how much they need a new Playstation 3?

Especially with the holiday season approaching, how are we going to know what kids want for Christmas if TV can’t tell us?

My personal opinion on the matter is GOOD RIDDANCE. Seriously people, this is an awesome opportunity to get up off your asses and find a new hobby. Put down the channel changer and pick up a book. Hell, spend some time with your kids if you need to. I think this is best thing that could have happened to us. Why don’t we get out in the evening and interact with people instead of our TVs.

I thought I would show you what a typical night of video game playing looking like at the Burd.
(I am the guy holding the guitar).