Canada Fitness

I have been trying to exercise more as of late, but sometimes I'm just not motivated. I think I need to have some sort of program that gives you a reward or that I should set a goal to achieve. Although, setting personal goals aren't great motivation for me. Current gym programs do offer good goal setting measures. Maybe I was brainwashed when I was a kid that I need an actual reward to be motivated.

I remember in elementary school, they used to have a program called "Canada Fitness." Each year, it was mandatory that every student participate in this program. We were to perform a series of tests that involved push-ups, chin-ups, and a lot of running. After all the tests were complete, a cumulative score was tabulated and you were awarded either a bronze, silver, gold, or red badge. The red was the highest honour you could achieve and in addition you received a certificate from the government for the "Award of Excellence." The worst was being awarded none of those and receiving a small plastic white pin for participation.

I remember how kids used to hide their small plastic white pins because they would feel so ashamed. They were also made fun of and maybe that's why the program was abolished after I think when I was in Grade 5.

We used to have this one test where we would race against other kids. It really wasn't a race because the score was based on personal time. But to us kids, it really was a race to see who was the best. I felt sorry but also made fun of the fat kids who had to do this test. We can be so cruel as kids.

I never received a bronze for my efforts. I've received mostly gold and maybe one or two silver. I was jealous of my brother because he got mostly red for the "Award of Excellence" and maybe one gold.

It strikes me that in one sense, the program was really not a good one because it ranked kids on one general system, but on the other, a lot of kids these days don't even have gym as part of their curriculum which has led to our current high level of obesity.

I think some sort of new program like Canada Fitness except without the rankings would really benefit our youth of today. I certainly feel the Canada Fitness program helped in providing me a healthier lifestyle as a child than kids today who watch a lot of TV and play video games. Kind of funny now that after work that's what I do is watch a lot of TV and play video games. I should get off my butt.

Peace.

You Know You're A Vancouverite When

There's more out there, but these ones apply to me the most.

1. You know the mountains are located north. In fact, you use them to get your bearing when lost.
2. Checking the weather means looking out the window.
3. You hate the Calgary Flames.
4. You consider anything below 5 degrees to be freezing.
5. Deciding where to eat is a matter of deciding what type of food you’re in the mood for: Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, etc.
6. You know where the two Starbucks corner is downtown.
7. You know all the T.V. shows and movies filmed in Vancouver.
8. The whole city shuts down over less than a foot of snow.
9. You know many jokes about Slurry… Surrey.
10. The concept of skiing, golfing, and sailing in the same day does not seem impossible to you.
11. You can pronounce Tsawwassen, Squamish, Osoyoos, Ucluelet, Esquimalt, Sooke, and Nanaimo.
12. You know the Vancouver Canucks started the ‘white towel’ trend in sports.
13. Rent and housing prices make you cringe.
14. You know the Canucks have never won the Stanley Cup.
15. You’ve been lost in Richmond because you thought making two right turns would get you back on to the main road.
16. Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod had more influence on your daily life than Vladimir Putin.
17. You have several public transit stories involving: drunks, crazy people, and teenagers.
18. A yellow light means keep going and a red light means three more
cars.
19. Finding parking takes longer than it did to drive there.
20. If you hear someone is doing the Grind, you know they’re not hitting the books.
21. In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.
22. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
23. The cars in the student parking lot are way nicer than the cars in the staff parking lot.
24. Lululemon is not just a clothing brand but a way of life. (for girls and, probably should be less, guys).
25. A one hour parking spot equals minimum wage.
26. You know what ‘The Big One’ means.

300

I'm pretty pumped to see this movie when it comes out on March 9th. Just from the trailer, the imagery, direction, and use of colour blows my mind. The movie is based on one of Frank Miller's graphic novel called "300." The novel retells the 480 BC Battle of Thermopylae when King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans fought against King Xerxes and his massive Persian army. The battle is said to have inspired all of Greece to stand against the Persians and help usher in the world's first democracy.

I saw Frank Miller's other movie adaptation of his graphic novel, "Sin City." It was probably the most graphic movie I've seen (one I wouldn't recommend), but I appreciated the technical aspect of the film. It really felt like a comic book coming to life.

This movie, "300," piques my interest because of its historical retelling of a period that was so long ago. It also incorporates fantasy and has a biblical tone to what may have transpired. I couldn't imagine a movie being made from the Old Testament due to how brutal it was back then. But 300 does come close to something I would enjoy and appreciate. I'll see for myself. Also it's definitely a "made for man" movie. It's striking how different men and women are where men generally tend to enjoy a lot of action. I sure love a solid action flick.

Peace.