How big is your foot print?

Ever wondered what a beach would look like without a single footprint on it? Ever seen one?


A disturbing fact...


If the population of China was to achieve the same standard of living that exists in the US we will need 25 planet earths to live sustainably.


The US currently has the highest footprint requiring approximately 9.5 hectares per capita to support is population. Australia comes a disappointing 8th on the list. It surprised me to know we are ahead of many developed countries like Germany, the UK and France.


Considering the complete lack of will that most people seem to have when it comes to caring about our planet things look pretty grim so next time you decided throw out that notebook after only writing on a few pages or you run the washing machine for only 3 pairs of socks and a t-shirt remember that beach and how many foot prints were on it and ask yourself, can you do better?

*Thanks, Daryn

Gramps

A woman is in a grocery store and happens upon a grandpa and his poorly behaving 3 year-old grandson. At every turn. Its obvious gramps has his hands full with the kid screaming for candy in the candy aisle, cookies in the cookie aisle; same for fruit, cereal and soda.

Meanwhile gramps is working his way around saying in a controlled voice, "Easy Albert, we won't be long, easy boy"

Another outburst and she hears gramps calmly say, "It's OK Albert, just a couple more minutes and we'll be outta here, hang in there.

At the checkout, the little terror is throwing items from the cart and gramps again in a controlled voice is saying, "Albert, Albert, relax buddy, don't get upset --we'll be home in five minutes; stay cool, Albert".

Very impressed the woman goes up to gramps as he's loading the kid and the groceries into the car and says, "You know sir, it's none of my business, but you were amazing in there. I don't know how you did it. The whole time you kept your composure and no matter how loud and disruptive he got, you just calmly kept saying things would be OK. Albert is very lucky to have you for his grandpa".

"Thanks, lady," said gramps, "but I'm Albert -- the little bastard's name is Johnny".

*Thanks, Daryn

Pink Shirt - Popped Collar

*Thanks, Daryn

Two Babies

Two babies were sitting in their cribs, when one baby shouted to the other,'Are you a little girl or a little boy?'

'I don't know,' replied the other baby giggling.

'What do you mean, you don't know?' said the first baby.

'I mean I don't know how to tell the difference,' was the reply.

'Well, I do,' said the first baby chuckling, 'I'll climb into your crib and find out.'He carefully maneuvered himself into the other baby's crib, then quickly disappeared beneath the blankets. After a couple of minutes, he resurfaced with a big grin on his face.'You're a little girl, and I'm a little boy,' he said proudly.

'You're ever so clever,' cooed the baby girl, 'but how can you tell ?'

'It's quite easy really,' replied the baby boy,

'You've got pink socks and I've got blue ones.'


SHAME ON YOU, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING???

*Thanks, Pam

Homophobia and Transphobia in Canadian Schools

by Andrew Kress, OUTWORDS Magazine, Winnipeg MB

DR. CATHERINE TAYLOR IS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR BEHIND A NATIONAL SURVEY ON HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA IN CANADIAN SCHOOLS. SO FAR, THE SURVEY HAS BEEN PROVING WHAT MOST OF US ALREADY KNOW:

PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT A SAFE PLACE FOR QUEER STUDENTS.

The figures are shocking. The average kid in Canada's public schools hears the words "gay" and "fag" used as synonyms for "stupid" and the like 25 to 75 times a day. This is according to early results from a national survey done by Egale. Even a significant number of queer kids (19%) who filled out the survey said they use the homophobic terms - "to stay under the radar."

Why, in this day and age when overt homophobia is grounds for discipline in so many workplaces, is it tolerated in our public schools? The answer, according to University of Winnipeg professor Catherine Taylor, is that homophobia "is manufactured. It is the last socially acceptable form of prejudice."

By "manufactured," Taylor means many of our major institutions continue to create and sustain homophobia, despite giving lip service to diversity. "[These institutions] make homosexuality the last thing anyone would want to be associated with," she says.

Taylor is a professor of rhetoric, writing, communications and education at the University of Winnipeg. Her interest in homophobia led her to become the principal investigator of Egale Canada's national survey on homophobia and transphobia in Canadian schools Launched in December 2007, the study has revealed that the vast majority of queer-identified and questioning students do not feel safe at school.

The Vancouver School Division agreed to pilot the Egale survey, which has now been completed by more than 1,450 students across the country. So far, the Toronto School Board has agreed to release the survey results, and so has the Ottawa Catholic School Board, which Taylor considers a huge victory.

The most prominent form of homophobia is verbal harassment; particularly the use of the words "gay" and "fag" in everyday conversations. The survey suggests that more than 50% of the participants also have been verbally harassed because of their sexuality.

Overall, 47.5% of the LGBTQ participants said they feel that they are not fully accepted at school. Other statistics show that 49% of queer participants have had rumours spread about them and 41% have been sexually harassed while in their learning environments. The survey suggests that these students are less likely to report harassment.

As for the heterosexual participants, only 19% reported that it is hard for them to feel accepted at school. Perhaps because they aren't the victims of it, 60% of heterosexual respondents said they believe homophobia is addressed effectively whereas only 33% of the LGBTQ participants feel the same way.

Taylor refers to schools as "the land that time forgot." Al-though queer people have almost full legal equality in society and the corporate world, schools are left largely untouched. For this reason, Egale Canada created the survey and is working on the Safe School Campaign. This Campaign encourages educational institutions to adopt specific anti-homophobia guidelines.

While working on the survey, Taylor became a target of overt homophobia. A right-wing group denounced the survey and encouraged others to contact her, calling her "vile" and claiming that she was "helping to destroy Canadian society." The phone calls and messages have since stopped.

Despite the bad news in the schools, Taylor is optimistic that homophobia can be beaten. Kids are starting to do things to stop homophobia and more schools are adopting Gay-Straight Alliance programs, she points out. Taylor also notes that homophobia is strongest in conservative faith and isolated pockets. "[Our] biggest problem is not die-hard homophobes," she says, "but most nice people who underestimate how big a problem it is since they are not as exposed to it as kids are."

Phase 1 of the survey is open till the end of August and is available at http://climatesurvey.ca/. Phase 2 begins in September with the entire survey coming to end in June 2009. A report of the survey will be produced and sent to every school board providing educators with information on making policy decisions and anti-homophobia teachings. For any additional questions about the survey, you can contact Dr. Taylor through e-mail at c.taylor@uwinnipeg.ca or by phone at 786-9893.

Saskatchewan Human Rights Commision - Transgender Fact Sheet

See what the SHRC has prepared in the way of Transgender Human Rights in Saskatchewan.

Download the pdf here.

Way to go Saskatchewan! Always ahead of the rest of the World!

Poser

What make of car was the first in the world to be reported stolen—back in 1896? Clue: Its manufacturer is still in business.

Click here for the answer.

Sarah Palin on Gay Issues

by Ramon Johnson, About.com : Gay Life

I'm not shocked that John McCain chose a conservative running mate, but I am surprised that he tapped inexperienced Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Not much is known about Governor Palin's stance on individual gay rights issues like don't ask, don't tell and same-sex adoption yet, but what we do know that she strongly opposes same-sex marriage... read more

Harry Potter star lost virginity at 16

In a move that is surely an effort to shed his good boy/Harry Potter image, Daniel Radcliffe recently admitted to Details magazine that he lost his virginity at age 16—to an older woman.

Radcliffe didn’t name the woman who ‘deflowered’ him, however sources say the temptress is Amy Byrne, an assistant hairdresser who was 23 when they met on the set of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The age difference “wasn’t ridiculous,” Radcliffe, now 19, said of the affair. “But it would freak some people out.”



Despite his sexy shenanigans and nude appearances on stage in Equus, Radcliffe insists his life isn’t too racy. “I don’t pretend to do anything particularly wild,” he says. “I just like wrong-footing people. I write poetry and I love it. I like being different from most other people in my generation.” Sounds like Radcliffe is well on his way to making the transition from child star to adult Hollywood heartthrob.

*Tribute.ca

Gay Banter

There were 3 kids in the family... one of each sex


I have a lot of distant relatives, including one brother and two sisters

Groom: `My little peach`
Groom: `My little plum`
Preacher: `I now pronounce you fruit salad`


Women are fools to marry men. On the other hand, what else is there to marry?


Calling Dr. Kinsey! Calling Dr. Kinsey!... You should hear what they're
calling Dr. Kinsey!



Q: "Why can't a lesbian wear make-up and go on a diet at the same time?"
A: "Because she can't eat Jenny Craig with Mary Kay on her face."

Q: "What's the difference between a straight guy and a bisexual?"
A: "A six-pack..."

Q: "What's the difference between a butch Marine and a femme Marine?"
A: "A butch Marine can keep his own legs in the air when he's getting boinked."


"If homosexuality is a disease, lets all call in queer to work, "Hello. Can't work today, still queer."." Robin Tyler

Riddle Me This!

What are these?

Click above for the answer.

Can You See it?

There is a hidden picture inside the picture below. It can be seen in 3D without 3D glasses! Take a hard look and see if you can find the 'hidden candies'...

*Magic Eye

Wise Words

Learn to be wise
1. Don't spread the net when the bird you want to catch is watching.
2. Ornithological specimen of identical plumage invariably conglomerate to the nearest proximity. in other words, birds of a feather flock together.
3. It is better to be a lion a day than to be a sheep all your life time.
4. It is only a mad man and a fool that will not change while others do.

Our Deepest Fear
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves. Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
-Marianne Williamson-

Driver safety
• Adjusting outside and inside rearview mirrors can greatly reduce blind spots. Set the interior mirror so it shows you as much of the rear window as possible. Next, lean your head against the left window and adjust the left side-view mirror so you can just see the rear side of your car. Position you head in the middle of the car, above the center console, and adjust the right-side mirror so you can just see the rear side.
• Adjust the center of the headrest so that the back of your head not your neck, would connect with it in an emergency.
• Always buckle up, positioning the lower part of the seat belt across you hips, not your abdomen.

Sleep Apnea
Chronic Sleep Apnea is a condition in which one actually quits breathing for short episodes during sleep. The condition is easily diagnosed by doctors trained in sleep disorders, by simply going to a sleep clinic. Some signs and symptoms include; loud snoring with moments of complete silence; a “snorting” sound with abrupt wakening; feeling exhausted even after you have slept for several hours; lack of concentration; and even falling asleep during the day while driving or on the job. This condition can be life threatening and is treatable. For more information check with your family doctor and you may check out the National Sleep Foundation WebPages at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/

Yoga for Stress Management
Hatha yoga is a practice which is 5000 years old, and is now being used throughout the world by millions to improve health and reduce stress. Forward bends, whether done standing or seated, are said to be the most relaxing poses for the nervous system. Several times daily, take a few moments to fold forward from the hips, keeping the spine long, and breath deeply, completely restoring calmness and energy. If you have high blood pressure or glaucoma, this pose should only be done from a seated position so that your head remains higher than your heart.

Loving yourself
If you truly love yourself then don't regret the past, it's what made you who you are today!

Hopscotch

*Thanks, Daryn

New Feature On 'OZ' - The 'Other' Side of the Rainbow

The Wizard of 'OZ' has added a new feature to the blog. It allows you to easily subscribe to 'OZ' - with your choice of posts sent to you via an email, and various other options such as Skype and chat programs such as MSN. It is on the right hand side and looks like this:

Please take a look at it and subscribe. It is hosted by FeedBlitz and they will not share your email address with advertisers. It was extremely complicated to set up and I would like some of you to take the leap and try it. When you enter your email address and click on the "Subscribe to 'OZ'!" button, you will be taken to a verification page (You will have to do one of those hidden letter/number thingies to prove that you are a person and not a web bot), but then you will receive an email from FeedBlitz asking you to click on a link to confirm that you wish to subscribe. Don't worry, you can unsubscribe at any time!
I would like some feedback on how it works for you and that within a day or so you get links to posts on 'OZ'. Please email me by clicking on The Wizard of OZ picture at the top of 'OZ' or make a comment.

I want to be sure that my subscribers are actually getting the posts - I had a fair amount of trouble setting it up, so I hope that I have done it right.

Thanks, in advance!

Yours,

--The Wizard

PS: I also made some changes to the main CSS sheet so that 'OZ' displays properly in Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, Avant, Safari as well as Internet Explorer

Lunch on the skyscraper...or Why Women Live Longer Than Men...

A look at work on the New York skyline circ. 1930’s!
Not much safety involved!

The title the first of the following photographs "Lunch atop a Skyscraper" or "Lunch at the top of a skyscraper" The author is Charles C. Ebbets. He is one of the more solid photographers of the world. The photographs were taken in New York, on September 29th 1932, and published in the New York Herald Tribune in the Sunday supplement of the Oct. 2nd of that year. It was taken on the 69th floor of the 70that is the GE building in the Rockefeller Center.

This is Charles Ebbets while taking some of these photographs

And this one, is another mythical photo "Resting on the girder" of 1932

Many of these images comprise the Bettmann file, founded by Otto Bettmann in 1936. It contains a collection of 11 million photographs and includes some of the best historical images of the United States. At the present time the file belongs to the Corbis company, property of Bill Gates.

*Thanks, Erwin