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billionairescoblog-blog · 5 years ago

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Where do I live ?

I live in the southern residential district referred to as Parkdale-South-Shoreline, which runs along the coast line of Lake Ontario in Toronto. My district is classified as the first suburb west of downtown Toronto, nestled below the scenic High-Park hills, filled with a high population of working professionals, who appreciate scenically beautiful views, walks along the lakeshore and tree-lined streets with access to all of the city’s highways and transit points. My neighbourhood is a cultural mix of all of Toronto’s ethnic groups, highly progressive individuals who share the common goal of maximizing the City’s advancement. The Parkdale South Shoreline district has some of the best residential features, however it also has specific density issues for which a large amount of infrastructure assistance has been required from the City of Toronto to maximize the efficiency of the district.

Some of the benefits of Parkdale-South, specifically across the shoreline of Lake-Ontario in Toronto, is that the neighbourhood has the approximate distribution of the population representing 21,849 residents, 50.3% are female, 49.7% males. The majority of the population is between 25-39 years old, and are working professionals. This is a great area for young relationships to form. Of the residents, 12,030 are of working age between 25-54yrs old. The visible minority population of the area is 48.1%, although slightly lower than the visible minority population of Toronto which is 51.5%, the district is highly inclusive. The ethnic groups in the highest proportion are European lineage (Polish, Germanic, Slavik, British), Middle-Eastern, Indo-Canadian and Caribbean. The number one language spoken is English, followed by Polish,German, Croatian and Arabic. The community of Parkdale South-Shorline has continually evolved over the years, given that there is an increase in residents between the ages of 25-54, with household incomes greater than $69,000 per year, and the median age of 35.5 years old. There is a large increase in one-family households in the area when compared to the City of Toronto. This increase in single family households is attributed to the rapid development of high-rise condo housing units. Residents of the area enjoy the outdoor recreational aspects of the area which includes boating, sailing, paddle-boarding, cycling, running, yoga in the parks, dog-walking privileges and access to the events at the Sunny-Side Pavillion, swimming at the Sunny-Side Pavillion Pool and potential membership in the famous Boulevard Club for sailing, tennis and private events.

The unique challenges of the community is the housing type. The area is privy to multiple condos, stacked town-homes, low rise rental buildings and an assortment of tudor styled homes that were built in the early 1900s which have narrow strips of land, and are tightly situated. The area was considered a suburb when Toronto began to form. Given that most residents are of working age, those who are in partnerships raising children choose to live in the area to access some of the great elementary schools such as: Park Lawn Junior Middle School, St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School, High Park Gardens Montessori School, and the Ursula Franklin Academy. The infrastructure is densely populated due to the traffic-centric position of the neighbourhood which is situated between Queensway, Lakeshore Blvd, and the Gardener Expressway. The neighbourhood is highly diverse with 48.1% of the residents listed as visual minorities. There is an 81.1% employment rate amongst residents, however due to the proximal location of real estate, 86.6% of the residents are renters and do not own their property. There is a decline in the aging population, however there are very few unemployed, or low-income residents. The unique challenge that faces the neighbourhood is traffic congestion, lack of sufficient parking and road access, given the density levels, it is a busy area at all times. The district is anchored by Lake Ontario to the South, St.Joseph’s Hospital and The Roncesvalles restaurant market district to the east, and Sobey’s with the Ontario food terminal next door to the west.

Toronto’s City planning and zoning office has attempted to assist the community to adjust to the infrastructure challenges by boosting above ground railway expansion of the TTC 501-streetcar rail system, which runs 24-hours per day to help reduce the need for an automobile, greater TTC bus route access to the MIMICO GO Train station through the Queensway-80 bus route; the routes provide more frequent trips in order to distribute commuters effectively. Additionally, the main transit route off King Street has designated areas which are street-car only lanes during peak driving times, preventing other automobiles from accessing these restricted areas – with the goal to increase effective access to the core of the city’s financial districtt, assisting commuters to penetrate the core of the city more expediently – given that downtown Toronto is the hub directly responsible for the highest amount of employment for residents of the Parkdale South-Shoreline community.

While the neighbourhood of Parkdale South-Shorline offers transportation support for working-age residents who are heavily connected to corporate employment in the downtown core, the neighbourhood has some of the best views, parks, recreation and proximal distance to Roncesvalles restaurants - which enhances inclusion and tolerance through its positioning as a pedestrian friendly shopping, dinning, and entertainment canal; You will find that Parkdale South has very progressive thinkers, concept embracers, multicultural relationships, and open-minded individuals, which helps to increase comfort for all who live in the area. Parkdale South characterizes the positive conception that Canada is indeed nation for all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6etPgB10Ojw

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billionairescoblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Lesson 15, Task 2: What has influenced me?

What has influenced me?

By Scoey Hamilton

I have heard the expression that says, “we are the sum of our experiences”, and if this is a truism, I am truly the sum of my exposure.

Although my culture may be rooted in a cross between Jamaica and Brazil, I have had the privilege of being exposed to various forms of top and sub cultures that have influenced who I am today. Proudly, my exposure has influenced the foods I eat, the fashion I wear, the architecture I admire, and the leisure activities and entertainment I participate in. The summation of these elements has been fundamental to frame the classic man I am today.

Historically, the term Renaissance Man symbolizes those rare individuals who were able to expand their knowledge base, character and actions in order to channel the highest version of themselves. Today, I consider myself a modern Renaissance Man. Born in the Caribbean Island of Jamaica to both Jamaican and Brazilian lineage, my foundation is underpinned in black culture. The culture springs from a people whose uprising came through rebellion from slavery. Jamaican’s were one of the first groups of slaves from Africa who rebelled from British tyranny to gain their independence. In Jamaica, the credo of the island is enshrined on the principle: “out of many we are one” which means that standing in unison through solidarity breeds the highest elevation of a group of people. In commercial tourism ads you will quickly make the connection to the phrase “Jamaica, One Love”. Thus, learning to love myself meant continually developing all facets of my character. Love of self and my people was instilled in me from an early onset to continually embrace change as a means for growth and betterment in order to improve the perception of my nation. The cultural lineage of being bread as a Jamaican in North America has influenced my character in numerous ways.

When it comes to my pallet, my taste for cuisine is broad and diverse. My formative years occurred in Canada, specifically Toronto, Ontario, where I embraced many Canadian dishes. The City of Toronto has become a fusion of the world’s best virtues. The spirit of Canada represents a frontier for all those who are willing to aspire to build a nation that is far greater than the country they left behind. In leaving a country behind, you open yourself up-to the absorption of new theories, customs and cuisine. From a culinary perspective, I consumed many Caribbean-based meals grounded in tropical fruits and vegetables, and as my pallet expanded, I grew a penchant for North American agriculture such as salmon from BC, potatoes from PEI, tomatoes from Ontario, and lettuce from the mid-western provinces. Augment such culinary staples with western Canadian beef and poultry, and you begin to form the base of some fantastic dishes. Using our cultural Caribbean spices, symbolic of heat through scotch-bonnet peppers, onions, turmeric, nutmeg and cinnamon, you form the basis of raising the flavour profile of any dish. This elevation through heat and spice easily gives rise to customized meals such as grilled-jerk chicken over a body of Canadian cabbage and sweet potatoes. Or pan-fried red snapper fish with white rice. These dishes quickly add heat, flavour and your required food groups in order to maximize your nutrition. These are some of the foods that have influenced me growing up and are a part of my general consumption to date. Secondly, I tend to gravitate towards many Asian dishes which incorporate a large amount of vegetables in their rice, noodle and meat dishes. The flavour profile experienced is not only tasty but also healthier than many North American fast-food related dishes. Lastly, I’ve customized many Italian dishes, often you can find me with a hearty bowl of meat sauce with grated parmesan cheese, which is not only filling, but also satisfying given my participation in numerous athletic endeavors.

As my formative years progressed, I was influenced by east coast fashion designs of Levi Strauss jeans, a traditional New-York staple, sprinkled with the colorful hues of Polo Ralph Lauren shirts, topped-off with some streamlined Nike-Air sneakers, to provide a crisp and clean casual prep-school ensemble which I wear when I traverse the city scape. This style of dress springs from the collegial attire often worn on most university campuses in the east coast, such as Brown University in Rhode Island or Wharton University in Pennsylvania. As an adolescent, my parents often embarked-on shopping road trips to places such as New York and Pennsylvania’s Factory Outlet Malls, where retailers such as Polo, Levi’s, and Nike were readily exhibited. As a young adult, when my evenings call for more polished apparel, I lean towards haute couture. With high-end fashion, I can express my creativity through a style known as the “Dandy Movement” which originates in Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York. The style manifests itself through bold pattern assortments in trousers, which are tailor fitted for a form-fitting display, capped off with single breasted form-fitting blazers, and patterned buttoned-down shirts and pocket squares. This modern twist on classic style is referred to as the “Dandy Movement”. The art of the Dandy Movement is a cross between classic British gentleman meets unlimited expression through patterned assortment of fabrics. Although the prep-school style and the elegant gentleman are juxtaposed, they provide expressionism and artistic freedom, whereby I can readily present myself as clean and nonchalant, or Avant-guard within the same day, at different venues. These styles fit in well within the City of Toronto, where taste is an individual element but appreciated by onlookers. Travelling throughout the United Kingdom, and New York as young man has given me the exposure to styles and concepts which formed the basis of how I express my personal style. Therefore, although my lineage may be one part of me, my sartorial attire has been influenced by Britain gentlemen and capped off with an East Coast University flair.

Through travel for personal enjoyment, and work, fortune has smiled upon me in my occupation, which has allowed me to experience Canada’s most prominent cities: Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto. Through my journey’s, I have been able to embrace the architectural landscape from multiple cities. Real estate and architecture have always held a warm spot within me. I am influenced by the reclaimed lumber and clean lines of modern homes in Vancouver, British Columbia, added to the sleek European interior designs of minimalism which is expressed in the condos of downtown Montreal. I embody both of these styles in my own dwelling here in Toronto. In order to express my appreciation for both of these styles, I have renovated my interior space with spiced-oak hardwood floors, and taupe-grey porcelain feature-walls in my living room, to be reminiscent of Vancouver, with a clean European designed kitchen in snow-white as an ode to all things minimalist, which directly reflect my exposure to Montreal. Combining these two styles makes my home great for quiet reflection, or leisure and entertainment activities. Minimalism allows for spacious comfort, and clean designs allow for mental clarity to be gained, which allows me to conceptualize high-level thinking freely. The duality of these special designs is perfect for embracing all the four Canadian seasons. These are foundational elements which have influenced my sense of home, and what I define as style and comfort.

The City of Toronto as well as my cultural background have influenced my choice of leisure activities and entertainment. In Toronto, the popular theme is urban music, which consists of hip-hop, r&b, reggae and rap music. This genre known as urban music offers Influential heavy base-tones with soulful overtures. The music I gravitate towards incorporates themes from the islands and are blended with North American renditions that communicate expressionism, story-telling, insight and perspective through lyrics that rhyme over beats that flow. The music I listen-to intertwines with a lot of the sports I engage in. I am influenced to participate heavily in CrossFit, weight-training, basketball and football. Not only did I grow up being drawn to these activities because of where I grew-up, these sports were also what was and still is considered to be popular culture. These athletic genres are dominated by African Americans, and require high levels of athleticism, discipline and extension of oneself in order to reach peak levels of performance. The music influences the athletics, and the athletics influence references often found in the music. Both elements have created a symbiotic relationship. In fact, you can’t go to Raptors Basketball game in Toronto without hearing the roar of hip-hop music throughout the game, and during half time. Given that I am from the urban culture in a City that embraces the urban culture, you can frequently find me embodying music from Toronto’s ambassador, Drake. This young man has brought Toronto’s urban music scene to the World stage, and has revolutionized the global perspective on what it means to be urban in the City of Toronto, I am glad I am a part of this movement, and even more appreciative that I was able to witness this evolution from the onset of his musical ascendance which started in the year 2008 and continues to evolve and expand daily. Urban cultural undertones have changed the euphemisms we once referred to as Toronto, to the T-dot, and now we call it the “6ix”; the six is an acronym which highlights the amalgamation of the six-boroughs which influence the sound and style coming from Toronto. The six boroughs which are: East York, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York and the City of Toronto.

The term osmosis readily comes to mind when I think of the term influence. Given that we are the byproduct of what we are exposed to, thereby we are influenced by everything we are exposed to. Throughout my development I have been privileged to be exposed to cultural flavours and foods that have enhanced my pallet and my culinary choices. The places I have travelled to have influenced the prep-school casual style I wear, and my travels abroad have influenced how I present myself to the world when I frame myself as an elegant gentleman while showcasing the Dandy Movement. Finally, the music I listen to is a direct reflection of the City I am in, and the headlining artist of my City which incorporates movement and a myriad of anecdotes expressed through the lyrics of our generation. My personal evolution from Caribbean settler to elegant gentleman is a tribute to what influence can do for a person. Therefore, it is material that we consider what we are exposed to, the places we go to, the people we meet, and the thoughts we choose to embody through our social circle, because without your conscious knowledge, over time, all these elements will positively or negatively influence you.

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billionairescoblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Lesson 15, Task 4: What do I believe in?

"Lesson 15, Task 4: What do I believe in?"

By: Scoey Hamilton

School uniforms create the basis for synchronicity amongst students and their peers. School policies concerning uniformed attire are welcomed changes to the educational system given that it creates a cohesive group-platform, reducing barriers relating to race, culture or religion, given that all students are considered equal in appearance. Secondly, uniforms enhance the bridge to social acceptance by ensuring all students are freed from judgements normally attributed to one’s apparel. Finally, the cost savings from uniformed clothing releases capital that would otherwise be spent on trendy apparel, can now be allocated towards areas for greater long-term strategic-advantage in the student experience, such as: extracurriculars, athletics or tutorial assistance, thereby allowing students to alter their attention from their attire, and back towards demonstrating their interpersonal skills as a means to develop their character and individuality.

Uniformed attire is standardized clothing for male and female students. Schools specify the particular apparel that must be worn while in attendance at school, and how it must be worn in order for students to be in conformity with school guidelines. The school policies on uniforms greatly assist students by providing the basis of control over their presentation. Students have little control over the household they are raised-in, level of financial resources, and familial philosophies on how money is distributed on apparel as it pertains to the way a student is allowed to dress. By instituting uniforms, control is restored back to the student. The student regains comfort that they will not be misjudged due to their possession of trendy clothing or lack thereof; until students reach the age of majority, gain employment and are in a position to bear the cost of apparel, uniforms provide a level platform for all students to perform on. While contrarians may consider that uniforms remove the presence of the individual in replace of the cohesive whole student body, I contend that removing the psychological and financial burden provides a greater benefit than the minor gain from artistic expression brought-on through fashion. To quote the famed Lieutenant in the British Army, Robert Baden-Powell: “The uniform makes for brotherhood, once universally adopted, it covers-up all deficiencies of class and country”.

Until a child reaches the age of majority, their parents are solely responsible for clothing expenses. As a child continues to develop, their clothing needs can become excessively costly. The burden previously borne by parents can be reduced. This reduction of discretionary spending on trendy, seasonal, and costly attire can be better allocated to areas that drive future benefits. By adopting school uniforms, parents will not have to work as hard, thus freeing up more time to mentor and guide their children, thus helping to create well-adjusted human beings. Secondly, said resources can now be applied towards extracurriculars such as: athletics, clubs, and social experiences which greatly enhance the global learning for a student, and helps to make a student a more complete person, with the ability to interact on more meaningful levels with their peers. Lastly, parents can now utilize the unspent resources towards tutorial services to help improve their children’s chances of acceptance into higher quality post-secondary institutions; unspent resources provides a bridge towards a brighter future with higher income prosperity. By forsaking fashionable expenses, students replace popular fashion for a better quality of life. Besides, if we take a page from acclaimed author Oscar Wilde who once said: “everything popular is wrong”. Wilde has credence given that he was well known for his uncanny wit and flamboyant attire.

Uniforms remove the judgement factor tied up in appearances. Uniforms shift perceptions from external presentation, inward towards one’s personality and its uniqueness and individuality, thus helping students to showcase who they are as people. The uniform helps students focus on forming the basis of their character, allowing a true judgement to be assessed about who they are as people, rather than their ability to showcase fine-fabrics. Through character development, individuality is born. To quote from a highlighted transgender personality, Jazz Jennings:

“If people are going to judge me without fully understanding the content of my character, then their opinion just isn’t worth it” after all, trendy clothing cannot express intellect, wisdom, love, loyalty, or uprightness, however one’s character can clearly highlight an individual’s beliefs.

Summarily, I support school policies that advocate uniformed attire for students. The benefits exceed the costs. While uniforms may remove a students’ ability to express themselves visually, in return the student gains multiple benefits in the form of preservation from judgement based on their parent’s ability or inability to afford trends and reap a larger gain by being able to have resources applied to extracurricular activities, events and scholastic support which can help students to build their characters, their individuality, and expression of their uniqueness. Uniforms allow students to be judged by their actions and who they are, rather than how they appear.

References

https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?q=character

https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/oscar_wilde

https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/uniform

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billionairescoblog-blog · 6 years ago

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The Dandy Movement: The Rise of the Elegant Gentleman

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billionairescoblog-blog · 6 years ago

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Lesson 15, Task 3: Who am I?

"Lesson 15, Task 3: Who am I?"

https://drive.google.com/drive/my-drive

As a Black-man in Canada, we have had to embrace challenge and change.

As a Black-man, I’m acutely aware that every action that I take represents my culture.

I self identify with a race, culture, religion and a philosophy.

We don’t all come from single parent households

We don’t say “Mon”

We don't say “Everyting Irie” to conclude each sentence

We don’t all come from government subsidized housing

We don’t all have dreads or believe in Rastafarianism

We don’t all smoke Weed

We don’t all have thick accents, or exercise broken english

We are not all dark-skinned individuals

We don’t all dance to dance-hall music or do slow

We don’t only eat Jerk Chicken or Fried Chicken

We don’t all consume over-proof rum

Everybody does not come from Kingston

We don’t all wear our pants below our waists

We don’t all believe in excessive expenditure on consumer goods

Contrarily: