'HOW DO THEY DO IT?' PEOPLE: THE SECRET OF THEIR SUCCESS

I have a fair number of ballsy, enterprising friends with a disregard of fear. Kelly, in particular, shows enviable gusto in everything she does - taking illogical risks in exchange for thrilling experiences and a number of 'Pass GO Collect $200 cards'. You probably know a Kelly. Someone who detests the conventional mold and through sheer spirit and desire, manifest fantastic opportunities. Or those who instead of lamenting over ideas, make swift, bold moves to make them real. People who live their dreams. People who constantly have you questioning 'how do they do it?

Working part-time in a small retail start-up and at Silver Lining, I've quickly been exposed to the realities of entrepeneurship - good and bad. Most interestingly, working alongside such enterprising businesswomen also brings a certain demystfication of those 'how do they do it?' people.

We scrutinize them; we envy them; we're in awe of them; we're intimidated by them. The truth is there's little to scrutinize and little to be initimidated by. All that differentiates those 'HDTDI' people from nervous, entrepeneur-hopefuls is the choice to WALK THE WALK.

This takes a certain confidence. It's not a confidence built over time or by experience. It's a confidence one just assumes. Fear is ever-present, but fear is not an excuse nor an obstacle. 'HDTDI' people don't have a formula for success. They don't have all the answers. Some don't even know the questions. They often guess and sometimes guess wrong. But they all make a conscious decision to WALK THE WALK. That's how they do it!

What a lovely day for a stroll.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

I often gripe about the amount of attention devoted to charitable giving overseas, given there are SO many people in need within our own cities and neighbourhoods. Once again, the time has come for me to put my money where my mouth is...

...On February 25th I'll be joining a team of friends for a charity bowlathon in support of the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre and Multicultural Women Against Rape. My fundraising goal is $125. If you would like to support my efforts and a great organization...

Simply mail a cheque payable to TRCC/MWAR to the address below along with your name, address and phone number.(Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 and greater, as requested.)

Silver Lining Ltd.
53 Ontario Street, 4th floor
Toronto, ON
M5A 2V1
Attn: D.King

For more information, visit www.trccmwar.ca

Many, many thanks for your support!

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS A WOMAN

At least she is on ABC's Commander in Chief. Anthony and I often watch the show together. I assumed he'd been politely conceding to guarantee a half hour of Samurai Jack somewhere down the road, but he's actually admitted to loving the show.

I question whether North Americans - men in particular - would accept a female leader. Would we accept female Prime Minister today? If she's anything like Geena Davis' character, the answer is a soaring yes from both of us. I admittedly had preconceived notions about the show based solely on the premise, but also a curiosity and optimism about the approach the creators would take. I have not been disappointed. The show is well-written with a fairly logical premise. Plus, the episodes are paced almost on par with Deparate Housevives and are based on the same political conflicts great blockbusters are made of.

There's an element of the protagonist's character that would make it easy to (hastily) accuse Madame President of 'caring too much'. But the truth is she always resolves political conflicts with a striking balance of compassion and authority. Poise, integrity, and leadership all wrapped up in one well-coifed, well-dressed package. Condaleeza could learn something!

The concept is bit hard to buy at first, but keep watching. The storylines will engage you and soon your disbelief will be suspended. Plus, Geena didn't win the Globe for nothing!

Girls Rule.

THE DATING CHALLENGE

DOSE recently printed an ariticle on who Nick Lachey would date next. Sound familiar? If not, you're not reading enough of the Ladybird :-)

Anyhow, their choices were completely different from mine. If my memory serves me correctly, they chose Eva Longoria and Jessica Biel (or was is Jessica Alba?). Either way, I raise. Now I really want to see who he dates next! It's Ladybird versus Dose.

Let the games begin.

COULD BOBBY BE THE BACKBONE?!

Some of us melted with each of Bobby's mischevious grins. Some of us flocked to barbershops for a box cut just like his. Some of us mocked his waist to pant size ratio. But ALL OF US pointed the finger his way when Whitney's drug abuse was uncovered.

For years, many have blamed Bobby for Whitney's demise, branding him the bad boy who got a nice church girl caught up in all sorts of trouble. I never really bought that. Too easy. So my sister Arlene and I are chatting about Whitney's latest binge (per the supermarket tabloids, of course) when she raises a good point - when have you ever seen Bobby on the cover of Star lookin' all greasy and strung out?...it doesn't happen.

So our theory is that Bobby's a recreational user (very recreational) who has always managed to keep it under control - or at least out of the press. And all these years, he's been the one actually holding it all together -- taking care of the kids, putting out a crappy single here and there for some dough (Humpin' Around, Thug Lovin', et al), joining the reality tv bandwagon, and probably doing a decent job of keeping greasy Whitney out of the press if you consider of how much trouble she must really get into.I wonder how many times she throws the 'my perogrative' line at him? hee hee.

Mr. Brown got himself a candygirl alright!

CELL PHONE FOLLOW-UP

Enough speculating. If I'm a genius I want to know. So I took my question to a professional...a senior member of the Rogers Wireless marketing team. Here's what he had to say...

"Great idea: 'something that saves phone book info.'

As for a little memory chip, if you have a GSM phone (ie Rogers and
Fido) they have such a thing. It's a SIM card and you can easily
transfer it from phone to phone. Also, with some newer phones the
manufacturers provide desktop linking software that allows you to
download your contact file to the phone."

So, looks like I'm not TOTALLY in the dark. Hm, so newer phones have linking software? hold on (3 minute time lapse) Ok, looks like my little Audiovox isn't capable of such feats, but it does have some other nifty features,which in the end, Im sure I'll never use.

Talk soon.

CRIME FILM ON TRIAL

The Karla Homolka indie-film release has truly challenged my thoughts on censorship. I recently asked a couple friends for their feelings about the release. Here is one particularly well-articulated (unedited) response from my good friend Rosie ...

"Hi, here are my thoughts about the film...that I won't see!

I feel terrible for the families and that they have to relive this every
time Homolka comes up in the news whether it's about her release from
prison or a movie about her, I'm sure it's memories they'd like to leave
in the past. I also feel a personal connection because it's so close to
home and those girls would be our age now. This is a news story that's
haunted us all through our adolescence.

The US makes movies about real killers all the time; in the US they have
big Sunday night premiers on TV. The Mendez brothers, the Lacey
Peterson murder, they were all made into TV movies.

The Homolka movie is a US production and it's considered an independent
film, no big studio backed it up. I think I'd be disappointed if the CBC
or a Canadian film house produced it. I think if I was an American
actor both the roles of Karla and Paul would be seen as disturbing
characters that I would be attracted to play. I don't hold anything
against the crew, the cast or producers of this film...I think a lot of
people outside Canada or Toronto don't understand how this story really
touched our community...just like the Mendez brothers story to us it's a
great modern day tragedy we don't have any really personal connection to
them.

I'm not conservative when it comes to movies I love shock value in any
good production, but my thing is I despise Karla Homolka I think the
bitch needs a bullet in the head, I'm so angry at our Canadian judicial
system for letting her out...she's a murderer and a complete
psychopath...and for that reason I can't see the movie. I get so filled
with anger when ever I hear her name, I couldn't bear to watch a movie
about her.

If friends see it I would never hold it against them, I understand the
curiosity of it and the joy of watching independent films, I have a
feeling it doesn't glamorize her or Paul in anyway and I'm sure it does
justice to their lethal characters, but I just really detest Karla
Homolka."

Thanks Rosie. I guess we won't be talkin' about this one over drinks at the Rex!

CELL PHONES NEVER FORGET...

...I wish. Thanks to my mounting list of mobile mishaps, I'm on my fourth cell phone. This time it's an Audiovox flip with PC Mobile service. Yep, I'm tryin' it. I'm all about PC.

Anyhow, I started entering numbers into the phone book. Less than two contacts into the painstaking process I was already griping. I can't believe I have to do this every time I get a new phone! And let's face it, this won't be my last phone. Isn't there some kind of 'thing' that saves phone book info? Is there?? How cool would it be to plug your little memory chip into a new phone and voila, instant phone book. Cell phone back up - surely it must exist. So either:

a) it does exist and i'm totally in the dark,
b) it's just about to hit the market and i'm just behind the eightball, or
c) it hasn't been done and i'm a genius.

If b or c, don't forget you heard it here first!
If a, forget I mentioned it!

IS THERE HOPE FOR BEDOUIN SOUND-BORE?

I'm not Bedouin hatin'. I like them, I do. My ears perked up during the mounting buzz. Those who knew of Cityfolk knew I'd be into their sound. I grooved to the signature release. (Sidebar: Why does the title seem so long?) And despite a lackluster video, I tuned into the MuchMusic premiere appearance. I wanted to like them, I did.

The fact is the mellow minimalist sound that first captured my interest did not translate well on stage. The cool ska grooves sounded inexplicably empty. As headliners at the Nathan Phillips Square New Year's Celebration, the group again lacked body in their sound, lacked energy in their performace, and lacked overall spark, being totally outperformed by bill-mate Divine Brown.

I have nothin' but love for artists who can take risks, blend sounds and create something great so to be fair, I'll watch a full performace - perhaps a live show in an intimate venue. I want to like them more. If they do a better show, I'm sure I will.

Maybe the night will feel my blog. (hee hee)

THIS SH!T IS BANANAS!

I found my dream job! I'm stunned by the surreal turn of events. This sh!t is bananas!

In Oct 05, I set out in search of new work in a new field...ideally with a flexible work schedule, downtown-location, a great team of people, and doing something I could believe in and feel good about. I knocked on magazine doors, televison doors, fashion doors,and music doors and eventually found myself working on the Canadian Urban Music Awards in Nov 05. Through a related sequence of events, I met the young female owner of Silver Lining Ltd. - a rapidly growing company that works with small-medium sized businesses to develop marketing strategies that enable them to take their companies to the next level. Here's where it gets good. President, Carissa Reiniger happened to be looking for someone to head the music division of her company. Ding, ding, ding!

As Director of You Are Here, I am now working with independent music artists to develop marketing strategies that enable them to take their music to the next level. This includes biz development,planning, account management, event management, writing, etc. Here's where it gets better. To start, I'll be working 24hrs/week from home or from the new downtown office with my cool, new colleagues. Like I said, this sh!t is bananas.

Ask and you shall receive.