Controversial « TheSumUp

Podcast April 26 #BankRobbery #InteractiveTheatre #Boston

This week we look at (but don’t touch!) the world of interactive theatre with guests Byron Laviolette and friend of the show, Adam Risbridger. We also reflect upon the response to the Boston Marathon bombing, the lack of math in our daily lives, and when trying to be a hero goes wrong.

Click here to listen!

Byron Laviolette is known for his work with ZED.TO, The Mission Business and Morro & Jasp. He’s currently putting on Visitations, a 90 minute interactive theatre experience at the Drake Hotel.

Adam Risbridger is a member of the Canadian Improve Showcase, was 1/3 of Everything That’s Fly, and is shooting the feature length film, The Etiquette of Sexting this summer. Also, a former retail banking employee, which I suppose is a fancy way to say teller.

Other things we discussed:

Toronto experienced its first bank shooting in 14 years this week, but maybe the robbers aren’t only to blame…

Thoughts he post-Boston Marathon bombing manhunt? Some promising, others disheartening.

Is anyone using math anymore?

CBC’s Georgo Stroumboulopoulos lands a summer gig at CNN.

Matt Galloway explores Thorncliffe Park Public School, the biggest awesomest school in North America.

Deceased journalist’s mother makes Facebook remove her memorial page, because people talking about how brilliant your daughter was is just too upsetting apparently.

Toronto’s Rich Kidd has the song of the week: My City.

Past episodes!

27 Apr 2013

Michael J. Warren

News, News, Podcasts

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I love the pride my country has when there’s an election, but we can do more. To spend time telling your political opinion just makes you a constituent with an opinion. Don’t forget who fought for you to have an opinion. There are children going to school on this very day in our OWN American towns and cities without food or money for lunch. I’m glad there are so many opinions on issues like the un

employment rate, but we fail to acknowledge that only approximately 40% of students graduate within a traditional four year program at a college or university and we certainly aren’t graduating 100% in our highschools. So how can we fill jobs? We live in a country that is so technologically advanced that the children in America can’t compute math without a calculator and then we wonder why they can’t pass calculus in college. To think that decisions start in the Whitehouse just leads me to believe our country doesn’t want the ownership they claim. Decisions and change begin at home and in the community, it’s proven. Look in the mirror and ask yourself how have you contributed to our so called ‘failing’ society. To get bent out of shape from the polictical response to any natural disaster but fail to go green and lower the emissions in your own enviorment is disappointing. I can respect any political opinion, but if you fail to acknowledge the faults of everyone, I respectfully, don’t respect you as a person. The energy we use to divide as a country is simply inefficient. We can do more than have an opinion. Be more than an opinion.

12 Nov 2012

amberbamber

Controversial, Conversational

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In 31 states, “men who father through rape are able to assert the same custody and visitation rights to their children that other fathers enjoy.” Yep I quoted it. While at work the other day my coworker mentioned that the attorney by which this statement was made was visiting the town to talk on the subject. A little over a month ago, CNN published an article on this matter. I won’t paraphrase for I think a subject of the magnitude is entitled to each person investing in the article and developing their own opinion, but here are a few questions that most certainly rase some eyebrows and could cause some discomfort:

As a women’s right to choose is always a topic politically, should there be a protocol, law, or measures taken to help women who choose to keep the children that resulted in rape?

Should rapists (even though this article is specific to men) have parental rights to children that resulted from their attacks?

You tell me….

Please be sure to give credit, read the article and do some research

08 Oct 2012

amberbamber

News

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The New York Times recently printed an article discussing a recent study by Yale determining that there is still a significant bias against women in STEM fields. STEM is an acronym society uses to address science, technology, engineering and math. While it is no secret that technical fields statistically show the most promise, have high salaries and are growing exponentially, there is still an antiquated mentality in America.

The study showed that, “ On a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 being highest, professors gave John an average score of 4 for competence and Jennifer 3.3. John was also seen more favorably as someone they might hire for their laboratories or would be willing to mentor. The average starting salary offered to Jennifer was $26,508. To John it was $30,328.”

Many of the laws that have allowed women to advance to where they are today will be on the chopping block soon when a new supreme court comes into order and will begin to make new rulings. Should the government continue to have laws in place to support women, or minorities in general given these numbers? Or, should it be a fair game given it’s the 21st century?

Bias exist, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. Just think about what you think about others when you leave your home in the morning and the way you approach people…But you tell me? Where should society stand on this issue? Are women equal to men? Should we be concerned?

02 Oct 2012

amberbamber

Controversial, Conversational

10 Comments

State of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has made motions to reform the current education system. Putting it simply, he’s decided to do away with the antiquated measurements the government uses to evaluate a student’s progress and wants to make a change that “requires giving teachers and schools more freedom to find solutions, measuring performance, holding districts accountable for results and giving students more options to succeed.” While Michigan’s mark on this world is it’s auto industry and their cherries, it is no secret that the state has struggled to meet the standards…

“In laying out his case for reform, the governor noted that Michigan ranks 21st in the country in total current expenditures per-pupil according to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, yet it ranks 39th in the nation when it comes to fourth grade math proficiency and 34th in reading proficiency. Fewer than 50 percent of students are proficient in writing, and perhaps most startling of all, a total of 238 Michigan high schools have zero college-ready students based on the spring 2010 ACT test.”

The statistics are astounding and certainly when evaluating numbers, you must understand the parameters by which they were measured, however, in 2008 the Detroit Public School District was said to have only a 25% graduation rate among America’s schools while suburban districts are reported to have rates in the 80s and 90s. While this concept on paper seems to potentially be the next best thing for Michigan, will it really provide the benefits and incentives to save the inner city students?

Governor Rick Snyder says, “By rewarding growth and not just proficiency, students in poorer districts or those who have fallen behind their peers will not be forgotten. Instead, they will be viewed as having the most to gain, giving school districts an incentive to make sure they improve.”

With a “No Child Left Behind” mentality, could this really be the solution? Should this be the vision struggling education systems have for themselves?

You tell me…

24 Sep 2012

amberbamber

Controversial, Conversational, News, News

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Rihanna was recently interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey Network providing many updates in her life. The update of her past relationship with Chris Brown was of course a main topic of the interview and I’m sure many viewers were tuned in to watch her response. Rihanna said that she has forgiven Chris. My response..kudos to you girl! I was raised in a household in which my mother always told me forgiveness and acknowledgement are major factors in growth. We live in a society that praises us for all of things we do well, but scolds us on our mishaps. Last I checked, no individual was granted the gift of a perfect genetic code, so why is there so much ridicule that Rihanna has forgiven and moved on with her life?

Hollywood paints the picture they want us to see. People took a significant stand in support of Rihanna on the event that went viral in 2009, but people are outraged that she’s forgiving him. I am curious to find out who had access to police and medical records, were there to witness it, or are close with either party to truly understand the realm of what happened to have an opinion on how either Rihanna or Chris Brown have arrived at where they are today.

On my way to work the other day I heard a radio personality discuss the matter. She said that Rihanna is a role model for young girls and her forgiving Chris Brown is a terrible idea because it tells girls it’s ok to get back into an abusive relationship. While Rihanna has sold millions of records and the youth is often found dancing in clubs to her music, the idea of her being a role model is slightly alarming. I do not knock her success by any means, but given I cannot pick up the phone and call her, I don’t realistically find her to be someone I’d look up to. Furthermore, while many young girls may find her as a role model for whatever particular reason, Rihanna’s choices in her own life shouldn’t be the reason a teenage girl chooses to go back to an abusive relationship. My moral values and life lessons started in the living room of the home I grew up in..it’s that simple. Anything I ever had a concern with or needed assistance with started with my parents. It is up the the parents, guardians and mentors of the next generation to take control and talk about these matters. Instead of being outraged at Rihanna for her own choices to forgive, use that energy to foster the youth and teach them to become true contributing citizens to society.

Jane Cowen-Fletcher wrote a book, released in 1994 titled, It Takes a Village, a concept adapted from an old african proverb. I fundamentally believe that it takes a village, maybe even a nation, or better yet a world to raise children. This, however, does not mean we should leave it up to Hollywood to tell it all. Take back the control and start the conversation at the dinner table.

Should we be outraged that Rihanna has forgiven or should we support her decisions thus far as she took the necessary legal steps in 2009 and has now taken the emotional steps to grow as a human being?

While my opinion is strong, you tell me….

24 Aug 2012

amberbamber

Controversial, Entertainment, Trending Topics

7 Comments

As a former athlete and two ACL repairs to show for it, I will never speak less of an olympic athlete or a child chasing their dreams for that matter. I do, however, value education just as much as I do extracurricular activities to prepare the future generation to be well-rounded given the vast differences and similarities that link the world, not to mention our aptitude with technology. Briefly skimming facebook this afternoon I discovered an interesting post by Stumbleupon in which they discuss how the top ranking countries in gold medals place in education across the world. Rather than generalize their article, I suppose I’ll let you sum it up for yourself I would like to note, however, that as a person pursuing a college degree, I find the data intersting. Any good scientist would certianly verify the sources and consider the parameters by which these conclusions were made, but nonetheless, here is the scenario…

As a society, where should education compare to athletics on the “value” scale. Should there be an “Education Olympics”? Professional athletes often make several million to push their bodies, should we pay the same for people that have pursued college degrees or any other education substitute to exercise their minds? You tell me…

14 Aug 2012

amberbamber

Controversial, Conversational

3 Comments

I am currently indulging in the 50 Shades of Grey Trilogy. For those that either have yet to pick up a copy or simply don’t care, the book is about a young girl falling for a young CEO who has an interest for BDSM, but goes to great lengths to keep it a secret. It is certainly vulgar and explicit in its own right, however, it does touch on the many paradigm shifts young people go through when falling in and out of any circumstance: love, college, jobs, friends, etc. This book has made me think of my own life in certain ways that have opened my mind up to the complexity of the human mind and the dark secrets that often fall in the shadows of life. This introspective way of thinking has raised another question…well what does everyone else think???

The other day, I heard on the radio that a Man is sexually aroused when his wife is pregnant. It has become a fetish in a way that is almost obsessive. Interestingly enough, his wife does not mind his “attraction” to her, however, I want to pose a few questions..

At what point is it socially unacceptable for a person to engage in such behavior that others may think is “voilent” or “abusive”? How would you feel if a close friend or relative unveiled a secret to you that would change your relationship forever? If a tree falls in the forest and not a soul was there to see it, does it matter? Should we care as a society what someone does in the comfort of their own home and privacy?

You tell me…

08 Aug 2012

amberbamber

Controversial, Conversational, Trending Topics, Trending Topics

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The New York Times Travel section spends 36 hours in Toronto. Being the Toronto ambassadors (and future mayors?) that we are, we have some ideas of how you can stretch that day and half out a bit longer. This here is still the best pitch for visiting ever.

And what a better time to come here! It’s Caribana, sorry, it’s the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto. Shannon gets her selector on and picks the chune of the week. And can you tell this whole paragraph was written the white guy? Lord, have mercy…

On the “you must learn” tip, Taha explored the origins of his name (hint: not short for Tallahassee), Shannon got some good advice on tanning beds (which she promptly ignored) and Mike read this super awersome Gawker piece called “How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: A Remembrance.”

Also, we examine the rapists on Reddit, empty seats at the Olympics, questionable political cartoons, and Drake talking all reckless for some reason.