blog en français

ça fait longtemps que j’écris en Français mais je vais essayer ici. Ily a la possibilité de me rende en plein millieu. En plus, c’est que je vais écrire ne va être pas parfait. Alors, si vous trouvez quelque erreur, n’êtes pas surpris parce que je ne suis pas bonne à l’écriture.

Bien, maintenant on doit trouver un thème à parler, et le sujet du jour de Saint-Valentin est parfait! Hier c’était le jour de Saint-Valentin. C’est bien triste que ce jour à devenu être un jour de consommation, des cadeaux, des chocolates, des fleurs, des peluches et des cartes de vœux. Chaque année, centaines des couples dépensent centaines des dollars à ceux. Cette année mon petit ami et moi sommes très pauvres car nous sommes des chômeurs. Alors, j’avais peu de chances cet Saint-Valentin. Le seul fait de que mon petit ami va venir chez moi, il me fait heureusse. Oui, il serait parfait avoir de grands bouquets des roses avec le plus delicieux chocolats et un grand ours de peluche. Sans compter une scintillante boucle d’oreille et mon lit couvert des pétales de roses. Comme tout film de romance. Mais dans la vie réelle, être avec ce qui vous aimez est le meilleur cadeau.

Quand mon petit ami est venu, il m’a conduit au supermarché dans le centre commercial. Nous avons acheté du thé et notre dîner. Quand nous sommes revenus, nous avons cuisiné de la viande côtelette, déjà mariné avec du romarin et d’ail. ça goûtait deeeeeeeeelicieux! Je ne pouvais parler en mangeant cette ciande côtelette. C’est chanceux que nous avons acheté autre sachet! Je vais le faire autrefois sans aucun doute. Et pour compléter, j’ai fait des petits pommes de terre avec sel, romain et huile d’olive. Ah, quel dîner!

Et pour dessert, mon petit ami a apporté le mélange pour gâteau, saveur à citron. Alors nous avons preparé des petits gâteaux avec de glaçage de vanille française. Nous avons acheté des vermicelles rouges, blancs et roses. Et argents. C’était très amusant à décorer les petits gâteaux. ça fait notre imagination voler parce que nous aimons être créatifs.

Et puis, nous avons regardé le show qui s’appelle Modern Family. C’est un bon show, très amusant. J’ai été regarder ce show les deux saisons. Mon petit ami le trouve amusant aussi.

Après tout, ce le fait que vous êtres ensembles que compte. N’importe pas les chers cadeaux ou les invitations à restaurants sophistiqués. Tant que le couple a de bon temps, voilà la vrai signification de Saint-Valentin. Il est injuste q’on consagre seulement un jour dans l’année pour exprimer l’amour pour l’autre. On doit l’exprimer TOUS les jours!

Pour les deux années passés, j’étais chanseusse d’avoir quelq’un pour passer mes temps avec. J’espére que ça continue pour longtemps.

Voilà mon blog en français et les millieurs des erreurs grammaticaux et lexicaux.

Permanent Residence

When I was still in university, I thought I could apply for the Post-Graduate Working Permit, then get a year of full time job and then I can get Permanent Residence and eventually I can get my canadian citizenship.

Graduate from University, check
Get Post-Graduate Work Permit, check
Get a full-time job.....

Oh get this, it can't be just any kind of full-time job, has to fall into any of these categories:
- Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations)
- Skill Level A (professional occupations)
- Skill level B (technical occupations)

In other words, they have to be very high level or skilled jobs. Can't be a job that a 17 year old can get, like cashier, salesperson, receptionist, restaurant server, etc. Has to be better than that.

HOW DO THEY EXPECT ME TO GET A MANAGER OR HIGH SKILLED JOB WHEN I JUST GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY AND HAVE LITTLE TO NO EXPERIENCE?!?!?! Seriously!!

The worst thing is that I can't find lots of resources to recurr to and ask for advice. The only thing I can think of are friends who has gone through the same, internet forums, and international students association. But I have how the government just spits me out once I'm done at University. I have no health coverage and I don't qualify for OHIP. I need a job, but don't have enough experience. I need an apartment, but I can't seem to find the right now.

I wish I knew about Permanent Residence qualifications before I started university. I feel like I wasted 4 years of my life going to York and taking a major that doesn't help me get a job. Knowing what I know now, I should have gone to College in the first place instead. I don't wanna learn about theories, I wanna learn hands-on stuff that will help me get a job when I graduate from university! If I had done that I would probably have a job now, had connections in my field, and can probably apply for Permanent Residence already.

But knowing my luck, things are gonna work out in the end. This is just the moment when you are at the dentist and you have to suffer for a while. But in the end, you have better and healthier teeth. Or at least I hope so.

Grammar Police

I admit it, I am not the best at writing big essays and it is not unusual to find a few grammar mistakes on my papers. I do, however, know elementary grammar. You know, the one they teach you in first grade. And it drives me crazy when people do not gasp the difference of simple grammar. Let me show you.

You're (short for 'you are') as in You're a great basketball player.
Your (something that belongs to you) as in Your dress is very pretty.

There (refering to somewhere) as in I saw a cow over there.
Their (someething that belongs to the other person) as in Their kids are really well behaved.
They're (short for 'they are') as in They're a really cute couple.

Then (refering to time) as in I was a shy guy back then.
Than (comparing something) as in That pink curtain looks better than the orange one.

Those are the words that make me uneasy when I see them mispelled.
I know, I am not perfect. I might have few grammar or spelling mistakes on my blog, but C'MON!! These are a MUST know!!

pay more for less

So apparently the Internet Service Providers is trying to impose this law of charging internet per use. So like if you use X byte of internet you will be paying XX amount. So the more internet you use, the more you have to pay, like they do on Smartphones. But I personally can't imagine going back to that again, cuz I remember when they did that in Costa Rica, well actually they billed you for how long you use it, but still. I think it's the government trying to control us, and our knowledge. When this happens, you'll be thinking about using internet for the most important things, but I think that is impossible these days. I have been using internet recently to do job search. And it's obvious that I'll be spending massive amounts of time searching the internet, no? So I believe that this whole this Usage-Based Billing (UBB) is complete BS! We have to right of fredom of knowledge. I don't wanna have second thoughts on watching a Youtube video of otters holding hands just because they are going to charge me more for that!

For more info and sign the petition go here --> Stop The Meter On Your Internet

Everyday Pancake and Waffles

Myyyyyy goodness! Found on Food Network with 50 ideas for pancakes! You'll never eat pancakes the same way. And I love pancakes, so I think this is a great website. :)

1. Basic Pancakes Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk 1 1/4 cups milk, 1/2 stick melted butter,2 eggs and a little vanilla, then whisk into the flour mixture until just combined. Ladle 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot buttered skillet and cook until bubbly. Flip and cook until golden on the bottom.

2. Blueberry Pancakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1); sprinkle with blueberries before flipping.

3. Chocolate-Chip Pancakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1); sprinkle with chocolate chips
before flipping.

4. Whole-Wheat Pancakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) with 3/4 cup each all-purpose and whole-wheat flour. Top with chopped almonds and berries.

5. Corn Cakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) with just 1/2 cup flour; add 1 cup yellow cornmeal with the flour. Top with honey.

6. Blue Corn Cakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) with just 1/2 cup flour; add 1 cup blue cornmeal with the flour. Top with dried apricots warmed in honey.

7. Oat Pancakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) with just 3/4 cup flour; add 1/2 cup ground oats and 1/4 cup wheat germ with the flour.

8. Lemon-Strawberry Cakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) with just 1/2 cup milk. Add 1 cup cottage cheese and 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest with the milk. Top with strawberries and honey.

9. Blini Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) or Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) with 3/4 cup each all-purpose and buckwheat flour; omit the butter. Cook by tablespoonfuls. Serve with sour cream, smoked salmon and chives.

10. Berry-Topped Pancakes Toss 3 cups mixed berries with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice; let sit while you make Basic Pancakes (No. 1). Top the pancakes with the berries and their juices.

11. Cocoa-Banana Pancakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) with just 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons flour; add 1/3 cup cocoa powder with the flour and use 2/3 cup sugar. Add 2 mashed bananas and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to the batter.

12. Bacon-Apple Pancakes Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1); add 1/4 cup crumbled bacon and 1/2 grated apple to the batter.

13. Buttermilk Pancakes Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon each baking soda and salt. Whisk 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, 1/2 stick melted butter, 2 eggs and a little vanilla, then whisk into the flour mixture until just combined. Ladle 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot buttered skillet and cook until bubbly. Flip and cook until golden on the bottom.

14. Cherry-Topped Pancakes Cook 2 cups pitted cherries, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon water over low heat until syrupy. Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13); top with the cherry syrup.

15. Rum-Raisin Sundaes Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13); add 1/4 cup plumped raisins to the batter. Heat 1/4 cup syrup with 1 tablespoon rum and 1/4 cup raisins. Top the pancakes with ice cream and the rum syrup.

16. Peach Corn Cakes Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) with just .3/4 cup flour; add 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal with the flour. Omit the butter. Add 1 cup chopped peaches to the batter. Top with peaches warmed in syrup.

17. Rhubarb Pancakes Simmer 1 cup chopped rhubarb with 1/2 cup sugar until soft. Cool, then drain; reserve the syrup. Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13); add half of the rhubarb to the batter. Top with strawberries and the remaining rhubarb and syrup.

18. Yogurt Pancakes Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) with 1 1/4 cups plain yogurt instead of buttermilk.

19. Banana-Spice Cakes Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) with 3/4 cup sour cream plus 3/4 cup milk instead of buttermilk; add a dash of cinnamon to the batter. Add sliced bananas before flipping. Top with sour cream and brown sugar.

20. Bourbon-Bacon Pancakes Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) with 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup rye flour. Add 1 tablespoon bourbon to the batter. Heat 1/2 cup syrup, 1 tablespoon bourbon and some crumbled bacon for topping.

21. Red Velvet Pancakes Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) with just 1 cup flour; add 1/2 cup cocoa powder with the flour. Use 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar instead of granulated and omit the butter. Tint the batter with red food coloring. Top with sweetened mascarpone or whipped cream cheese.

22. Dutch Baby Mix 4 eggs, 1 cup milk, 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 stick melted butter, 3 tablespoons sugar and a little vanilla in a blender. Melt some butter in a cast-iron skillet. Add 1 sliced pear, then the batter; bake at 375 degrees F, 35 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

23. Pumpkin Pancakes Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) with just 1 cup buttermilk. Add 1/2 cup pumpkin puree and 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips to the batter.

24. Sour Silver Dollars Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) without baking powder. Use 3/4 cup sour cream plus 1/4 cup milk instead of buttermilk and butter. Cook by tablespoonfuls.

25. Lemon Stacks Make Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13) with 3/4 cup sour cream plus
2/3 cup milk instead of buttermilk and butter. Add the zest and juice of 1 lemon to the batter. Cook by 2 tablespoonfuls; layer with lemon curd and top with whipped cream.

26. Pancakes with Apricots Simmer 1 cup chopped dried apricots, 1 tablespoon apricot jam, 1/2 cup water and 1 teaspoon honey until the apricots are plump. Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) or Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13); top with the apricots.

27. Tropical Pancakes Simmer 3/4 cup agave nectar, 1 vanilla bean (split and seeds scraped), 1 strip orange zest and 1/4 cup orange juice until syrupy, then stir in 1 cup diced mango and pineapple. Make Basic Pancakes (No. 1) or Buttermilk Pancakes (No. 13); top with the fruit syrup.

28. Crepes Mix 3 eggs, 1 3/4 cups milk, 1 cup flour, 5 tablespoons melted butter and a pinch of salt in a blender. Pour a thin film of batter into a small hot buttered nonstick pan; cook until set, then flip and cook 30 more seconds.

29. Crepes Suzette Make Crepes (No. 28). Melt 1 stick butter in a medium skillet. Stir in 6 tablespoons orange liqueur and tilt to ignite. When the flame dies, add the crepes, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 strip each orange and lemon peel. Warm through.

30. Swedish Pancakes Mix 3 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 1/2 cups flour, 6 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon sugar and a pinch of salt in a blender. Cook as directed for Crepes (No. 28). Serve with berries or jam.

31. Shortcut Muesli Pancakes Prepare a boxed pancake mix, substituting 1/2 cup finely ground muesli for 1/2 cup of the mix. Add 2 extra tablespoons milk or water. Cook as directed. Top with yogurt.

32. Blintzes Make Crepes (No. 28). Mix 1 1/2 pounds farmer cheese, 2 eggs, 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, and some lemon zest and cinnamon. Spoon onto the crepes and fold each into a packet. Cook in a hot buttered skillet until crisp; top with jam.

33. Shortcut Apple Pancakes Prepare a boxed pancake mix. Add 1/4 cup applesauce and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to the batter; cook as directed.

34. Shortcut Lemon-Poppy Seed Pancakes Prepare a boxed pancake mix. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons each grated lemon zest, lemon juice and poppy seeds to the batter; cook as directed. Top with lemon marmalade.

35. Shortcut Cranberry Pancakes Prepare a boxed pancake mix. Add 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon grated orange zest and 1/2 cup chopped fresh cranberries to the batter; cook as directed. Cook 3/4 cup cranberries in 1 cup syrup. Spoon over the pancakes.

36. Classic Waffles Whisk 2 cups flour, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 2 tablespoons sugar
and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix in 2 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk, 5 tablespoons melted shortening and
4 tablespoons melted butter. Cook in a waffle iron until crisp.

37. Bacon-Pecan Waffles Sprinkle 12 strips bacon with brown sugar and bake at 400 degrees F until crisp; cool, then crumble. Make Classic Waffles (No. 36) with 1 3/4 cups flour and 1 extra tablespoon shortening. Add 1 cup candied bacon and 1/2 cup chopped pecans to the batter. Top with more bacon and nuts.

38. Spice Waffles Make Classic Waffles (No. 36) with 1/4 cup sugar; add 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice to the batter.

39. Chicken and Waffles Make Classic Waffles (No. 36). Top with butter, syrup, fried chicken and hot sauce.

40. Banana-Split Waffles Make Classic Waffles (No. 36) with 4 tablespoons peanut oil instead of butter. Top with ice cream, peanuts, bananas, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

41. Almond Waffles Make Classic Waffles (No. 36) with 1 3/4 cups flour and 1 extra tablespoon shortening. Add a little vanilla and 1/2 cup sliced almonds to the batter.

42. Waffle Sandwiches Make Classic Waffles (No. 36). Cool and cut into rounds. Make into
sandwiches with ice cream. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

43. Pistachio Waffles Make Classic Waffles (No. 36) with 1 3/4 cups flour and 1 extra tablespoon shortening. Add 1/3 cup chopped pistachios and 2 tablespoons orange zest to the batter. Top with honey, pistachios and orange zest.

44. Waffle French Toast Whisk 4 eggs with 2 cups milk. Soak thick slices of white bread in
the mixture, 5 minutes, then cook in an oiled waffle iron until crisp.

45. Ham-and-Swiss Waffles Make Classic Waffles (No. 36) with 1 1/2 cups flour and 1 extra tablespoon shortening. Mix in 1/2 cup each diced ham and grated gruyere; season with pepper.

46. Wild-Rice Waffles Make Classic Waffles (No. 36) with 1 cup all-purpose flour and 3/4 cup
whole-wheat flour. Add 1/2 cup cooked wild rice to the batter.

47. Morning Glory Waffles Make Classic Waffles (No. 36) with 1 3/4 cups flour and 1 extra
tablespoon shortening. Add 1/4 cup each shredded carrot and apple, a pinch of cinnamon and a sprinkle each of currants, chopped walnuts and coconut to the batter.

48. Belgian Waffles Dissolve 1 packet yeast in 3 cups warm milk. Whisk in 2 sticks melted
butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 egg yolks, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 teaspoon salt and 4 cups flour. Cover and let rise 1 1/2 hours. Stir. Beat 3 egg whites until stiff, then fold into the batter. Cook in a waffle iron until crisp.

49. German Chocolate Waffles Make Belgian Waffles (No. 48) with 1 cup sugar and just
3 1/3 cups flour. Add 2/3 cup cocoa powder and 1/4 cup melted coconut oil to the batter before rising. Top with coconut ice cream, toasted coconut and caramel.

50. Figgy Waffles Make Belgian Waffles (No. 48). Top with yogurt, fresh figs and honey.

Ideas Swap

Found this website online.

If you need ideas, this is the place to go.

It's really fun. Try it!

The Idea Swap

Persuade me that you can persuade me

I ran into an article about the power of persuasion. I have always been interested in this topic because it seems that it comes in handy in all sort of situations. Either trying to woo the opposite sex [or same sex, why not?], convincing agencies to hire you, argueing with a friend about a point, explaining to your mom something bad that you did, giving a lecture in a class, or just about anything; you need to learn about persuading. I find myself losing most arguments with anybody because I don't know how to use the power of language to influence other people. Maybe I do, but I don't ever notice it. But these points are gonna be handy to me one day; and I am sharing them with you. ((I'm pretty much copying and pasting the article. But just so you know, I didn't write it and the article doesn't say who wrote it. I am just sharing it with you))

20 Simple Steps to the Perfect Persuasive Message

Perfection is hard to achieve in any walk of life and persuasion is no different. It relies on many things going just right at the crucial moment; the perfect synchronisation of source, message and audience. But even if perfection is unlikely, we all need to know what to aim for.

To bring you the current series on the psychology of persuasion I've been reading lots of research, much more than is covered in recent posts. As I read, I noticed the same themes cropping up over and over again.

Here are the most important points for crafting the perfect persuasive message, all of which have scientific evidence to back them up.

1. Multiple, strong arguments: the more arguments, the more persuasive, but overall persuasive messages should be balanced, as two-sided arguments fare better than their one-sided equivalents (as long as counter-arguments are shot down).
2. Relevance: persuasive messages should be personally relevant to the audience. If not, they will switch off and fail to process it.
3. Universal goals: In creating your message, understand the three universal goals for which everyone is aiming: affiliation, accuracy and positive self-concept.
4. Likeability: ingratiating yourself with the audience is no bad thing—most successful performers, actors, lawyers and politicians do it. Likeability can be boosted by praising the audience and by perceived similarity. Even the most fleeting similarities can be persuasive.
5. Authority: people tend to defer to experts because it saves us trying to work out the pros and cons ourselves (read the classic experiment on obedience to authority).
6. Attractiveness: the physical attractiveness of the source is only important if it is relevant (e.g. when selling beauty products).
7. Match message and medium: One useful rule of thumb is: if the message is difficult to understand, write it; if it's easy, put it in a video.
8. Avoid forewarning: don't open up saying "I will try and persuade you that..." If you do, people start generating counter-arguments and are less likely to be persuaded.
9. Go slow: If the audience is already sympathetic, then present the arguments slowly and carefully (as long as they are relevant and strong). If the audience is against you then fast talkers can be more persuasive.
10. Repetition: whether or not a statement is true, repeating it a few times gives the all-important illusion of truth. The illusion of truth leads to the reality of persuasion.
11. Social proof: you've heard it before and you'll hear it again—despite all their protestations of individuality, people love conformity. So tell them which way the flock is going because people want to be in the majority.
12. Attention: if the audience isn't paying attention, they can't think about your arguments, so attitudes can't change. That's why anything that sharpens attention, like caffeine, makes people easier to persuade. And speaking of attention...
13. Minimise distraction: if you've got a strong message then audiences are more swayed if they pay attention. If the arguments are weak then it's better if they're distracted.
14. Positively framed: messages with a positive frame can be more persuasive.
15. Disguise: messages are more persuasive if they don't appear to be intended to persuade or influence as they can sidestep psychological reactance (hence the power of overheard arguments to change minds).
16. Psychologically tailored: messages should match the psychological preferences of the audience. E.g. some people prefer thinking-framed arguments and others prefer feel-framed arguments (see: battle between thought and emotion in persuasion). Also, some people prefer to think harder than others.
17. Go with the flow: persuasion is strongest when the message and audience are heading in the same direction. Thoughts which come into the audience's mind more readily are likely to be more persuasive.
18. Confidence: not only your confidence, but theirs. The audience should feel confident about attitude change. Audience confidence in their own thoughts is boosted by a credible source and when they feel happy (clue: happy audiences are laughing).
19. Be powerful: a powerful orator influences the audience, but making the audience themselves feel powerful increases their confidence in attitude change. An audience has to feel powerful enough to change.
20. Avoid targeting strong beliefs: strong attitudes and beliefs are very difficult to change. Do not directly approach long-standing ideas to which people are committed, they will resist and reject. Strong beliefs must be approached indirectly.

Change minds

You should be aware that many of these factors interact with each other. For example when the message is strong but the source is dodgy, the sleeper effect can arise.

Argument strength is also critical. The basic principle is that when arguments are strong, you need to do everything to make people concentrate on them. When they're weak, it's all about distracting the audience from the content and using peripheral routes to persuade, such as how confidently or quickly you talk.

Weaving all these together is no mean feat, but look at most professionally produced persuasive messages and you'll see many of these principles on show. Incorporate as many as you can for maximum effect.

Reference to Orwell's 1984