Warren Buffett

"Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken"

Let's file this under WTF McDonalds?!?!

Boxing day.
We hit Wal-Mart to pick up a new DVD player since ours is on the downhill side of it's life. Peanut (youngest daughter) was tired and cranky. The wife suggested I hit the onsite McDonalds for a small fry in order to keep her occupied while we waited in line for the checkout. Also to keep me occupied I think. So I hit McDonalds, ordered the small fry, and waited. Everything cool so far.
"Here or to go?"
"To go"
"Great! Here you are, have a nice day"
The kid behind the counter hands me a clear plastic bag with my order in it. A clear PLASTIC bag...10 times the size of a small fry. WTF is this? Never once in my life have I received a plastic bag from McDonalds, they've always been paper bags. Nice, recyclable, paper bags. I can maybe go out on a limb here and think, "ok, they're probably using biodegradable palm oil bags?" A corporation like McDonalds would surely overlook the huge destruction caused by palm oil plantations in order to attempt to make themselves look better. If that was the case, they're failing.
I don't know though. I didn't look at the bag in any great detail to see if it was labeled as "made from recycled used heroin syringes" or anything like that.

I just checked the McDonalds website. According to their site, they only use recycled paper bags for carry out. Hmm, maybe somebody forgot to tell this specific location.

Anybody have any answers for me here? Any possibilities as to why this specific McDonalds location is using plastic carry out bags?

Newmindspace in 2008

It's been a busy year, Toronto! We put on eight free events in Toronto
this year and one epic streetcar party. We will continue to repeat our
favourite events and try new ones, even if we're not sure they will work.
If you have any ideas for us, send them our way!

Also, before we forget: if you want reduced admission for this Friday's
RANDOMLAND with A-TRAK and Junior Sanchez:
http://newmindspace.com/randomland 
               :) 
            


* YEAR IN REVIEW

+ This year began with the disastrous Snow Day in February, a hilarious
but ill-fated attempt to make snow in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

http://newmindspace.com/snowday.php

+ Next was our annual Easter Egg Hunt in March, the anniversary of the
event that started it all. We will be turning three this year!

http://www.newmindspace.com/wiki/?q=node/8

+ Our Toronto pillow fight in May saw hundreds gather in front of City
Hall to do battle of feathered proportions 
               :) 
             You can definitely expect to
see another one of these in the New Year, perhaps at night!

http://newmindspace.com/pillowfighttoronto.php

+ Castles in the Sky in July, the sequel to Flight of Fancy, was a
renegade street parade that went from the street to the subway to the
beautiful waterfront. Definitely expect another one in 2008 with a brand
new route.

http://newmindspace.com/castlesinthesky.php

+ We were pleased and honoured to participate in this year's Nuit Blanche,
even though we faced some theft-related setbacks. Check out some beautiful
photos here:

http://newmindspace.com/stringofdiamonds.php

+ Perhaps the largest Capture the Flag game in history, 1600 people
gathered in Toronto's Financial District in October for a massive game in
the streets. Our "last game ever" idea in 2006 obviously didn't last 
               :-P 
            

http://newmindspace.com/capturetheflag2007.php

+ Halloween was a good old-fashioned subway party, with costumed friends
ghostriding the train 
               :) 
            

http://newmindspace.com/ghostride.php

+ Our largest event ever was our lightsaber battle in front of the ROM. It
was beautifully chaotic, and we learned how to make the next one better,
safer and more organized. This is probably our favourite video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=X4GsT67DQ1o

+ And just last weekend, we had our most fun streetcar party ever! And,
almost as importantly, we made back just about all the money we spent on
CTF and lightsabers, bringing us back to $0 
               :) 
            

Check out Air`leth's awesome photos here: http://tinyurl.com/2hgfha

We look forward to more amazing, epic, wonderful adventures in the streets
and below with you! Stay tuned to our website and this mailing list for
the most up to date info!

* MISC fundraising stuff

If anybody out there is experienced with fundraising for non-profit arts
organizations and would be interested in volunteering their time, or if
anybody knows anything about becoming a registered non-profit, or about
writing grant applications, please let us know 
               :) 
            

Alternatively, you can always donate at http://newmindspace.com/donate.php

               :) 
            


* OTHER EVENTS we highly recommend!

~ DECEMBER ~~~

A.D/D.'s RANDOMLAND @ CiRCA

+ We look forward to a new year of our friendship with A.D/D., which is
celebrating its third birthday! If you would like reduced admission to
their birthday party this Friday, check out

http://www.newmindspace.com/random

+ Also, don't miss the Kensington Market Festival of Lights to celebrate
the Solstice this Friday, which holds the distinction as being the longest
night of the year 
               :) 
            

http://redpepperspectaclearts.org/

~ JANUARY ~~~

+ Stay tuned for a party we are putting together with our friends from The
Rothko Institute and VelcroRocket at CiRCA on January 4th 
               :) 
             Featuring
FLIM, ill gates (aka The Phat Conductor) and Dingokiller. Details TBA 
               :) 
            

+ Also, we will be teaming up with City of Toronto Special Events at the
end of the month for Wild on Winter, part of WinterCity. Check out our
interactive installation in Nathan Phillips Square!

~ FEBRUARY ~~~


              *For Parents and Children*
             We are happy to be participating in Bunch's
Family Dance Party on February 3rd 
               :) 
             "from 2-5 PM, Bunch, City of Toronto
Special Events and CiRCA, invite kids and parents to relive the
fabulousness of Andy Warhol's Factory Parties at a special edition of an
equally notorious gathering, Toronto's own Bunch Family Dance Party."

More info here: http://bunchfamily.ca/fdp.htm


* HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We echo the advice of Nonsense NYC for New Year's:

"Be with people you love, and try to not spend the night running around
trying to find the right place to be; dancefloors are more fun than cabs
and subways. And finally, take chances and share your kisses."


* LOVE LOVE LOVE

Lori * Kevin
Newmindspace
http://www.newmindspace.com

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Arctica streetcar party (final info + tix + meetup) + 2008 soon!

http://www.newmindspace.com

Yay! The streetcar party is so soon!


              *IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TICKETS*
             you're in luck! Due to a large
cancellation, there will be some tickets available at the streetcar.
Simply show up to the meeting location (see below) at 7:40pm and you can
buy tickets. If you want to guarantee getting on, see below.


              *THE MEETING LOCATION*
             is the Wolseley St. loop. That is on Bathurst St.,
one block north of Queen St. W. It's a little streetcar loop, just wait in
there. Please arrive by 8:00pm, we will be leaving promptly.


              *MISC INFO*
             We will be taking two bathroom breaks, and the first one is
located near a number of bars in the Kensington Market. Each stop is
exactly 20 minutes long, don't be left behind!


              *BUYING TICKETS ONLINE*
             If you want to absolutely guarantee that you can
get on the streetcar, send a Paypal payment or e-mail money transfer via
any Canadian web banking to love@newmindspace.com by 4 PM Friday.


              *RANDOMLAND REDUCED*
             To get reduced at RANDOMLAND, tell the guestlist
people the number on your ticket. That's it 
               :) 
             Lupe Fiasco, Eli Escobar,
Arthur Baker, Team Canada DJ's, Woodhands for $10 :D / 19+


              *BLAK FREE*
             Additionally, your streetcar party ticket grants you free
admission to BLAK nightclub and afterhours for trance all night long, 178
Bathurst St. / 18+

You may leave the streetcar party in the middle of the route if you have
to, but will not be able to get back on.

No open alcohol, please clean up any cans or bottles you bring with you.
Absolutely no smoking.

If you have any questions, feel free to reply or call 416-875-4795.

Wear a costume! See you there!

http://www.newmindspace.com/arctica.php

***

And if you just need reduced for RANDOMLAND, check out
http://www.newmindspace.com/random 
               :) 
            

***

So much love!

Lori * Kevin
Newmindspace
http://www.newmindspace.com

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Gun control

"I have strong feelings about gun control. If there's a gun around, I want to be controlling it." - Clint Eastwood

Streetcar Party tickets going fast! +more

http://www.newmindspace.com

*** ARCTICA ***

This is just a note to let you know that the tickets for our next
streetcar party at disappearing! We would hate for you to get there and
have there be none left, so this is your notice 
               :) 
             This weekend would
probably be the time to grab them.

Tickets are available at Lavish & Squalor, 253 Queen St. W, just west of
University.

Arctica Streetcar Party
Friday December 14th 2007 // 8pm - 11pm
$20 - all ages
http://newmindspace.com/arctica.php

As the days grow shorter and the nights grows colder, Toronto is
transformed into a majestic, icy kingdom. Join us dressed as fuzzy
Eskimos*, fun fur friends, playful penguins, snuggly polar bears and silly
seals as we celebrate the splendor of winter. Watch out for the yeti! This
three-hour custom route, journey across the tundra on Toronto's most
wonderful chartered sled will be enlivened by booming electro beats from
DJ's Dingokiller and JustinTyce. Paper snowflake making, foam snowball
throwing and wild dancing are strongly encouraged 
               :) 
            

And as always, if you can not attend, donations are greatly appreciated:
http://www.newmindspace.com/donate.php

And, if you can absolutely not make it downtown to grab tickets, send a
PayPal payment to love (at) newmindspace.com with $20 per ticket and the
names of the passengers in the "special notes" section 
               :) 
            

*** TRIFORCE ***

The Triforce 1-year anniversary party has been moved to January. We have a
few venues in mind, but if you know of a particularly suitable, giant
loft, please let us know 
               :) 
            

*** RANDOMLAND ***

PS - If you want reduced for tonight's RANDOMLAND at CiRCA, featuring datA
from Paris and Drum n Bass for the first time ever, go to
http://www.newmindspace.com/random soon!

*** LOVE ***

Much love,

Lori * Kevin
Newmindspace
http://www.newmindspace.com

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