Guelph-Humber Student – Akim Burke’s Work

Akim Burke is a University of Guelph-Humber Media Studies Student

Over the last few years there has been a significant shift within the automotive industry, and its big three superstars Ford Motor Company, General Motors (GM), and Chrysler. These three major auto retailers have hit a financially devastating pothole that has seemed to not then out quite yet. GM, Ford, and Chrysler have been the big men on campus for what may seem as forever within the halls of the auto production. Their sky-high sales and stock ratings are now a thing of the past, and have come to an abrupt stop after the start of the recession. The recession has put a heavy damper on the Big 3’s sales and has substantially strained the financial capabilities, forcing GM to let go roughly 10,000 workers in the U.S and Canada combined, with Ford and Chrysler following suit.

Catch Me On CBC’s “GO”

CBC’s “GO” has a terrific show of the top eight driving tunes of all times. Listen right up to the end…see if you can recognize my voice:

http://www.cbc.ca/go/

Celebrating a Grad at Jump

I’ve seen my brother and sister grow up so much so – they’re even taller than I am. One of the first moments when we were all together as adults – just us – was surrounded by food at one of my favourite restaurants called Jump in Toronto.

A & W in Yorkdale Food court

I woke up in the morning, got showered and put my pyjamas back on ready to delve into doing marking for classes I teach. Then the phone rang.

In My Pocket Just Released

Cover Art for In My Pocket

This book is about how to help yourself during the perilous times we live in.

Gathering People for Gardens of Diversity (originally published in the Toronto Voice)

More than 10 people came out to participate as volunteers for a conference being held by the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA). The conference is called Gardens of Diversity.

Where to Eat for Less in Toronto

The Canadian dollar is strong, but the American one is still stronger. If you’re on vacation in Toronto, there are many places to eat extremely cheap in some neighbourhoods that seem scary to many Torontonians, but many Americans may not even blink an eye.

Tips for Reducing Expenses in Small Business

Even the big businesses are scaling back by selling off properties like in the current situation of GM or cutting employees. For small businesses, saving money becomes important. Here are some tips on how to save money in your small business or the one you dream to own someday.

The Twelve Days of Xmas on the Cheap

Christmas time is near and you have to buy for your true love. Keep these tips in mind for giving during the 12 days of Christmas on the cheap:

The Joys of Having a Cat without Expense

Hubert Selby Jr. III is the deceased author of Requiem to a Dream, but it’s also the name of Laina Dawes white cat. Dawes named her cat after her favourite writer who did his craft without punctuation marks and looked at the bad side of human behaviour.

Smart Ways of Playing the Real Estate Game

Home ownership is a dream of many and can be made a reality if you know how to play the game right.

Reading for Less

At the time I was really young, I used to love buying books. I think in some ways I had more money then. I didn’t pay rent and my food was free. Everything is cheaper when you’re a kid, so for those reading, enjoy it while you can.

Movies on the Cheap

With the rise of Paramount theatres and movie ticket prices, finding cheap places and ways to see films is important.

Montreal: Quelle Ville!

What a great city Montreal is – quelle ville! If you buy your bus ticket in advance like I did from Toronto to Montreal for $89 with the tax, you can pay very little for your travel. There are other cheap ways to travel, but please see my Free Ride article for more information on your options.

Making Coffee on the Cheap

You can save a bundle just making coffee or coffee alternatives at home and still get that warm toasty feeling from having your first to last sip.

How to Get Fall Clothing on the Cheap

The best deal I ever got for fall was one time when I was in Sudbury shopping with the mother of a friend of mine. I was up there for an interview and she was kind enough to take me to the Value Village. What a great place!

How to Get Dressed for Bed on the Cheap

If you have the money, then it’s really nice to invest in bedtime clothes. There are all kinds of beautiful things you can wear to bed, like silk, satin or good quality cotton on a hot night.

How to furnish your home on the cheap!

Trust me, it’s worth the investment.

Rent a truck for a weekend, bring a strong friend along and get ready to load up on all the free stuff.

Have Fun in the Snow

It’s here, so you might as well enjoy it. It’s snow, and if plenty has fallen in your area, there are many ways you can make of the most of it.

Culture in Toronto on the Cheap

September is the biggest tourist time in Toronto and if you’re headed this way, there are many cultural things to do for free.

Cold Weather Heating Tips

As we battle the snowy storms outside and ignite the furnaces inside, sometimes keeping a place warm can be a real challenge. If you are the type to pump up the heat, you will probably end the month with heating bills that leave you cold.

Coffee on the Cheap

Some people can spend anywhere from $200 on coffee a month buying it outside of the home. But, there are lots of great ways to brew coffee right in your own abode and save a lot of money.

Avoiding Pitfalls of the Scam Artist

You can find scam artists big and small every where you look in the world today. It may be a telemarketer offering you a trip that sounds too good to be true. It might be a car mechanic that overcharges you for an oil change. It can even be a friend who offers you a great job in a business that is basically shrouded in fraud. It can even be advice from a tarot reader.

Donna’s Video Work

done

This is a rough demotape of video work I have done for the Discovery Channel, CJOH-TV, a really old story from Carleton University featuring the late Princess Diana and a public service announcement I did throughout Ontario back in 2003. Take a look and enjoy.

Crystal Clear Maids

crystal-clear-maids

The mother and son team of Crystal Clear Maids have been in business for six months. The business is helping them to realize their Canadian dreams as a family originally from Grenada. Listen to what Sharon who gets things clean says.

16 Handy Tips on Cheap Car Maintenance

Next to owning a home, cars are the second biggest expense you can have in your life. Here are some tips, from lowering car insurance prices, gas prices, car maintenance and a whole more to help you save a bundle of cash.

Hair – by Donna Kakonge (published December 1999/January 2000 – Panache Magazine)

Back in the mid-80s, watching Oprah Winfrey’s bouncing and behaving hair was like a dream come true. I never knew that black hair could do that. I rushed to a salon, telling them to duplicate the Oprah ‘do on my head, and they did. The bad part is that just like what once happened to Oprah, my hair fell out. I was left with no hair on my head to duplicate any ‘do.