Not Fade Away

Election Watch 2011

2011-03-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Election Watch 2011!

Is the Canadian public in the mood for a Federal Election? That remains to be seen from opinion polls but I believe that there is enough evidence online to show true momentum for an election. I'm still collecting evidence but at prima facie, the mood might be ripe for an election.

First, election ads are popping up on all the parties websites and even at local MP level, check out my favourite, a creative endeavour by Omar Alghabra:

But that's not all, you can see the trends on google and twitter for interest in search terms such as "election" and hash tags on twitter "#cdnpoli". All of this may not lead directly to an election call but it certainly demonstrates some sort of critical mass forming that provide evidence of a collective political awakening in the broader Canadian public that's online.

Notice the crazy spikes in March as compared to February.. more to come, stay tuned.

Politics, Idiocy & Rob Ford

2010-09-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

‘All politicians are idiots, business leaders are necessarily better’ is an over-the-top statement.

And the idea that a lazy or slow bureaucracy wastes money needs a closer look.

Politicians face far more public scrutiny than any business leader; it’s simply in the job description. Sure, a CEO must answer to shareholders but the CEO is really only accountable to them and not a broader public at large, nor are they denied ridiculous bonuses for great failure (see large banks in the US).

Also, ‘wasted money’ or a ‘lazy/slow’ bureaucracy is tied to increased measures of accountability. Ministers of the Crown are politically responsible for their own decisions and the actions of anyone within their ministry (ie. Ministry of the Environment, Finance, etc.). A majority of wasted money or fiscal scandal occurs within the lower ranks of the department (manager, director, street-level bureaucrat) and yet, quite rightly, the Minister is still accountable to the public at election time. With the public demanding more accountability and ministers fearing for their elect-ability, layers and layers of checks, audits, and sign offs are set in place slowing government work to a halt.

It’s a ‘Catch 22,’ with increased accountability comes increased ‘red-tape’ resulting in the perception of a slow, “lazy” bureaucracy.

Municipalities are not spared the same increased accountability and red tape.

And it’s not like Toronto can spend their way out of a slow bureaucracy (if you even believe it to be true), cities face already constrained budgets and cuts, like Rob Ford proposes (ie. $230 million lost revenue), will only make that problem worse.

Cities really can only collect from property taxes and user/registration fees. Cities depend heavily on the province for money. That’s why I would support a mayor that works well with the province outright.

Talk about “wasted money,” it took 5-years and the closure of many business put out by the installation of streetcar tracks on St. Clair Avenue and Ford wants to get rid of streetcars! That’s a waste.

Even if Rob Ford manages to win the election, he needs the support of council for any of his ideas. One of them is fire half of the council, I’m sure that’ll pass unanimously (*cough*). His agenda will not be well received resulting in legislative gridlock and, in the meantime, the city will rot.

I truly believe that a big part of the anger that Toronto has lies within an ignorance we all have towards the realities facing the public service. Politicians like Ford capitalize on this by applying business standards to government and drilling into the differences. Comparing public organizations by the same set of standards as private ones prevents us from getting most from our public institutions.

Sarah Thomson Drops Out, Supports Smitherman

2010-09-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

Newsflash: Sarah Thomson drops out of race to support George Smitherman.

This is really no surprise. George Smitherman, according to polls, is a seemingly distant second place trailing Rob Ford. However, if you take voter turnout and those polled who are absolutely certain who they will vote for into consideration, you find that Smitherman is actually a close second place.

Update: The poll that I was referring to shows a tightening of the gap "where it counts: with those committed to voting."

Ford (28%) & Smitherman (23%)

Thai Censorship

2010-09-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

Austrailian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) show "Foreign Correspondent" broadcast feature on the controversial nature of Thai politics and the role of the monarchy. In Thailand, any negative or critical coverage of the King would certainly land any journalist, foreign or domestic, in jail for a very long time. After visiting Thailand, warnings were very explicit especially within travel advisories posted to DFAIT's website..

"It is a criminal offence in Thailand to make any derogatory or insulting comments about the King or other members of the Royal family. Any person making such comments is liable to arrest and prosecution."

- Laws & Customs, Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade

So, under threat of prosecution and imprisonment, the film was incredibly difficult to produce. In fact, the journalists involved operated "without any involvement of the ABC Bureau in Bangkok or the full knowledge of any Thai national" as it might risk compromising both the story and/or the future of ABC's presence in Thailand.

The video could not be posted to ABC's website, so it was leaked to Wikileaks.

Here is the link: ABC Foreign Correspondent video report on Thailand

Update: FIFA investigates abuse of DPRK players

2010-08-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

Surprising, no. (see my previous post)

FIFA is opening an investigation into the abuse of players from the North Korean World Cup soccer team for their losses in the World Cup tournament. At first glance, it may seem like a ridiculous notion that an international soccer agency would be able to glean any information from the communist country's tight control of it's image and secrets (that include widespread abuse of citizens). North Korea, for many international aid agencies, is a black hole of information on the well-being of it's people. Nevertheless, if FIFA were to uncover anything that might give the organization cause to ban North Korea from playing in future events that would be a moral victory, in some sense. The bigger issue at hand is that any time you exclude or punish the DPRK, you provide ammunition for the ruling party's propaganda machine to further convince it's people that the world is against them.

FIFA opens inquiry into alleged abuse of North Korea's World Cup team (Globe & Mail)

On finding adventure

2010-08-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

Life is full of adventures, if you choose to challenge yourself.

Rob Lilwall definitely challenged himself beyond what would normally be considered sane.

"In September 2004 I began this journey by flying with my bicycle as far away from home as I could think of: to the Far Eastern side of Siberia. My intention was to cycle back to England via the most interesting route I could find. As it turned out, I took a detour to Australia and was on the road for over three years, cycling 30,000 miles through 28 countries, and catching 16 boats to cross the various stretches of water along the way."

He wrote a book about his 3 year journey. Buy @ Amazon.

Here is a video of only one part of his trip:

His route:

Red Shirt Protests

2010-08-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Thailand is a ticking time bomb of political tensity.

The Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts were (and still are) in a tug-of-war, attempting to define what a defines a democratic state and a state's legitimacy in the eyes of its people. In late March 2010, while travelling through Thailand, Heather and I made time to visit the protests that were strangling the country.

Background:

In September of 2006, in a coup d'état, a group of military leaders overthrew the government of Thaksin Shinawatra (who enjoyed the support of Red Shirts) and in doing so was successful in "abrogated the constitution, dissolved Parliament and the Constitutional Court, detained and later removed several members of the government, declared martial law, and appointed one of the king's Privy Counselors... as the Prime Minister (ref.)." The overthrow was an effort to achieve a "brief intervention in order to restore peace, unity, and justice in the country." They claimed that "rampant corruption, malfeasance and widespread nepotism" had eroded legitimacy (ironic, isn't it?). In the following years, the junta called new elections and political control was assumed by the People's Power Party (PPP) in defeating The Democratic Party.

The National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as Red Shirts, are composed of both rural and urban supporters. My understanding is that the Red Shirt campaign is comprised of what could be known as "the working class of Thailand."

To sum up the situation (thank you, Wikipedia):

The UDD claims that Abhisit Vejjajiva's government took power 'illegitimately', backed by the Thai Army and the judiciary. It calls for the Thai Parliament to be dissolved so that a general re-election can be held. They accuse the country's elite — the military, judiciary, certain members of the Privy Council, and other unelected officials — of undermining democracy by interfering in politics.^[1]

Our experience of the protests were limited because Heather and I were on vacation with a group of friends. Nevertheless, I wanted to learn more about the protests and who was involved. I asked one of our taxi drivers, "what is going on in the city? Protests?" He responded, although his english was rough, "Yes, protests. Tuk tuk, farmers, poor." It was only after our vacation that I learned of the sheer scale and intensity of the protests. At the time, I felt as though it was one of those times that I wish I were a foreign correspondent for an international news agency covering breaking news but alas I was on vacation and kept my journalistic tendencies to a minimum.

Update: Thai protest leaders warn of more trouble, Thai Divisions Shift to Voting Booth, 2,000 police deployed for by-election

Our photos from March 2010 (click here to see photos):

Biological Basis for Ideology

2010-07-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

One's concern for order, high sensitivity for disgust, and overall conscientiousness combined with your level of empathy (measured completely separately) is strongly associated with political conservatism. It blows my mind that new research is beginning to understand a biological basis for your ideology. Born a liberal? conservative?

North Korean Soccer

2010-07-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

It's a tough life for North Koreans, even if you play for the national soccer team.

After losing every game in the World Cup, the DPRK team has faced harsh criticism back home. According to article in the Telegraph UK, based on reports from Radio Free Asia and various South Korean media, the players were "forced onto a stage at the People's Palace of Culture and subjected to criticism from Pak Myong-chol, the sports minister, as 400 government officials, students and journalists watched."

A mild treatment compared to previous punishment for World Cup failure, the Chosun Ilbo (a South Korean newspaper) reported from a intelligence source that "in the past, North Korean athletes and coaches who performed badly were sent to prison camps." (Inside DPRK labour camps)

North Korean World Cup Soccer Team - #9 Jong Tae-se

However, not all were subjected to the public humiliation, Jong Tae-se and An Yong-hak were spared and were sent back to Japan. The popular striker for DPRK, Jong Tae-se, was born, raised and still lives in one of many North Korean communities found in Japan. Players like Tae-se, "who earn about £4,000 a week, go to Pyongyang on football-related visits only (http://bit.ly/b8bswW)." Other players, who live and train in North Korea, make only "minimal state allowance" playing for soccer clubs based in the country.

Soccer in North Korea, like everything else, is deeply connected to the nation's leadership. For instance, "25 April" and "Amroggang," the names of two soccer clubs found in North Korea, appear to represent significant symbols in the DPRK. "25 April" refers to the founding date of the Korean People's Army (KPA), the armed wing of the Workers Party of Korea led by Kim Jong Il and comprises all of the armed forces in North Korea. The other team "Amroggang" presumably refers to the team's sponsor Amroggang Development Bank (ADB), a financial institution found in the country. Not surprisingly, it also has strong connections to the corrupt leadership as the ADB has functioned as a circumvention to the sanctions imposed by the UN. Acting as a subsidiary, ADB carries out the arms deals for banks operating in DPRK that have been blacklisted and barred from foreign trade.

In a situation where a majority of the North Korean population faces starvation as a result of rising food prices and a virtually worthless currency, the life of a DPRK player might not seem all that awful. It is, however, the combination of minimum state allowance and the threat of labour camp internment for losing that makes life for your average state soccer league player not all that glamorous.

Search Engine Interview

2010-07-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

Back in the day, one of my favourite journalists, Jesse Brown, dared his podcast listeners to create a piece of ukulele music based on 'Search Engine.' Bored at the time, I took up his challenge and got on his show.

Playing in the park (with a camera)

2010-06-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Safety... is people not getting hurt.

A great quote

2010-05-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

This "disposition to admire, almost to worship, the rich and the powerful, and to despise, or, at least, to neglect persons of poor and mean condition... is... the great and most universal cause of the corruption of our moral setiments."

- Adam Smith, economist and author

Is this about torture or accountability?

2010-05-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

After reading David Eaves post on Miliken's ruling on the release of detainee documents, I am left wondering what is this all about? Consider the vast coverage and evidence that has surfaced since February 2007, when the Globe and Mail first published allegations of abuse. Despite attempts by the government to suppress testimony and evidence during military investigation, there has been a sort of consensus amongst those in the field (Graeme Smith, Richard Colvin and General Walter Natynczyk) that torture and abuse in Afghan jails and prisons are practiced but not spoken about freely, at least not in Canada. So, is this whole debacle over the release of sensitive information about the existence of torture? Not really, as I pointed out, its happening. Or is it about the simply a matter of who knew what and when? Apparently. I don't think that there is a great deal of information that is particularly advantageous for the opposition parties. Ok, you proved that the Government had credible information about detainee torture. End result, Canada's international reputation is tarnished and opposition parties enjoy feeling superior for a news cycle. If there were any real benefit to this battle between Parliament and the Government, it is ' access to information' for making reasonable decisions on matters of foreign policy. In exercising their legitimate power over the current Government, Parliament is ensuring future that MPs can be adequately informed about what is going on-the-ground in Afghanistan. Much like the purpose of Parliamentary Budget Office, gaining access to confidential documents provides MPs important baseline information.

A Shift in the Common Understanding of Manliness

2010-05-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

Edward Keenan wrote a fantastic article on 'dude culture' and how manliness used to mean something more than 'babes, beer and obscenity.'

"The male refusal to grow up is an accepted enough fact that it’s the basis for almost all our romantic comedies and television sitcoms and both chick-lit and the emerging field of dick-lit. And I’d suggest this is a crisis of a kind. A crisis of manliness."

"It’s not as if men have dropped many of the old annoying characteristics of manhood. They are as competitive as ever, they are as lustful as ever, they still shun emotionalism and embrace codes and statistics and structures. It’s just that all the socially redeeming things that used to accompany those easy-to-spot external characteristics — things like a sense of honour and a feeling of responsibility to something greater than oneself, be it family or society at large — have been shrugged off like so much paternalistic baggage. To some large degree, Dude Culture has embraced all the entertainingly offensive trappings of the old idea of manliness (some of these increasingly appear to be inherent rather than socially constructed, which might explain their persistence) but has thrown out the few good qualities that came with it — the social imperatives to contribute." (Author - Edward Keenan)

So gentlemen, embrace adulthood. To quote Russell Peters, "BE A MAN."

The Prorogue Bay

2010-02-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

It seems thepiratebay.org has lent its support to the anti-prorogation movement.

Dale Luarca, Henry Nozuka, Christian Bridges and Melissa-Bel @ The Central

2009-12-13T21:58:00.000-08:00

Dale Luarca, a Mississauga-based solo artist, is reaching for the stars. He may be short but that with which he lacks in height, he certainly makes up for in vocal and guitar talent. The evening was a close knit affair in Mirvish Village's, The Central, and everyone was invited including Dale's mom. He refers to his style as "a mix of john mayer/Raul Midon/Donnell Jones" but in terms of lyrical content sticks to extremely personal topics. With a soulful sound and hypnotic beat, Dale tells stories of heartbreak and harsh realities. Even his cover songs have a personal stamp. Some of my favourite changes were to the lyrics of Tom Petty's Free Falling, "she's a good girl, loves her mama and Canada too" and "It's a long day livin' in Mississauga." Anyway, it was a fantastic show that included the likes of Henry Nozuka, Christian Bridges and Melissa-bel. I've included a few videos of the night below..

The Koxx // Live @ Club FF // Seoul, South Korea

2009-12-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

I'm so glad that I found this video. I have been looking for these guys on the web for quite some time and I've finally tracked a video down of them. They've got a catchy, dance-able sound.. check it out HERE

United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009

2009-12-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 has begun today and I thought it might be important to share some interesting tidbits including videos, new clips and impressions from the media and the event itself. The conference is scheduled from December 7th - 18th held in Copenhagen. Seen as a model in terms of public policy and social culture surrounding environmental sustainability, Denmark was an excellent choice as host nation for the conference. One interesting aspect of the event is the ability to submit questions..

"CNN and YouTube are conducting a live debate in Copenhagen on December 15, where leaders and activists at COP15 will come together to answer your top-ranked questions on climate change."

The COP15 website also offers a ringtone and SMS alert as part of the press package, if you're so inclined.

Opening Film

Exploration Korea

2009-11-30T17:23:00.000-08:00

These are some of my favourite photos from my seven week trip to South Korea.

Hometime

2009-11-30T17:02:00.001-08:00

One eskimO - Hometime Official Video
by oneeskimo

Paradise

2009-11-30T17:01:00.001-08:00

PARADISE
by NFB

Smitherman for Mayor!

2009-11-30T16:59:00.000-08:00

Cities are creatures of the province. Cities, especially Toronto, often find it difficult to find extra money to start new (sometimes green) initiatives and are forced to cut other city service funding to accomplish those tasks without raising property taxes. Property taxes are really the only revenue stream for cities (except user fees - memberships). Smitherman's former provincial cabinet position, not only gives him energy and infrastructure policy experience (important for TO), but significant influence provincially. The Ontario Liberal government still has a powerful majority, so his provincial connections means a better bargaining position for Toronto. The relationship is reciprocal as well, Smitherman will certainly be supportive of McGuinty (his old boss) in implementing his vision for Ontario.

Organics

2009-11-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

Enlightening, that's all I have to say. Found a quick and easy read about better food choices. It's a special information supplement from the Globe, so it's basically an advertisement that looks news-like but it offers interesting information that shouldn't be discredited due to the medium.

A Healthy, Growing Industry: Organic Foods

Matt Epp & Bahamas at the Cameron House // Review

2009-11-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

Cameron House is a small bar/venue on Queen St that, for it's size, provided the perfect space for an intimate show hosting two lyrical maestros. It was the CD Release for Matt Epp's new album 'Safe or Free' featuring Bahamas as the opening act. Bahamas is Afie Jurvanen, a talented Toronto-based artist, who describes himself as folk rock. From the moment he launched into one of his soft and carefully craft mellow tunes, his strategy for the night was to try shaking the traditional separation of artist and audience opting for a more informal feel. This was accomplished through his funny, yet honest banter. By simply speaking his mind on everything, from his own riffs to the influx of people, we could all share in his thoughts that very moment. His overall approach seemed to fit with the mood of the audience, from song to song he was able to engage with the audience with seeming ease and confidence, leaving each of us all with at least one funny story to tell. *Someone's phone rang during a break in his singing, and without skipping a beat, stated "...that's a faux pas"* My lasting impression was that it was more so a gathering of friends than a highly-rehearsed set. It fit the music and his personality; it was light and fun.

Matt Epp seem to have a more impassioned approach. A Winnipeg-based acoustic act, Epp calmly demonstrated his wide vocal range and instrumental talent. His stories were charming and heartfelt and so I felt by the end of the show that I somehow got to know Matt on a personal level without having actually speaking one-on-one. As I was leaving, without hesitation, I quickly caught his attention shouting "great show Matt! I really enjoyed it" to which he replied with a surprised but satisfied grin, "thanks so much, man." I feel privileged to have seen such talent on the cusp of what can only be a great future in music.

Both Matt Epp and Bahamas' lyrics, in my opinion, were the highlight of the night. Both artists provided such beautiful imagery to convey emotions that often seem difficult to describe but I felt at home with both Epp and Jurvanen's interpretations. My ability to relate so closely with lyrics is a phenomenon that I haven't felt in a long time and for that, both Matt and Afie, deserve the attention of music lovers everywhere.

This Old House - Matt Epp (feat. Eliza Gilkyson) *mp3 download*

Director of (mis)Communication

2009-10-12T03:49:00.000-07:00

I am amazed at the number of enemies that the Conservative government has accumulated over the past few years without reprisal.

Top bureaucrats.

Elections Canada.

National Press Gallery.

Environment Canada.

And the latest being the Parliamentary Budget Office, an government agency created by the Tories themselves.

2009-08-04T21:21:00.000-07:00

just follow the signs and you'll reach your destination.

2009-08-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

family gatherings.

2009-08-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

A light in the attic.

2009-08-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

summertime in the void.

"I got $11,668.05 in less than a month."

2009-04-09T13:22:00.001-07:00

Have you seen those ads on facebook claiming to pay out large sums of cash for essentially spending time surfing the net?

Well, its a sham but that certainly no surprise to anyone. I found it hilarious that they used the Government of Canada to legitimize the scam by sticking Harper photoshopped with a government cheque! These guys are relentless because when you click the link it takes you to a "real person's" blog, a regular everyday normal guy (Oh Jon Lajoie). His story is almost convincing! "I work in a pipe factory" (no wonder, it sounds like a pipe dream, lol). "My life was going nowhere then I found a way to make huge sums of CASH for free. Well, almost. Its a $1 to start." Lies already, how could you Richard?

So anyway, I wanted to see just how bad this scam could get and so I investigated further. By simply clicking on the Terms and Conditions, I found some interesting details about this "great opprotunity."

"The initial shipping and handling charge of one dollars and ninety seven cents, includes the google treasure chest kit as well as seven days worth of access to the online directories and training. After seven days, if you choose not to cancel, you will be billed your first monthly membership fee of seventy two dollars and twenty one cents for the membership fee for the googletreasurechest.com membership. Membership fees will be charged to the credit card used by you to complete the transaction. You have also unlocked a fourteen-day trial and twenty one-day trial to the Fraud SafeLockID and GrantSpring for just $19.95 and $14.95 a month thereafter..."

What a great deal! I don't know about you but I'm getting two of them.

A few bands to check out…

2009-04-05T18:25:00.001-07:00

So I mentioned on Facebook that I would blog about some of my friend’s bands but in the interest of conserving homework time, I will make one post with links to them all. I am certainly not intimately connected to any particular scene but I happen to know some really cool guys that are making some amazing music. I always love going to friend’s shows because that’s when you really kick it up a notch and have the most fun. Here is a list of bands that you should certainly check out!

And for those who like “Grindcore / Down-tempo / Death Metal”…

Decapitated Proletariat

That’s all folks… unless I have egregiously neglected a dear friend in a band that didn’t immediately come to mind. If I have forgotten you, please add your link.

A Lack of Communication

2009-01-16T16:50:00.000-08:00

You know I was thinking about why many people assumed that the governing party is voted in directly; however, in actual fact, the composition of the House of Commons is based on the the 308 elections in the different ridings in Canada. The reason must have been the lack of communciation technologies and the extreme cost of advertising back in the day that resulted in a large focus being placed on the riding rather than country. People would only know their local MP and would base their vote those grounds as opposed to nowadays. A well-funded political party can make use a whole host of mediums allowing coverage to be pretty much anywhere peoples' focus and attention may be. That's why a majority of Canadians think that they vote directly for the PM.

Contradiction

2009-01-16T15:59:00.001-08:00

The Prime Minister and the Conservative Party of Canada are quite obviously against any notion of a coalition in Canada. Fine.

But in an interview with the National Post, Harper appeared to actually agree with the premise of a coalition almost as though he wanted one with the Liberal Party.

Ivison: Talking about a more bi-partisan Parliament, what steps are you personally going to take to ensure that? For example, during the election, the idea that the justice package was a matter of confidence — are you in a position now to say that only money bills are measures of confidence, given your focus on the economy?

Harper: I wouldn’t go that far. Obviously the economy is everyone’s number one priority. It would be unwise for a prime minister to say he would narrow the range of confidence measures unilaterally, if the opposition parties would not be prepared to do exactly the same thing. I don’t want to be in a position where I would say only one or two or three things would be confidence while they would get up and say: “we reserve the right to bring forward a motion of confidence on every thing.” I think if we could get together and agree that a narrow range of things would be confidence — that would be useful to the functioning of this Parliament. I haven’t had that kind of discussion with Mr. Ignatieff and that would be a judgment he would have to make. But I do think that Canadians want to see Parliament work. We’ve had three elections in four years. They especially want to see it work when everyone knows jobs and futures are on the line. And I also think they believe that the country’s two major parties, who have been in government, who understand what it means to govern, would exercise some degree of common sense and collaboration and not make outrageous demands that they know one or the other couldn’t possibly meet.

Remember that the coalition agreement that was set between the opposition parties was simply a non-binding contract that outlined key policy priorities that would recieve support on confidence* measures from the coalition members.

Not that this point changes anything but it does show that he is a big hypocrite.

* Confidence or non-confidence is a designation for bills that are proposed in the House of Commons to be voted on. If a bill is a confidence measure (budget bills are) a majority of support must found within the House. In the case of insufficient suppport, the Prime Minister must dissolve parliament by advising the Governer General to call an election (or like last month - a prorogation). Non-confidence does not require the support of the House of Commons.

Sounds better than it reads.

2009-01-05T20:51:00.000-08:00

Only Joe Biden can get away with this kind of comment.. “We’ve got to begin to stem this bleeding here, and begin to stop the loss of jobs and the creation of jobs.”

Coalition Government

2008-11-30T10:16:00.001-08:00

This is not a front to our democracy; it is part of our democracy. In a minority parliament, the majority opposition has the option of a coalition, if the members of the opposition parties have lost faith in the government. Remember, we have so many different ridings in Canada with an election in each one as a result Canadians voted in only the member representing their riding. You cannot say that playing by the rules (as set out in the constitution) are damaging the democratic process but instead democracy is fully functional.

Key Point - each riding holds an election... if the majority of members representing each riding decide to have no confidence in the government.. democracy works!

An Idea.

2008-11-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

I was thinking to myself about how people attach themselves to product, campaigns and organizations which lead me to conjure up an interesting product idea. In thinking of how people like to keep photo albums, both online and in print, I thought it made sense for facebook to begin offering users a detailed account of their facebook existence. It wouldn't get too involved in copyright violations so long as users controlled the information. So instead of selling information about your life back to you, facebook could link you to innovative web 2.0 websites that could help you create a print scrapbook or pdf of the last 5 years of your life from the perspective of facebook. Its more detailed than your credit card history! Its like a time capsule for most of us, in which we contribute our thoughts, ideas, photos, videos, web clippings and causes (1,000,000 AGAINST THE NEW FACEBOOK LAYOUT! included) maybe subconsciously in an effort to leave our mark in the world, in some sort of digital sense. Your Blog Book(.com), think about it.

With a few days left....

2008-10-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

I spoke earlier about seeing into the soul of the leader and I still maintain that we will never know until the election is over (hindsight is 20/20). But if I were to stick my neck out and make some sort of analysis, I would say that we saw into Dion during the debate and we saw into Harper both in the debate and in his interview with Peter Mansbridge that he is mostly is concerned with his image as though he was your financial advisor, not your wholistic federal government leader. The Prime Minister of Canada should have a wholistic approach to governing and should demonstrate that if he/she were Prime Minister that they would show leadership on all fronts. Consider the job of the Prime Minister - he/she is the primary advisor to the Governer General and he/she leads a group of ministers that represent the different aspects of the Canadian landscape. The Prime Minister is not the industry and finance minister, he is the minister that consults with those ministers and is the figurehead for all of them. Harper appears to favour only a selection of those portfolios and it is apparent in his platform.

So being a figurehead means something but ultimately, what really matters? The answer: Good policy. I study policy and write most of my essays on different policies and with that in mind, I will vote Liberal because they offer sound policies that have been touted by repsective experts. Conversely, my essay work has torn apart Harper's policies and it was too easy to do so. So vote based on sound policy arguments, not speculation and an unwillingness to pay for a quality future.

I hope whomever reads this goes out and votes because it counts, it feels good and be grateful that you can! Other developing nations aren't as lucky as us.

Catch a glimpse into a leader's soul

2008-09-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

I was listening to CBC's The National, which is exceedingly brilliant - an election must-see. Anyway, it mentioned the idea that Canadians would, as during previous elections, reach a certain point in the campaign whereas they catch a glimpse into the soul of a particular leader. It sounds a bit wonky but consider this... As a general public, in some fashion, the segments of the population who actually bother to vote, not only recognize that an election is underway but also spends time witnessing the different leaders present themselves. A moment comes when a large part of Canadians set their minds onto a particular candidate, you could maybe call it a tipping point. Jean Chretien experienced such a moment during a campaign in 1993; Conservative attack ads were released that appeared to focus on Chretien's mouth that had been distorted by polio when he was a child. Chrétien replied while speaking in Nova Scotia, "God gave me a physical defect, I've accepted that since I was a kid." Almost as though he were comparing the Tories to school children he went on, "When I was a kid people were laughing at me. But I accepted that because God gave me other qualities and I'm grateful." The speech moved some in the crowd to tears but it also cut nicely into sound bites on the evening news, which was hugely effective in sky-rocketing his popularity numbers among Canadians. As though Canadians, saw into his soul that moment and caught the interest and attention of the voting public. This effect can boost, solidify or even deflate and ruin a leader's reputation. I am not going to even try to predict that moment but if it were to happen this time around, wouldn't it be swell to catch it in the moment?

Oh I love Canada.

2008-07-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

I just about fell out of my chair laughing histerically. I just read that the highest rated entry for the CBC's new theme challenge is also the most frightening but so amusing at the same time. Described as "A beautiful theme encompassing the heart of hockey," the clip below really shows how enthusiastic fans are about having to choose another theme, doesn't it? ;)

Omar Khadr

2008-07-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

The following video is heartbreaking but I feel as though that it is one of the most important things to witness, if you are a compassionate Canadian that believes children of war should not be held unlawfully in an illegitimate prision without a proper trial. Omar Khadr is a Canadian citizen like you and I except, he was born into a family with strong terrorist connections. He was 15 years old when he was captured by American forces in Afghanistan and has been accused of killing an american special forces soldier. No matter how shady the circumstances in which Khadr had found himself, he was just a kid. Articles i've read show his desparate desire to lead a normal life in Canada. I believe that strong political pressure from the Canadian government is needed to extract Khadr from Guantanamo Bay and have him face trial in Canada as a citizen of Canada. So far, Harper refuses to allow this to occur because he is does not want to disrupt or anger the Bush administration (who fully supports Gitmo). A supporting article from Globeandmail.com... Click Here

"The prime minister is in touch with our feelings."

2008-07-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

I found a great article by a journalist who wrote for the Ottawa Citizen. It is simply amazing and you should probably read it. The prime minister is in touch with our feelings.

Speechless.

2008-06-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across a liberal blogger that really nailed how I understand the Conservative Party of Canada. Click Here.

Do you agree?

2008-06-11T21:28:00.001-07:00

"I am convinced that far too many political elites underestimate Canadians," Dion said in a recent speech. "When you speak to the minds and big hearts of our great people, good policies translate into good politics."

2008-06-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Another appalling move by the conservatives, a tasteless attack on an initiative that came under the Bob Rae provincial government in Ontario. Aaron Wherry, a political blogger at Macleans wrote an interesting post about how most often pandering ends up offending. The program under scrutiny called 'Fresh Arts' which was "part of a larger initiative by the ill-fated Rae government called Jobs Youth Ontario," provided public funding for arts projects. Particularly, hip-hop.

Kardinal Offishall talked about it in an interview.

“In the aftermath of all the kids rampaging downtown following the Rodney King verdict in 93, the Bob Rae government stepped in with some funding for youth-oriented programs like Fresh Arts. That’s really how Saukrates, Jully Black, Baby Blue Soundcrew and I got our start. It gave us something useful to do."

“We were able to go to radio stations and recording studios and see how engineers and producers worked behind the scenes. Many of us had never been inside a studio before, let alone recorded a song in one. Through that program we also got to promote our own events, from making the flyers to doing radio promotion, everything. I can’t begin to put a dollar value on what I learned"

It is truly an interesting idea that I didn't even know about but it certainly appeared to have an impact.

I cannot believe that the conservatives are so tasteless with their attacks that you gotta step back and say "Are these the values and attitudes that our governing party has regarding black culture at large? Using stereotypes simply for "political pandering" Please take a look at the item posted on the Conservative website. Click Here.

uOttawa strikes again

2008-05-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

So it appears as though University of Ottawa is getting more press with regards to internet law issues. Previously, as heard on Search Engine, Michael Geist, a law professor at uOttawa had brought the issue of copyright legislation to the forefront of many internet users minds and LCD screens across Canada with his Fair Copyright for Canada website and facebook group. It seems uOttawa students are now on the scene now about facebook's privacy policies in our university's 'take no prisoners' activism for internet democracy.

2008-05-29T08:37:00.001-07:00

OrtzRoka Planets
by ortzroka

Myers, The Leafs & Funny

2008-05-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

Holy Crap Batman,
I never thought that I would see the day but the Toronto Maple Leafs are the feature of Mike Myers next movie called 'The Love Guru.' Justin Timberlake is starring as Jacques Grande, a Quebecois hockey player. WTF? I suppose Mike Myers has so much confidence from producers, he can pretty much do whatever the hell he wants and it will sell.

Not So Crappy Alternatives

2008-05-05T14:30:00.001-07:00

I cannot stand iTunes. The program is "compatible" with Windows but it is big and bloated. Despite its flashy appearance and trendy reputation, iTunes is hardly worth the huge amount of system memory that it takes up. It seems that I have to scour the web once every two months in order to find programs that are worth installing. Thankfully, I have found a site that not only agrees but also does all the work for me. (Photo: Mozilla's Songbird)

Health Minister on Drugs.....?

2008-05-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

I work at Bridgehead on Bank/Gilmour and we know our fair share of friendly neighbourhood crackheads. Hell, we introduced a key system to our restrooms for that very reason. I personally have met a few really nice homeless guys and gals (like the dude with the carved stick/staff or the guy who sells spoken improv poems for a $1) but we also know some really sketched out wanderers. Anyway, I am a big supporter of initiatives to help get people off the street and off hard drugs but who isn't? It appears Minister of Health Tony Clement, despite several independent reviews showing positive results, thinks progressive initiatives aren't so great. In Vancouver, a pilot project called Insite, seeks to "reduce the harm associated with injection drug use to individuals and the community." Ignoring my unscientific and non-professional opinion; there have been "22 peer-reviewed papers published on the program and they have all shown a positive benefit to users, such as reduced rates of transmission of HIV-AIDS and greater use of rehabilitation services." Problem? Apparently, its not enough for Health Minister Clement, which has led to his apparent ideologically inspired muzzling and misrepresentation of research findings. Lame.

Bitter Battles

2008-05-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

I found this amazing article that sketches the scene of "a rhetorical smackdow n" between two MPs --> Conservative Jim "The Fiery Irishman" Flaherty vs. Sauga Liberal Omar "Sqeaky" Alghabra. It was pretty funny. Until I really started following the stories that were floating around Parliament Hill, I never picked up on the small battles fought out between MPs. Question Period only a boring (but semi-intelligent) exchange about policy?... Not Always. Sometimes, you see important people like the Minister of Finance get pwn-ed. (Photo: Macleans - CP/Tom Hanson)

The Democratic Race in Seven Minutes

2008-05-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Fallen behind in the American Democratic nomination? Well, fear not. There is a video posted by SlateV.com that sums it all nicely to get you all caught up.

Welcome

2008-05-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting stories that I have picked up from Canadian/International new sources, other bloggers and personal experience. Enjoy.