words...

These days... I don't think I'd risk another.

2010-05-03T13:32:00.001-07:00

Wow, nearly a year since my last post? That's fucked up. Where have I been? Where has my mind been? I forgot I even had a blog.

Time to get back to being myself, if I do say so myself! :)

Joined a frisbee team to play Ultimate with this summer. Should be alright. We are entering tier 4, lots of noobs. But I can't complain since I don't know anyone here with a team that I can squeeze onto.

And then there's everything else.

Don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens - The Main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away. ~John Steinbeck, 10 November 1958

I agree.

2009-06-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Robert_M said:
6/14/2009 8:09:01 AM
Mr. Harper has done a great job of building his reputation. People will not forget all the key aspects of his reputation. 1. A terrible team builder. He has an extremely weak cabinet, where most cabinet ministers are out of their depth. 2. Poor policy decisions. Cutting the GST, which was bad tax policy. 3. Next to zero credibility. The November 2008 Economic Update fiasco was unforgivable. 4 He shows no respect for Canadians. His comments in the days following the Economic Update and on December 4, 2008 insulted all Canadians. 5. He is only concerned with his tenuous grasp of power. He called an unnecessary election in 2008 and failed to gain a majority.

Mr. Harper has totally alienated Quebec, with Mr. Baird's help he has alienated much of Ontario. Mr. Goodyear's dismal performance has alienated the educational and scientific community. The longer he stays in office, the fewer supporters he will have at the time of the next election.

(from the comments section of a globe and mail article about what Hack Flanagan (UofC) currently thinks about Harper's current situation)

The fantasticness of lists.

2009-02-07T15:46:00.001-08:00

Oh Listverse how I loath thee. I hereby announce I am addicted.

coalition - when did it become a dirty word?

2008-12-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

All this talk about the "undemocraticness" of a coalition, I think is a bit ridiculous.

Coalitions have worked in other governments in other parts of the world, not sure why everyone is so against it. The NDP, Liberals, and Bloc got way more votes than the Conservatives, and in a way is more democratic than the conservatives running things.

Why is cooperation so frowned upon?

It's perfectly democratic to form a coalition of parties that together received the majority, but it's not democratic to just suspend parliament because you're afraid of losing power.

Just how valid is Harper's claim that changing governments without a new election would be undemocratic?

"It's politics, it's pure rhetoric," said Ned Franks, a retired Queen's University expert on parliamentary affairs. "Everything that's been happening is both legal and constitutional."

Other scholars are virtually unanimous in their agreement. They say Harper's populist theory of democracy is more suited to a U.S.-style presidential system, in which voters cast ballots directly for a national leader, than it is to Canadian parliamentary democracy.

"He's appealing to people who learned their civics from American television," said Henry Jacek, a political scientist at McMaster University.

Harper signed similar document in 2004

In Canada, there's no national vote for prime minister. People elect MPs in 308 ridings, and a government holds power only as long as it has the support of a majority of those MPs.

"We have a rule that the licence to govern is having the confidence of the House of Commons," said Peter Russell, a former University of Toronto professor and adviser to past governors general.

"I'm sorry, that's the rule. If they want to change it to having a public opinion poll, we'd have to reform and rewrite our Constitution." -http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081203/harper_undemocratic_081204/20081204?hub=Politics

Harper is such a dirtbag. I mean, he keeps on calling the Bloc 'those who want to split up Canada' but he's worked with them very closely these past two years.

Why did he think he could get away with suspending government funding to political parties, and making it illegal for civil servants to strike? All right off the bat of receiving a slightly stronger minority.

I think the fact that he got a slightly larger minority got to his head and he thought he could just put through any policies he wants, without consideration to the opposition or public. But it was a still a minority. He must have known it would piss a bunch o people off. I don't know how he figured out he could get away with it.

I sure hope we don't have another election right away. What a waste of money.

Just see what a coalition can do... that's what I'd like to see.

It's not the economy, stupid

RICK MERCER

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

December 6, 2008 at 12:56 AM EST

Forgive them Canada; they know not what they do.

Not long after Stephen Harper took office as Canada's 22nd prime minister, a polar bear was born at the Berlin Zoo. Known as Knut, the cub was summarily rejected by his mother and so was nursed by human beings. Now, two years later, animal psychologists admit that he has become so addicted to human laughter and applause that, the instant those things disappear, he becomes desolate and cries for attention. This has led to irrational behaviour never before seen in a polar bear. Experts fear that, without constant applause, Knut could lose the will to live.

Enter Stephen Harper.

During the past week, while the nation wondered if the government would fall, junior Conservative staffers were ordered to be outside 24 Sussex Dr. by 6:15 in the morning. Their job was to stand there in the dark with the temperature well below zero and wait for the PM to appear. Their instructions were to applaud, wave and sing O Canada loudly as the motorcade pulled out of the gates and drove Stephen Harper to work.

Mr. Harper, by all accounts, actually believed that the young people were there of their own accord and represented a groundswell of love and support for his actions. Staffers in the Prime Minister's Office know that he is easier to handle when being applauded and not questioned. This way, nobody has to suffer at the hands of the inconsolable bear.

Enter Stéphane Dion.

Mr. Dion is a humiliated and beaten man. Nothing prepared him for the thrashing he took in the last election, and the subsequent rejection by his own party just made matters worse. For him, the applause and cheering stopped a long time ago. Given the chance to exact revenge, he seized it.

And so is it any surprise that these damaged, needy men are the architects of a parliamentary crisis the likes of which we have never seen? With leaders like this, we shouldn't be blamed for asking, "Why bother"

If this Parliament were a dog, it would be brought out behind the shed and shot. Rabid dogs aren't prorogued, reformed or trusted.

One game of hardball he couldn't lose

At first, this little crisis in Ottawa was good, old-fashioned fun — blood sport for political junkies that made for great entertainment.

It began, of course, with the government's economic statement, a colossal misstep for Mr. Harper. The nastiness and partisanship caught everyone off guard. Sane cabinet ministers had to grin and bear it as the leader revealed a strategy that not only highlighted the very worst elements of his personality, but reinforced the nagging cliché; that this Conservative Party cares more about inflicting pain on those they dislike than offering support for anyone in need.

Mr. Harper, the self-professed master strategist, figured this was one game of hardball he could not lose, but then a funny thing happened on the way to the vote in the House of Commons.

Mr. Dion may lack the basic skills needed by all political leaders, but he has a grasp of basic math, something the PM, an economist, seems to have lost. He crunched the numbers and realized that not only could the government fall, he could even become prime minister. Revenge like that comes once in five lifetimes.

In theory, a coalition could work. If aliens from outer space were running roughshod over the country, perhaps a Liberal, a socialist and a separatist could put their differences aside and work together to defeat the alien overlords. A global economic crisis, however, is probably not enough for these three wildly divergent visions of Canada to gel.

But whether the coalition can or will survive is irrelevant; what matters is that it can oust the PM.

Stephen Harper loves being the Prime Minister of Canada. Since he came to power, the motorcades have got longer, the office more presidential, the trappings more grand. The idea that he could suddenly find himself standing in line at the airport with regular Canadians, photo ID at the ready, attempting to board a Jazz flight to Moncton so he can explain to party faithful why he now travels in a Jiffy Taxi gnaws at his very being.

Knut the Polar Bear could not survive such a humiliation and neither could Mr. Harper. So he slapped his Finance Minister and tore up the economic update; he blinked and backtracked — behaviour not before seen in this political animal.

And this is where it should have ended; a substantial and unexpected victory for a lame-duck Liberal leader and a humiliating lesson to the Prime Minister. A nice little reminder to all involved that nobody was granted a majority in this Parliament, and we expect everyone to get along.

Tragically, Mr. Dion wasn't strong enough to put on the brakes. Or more likely, he was unwilling.

Enter the Governor-General of Canada.

Try explaining this one to those alien overlords: 35 million people in one of the greatest democracies on Earth stare at their television sets, waiting to see whether an unelected former TV broadcaster will choose to shut down our government for over a month or let it live just long enough to be killed by the opposition.

The drama that played out this week was many things: unimaginable, embarrassing and, yes, it made our parliamentary system look like a laughingstock. However, this situation was not, as Mr. Harper insisted, undemocratic, illegal or un-Canadian.

The facts are clear. He has a minority in the Commons — something he has never accepted. So he loves daring the opposition to defeat him, and prides himself on shaming them at every opportunity.

Them's the rules and he knows it. And yet, when faced with actually losing a confidence vote, he chooses to launch a full-fledged attack on the very institution he is sworn to protect.

He took to the airwaves saying that having him lose a vote would amount to a coup d'état. He knows this isn't true, but he said it anyway. Then his ministers fanned out and told everyone who would listen that an election was being stolen. They shouted from the rooftops that, as a nation, we elected Stephen Harper to lead us, that the 308 members of Parliament actually had no say in the matter.

Separatists: from wooed to whipping boys

Mr. Harper zeroed in on Quebec. The master strategist who has wooed that province for the past two years turned anything and anyone with a French name into a whipping boy. Memo to Quebec: Call Danny Williams; a world of hurt is coming your way.

And our Prime Minister suggested that, in a constitutional crisis, the Governor-General must not listen to constitutional advisers but to him and him alone. The PMO organized a protest at the Governor-General's residence. Staffers all over Ottawa were given the day off to stand there waving signs reading, "The Bloc Sucks" and "Stop the Coup." Surely the Queen was not amused.

Back on Parliament Hill, Minister of Bluster John Baird proudly announced that Conservatives would go over the head of Parliament and of the Governor-General. He planted the seed for what sounds like the Republic of Canada, in which Mr. Harper and not the monarch is the head of state.

One assumes that a Harper republic will differ from others in the world as he ostensibly will have majority powers without having that old-fashioned 50-per-cent support in either the country or the Commons.

All this made for a perfect storm. Our system works on the assumption that, regardless of whether we have a minority government, we will always be guaranteed of having a clear and decisive majority of rational men and women who will in times of crisis put nation over personal or party interests. It operates on the assumption that our leaders will put country before party.

Seems we are out of luck on that front — our bad.

The crisis has not ended but simply has been postponed.

In the new year, Mr. Harper will return with the biggest-spending budget in Canadian history. People who voted Conservative will be outraged — but their cries will be drowned out by the applause of the paid staffers again lining the sidewalk outside 24 Sussex. Knut the Polar Bear will bask in the adoration.

And, yes, the coalition may survive long enough to defeat them anyway — revenge being a dish best served at the first possible opportunity.

Meanwhile, this great democracy of ours has ceased to function. We have no government because they just can't get along. It is a mess that defies comprehension but has one simple solution.

We need one more strange-bedfellows event: a historic press conference at which Stephen Harper and Stéphane Dion apologize to their country and then to their parties. And then they resign — no questions please.

Because, quite frankly, they deserve one another — and Canada deserves better.

The Rick Mercer Report appears Tuesday nights on CBC

Special to The Globe and Mail

Looking for China news?

2008-11-05T22:32:00.000-08:00

For the year we're here, we've started another blog.

Please visit adamandkellyinchina.blogspot.com

I will still post on this blog. Hopefully, now that we're becoming a little settled, I'll find a moment here and there to do so. Like now.

So... how about Obama?

I watched the acceptance and concession speeches live, streaming, from the BBC at Sam and Chris's place. I can't quite put how I felt into words. It was like breathing fresh air, like a great weight was put in place (kind of like the weight I felt on 9/11), like a sigh of relief that our American neighbors have slightly redeemed themselves.

All the while, I couldn't help wondering, Is This Real? The video clips of African Americans in the street crying in jubilation. The old women and men like Jesse Jackson tears streaming down their faces, actually choked me up a bit. All those who said America will never elect an African American president, proved wrong.

I'm glad there are Americans that saw through the propaganda, Americans that weren't taken by FOX "News" and its stories like "Obama - Osama, only one consonant away. Coincidence???" How is that even journalism, I don't know.

Anyway, pics and news about the personal life at adamandkellyinchina.blogspot.com

Check it.

The resuce plan.

2008-10-26T00:04:00.001-07:00

sounds like humanity

2008-08-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

Douglas Adams on religion and puddles

. . . imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking, ‘This is an interesting world I find myself in’an interesting hole I find myself in’fits me rather neatly, doesn’t it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, must have been made to have me in it!’ This is such a powerful idea that as the sun rises in the sky and the air heats up and as, gradually, the puddle gets smaller and smaller, it’s still frantically hanging on to the notion that everything’s going to be alright, because this world was meant to have him in it, was built to have him in it; so the moment he disappears catches him rather by surprise. I think this may be something we need to be on the watch out for.

From a Speech given by Adams at Digital Biota 2, Cambridge, UK, 1998. Later quoted in Richard Dawkin’s Eulogy for Douglas Adams.

2008-07-08T18:48:00.001-07:00

You will now have to be invited to view my blog. Send me an email to request this permission.

Legalize Books.

2008-06-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

the curse of faith

2008-06-14T09:48:00.001-07:00

Charlie Bit Me

2008-06-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Charlie Bit Me

2008-06-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

Cotton Eyed Joe. The original.

2008-05-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

I don't think I need to say anything about this.

2008-05-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

Must be why I love this movie so much.

2008-05-02T18:38:00.001-07:00

Worth the read.

2008-04-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

I was one of the lucky ones. I had professor Allison Dube for a class. He's leaving the University of Calgary. Please read his good by letter originally published in the gauntlet.

Lifting up mine eyes--finally

Dr. Allison Dube
Seasoned Sessional

April 17, 2008
[Print] Print this story
Previously, I argued that though we sessional instructors give great service and commitment to the University of Calgary, the unfairness of our working conditions has grown to a situation that is now laughable. Every experience is an opportunity to learn, however, and though sessional issues may remain a subtext here, the purpose is to tell my students and their colleagues some things I feel I have learned from this one.

A Seven Year Experiment

In Fire With Water, I argued that a rift in approaches to life had widened in my generation. Building on Jean Baker Miller's analysis of gender roles, traits traditionally assigned to subordinated women were losing a battle to the characteristics generally inherited by dominant men. Behaviours, such as participating in the development of others and truly valuing connections to them, were losing credence to pursuing self-oriented goals and to proclaiming "I did it my way."

Seven years here have confirmed two hypotheses. First, as Baker Miller states, "the characteristics... perhaps most essential to human beings are the very characteristics that are specifically dysfunctional for success in the world as it is." That, in spite of fostering the development of others through their teaching, sessional instructors receive neither a livable salary nor security shows this endeavor is indeed "specifically dysfunctional" for success--certainly at the U of C.

Second, traits such as self-enhancement have flourished. Worse, an overt concern for appearances over reality has clouded our ability to see this. To quote myself (as I ask my students, is there a more pretentious phrase on earth than "I quote myself?"), now it is "only the appearance of women's strengths that is permitted and it is only because these capacities have the blessing of a profit that even this appearance is rendered acceptable." Two parts of this relate to academe. Research is increasingly about the self, specifically career advancement. Also, as an institution fosters these aspects and thus serves itself above all, it increasingly invokes a covering facade of "we do it all for you," the students.

Some Publish, Many Perish

The equation of academic success with self-enhancement may seem unfair. The myth is instructors balance teaching and research--indeed some actually do! More, students understand that individuals pursuing knowledge make a contribution to the common stock of wisdom. For several reasons, students should look closely at the research that is often their instructors' priority.

As Frank Furedi has noted, what academics produce for advancement is usually not "scholarship," but "research." Camille Paglia explains, "A scholar's real audience is not yet born." But why take years to write something reflective, lasting and profound when you need to publish now to get a promotion? Thus "the profession is addicted to the present, to contemporary figures, contemporary terminology, contemporary concerns." Students should be warned also that as new instructors are recruited, they especially must so "produce" to secure positions.

Secondly, often the "professional" elements of academe do not solve problems, but ride on them. Louise Armstrong's afterword for a later edition of her work on incest, Kiss Daddy Goodnight, illustrates. She saw an "incest industry" form at her first academic convention. "You could hear the gears of specialization grinding, the carving-up of victim populations, the negotiations for turf, the vying for funding, for prestige, for place... the sound of people professionalizing." After 10 years of this she concludes, "I hate to say we [survivors and those truly caring] made things worse. I guess we didn't, but I think things are worse."

Another problem is just which "contemporary concerns" take up the researcher's time are increasingly determined by, simply, who pays. Our own Professor John Mueller has argued that as "universities have become dependent on federal grants, academics find their promotion and merit reviews depend on buying into the predefined areas of research." The funded "cause de jour" may well be a fashion, or fashionable support for systems in place only. If this is the case for "arm's length" funding--wait until you see the effects of money from private sources such as corporations!

Thus, much "research" is less idealistic, more mercenary, more self-enhancing in terms of career and more serving of interests that students cannot see than is generally understood. Real learning would often oppose the very interests served by the research; and at times the research itself capitalizes on or exacerbates the problems students would wish to solve. These problems are not new; thousands of years ago, variants of them caused Lao Tzu to write "exterminate the sage, discard the wise," and to equate the works that result from self-enhancing pontification to "useless excrescences."

Students do benefit from the scholarship of faculty members, but they have excellent reasons not to automatically accept a sacrifice of instructor time to the gods of research. Students in classes of 300, who have not yet been greeted by name by an instructor, may be surprised that the first core principle in the U of C's Academic plan heralds this as a "learning-centred university," where "the programs and experience we offer must be appropriate to the needs, aspirations, and futures of our students." As above, whatever the actual practice, the language covering it is beautifully nurturing!

"Not a Partnership"

In Mar. 2007, On Campus reported that Shell Canada announced it would invest $1.15 million with the U of C. On first blush this seems generous. After all, with oil barely up to a measly $110 a barrel, energy companies are clearly having a tough time making ends meet. The money is to support "enhanced learning opportunities for students," and...oh yeah, to "develop future workforce capacity and advance research innovation critical to industry success." Quoth President Harvey Weingarten, "this type of relationship is a win-win for schools and industry. Our students get access to industry and real-world experience, while Shell benefits from top-notch research and the best and the brightest that universities have to offer."

Yet the article contains clues as to who is winning the most. The President of Shell Canada remarks, "we're working to promote technical education, research and innovation--it is at the heart of what we need as a company, as an industry and as a society." It can be no surprise if the technical education fostered is good for the company and industry. After all, the goal of most of the money is "to develop a more effective in situ recovery process to extract oilsands deposits that are too deep to be mined from the surface." But just as "what's good for General Motors is good for America," this result is also now deemed what is needed most for society. As Dr. Weingarten has proudly proclaimed, we are offering up our "best and the brightest" to serve this cause.

This story echoes a common theme in U of C press releases: the partnership between business and the school. On a profound level it illustrates, as one of the truly brilliant people I know (my massage therapist, Lola) asserts, "it's not a partnership, it's a codependent relationship." The relationship between corporations and the U of C has become symbiotic, with negative behaviours of each realm exchanged and reinforced.

What corporations get is the artificial credibility that comes with an academic aura. Plato wrote about the "creature who has proved his cleverness in some mechanical craft," who "is glad to break out of the prison of his paltry trade and take sanctuary in the shrine of philosophy." They get something far more practical, though. As well as having tax benefits, offloading research and development to the shrine of philosophy truly makes it look like the endeavors served should be at the helm of academic and societal concern.

The university would not want to stay aloof from the real world. Some students benefit from the training they receive while all this is going on, but it becomes clear that the U of C is now a place where (as the President of Shell Canada remarks) "technical education" is king. A look at the U of C's "priority" areas confirms this: as here, engineering and resource development, and elsewhere, the likes of the business faculty.

The result of all this is of questionable value. The point of an education worthy of the adjective derived from Plato's Academy is to learn how to question the priorities of the business world, not to receive on-the-job training for it and such "technical" training is often shortsighted. For corporate funding--and the corporate vision itself--often serve only presently perceived needs and are destined to produce cogs, not leaders.

Proust notes that often people engaged in practical affairs laugh at those learning non-practical things. The "disinterested culture" of, for example, a real liberal education "seems to them a comic pastime of idle people." But ironically, it is so often the very knowledge they dismissed which "brings to the fore men who may not be better judges or administrators than themselves, but before whose rapid advancement they bow their heads, saying: 'It appears he's extremely well-read, a most distinguished individual.'"

Learning the wrong corporate games

One might think that being so intimate with the business world, the U of C might learn how to treat employees or the prime consumers (students) with respect, but often it is the worst elements of business the school has absorbed: a sense of entitlement, a cult of the executive, mistreatment of staff, a tendency to forget that the customer--the student--if not always right, at least deserves to be heard and honoured and a reliance on spin to cover things that are wrong.

This school's treatment of the quarter of its academic staff who are sessionals is not up to the minimum standards a corporation downtown could get away with and from my experience, whether the student consumer is heard at all is an open question.

That the students who organized the "Save Dube" campaign were told that their concerns--not just about a particular instructor but sessionals in general--were off limits to discussion as it was a "personnel issue" was true to form. Through the years, many of my students have written to administrators here. What is disconcerting is not that such letters had no real effect, but that as far as I know, not one has ever been answered.

Students are often shocked that teaching and commitment to them--at least from sessionals--means nothing to the administration. It gets worse. In spite of good student survey results, four SU Teaching Excellence Awards, and an SU Presidential Citation in recent years, how often has an administrator commended me spontaneously for good work? Beyond a rare comment in the hall, encouraging words have come only as reactions to SU awards. Once, I even got a letter of congratulation from the "Executive Suite." (I kid you not; that was on the address. I still think "I quote myself" wins, but it is a contender!)

More students are questioning the juxtaposition of, on the one hand, the barrage of "we do it all for you" signs and shining happy reports in On Campus and, on the other, utterly dismal results for the school in surveys of student engagement and an experience so isolating that a quarter drop out after one year.

Instead of actually taking obvious steps to improve the student experience such as reducing class size, the administration's answers are to hire another vice-president and to make students buy "clickers" to give instant survey results in classes--thus providing the appearance their views count, almost as if adding another layer of technology to students' lives would reduce their sense of alienation.

Then there is the spin. In a Sep. 2006 Gauntlet article, the U of C's vice president external wrote that "a student who graduated from the U of C even two years ago would be unaware of the 40 student spaces now opening on campus." Speaking as a student who graduated in 1974, I delight in telling my students just how many of those "new" spaces I happily hung around in avoiding classes before they were born.

Once one sees how much of the rhetoric is a kind of spin echoing the worst of the corporate world, everything makes sense. You know those entry "scholarships" you got from the U of C for good marks in high school? Teaser rates for a sub-prime education.

"Representation"

Students are not alone in being told that the word of great service provision may be taken for the deed--what one might call the Harold Skimpole theory of management. Many have asked: "aren't sessionals represented by a union?" The answer depends on what one means by "represented." We are members of the Faculty Association; we pay dues for the privilege and are told people are working on "incremental progress" for us.

An illustration will serve here. Prior to the last collective agreement, we were all sent forms inviting input on issues at stake. There were eleven pages for comment on things, from salary and merit increases to leaves and sabbaticals. On the last page "for sessionals only," there was an invitation to comment on our salary rates and "other," with half a page to "explain as fully as you can." Sessionals constitute a quarter of the membership, yet about 90 per cent of the document concerned things we have little or no part in. The tenor was "how many more thousands of dollars can we award to the best roosters--and oh, as an afterthought, should we increase the prize for best duck from $5 to $6?"

The results of the bargaining confirmed this picture. One reason I had held on as a sessional was I believed the new collective agreement might improve things enough so I could afford to stay. No dice. I hasten to add that I truly admire the officers of the Faculty Association, but as to whether sessionals have been "represented" by the Association in total--as Mr. Spock might say, "it's representation Jim, but not as we know it."

A Great Opportunity to Learn

On Apr. 2, I got a call asking me to donate money to the U of C. My first reaction was that the universe was out of kilter--a day late for April Fools'. Why would I donate to support a system that has treated us as I have described? Why would anyone? I feel now the universe, like all of us, just got screwed up a bit more by the time change this year and is unfolding as it should. That call was a punctuating mark in time. Before, it made sense to essentially pay to work here to give heart and soul to my students. The mark itself reminded me that after doing a decent job for years, far from getting a golden, or bronze handshake, or even the time of day as I leave, I could not be mentioned by name as students found when they tried to speak about me to administrators. After, it became clear that the best way to change the world was to eliminate the high-priced middleman--the school. I will continue to love and support my students, but the U of C has now become as much a part of the problems they face as it is of any solutions.

One might think that my conclusion to all of this would have a negative tone--not so. Lifting up mine eyes has entailed looking at those at the top. This university has, as it claims, assumed a leadership role, but too often what it leads in are negative things. Outside, the same problems noted within the institution pervade the world: a devaluation of good human qualities and glorification of self-serving ones, a growing codependent relationship between institutions--universities or governments--and corporations, and an increasing provision of an appearance of good things over their reality. The tenured versus sessional gap echoes a widening division between rich and poor and--as for how well the bottom quarter of the world's people are represented by those who are responsible for them--well, we lead the way there, too.

Just as I hope I have learned something here, I guarantee my students have and if anyone out there feels that all these developments are appropriate, I have some advice for you: enjoy them while you can. My students are simply not going to put up with this situation. They are too good to think that all these trends and conditions are right; they are too bright not to see through the corporate rhetoric that supports them and they are too politically savvy to be stopped as they begin to make changes--in our country, in our world and even in the university.

Source: http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/12438

this is freakin awesome

2008-04-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

Tim Wise on Whiteness

2008-04-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

Tim Wise ~ The Pathology of Privilege: Racism, White Denial, and the
Costs of Inequality

2008-04-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

School Made Him Square And Brown Inside (Poem)

He always wanted to explain things, but no-one cared.
So he drew.
Sometimes he would just draw and it wasn’t anything.
He wanted to carve it in stone or write it in the sky.
He would lie out on the grass and look up in the sky and it would only

be the sky and the things inside him that needed saying.

And it was after that that he drew the picture.
It was a beautiful picture. He kept it under his pillow and would let no-one see it.
And he would look at it every night and think about it.
And when it was dark and his eyes were closed he could see it still.
And it was all of him and he loved it.

When he started school he brought it with him.
Not to show anyone, but just to have it with him like a friend.

It was funny about school.
He sat in a square brown desk like all the other square brown desks
and he thought it would be red.
And his room was a square brown room, like all the other rooms.
And it was tight and close. And stiff.

He hated to hold the pencil and chalk, with his arm stiff and his feet
flat on the floor, stiff, with the teacher watching and watching.

The teacher came and spoke to him.
She told him to wear a tie like all the other boys.
He said he didn’t like them and she it didn’t matter.
After that they drew. And he drew all yellow and it was the way he felt about
morning. And it was beautiful.

The teacher came and smiled at him. What’s this? She said.
"Why don’t you draw something like Ken’s drawing?
Isn’t it beautiful?"
After that his mother bought him a tie and he always drew airplanes
and rocket ships like everyone else.

And he threw the old picture away.

And when he lay out alone looking at the sky, it was big and blue;
and all of everything, but he wasn’t anymore.

He was square and brown inside and his hands were stiff.
And he was like everyone else. All the things inside him that needed
saying didn’t need it anymore.

I had stopped pushing. It was crushed.
Stiff.
Like everything else.

Author: Written by an English schoolboy, sent in by Klaas van Dalen.
Source: Raphael House Newsletter Aug 1986

China and America: The Tibet Human Rights PsyOp

2008-04-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

Oh the "China Threat." Don't be afraid people, that's how they getcha. I've always had a problem with the negative connotations regarding Chinese politics and human rights, and the subsequent fallout, a "China Threat" portrayed by the media. Chinese exercises what is called soft power. Chinese policies don't fit the bill, prescribed to us by the media.

"Free Tibet" seems the same as saying Free Quebec, or Free Alberta.

Here's an indepth look at what's been happening recently.

China and America: The Tibet Human Rights PsyOp
by Michel Chossudovsky

Global Research, April 13, 2008

The human rights issue has become the centerfold of media disinformation.

China is no model of human rights but neither are the US and its indefectible British ally, responsible for extensive war crimes and human rights violations in Iraq and around the World. The US and its allies, which uphold the practice of torture, political assassinations and the establishment of secret detention camps, continue to be presented to public opinion as a model of Western democracy to be emulated by developing countries, in contrast to Russia, Iran, North Korea and the People's Republic of China.

Human Rights "Double Standards"

While China's alleged human rights violations in relation to Tibet are highlighted, the recent wave of killings in Iraq and Palestine are not mentioned. The Western media has barely acknowledged the Fifth "anniversary" of Iraq's "Liberation" and the balance sheet of the US sponsored killings and atrocities perpetrated against an entire population, in the name of a "global war on terrorism".

There are more than 1.2 million Iraqi civilian deaths, 3 million wounded. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) indicates a figure of 2.2 million Iraqi refugees who have fled their country and 2.4 million "internally displaced persons":

"Iraq’s population at the time of the US invasion in March 2003 was roughly 27 million, and today it is approximately 23 million. Elementary arithmetic indicates that currently over half the population of Iraq are either refugees, in need of emergency aid, wounded, or dead." (Dahr Jamail, Global Research, December 2007)

The Geopolitical Chessboard

There are deep-seated geopolitical objectives behind the campaign against the Chinese leadership.

US-NATO-Israeli war plans in relation to Iran are at an advanced state of readiness. China has economic ties as well as a far-reaching bilateral military cooperation agreement with Iran. Moreover, China is also an ally of Russia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the context of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Since 2005, Iran has an observer member status within the SCO.

In turn, the SCO has ties to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), an overlapping military cooperation agreement between Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan.

In October of last year the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding, laying the foundations for military cooperation between the two organizations. This SCO-CSTO agreement, barely mentioned by the Western media, involves the creation of a full-fledged military alliance between China, Russia and the member states of SCO/CSTO. It is worth noting that the SCTO and the SCO held joint military exercises in 2006, which coincided with those conducted by Iran. (For further details see Michel Chossudovsky, Russia and Central Asian Allies Conduct War Games in Response to US Threats, Global Research, August 2006)

In the context of US war plans directed against Iran, the US is also intent upon weakening Iran's allies, namely Russia and China. In the case of China, Washington is seaking to disrupt Beijing's bilateral ties with Tehran as well as Iran's rapprochement with the SCO, which has its headquarters in Beijing.

China is an ally of Iran. Washington's intention is to use Beijing's alleged human rights violations as a pretext to target China, an ally of Iran.

In this regard, a military operation directed against Iran can only succeed if the structure of military alliances which link Iran to China and Russia is disrupted. This is something which German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck understood in relation to the structure of competing military alliances prevalent prior to World War I. The Triple Alliance was an agreement between Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy formed in 1882. In 1907, an Anglo-Russian agreement paved the way for the formation of the Triple Entente made up of France, the U.K. and Russia.

The Triple Alliance ultimately came to an end in 1914, when Italy withdrew from the alliance and declared its neutrality, thereby paving the way for the outbreak of World War I.

History points to the importance of competing military alliances. In the present context, the US and its NATO partners are seaking to undermine the formation of a cohesive Eurasian SCO-CSTO military alliance, which could effectively challenge and contain US-NATO military expansionism in Eurasia, combining the military capabilities not only of Russia and China, but also those of several former Soviet republics including Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

Encircling China

With the exception of its Northern frontier which borders on the Russian Federation, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, China is surrounded by US military bases.

The Eurasian Corridor

Since the 2001 invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, the US has a military presence on China's Western frontier, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The U.S. is intent upon establishing permanent military bases in Afghanistan, which occupies a strategic position bordering on the former Soviet republics, China and Iran.

Moreover, the US and NATO have also established since 1996, military ties with several former Soviet republics under GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldava). In the post 9/11 era, Washington has used the pretext of the "global war against terrorism" to further develop a U.S. military presence in GUUAM countries. Uzbekistan withdrew from GUUAM in 2002.(The organization is now referred to as GUAM).

China has oil interests in Eurasia as well as in sub-Saharan Africa, which encroach upon Anglo-American oil interests.

What is at stake is the geopolitical control over the Eurasian corridor.

In March 1999, the U.S. Congress adopted the Silk Road Strategy Act, which defined America’s broad economic and strategic interests in a region extending from the Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia. The Silk Road Strategy (SRS) outlines a framework for the development of America’s business empire along an extensive geographical corridor.

The successful implementation of the SRS requires the concurrent "militarization" of the entire Eurasian corridor as a means to securing control over extensive oil and gas reserves, as well as "protecting" pipeline routes and trading corridors. This militarization is largely directed against China, Russia and Iran.

The militarization of the South China Sea and of the Taiwan Straits is also an integral part of this strategy which, in the post 9/11 era, consists in deploying "on several fronts".

Moreover, China remains in the post-Cold War era a target for a first strike nuclear attack by the US.

In the 2002 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), China and Russia are identified along with a list of "rogue States" as potential targets for a pre-emptive nuclear attack by the US. China is listed in the NPR as "a country that could be involved in an immediate or potential contingency". Specifically, the Nuclear Posture Review lists a military confrontation over the status of Taiwan as one of the scenarios that could lead Washington to use nuclear weapons against China.

China has been encircled: The U.S. military is present in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straights, in the Korean Peninsula and the Sea of Japan, as well as in the heartland of Central Asia and on the Western border of China’s Xinjiang-Uigur autonomous region. Moreover, as part of the encirclement of China, "Japan has gradually been amalgamating and harmonizing its military policies with those of the U.S. and NATO." (See Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, Global Military Alliance: Encircling Russia and China, Global Research, 10 May 2007)

Weakening China from within: Covert Support to Secessionist Movements

Consistent with its policy of weakening and ultimately fracturing the People's Republic of China, Washington supports secessionist movements both in Tibet as wall as in the Xinjiang-Uigur autonomous region which borders onto North Eastern Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In Xinjiang-Uigur, Pakistani intelligence (ISI), acting in liaison with the CIA, supports several Islamist organizations. The latter include the Islamic Reformist Party, the East Turkestan National Unity Alliance, the Uigur Liberation Organization and the Central Asian Uigur Jihad Party. Several of these Islamic organizations have received support and training from Al Qaeda, which is a US sponsored intelligence asset. The declared objective of these Chinese-based Islamic organizations is the "establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the region" (For further details see Michel Chossudovsky, America's War on Terrorism, Global Research, Montreal, 2005, Chapter 2).

The caliphate would integrate Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan (West Turkestan) and the Uigur autonomous region of China (East Turkestan) into a single political entity.

The "caliphate project" encroaches upon Chinese territorial sovereignty. Supported by various Wahabi "foundations" from the Gulf States, secessionism on China’s Western frontier is, once again, consistent with U.S. strategic interests in Central Asia. Meanwhile, a powerful U.S.-based lobby is channeling support to separatist forces in Tibet.

By tacitly promoting the secession of the Xinjiang-Uigur region (using Pakistan’s ISI as a "go-between"), Washington is attempting to trigger a broader process of political destabilization and fracturing of the People’s Republic of China. In addition to these various covert operations, the U.S. has established military bases in Afghanistan and in several of the former Soviet republics, directly on China’s Western border.

The militarization of the South China Sea and of the Taiwan Straits is also an integral part of this strategy.(Ibid)

PsyOp: Discrediting the Chinese Leadership

The short-term objective is to discredit the Chinese leadership in the months leading up to the Beijing Olympic games, while also using the Tibet campaign to divert public opinion from the Middle East war and the war crimes committed by the US, NATO and Israel.

China's alleged human rights violations are highlighted as a distraction, to provide a human face to the US led war in the Middle East.

The US sponsored war plans directed against Iran are now acknowledged and justified due to Tehran's noncompliance with the demands of the "international community".

With Tibet making the headlines, the real humanitarian crisis in the Middle East is not front page news.

More generally, the issue of human rights is distorted: realities are turned upside down, the extensive crimes committed by the US and its coalition partners are either concealed or justified as a means to protecting society against terrorists.

A "double standards" in the assessment of human rights violations has been instated. In the Middle East, the killing of civilians is categorized as collateral damage. It is justified as part of the "global war on terrorism". The victims are said to be responsible for their own deaths.

The Olympic Torch

Carefully timed demonstrations on China's human rights violations in Western capitals have been set in motion.

A partial boycott of the Olympic games seems to be underway. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (a strong protagonist of US interests who has a relationship to the Bilderbergs), has called for a boycott of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Kouchner said the idea should be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers

The Olympic torch was lit at a ceremony in Greece, which was disrupted by "pro-Tibet activists". The event was sponsored by "Reporters Without Borders", an organization known to have links to US intelligence. (See, Diana Barahona, Reporters Without Borders Unmasked, May 2005). "Reporters Without Borders" also receives support for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The Olympic Torch is symbolic. The Psychological operation (PsyOp) consists in targeting the Olympic torch in the months leading up the Beijing Olympic games.

At each phase of this process, the Chinese leadership is denigrated by the Western media.

Global Economic Implications

The Tibet campaign directed against the Chinese leadership could backlash.

We are at the crossroads of the most serious economic and financial crisis of modern history. The unfolding economic crisis bears a direct relationship to the US sponsored military adventure in the Middle East and Central Asia.

China plays a strategic role with regard to US military expansionism. So far it has not exercised its veto power in the United Nations Security Council in relation to the several US sponsored UNSC resolutions directed against Iran.

China also plays a central role in the global economy and financial system.

Resulting from an accumulated trade surplus with the US, China's now holds 1.5 trillion dollars worth of US debt instruments (including US Treasury bills). It has the ability to significantly disrupt international currency markets. The US dollar would plunge to even lower levels, were China to sell off its dollar denominated debt holdings.(For further details see: F. William Engdahl, op cit)

Moreover, China is the largest producer of a wide range of manufactured goods which constitute, for the West, a significant share of monthly household consumption. Western retail giants rely on the continued and uninterrupted flow of cheap labor industrial commodities from China.

For the Western countries, China's insertion into the structures of global trade, investment, finance and intellectual property rights under the World Trade Organization (WTO) is absolutely crucial. Were Beijing to decide to curtail its "Made in China" manufacturing exports to the US, America's fragile and declining manufacturing base would not be able to fill the gap, at least in the short run.

Moreover, the US and its coalition partners including the UK, Germany, France and Japan have important investment interests in China. In 2001, the US and China signed a bilateral trading agreement prior to the accession of China to the WTO. This agreement allows US investors, including the major Wall Street financial institutions, to position themselves in Shanghai's financial and trading system as well as in China's domestic banking market.

While China is, in some regards, the West's "cheap labor industrial colony", China's relationship to the global trading system is by no means cast in steel.

China's relationship to global capitalism has its roots in the "Open Door Policy" initially formulated in 1979. (Michel Chossudovsky, Towards Capitalist Restoration. Chinese Socialism after Mao, Macmillian, London, 1986, chapters 7 and 8)

Since the 1980s, China has become the main supplier of industrial goods to Western markets. Any threat against China and/or military venture directed against China's Eurasian allies including Iran could potentially disrupt China's extensive trade in manufactured goods.

China's export oriented industrial base is the source of tremendous wealth formation in the advanced capitalist economies. Where does the wealth of the Walton family, owners of WalMart, originate? WalMart does produce anything. It imports cheap labor commodities "Made in China" and resells them in the US retail market at up to ten times their factory price.

This process of "import led development" has allowed the Western "industrialised" countries to close down a large part of their manufacturing outlets. In turn, China's industrial sweat shops serve to generate multibillion dollar profits for Western corporations, including the retail giants, which purchase and/or outsource their production to China.

Any threat of a military nature directed against China could have devastating economic consequences, far beyond the familiar upward spiral in the price of crude oil.

Michel Chossudovsky is Director of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG). He is the author of several international best-sellers including The Globalization of Poverty and the New World Order, Global Research, 2003 and America's "War on Terrorism", Global Research, 2005. He is a contributor to the Encyclopedia Britannica. His writings have been translated into more than 20 languages.

Michel Chossudovsky is also the author of the first comprehensive study on the restoration of capitalism in China, published more than twenty years ago. Michel Chossudovsky, Towards Capitalist Restoration. Chinese Socialism after Mao, Macmillian, London, 1986. He has recently returned from a visit to China. He was in Shanghai and Beijing in March 2008.

Nasal Irrigation

2008-04-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

I've had one helluva head cold the last few days. Slept 9 hours last night after the junos, went to class, came home and slept another 5 hours. Crazy.

Yesterday Patrick was telling me I should try this nasal rinse stuff, which reminded me of something my dad tried. Well after doing a little reading, a neti pot is the way to go. I tried it with a turkey baster just to see what it's like. My nose has never felt so empty and clean. Here's a vid for your viewing pleasure.

2008-03-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

IS THIS FOR REAL??????

I've heard of painting elephants before, but not a freakin self portrait????

Is it just me? Or is this absolutely hilarious.

2008-03-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

"The Crazy Indian Video" with SUBTITLES THAT SAY WHAT THE VIDEO SOUNDS LIKE IN ENGLISH!!!

NOT A TRANSLATION

maybe not appropriate, but.

2008-03-14T17:51:00.001-07:00

Chappelle's interpretation of the Apple Switcher commercials.
http://shizzville.com/video/chappelle-apple-switch-spoof

2008-03-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

Geek Much?

2008-03-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention what a geek I am (thanks ang).

I run my own online nation.

Realm of Sasquatches was created on January 16, 2008 7:55:05 PM (54 days ago).

I had long ago forgotten about Nation States, another online nation game that I played, ages ago. This new one is far and beyond better. I collect tax, pay bills, purchase arms, join alliances, build infrastructure, develop technology, and trade with other nations. Policy is less of an issue in this game. Join me, and together we'll take over the world!!! Muahhahaha.

Shit

2008-02-28T09:07:00.000-08:00

Yes we can song.

2008-02-12T13:42:00.000-08:00

A little on 'The War on Drugs'.

2008-02-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

This is an attempt at re-education. Much of what we know about cannabis use is wrong.

Cannabis does not kill brain cells also: (both sides). In fact it increases cell growth in the brain. For more interesting facts, check out www.drugpolicy.org.

"Exaggerating marijuana's potential harm only undermines the government's credibility and ability to effectively warn of the harms of truly dangerous drugs," Says NORML Head

The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse says The Truth Is,

6,503 Canadians (4,681 men and 1,823 women) lost their lives as a result of alcohol consumption in 1995, and 80,946 were hospitalized (51,765 men and 29,181 women) due to alcohol in 1995-96.

Motor vehicle accidents, alcohol liver cirrhosis and suicide accounted for the largest number of alcohol-related deaths, while accidental falls, alcohol dependence syndrome and motor vehicle accidents accounted for the largest number of alcohol-related hospitalizations.

Impaired driving is a major cause of death; among fatally injured drivers in 1996, 42% had some alcohol in their blood and 35% were over the legal limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

One in six deaths in Canada is caused by smoking. In 1995, there were 34,728 deaths and 500,345 years of potential life lost due to tobacco use in Canada.

Cannabis has caused ZERO deaths anywhere in the world, ever. It's simply not toxic enough to cause death.

It is not widely known that the origins of cannabis prohibition are based on lies. Canadian prohibition history can be found in more detail here.

In a post last year, I severely criticized a study on climate change by the Fraser Institute. On the topic of legalization of marijuana, which they recommend, I must commend them. I was directed to the study through the Green Party of Canada's policy site.

From the Fraser Institute study:
"At current prices, a marijuana cigarette costs about $1.50 to produce, and sells for around $8.60. Since the consumer currently is willing to pay $8.60, imagine a tax on marijuana cigarettes equal to the difference between the local production cost and the street price. This would transfer the revenue from the current producers and middlemen, many of whom are associated with organized crime, to the government. Crudely, government would have revenue of about $7 per cigarette. Using conservative assumptions about Canadian consumption, this comes to revenue of over $2 billion, and should marijuana be taxed on the same basis for export (leaving aside obvious problems of international diplomacy with the United States), additional revenue could be generated. Further, policing assets currently involved in enforcing marijuana-related statutes could be deployed elsewhere."

"What the analysis reveals is how widespread marijuana use is in Canada and how extensive production is in British Columbia. As a consequence, the broader social question becomes less
about whether we approve or disapprove of local production, but rather who shall enjoy the spoils. As it stands now, growers and distributors pay some of the costs and reap all of the benefits of the multi-billion dollar marijuana industry, while the non- marijuana-smoking taxpayer sees only costs."

Videos

Take a half an hour, and watch the following videos. Some of these video's I'd seen ages ago, but with a couple of these my sister showed me, a collection in my head was complete. Here they are.

We'll start out with something quick, to give you an idea of where we're headed. Check out this trailer from two gentlemen that have created a documentary on the Marijuana industry. Keep an eye out for it in theaters and DVD later this year. www.theunionmovie.com

George Strombolopolous interviewed the producers of the above film. Check it out.

Penn and Teller did a Bullshit episode on the War on Drugs. Watch it below in three parts.

Part 1

Part 2

and Part 3

Ending with something fun, check out this video from The Streets: The Irony of it All. The video illustrates the irony of the legality of alcohol, and the illegality of cannabis.

Let the comments roll in.

Dangerfield not Cloverfield

2008-02-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

Ok, first watch the Cloverfield Trailer, then watch the Dangerfield trailer.

Cloverfield Trailer

Dangerfield Trailer
It's a spoof some friends did. If you look closely on the right side of the screen in the last scene, you may see an adam. 1:47 to be exact. And at 1:29 Kelly is front and centre.

Eat Bison.

2008-01-16T11:00:00.001-08:00

The future of Solar Power?

2007-12-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

Hopefully this turns into something.

Ethenol is not the answer.

2007-12-01T17:15:00.001-08:00

The end of the Dollar.

2007-11-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

Dollar Crisis: None dare call it 'conspiracy' by Hal Lindsey
Global Research, November 11, 2007
WorldNetDaily
Email this article to a friend Print this article
Crude oil prices hit an all-time high this week, closing above $98 a barrel for the first time in history. According to the AAA, many drivers in my home state of California are already paying more than $4 a gallon for regular unleaded gas. And in one town south of Big Sur, unleaded gas topped $5 a gallon. The U.S. dollar is at an all-time low, even when compared against the hapless Canadian loonie. Five years ago, a loonie was worth 60 cents. Today, it's worth $1.12 and climbing. Yesterday, WorldNetDaily reported that the Chinese are considering abandoning the U.S. dollar as their national reserve currency. WND quoted Craig Smith's assessment of the consequences of such a move by Beijing on our economy: "If that were to happen, all bets are off, and we will be in a depression that makes 1929 look like child's play, or we will experience Weimar Republic inflation as the dollar makes extreme moves toward devaluations." On Tuesday, the U.S. national debt topped $9 trillion for the first time in history, according to the U.S. Treasury Department's daily accounting of the national debt. Nine trillion dollars! The number is so staggeringly high that it exceeds our ability to comprehend it in monetary units. Million, billion, trillion – in financial terms, for most of us, it means a lot of money, really a lot of money, but that is about as specific a picture as most ordinary people can grasp. Let's put all these "illions" into perspective. A million seconds is roughly 12 days, whereas a billion seconds is approximately 32 years. We understand dollars. And we understand time. So it would take 12 days to pay back a million dollars at a dollar a second. But if you started right now, you'd pay back a BILLION dollars, at a dollar a second, in the year 2039. A trillion seconds is roughly 32 thousand years. At a dollar a second, you'd pay back a TRILLION dollars in the year 34007. The U.S. debt stands at $9 trillion. If my calculator is working, then at a dollar a second, the U.S. could be debt- free in the year 290007. The point of that little exercise was two-fold. The first was to clarify the sheer volume of the debt; the second was to demonstrate the possibility that anybody in government really believes we can ever pay it off. Each U.S. citizen's share of the national debt works out, according to the National Debt clock, to $29,947.50. That means the average American family of five owes, collectively, $149,737.50. It also means that unless the average American family of five has a net worth of at least $149,737,50 in assets excluding liabilities (they don't), America is already bankrupt. Over the past few years, there has been growing public concern about the emerging "Security and Prosperity Partnership" plan that some say is really a "deceptive roadmap" to a coming North American Union and a new, unified currency tentatively called the "amero." The feds steadfastly deny such a plan exists, even as it opens the borders to Mexican truck traffic, widens the I-35 corridor from Mexico to Canada and, counterintuitively, refuses to tighten the borders with either Mexico or Canada, despite both logic and widespread public demand. All of these things have brought me to believe that powerful forces outside of our government – like the shadowy international Money Trust members of the "Bilderberg Group" – made a decision to force the formation of the North American Union along with the amero. There decisions have been instituted in the past via the Trilateral Commission, which is the dba for the nefarious Conference on Foreign Relations. Destroying the American dollar could force the crisis that would force the creation of the North American Union. To quote the title of a book of the 1960s era, "None Dare Call It Conspiracy." Ordinary Americans may not fully grasp just how dire the true economic picture is, but you can bet our leaders do. Yet from the White House to the Federal Reserve, nobody seems particularly eager to address the issue, preferring instead to talk about the "budget," as if the budget WERE the debt, rather than merely a measure of our ability to keep up with our payments on the debt. It is almost as if they already have a Plan B in reserve, ready and waiting to be triumphantly introduced – just in the nick of time. I wonder what it might be? END

Consider a supply demand curve, where the American Dollar is the product. Should China move away from the Dollar as its reserve currency, supply increases, thus we would see a further decrease in price. 9 Trillion dollars in debt! How and why does the world have confidence that the United States can ever pay it off? Trouble is afoot, I daresay.

Success!

2007-11-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

Hi Adam,

We've processed your request and removed your account from the site. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks for contacting Facebook,

Stella
Customer Support Representative
Facebook

Permanantly delete my Facebook account Please.

2007-11-15T10:49:00.000-08:00

All the pleases in the world don't work.

All facebook offers its users is a "Deactivate" option. All of your information and history remains on their servers.

Why do I want to delete my facebook account you may ask. All of your pictures, notes, and interests belongs to them. Plus Facebook wants to eat our babies. Put simply, allowing facebook to do whatever it pleases with what is mine, is contradictory to my ideals. And perhaps 260 of my friends finding that I've removed myself from facebook will have greater impact than any other means of protest I have.

So I decided enough was enough, and I have begun a facebook cleanse. And it feels good.

At this point, like me, you might begin wondering what exactly one must do to have their account fully deleted. In my search for an answer I found this site. This guy was told by facebook he would have to manually delete all personal information. That means wall posts, notes, friends, pictures, interests, and all minifeed stories. I had 372 wall posts, which I deleted, one by one, because there's no other method of doing so. I think I hit delete about a thousand times by the time all was said and done.

I have emailed info@facebook.com and abuse@facebook.com and told them to delete my account. I've received no reply in the last 24 hours.

If I don't get a reply soon, I'll be resorting other means.

Global Warming Equations from Treehugger

2007-11-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

This kid knows Bush

2007-11-05T14:43:00.001-08:00

The Conquest of Saskatchewan

2007-11-04T17:14:00.001-08:00

UnHernia'd

2007-10-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

They say in the end... it doesn't even matter.

That maybe true, but it matters before the end. My hernia being repaired matters. I nearly can't remember what it was like before it. Grade six.

I've been jogging again. I'm sitting in class typing this, and listening to a lecture at the same time, retaining what I'm hearing instead of wincing in pain.

Doc: *with an air of uncertainty, almost like he's asking me* So I repaired a hernia? On September 28th?
Me: Mmhmm.
Doc: At the High River hospital?
Me: Mmhmm.
Doc: Right (cause if I said he did, he must have right?). They're nice down there are they? Treat you well?
Me: Oh yea, I was pleasantly surprised. It's a whole different experience from a city hospital.
Doc: Yea that's the problem see. You get a few people saying how great it is and everyone in town wants to drive down there. They're overrun! There was this guy, he had sever abdominal pain, Foothills told him to drive down to High River, he did, they told him to drive to Foothills because they're surgeon wasn't on that night, Foothills said they couldn't help him, go back to High River, so they called me and I took out his appendix at midnight. What a night for that poor guy.
Me: Holy. That's quite a story.
Doc: So how ya feelin?
Me: Oh pretty good.
Doc: Any bruising?
Me: Virtually none.
Doc: Good, good. So what do you do again?
Me: University, and I work at the Outdoor Centre.
Doc: Oh yea! so you're back there?
Me: Yep.
Doc: So when are you having your sale? Any boats for sale?
Me: Well they're trying to do away with the sales. The fall one just isn't worth our time. But I did get rid of two kayaks on Sunday.
Doc: Oh yea?! I just bought a kayak!
Me: Really? What'd you get?
Doc: *clearly perturbed* Oh jeeze.... I should know this.... uhhhh..... hmmmm. uhhhhh, a Jackson!
Me: A river kayak?
Doc: Yea, me and a buddy took our boats out last week. Only thing was I got a call from the hospital. I was supposed to be doing a surgery! Whoops! I was supposed to be working! Hahahaha!
Me: Ha. Funny.
Doc: Anyways, lets have a look.
Me: *drops pants*
Doc: That ridge there will disappear with time.
Me: Yea I was wondering about that.
Doc: Looks fine. Any questions?
Me: Well what exactly did you do?
Doc: Well there was a hole this big, and I put a plug in it. Four stitches around it, scar tissue will hold it in. The plug is a fabric, close relation to nylon.
Me: I see.
Doc: Anything else?
Me: Yea what are the chances this is somehow related to back problems?
Doc: None. You don't really get reference pain in the back from a frontal problem, but back problems do sometime cause reference pain in the front.
Me: Well my back has been remarkably better. Maybe it was just the days of rest. Maybe for years my body has been compensating and now it doesn't have to.
Doc: Ha, well if I fixed your back too, you owe me a coffee! *slaps me on the shoulder*

Is this guy for real? Walking out of the office I thought to myself that guy partied waaaayyy to much in college.
Doc: "But look at me now riiiiight?!! I'm a dok- tuuuurrrr! Hahahahah. toooootally wicked!"

Best surgeon evER?

RPS

2007-09-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Rock

Paper

Scissors

The World Premier of a fantastic documentary, Rock Paper Scissors, played on the 25th of September at the Calgary International Film Festival. The film documents the trials and tribulations of the founders of the World RPS Society. What we learn from the film is that there's more to Rock Paper Scissors than luck and chance. There's intuition and strategy involved, and something else too. There is something else we're tapping into when we play the game. Sometimes you just have a feeling, like you already know you're going to win or lose before it happens. You just know.

The matter here seems so ridiculous, you may think this is a mockumentary. I assure you it is not. These are real people. The films main characters, the Walker brothers, attended the premier. My personal favorite character, C. Urbanus, did not have his passport in order to come to Canada. Once you see the film, you might not be surprised at that.

Check out the trailer.

White Water Black Gold

2007-09-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

White Water Black Gold
Basca and the 747’s in the boreal
Written by David
Posted in Citizenshift, White Water Black Gold
September 24, 2007 at 11:02 am

Our mascot for the trip was Basca (i.e. from Athabasca), a little wooden canoe intricately carved with love and attention to detail. Alan has been photographing Basca on our journey in various situations- in rapids, on the beach, on the rocks. We even have a shot of Basca on the glacier early in our trip, hitching a ride on my backpack.

Basca is pictured here on some free flowing natural bitumen we saw oozing into the river at a place called Bitumount. The bitumen flows freely into the river in certain places- evidence of the energy resource in this area. Bitumount was one of the first places that bitumen was extracted in what turned out to be a failed experiment in the quest for energy. It is a small mining camp that has today been abandonned. Today, this area and the bitumen resource has attracted much attention again due to the political stability of Alberta and the high per barrel price of oil. When you hold this thick gooey stuff in your hand you realize our energy situation today- this is “bottom of the barrel” energy- in the words of the former CEO of Shell Canada, it’s “crap oil”. We have so little oil left in the world today that we are reduced to mining our oil instead of drilling for it. If you believe that there is plenty of cheap oil today, then ask yourself why we are going to the trouble to get this “crap” out of the ground. It’s expensive, time consuming and environmentallly damaging. The things our society will do to avoid change!! Check out this fact sheet on Bitumount and the oilsands.

http://www.usask.ca/education/ideas/tplan/sslp/yukon/bitumont.htm

We had stopped to do some photography on the side of the river in a quiet and peaceful place. We were in the middle of nowhere, enjoying the peacefulness of the place, when all of a sudden we heard this dull roar. It grew louder and louder, and I started to get a little frightened- was one of the plants nearby experiencing a meltdown or something? What on earth could that sound be?

Then, we had the answer. Across the river, the nose of a 747 jet poked out from the trees and began its upward climb. We were quite puzzled as to why there would be an airstrip out here in the middle of nowhere. It turns out that oil companies have built landing strips large enough for 747’s to fly their workers in to work in the mines. Later, as we flew over the oilsands, we could see the construction of several of these landing strips. I guess this gets us around the problem of housing in Fort McMurray! Just fly straight from Calgary to camp.

Basca was quite surprised.

taken from original posting at http://citizen.nfb.ca/blogs/category/white-water-black-gold/

Untitled

2007-09-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

CD X-change 2007

2007-09-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

Just completed, the 2007 edition playlist here for your reference. For this compilation, I had inspiration from the TV show Weeds, and help from Kelly.

1. Joel Plaskett Emergency - Extraordinary
2. Citizen Cope - Bullet and a Target
3. Zeroleen - All Good
4. The New Pornographers - The Laws Have Changed
5. The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry
6. Joanna Newsom - Sprout and the Bean
7. Pinback - Shag
8. Jenny Owen Youngs - F***, Was I
9. The Decemberists - Los Angeles, I'm Yours
10. The Perishers - Sway
11. Stars - Sleep Tonight (Junior Boys)
12. Paul Kelly - You're 39, You're Beautiful & You're Mine
13. Enrique Iglesias - Escape
14. Marin Creed - I Can't Move
15. Malvina Reynolds - Little Boxes
16. NRBQ - Wacky Tobacky
17. David Alen Coe - Don't bite the Dick that Fucks ya
18. Ray Price - I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)
19. Corb Lund Band - Time to Switch to Whiskey
20. Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir - Oh Sorrow
21. Bruce Springsteen - Mrs. McGrath
22. Willie Nelson - Undo the Right
23. The Killers - Exitlude

Untitled.

2007-08-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

A Child's Guide To United States Foreign Policy

2007-08-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

July 19, 2003

Q: Daddy, why did we have to attack Iraq?

A: Because they had weapons of mass destruction honey.

Q: But the inspectors didn't find any weapons of mass destruction.

A: That's because the Iraqis were hiding them.

Q: And that's why we invaded Iraq?

A: Yep. Invasions always work better than inspections.

Q: But after we invaded them, we STILL didn't find any weapons of mass destruction, did we?

A: That's because the weapons are so well hidden. Don't worry, we'll find something, probably right before the 2004 election.

Q: Why did Iraq want all those weapons of mass destruction?

A: To use them in a war, silly.

Q: I'm confused. If they had all those weapons that they planned to use in a war, then why didn't they use any of those weapons when we went to war with them?

A: Well, obviously they didn't want anyone to know they had those weapons, so they chose to die by the thousands rather than defend themselves.

Q: That doesn't make sense Daddy. Why would they choose to die if they had all those big weapons to fight us back with?

A: It's a different culture. It's not supposed to make sense.

Q: I don't know about you, but I don't think they had any of those weapons our government said they did.

A: Well, you know, it doesn't matter whether or not they had those weapons. We had another good reason to invade them anyway.

Q: And what was that?

A: Even if Iraq didn't have weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein was a cruel dictator, which is another good reason to invade another country.

Q: Why? What does a cruel dictator do that makes it OK to invade his country?

A: Well, for one thing, he tortured his own people.

Q: Kind of like what they do in China?

A: Don't go comparing China to Iraq. China is a good economic competitor, where millions of people work for slave wages in sweatshops to make U.S. corporations richer.

Q: So if a country lets its people be exploited for American corporate gain, it's a good country, even if that country tortures people?

A: Right.

Q: Why were people in Iraq being tortured?

A: For political crimes, mostly, like criticizing the government. People who criticized the government in Iraq were sent to prison and tortured.

Q: Isn't that exactly what happens in China?

A: I told you, China is different.

Q: What's the difference between China and Iraq?

A: Well, for one thing, Iraq was ruled by the Ba'ath party, while China is Communist.

Q: Didn't you once tell me Communists were bad?

A: No, just Cuban Communists are bad.

Q: How are the Cuban Communists bad?

A: Well, for one thing, people who criticize the government in Cuba are sent to prison and tortured.

Q: Like in Iraq?

A: Exactly.

Q: And like in China, too?

A: I told you, China's a good economic competitor. Cuba, on the other hand, is not.

Q: How come Cuba isn't a good economic competitor?

A: Well, you see, back in the early 1960s, our government passed some laws that made it illegal for Americans to trade or do any business with Cuba until they stopped being communists and started being capitalists like us.

Q: But if we got rid of those laws, opened up trade with Cuba, and started doing business with them, wouldn't that help the Cubans become capitalists?

A: Don't be a smart-ass.

Q: I didn't think I was being one.

A: Well, anyway, they also don't have freedom of religion in Cuba.

Q: Kind of like China and the Falun Gong movement?

A: I told you, stop saying bad things about China. Anyway, Saddam Hussein came to power through a military coup, so he's not really a legitimate leader anyway.

Q: What's a military coup?

A: That's when a military general takes over the government of a country by force, instead of holding free elections like we do in the United States.

Q: Didn't the ruler of Pakistan come to power by a military coup?

A: You mean General Pervez Musharraf? Uh, yeah, he did, but Pakistan is our friend.

Q: Why is Pakistan our friend if their leader is illegitimate?

A: I never said Pervez Musharraf was illegitimate.

Q: Didn't you just say a military general who comes to power by forcibly overthrowing the legitimate government of a nation is an illegitimate leader?

A: Only Saddam Hussein. Pervez Musharraf is our friend, because he helped us invade Afghanistan.

Q: Why did we invade Afghanistan?

A: Because of what they did to us on September 11th.

Q: What did Afghanistan do to us on September 11th?

A: Well, on September 11th, nineteen men, fifteen of them Saudi Arabians, hijacked four airplanes and flew three of them into buildings, killing over 3,000 Americans.

Q: So how did Afghanistan figure into all that?

A: Afghanistan was where those bad men trained, under the oppressive rule of the Taliban.

Q: Aren't the Taliban those bad radical Islamics who chopped off people's heads and hands?

A: Yes, that's exactly who they were. Not only did they chop off people's heads and hands, but they oppressed women, too.

Q: Didn't the Bush administration give the Taliban 43 million dollars back in May of 2001?

A: Yes, but that money was a reward because they did such a good job fighting drugs.

Q: Fighting drugs?

A: Yes, the Taliban were very helpful in stopping people from growing opium poppies.

Q: How did they do such a good job?

A: Simple. If people were caught growing opium poppies, the Taliban would have their hands and heads cut off.

Q: So, when the Taliban cut off people's heads and hands for growing flowers, that was OK, but not if they cut people's heads and hands off for other reasons?

A: Yes. It's OK with us if radical Islamic fundamentalists cut off people's hands for growing flowers, but it's cruel if they cut off people's hands for stealing bread.

Q: Don't they also cut off people's hands and heads in Saudi Arabia?

A: That's different. Afghanistan was ruled by a tyrannical patriarchy that oppressed women and forced them to wear burqas whenever they were in public, with death by stoning as the penalty for women who did not comply.

Q: Don't Saudi women have to wear burqas in public, too?

A: No, Saudi women merely wear a traditional Islamic body covering.

Q: What's the difference?

A: The traditional Islamic covering worn by Saudi women is a modest yet fashionable garment that covers all of a woman's body except for her eyes and fingers. The burqa, on the other hand, is an evil tool of patriarchal oppression that covers all of a woman's body except for her eyes and fingers.

Q: It sounds like the same thing with a different name.

A: Now, don't go comparing Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are our friends.

Q: But I thought you said 15 of the 19 hijackers on September 11th were from Saudi Arabia.

A: Yes, but they trained in Afghanistan.

Q: Who trained them?

A: A very bad man named Osama bin Laden.

Q: Was he from Afghanistan?

A: Uh, no, he was from Saudi Arabia too. But he was a bad man, a very bad man.

Q: I seem to recall he was our friend once.

A: Only when we helped him and the mujahadeen repel the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan back in the 1980s.

Q: Who are the Soviets? Was that the Evil Communist Empire Ronald Reagan talked about?

A: There are no more Soviets. The Soviet Union broke up in 1990 or thereabouts, and now they have elections and capitalism like us. We call them Russians now.

Q: So the Soviets ? I mean, the Russians ? are now our friends?

A: Well, not really. You see, they were our friends for many years after they stopped being Soviets, but then they decided not to support our invasion of Iraq, so we're mad at them now. We're also mad at the French and the Germans because they didn't help us invade Iraq either.

Q: So the French and Germans are evil, too?

A: Not exactly evil, but just bad enough that we had to rename French fries and French toast to Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast.

Q: Do we always rename foods whenever another country doesn't do what we want them to do?

A: No, we just do that to our friends. Our enemies, we invade.

Q: But wasn't Iraq one of our friends back in the 1980s?

A: Well, yeah. For a while.

Q: Was Saddam Hussein ruler of Iraq back then?

A: Yes, but at the time he was fighting against Iran, which made him our friend, temporarily.

Q: Why did that make him our friend?

A: Because at that time, Iran was our enemy.

Q: Isn't that when he gassed the Kurds?

A: Yeah, but since he was fighting against Iran at the time, we looked the other way, to show him we were his friend.

Q: So anyone who fights against one of our enemies automatically becomes our friend?

A: Most of the time, yes.

Q: And anyone who fights against one of our friends is automatically an enemy?

A: Sometimes that's true, too. However, if American corporations can profit by selling weapons to both sides at the same time, all the better.

Q: Why?

A: Because war is good for the economy, which means war is good for America. Also, since God is on America's side, anyone who opposes war is a godless un-American Communist. Do you understand now why we attacked Iraq?

Q: I think so. We attacked them because God wanted us to, right?

A: Yes.

Q: But how did we know God wanted us to attack Iraq?

A: Well, you see, God personally speaks to George W. Bush and tells him what to do.

Q: So basically, what you're saying is that we attacked Iraq because George W. Bush hears voices in his head?

A: Yes! You finally understand how the world works. Now close your eyes, make yourself comfortable, and go to sleep. Good night.

http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2003/07/03-07-19.shtml

Zeitgeist

2007-08-09T03:12:00.000-07:00

What does Christianity, 911 and The Federal Reserve ... all have in common?

Zeitgeist was created as a not for profit expression to inspire people to start looking at the world from a more critical perspective and to understand that very often things are not what the population at large think they are. www.zeitgeistmovie.com

Poor Food.

2007-08-06T12:14:00.001-07:00

The all time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims.

2007-08-01T00:20:00.000-07:00

The only debate on Intelligent Design that is worthy of its subject

2007-07-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, October 18, 2005
from: http://www.pkblogs.com/abstractfactory/2005/10/only-debate-on-intelligent-design-that.html
The only debate on Intelligent Design that is worthy of its subject

Moderator: We're here today to debate the hot new topic, evolution versus Intelligent Des---

(Scientist pulls out baseball bat.)

Moderator: Hey, what are you doing?

(Scientist breaks Intelligent Design advocate's kneecap.)

Intelligent Design advocate: YEAAARRRRGGGHHHH! YOU BROKE MY KNEECAP!

Scientist: Perhaps it only appears that I broke your kneecap. Certainly, all the evidence points to the hypothesis I broke your kneecap. For example, your kneecap is broken; it appears to be a fresh wound; and I am holding a baseball bat, which is spattered with your blood. However, a mere preponderance of evidence doesn't mean anything. Perhaps your kneecap was designed that way. Certainly, there are some features of the current situation that are inexplicable according to the "naturalistic" explanation you have just advanced, such as the exact contours of the excruciating pain that you are experiencing right now.

Intelligent Design advocate: AAAAH! THE PAIN!

Scientist: Frankly, I personally find it completely implausible that the random actions of a scientist such as myself could cause pain of this particular kind. I have no precise explanation for why I find this hypothesis implausible --- it just is. Your knee must have been designed that way!

Intelligent Design advocate: YOU BASTARD! YOU KNOW YOU DID IT!

Scientist: I surely do not. How can we know anything for certain? Frankly, I think we should expose people to all points of view. Furthermore, you should really re-examine whether your hypothesis is scientific at all: the breaking of your kneecap happened in the past, so we can't rewind and run it over again, like a laboratory experiment. Even if we could, it wouldn't prove that I broke your kneecap the previous time. Plus, let's not even get into the fact that the entire universe might have just popped into existence right before I said this sentence, with all the evidence of my alleged kneecap-breaking already pre-formed.

Intelligent Design advocate: That's a load of bullshit sophistry! Get me a doctor and a lawyer, not necessarily in that order, and we'll see how that plays in court!

Scientist (turning to audience): And so we see, ladies and gentlemen, when push comes to shove, advocates of Intelligent Design do not actually believe any of the arguments that they profess to believe. When it comes to matters that hit home, they prefer evidence, the scientific method, testable hypotheses, and naturalistic explanations. In fact, they strongly privilege naturalistic explanations over supernatural hocus-pocus or metaphysical wankery. It is only within the reality-distortion field of their ideological crusade that they give credence to the flimsy, ridiculous arguments which we so commonly see on display. I must confess, it kind of felt good, for once, to be the one spouting free-form bullshit; it's so terribly easy and relaxing, compared to marshaling rigorous arguments backed up by empirical evidence. But I fear that if I were to continue, then it would be habit-forming, and bad for my soul. Therefore, I bid you adieu.

A Brazillian

2007-07-31T08:27:00.001-07:00

This will only take two minutes.

2007-07-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

The Empty Cage

2007-07-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Ryan Larkin

2007-06-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

Somehow I missed it in the news. Watching some old National Film Board of Canada animations, I came across a CBC news story about the death of Ryan Larkin. Here it is, followed by two of his films you may remember.

The death of Ryan Larkin

Walking

Syrinx

2007-06-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

It appears that of late, I have had little to say. I have much to say in reality. It's just that I simply haven't taken the time to do so. I suppose I've just been busy being, instead of saying.

Today was the day the papers had to be in for the J'explore Quebec bursary program. They're still on my desk, blank. The thought of five weeks in a desk in a classroom makes my back hurt.

That is all. Now enjoy the homemade music video below.

Lip Dub - Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger from amandalynferri on Vimeo

Lion Mutilates 42 Midgets in Cambodian Ring-Fight

2007-05-22T16:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.fmft.net/archives/BBC_NEWS.htm

Best Haiku ever.

2007-05-15T23:32:00.000-07:00

Haiku's are easy
But sometimes they don't make sense
Refrigerator

Turn your televisions off you maniacs!!

2007-05-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

2007-05-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

You May be Brainwashed by Corporate Media if You:

... believe the 5 corporations who own almost all of the media in the U.S. are liberal.

... believe $300 billion of U.S. tax money, allocated for the war and reconstruction in Iraq is actually going to Iraq .

... are unaware Iraq had 650 million barrels of oil in reserve just before the war in Iraq .

... are unaware at least $8.8 billion is known to be missing in Iraqi oil revenue from the period the U.S. was in control of Iraq .

... are unaware 198 million in Iraqi dollars is missing from the Iraq treasury from the period the U.S. was in control of Iraq .

... are unaware that war is exceptionally profitable for a small number of investors.

... believe Halliburton's no-bid contracts have nothing to do with former CEO, now Vice President Dick Cheney.

... are unaware that the Iraq war is the biggest case of war profiteering in human history.

... believe Saddam Hussein or Iraq had anything to do with 9/11, Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden.

... are unaware the U.S. has killed more than 10,000 innocent women and children in Iraq with cluster bombs and depleted uranium munitions.

... believe depleted uranium weapons are not radioactive or deadly weapons of mass destruction (they are 12% less radioactive than nuclear weapons grade uranium and very deadly).

... believe wealthy, warmongers can also be true Christians.

... are unaware stem cell research threatens the pharmaceutical industry by curing and preventing diseases which drug companies profit from by treating with drugs.

... are unaware the pharmaceutical industry is based entirely on treatment and is threatened by cures and prevention.

... are unaware the Food and Drug Administration does NO testing of food or drugs. They only set guidelines and review the testing corporations do of their own products.

... are unaware the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act has been 're- estimated' to cost U.S. taxpayers $1.3 Trillion (not the original $243 billion or the 'adjusted' $400 billion), and only pharmaceutical corporations and HMOs benefit from the increase.

... are unaware the Boston Tea party was a protest against corporate corruption (East India Company).

... are unaware our founding fathers intentionally made sure that corporations had no power over people or our government.

... are unaware corporations have fought aggressively and systematically over the past 200 years to increase their power and influence over our government.

... are unaware U.S. corporations are now protected under the 14th amendment as a legal 'person.'

... are unaware the definition of fascism is: 'The marriage of corporation and state' -- Benito Mussolini.

... are unaware well known U.S. corporate interests attempted a military coup against Franklin Roosevelt in 1933.

... are unaware most corrupt and wasteful government projects are run primarily by corporate contractors.

... are unaware 'less government' means paying corporate contractors three times what we pay government workers to do the same work.

... are unaware American corporations behave very differently in other countries.

... are unaware Enron and others were NOT investigated until they collapsed under the weight of their own greed.

... are unaware Bush's massive tax cuts were invested overseas to build sweat shops, factories and other facilities, where our jobs have been outsourced.

... are unaware outsourcing American jobs weakens labor unions and keeps wages low and corporate profits high .

... are unaware weak enforcement of immigration laws lowers wages in the U.S. and increases corporate profits.

... are unaware 'Free Trade' means 'Slave Wages' to poor people in Honduras, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Burma, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, El Salvador, Guatemala, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and others.

... believe America is hated all over the world because of our freedom.

... believe the massive U.S. national debt (now 8,385,490,844,524.85) created by Republican presidents Reagan, Bush and Bush does not seriously threaten the future of our children and grandchildren.

... are unaware massive national debt ensures the expansion of poverty, which keeps wages low, which increases corporate profits.

... are unaware widespread poverty keeps wages low and corporate profits high.

... are unaware weak gun control laws perpetuate violence in poor neighborhoods which expands poverty, reduces wages and increases corporate profits.

... are unaware abortions go down only when we reduce poverty, expand healthcare and improve education.

... are unaware that making abortion illegal expands poverty which reduces wages and increases corporate profits.

... believe the Michael Jackson trial deserved more news coverage than the genocide of 400,000 people in Darfur , Sudan.

... believe Social Security is the biggest priority in America .

... are unaware privatizing Social Security would be a massive give away to experienced Wall Street investors that would also destabilize Social Security.

... are unaware that NOT funding 'No Child Left Behind' is dismantling funding for schools in poor neighborhoods, which expands poverty, lowers wages and increases corporate profits.

... are unaware the Healthy Forests Initiative has led to massive clear cutting of prime lumber and almost none of the forest fire prevention that it was sold on.

... are unaware the Clear Skies Initiative has increased pollution.

... are unaware Tort Reform will absolve corporations of massive negligent liabilities for things like asbestos exposure, pollution, mercury poisoning, hazardous waste, mad cow disease and all sorts of dangerous products and practices.

... are unaware mercury pollution (mostly from coal fired power plants and medical vaccines) has caused an epidemic of Autism, ADD and ADHD in the U.S.

... are unaware the Bush administration is dismantling three decades of US environmental protection.

... believe global warming is a rumor or conspiracy.

... are unaware 'Global Warming' is causing colder weather because the melting ice caps are cooling the gulf stream.

... believe the science of evolution is less valid than literal fundamentalist interpretation of creationism.

... believe the UN scandals could have taken place without the largest, most influential member and host nation being involved.

... believe making a war monger ambassador to the UN will help prevent more wars.

... are unaware that expanding equal rights to any segment of the population (including gay people) also expands economic opportunity and puts pressure on wages, which would reduce corporate profits.

If you believe Fox News is fair and balanced, you have been brainwashed by corporate owned media

Credit goes to waxzy for finding this one.

--------------------
"To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men"
- Abraham Lincoln

http://tracker.conspiracyresearch.org

Scary Mary.... Poppins.

2007-05-07T19:18:00.001-07:00

And Anchorman/300 recut

Slip of the tongue.

2007-05-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

A young man makes a pass at a beautiful stranger: "What's your ethnic makeup?" Her reply is an eye opening schooling in race and gender.

2007-04-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

After watching "Who killed the electric car" i've been imersing myself in everything to with electric cars. I want to build one, and the internet is full of guides on how to do it. With their forkenswift, these guys are doing it on a beer budget.

Love the comments from the pedestrian.

But there's more. This year saw the introduction of the Tesla roadster. The Lotus name seems to thrown around, and I think they had something to do with the production of this incredible machine.

The landlord needs to get her drink on.

2007-04-17T07:51:00.001-07:00

God's Debris

2007-04-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

This evening I read a small book by the author of Dilbert, Scott Adams. It is a self proclaimed "thought experiment" somewhere between fiction and non. Some parts I liked. Others I did not. Enjoy the following sample.

From the chapter on Holy Lands - God's debris.

"Lets say you dug up all the dirt and rocks and vegetation of a holy place and moved it someplace else, leaving nothing but a hole that is one mile deep in the original location. Would the holy land now be the new location where you put the dirt or the old location with the hole?"
"I think both would be considered holy," I said, hedging my bets.
"Suppose you took only the very top later of soil and vegetation from the holy place, the newer stuff that blew in or grew after the religious event occurred thousands of years ago. Would the place you dumped the topsoil and vegetation be holy?"
"That's a little tricker," I said. "I'll say the new location isn't holy because the topsoil that you moved there isn't itself holy, it was only in contact with holy land. If holy land could turn anything that touched it into more holy land, then the whole planet would be holy."
"The old man smiled. "The concept of location is a useful delsion when applied to real estate ownership, or when giving someone directions to the store. But when it is viewed through the eyes of an omnipotent God, the concept of location is absurd."
"While we speak, nations are arming themselves to fight for control of lands they consider holy. They are trapped in the delusion that locations oare real things, not just fictions of the mind. Many will die."

-Scott Adams.

I liken this book to Ismael by Daniel Quinn. The same kind of conversational format discussing non-fiction subject matter. It's a quick read, a couple of hours should suffice.

Alanis sings "My Humps"

2007-04-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

This was just too good. I hate this damn song, and love that Morissette went to such great lengths to mock it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It really highlights the absurdity of these lyrics.

my lovely lady humps (check it out)

Love the message this song sends to all the female youth out there. It's definitely right up there with Promiscuous Girl by Nelly Furtado.

Lyrics to the Black Eyed Peas version:

What you gon' do with all that junk?
All that junk inside your trunk?
I'ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump
My hump, my hump my lovely little lumps. (Check it out)

I drive these scrubber crazy,
I do it on the daily,
They treat me really nicely,
They buy me all these ice-ys.
dolce & Gabbana,
Fendi and then Donna
Caring, they be sharin'
All their money got me wearin' fly
Brother I ain't askin,
They say they love my ass in
Seven Jeans, True Religion,
I say no, but they keep givin'
So I keep on takin'
And no I ain't TAKEN
We can keep on datin'
I keep on demonstrating.

My love, my love, my love, my love
You love my lady lumps,
My hump, my hump, my hump,
My humps they got you,
She's got me spending.
(Oh) Spendin' all your money on me and spending time on me.
She's got me spendin'.
(Oh) Spendin' all your money on me, on me, on me

What you gon' do with all that junk?
All that junk inside yo trunk?
I'ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
What u gon' do with all that ass?
All that ass inside them jeans?
I'm goin make, make, make, make you scream
Make you scream,scream.
Cos of my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump.
My hump, my hump my lovely lady lumps. (Check it out)

I met a girl down at the disco.
She said hey, hey, hey yea let's go.
I could be your baby, you can be my honey
Let's spend time not money.
And mix your milk wit my cocoa puff,
Milky, milky cocoa puff,
Mix your milk with my cocoa puff, milky, milky riiiiiiight.

They say I'm really sexy,
The boys they wanna sex me.
They always standin' next to me,
Always dancing next to me,
Tryin' a feel my hump, hump.
Lookin' at my lump, lump.
You can look but you can't touch it,
If you touch it I'ma start some drama,
You don't want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
So don't pull on my hand boy,
You ain't my man, boy,
I'm just tryn'a dance boy,
And move my hump.

My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump,
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump.
My lovely lady lumps (lumps)

It's been a while

2007-04-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things don't go as planned. I'm in the process of switching my major to Political Science from International Relations. 6 classes this summer, and I'll be home free: degree in hand, no obligation to return. This way I can learn a language on my own time, and not be under pressure to do so to finish my degree. Six more classes and being done has much more appeal than in a year or two, attempting senior level French classes. And really, how much will the difference in my major affect the rest of my life. I'm going with not much, they're both a Bachelor of Social Science.

Tonight was the last night of the Yoga class I enrolled in. It was free, a benefit of having at my fingertips the University Rec registration system. I only went to about 50% of the classes, because I couldn't decide if it was good or bad for my back. The damn thing is still bothering me. It has become markedly better, and I'm now treated to the odd day, or partial day, of freedom from pain and discomfort. I'm now able to do push-ups with zero pain, sit-ups are still an impossibility. Two Advil nightly, 1.5 fluid ounces of pure organic Goji extract, ice, regular stretching, and easy exercises have gotten me to a point where I'm confident saying I'm closer than ever to being recovered.

Goji Juice. All indications say this "health fad" is nothing more than a new age snake oil. I've watched the CBC's Marketplace on it, and it does a good job convincing the viewer that Goji is a marketing scam. I also read a journal article by two guys who took the berries into the Himalayas. They showed the berry to some old women in the hills and asked them were they could find these berries. 60 year old Himalayan women had never seen them before. The term Goji seems to only be used in the Health food industry. Its common name is Wolfberry, the fruit of two very closely related species: Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. But that's from Wikipedia, and Dr. Mindell may have written the article himself.

It seems like a scam. Whether it has to do with this extract or not, my back is better than it has been in months. About 7 months. It was my father who thought I should try it, he too has noticed improved health from drinking the stuff. And we're not selling it. Don't ask me where to buy it. But if you have some recurring health problem, it may be worth a try. I will make no remarkable claims about the science, there doesn't seem to be any. Maybe it's just a placebo effect. But I say.... what could it hurt?

Kill the Killers.

2007-03-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

BBC Global Dimming.

2007-03-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Though the title sounds a little hokey, after watching this worthwhile video, I was left astounded. Very interesting stuff. Basic premise: evaporation rates have been dropping for decades, sunlight reaching the earths surface has been dropping for decades, and yet the temperature continues to rise. A paradoxical conundrum to say the least.

Get comfy, it's 50 minutes.

People.

2007-03-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs unveils the new iRack.

2007-03-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

Watch the video, if you're like me, you'll get it about half way through the video.

2007-03-17T10:32:00.001-07:00

2007-03-16T22:45:00.000-07:00

Where has the desire gone?

2007-03-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

I had plans this morning to go to school early and knock off a good portion of a paper.

I laid in bed until 11. The desire to go to school, to be at school, have all but disappeared. With only a month to go, you'd think I'd be excited.

All the "buckle down Adam" and "grit your teeth Adam" has done little to stem the outflow of determination.

I keep telling myself I just have to make a conscious decision to reverse this flow. I just can't stop thinking about how my time is allotted for me, by professors. And on the other hand, I made the decision to put myself into this position.

Right now, I have a massive ice block of a head. I've been working on my new bike the last few days. It has a fancy "pink dink" label and everything. Two ladies I traveled with in Australia had a pink Hyundai they called pink dink. That's where I got the name.

Maarten sold me his bike for "a few beers." Hell of a price if you ask me. It did take a major overhaul. One broken axle, pitted bearings, and general disrepair were no match for Adam. But she's all tuned up now. My first instinct was to paint the bike. But I decided I was being vain. My own vanity should not cost this bike its character. Plus... who the hell is going to steal a pink bike with a pink dink label? No one. Guaranteed.

I've decided to start wearing brown pants again. There was a time when people questioned my hygiene... oh those were the days.

In other news, I've got myself a new ring tone on my phone. I've had numerous people call me today, and each time, people around me were wondering how the hell a goat got into the library. Fantastic. The looks on peoples faces, before they realize it's a cell, are priceless. Last summer, I recall sitting at the Outdoor Centre desk, and wondering who the hell brought a goat inside! Of course, I had to get up and look for one. It took me quite some time to realize that the customer facing us had a 'sheepish' look about him, and the baaaaing quit as soon as he answered his cell phone. That is now me. I love it.

The Fam.

2007-03-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

Summer 2006. 4 Woro's.

the Headshaving.

2007-03-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

www.shaveyourhead.ca

Tonight I signed up to shave my head for Cancer.

My good friend and coworker lost his father to cancer this past xmas. I too, have lost a family member to cancer, my grandfather.

I've shaved my head numerous times over the last few years, and I figure... why not raise some money to do it? Let me know if you can spare any.

Mother Earth is not a whore.

2007-03-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

200 people gathered today to protest Canada's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol outside the Harry Hays building in Calgary.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change defines the protocol.

* The Protocol's major feature is that it has mandatory targets on greenhouse-gas emissions for the world's leading economies which have accepted it. These targets range from -8 per cent to +10 per cent of the countries' individual 1990 emissions levels "with a view to reducing their overall emissions of such gases by at least 5 per cent below existing 1990 levels in the commitment period 2008 to 2012." In almost all cases -- even those set at +10 per cent of 1990 levels -- the limits call for significant reductions in currently projected emissions. Future mandatory targets are expected to be established for "commitment periods" after 2012. These are to be negotiated well in advance of the periods concerned.

If said limits are not met, the Kyoto Protocol establishes that "credits" may be purchased to pay for this overage of C02.

In today's western centric system of laissez-faire economics, emission of production are simply an "externality" that escapes computation in regards to progress and development. The Kyoto protocol introduces a system of trading these carbon emissions, creating an incentive program to reduce emissions. It makes CO2 emissions costly to produce!

To me, one that argues against Kyoto, is arguing that CO2 emissions should be free, despite the evidence of its damage.

So today I went to protest against our great nations withdrawal.

Pangea

2007-03-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

Together, these videos have me boggled. This first video disputes the idea that Pangaea was a possibility because of conflicting rock/water weight ratios. It's like all my life I've been think the earth was flat... and found out it's actually round.

http://www.continuitystudios.net/pangea.html

And now a fascinating alternative to the plate tectonic theory we were all taught in grade school. The earth is GROWING.

too true

2007-03-08T15:16:00.000-08:00

Baby Punching

2007-03-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

1. baby punch

When you are running through the mall and you punch a baby in a stroller whithout breaking your stride. This is always a good time. You havn't lived til you've been baby punching.

'This show sucks, I'm going baby punching.'

did you know?

2007-03-05T18:53:00.001-08:00

Is this legit?

2007-03-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

I know some of you that read this are engineers. So after watching this video... what do you think? I realize it's a FOX News story, that in itself makes question it. Too good to be true??? If this is real.

Also, be sure to click this link. I mention it below, but people are having trouble finding it. Here it is again, a perpetual motion machine.

from wikipedia.
In 1996, Stanley Meyer of Fayette County, Ohio, claims development of a water-powered car. Meyer has obtained over 28 patents. Meyer has a mixture of Christianity and patriotic politics intertwined with protoscience theory. Meyer was convicted of fraud (after testing a Water Fuel Cell before an Ohio judge). Meyer was not prosecuted for the invention, but for selling "dealerships". Meyer refused independent measurement and investigation of his device. Meyers died in early 1998.

***On the topic of unlimited energy and perpetual motion machines, check out Finsrud's "sculpture." Appearently, this thing does stop on occasion. So it's not a true perpetual motion machine. It is however, the closest I've ever seen.

Links to photo's and video of the Finsrud "thing."

SINCE this video is very short, you may question it's perpetualness. HERE is a 48 minute video that can be found on Google.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=553061720631716456

2007-03-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

And words, whereby we conceive nothing but the sound, are those we call Absurd, Insignificant, and Non-sense. And therefore if a man should talk to me of a round Quadrangle; or accidents of Bread in Cheese; or Immateriall Substances; or of A free Subject; A free-Will; or any Free, but free from being hindred by opposition, I should not say he were in an Errour; but that his words were without meaning; that is to say, Absurd.
-Thomas Hobbes

Mr. Hobbes, would you be referring to a Soul when you say Immateriall Substances? A god-man? I agree, it is absurd.
I am not free because I would face opposition or some hinderance were I to try and kill another person? I agree, I am not free.

Lately I've heard people complain that their taxes are too high. What, Hobbes, do you have to say about that?

For all men are by nature provided of notable multiplying glasses, (that is their Passions and Self-love," through which, every little payment appeareth a great grievance; but are destitute of those prospective glasses, (namely Morall and Civill Science,) to see a farre off the miseries that hang over them, and cannot without such payments be avoyded.
-Thomas Hobbes

I see. Without the continuance of the state, by the subjects, things one currently enjoys and takes for granted may disappear and the high taxes one considers a problem will in fact be replaced by real problems.

Propagandhi

2007-03-03T00:06:00.000-08:00

Tonight after work I had the pleasure of attending the Propagandhi concert. They absolutely rocked MacEwan Ballroom. Unbelievably loud.

A couple of photos:

Best Song of the night: Haillie Sellasse, Up Your Ass

You speak of Rastafari
But how can you justify belief
In a god that's left you behind?

You've simply filled the gap
Between the upper and lower class
And your faith merely keeps you in line, in line

An amalgamation of jewish scripture
And christian thought.
What will that get you? Not a fuck of a lot.
Take a look at your promised land.
Your deed is that gun in your hand.

Mt. Zion's a minefield.
The West Bank.
The Gaza Strip.
The West Bank.
The Gaza Strip.
The West Bank.
The Gaza Strip.
The West Bank.
The Gaza Strip.
Soon to be parking lots for american tourists
And fascist cops, yeah!

Fuck zionism
Fuck militarism
Fuck americanism
Fuck nationalism
Fuck religion
Fuck religion

Jean-Jacque Rousseau

2007-03-02T11:18:00.000-08:00

If we understand the word miserable properly, it is a word which is without meaning or which signifies merely a painful privation and suffering of the body or the soul. Now I would very much like someone to explain to me what kind of misery can there be for a free being whose heart is at peace and whose body is in good health? I ask which of the two, civil or natural life, is more likely to become insufferable to those who live it? We see about us practically no people who do not complain about their existence; many even deprive themselves of it to the extent they are able, and the combination of divine and human laws is hardly enough to stop this disorder. I ask if anyone has ever heard of a savage who was living in liberty ever dreaming of complaining about his life and of killing himself. Let the judgment there be made with less pride on which side real misery lies.

People grew accustomed to gather in front of their huts or around a large tree; song and dance, true children of love and leisure, became the amusement or rather the occupation of idle men and women who had flocked together. Each one began to look at the others and want to be looked at himself, and public esteem had a value. The one who sang or danced the best, the handsomest, the strongest, the most adroit or the most eloquent became the most highly regarded. And this was the first step toward inequality and, at the same time, toward vice. From these first preferences were born vanity and contempt on the one hand, and shame and envy on the other. And the fermentation caused by these new leavens eventually produced compounds fatal to happiness and innocence.

Since men enjoyed a great deal of leisure time, they used it to procure for themselves many types of conveniences unknown to their fathers; and that was the first yoke they imposed on themselves without realizing it, and the first source of evils they prepared for their descendants.
For in addition to their continuing thus to soften body and mind, being deprived of them became much more cruel than possessing them was sweet; and they were unhappy about losing them without being happy about possessing them.

People became accustomed to consider different objects and to make comparisons. Imperceptibly they acquire the ideas of merit and beauty which produce feelings of preference. By dint of seeing one another, they can no longer get along without seeing one another again.

But as soon as one man needed the help of another, as soon as one man realized that it was useful for a single individual to have provisions for two, equality disappeared, property came into existence, labor became necessary.

For the poet, it is gold and silver; but for the philosopher, it is iron and wheat that have civilized men and ruined the human race.

2007-02-26T22:20:00.001-08:00

Try out this game. 39 levels o fun.

and here is the best getaway driver ever.

Best Getaway Driver - The best bloopers are a click away

Laughter is contagious

2007-02-26T18:34:00.000-08:00

Turn up your speakers, and try not to laugh too hard.

Now that's a sandwich.

2007-02-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

http://hubpages.com/u/11384_f640.jpg

What I'm listening to these days

2007-02-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

Here's some fresh stuff for your ears. You should be able to download all of these from a torrent site like isohunt.com

Azure Ray - November
Favorite Song: November

Great Lake Swimmers - Ongaria
Favorite Song: I became awake

Mickey Avalon - Mickey Avalon
Favorite Song: Jane Fonda

Now enjoy this newfie car sales man.

And the This Hour has 22 minutes version.

This weekend, Brian took Joe and I out to shoot is .303 English rifle. It felt good to squeeze a few rounds off. Here's Joe's first two shots ever. Mind the volume knob, the shots are loud.

The other video highlight of the weekend is Kevin. This is the guy that I posted a picture of around Halloween. He looks like Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys. Following the gun theme of this post, he did this fantastic 'the guns' maneuver. He's a good shit, but will be totally pissed this is on youtube.

I refuse to title this.

2007-02-24T20:15:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed this.

Now, today, all I wish to tell you, is: stop eating pickles. Don't eat another pickle ever. Here's why.

Caution: Contents are hot, slippery, and under pressure. Use at your own risk.

2007-02-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

Here's my horoscope for this week from freewillastrology.com:
You're strong medicine these days, Leo. You're 100-proof mojo. You might want to consider pinning a warning label to your shirt or jacket. It could say something like "Caution: Contents are hot, slippery, and under pressure. Use at your own risk." It's not that you're evil or neurotic. It's just that as you revisit and revision your deepest psychosexual questions, you have so much cathartic potency that you're likely to transform everything you touch into a more authentic version of itself. People with weak egos will be afraid of that, while those with strong constitutions will love it.

The significance of man is not in what he attains, but rather in what he longs to attain. Does that make sense? I think so. Words of wisdom on this fine Thursday evening.

I don't know if you know this... but there's this thing... this website thing called Facebook. This thing is crazy, it started slowly at first and I didn't use it all that much, but it seems to be taking over my life. It's like some kind of substance I've recently begun abusing. All in all, I'd say sign up. And that means you. Also, beware. Saying DON'T sign up, will only make you sign up, so sign up I say, in trying to save you. Become a face in this new hip crowd.

Joe brought to my attention this article. Australia is about to ban the use of incandescent bulbs. Fantastic I say. What do you think? I say it's fan-friggin-tastic.

Lebowski

2007-02-18T23:33:00.000-08:00

Only once was I made mute, it was when a man asked me, "Who are you?" So much of this weekend I can not publish. But here's what I can.

Today is Monday. Monday of reading week. Today I woke up, was greeted randomly by my sister knocking at the porch door. She had already been in and out of the garage, re-acquiring her painting instruments. She saw someone on my couch, but asked only if I could get her the cutting can. I got her the cutting can.

Yesterday I went to the Science Centre and it was busy. I was amazed to find that the Science Centre is home to an incredible movie theater. This screen was no ordinary screen. It was beyond Imax. It curved around us, above us, and filled my entire field of vision. Two days in a row now I've had lunch at Broken City. Today they left the cheese off my home style turkey sandwich. It was still delicious, but not as tasty as it was yesterday when it had cheese.

Back to Saturday. I worked. What a gong show. I don't even want to think about it. It was a bad day at the Outdoor Centre, and that is all I'll say.

Friday, I worked.

That is all I feel like sharing. Good night to you, or good day, whichever it may be.

extian

2007-02-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

a MUST READ on copy protection of digital music.

2007-02-10T22:18:00.001-08:00

Steve Jobs
February 6, 2007

from http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/

With the stunning global success of Apple’s iPod music player and iTunes online music store, some have called for Apple to “open” the digital rights management (DRM) system that Apple uses to protect its music against theft, so that music purchased from iTunes can be played on digital devices purchased from other companies, and protected music purchased from other online music stores can play on iPods. Let’s examine the current situation and how we got here, then look at three possible alternatives for the future.

To begin, it is useful to remember that all iPods play music that is free of any DRM and encoded in “open” licensable formats such as MP3 and AAC. iPod users can and do acquire their music from many sources, including CDs they own. Music on CDs can be easily imported into the freely-downloadable iTunes jukebox software which runs on both Macs and Windows PCs, and is automatically encoded into the open AAC or MP3 formats without any DRM. This music can be played on iPods or any other music players that play these open formats.

The rub comes from the music Apple sells on its online iTunes Store. Since Apple does not own or control any music itself, it must license the rights to distribute music from others, primarily the “big four” music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. These four companies control the distribution of over 70% of the world’s music. When Apple approached these companies to license their music to distribute legally over the Internet, they were extremely cautious and required Apple to protect their music from being illegally copied. The solution was to create a DRM system, which envelopes each song purchased from the iTunes store in special and secret software so that it cannot be played on unauthorized devices.

Apple was able to negotiate landmark usage rights at the time, which include allowing users to play their DRM protected music on up to 5 computers and on an unlimited number of iPods. Obtaining such rights from the music companies was unprecedented at the time, and even today is unmatched by most other digital music services. However, a key provision of our agreements with the music companies is that if our DRM system is compromised and their music becomes playable on unauthorized devices, we have only a small number of weeks to fix the problem or they can withdraw their entire music catalog from our iTunes store.

To prevent illegal copies, DRM systems must allow only authorized devices to play the protected music. If a copy of a DRM protected song is posted on the Internet, it should not be able to play on a downloader’s computer or portable music device. To achieve this, a DRM system employs secrets. There is no theory of protecting content other than keeping secrets. In other words, even if one uses the most sophisticated cryptographic locks to protect the actual music, one must still “hide” the keys which unlock the music on the user’s computer or portable music player. No one has ever implemented a DRM system that does not depend on such secrets for its operation.

The problem, of course, is that there are many smart people in the world, some with a lot of time on their hands, who love to discover such secrets and publish a way for everyone to get free (and stolen) music. They are often successful in doing just that, so any company trying to protect content using a DRM must frequently update it with new and harder to discover secrets. It is a cat-and-mouse game. Apple’s DRM system is called FairPlay. While we have had a few breaches in FairPlay, we have been able to successfully repair them through updating the iTunes store software, the iTunes jukebox software and software in the iPods themselves. So far we have met our commitments to the music companies to protect their music, and we have given users the most liberal usage rights available in the industry for legally downloaded music.

With this background, let’s now explore three different alternatives for the future.

The first alternative is to continue on the current course, with each manufacturer competing freely with their own “top to bottom” proprietary systems for selling, playing and protecting music. It is a very competitive market, with major global companies making large investments to develop new music players and online music stores. Apple, Microsoft and Sony all compete with proprietary systems. Music purchased from Microsoft’s Zune store will only play on Zune players; music purchased from Sony’s Connect store will only play on Sony’s players; and music purchased from Apple’s iTunes store will only play on iPods. This is the current state of affairs in the industry, and customers are being well served with a continuing stream of innovative products and a wide variety of choices.

Some have argued that once a consumer purchases a body of music from one of the proprietary music stores, they are forever locked into only using music players from that one company. Or, if they buy a specific player, they are locked into buying music only from that company’s music store. Is this true? Let’s look at the data for iPods and the iTunes store – they are the industry’s most popular products and we have accurate data for them. Through the end of 2006, customers purchased a total of 90 million iPods and 2 billion songs from the iTunes store. On average, that’s 22 songs purchased from the iTunes store for each iPod ever sold.

Today’s most popular iPod holds 1000 songs, and research tells us that the average iPod is nearly full. This means that only 22 out of 1000 songs, or under 3% of the music on the average iPod, is purchased from the iTunes store and protected with a DRM. The remaining 97% of the music is unprotected and playable on any player that can play the open formats. It’s hard to believe that just 3% of the music on the average iPod is enough to lock users into buying only iPods in the future. And since 97% of the music on the average iPod was not purchased from the iTunes store, iPod users are clearly not locked into the iTunes store to acquire their music.

The second alternative is for Apple to license its FairPlay DRM technology to current and future competitors with the goal of achieving interoperability between different company’s players and music stores. On the surface, this seems like a good idea since it might offer customers increased choice now and in the future. And Apple might benefit by charging a small licensing fee for its FairPlay DRM. However, when we look a bit deeper, problems begin to emerge. The most serious problem is that licensing a DRM involves disclosing some of its secrets to many people in many companies, and history tells us that inevitably these secrets will leak. The Internet has made such leaks far more damaging, since a single leak can be spread worldwide in less than a minute. Such leaks can rapidly result in software programs available as free downloads on the Internet which will disable the DRM protection so that formerly protected songs can be played on unauthorized players.

An equally serious problem is how to quickly repair the damage caused by such a leak. A successful repair will likely involve enhancing the music store software, the music jukebox software, and the software in the players with new secrets, then transferring this updated software into the tens (or hundreds) of millions of Macs, Windows PCs and players already in use. This must all be done quickly and in a very coordinated way. Such an undertaking is very difficult when just one company controls all of the pieces. It is near impossible if multiple companies control separate pieces of the puzzle, and all of them must quickly act in concert to repair the damage from a leak.

Apple has concluded that if it licenses FairPlay to others, it can no longer guarantee to protect the music it licenses from the big four music companies. Perhaps this same conclusion contributed to Microsoft’s recent decision to switch their emphasis from an “open” model of licensing their DRM to others to a “closed” model of offering a proprietary music store, proprietary jukebox software and proprietary players.

The third alternative is to abolish DRMs entirely. Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music.

Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy. Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music. That’s right! No DRM system was ever developed for the CD, so all the music distributed on CDs can be easily uploaded to the Internet, then (illegally) downloaded and played on any computer or player.

In 2006, under 2 billion DRM-protected songs were sold worldwide by online stores, while over 20 billion songs were sold completely DRM-free and unprotected on CDs by the music companies themselves. The music companies sell the vast majority of their music DRM-free, and show no signs of changing this behavior, since the overwhelming majority of their revenues depend on selling CDs which must play in CD players that support no DRM system.

So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a DRM system? There appear to be none. If anything, the technical expertise and overhead required to create, operate and update a DRM system has limited the number of participants selling DRM protected music. If such requirements were removed, the music industry might experience an influx of new companies willing to invest in innovative new stores and players. This can only be seen as a positive by the music companies.

Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.

2007-02-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

You now know that I am a manticore. But did you also know... that I am part octopus? No joke, this is a picture of me cleaning the kitchen floor.

My mug shot.

2007-02-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

I am a Manticore.

Igor Falecki. This kid is 4.

2007-02-06T15:09:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't take the job.

2007-02-06T10:12:00.000-08:00

Global Warming and Canada

2007-02-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

A Fraser Institute report on climate change was leaked today on www.desmogblog.com. It is due to be released Feb 5.

First, a little info on the Fraser Institute.

The Fraser Institute, a libertarian think tank, purports to be an independant public policy organization. It is fiscally conservative, and is a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency. The majority of its funding is recieved from charitible organizations and corporations. On their website, you can buy a $45 "Adam Smith" neck tie.

It is critical of government spending, high taxes, government deficits, and generally any government action that cannot be supported by Libertarian principles. For example, it supports free trade, closer integration of the Canadian economy with the United States, pirvatization of government services, and does not support the prohibition of certain drugs, like marijuana. The Fraser Institute is also skeptical of the need for regulatory action against global warming since they support prioritization of environmental initiatives and view climate change regulations as having "the potential to impose high costs on Canadian citizens and drastically increase the regulatory state, while providing little or no environmental benefit" (Wikipedia).

While ExxonMobil discloses in it annual statements that it contributed $60,000 to the organisation to work on "Climate Change", the Fraser Institute does not explicitly disclose the contribution (sourcewatch.org).

In both 1999 and 2000, the Sarah Scaife Foundation donated $50, 000 to the Fraser Institute and listed no purpose for those donations. This foundation is financed by the Mellon industrial, oil and banking fortune. At one time its largest single holding was stock in the Gulf Oil Corporation. It became active in supporting conservative causes in 1973, when Richard Mellon Scaife became chairman. Since then, Scaife has been a leading financier of New Right causes (www.mediatransparency.org). Things that make you go hmmm.

The Fraser Institue has a set agenda in accordance with their libertarian principles, and its studies reflect those guidelines. The accuracy and reliability of the "scientific reports" they produce should therefore be questioned.

Now, here are some quotes from the so called scientific report.

"Arctic sea ice showed an abrupt surface loss prior to the 1990's and the loss stopped shortly thereafter. There is insufficient data to conclude that there are any trends in Antarctic sea ice thickness."
-They must have missed this info from NASA.

"There is no compelling evidence that dangerous or unprecedented changes are underway."

"There will remain an unavoidable element of uncertainty as to the extent that humans are contributing to future climate change, and indeed whether or not this change is a good or bad thing."
-Are you kidding me?

Basically, looking at the report, they do not deny an increase in Co2 levels, nor increases in land based temperatures over the last 100 years. The report tries desperately to minimize the implications and find alternative reasonings for the changes.

It saddens me that a Canadian "think tank" is producing this shite.

2007-01-31T10:57:00.001-08:00

"On the Holy day of Eid, the world watched in horror at the barbaric lynching of President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, allegedly for crimes against humanity. This public murder was sanctioned by the War Criminals, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair.

The entire trial process was a mockery of justice, no less a Kangaroo Court. Defence counsels were brutally murdered, witnesses threatened and judges removed for being impartial and replaced by puppet judges. Yet, we are told that Iraq was invaded to promote democracy, freedom and justice."

(Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, 30 December 2006)

I ate an apple.

2007-01-30T11:59:00.000-08:00

It is over, last night, I ate an apple. 7 days without eating is long enough. I was torn though... only 3 more days to reach the original goal of 10. And after 7, 3 ain't very many. I just have to be careful not to gorge, despite the temptation.