The condo corp has once against wrapped its icy hands around the collective balls of its residents. Unfortunately, I don't appreciate the reach around and S is jealously starting to reach a slow boil.
The corp has decided to start doing full blown construction next week on a walkway between the main condo building and the row of townhouses that hide behind it. Unfortunately we happen to live in those townhouses and that walkway is the only way in and out of our place. We're not the only people in this position, so the corp has decided to remove the railings separating the patios of the individual townhouses so that residents can get into their homes without having to scale fences.
S and I aren't thrilled with the fact that pretty soon every and anybody who would normally use that walk way is now going to have uncontrolled access to our private property. (Although in all honestly, I can't see any other reasonable way for them to do it) But we were in no way consulted, or informed, about this possibility until less then a week before the construction was due to start.
Once again the corp has made a decision and decided to proceed with it, without informing or consulting the people who actually pay the money that allows this stuff to get done.
Worst of all, the construction is completely unnecessary. Apparently they want to tear up the concrete sidewalk ,that has a couple cosmetic cracks in it do to frost heaving, and replace it with interlocking brick. I'm sorry, but I took a look at the sidewalk last night and cosmetic really does sum it up best. The walkway is hardly riddled with cracks, we're talking about one or two cracks in a sidewalk less then ten years old. It's just another excuse to spend money and justify the condo fees.
Hey I have an idea, if you've got so much money that you're spending it on make work projects, why not put some of it back in the owner's pockets.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Six sentence comic book reviews: RAGE!
Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns
Lots of differing opinions on RRL. You can find two extremes here and here. Personally I’m enjoying the story line. Yes it’s a little hokey, setting up a whole universe of colour coded intergalactic space warriors. But on another level the colour concept story feels almost inevitable, like Silver Age-y hi-jinks that someone should have written up a long time ago. “Hey, we’ve got this character called Green Lantern, now I’m just spitballing here, but what if we had a RED Lantern as well?”
Genius.
Justice League of America #26
Honestly, I don’t know why I still read this title. My affection for the first 75 issues of the aborted JLA series has kept me reading this turkey well past its best before date. You’d think that a comic about most of the heavy hitters in the DCU would be, well, good. But sadly that hasn’t been the case for quite some time. Justice League of America is so concerned with being a mirror, accurately reflecting events and changes in the DCU proper, that it never goes out and creates any lasting changes of its own on that same world. I’m done with it and the mediocrity it imbues.
No Hero #2
Say what you will about Ellis reusing his favourite story motifs, but I still find that whatever he puts his hand to is more interesting than the majority of mainstream material out there. With some notable exceptions, superheroes have traditionally fallen into the game by accident or as a result of extraordinary circumstances. Very rarely do people seek the profession out. In No Hero, Ellis is exploring what happens to the desire to be a superhero when it gets all wrapped up in the vestments of corporate and institutional interests.
Lots of differing opinions on RRL. You can find two extremes here and here. Personally I’m enjoying the story line. Yes it’s a little hokey, setting up a whole universe of colour coded intergalactic space warriors. But on another level the colour concept story feels almost inevitable, like Silver Age-y hi-jinks that someone should have written up a long time ago. “Hey, we’ve got this character called Green Lantern, now I’m just spitballing here, but what if we had a RED Lantern as well?”
Genius.
Justice League of America #26
Honestly, I don’t know why I still read this title. My affection for the first 75 issues of the aborted JLA series has kept me reading this turkey well past its best before date. You’d think that a comic about most of the heavy hitters in the DCU would be, well, good. But sadly that hasn’t been the case for quite some time. Justice League of America is so concerned with being a mirror, accurately reflecting events and changes in the DCU proper, that it never goes out and creates any lasting changes of its own on that same world. I’m done with it and the mediocrity it imbues.
No Hero #2
Say what you will about Ellis reusing his favourite story motifs, but I still find that whatever he puts his hand to is more interesting than the majority of mainstream material out there. With some notable exceptions, superheroes have traditionally fallen into the game by accident or as a result of extraordinary circumstances. Very rarely do people seek the profession out. In No Hero, Ellis is exploring what happens to the desire to be a superhero when it gets all wrapped up in the vestments of corporate and institutional interests.
Pull List: 29 October 2008
Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns
Justice League of America #26
No Hero #2
Superman #681
Trinity #22
Ultimate Captain America Annual #1
Ultimate Spider-man Annual #3
Justice League of America #26
No Hero #2
Superman #681
Trinity #22
Ultimate Captain America Annual #1
Ultimate Spider-man Annual #3
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
FA2K+8
With the financial apocalypse (FA2K+8) in full swing, and savings accounts everywhere hemorrhaging those hard earned dollars and cents, I was highly amused to find out yesterday that my financial institution of choice has determined that I'm a safe enough credit risk to offer me a ten thousand dollar line of credit.
Now granted, I know very leeetle except the bare minimum when it comes to playing around with the grand and mystical world of finance. But with money everywhere evaporating like a puddle of piss on a hot summer day, thanks to some poor decision making in the world's CREDIT MARKETS, you would think banks would excercise a little discretion before handing out more credit with few (if any) strings attached.
Take it away boys.
Now granted, I know very leeetle except the bare minimum when it comes to playing around with the grand and mystical world of finance. But with money everywhere evaporating like a puddle of piss on a hot summer day, thanks to some poor decision making in the world's CREDIT MARKETS, you would think banks would excercise a little discretion before handing out more credit with few (if any) strings attached.
Take it away boys.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Chinese Democracy
So,
have you heard Chinese Democracy yet, the new the new Guns and Roses single from the album of the same name? Perhaps you’ve listened it several times online but can’t even remember doing so. Well, you’re forgiven. Lamentably the new single is forgettable and middle of the road material, inducing instant amnesia and a palpable sense of nostalgia for GNR’s earlier work.
The single has a generic mid to late 80’s heavy rock feel, without any of the character and personality that have made a band like Gun and Roses so great the first time ‘round. It doesn’t grab you, hell, the song barely even checks you out before heading off to someplace else, leaving you feeling dirty and cheap.
It’s inevitable. Call it, Phantom Menace syndrome. After 17 years of waiting with baited breath for the coming GNR album, fans old enough to remember the LAST album can’t help but build the whole thing up a little more than it needs to be.
But it’s early days yet. It’d be far to premature to judge the entire album on the back of one mediocre single. I prefer to think of this album as Axl clearing his throat, getting rid of all the grotty phlegm and other crap in his system before inhaling a deep, clean breath and jumping back into the creative pool.
(An aside that robs me of a little hope. S and I went to a GNR concert a couple years ago. Axl was still rocking the Chinese Democracy stage decoration. It was a great concert but it was quite obvious that the weakest songs in his set were the ones from the 'new' album)
have you heard Chinese Democracy yet, the new the new Guns and Roses single from the album of the same name? Perhaps you’ve listened it several times online but can’t even remember doing so. Well, you’re forgiven. Lamentably the new single is forgettable and middle of the road material, inducing instant amnesia and a palpable sense of nostalgia for GNR’s earlier work.
The single has a generic mid to late 80’s heavy rock feel, without any of the character and personality that have made a band like Gun and Roses so great the first time ‘round. It doesn’t grab you, hell, the song barely even checks you out before heading off to someplace else, leaving you feeling dirty and cheap.
It’s inevitable. Call it, Phantom Menace syndrome. After 17 years of waiting with baited breath for the coming GNR album, fans old enough to remember the LAST album can’t help but build the whole thing up a little more than it needs to be.
But it’s early days yet. It’d be far to premature to judge the entire album on the back of one mediocre single. I prefer to think of this album as Axl clearing his throat, getting rid of all the grotty phlegm and other crap in his system before inhaling a deep, clean breath and jumping back into the creative pool.
(An aside that robs me of a little hope. S and I went to a GNR concert a couple years ago. Axl was still rocking the Chinese Democracy stage decoration. It was a great concert but it was quite obvious that the weakest songs in his set were the ones from the 'new' album)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tough calls
I’m dropping Ultimate to one night a week.
Four years ago I was living with one of my roommates and playing Ultimate with my core group of friends. Now obviously, I live with my wife and my friends have stopped playing game. And, for whatever reason, I haven’t been able to duplicate the camaraderie of the group I first started playing with on another team. I think it may be that the original Ulti team started out as a rec squad before moving to the intermediate level.
Now days all I play is intermediate and the personalities involved are more competitive, less social.
And frankly I miss my friends.
Four years ago I was living with one of my roommates and playing Ultimate with my core group of friends. Now obviously, I live with my wife and my friends have stopped playing game. And, for whatever reason, I haven’t been able to duplicate the camaraderie of the group I first started playing with on another team. I think it may be that the original Ulti team started out as a rec squad before moving to the intermediate level.
Now days all I play is intermediate and the personalities involved are more competitive, less social.
And frankly I miss my friends.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
And I'm freeeeeee, freefalling...
S and I are getting burned with the Loonie’s freefall. With our Oz trip inching ever closer we thought it was time to get the jump on buying Australian dollars before our own dollar fell too much further. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that most banks don’t keep Aus dollars on hand, unless specially requested. So we have to wait until the weekend before we can horsetrade with RBC, at which time the Loonie will have plummeted even further.
Good for the banks.
Bad for us.
Good for the banks.
Bad for us.
Six sentence comic book reviews: The day evil won
Aetheric Mechanics
Final Crisis #4
Final Crisis: Submit
Hellblazer #248
Invincible #54
Trinity #21
Superman: New Krypton
Ultimate Spider-man #127
Final Crisis #4/Final Crisis: Submit
I’ve been watching Final Crisis: Submit appear and disappear off the publishing schedule for a couple weeks now. I don’t know the reason for its perpetual vanishing act, but if someone with any brains at all intentionally decided to release these two titles on the same day, I give them well deserved kudos. FC: Submit reads almost like an exceptionally long Prologue, yet the events that take place within it dovetail nicely into the more opaque goings-on of FC #4. Weighing in on the J.G. Jones controversy, I think it’s a shame that he won’t be finishing the penciling on the lead series. With so much riding on the success of this crossover event I don’t think DC comes off particularly well in their ability to adequately plan and co-ordinate the whole thing. When the series penciler is publicly questioning his own role with the project you can tell something has gone wrong behind the scenes.
Invincible #54
Still not feeling the new costume. It’s not just that I’m notoriously resistant to change (I am) but the new threads feel like a generic re-tread of so many of the superhero costumes currently out there. The original Invincible look was clearly punching above its weight, borderline iconic, representative of the wearer’s personality and it makes an instant impression on the reader. Black and blue and a darkening personality is an overused gimmick I’ve seen in too many other places to really care about it. Yes I know Kirkman and Ottley are making a point here, but I think they’re being self-referential about an era in comic history that’s better left in the pass. I hope this Dark-Mark bit will be finished sooner rather than later.
Final Crisis #4
Final Crisis: Submit
Hellblazer #248
Invincible #54
Trinity #21
Superman: New Krypton
Ultimate Spider-man #127
Final Crisis #4/Final Crisis: Submit
I’ve been watching Final Crisis: Submit appear and disappear off the publishing schedule for a couple weeks now. I don’t know the reason for its perpetual vanishing act, but if someone with any brains at all intentionally decided to release these two titles on the same day, I give them well deserved kudos. FC: Submit reads almost like an exceptionally long Prologue, yet the events that take place within it dovetail nicely into the more opaque goings-on of FC #4. Weighing in on the J.G. Jones controversy, I think it’s a shame that he won’t be finishing the penciling on the lead series. With so much riding on the success of this crossover event I don’t think DC comes off particularly well in their ability to adequately plan and co-ordinate the whole thing. When the series penciler is publicly questioning his own role with the project you can tell something has gone wrong behind the scenes.
Invincible #54
Still not feeling the new costume. It’s not just that I’m notoriously resistant to change (I am) but the new threads feel like a generic re-tread of so many of the superhero costumes currently out there. The original Invincible look was clearly punching above its weight, borderline iconic, representative of the wearer’s personality and it makes an instant impression on the reader. Black and blue and a darkening personality is an overused gimmick I’ve seen in too many other places to really care about it. Yes I know Kirkman and Ottley are making a point here, but I think they’re being self-referential about an era in comic history that’s better left in the pass. I hope this Dark-Mark bit will be finished sooner rather than later.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Fishing recap.
Back from the ‘fishing weekend’ at ye olde family cottage this weekend. Although, in all honesty, they should just change the event title to ‘poker weekend’ and be done with it.
I spent half an hour on the dock casting my lure out into the wild blue yonder. The rest of that time I was in the cottage losing my shirt at poker. Technically I split three pots with my god-brother M. But that’s not winning, that’s just trying to wrap things up so you can move along to the next game.
Packed on five pounds from greasy food and beer and I didn’t regret a single morsel of it until I huffed and puffed my way around the Ultimate field last night. (Bean pole was out of shaaaape)
Right now I’m trying to keep on top of all my pending school assignments so that when S and I wing are way to Oz in a month or so I won’t be completely screwing over my grades.
Other than that it’s pretty quiet right now. Busy (work, school, frisbee, etc) but with day to day stuff not special projects. I’ve been feeling a strong desire to be creative lately. And I’m trying to find the time to do so, but as always that’s an uphill battle and it always seems to be the last thing I tackle in my day, not the first.
I spent half an hour on the dock casting my lure out into the wild blue yonder. The rest of that time I was in the cottage losing my shirt at poker. Technically I split three pots with my god-brother M. But that’s not winning, that’s just trying to wrap things up so you can move along to the next game.
Packed on five pounds from greasy food and beer and I didn’t regret a single morsel of it until I huffed and puffed my way around the Ultimate field last night. (Bean pole was out of shaaaape)
Right now I’m trying to keep on top of all my pending school assignments so that when S and I wing are way to Oz in a month or so I won’t be completely screwing over my grades.
Other than that it’s pretty quiet right now. Busy (work, school, frisbee, etc) but with day to day stuff not special projects. I’ve been feeling a strong desire to be creative lately. And I’m trying to find the time to do so, but as always that’s an uphill battle and it always seems to be the last thing I tackle in my day, not the first.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Leader losing
Dion expected to make a speech today announcing he will be resigning as Lib party leader. Nothing shocking about that. S and I talked a couple times during the election about how uncomfortable she was with the idea of Dion being the PM. She just felt that he was weak and impersonal.
And while I never necessarily agreed with her perception of him I knew that if she felt that way, then voters who were far less sympathetic to Dion and the Lib brand were probably doing some soul searching on election day. The Con advertising and messaging has done its trick and Dion was branded with a reputation he was unlikely to change.
That's the bare knuckle world of politics for you.
I think that Dion was a very smart man with some good ideas, several of which Harper and the Con are already appropriating. I applaud the Green Shift plan and I'm sorry we won't be able to see it implemented. But Dion does lack the charisma that is a staple of any career politician, an ability to connect with undecided or wavering voters. And with the Left split to high heaven you need to have a leader who will draw people in.
I think we'll get to see a 'do-over' of the 06 Lib leadership convention, only this time fewer people will be casting their ballot with rose coloured glasses.
And while I never necessarily agreed with her perception of him I knew that if she felt that way, then voters who were far less sympathetic to Dion and the Lib brand were probably doing some soul searching on election day. The Con advertising and messaging has done its trick and Dion was branded with a reputation he was unlikely to change.
That's the bare knuckle world of politics for you.
I think that Dion was a very smart man with some good ideas, several of which Harper and the Con are already appropriating. I applaud the Green Shift plan and I'm sorry we won't be able to see it implemented. But Dion does lack the charisma that is a staple of any career politician, an ability to connect with undecided or wavering voters. And with the Left split to high heaven you need to have a leader who will draw people in.
I think we'll get to see a 'do-over' of the 06 Lib leadership convention, only this time fewer people will be casting their ballot with rose coloured glasses.
Friday, October 17, 2008
On reviewing
I spent about an hour and change writing my wholly uninspired review of Miracle at St. Anna. Mike Lane, who just saw that film last night, took that same hour and wrote out a review\rant that puts my feeble critique to shame.
I may have studied film. Mike Lane lives it.
I marvel at his ability to to see beyond the surface story and pick up on all the auteuristic underpinnings that lay underneath.
I am truly impressed.
I may have studied film. Mike Lane lives it.
I marvel at his ability to to see beyond the surface story and pick up on all the auteuristic underpinnings that lay underneath.
I am truly impressed.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Weekend hi-jinks
It says something about the state of the economy when you can watch the TSX shed 300 points and thing.
"Meh, that's not so bad"
I think in the last couple of weeks we've become so conditioned to watching the market plummet into the nether regions of financial hell that a 300 point drop is, quite literally, nothing.
You'll put me up when I'm homeless, right?
I'm off to the Great White North this weekend. My father has thrown open the annual fishing trip with his buddies to the younger generation. Which means that, for the first time ever, someone under 30 will be attending this prestigous event. The only new additions being my godbrother and I.
I couldn't care that much for fishing. And while I've always had a great relationship with my dad there's a big difference between how you act with your friends and how you act around family. (I know that my poker nights aren't nessecarily suitable for prime time.) So I suspect that I'll be seeing a different side to my father this weekend.
Which is all good.
I volunteer to stay behind on the dock and read the paper. Because if I don't, the terrorists win.
"Meh, that's not so bad"
I think in the last couple of weeks we've become so conditioned to watching the market plummet into the nether regions of financial hell that a 300 point drop is, quite literally, nothing.
You'll put me up when I'm homeless, right?
I'm off to the Great White North this weekend. My father has thrown open the annual fishing trip with his buddies to the younger generation. Which means that, for the first time ever, someone under 30 will be attending this prestigous event. The only new additions being my godbrother and I.
I couldn't care that much for fishing. And while I've always had a great relationship with my dad there's a big difference between how you act with your friends and how you act around family. (I know that my poker nights aren't nessecarily suitable for prime time.) So I suspect that I'll be seeing a different side to my father this weekend.
Which is all good.
I volunteer to stay behind on the dock and read the paper. Because if I don't, the terrorists win.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Pull List: 15 October 2008
Brave and the Bold #18
Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds 2 of 5
Final Crisis: Rogues Revenge 3 of 3
Flash #245
Grant Morrison's Dr. Who #1
Justice Society of America #19
Trinity #20
Superman's Pal: Jimmy Olsen #1
Ultimate Origins #5
Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds 2 of 5
Final Crisis: Rogues Revenge 3 of 3
Flash #245
Grant Morrison's Dr. Who #1
Justice Society of America #19
Trinity #20
Superman's Pal: Jimmy Olsen #1
Ultimate Origins #5
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Election: Post Mortem
Another Conservative goverment, slightly bigger than its previous incarnation.
Predictions? I have a few.
Another federal election in no more than two years. (Head. Hand. Slap. Duh.) When that happens I suspect you'll see at least two federal parties with new leaders. (I look forward to the upcoming Lib leadership convention and the Machevellian machinations that will follow it)
Ont and/or Que will be blitzkreiged to high heaven with political gladhanding in the hopes of achieving that elusive breakthrough, the seat majority.
In the interim Harper will govern as if he has a majority and everyone will bend over backwards to let him do it, again. The PMO will treat Con MP's like children and the public will chortle over their inexperience and inevitable PR gaffes.
The economy will tank and, regrettably, the Green party will lose its relevance because saving the environment will take a back seat to making sure that Canadians have jobs.
The more things change, the more things will stay the same . So get ready for two long years of gnashing of teeth and striking of breast.
That's politics.
Predictions? I have a few.
Another federal election in no more than two years. (Head. Hand. Slap. Duh.) When that happens I suspect you'll see at least two federal parties with new leaders. (I look forward to the upcoming Lib leadership convention and the Machevellian machinations that will follow it)
Ont and/or Que will be blitzkreiged to high heaven with political gladhanding in the hopes of achieving that elusive breakthrough, the seat majority.
In the interim Harper will govern as if he has a majority and everyone will bend over backwards to let him do it, again. The PMO will treat Con MP's like children and the public will chortle over their inexperience and inevitable PR gaffes.
The economy will tank and, regrettably, the Green party will lose its relevance because saving the environment will take a back seat to making sure that Canadians have jobs.
The more things change, the more things will stay the same . So get ready for two long years of gnashing of teeth and striking of breast.
That's politics.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
First in a series
Unendearing Chris trait #347.
My inability to stop badgering people in order to get my way.
Witnesses?
Wife
Parents
Sisters
Friends
(Former friends)
Co-workers
Bosses
The end result is that the second I open my mouth to potentially degree with something, people will automatically tune me out.
That's my gift, that's my curse.*
* apologies to Frank Black.
My inability to stop badgering people in order to get my way.
Witnesses?
Wife
Parents
Sisters
Friends
(Former friends)
Co-workers
Bosses
The end result is that the second I open my mouth to potentially degree with something, people will automatically tune me out.
That's my gift, that's my curse.*
* apologies to Frank Black.
Monday, October 6, 2008
TSX
Are you able to watch the stock market lose 1,200 points during the course of the day and not experience the teensiest bit of nerves?
Be honest.
Be honest.
Video...and what it killed...
So.
The ABC movement is heating up. I’m starting to see a lot of anti-Conservative YouTube footage making the rounds on the net.
Here’s one, and another, one more and finally this.
The first two vids are clearly Liberal party sponsored. I think its worth noting that while the Conservatives and the NDP are all over television delivering their election party platforms, the Liberals have largely retreated, reduced to delivering their message online. If I was being generous I would say it’s because they’re attempting to reach younger, more technologically developed voters. However I doubt that’s the case.
It’s more likely that budgetary constraints have restricted the party’s ability to compete at the same level as some of their other political counterparts. And while I’m not discounting traditional media, I think the side effect of the Liberal funding crunch has accelerated the shift towards moving the whole political communications process online. Which is a good thing.
I don’t recall seeing nearly this kind of online exposure in the last election. Maybe people are more dissatisfied with the current government, or perhaps in the two years since the last federal election the net has permeated our lives that much more. That’s a question for bigger brains than mine.
But just look at the number of protest videos out there. Anyone with some basic editing software and access to the internet has just as much of an opportunity to make their political POV known as the biggest media outlets. (More if you consider that media advertising buys are usually done on a regional basis and not all areas are covered equally.)
Joe or Jane blow who’ve got a beef to pick with, say, the Green Party, can slap together a video in Montreal and the next day they’re talking about it in Kamloops. It’s exciting stuff and opens the doors of the electoral process that much wider. And while the concept of viral video, or protest videos, is nothing new, I’ve never seen it used to this extent in a Canadian election before.
The ABC movement is heating up. I’m starting to see a lot of anti-Conservative YouTube footage making the rounds on the net.
Here’s one, and another, one more and finally this.
The first two vids are clearly Liberal party sponsored. I think its worth noting that while the Conservatives and the NDP are all over television delivering their election party platforms, the Liberals have largely retreated, reduced to delivering their message online. If I was being generous I would say it’s because they’re attempting to reach younger, more technologically developed voters. However I doubt that’s the case.
It’s more likely that budgetary constraints have restricted the party’s ability to compete at the same level as some of their other political counterparts. And while I’m not discounting traditional media, I think the side effect of the Liberal funding crunch has accelerated the shift towards moving the whole political communications process online. Which is a good thing.
I don’t recall seeing nearly this kind of online exposure in the last election. Maybe people are more dissatisfied with the current government, or perhaps in the two years since the last federal election the net has permeated our lives that much more. That’s a question for bigger brains than mine.
But just look at the number of protest videos out there. Anyone with some basic editing software and access to the internet has just as much of an opportunity to make their political POV known as the biggest media outlets. (More if you consider that media advertising buys are usually done on a regional basis and not all areas are covered equally.)
Joe or Jane blow who’ve got a beef to pick with, say, the Green Party, can slap together a video in Montreal and the next day they’re talking about it in Kamloops. It’s exciting stuff and opens the doors of the electoral process that much wider. And while the concept of viral video, or protest videos, is nothing new, I’ve never seen it used to this extent in a Canadian election before.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Strategic voting
So,
I’m finding this website very interesting.
Basically an Anyone But Conservative site it attempts to advocate for strategic voting, under the guise of promoting environmental issues, in ridings where the race is close enough that Conservative candidates can be defeated.
Quickly plugging in my postal code revealed that my riding is evidently a lock for our NDP candidate and therefore I’m encouraged to ‘vote with my heart’.
All of which raises some very interesting questions.
How many people currently vote with their hearts and how many already vote strategically? If you’re a dyed in the wool NDP supporter, but feel you have a chance at stopping a Conservative candidate from being elected by voting Liberal, do you do so?
How flexible is your political ideology?
I wonder if this site also has the unintended side effect of discouraging voting. If I see that the NDP is almost guaranteed to win my riding, why vote at all? If I’m against the NDP clearly my vote won’t make much of a difference and if I’m pro-NDP I don’t need to worry because, apparently, we already have this one in the bag. There may be better ways to spend my time on election night, like going home and reading my new comic book purchases.
You should vote in support of something you whole heartedly believe, as opposed to voting out of fear and making deals with the devil.
But, lets be honest here, political ideology changes. There are four national parties that are politically left of centre to one degree or another (yes I’m including the Greens and Bloc here) and only one party that has staked out a claim to the right of the centre. Which means, between these four parties, there is clearly some sort of common ideological ground that voters might be able to relate to. It could mean holding your nose when you mark the X on your ballot. But, to you, a little principled slippage may be a small price to pay for keeping the Conservatives in check.
Since my riding is considered to be locked these aren’t really questions that I have to seriously ask myself. I have the luxury of voting how I want...secure in the knowledge that unless I'm voting NDP it may not be worth a damn. But what about those living in swing ridings, what’s going through their minds?
I’m finding this website very interesting.
Basically an Anyone But Conservative site it attempts to advocate for strategic voting, under the guise of promoting environmental issues, in ridings where the race is close enough that Conservative candidates can be defeated.
Quickly plugging in my postal code revealed that my riding is evidently a lock for our NDP candidate and therefore I’m encouraged to ‘vote with my heart’.
All of which raises some very interesting questions.
How many people currently vote with their hearts and how many already vote strategically? If you’re a dyed in the wool NDP supporter, but feel you have a chance at stopping a Conservative candidate from being elected by voting Liberal, do you do so?
How flexible is your political ideology?
I wonder if this site also has the unintended side effect of discouraging voting. If I see that the NDP is almost guaranteed to win my riding, why vote at all? If I’m against the NDP clearly my vote won’t make much of a difference and if I’m pro-NDP I don’t need to worry because, apparently, we already have this one in the bag. There may be better ways to spend my time on election night, like going home and reading my new comic book purchases.
You should vote in support of something you whole heartedly believe, as opposed to voting out of fear and making deals with the devil.
But, lets be honest here, political ideology changes. There are four national parties that are politically left of centre to one degree or another (yes I’m including the Greens and Bloc here) and only one party that has staked out a claim to the right of the centre. Which means, between these four parties, there is clearly some sort of common ideological ground that voters might be able to relate to. It could mean holding your nose when you mark the X on your ballot. But, to you, a little principled slippage may be a small price to pay for keeping the Conservatives in check.
Since my riding is considered to be locked these aren’t really questions that I have to seriously ask myself. I have the luxury of voting how I want...secure in the knowledge that unless I'm voting NDP it may not be worth a damn. But what about those living in swing ridings, what’s going through their minds?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Canadian Leadership Debate
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF%ck yah!
Now this is a leaders debate!!!
Stephen Harper is getting dog piled from all sides. He's holding his own, getting in the little knife twists and rib digs where he can, but essentially he's letting all the other party leaders talk over each other and drown out his responses in a babble of noise.
It's great to see Elizabeth May at this debate, of the five of them she's the only leader with an effortless gift of gab. She's smart, witty, great with a sound bite and she knows how to make the most of the time she being given.
Dion is doing all right. His English is still spotty and unfortunately some of his points are getting lost in translation. But he's avoided the wrath of the group as a whole and he's had a couple oppurtunities to make some solid points on the national stage.
Jack Layton. Solid, effective debater. Attacks Harper more than he sells his party. Needs to push the NDP a little more.
Duceppe. Strangely enough he's doing a really good job at offering Canadian solutions and identifying universal Canadian issues. In the English language debate he's doing the smart thing of not making regional based arguements. If I didn't disagree with the entire basis of this man's party I'd be impressed at how he's handling himself.
In my mind. May and Layton have done the best at this debate. All the rest have held their own.
Now this is a leaders debate!!!
Stephen Harper is getting dog piled from all sides. He's holding his own, getting in the little knife twists and rib digs where he can, but essentially he's letting all the other party leaders talk over each other and drown out his responses in a babble of noise.
It's great to see Elizabeth May at this debate, of the five of them she's the only leader with an effortless gift of gab. She's smart, witty, great with a sound bite and she knows how to make the most of the time she being given.
Dion is doing all right. His English is still spotty and unfortunately some of his points are getting lost in translation. But he's avoided the wrath of the group as a whole and he's had a couple oppurtunities to make some solid points on the national stage.
Jack Layton. Solid, effective debater. Attacks Harper more than he sells his party. Needs to push the NDP a little more.
Duceppe. Strangely enough he's doing a really good job at offering Canadian solutions and identifying universal Canadian issues. In the English language debate he's doing the smart thing of not making regional based arguements. If I didn't disagree with the entire basis of this man's party I'd be impressed at how he's handling himself.
In my mind. May and Layton have done the best at this debate. All the rest have held their own.
This just in...
Ok. Newsflash.
Two things about Australia that should strike fear in the heart of anyone thinking of making a trip to the land down under.
Giant spiders
Sharks
(AKA Chris and S repellent.)
If I see a giant spider, or S a shark of any size, expect hysteria in mass quantities. I’ve got my eye on you Australia.
In other trip developments my vay-cay time has (narrowly) been approved, the tickets have been purchased, we’ve got someone lined up to look after the cat, made touch with our B.C. relations during our brief stopover and begun to hammer out the deets of what we’re actually going to do when we’re out there…including lots of Outback experiences and annoying the locals by re-enacting ‘that scene’ from the Simpsons.
Coffee?
Beer?
Co-ffee?
Be-er?
C. O…
B. E…
And so it begins.
Two things about Australia that should strike fear in the heart of anyone thinking of making a trip to the land down under.
Giant spiders
Sharks
(AKA Chris and S repellent.)
If I see a giant spider, or S a shark of any size, expect hysteria in mass quantities. I’ve got my eye on you Australia.
In other trip developments my vay-cay time has (narrowly) been approved, the tickets have been purchased, we’ve got someone lined up to look after the cat, made touch with our B.C. relations during our brief stopover and begun to hammer out the deets of what we’re actually going to do when we’re out there…including lots of Outback experiences and annoying the locals by re-enacting ‘that scene’ from the Simpsons.
Coffee?
Beer?
Co-ffee?
Be-er?
C. O…
B. E…
And so it begins.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Pull List: 1 October 2008
Batman #680
Doktor Sleepless #9
No Hero #1
Invincible #25
Justice League of America #25
Trinity #18
Doktor Sleepless #9
No Hero #1
Invincible #25
Justice League of America #25
Trinity #18
Heavy spending months
With the arrival of October we’re officially into my heavy spending months. From September until January, this is the time of year where I have to work a little harder at scrounging the cash to cover expenses.
Over the last three years, during this time period, I’ve had to contend with…
Three birthdays
Tuition
Anniversary (First date)
Film Festival
Christmas
It comes across as a mighty short list, but tuition, the film fest and Christmas alone are usually enough to reduce my wallet into leathery tatters.
This year I have the added economic hangover of…
Wedding
Honeymoon
Pending Australia trip.
But strangely enough, if you discount the recent free fall in the marketplace, my finances look pretty good. (In the sense that I’ve managed to keep my credit card zeroed and don’t have any massive debt) I guess fiscal prudence has finally paid off.
In fact, things look so good, I’m finally going to tackle my outstanding student debt. With only $2500 left to go and so many other expenses to worry about it hardly seemed worth the effort to set aside the cash to polish this baby off. But the recent worldwide financial turmoil has convinced me that I’d be better crossing this off my ‘To Do’ list. It may not be a lot of money but in case of unexpected financial emergencies I don’t want to have to worry about covering this nut.
Thus I have developed a system to help be achieve my goal of student debt elimination.
1. After all monthly bills, RRSP deposits and ongoing investments have been take care of I will…
2. Divide all outstanding monies in my bank account three ways.
a. 1/3 to credit card payments (whenever applicable, when credit card balance is at zero, outstanding monies will be divided in half.)
b. 1/3 to student debt repayment
c. 1/3 roll over into next month.
That 1/3 rollover into the next month may be extravagant, but that is the cash I’ll be using to pay for all those birthday’s and such.
I’ve been using this system for a month and so far its been working out really well. So well that my Christmas gift to myself may be being debt free by Jan 1st, 2009.
Over the last three years, during this time period, I’ve had to contend with…
Three birthdays
Tuition
Anniversary (First date)
Film Festival
Christmas
It comes across as a mighty short list, but tuition, the film fest and Christmas alone are usually enough to reduce my wallet into leathery tatters.
This year I have the added economic hangover of…
Wedding
Honeymoon
Pending Australia trip.
But strangely enough, if you discount the recent free fall in the marketplace, my finances look pretty good. (In the sense that I’ve managed to keep my credit card zeroed and don’t have any massive debt) I guess fiscal prudence has finally paid off.
In fact, things look so good, I’m finally going to tackle my outstanding student debt. With only $2500 left to go and so many other expenses to worry about it hardly seemed worth the effort to set aside the cash to polish this baby off. But the recent worldwide financial turmoil has convinced me that I’d be better crossing this off my ‘To Do’ list. It may not be a lot of money but in case of unexpected financial emergencies I don’t want to have to worry about covering this nut.
Thus I have developed a system to help be achieve my goal of student debt elimination.
1. After all monthly bills, RRSP deposits and ongoing investments have been take care of I will…
2. Divide all outstanding monies in my bank account three ways.
a. 1/3 to credit card payments (whenever applicable, when credit card balance is at zero, outstanding monies will be divided in half.)
b. 1/3 to student debt repayment
c. 1/3 roll over into next month.
That 1/3 rollover into the next month may be extravagant, but that is the cash I’ll be using to pay for all those birthday’s and such.
I’ve been using this system for a month and so far its been working out really well. So well that my Christmas gift to myself may be being debt free by Jan 1st, 2009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
