Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, B of A, Credit Suisse

Just following up my last post regarding campaign donations. I think contributions to political campaigns are usually self-interested endeavours. We support a political party because we want them to represent us.

That being said, here are the top 5 contributors for Obama and Romney. I wouldn't identify as someone who entirely distrusts big banks, but having 5 big banks as Romney's top campaign donators is not confidence inspiring.

*stats taken from: http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/index.php

Campaign finances

The campaigns of people running for office, whether locally or nationally, are usually funded by their supporters in the form of donations. If a candidate has more money to spend on their campaign, they will have more opportunities to spread their message, become well-known, and increase their proportion of the vote. Political scientist Gary Jacobson has noted that increased campaign financing results in larger and more pervasive campaigns and increases a voter's recognition of a candidate. Greater voter recognition of a candidate allows a voter to more easily present an evaluation of a candidate. More evaluations usually means more positive evaluations in total, and therefore more votes. I made a splendidly diagram:

If you're interested in how the campaign finances of Romney compare against Obama, check out the screen capture below from www.opensecrets.org

Bring your gun to the Republican National Convention. Why? Because you can!

On August 28th-30th The Republicans are having their National Convention in Tampa Bay, Florida. With such a large collection of political leaders and the Presidential hopeful himself, Mitt Romney, you can bet security will be at a maximum. All the standard potentially hazardous things will be banned from entering the convention; like knives, machetes, aerosol cans, long pieces of rope, mysterious liquids, and dynamite. But don't dismay: if you were planning on bringing your concealed weapon you can still attend. After all, thanks to the second amendment, it is your right to bear arms. The second amendment slowly blurs the line between idiot and ideologue, allowing any sane American to carry a concealed weapon if they have the corresponding permit in the State of Florida.

If you think this is stupid, picture this: the convention is going along cordially when the Queen of England herself comes in and starts bossing everyone around. We must expect, nay demand, Americans to defend themselves against tyranny accordingly... right? 

SOPA and PIPA are two different things.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Do you steal music off the internet? Be honest.

I used to, but then in the summer of 2011 I decided to download Windows Vista and reformatted my computer. I also forgot to back up any files. I lost my entire music collection, slowly stolen off the internet since grade 7.

If you regularly consume media over the internet, chances are you visit websites that host copy-write infringing material. What does this mean? When someone creates something original they have the right to legally protect the their work. Copy-right or "the right to copy", gives the creator control over their work in many forms:

                      -They have the right to control any reproductions of their work

-They have the right to be credited for their work

                                   -They have the right to control who financially benefits from their work

The internet, in it's current form, has so much copy-righted material everywhere. In most cases without the owner's permission. YouTube, Wikipedia, Ebay, Craiglist, etc, all feature content the original owners never granted permission to use. This blog features lots of content I post without asking the owner's permission.
        The Stop Online Piracy Act gives the rightful owner's of intellectual property more power to go after people infringing on their content. It is a complicated bill with lots of implications. Check out the edu-cartoon above; it can explain techno jargon better than myself.

        Blogger, Jason Harvey of Reddit.com, gives a thorough explanation of the Stop Online Piracy Act, and the Protect IP Act here: A technical examination of SOPA and PROTECT IP

sad reality of war

Why is something popular referred to as "viral"? As in, "this internet video has gone viral".
I think it has something to do with the infectious nature of a virus. "Infectious" also confers a negative spread; a spread of sickness and sadness. Rebecca Black's video, "Friday" has all of those characteristics. But I digress...


Recently, a video of US Marines urinating on Afghan corpses has gone "viral". I have not seen the video, as I cannot bring myself to watch it. An event like this has serious repercussions for all stakeholders in the ambiguous War on Terror. The American effort to win the hearts-and-minds of Afghans will suffer. The reputation of the American military will suffer. More people may take up arms against the United States. The international community will shame the war effort because this is a disturbing reality brought into the public's homes via computer screen.


Unlike the Gulf war, which was highly televised, the Afghan and Iraq campaigns have remained sheltered from the public's view. Time magazine recently did a piece on the growing separation between the military and the public, and this video is a jarring reality of being conscious about the war.

I found a lot of the press to shame the soldiers in the video. No doubt, their actions are despicable. But how can I begin to comprehend the circumstances that led to that video? War takes a toll on the mind, and people of differing mental fortitude go off to fight war. I don't mean to apologize for the soldiers in the video, but rather apologize for the circumstances in which their actions were committed. I assume watching scores of people die from bombs and bullets could rework the reality of the brain; make someone crazy. The reality of war could make urinating on your supposed enemy commonplace. This is not the first time something like this has happened. Who am I too say? I can't. We need to rethink how we fight these wars.


National Post - 
Video of Marines urinating on dead insurgents won’t harm peace talks: Taliban


Globe and Mail -
Video of U.S. Marines urinating on Taliban dead causes uproar

republican primary

Triptych of Haywain by Hieronymus Bosch. It's a crazy painting! The tadpole mouse is making a getaway!

Often, it is the loudest voices that carry the day. Popular media can have a way of sensationalizing the loudest voices, however extreme they might be, while the best voices become marginalized. I am referring to America's Republican Primaries, currently taking place. GOP candidates campaign to represent the Republican Party against Obama in November; if you didn't think the GOP was a breeding ground for unqualified leaders during the 2008 election (Palin), you will after the Republican Primaries (Cain, Bachmann, Santorum, Perry, etc).

The "media" (ambiguous, I know), presents us with politically themed stories, that have little bearing on the actual issues at hand. For example: Herman Cain's sexual harassment accusations. Why did this dominate news headlines for as long as it did? Our infatuation with reading about Cain's sordid personal life is pathetic. Headlines were made when he said pizzas with few toppings are for sissy's... I'll admit it, I ate it up. I had a great time laughing about Herman and all his nonsensical junk. The same thing happened with Sarah Palin in 2008. The media needs to do its job and clear its palate of these candidates who clearly do not stand a chance. The void created by the lack of non-pertinent distractions could be filled with stories that actually inform (I'm looking at you FOX NEWS). We need to do our job, and not give the soap-operaesque tabloids credence. 

We have some similar political personas in Canada, although not as extreme. The closest thing Canadians have to the political carnival characters from the States, is Don Cherry. Unfortunately, he garners more respect and attention than many of our top ranking public servants. And he doesn't even practice politics. We laughed along when Peter Kent apparently didn't know what ozone was, but unfortunately that is a much more serious issue than Herman Cain's mistress(es). Peter Kent's issue is  actually rather sad, and not something to laugh about.

It's not about a left-versus-right thing either. I would certainly vote for some of the Republican contenders over the Democrat's Obama. It is about intellectual honesty, and separating fact from drivel.
I encourage you to look into the United States' electoral race, starting with the Primaries right now. The changes taking place across the border are inevitably going to affect Canadians, and we should do our part to get informed and advocate for the change we want.

As of writing this, Cain and Bachmann have dropped out. Below I have posted a video from Rick Perry... scary I know. I have also posted a rebuttal I found on youtube, which sums up my feelings more eloquently than I can express.

occupy wall street.

I like the Occupy (insert developed world city here) movement. Something in the capitalist system is not working, and it needs to be addressed. I'm not claiming to have any answers about what exactly the problem is, but I know something is wrong. I can feel it my bones.

At the heart of the Occupy Wall St. Movement is the complaint that current financial markets are not regulated properly. Archaic banking practices, high-risk investments, and a bottom line driven solely by profits have combined to create a system vulnerable to exploitation by greedy goblins. Wall street occupiers claim old economic rules no longer apply; for example: rational expectations, which are: "economic situations in which the outcome depends partly on what people expect to happen".

What I don't like about Occupy Wall street, is how other advocacy groups have attached their agendas to the occupation movement. In order to bring about meaningful and effective change to the West's banking systems the message cannot be diluted with things like: climate change, social injustice, and environmental concerns. All of these things are inextricably attached to the impacts of capitalism, they are important and deserve attention; but let's just focus on bad banking practices (hasn't that been the major inconvenience of the past 5 years?). Policy makers will take the movement more seriously and it will be easier for them to affect change, if the priorities are direct and specific.

 I also don't like references in the media relating Occupy Wall St to the Arab revolutions. They are entirely different. Arabs have faced decades of stagnation and oppression, while Wall Street occupiers have only been affected for the past decade (the major shift coming after 9/11).

I have two videos that compare the political media perspective from the left and right. Notice how each media group, from opposite ends of the political spectrum, uses people at rallies to portray their message. The first video is of left-leaning media interviewing stupid people at a Tea-Party rally and the second video is of right-leaning media interviewing stupid people at the Occupy Wall Street movement. Media from across the spectrum are guilty of interviewing a small select sample of individuals and using that to represent the entire movement.

It just occurred to me this video may not play on all computers, try the link:
Ari Horowitz on GBTV

 p.s. I am well aware that 95% of what comes out of Glenn Beck's mouth is garbage.

Let's Help Japan!

Map of Earth Quake, provided by ESRI. <-Wicked Map!

Sorry, about my lack of updates recently. I've been busy; all my essays were due this past week, Project Serve Showcase the week before, and nightshifts, Im easily distracted... maybe I should use time more efficiently. What a novel idea. But a student's time commitments really don't matter in the grand scheme of things.

The biggest issue facing the global community, besides a no fly zone in Libya, was the massive earthquake, and corresponding tsunami in Japan. At the beginning of the disaster, reports stated hundreds of people had been killed or were missing. As time passed, the list of missing and dead people has increased to over 10,000. This is a tragedy. Japan is located on the geographic capitol of earthquakes (see Ring of Fire, active fault lines). The Japanese government definitely expected something like this to happen; that is why they have one of the most proactive earthquake protection systems on Earth. Despite measures taken to reduce the damage from earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan; nothing was totally effective against the ravaging powers of Mother Nature.

Our hearts are with the people of Japan as they begin the rebuilding process. Japan has recovered from similar disasters, and they will recover after this; but each time leaves a scar of memory. Japan has accepted international aid and we should all give what we can. Whether your contribution is spreading awareness, spreading kinds words and love, or financial; it will all make a difference. And here is the best part: in order to donate $5 to the Red Cross Relief Effort, all you have to do is:

Text the word ASIA to 30333 to donate $5 to Canadian Red Cross http://ow.ly/4cJnu

You don't even have to get out of your chair. Its that easy. But get out of your chair! Get off the Internet, tell your friends. Also, It is Earth Hour this Saturday. The Albion Hotel is having a Japan Red Cross fundraiser / Earth Hour service on Saturday, March 26th. Local acoustic performers are taking the stage at 11:30 and playing all day. At 8:30 all the lights will be shut off for Earth Hour continuing until close, and Atlas will take the stage. Pass the Hat tax receipts for donations of $10 or more. p.s. no. the Albion does not pay me, you don't even have to buy anything. Just donate money! but still, local music is schveet, and its for a good cause!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=195572777149042&index=1

Set list:

11:15 - Mo'Kauffney

12:00 - Kent MacMillan
12:45 - Peter Demakos
1:30 - Andrew Coombes
2:15 - Paul Farmer
3:00 - Hoodie Good
3:45 - Texting Mackenzie
4:30 - Patrick McCauley
5:00 - Jessy Bell Smith
5:45 - Scotty Nightingale <--This guy ran for mayor in the last municipal election! 6:15 - AJ Johnson

7:00 - Chris Roberts/Modern Field Recording

7:45 - Greg Denton

8:30 - Atlas

9:30 - Jason and Jeremiah

10:15 - Zack Leighton

10:45 - Nathan Coles

11:30 - D. Eve Archer

12:15 - Ben Doerksen

1:00 - Lowlands

some issues surrounding the conflict in Libya

Hey, so I tried to summarize some of the issues surrounding the protests in Libya. It just presents a brief overview and by no-means is it complete.

***Update*** Ok so, for sanctions to be placed on Libya, include: Arms embargo, trade embargo, seizures and restrictions on Gaddafi's international assets, and limits on Gaddafi's international movement.

An excerpt from Elemental View (warning: slightly jaded perspective)

Elemental View: SIMP Alert #3: "Europe and Libyans... Jesus would ...: "Moronic and, alas, Pathetic. The last time I checked on GoogleMaps, Libya is across the Mediterranean Sea from the shores of southern Europe..."

Gaddafi-dafi-doo!

What happens when everyone's favourite dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi needs to go into hiding? He goes under the disguise of Raffi, everyone's favourite childhood singer. He mostly goes to Venezuela.

Now seriously. Following suit of Tunisia and Egypt, Libyans are staging mass demonstrations in an attempt to oust leader Gaddafi. Gaddafi seized power in 1969 from King Idris, in a military coup.

Can we expect Libya to follow a similar transition of power as is underway in Egypt? Probably not. Unlike Egypt, Libya has massive oil reserves and a much smaller population (80m vs. 6m). As a result the GDP per capita is double that of Egypt. Literacy and education levels are also higher in Libya compared to Egypt. But unemployment is much higher in Libya... I don't know the implications of all the differences between Libya and Egypt. Read a book about it, if you're really interested...

The only point of the differences is to show that the "arab people's movement" will not play out in the same fashion as it did in Egypt. Gaddafi's response to the protests has been much more violent than that of former Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak. Already, more than 200 civilians have died in the protests, due in part to the government firing live rounds into crowds, and using fighter planes to bomb protesters. Libyan soldiers seem to be much more active in protester suppression than the Egyptian soldiers were. This is interesting because both governments require mandatory military service from civilians.

Two Libyan fighter pilots who refused to bomb protesters made an unscheduled landing in Malta; they are asking for political asylum.

In regards to my drawing above, there have been rumours that Gaddafi has fled to Venezuela. But Venezuela and Libyan officials both deny it...

Libya protests spread and intensify

CIA - World Fact Book

Two Libyan fighter pilots defect, fly to Malta

Mubarak Steps Down, Facebook is for Democracy! (and lurking)

The world is changing. And I'm not talking about midterms...We awoke on Friday to Egypt's leadership stepping down, and handing power over to the military. The Egyptian people have made their wishes very clear, after 18 days of protests and riots. President Hosni Mubarak has resigned, and fled to his home in Sharm el Sheikh; marking change across the Middle East and displaying the power of a collective people.

The revolution was partially attributed to the spread of information via the Internet. Facebook and Twitter sites helped rally people and spread media attention. Social networks allowed millions of Egyptians to join the protests without any central leader or coalition. So, when your not paying attention in lecture and flipping through Jessica's "Spring Break 09'" photo album on Facebook, just think: You are using a powerful tool of democracy... maybe Facebook is not a colossal time waster after all. maybe not.

In any event, now is the time to celebrate the victory of the Egyptian people as they start to rebuild after the protests. Currently the military is in charge (don't worry guys, it's funded by USA's aid). The Supreme Military Committee is expected to start ushering in a new age of rule, including elections in the fall, and suspending the Emergency Measures Act.

I don't know how the transition will occur. Who knows what tomorrow brings? The only wish I have for Egypt is that the people themselves decide how to be governed. Us folks in the West must support the people's revolution. Egypt is the entrance to the Middle East; it is the social, economic, and political pivot, around which the West gains influence into the Arab world. We must not be quick to throw up assumptions of some fundamentalist Islam group taking power. Egyptian's have lived in secular peace for decades, why must people bring up possible negativity towards Israel? The current young generation of Egyptians, the ones protesting, have never lived in war with Israel. Muslims and Christians, have lived in peace for decades in Egypt, why should we have reason to believe this will change? Please, attached a positive face to Egyptians, I do not believe Egyptians will not tolerate a theocracy. But, I urge you to formulate your own ideas, and get more information. I am by no means an expert on anything.
Will the victory of the Egyptian people spark a domino effect across the world, spreading to the countries with leadership less than democratic? It started with Tunisia, and then spread to Egypt, who is next?

Lastly, while Obama makes a very eloquent speech about Mubarak stepping down, Stephen Harper makes a comparison to toothpaste...

"In my judgment there is no going back, I think the old expression, there not going to put the toothpaste back into the tube on this one..."

here's more context of that quote: Opposition Criticizes Toothpaste Remarks
It's a silly statement, but I don't think it actually means the government is so "out-of-touch" on foreign affairs. For better or worse, the government knows what it's doing. They are pretty smart people, they just may not share your motives...
(P.S. midterms. consume. all. my. time....)

Photo from Associated Press

Elemental View: Surprise, surprise...but it shouldn't be...not rea...

A pleasant excerpt from anther blog, Elemental View.

Elemental View: Surprise, surprise...but it shouldn't be...not rea...: "The way the mainstream media makes it out to be, the wave of protests sweeping across the Middle East comes across as a huge surprise, a sho..."

Canada does not tolerate crooks... Or their brother-in-laws (who are also crooks).

This is serious stuff. Some times I joke around, and play hop-scotch. But this is serious. You all heard about the riots in Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Yemen, etc etc etc. Well, all these riots started with Tunisia. The former monarch, Ben Ali, fled the country with his tail between his legs because the people were so angry. His brother-in-law, a former insurance sales man, has fled the country also. He came to Montreal, where he is currently shacked up in a posh hotel.

This guy is a crook. He was a former insurance sales man, making a hundred-bucks a week, and then his sister married the president of Tunisia. Since then, he is now apparently worth billions of dollars. Corruption. His business style had been referred to as "Mafia-like" by western diplomats, as he has been "gifted" with numerous government assets since his sister married the president.

Canada has to get rid of this guy. Deport him. Extradite him. Put him on an ice floe and push him off into the atlantic.

This is what this guy is doing: he is using all the legal avenues to try and seek asylum in Canada. Meanwhile the new government of Tunisia is demanding we return this guy for punishment. Here's where the red tape comes in:

1. He has, or had, permanent resident status. It is currently being investigated whether or not he has lived in Canada for at least 2, of the past 5 years. If not, his status could be revoked.

2.He can claim refugee status. This would be an insult to real refugees. His lavish lifestyle is why the Tunisians revolted. If he is denied, he can claim compassionate grounds, because his life would be in danger if he returned to Tunisia.

3. Canada has no extradition treaty with Tunisia. Although, Tunisia has put an arrest warrant out for him.

4. Due to the extensive legal process of appeals, and re-appeals, and re-re-appeals, it could be years before Belhassen is finally kicked out.

Riots in Egypt!! 50,000 people= :(

I was in Toronto today for a doctor's appointment. On my way to lunch, I passed a large group of people protesting at city hall, they were protesting in solidarity with their counterparts in Egypt. They were protesting the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who has held power for 30 years. His authoritarian rule has angered many Egyptians, and they want him out (see Egyptian Emergency Measures Act after the Arab-Isreali conflict, low wages, police state, unemployment,etc, etc). These protests are coming hot-on-the-heels of similar protests last week in Tunisia, which resulted in their president fleeing the country.

Arab nations across Northern Africa are challenging their leadership with protests, which is creating a boiling pot scenario.

Egypt has a strategically placed geography which is very important for international trade (see Suez Canal), an immense population (see 82 million), and cool buildings. It has yet to be seen whether the current regime of Hosni Mubarak will crumble, and if so, what regime will take his place? Will it be a progressive secular muslim society? will it be a dictatorship? will it adopt principles similar to Iran? Will Egypt regain its previous calmness? How will the US respond to a new regime after 30 years of consistency? I don't know how this is going to turn out.

Here's a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Czslbh_Bnw (lol watch the guy slip at 0:06)

Here's a good article:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/20111251711053608.html