Jason's

Misguided

Blog: Nov 2004

Blog:

• Nov 27: Happy Birthday to Sandra, the love of my life.
• Nov 22: The release of Ontario's Worst Municipal Roads' report again highlights how poorly infrastructure is regarded by upper levels of government. Further, Steeles avenue is a microcosm of the kind of territorial squabbling between cities that results in longer commutes to work, and low voter turnout from people not identifying with their communities. "A year later it continues to deteriorate and the two municipalities that share responsibility are still 'holding discussions' about what to do and who will pay." They've been negotiating for about fifteen years. I don't think international treaties take this long to resolve.
• Nov 16: Congratulations to the courageous Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire, winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-fiction.

  "An essential book that, in speaking of the Rwandan tragedy, points to some of our greatest failings as a civilized society. Out of his own experience, Roméo Dallaire has written a brave cautionary tale for our hard and selfish times."

• Nov 11: Remembrance ceremonies honour those who served. Lest we forget.

• Nov 8: Sandra and I spent a rare Sunday afternoon together at a downtown rally to help those suffering in Darfur, Sudan. Oddly enough, I wasn't this politically active during university, but after reading Dallaire's book below, realized the importance of mobilizing the local community whenever governments fail to act. Attended by several hundred people, and over forty non-profit organizations, the rally had speeches, music, and media covering the hour-long event. Despite the cold, and the poor audio from the microphone, it was a worthy excursion that we hoped made a difference.

  After the gathering at Queen's Park, we headed to the Eaton Centre for window shopping and dinner. Most striking about Yonge Street's revitalization is the public space created at Dundas. In a lame attempt to copy Times' Square, advertising reigns supreme with giant electronic billboards surrounding the intersection, and subjecting everyone to massive doses of light pollution. It seems the only way to create public space is selling it away to the highest bidder, instead of using the area for a totally unique idea to Toronto: a pedestrian mall free from the choking smog produced by cars and condo development.

• Nov 3: Is it any wonder Bush was reelected? The same thing happened to Ontario's Harris in 1999 at a time when the citizenry was divided and opposition ineffective. The lone bright spot: society's appetite for religious conservatism and polarization eventually wanes.

Web Design:

• Spread Firefox: 1.0 Launches, Global village rejoices!
• Wikipedia explains Mozilla Firefox for the unenlightened.

Politics:

• If Carolyn Parrish's actions were without any tact or diplomacy, then how does one describe the President's reluctance to speak in front of Parliament? The leader of the free world and most powerful nation-state in history is afraid of being heckled by a few rowdy elected representatives, and opts for a safer, private audience instead. What strikes me most about this American is how petty, ignorant, inarticulate, divisive and grating his personality and administration's policies have clashed with traditional allies and the global community he seeks to control. Critics of the governing Liberals argue we have done much to anger our southern neighbours, but quickly forget ongoing lumber and cattle disputes that began long before opposition to the Iraq war or missile defence plans. Relations between our two countries have become strained, but it's a result of an overzealous media looking for a story where none really exists, and to advance a Conservative agenda of further economic and cultural integration until Canada loses its sovereignty and place as a respected middle power.
• End Violence and Suffering in Sudan's Darfur
• Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief
• MPs ignore party lines to plead for Darfur
• Soldier of Misfortune
• Israel is not alone
• Is Canada Disappearing From the World Stage?

Of Interest:

• Squash is the most underrated individual sport played across the world, and is not helped by poor television exposure in North America. A healthy, aerobic indoor game, similar to tennis, that despite growing popularity at the club and university levels, can't penetrate the media wall beyond a few short newspaper articles and tape delayed coverage. This inaccessibility to the public is made worse by forbidding ticket prices. At a tournament in downtown Toronto, the cheapest tickets went for $75 to see the final match. It's an unfortunate reality today that television drives sales; without it, squash is doomed to obscurity and will unlikely become an Olympic sport.
• Rescue Me has the best introductory song of any television show. The acting and stories are very good, though Leary has essentially type-cast himself into the same role played on "The Job."
• Media Blacks Out Bush Assault on Minimum Wage
• Buying a good name cheap
• Great Escape
• Is Wal-Mart Good for America?
• The Persuaders
• Journalism's Future May Be Wikipedia
• Land, Water & Light: Ken Danby Landscapes

Projects:

• My job search picks up with work at dad's office slowing down for the holidays.

 

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