Team America - Freedom isn't free

QUAKE!

Well, the earth moved today, but not in a good way. Actually it wasn't at all bad here - when it first started, I thought it was the tot doing something to shake the walls. I'm not sure I would have placed it had I not heard the news about it afterwards.

We're a pretty lucky lot around here.

"Touchdown Jesus" is No More

I have fond memories of this quite odd (and fairly famous) statue, but tonight the bizarre landmark was struck by lightening and burned down. Not surprizing, since it was made of wood and painted styrofoam on a metal frame.

We'll never forget you, Giant Zombie Jesus Made of Cream Cheese.

The Price of Books

Sorry, but let me have a "when I was a kid" moment, here. I remember when I could pick up a new book and a snack for well under $10.

I mean, jeepers - $35 for a book? Really? That is 5% of my rent!

For a book.

True, it's a trendy hardcover, and not the pulp novels I used to buy, but even those are creeping into the double digits, slowly but surely. But, even then, I should not consider $20 a "good price." It's a book, for the love of Mike.

I do have the option of buying it in phantom electronic data bits form for around $17. Because, you know, I love to pay double-digits for 1s and 0s.

Shouldn't we be more upset about this, really? Or do we, as a culture, no longer riot when the price of bread (or books - both essentials) go too high for the masses to afford? Are we really ok with education, enlightenment and perspective belonging solely to the elite?

I suppose, one could say that only the elite want to read now. I think this is bunk, though - if the non-elite no longer want to read, the fact that they can't do so and still buy groceries might have something to do with it.

Is it a wonder people no longer read? I am not sure I can afford to do so any more.

And, if Igon was right and print is essentially dead, then lord have mercy on our pathetic souls if we as a culture (and a voting populace) are left to make do with Spike TV and Fox News.com.

Venice may finally be sinking, folks.

/end self-important, pretense-filled rant that really stems from the sour grapes of not being able to afford a book I want. Translation: wah-wah-wah.

R.I.P. Ted Kennedy

I just heard that Ted Kennedy succumbed to his brain tumor tonight. It'll be strange to live in a world without a major Kennedy.

Best wishes to the family.

Oh, the Irony!

Two dead, one missing in possible Ontario tornado

American tourists killed after their cabin reportedly tossed into lake by tornado

Jennifer MacMillan
Globe and Mail Update
Last updated on Friday, Jul. 10, 2009 03:44PM EDT

Two men are dead and a third is missing after a suspected tornado struck a fishing lodge in Northern Ontario, sucking up the tourists' cabin and dropping it into the nearby lake.

The Ontario Provincial Police reported the tourists are men from Oklahoma. The bodies of two of them were found in the water shortly after the storm passed.

Boats and divers from the OPP marine unit are currently searching the water for the third man, along with a helicopter from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

(Bold and Italics by me, for emphasis.)

Source: G&M.

I...

... AM SO FRIGGING G.D. SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT MICHAEL FREAKING JACKSON. ARGH!

OK, just needed to unload that.

Carry on.

Everyone Has a Price

Pirate Bay founders get rich in jail
Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:40am EDT

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish software company Global Gaming Factory X AB said on Tuesday it had agreed to buy free file-sharing website The Pirate Bay, and that it would find ways to compensate copyright owners for downloaded material. The four Swedish men behind the website were sentenced in April to one year in jail and ordered to pay damages of 3.6 million dollars for running the site, which is one of the world's largest for downloading files on the Internet.

The buyer said the website, for which it would pay 60 million Swedish crowns ($7.7 million), was viable based on plans for a new business model that would satisfy both content providers and copyright owners.

"We would like to introduce models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid for content that is downloaded via the site," said Global Gaming Chief Executive Hans Pandeya in a statement.

Music and film companies including Warner Bros. (WMG.N), MGM, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox Films, Sony BMG (6758.T), Universal (GE.N) (VIV.PA) and EMI had sought damages of more than 100 million Swedish crowns ($12.6 million) to compensate for lost revenues.

The verdict has been appealed to a higher court.

($1=7.826 Swedish Crown)

(Reporting by Veronica Ek; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)

***

Well, end of an era. I suppose I should be gracious about this, but I'm not. They are caving, and in so doing, they are stabbing everyone who believed in them in the back - not even just because they are selling out, but because they have chosen to lie about, and act as if this change was about anything but getting their money for their lawsuit. If they would just come out and say, "we fought the good fight, but we lost, so we're getting out," that would be better than this crap they are trying to sell.

The deal will be complete in August, so you have one month left to finish your downloads, figure out how to delete your user account (or force them to let you do so), and exit stage left.

The last one out, turn off the lights.

Words for the Day

"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it."

(Talmud)

Aftermaths

- I am now 31.

- After the disappointing and horrifying news about Tori Stafford, I cannot deny Declan anything that he enjoys.

- After a great comedy of errors yesterday, I finally have a wireless mouse. And a blister the size of a dime on my big toe.

On that subject, to lighten the mood:

Yes I Can. And So Can You.

Yesterday, we saw a ray of hope shine through. I don't know if Obama is the saviour people make him out to be, but what matters is the way he's made people feel. No one person can fix the situation the world is in, but if the way he embodies the old Capraesque ideals we've lost along the way makes us feel the drive to live better, raise our kids better, and treat each other just a little bit better, then I have great hope for the future.

Congrats, Mr Obama - it's a tough job, and I wish you luck. I wish us all luck.

Excitement

I'm not 100% comfortable with parties making backroom deals for the PM's office, instead of winning them fair and square, but since the Conservatives are moving us closer to a two-party (and un-Canadian) system, I guess we have to deal with the way of things. The majority of Canadians did vote to the left or centre, and I really don't feel confident about having Cons in power in times of economic hardship.

But, either way - it is an exciting time for Canadian politics.

Oh, Obama!

The Aftermath...

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

YAY!

YES THEY DID!

Up Late Contemplating Langston Hughes

Today, we will find out if the Immortal Hughes was correct when he wrote:

By what sends
the white kids
I ain't sent:
I know I can't
be President.

Lies written down
for white folks
ain't for us a-tall:
Liberty And Justice--
Huh!--For All?

Today, the American Dream is tested.

Today the world watches.

This just in....

Dixville Notch votes for Obama, 15 to 6.

And so it begins!

Why I Care About the American Election

I have a lot of verve for the 2008 US Election. I am not an American. Still, I am participating in select Internet activities to try to mobilize the American voters for Barack Obama, my preferred candidate.

At first, I didn't feel right publicly expressing an opinion on this election, even though having a basic private opinion was unavoidable. I wondered if it was wrong of me to interfere at all with the American democratic process, even though my opinion is not likely to have much impact. After all, non-Canadians rarely have much direct sway in Canadian elections (Michael Moore aside), so we enjoy, on the surface, a fairly sovereign right to choose - except for, of course, the hours and hours of entertainment, news and other media source exposure we receive from the United States, the impact of which is largely incalculable.

So, why then do I feel I have the right to speak in the American election?

Firstly, I guess I can point to the concrete practical situation I am currently in - my husband, an American, lives in the US, and my son, though born in Canada, is half American, and who knows where we will end up as life progresses? The bottom line, though, is that I want America to be a nation my son can be proud of, and I believe Sen. Obama is a better road to that than is Sen. McCain.

Secondly, I am a democrat, and, this, I feel, is an ideological leaning that knows no specific borders. As a democrat, I support the NDP at home, and am friendly to the democrats world wide, as we share a common vision. It is possible that a democrat in Maine has more in common with me than a Conservative in Alberta, and I shouldn't pretend that is not so.

Finally, I am a citizen of the world. I don't take this lightly; this was the line that got Chaplin deported, after all. Being a citizen of the world means that I have not only the right but the obligation to consider the well being of the global community. It also means I should raise my voice when I have an opinion about world politics. Honestly, none of us can deny that he/she who rules the USA has a significant impact on all our lives, whether we like it or not. We are in bed with an elephant, so we have to watch which way it rolls, no?

In the end, my voice will likely not mean anything. I cannot vote in the American elections, as that is the sole privilege of the citizens of that potentially-fine country. However, I see no harm in, most importantly, urging them to exercise that vote, and, secondly, saying, for what it is worth, I prefer Obama.

American or not, we are witnessing History. None of us will be completely unaffected by the results of November 4th, so I cannot say I find any real reason why we shouldn't speak up.

I only hope Americans realize how much all of us depend on their judgement.

best enjoy election humour while it's still going

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