Damn reading week. It has gone by so fast. On Monday I wished it would end, and now on Friday I wish it was longer. For some reason having five days off school, which in thoery gives you a perfect opportunity to work, is the hardest time to work. I have no clue as to why it is so hard to work on reading week, all I know is that I definately did not get work done. Sure, I got some research done and wrote the first three pages of a paper, but beyond that, I did nothing. I always plan to do a lot during reading week, but it never seems to materialize into real results.
Maybe I need a new strategy for next year's reading week: plan to do very little work...or actually do what other people do: party, relax, or go on a trip. This reverse psyhcology works in most other things, so why can't it work for reading week?
Gotta get back to work...or not working...
Friday, February 22, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Where my support falls in the United States
As someone who labels himself as a right-wing Democrat in the United States, I am oddly split between both parties this election. I like people on both sides, and have openly said I would vote for either side in the General election, were I a US citizen.
Republicans: I support John McCain, as my profile has inidicated for the past three months.
Why?
1. The United States is at war, and you need a compitant commander in chief to execute the war effort. McCain, whose father and Grandfather were both Admirals, was a Captain in the US Navy, a war hero, and a PoW in North Vietnam. Along with his experience in Congress on the Armed Services Committee, this gives him an impressive record when it comes to the military and war. In 1960, Dwight D. Eisenhower stated "God help any man who sits behind this desk who doesn't know the military like I do" in reference to the Military Industiral Complex and the execution of wars. America needs a leader who understands the military and war. McCain is that leader.
2. He opposes Torture. I fully support the Geneva convention's rules on the treatment of political prisoners, and I believe that torture is wrong and inhumane. McCain, someone who has been subject to torture for 6 long years in North Vietnam (as well as 26 years in Congress), is the only Republican to oppose torture. That gets him my vote.
3. He is willing to be Bi-Partisan. After 8 years on George W. Bush, who has been unwilling to work with the Democrats and has passed only strongly Conservative legislation, America needs a more moderate President. John McCain has proven through his work in the Senate that his is both willing and capable of working with Democrats and created moderate, and even Liberal, legislation.
4. He is left handed. Those of us part of the 11% minority must stick together.
Democrats: I support Barack Obama. Not B. Hussein Obama, not Barack Hussein Osama, BARACK H. OBAMA.
Why?
1. I trust him. Everyone can attest that there are just some people who you know you can trust. I feel that way about Barack Obama. He seems legitimate, he seems real, and he seems trustworthy. With politicians, this is a unqiue thing to be saying, but I think with Obama it applies.
2. He is inspirational. I know everyone is saying this, but it is true. The President of the United States is not just the leader of America, but the leader of the Free World. In these dark times, the Free World, and America in particular, needs some inspriation, and Obama can deliver that inspiration. He is a brilliant Orator, a charming person, and has an uplifting personality. I cannot think of anyone better to give us hope.
3. He is an outsider. In a city dominated by Lobbyists and Speical Interests, Barack Obama is a fresh face. He has only been in Washington for four years. This is just another great allusion to John F. Kennedy, who was also a first term Senator when he won the Democratic nomination in 1960, and the people trusted him as an outsider.
4. He is left handed. Those of us part of the 11% Minority must stick together.
Summary:
While I am well aware I cannot vote in the US elections, the American President is the leader of the Free World. Last time I checked, Canada was a member of the Free World, and we are also tied heavily into the United States politics, economy and culture.
I consider myself on the same ideology as Joe Lieberman in US politics: the Right Wing Democrat. Since Lieberman endorsed McCain, I knew my Republican vote lay with John McCain.
As for the Demcorats, I know my stuff on Obama is a little thin, but hell the man is inspiring. I would have voted for John F. Kennedy, so I know I would vote for Barack Obama if he was the Democratic nominee.
Lastly, they are both Left handed, and as a Lefty I am obliged by law to support fellow Lefties.
The only problem now comes if both McCain and Obama win their parties nominations, which isn't too far off after the results on recent primaries.
Republicans: I support John McCain, as my profile has inidicated for the past three months.
Why?
1. The United States is at war, and you need a compitant commander in chief to execute the war effort. McCain, whose father and Grandfather were both Admirals, was a Captain in the US Navy, a war hero, and a PoW in North Vietnam. Along with his experience in Congress on the Armed Services Committee, this gives him an impressive record when it comes to the military and war. In 1960, Dwight D. Eisenhower stated "God help any man who sits behind this desk who doesn't know the military like I do" in reference to the Military Industiral Complex and the execution of wars. America needs a leader who understands the military and war. McCain is that leader.
2. He opposes Torture. I fully support the Geneva convention's rules on the treatment of political prisoners, and I believe that torture is wrong and inhumane. McCain, someone who has been subject to torture for 6 long years in North Vietnam (as well as 26 years in Congress), is the only Republican to oppose torture. That gets him my vote.
3. He is willing to be Bi-Partisan. After 8 years on George W. Bush, who has been unwilling to work with the Democrats and has passed only strongly Conservative legislation, America needs a more moderate President. John McCain has proven through his work in the Senate that his is both willing and capable of working with Democrats and created moderate, and even Liberal, legislation.
4. He is left handed. Those of us part of the 11% minority must stick together.
Democrats: I support Barack Obama. Not B. Hussein Obama, not Barack Hussein Osama, BARACK H. OBAMA.
Why?
1. I trust him. Everyone can attest that there are just some people who you know you can trust. I feel that way about Barack Obama. He seems legitimate, he seems real, and he seems trustworthy. With politicians, this is a unqiue thing to be saying, but I think with Obama it applies.
2. He is inspirational. I know everyone is saying this, but it is true. The President of the United States is not just the leader of America, but the leader of the Free World. In these dark times, the Free World, and America in particular, needs some inspriation, and Obama can deliver that inspiration. He is a brilliant Orator, a charming person, and has an uplifting personality. I cannot think of anyone better to give us hope.
3. He is an outsider. In a city dominated by Lobbyists and Speical Interests, Barack Obama is a fresh face. He has only been in Washington for four years. This is just another great allusion to John F. Kennedy, who was also a first term Senator when he won the Democratic nomination in 1960, and the people trusted him as an outsider.
4. He is left handed. Those of us part of the 11% Minority must stick together.
Summary:
While I am well aware I cannot vote in the US elections, the American President is the leader of the Free World. Last time I checked, Canada was a member of the Free World, and we are also tied heavily into the United States politics, economy and culture.
I consider myself on the same ideology as Joe Lieberman in US politics: the Right Wing Democrat. Since Lieberman endorsed McCain, I knew my Republican vote lay with John McCain.
As for the Demcorats, I know my stuff on Obama is a little thin, but hell the man is inspiring. I would have voted for John F. Kennedy, so I know I would vote for Barack Obama if he was the Democratic nominee.
Lastly, they are both Left handed, and as a Lefty I am obliged by law to support fellow Lefties.
The only problem now comes if both McCain and Obama win their parties nominations, which isn't too far off after the results on recent primaries.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Super Bowl Prediction
The Super Bowl is this afternoon, and I want to wade into the mess that is Super Bowl Predictions.
The Las Vegas line gives the New England Patriots a 12 point spread, which was a 14 point spread only 1 week ago. I feel that the Giants will cover the spread, but they will not beat the New England Patriots. The Pat's Offense has shown time and again it can come up big in clutch situations, and their defense showed us in the AFC Championship that they can hold the line inside the 20 yard line.
However, the Giants Offense is on a roll, and their pass-rushing is one of the best in the game. Therefore, they will be able to keep their team in the game. This will not be a blowout.
My call: Patriots 23, Giants 17
The Las Vegas line gives the New England Patriots a 12 point spread, which was a 14 point spread only 1 week ago. I feel that the Giants will cover the spread, but they will not beat the New England Patriots. The Pat's Offense has shown time and again it can come up big in clutch situations, and their defense showed us in the AFC Championship that they can hold the line inside the 20 yard line.
However, the Giants Offense is on a roll, and their pass-rushing is one of the best in the game. Therefore, they will be able to keep their team in the game. This will not be a blowout.
My call: Patriots 23, Giants 17
Saturday, January 26, 2008
For Students...Or for Re-election?
This week's edition of The Charlatan, Carleton University's student newspaper, an interesting announcement took place. On the first page of news, it announced that CUSA, our lovable Student Government/Student Union/Political Organization, has finalized the deal to buy Haven Books, and the transfer will take place on January 31st, 2008. While this deal seems incredibly great for students, to me this just sounds like one big coincidence. Let me give you guys the back story and then explain why.
In last year's CUSA elections, the "Student's First" slate, headed by Shelley Melanson, promised to purchase Haven Books, the lower cost textbook store on Sunnyside. This was a sure winner as electoral promises go, one which your opponents cannot argue against. Arguing against this would be like arguing against lowering tuition fees, political suicide. The "Students First" slate ultimately won the elections for all six executive positions, and therefore the negotiations would begin. They stated that they would buy Haven Books using money Coca-Cola has been paying CUSA for the last five years to stock only Coke products in their stores. No student had any idea that an exclusivity deal even existed between CUSA and Coke, so this came a rude surprise to many, including myself. However, no-one would argue with lower textbook costs, so there were no real complaints about using this money.
I too won election in last February, as a Councillor for Public Affairs, and for the last eight months I have heard the updates on the negotiations during our monthly CUSA council meetings. The announcement that the deal had been finalized came during the January 15th, 2008 CUSA council meeting, and we all applauded the CUSA executive for the successful negotiations. After Shelley's announcement, my mind began to realize that the date for the finalizing of the deal coincided with another date announced at the January meeting.
Before Shelley's announcement, we had a presentation from the Chief Electoral Officer of CUSA, Kimalee Phillip, who stated that the CUSA election nominations would begin on January 28th, finish on February 1st, and then the election campaigning would begin February 2nd. Now, I'm no conspiracy theorist, but January 31st and February 2nd are very close together, and the conclusion of a major business deal so near to an election makes me think that something else is going on.
From what I can see, the purchase of Haven Books was intentionally delayed by the CUSA executive so to coincide with the upcoming election campaign and ease their re-election. Over the final two months of the Fall term, the reports were very blurred and short, each simply saying that “the deal is coming along and almost finished”, unlike the previous reports which had given quite a lot of detail into the purchase process. A deal being “almost finished” for nearly three months makes me think that it was being delayed for the best possible electoral angle, to all the sale to deflect away from negative aspects of this executive’s term in office.
From an executive who campaigned on the motto of “Putting Students First”, this certainly appears to be a case of “Putting my Job First”, and students should think about this during the upcoming CUSA election period.
In last year's CUSA elections, the "Student's First" slate, headed by Shelley Melanson, promised to purchase Haven Books, the lower cost textbook store on Sunnyside. This was a sure winner as electoral promises go, one which your opponents cannot argue against. Arguing against this would be like arguing against lowering tuition fees, political suicide. The "Students First" slate ultimately won the elections for all six executive positions, and therefore the negotiations would begin. They stated that they would buy Haven Books using money Coca-Cola has been paying CUSA for the last five years to stock only Coke products in their stores. No student had any idea that an exclusivity deal even existed between CUSA and Coke, so this came a rude surprise to many, including myself. However, no-one would argue with lower textbook costs, so there were no real complaints about using this money.
I too won election in last February, as a Councillor for Public Affairs, and for the last eight months I have heard the updates on the negotiations during our monthly CUSA council meetings. The announcement that the deal had been finalized came during the January 15th, 2008 CUSA council meeting, and we all applauded the CUSA executive for the successful negotiations. After Shelley's announcement, my mind began to realize that the date for the finalizing of the deal coincided with another date announced at the January meeting.
Before Shelley's announcement, we had a presentation from the Chief Electoral Officer of CUSA, Kimalee Phillip, who stated that the CUSA election nominations would begin on January 28th, finish on February 1st, and then the election campaigning would begin February 2nd. Now, I'm no conspiracy theorist, but January 31st and February 2nd are very close together, and the conclusion of a major business deal so near to an election makes me think that something else is going on.
From what I can see, the purchase of Haven Books was intentionally delayed by the CUSA executive so to coincide with the upcoming election campaign and ease their re-election. Over the final two months of the Fall term, the reports were very blurred and short, each simply saying that “the deal is coming along and almost finished”, unlike the previous reports which had given quite a lot of detail into the purchase process. A deal being “almost finished” for nearly three months makes me think that it was being delayed for the best possible electoral angle, to all the sale to deflect away from negative aspects of this executive’s term in office.
From an executive who campaigned on the motto of “Putting Students First”, this certainly appears to be a case of “Putting my Job First”, and students should think about this during the upcoming CUSA election period.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Salute to Samlal
Well, my Virgin Blog has been broken. As my buddy Justin would say, it just lost its V-Card.
That is it.
That is it.
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