I listened to a segment of the Howard Stern show the other day in which they walked around Harlem interviewing black people about who they would be voting for in next week's election. Obviously the clips played were selective, and the whole process non-scientific, but it was still surprising to hear how many people were voting for Obama when McCain's platform, policy, and even running mate were applied to the name 'Obama', making a case for the black community voting blindly for Obama on race.
But after thinking about it for a moment, and given things like the arrest of two people this week with intent to assassinate Obama based solely on the colour of his skin, I am convinced that for every person that votes for Obama because he is black, there will be at least one white person who votes for McCain because he isn't black.
The fact was broken down all too eerily again on the Daily Show, probably over a month back as I recall, when they did a bit on how stupid people will control the outcome of this election. Of course they intended it as a joke, but its not all that far from the truth when you think about it.
Every day you are confronted with something new and more unbelievable, whether its an unlicensed plumber discussing foreign policy with the McCain electorate, or people walking the streets of New York voting for Obama and his 'running mate' Sarah Palin. Obviously, hopefully, its a small minority of uneducated people being highlighted in the media, but my suspicion is that's not the case. The election next week will probably be decided by a few percentage points. A whim going into the election booth of a few 10s of thousands of people, some international event spun to play into a candidates hands between now and then, or blind fear of or faith in a black man could decide who presides over the most powerful country in the world next week, and that scares me.
October 30, 2008
October 25, 2008
Thrilled
Carolyn found this and made my weekend:
Who says prison, or the Phillipines, can't be fun?
(Apparently I'm over a year behind on this viral...too bad)
Who says prison, or the Phillipines, can't be fun?
(Apparently I'm over a year behind on this viral...too bad)
October 17, 2008
Immortalized
© A. Ramsay
A friend of mine takes photos and enlarges them into relief artwork in wood. A few months ago we found out she'd sold a piece with Carolyn carved into it, and now it seems it was my turn to be put into art.
I have no idea whether this piece is for sale yet or will be, but if for some reason you happen to be interested in a large portrait of me (obviously for the art, not the content), or similar pieces, let me know and I should be able to get you in contact.
October 15, 2008
The Results Are In: People Are Tired
According to Reuters, voter turnout was an all time low at 58%. Frequency of elections combined with the table I've created below pretty much explain all that away in my mind.
As of 08:52 15-Oct-2008.
Clearly its difficult to choose what 'Other' candidates would gain seats being as so many fringe parties are included in these numbers, perhaps the highest nationwide percentages could also be brought in to play here. All I'm saying is the representation needs to start better following the population, instead of arbitrary geographical lines. Yes, a majority government may never exist under that format, but maybe then the politicians will be forced to work together for the long term, instead of looking 18-24 months down the road at the next election opportunity.
As of 08:52 15-Oct-2008.
Clearly its difficult to choose what 'Other' candidates would gain seats being as so many fringe parties are included in these numbers, perhaps the highest nationwide percentages could also be brought in to play here. All I'm saying is the representation needs to start better following the population, instead of arbitrary geographical lines. Yes, a majority government may never exist under that format, but maybe then the politicians will be forced to work together for the long term, instead of looking 18-24 months down the road at the next election opportunity.
October 14, 2008
Election Watching
I may or may not update this as the election results come in. Popular vote in the Atlantic region has the Liberals and Conservatives down, and NDP, Green and Independents up...go figure. I have a feeling this will be a popular theme, and yet, I don't think the seats will change accordingly. I suspect after this election there will be even more calls for a change to the voting system to reflect the popular vote.
Its particularly telling that Rick Mercer is part of the CBC official election coverage. I sure don't foresee the likes of Jonathan Stewart or Stephen Colbert being on call when the results come in on Obama v. McCain.
21:44 EDT
Elizabeth May paraphrase 'If voters aged 5 and up counted, I would have won in a landslide'. There are positives and negatives to take from this.
Northern Ontario swinging past Liberal to Green and NDP? Oh wait, basing these claims on 30-200 total votes...One comment though, that the region depends on diesel and so is opposed to the Liberal carbon tax plan? I'm pretty sure 3 of the 5 big positive movers on those shitty markets today were mining/metals companies, the little man working for those companies has nothing to worry about. Not to mention that many of those metals are integral to the new 'green' technologies.
22:11 EDT
Counting the Prairies now, no shocks out there. Liberals are in some tighter than expected races, particularly in Toronto, where I think I heard Conservatives haven't held a seat in 20 years. Getting a little scared that the Cons could actually make a majority.
22:44 EDT
Interesting discussion on the local cable outlet for Rogers on why this election is even taking place. It hasn't gone so far as to suggest the waste of money should it come out as the predicted Conservative minority, but they have touched on Harper's motivations in declaring parliament 'dysfunctional'.
23:25 EDT
Apparently blogger is overloaded right now. One last comment on the use of Twitter on not just CBC, but any network when it comes to election coverage: cut it out. I'll be the first to admit that just about anyone can go out and create a blog. But it at least requires some ability to piece together ideas and thoughts.
Twitter updates are about on par with the text messages scrolling across the bar on MuchMusic vote in music video segments. They work for status updates...not for informed commentary. Get rid of them.
Its particularly telling that Rick Mercer is part of the CBC official election coverage. I sure don't foresee the likes of Jonathan Stewart or Stephen Colbert being on call when the results come in on Obama v. McCain.
21:44 EDT
Elizabeth May paraphrase 'If voters aged 5 and up counted, I would have won in a landslide'. There are positives and negatives to take from this.
Northern Ontario swinging past Liberal to Green and NDP? Oh wait, basing these claims on 30-200 total votes...One comment though, that the region depends on diesel and so is opposed to the Liberal carbon tax plan? I'm pretty sure 3 of the 5 big positive movers on those shitty markets today were mining/metals companies, the little man working for those companies has nothing to worry about. Not to mention that many of those metals are integral to the new 'green' technologies.
22:11 EDT
Counting the Prairies now, no shocks out there. Liberals are in some tighter than expected races, particularly in Toronto, where I think I heard Conservatives haven't held a seat in 20 years. Getting a little scared that the Cons could actually make a majority.
22:44 EDT
Interesting discussion on the local cable outlet for Rogers on why this election is even taking place. It hasn't gone so far as to suggest the waste of money should it come out as the predicted Conservative minority, but they have touched on Harper's motivations in declaring parliament 'dysfunctional'.
23:25 EDT
Twitter updates are about on par with the text messages scrolling across the bar on MuchMusic vote in music video segments. They work for status updates...not for informed commentary. Get rid of them.
October 06, 2008
Loudness DNE Fullness
Until I went browsing around to hear some of the tracks besides the first single from the newest Metallica album, I had never heard of the loudness war. I ended up finding a couple articles, including this one on the Wired blog, describing how the quality of sound was being sacrificed for the sake of a 'louder' sound. Boosting the levels of the tracks would make sense to me if people all over were suddenly turning all their stereos, personal players, computers or whatever to full volume and not finding it loud enough, but I really don't think that's the case.
Of course what the music industry has effectively done now is create a ton of garbage quality releases for which 'high quality' releases can later be marketed as they see fit.
At least in the case of Death Magnetic, it was also released as a Guitar Hero version, against which the album version was compared to see the remarkable effect of the loudness boosting. I've now downloaded, in the face of Metallica and their Napster kerfuffle, the GH3 version of the album and listened to it a couple times through. Does Metallica deserve my money for their efforts? Absolutely, its a great return to some of their earlier ways and energy, and miles better than St. Anger and its dropped D monotony. I don't however feel that their label and management are entitled to my money for an inferior quality release, and won't be buying the album until a re-mixed version is readily available, at a non marked up price.
If more people follow this philosophy, and record sales tank on this disc, it would seem to be obvious that the record labels would pretty much have to rethink their ways. Here's hoping.
-A petition directly for the re-mixing of 'Death Magnetic' is online here
-A presently smaller, broader ranging petition against the loudness war in general can be found here
Of course what the music industry has effectively done now is create a ton of garbage quality releases for which 'high quality' releases can later be marketed as they see fit.
At least in the case of Death Magnetic, it was also released as a Guitar Hero version, against which the album version was compared to see the remarkable effect of the loudness boosting. I've now downloaded, in the face of Metallica and their Napster kerfuffle, the GH3 version of the album and listened to it a couple times through. Does Metallica deserve my money for their efforts? Absolutely, its a great return to some of their earlier ways and energy, and miles better than St. Anger and its dropped D monotony. I don't however feel that their label and management are entitled to my money for an inferior quality release, and won't be buying the album until a re-mixed version is readily available, at a non marked up price.
If more people follow this philosophy, and record sales tank on this disc, it would seem to be obvious that the record labels would pretty much have to rethink their ways. Here's hoping.
-A petition directly for the re-mixing of 'Death Magnetic' is online here
-A presently smaller, broader ranging petition against the loudness war in general can be found here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)