ywamperth's Xanga

Update

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:59:13 GMT

Maybe I should start an OzBlog. It would be fun. Plus, you could see what we see.

Also, a note on the 08 election. I could care less that McCain lost. I am happy for Obama and think he will be a refreshing face in the presidency. My primary concerns were with the fact he would scrap NAFTA - which would SCREW Canada over, and that he would appoint really crappy SCOTUS judges. I hope neither concern materializes. Otherwise, I am interested to see what he does and am happy to see him suceed.

The media, on the other hand, are less respectable than ever. Besides treating ever event as affecting the horserace, it could try actual reporting valuable information for voters. And maybe try to stop having repeated orgasms when talking about Obama too.

In strictly terms of holding power to account, I think this election turned out badly. One thing I admire about the US is its system of checks and balances. Canada is a haven for democratic dictatorship. With all three organs of power D, there is no accountability. No checks. It is unfortunate.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:16:27 GMT

I haven't blogged in a while.

Stuff White People Like

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:25:35 GMT

From a Canadian living in the US:

#20: Being an expert on YOUR culture

White people are pretty conflicted about their culture
.....
One way they can make up for it is becoming marginally acquainted with foreign cultures. It is generally acceptable for a white person to learn a few terms in a language spoken primary by non-whites (such as Chinese, Tagalog or Portuguese). They can then use these phrases to order certain ‘more authentic’ dishes in restaurants.

....
These responses will fill white people with that self satisfaction they need. Also, they consider a reminder that they are not racist, which also makes them feel terrific.

#75: Threatening to Move to Canada

Often times, white people get frustrated with the state of their country. They do not like the President, or Congress, or the health care system, or the illegal status of Marijuana. Whenever they are presented with a situation that seems unreasonable to them, their first instinct is to threaten to move to Canada.

For example, if you are watching TV with white people and there is a piece on the news about that they do not agree with, they are likely to declare “ok, that’s it, I’m moving to Canada.”

.......

#62: Knowing what's best for poor people

White people spend a lot of time of worrying about poor people....

They feel guilty and sad that poor people shop at Wal*Mart instead of Whole Foods, that they vote Republican instead of Democratic, that they go to Community College/get a job instead of studying art at a University.

It is a poorly guarded secret that, deep down, white people believe if given money and education that all poor people would be EXACTLY like them. In fact, the only reason that poor people make the choices they do is because they have not been given the means to make the right choices and care about the right things.

.....

Rant de jour

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 07:48:03 GMT

I don't really get this whole media sleaze thing.

The recent New York Times piece on McCain was pretty ridiculous. (Hint: don't blame the readers for your screwup!) Show me a fact that even establishes any sort of wrongdoing or unethical behaviour. There wasn't even evidence of any affair beyond hearsay. It is interesting how any sort of 'liberal progressive' values (i.e. what two private consenting adults do in in their private life is their business) go out the window when it comes to exposing those adverse to them. The Times spun the story as one of hypocrisy. They expect that kind of behaviour from a Kennedy, but, gasp, not a Republican!

But... since hypocrisy is the order of the day, you have to wonder why the media has not reported this little item. In short, it involves Obama, a male chauffeur, some crack, and other impropriety. The key part of the item is that it is totally "alleged." That is, there is no real proof that it happened other than one person's eyewitness account - but still more direct evidence than the entire Times story has. So, why is the Times not publishing that saucy piece as "news"? After all, the chauffeur just launched a lawsuit claiming Obama's team has been strongarming him.

I'll tell you why the Times isn't publishing: it's not news, damnit. Get some evidence to back up the story. And even then, so what? He had some crack and did ...other things.

Bill Clinton ran the country with his trousers around his ankles for goodness sakes.

When are people going to realize that this crap doesn't matter.

Newspapers used to publish long speeches of the candidates. Now, reporters are stupid lazy and report only spin and innuendo.

Perhaps it is no wonder I always felt somewhat foreign during those Newspaper Conferences.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 07:25:14 GMT

As much as many Canadians generally support the Democratic-Obama-Clinton axis, it seems likely that many of them will lose their jobs because of them if they had their way.

Both of them are deadly wrong about running away from NAFTA. So is Republican Ron Paul.

Alles muss anders sein

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:59:45 GMT

Thy Kingdom Come.

We are the hope of the future; the answer to the cynics who tell us our house must stand divided; that we cannot come together; that we cannot remake this world as it should be.

Because we know what we have seen and what we believe - that what began as a whisper has now swelled to a chorus that cannot be ignored; that will not be deterred; that will ring out across this land as a hymn that will heal this nation, repair this world, and make this time different than all the rest - Yes. We. Can.

WE ARE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

(*)

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:02:02 GMT

Jonathan is....

....going to Ottawa this week.

Any advice on what to see or do?

Agree? Disagree? He's just saying.

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:00:08 GMT

"If panhandlers can get creative about begging, they can get creative about working"

- Canadian Talk Show Host

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:49:13 GMT

Look what is in the news: a Republican "family values" senator turned up on a madame's phone records.

"Vitter campaigned on traditional Republican themes of "family values" and is often critical of what he calls the "immorality of society."")

Hypocrite! Oh those Religious Republicans who espouse and hold family values and decry the immorality of society! Woe to them! We, on the other hand, are tolerant and open.

Yep. Really.

It makes you think

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:17:14 GMT

Here are the Taliban graduates on June 9, 2007, who plan to soon launch suicide bombings in Canada: