Tag: postaday2011

Quick Tips For Political Reform

On By WinstonIn Politics, SocietyLeave a comment

There is a growing sense of dissatisfaction with politics today. When politicians notice they start using words like, “reform” and “accountability”. Here in Canada, we actually had a Reform Party for a while before it got rolled into the Conservative Party. In the US, If a politician hears those words, he joins the Tea Party. At least until after the elections.

Speaking of elections, we recently had one. If you went by the tv and radio ads, the entire campaign can be summed up like this: “Vote for me because I’m not the other guy.”. Steven Harper’s Conservative’s won the election by having a more consistent message. It wasn’t about policy, but rather personality. “Michael Ignatieff (who left Harvard University to lead the Liberal Party) didn’t come back for you.” Really? I never would have figured that out on my own. The implication of course is that Mr. Harper gave up his life’s work, (probably something humble and humanitarian) and entered politics to make my life better. Steven Harper came to Ottawa for me! Or maybe not.

You see, I’m not convinced that Mr. Harper moved to Ottawa and became Prime Minister with my best interests in mind. I think he did it with Mr. Harper’s best interests in mind, maybe those of the Conservative Party. That’s the way of politics. But what if it wasn’t?

What if there were some way of encouraging our elected officials to put the needs of the voters first? What if the average person’s quality of life were more important than the party line? Impossible? Perhaps it is, but if anyone’s curious, think about this.

What if a politician’s pay were tied to the average income at their level of government? Federal pay would be the national average household income. Provincial / State averages would determine pay at their level, and Municipal wages would be averaged against similar sized communities nationwide. The idea is for politician’s to actually understand the people they represent.

But wait, there’s more. There are a few other conditions they need to agree to if they want to run for office. To start with, any pre-existing assets get frozen for the duration of their term. Yes, they get to live within their means like the rest of us. Speaking of living within their means, the average person doesn’t get to travel first class for business. Nor do they get to take their families, pets, hangers-on etc.

Without access to those pre-election bank accounts, they might find it a bit rough affording high-end private schools. Once their kids are enrolled in the same schools as all the others, they might see why other people are demanding education reforms. The list could go on, but you get the idea. The more they improve everyone’s standard of living, the more they improve their own.

I can hear some of you saying that we would lose a huge swath of potential candidates. You’re probably right. That’s kind of the idea here. Lawyers, corporate executives, and in the US, entertainment personalities, that’s who’s been running the show lately. If you like where we are at the moment, then ignore the whole idea. For the rest of you (including the 30+% who didn’t vote in the last election here) it’s something to think about.

So, you think you can make a difference and you still want run for office? Glad to hear it. To ensure you get a good sample of the “real world”, the minimum term of office would be five years. If you quit or get fired (yes, your constituents can recall you if you’re too incompetent), your assets remain frozen for the duration of your term. Think about that when you look at cuts to social programming because you could end up relying on it like so many others. On the other hand if you make it to the end of your term, what can you expect?

Here’s your chance to make some money. If you’re willing to work for it. There will be realtime tracking of your performance including attendance record, involvement on any committees, efforts on behalf of you constituents including success rates etc. All of these stats will be freely available to the public. By the way, if you’re thinking of using ads to tell your constituents what a great job you’re doing, be prepared to back it up with facts. Deliberately misleading the public is considered fraud and you will be fired for it with all that that entails. On a related note, graft or influence pedaling will result in corruption charges. A guilty verdict carries a ten year sentence and forfeiture of all assets. Now for the good news. If you work hard, serve your constituents and make every effort to genuinely improve the quality of life for the average person, it’s payday. You earnings for the term will be based on a combination of statistical (attendance, responsiveness, results, etc), with how your constituents feel you have impacted their lives. The better your composite score, the higher your performance bonus. You won’t become filthy rich, or receive a pension for life, but you will earn proportionally more than the average citizen who didn’t give five years of their life to the community.

I know this isn’t a perfect plan, but it is a “reform”. It would bring “accountability”. And isn’t that what the politicians, the media and the loud drunk at the bar all say they want? Just something to think about.

Cheers, Winston

It’s Not The Tech, It’s How You Use It

On By WinstonIn Society, TechnologyLeave a comment

Discovery News posted an article this morning that put a bright spot in my day. Apps are being created for smart devices to help people with autism and those who share their lives. They are designed to assist with a variety of activities including communication, organizing and remembering activities, and social interaction among others.

Where I work, we have provided work placements for people with autism. While the experience has been incredibly rewarding, it is not without it’s challenges. Having access to tools like these could help reduce the challenges and increase the rewards all around. that seems like a good thing to me.

I also want to give a big shout out to HP. This October they will be hosting “Hacking Autism”, bringing together families, researchers and scientists to gather ideas for further development. HP technologists will be volunteering their time to create the programs, which will then be released online.

For more information check out Autism Speaks at: http://www.autismspeaks.org/

Cheers, Winston

Lighter Thoughts

On By WinstonIn Humor1 Comment

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, should it get a panic button in case it happens again?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, are the protesters away at a press conference?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, are the chainsaws too loud?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, does it still feel bad for swearing?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, did it really fall, or is it making it up to get attention?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, will the government appoint a special commission into declining social involvement in our woodland communities?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, should they turn their iPods down?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, can the tree sue the forest ranger for negligence?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, is it a super secret new stealth tree?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, will it’s insurance still pay?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, was the gunfire too loud during hunting season?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, what’s everyone trying to hide?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, can you catch it later on YouTube?

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, will someone still blog about it?

If this made you smile, thank my wife. It was her idea that I take a break from my usual stuff and spread my blogging wings. If you hated it, blame the writer.

Either way, I hope you have a great day.

Cheers, Winston

A Bad Habit Of Mine

On By WinstonIn Personal, Self Awareness4 Comments

When I discuss things I feel strongly about I often turn conversations into lectures. Anyone who knows me personally probably just said, “Really? No!” in a very sarcastic manner. It’s okay if they did, because I deserve it. Anyone who has read some of my other posts may have noticed it too. Too often, I speak or write in absolutes. I use “is”, “are” and “am”, instead of “might, “may” or “feel”. I’ve struggled for years to change, but it’s still an issue.

Why am writing about it now? A couple of days ago I wrote a post about Beluga whales, navel gazing and using this blog as a tool for personal growth. Then I went back to the commentary type stuff I enjoy writing. Today I was reminded of the need for some more growth.

My wife and I were out walking our dog and stopped to chat with some neighbors. The topic of Internet piracy came up. I gave my views. They gave their views. That should have been the end of it, but I couldn’t let it go. I broke out a lecture supporting my view. There were a couple of other points where I turned an enjoyable conversation into a lecture. Not many people enjoy being lectured. I know that, but I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

When we got home, Lynn told me what I needed to hear. Gently and with great care not to hurt my feelings, she told me what I had done. She worries that people who don’t know me will judge me by that one conversation. It hurts her to see people turn away without the chance to see the better parts of me.

I realized I’ve been doing the same thing here in this blog. Instead of trying to create a dialogue, I give my lecture on a subject and move on. That isn’t my intent, but in reading through my posts with fresh eyes, that’s certainly the feeling in some of them. I don’t see it when I’m writing, but now that I’m looking for it, I do. Instead of writing the beginning of the conversation I want to have with the reader, I’ve been writing conclusions.

Sometimes, I forget that a conversation has two sides. Sometimes, I sound (or read, as the case may be) like I think I have all the answers, even though I know I don’t. And sometimes, I’m just an obnoxious jackass.

I’m still going to post about the things that interest me. I’m just going to try to watch the absolutes. I want to create space for dialogue, instead of a big empty lecture hall with just the sound of my own opinions. Most of all, I want to stop letting the obnoxious jackass write my posts. If I can do that, maybe I can stop him talking to my neighbors.

If you see anything that looks like it was written by that guy could you let me know?

Cheers. Winston

South Africa Shines On Healthcare

On By WinstonIn Global Issues, Politics, Society2 Comments

South Africa has announced plans to implement National Health Insurance. Acknowledging the great disparity in quality of service between private and public services, the Minister of Health stated 80% of the people cannot afford private insurance.

The plan at present calls for the first ten areas to be up and running by April 2012, with full implementation in 2014. The government will issue a green paper this Friday providing further details. It will then go back to Parliament for further discussion before becoming law.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi went on to say, “If you make more than a certain amount, you will be required to contribute to the NHI fund. It will not be possible to opt out of the responsibility.”. Some people are already questioning having to pay for a system they won’t be using.

This initiative by the South African government is a step towards addressing the country’s gaping social divide. Currently, they regarded as having one of the most unequal systems in the world. In the words of Mr. Motsoaledi, “The central challenge to the stability and well-being of our nation is reducing the deep inequality between rich and poor, between privilege and deprivation. This goes to the heart of South Africa’s future,”

Massive internal struggle combined with pressure from the global community ended apartheid. This was a massive accomplishment that started South Africa on the road to social justice and equality. The National Health Insurance plan is a significant step on that road. Perhaps the most significant thing about it is this. The African National Congress, the current ruling party, isn’t doing this because of massive riots. They aren’t doing because of international sanctions or intervention. The government is instituting universal health care because it’s the right thing to do.

I’m not saying that that South Africa is a social justice role model for the world. Far from it. What I am saying is, they’ve taken a step. That is something to celebrate. For that step, I honor them.

Cheers, Winston

A Different Personal Note

On By WinstonIn Personal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It’s about twenty after one in the morning and I’m writing this blog. For those of you wondering where I get the time to do this so much and at such random times, I’m currently recovering from surgery. Nothing life threatening thankfully, but it still means I’m off work and not too mobile. I have no television, video games or any of my other usual distractions so I decided to start a blog to pass the time. Post surgical discomfort limits my sleep to a few hours here and there so I’ve got time to surf news sites, read other peoples blogs, and think about what I encounter in my virtual roaming.

What I’ve been thinking about this morning is, “Why do I blog?”

The free time and boredom are certainly a contributing factor, but they aren’t the whole story. The fact of the matter is that I read the news and think about it even when I don’t have this much time. Normally I share my thoughts on what I encounter with co-workers or friends. Often-times that just isn’t possible (such as when I think of something at 1:20am) so the idea gets lost in the mental clutter which is my usual head space.

This blog is a way to hold on to those thoughts for future reference. It’s a sort of personal reference library by which to observe my evolution and with any luck growth. It is also an experimental lab in which I can play with ideas and express things in different ways than I might in other venues. None of this is to say that my ideas are particularly worthy of preservation. Certainly not to anyone other than me. Having said that, another part of the appeal is of course the reaction of and interraction with others. If I get a like, or even better a comment on something I’ve written, then I get an insight into someone else’s perception of me.

To some, the whole exercise of blogging amounts to nothing more than narcissistic, navel gazing. They are what I like to call, “Perfectly entitled to their opinon.” Being overweight, blogging is probably the only comfortable way for me to see my navel, never mind gaze at it. Rather than narcissistic, I prefer to think of it as an exercise in developing self awareness through interpretive pseudo-engagement. Means the same thing, but with less negative connotations. And I don’t have to try to see my belly button.

On an extremely tangential note, all this talk of navel gazing has reminded me of my love of Beluga whales. Now to tell you how that segue makes sense. In all other whales, the vertebrae in the neck are fused limiting the mobility of the head. Not so for my friends the Belugas. The last time I was at Marineland in Niagrara Falls, Ontario, I spent a lot of time watching these beautiful white whales swimming lazily about via a large window in the side of the tank. I noticed that because of the mobility of their head, a large number of them seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time coasting along on their backs,with their heads tipped forward. They looked for all the world like they were in fact gazing at their belly buttons, or possibly thinking it was maybe time to cut back on all the seafood. One way or the other, they looked thoughtful. Then I understood. What’s going through their minds is something like this. “I wonder what those things are over there. I can see them, but when I tried to go check them out, it felt like there’s an invisible rock there. I know I can’t get there to find out, so I guess I’ll just gaze at my navel and think about it for a while.” For me that’s what navel gazing is. It’s a way of trying to understand ourselves, our world and our place in that world when it’s impossible for us to experience things directly. See, there was a point to the Belugas. Then again, Belugas are so awesome they are their own point.

I called this blog “Brain Bits To Go” because that was the best way I could think of to describe this process for me. I take a bit of what’s in my head and package it for quick, convenient consumption. Like so much else we take in, some of it will be good, like mental health food, and some of it will be the intellect slaying equivalent of two pounds of refined sugar. Unlike when we were kids, we don’t have to eat everything in front of us. This is intended as a sort of Bufffet of Ideas. Take whatever you like, or don’t partake at all. In the end, all that matters is that whatever I serve up be fresh and well prepared.

All these food analogies have made me hungry so I’m going to make myself some sandwiches. While I eat, I’m going to surf the web looking for Beluga clips.

Cheers, Winston

Amy Winehouse Was More Than “Back To Black”

On By WinstonIn Media, Pop Culture, SocietyLeave a comment

Whatever else Amy Winehouse may have been, regardless of how she may have lived, she was a person. According to Stephen Marche writing in Maclean’s magazine Aug 9, that doesn’t matter. In a burst of self-indulgent idiocy of truly epic proportions Mr. Marche not only pretends to know the “real” meaning of her album “Back to Black”, he insists her talent was of greater value than she was.

Among his more egregious violations is the claim that by placing deep chimes in the middle of the song “Back to Black” she “rings the bells in her own memory”. He then goes on to say the song was a “funeral elegy to herself”. He draws prescient meaning from drug references, to create the impression she knew she was going to die. He doesn’t quite accuse her of suicide, but close to it.

Even these conceits are not extreme by Maclean’s standards. Indeed, many of those who have chosen to cash in on her death have presumed to know her mind based on her public persona. I understand. That’s the type of article the public wants, and it’s their job to give it to them. No, Stephem Marche had something much more vile and insidious in store.

He quotes an interview she gave to Rolling Stone magazine in 2007. “I don’t want to be ungrateful,” she said. “I know I’m talented, but I wasn’t put here to sing. I was put here to be a wife and a mom and look after my family.” What was this loathsome hack’s response you may ask? “What self-conception could be more in error? What statement could be further from the truth?”. That is his response to this young woman’s desire for a normal life. She wanted at some level to step back from precipice at the end of the path she was on. He accuses her of throwing away her talent. Of being so talented, she had no understanding of how precious that talent was. In this there is an implied obligation to share. An objectifying vocal slavery requiring her to sing at his whim regardless of her wishes.

But it is in the final line of his article we find by far the most telling insight into his grotesque and distorted psyche.

“Sometimes 33 minutes can be worth more than 27 years.”.

If Stephen Marche truly believes that 33 minutes of music is of greater value than Amy’s life, he should be put on a pedestal in a museum. The plaque would read, “Here stands Stephen Marche. The Defining Example Of All That Is Wrong With The Cult Of Celebrity”. Nearby would be baskets of spoiled fruit and rotten eggs for patrons to throw at it.

p.s.
The premature end of Amy Winehouse’s life is truly a tragedy for her family and friends. So are the thousands of other lives lost to drugs and alcohol both literally and figuratively every year.

Cheers, Winston

On A Personal Note

On By WinstonIn Personal1 Comment

Just to switch things up a bit, I’m going to go from big picture, big issue posts to something personal for a moment.

My wife Lynn’s birthday is coming up this weekend. As I’ve been laid up for a while recovering from surgery, I haven’t been able to get her a gift. Instead, I’m going to talk about what she’s given me.

Those who hold themselves opposed to sentimentality should stop reading here. You’ve been warned.

Before I met Lynn I had been single for quite along time. In fact with a couple of brief and fairly disastrous exceptions, most of my adult life. I despaired of ever finding someone to share my life with. I was quite miserable about it to everyone who knew me and wrote lots of self-pitying, depressing poetry. Eventually I transitioned from despair to acceptance. Not least because despair is far too much effort to maintain indefinitely.

Then it happened. A friend of mine had moved to a different city. Neither of us could afford long distance calls, so we chatted online through IRC. This was before instant messaging, social networking or any of those handy things. (Yes, I’m that old.) The idea with IRC was, you set up a “room”, invite people in and hang out and chat about whatever. His girlfriend was often there along with a bunch of other people. Most importantly, his girlfriend’s best friend Lynn. Over the course of several months, we got to know each other and developed a deep, lasting friendship. When the opportunity arose, I took a trip to see my friend. While there, I was finally able to physically meet this wonderful person I had spent so many hours with. The connection was immediate. Shortly after that, we started dating, and have been together ever since.

There are a few things I’ve learned through this either from Lynn, or just by having her in my life.

Looking for anything carries with it the possibility of not finding that which you seek. Don’t try to look for love, because that implies you may not find it. Instead try to be ready to accept it when it is there.

Love never takes more than it gives.

Love may not be able to give all that is asked, but will move heaven and earth to give all that is needed.

Love can cause far greater wounds than hate. Unlike hate, love forgives any wound. No matter how great.

You cannot force someone to love you. Nor can you force them not to.

After an argument, it is easier to forgive another if you first forgive yourself.

One of the greatest gifts love brings is acceptance. Accepting each other’s imperfections is wonderful, but it is nothing compared to the feeling when you realize that this incredible person accepts YOU! With all of your faults, issues and quirks, you are worthy in their eyes.

Every day that you have with this person is a gift. No one knows what the future has in store. Treasure everything. The worst day with someone you love is better than the best day knowing you’re alone.

I know that some may find this maudlin or hokey. That’s okay, I didn’t write it for them. I’ve written this for Lynn so that even though I have no gift for her birthday, this is my thank you for all the gifts she has given me.

Happy Early Birthday my Angel. Thank you for sharing this life together. You are the best of us and you bring out what is good in me. Without you, I would be so much less than I am.

Merci mon Ange. Je t’aime plus que tu sais, pour l’eternite et plus encore.

Win

Internet Access: Basic Human Right?

On By WinstonIn Global Issues, SocietyLeave a comment

Earlier today I was browsing conversation threads on TED.com when the following subject caught my eye. “How we can use social media on a world scale to launch a global campaign to recognize Internet access as a basic human right?”

My initial response was, “Excuse me. Could you repeat that please.”. As I read through the thread, I was able to put the idea into context. This allowed me to give a bit more constructive thought to the question.

The idea is to enshrine Internet access in the U.N.Charter of Universal Rights. That seems harmless enough since nobody enforces that thing anyway. But let’s consider for a moment why that’s supposed to be a good thing.

If you are reading this, it’s a pretty safe bet that you already have internet access (and some spare time). You have the luxury of tapping into mind-bogglingly huge amounts of stuff. There are the writings of great thinkers, practical “how-to”s for almost anything, random Blogs by people you’ve never heard of (Hello I’m Win. Nice to meet you.), and a universe of other stuff. There are also the communication aspects of it. How great would it be if a doctor in a rural village in Ghana could get a realtime consult with a pediatrician in New York? What if a teacher in Kosovo could give their students a live connection to classrooms around the world to share and learn in a global context? Who knows what changes might come from such democratization of access and communication?

Which is what I want to know. Who can predict those changes. Obviously, those who want to lobby for this right believe they know the outcome. The fact is, people are notoriously lousy at predicting the impact of their actions. Even more so when personal beliefs or emotional attachments are at stake. It’s nice to think of a doctor in New York helping the doctor in Ghana save a child’s life. It’s not so nice to think about Al Shabab using the collaborative power of the internet to unify and better manage their operations allowing them to vastly increase the suffering in Somalia.

We all tend to focus on our own desired outcome. It is immensely difficult for us to honestly look at other options. We don’t want to acknowledge that there are as many opportunities for abuse as for use. That just because we have this thing does not mean that it is good for everyone else, or for us. Even those who have been exposed to the internet since it’s public inception struggle with the existence of this ethical and moral void in our midst.

The internet is not a discreet entity. It had no ethics or morality beyond those of it’s creators. There are technologies which allow people, organizations or governments to block undesirable content. There are also technologies to bypass those blocks. Censorship, whatever it’s motive, is at best a stopgap solution. In our society, we have had a process of of information exposure and even we are suffering “information overload”. How much more devastating the potential impact of the internet on a community without so much as a TV. What of the erosion of that culture by exposure to every other cultural expression in the world?

Would universal internet access be a blessing, or the single greatest act of cultural colonization since the Romans, the British or the Catholic Church?

Only time (and an unlikely transfer of technology) will tell.

Cheers, Winston