Just for fun, I threw together a fake ad that pokes fun at die-hard Maple Leafs fans (of which I am one), and promotes the hockey team at my university, the University of Waterloo. In my job I interact fairly regularly with the staff from the varsity athletics department, so I showed it to them and they had a good laugh as well. I told them that they’re welcome to use the ad if they want, but whether or not they do, I wanted to share it with the world. I hope it makes you laugh as well.

Background info/disclaimers: I used the logo provided by the OUA for media purposes, under what I believe is a fair use license. The date listed is the date that the OUA play-offs are scheduled to start, but the Warriors may not play on that exact date.

I really hope we see more ad campaigns like this, that pull no punches. The evidence says it’s working. I hope it continues to work.

theseer:

Under [Minister of Democratic Reform, Tim] Uppal’s tenure, the Harper government has been successful in abolishing the unjust practice of publicly financing political parties trough the $1.25 per vote subsidy introduced and supported by previous liberal administrations.

Uppal’s Ministry was also successful in addressing the issue of under representation in the House of Commons (HOC) by passing Bill C-20, which effectively increases the number of HOC seats in Ontario, BC, and Alberta, by a ratio that is proportionate to each provinces population size.

1. Taking away public funding for parties means that the heavily privately-funded Conservative Party will always have enough money, and the Green Party will continue to flounder without subsidies.

2. Adding representation in Alberta, BC and Ontario (the 3 most Conservative provinces) means that the Conservative Party will have more potential for a majority in the next election.

A disclaimer and two notes.

Disclaimer: this ‘article’ should have appeared in the Opinion section, and if you’re mad that it didn’t, I don’t blame you. We should have done better.

Note 1: If something is heavily privately-funded, that generally means that actual people are actually willing to put their money where their mouth is. Eliminating government funding is not actually a bad thing - it forces people to commit to more than lip service interactions with their political system. If the Green Party receives a lot of support from the public in terms of votes, it should not have trouble receiving monetary support for that same public.

(And the concern that businesses will abuse the system is unfounded because, quite simply, corporations are no longer allowed to do contribute to election campaigns (due to a bill passed by the Conservative government in 2006.)

Note 2: If the seats in Alberta were not added, Albertans’ votes would continue to have been worth much less than Quebecors’ or Ontarians’. Currently, the average riding in Alberta has 30,000 more voters than that of Ontario or Quebec - which means that Alberta’s population growth is not fairly reflected in the way that our country is governed. Yes, the Conservatives may have a better shot at a majority - but that is only because a vote in Alberta will now be equal to a vote in Ontario or Quebec. That is a more fair democracy.

Endpoint: You’re welcome to disagree with me, but I would suggest that your disagreement may reflect a serious prejudice in favour of Ontario-centric or Quebec-centric policies. I would also suggest that you re-think said prejudice.

Still down from the beginning of the year, but way off my goal for this point. <insert frustrated expletive here>

Firefighters for the win.

Details here.

ridetheblue:

This is the slightly creepy but much loved tradition at the start of each term where we line up boy and girl, holding hands and get to know each other while walking. Someone will tap you on the shoulder and tell you to run ahead 7, or go back 12, then you “meet” someone new. It’s a lot of fun as…

Oh Walk-a-Mile, you were always entertaining. </nostalgia>

lfar:

Well… today I go home for Christmas break. But I still have a paper due. So this is what I’m bringing home with me.

Only eight books? Lucky!

(To be fair, those look much more dense than any of the election studies I’m looking at.)

Given that the footage is from North Korean state media, some of this is undoubtedly staged. But it is still a terrifying thought that some of this is not. That Kim Jong Il could so thoroughly brainwash an entire nation into glorifying and worshiping him while simultaneously robbing them of all freedom and deliberately keeping them in poverty is a chilling thought. I hope that the new North Korean ‘government’ collapses; I hope that these people are able to experience democracy.

theeconomist:

Tens of thousands of middle-class Muscovites hold a peaceful rally in the centre of Moscow, the biggest such event since the early 1990s. Astonishingly, there was not a single arrest. Some carried white flowers, others made jokes. “146% of Muscovites are for free elections” one sign read.

What’s happening in Russia right now is amazing. I did not think this could possibly happen.

redfive:

Michael Buble invites a kid up on stage with him and the results… man.  Shivers, seriously.

Best line: ‘Holy shitballs, mom!’