kimmy

This is very well stated. -k

I posted this in another thread but it belongs in this one. I was undecided but am now leaning towards voting yes. If it wins and people grow to hate it, changes will be made. But if it loses, there's probably little hope of another attempt at electoral reform (whether STV or any other system.) "The voters have spoken, and they are happy with the first past the post system" will be the interpretation of the outcome. And that's not the vote I want to make. I wish there was a second question on the ballot, asking people if they want a different electoral system or continue with FPTP. One of the strongest arguments for FPTP has been the linking of a single MLA to a single riding. I kind of like that. The "NO STV" campaign commercial features road signs that say "Welcome to Nelson! Your MLA..." "Welcome to Kimberly! Your MLA..." "Welcome to Kamloops! Your MLA..." being crossed out with red X's to make the point. My enthusiasm for that argument was dampened considerably when I looked at the electoral map of my area. I can walk literally a couple of blocks south and be in a different riding. I can walk a couple of blocks east and be in a different riding. And yet while my neighbors will have different MLAs than I do, people who live an hour drive away will have the same MLA as me. The city I live in has been carved into wedges so that large rural ridings will have enough people. I have had this complaint about federal elections in the past where slivers around the edge of Edmonton were carved off to bump up the population of surrounding rural ridings, and I can scarcely believe that Elections BC has somehow managed to draw up an even more tortured electoral map The "NO STV" side has complained that instead of single small ridings with single MLAs, you'll have enormous ridings with multiple MLAs who aren't directly accountable to the people they represent. Well, next week the current system will create, in effect, a super-riding the size of a small european country, with 3 MLAs, all accountable only to the voters within roughly a 15 kilometer radius of me, who will so heavily skew the demographics of all 3 ridings that the rural voters might as well just stay home. -k

People have the right to vote for someone based on their party affiliation, if they so choose. In fact, most Canadians (of all political stripes) do choose to do so. I believe that the objections being offered here are disingenuous and that the real hope is that removing the party names from the ballot would reduce the dominance of the mainstream party candidates, and improve the chances of smaller-party candidates. Most Canadians *choose* to vote for candidates based on party affiliation. Removing this information from the ballot would be a disservice to the voter and to the intent of the system. -k

While the term "raised" might be an awfully generous description of the Khadrs' parenting skills, yes "raised" is the applicable term. He had his head pumped full of garbage for 15 years. It's funny; when children hate or hurt or kill, people always point to the upbringing. Why, little Jimmy never had a chance; look at what a terrible home he grew up in. Yet, here's a kid who was raised to near adulthood in an environment worse than Jimmy's, and people would like to pretend that he's a blank slate. This is a load of crap. By age 15, people know right from wrong and make choices on their own. At what age DO people have the power to decide to kill? Eric Harris was 18 when he and Dylan Klebold killed 13 of their classmates. Did he choose to do it? Dylan Klebold was 17 when he and Eric Harris killed 13 of their classmates. Did he choose to do it? This person was 16 when she wiped out her entire family. Did she choose to do it? This kid was 15 when he and a friend stomped an Arab man to death during a hate attack. Did he choose to do it? -k

I believe they also funded an endless number of "scientific" studies designed to "prove" that cigarette smoke was harmless, and used legal action to attempt to silence those whose research put the safety of tobacco under scrutiny. (A current parallel might be the arrival of Tazer International and their team of lawyers at the Dziekanski inquiry...) People having the right to choose to take a risk requires having adequate information about a risk. I am too young to recall the public debate over the ozone layer, leaded gas, or acid rain. However, I bet that there were people with vested interests arguing that there was no proof that CFCs were depleting the ozone layer, that industrial emissions cause acid rain (didn't Reagan famously blame acid rain on pine trees?), or that leaded fuel wasn't dangerous and that removing lead from gasoline would impose a terrible burden on those whose cars had older engines. "If leaded gasoline is banned, think of all the working-class Americans who will have to spend their hard-earned savings on new cars or having their engines modified. This is an unreasonable burden on American families!" When it comes to public policy, it's a political debate, not a scientific one. It's not just a question of presenting information to the public, it's a question of presenting it persuasively. Surely you're not under the impression that the greenies are the only ones applying spin to make their political position more palatable. The phrase "global warming" has apparently gained a negative connotation, or become associated with tired rhetoric, so they wish to package their views in a way that doesn't have the negative connotations. Big deal. Happens all the time, on all kinds of issues (find me a feminist who still calls herself a feminist, for example.) The other side are doing the same, with their own list of talking points. Whether it be fossil fuel industry people talking up imaginary technology like "carbon sequestration" and "clean coal", or Exxon-Mobile running TV ads with pictures of trees and parks bragging about the money they've invested in making gasoline burn cleaner, the fossil fuel industry is absolutely doing the same thing to spruce up their image. Why should the greenies be any different? Why bring a knife to a gunfight? -k

I am undecided. I find myself discombobulated by this strange new world where Liberals are actually Conservatives, NDP are actually Liberals, and the Conservatives are a fringe party. I confess I have little passion for BC politics anyway. James and Campbell bickering over who's greener has done little to get me excited. As for STV... I was undecided but am now leaning towards voting yes. Edit: I have moved my discussion of why to the other thread, located here. -k

I think most of the skepticism about the effectiveness of internet advertising applies equally to traditional forms. "it's easy to just ignore it." "most people don't actually buy stuff because of ads." Dealing with large enough numbers makes what the "average" person does unimportant. It would be my expectation that the "recall" factor would be balanced by the immediacy of the internet. Someone watching a TV ad is on their couch at home; he's not doing anything until his hockey game is over. Someone reading an internet ad is just a few clicks from your online store. Their tag-line was (as I recall) "Not for everyone." If some advertiser is suggesting that their product isn't for me, I'm only too happy to take their word for it. However, I was annoyed enough by the commercial that I wrote to them. I suggested that seizing on their "Not for everyone" theme, they could do a commercial that had skid row hobos lying in gutters after ingesting Motts-and-Lysol cocktails. I still have their reply in my mailbox: Thank you for contacting us about our current Clamato television commercials. Consumer comments and inquiries are always appreciated because they give us valuable feedback about our brands and their advertising campaigns. Your comments will be forwarded to our Marketing and Advertising departments and will be used when evaluating future campaigns. You are our valued customer and we appreciate you taking the time to advise us of your opinion. Sincerely, Consumer Relations The hobos ad never aired... perhaps they were concerned I'd sue them for stealing my awesome idea. I certainly didn't feel like a valued customer, either. Anyway, that was 5 years ago and I haven't given Mott's a cent since; I can buy a generic brand that doesn't cost an extra $1.50 per bottle, or use that money to purchase ads to insult me. Mott's and their advertising people can go <<Viagra Intermission>> themselves. -k

What is treasonous is the failure of police and public officials to do their jobs. It makes my blood boil to think of someone being blocked from reaching a hospital by protesters. It has been asked whether the police and public officials' apparent cowardice in addressing this situation was a result of political correctness, of fear of being accused of racism. It has been asked what would have happened had a group of reg'lar white folks had been blocking hospitals. While you've characterized it as a "mistake", at least one protester I saw quoted in an article indicated that she knew that they were blocking the hospitals, but felt that it was justified by the deaths in her homeland. Perhaps my reaction to this has been colored by my feelings about their cause. Perhaps I would not be as angry if the protesters had been campaigning to save the rainforests rather than to save the Tamil Tigers. Perhaps I'm miffed to see such brazen support for such a disgusting group. That's possible, I suppose. However, whatever the cause, blocking hospitals is utterly inexcusable and should not have been tolerated for even a moment. -k

Are you volunteering to act as his interpreter? People in the middle east will stop killing each other when I am able to imagine them marrying my daughter? Well, first off, I have yet to give birth, so if they're waiting to marry my daughter to stop the shooting, then peace in the middle east is a long way off. Secondly, what do you mean by "a guy like Omar"? If by "like Omar", you mean somebody of Middle Eastern descent, that's not a big deal for me. But if by "like Omar" you mean someone who has been raised with religious fanaticism and contempt for Western society, then yes, we're going to have a problem. And that applies whether the hateful religious fanatic is a Muslim extremist or a member of the Westboro Baptist Church. If these knuckleheads would stop making their women dress up in sleeping-bags, they might not be lusting after Kimmy's hypothetical daughter in the first place. Ok, before I figured you were just some pot-smoking hippie, but now I'm starting to wonder if you're posting this stuff from a straw hut in Tatzikistan. -k

That does sound like something I could have written... -k

Do you have hard facts to back that up, or do you base it on your own personal experience? Personally, I've always doubted how effective internet advertising is. I notice the ads, but don't generally pay much attention. But (and here's the thing) I've always had the same doubts about TV ads. Internet banner ads I tend to just ignore. TV ads, I tend to hit the mute (or Fast-Forward if I'm watching a recording...) or go to the washroom or get a drink or play with my lovable pet. I seldom even look at newspapers anymore, let alone newspaper advertising... I might leaf through a newspaper if I'm interested in seeing where real-estate prices are at or seeing if there's a used car that catches my fancy. Otherwise, newpaper ads are packing-material. Advertising has never convinced me to go out and buy something outright. However, advertisements (TV and internet) have spurred my interest in products. I have on occassion seen TV ads for products that sound interesting and gone on the internet to find out more about them. "does that actually work? does it actually do that?" When internet advertisements attract my interest, it is that much more convenient for me to get the information. I can click on the ad or just fire up Google, and immediately get the information; with TV ads I often forget all about the product that I'd been interested in by the time I'm next at my computer. Another area where internet ads beat other forms of advertising is filling immediate wants. If a pop-up informs me that an online retailer has a special on doodads, and I am already in the market for a doodad, I may well click on the ad and see if the sale price is a good deal. I clicked on such an ad recently, but found that the advertiser's price did not beat the price of the online retailer I usually buy from. And that's another area where internet advertising beats conventional advertising. I already shop online for certain things where my local retailers simply don't have adequate selection. I'm always interested in finding new retailers that carry the sorts of things I'm looking for. I have 3 favorite online retailers for computer supplies that I often look at, but I'd be interested in finding a 4th. If the right banner ad catches my eye, they could be in my bookmarks list within a few seconds. TV ads have also lost my business with tasteless or insulting ads. (I have not bought Mott's products since an ad campaign of a few years ago that had blondes injuring their eyes with celery stalks while drinking Caesars, for instance.) I can't think of an internet ad that has cost me business for a product I previously supported. -k

I believe Clarice eventually got together with Lecter in the sequel. -k

So, what you're saying is that Omar Khadr has created sort of a Stockholm Syndrome reaction among some people? That the left's adoration of Khadr is sort of like the sad, disturbed women who send love-letters to imprisoned serial killers? That might actually be the first sensible thing you've ever said! -k {Or are you just saying that Omar is going to start eating people when he returns to Canada? I dunno, I don't think that would be Halal.}

Like this, for example. What in the blue hell are you even talking about? First off, no, I don't think anybody's understanding of anarchy revolves around "scapegoating", and secondly what are you trying to argue, anyway? Maybe if you would take the time to sit down and put together a coherent essay to express yourself instead of producing these cryptic little fortune cookie messages like a drunk-ass Yoda, people would think you had something intelligent to say instead of just being some goof who stuck his head in a bong until his brain ran out of oxygen. -k

Give up, Bambino. Trying to get this guy to address anything rationally is like herding cats. This will go from Khadr to sheep to Princess Di to Jesus to toasters to Ramadan to snowflakes to pancakes to pinball to fish and on and on ad nauseum. -k

It's not like selecting a Supreme Court justice based on criteria that have nothing to do with legal knowledge would be a precedent (see Clarence Thomas.) I think the GALA/GLAAD/whatever types do a disservice to their own cause by campaigning for Ms Sullivan based on her personal life. It detracts from what sounds like a reasonably qualified individual. If she is eventually selected, the remainder of her career will be tarnished with the label "special interest selection", the same way "equal opportunity hire" is supposedly used to demean women or minorities in "old boys" professions. -k

What an incredibly telling remark. -k

Wow, he even hired Will.I.Am to do a song for him. All that's missing is the posters. But in all seriousness, I'm willing to give Ignatieff a chance to show he's more than talk when it comes to national unity. So far, at least, he seems to recognize that the country doesn't stop at Sault Ste Marie.... something that was completely lost on his despicable predecessors. -k

Here you go. You need a high speed connection. You'll need to insert your ethernet connection directly into your bong. Make sure the connector is completely submerged. -k

It is no secret that many of the top achievers in Canadian schools are Asian kids. I suspect the reason for that is probably not very flattering to typical Canadian parents. -k

When my dad's family arrived in the United States in the late 19th century, a few letters were dropped from the family name, turning an extremely common Swedish surname into an extremely common English surname. There are different stories as to why. One is that it was deliberate, representing a desire to fit in with their new home. The other is that whichever immigration person produced their documents when they arrived simply recorded the name with which he was familiar. Whichever the case, looking at my family name would not give a clue as to my ancestry... particularly mom's side of the family. And the name is shared by so many that it would be impossible to attach any meaning to it. It's shared by English, Irish, Minnesota Swedes, Jamaicans, athletes, politicians, liquor-store robbers, notorious murderers... -k

Cool! I would prefer either "Justice" or "Public Safety and Security", please. I have some extremely interesting ideas that I'd love a chance to implement. -k

This is complete horse-crap! I people have the right to protest, but if they are disrupting traffic or (especially!) blocking access to hospitals, they need some serious "tough love". Police with firehoses should do the trick. If there's anything that could make the cause of the Tamil Tigers even less sympathetic to Canadians, blocking hospitals would probably do the trick. -k

Canadians will love the Khadrs once they realize that "benny" from "Mapleleafweb" wishes that it be so! The Khadrs will love Canada once they realize that "benny" from "Mapleleafweb" is on their side! -k

Australia has little choice in the matter. The only nearby country of any significance is Indonesia, a potential adversary. They're halfway around the world from their allies. -k