did the conservatives win or lose?

Specifically in response to the Washington Post article about the Canadian election titled A Defeat for Anti-Americanism, but also because these misconceptions seem pretty popular, I'd like to say something and hope that it at least generates some angry comments.

Stephen Harper and the Conservatives won the election, in the technical sense: they have more seats in the House of Commons than any other party. But could anyone seriously call it a victory? Let's look at a few facts:

• The Liberal Party has been in power for more than twelve years, which is enough time to make a lot of mistakes.
• The Gomery Report put it in writing that major Liberal figures are guilty of corruption.
• Out of the top five political parties in Canada, only one is officially conservative: the BQ are often more progressive than the NDP or the Green Party; Paul Martin is pretty conservative but the Liberals are generally centrist.
• Many (if not most) Canadians have long considered it a waste to vote for any party other than the Liberals or the Conservatives.
• Only 36% of voters cast their ballots in favour of Stephen Harper's Conservatives.
• 30% of voters voted for the Liberals.
• Combined, the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloq got 58% of the popular vote.

When you add up all these facts, the result is pretty clear. Canada has not "gone conservative", and Stephen Harper didn't really "win" the election. He was up against an unpopular party with a leader nobody trusted, yet he still managed to win by only a small minority. And since most people were voting against the Liberals rather than for the Conservatives, I think it won't be long before Canadians get a taste of who, exactly, they've elected. And it won't be pretty.

"fed hungry puppies, saved orphans from fire..."

On the wire today: the White House has been altering Wikipedia entries, which is really creepy. This article is about the specific actions of U.S. Rep Marty Meehan, who edited his own biography. The original text:

"Meehan first ran for Congress in 1992 on a platform of reform. As part of that platform Meehan made a pledge to not serve more than four terms, a central part of his campaign. This breaking of the pledge has been a controversial issue in the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts."

The entry after Meehan edited it:

"Meehan was elected to Congress in 1992 on a plan to eliminate the deficit. His fiscally responsible voting record since then has earned him praise from citizen watchdog groups. He was re-elected by a large margin in 2004."

There's also this list of changes to entries coming from an IP address originating from the House of Representatives.

why we fight

For some reason I seem to be really into depressing "the world is so screwed" documentaries lately. Today, I watched "Why We Fight" (torrent), a piece on the American Military-Industrial Complex written and directed by Eugene Jarecki. I heard about it because Jon Stewart interviewed Mr. Jarecki on this episode of The Daily Show.

I have to say, there probably isn't a lot in the flick that SFB readers don't already know: Corporate weaponsmakers like Lockheed-Martin and Halliburton are deeply interwoven with both the Bush administration and Congress. In fact, most US foreign policy is decided by corporate-sponsored "think tanks" with 0 voter accountability and a stated agenda of coming up with reasons and rationalizations for the next war. And of course there has to be a next war, because that's their trillion-dollar business. These annoying questions of "why", "where", and "how to get the public to agree with us"... well, that's why they have think tanks!

In the spirit of preaching to the choir, among my other favorite documentaries on what's wrong with the world's only superpower are The End of Suburbia and The Corporation, as well as a very compelling three part miniseries called "The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear". The miniseries is a cut above the other two because I find it uses less emotional string-pulling and more essay-style presentation of facts to make its point.

nettwerk to RIAA: "take off, ya hosers."

Canadian music label Nettwerk, who represent such notable artists as Sarah McLachlin, Barenaked Ladies and Brand New, has decided to help out the Greubel family, who are being sued by the RIAA for downloading music. The list of downloaded songs includes several by Nettwerk artists. They have agreed to pay the family's legal expenses, which is the main reason people tend to just settle these lawsuits rather than take them to court - it's actually cheaper.

This is a lot bigger than just one family's court case. Winning even one court case sets precedent, which is a big deal for all future cases. And, more importantly, this is a record label (who the RIAA claims to represent) and a whole collection of artists (who the RIAA says it's protecting from the evils piracy) saying "We don't agree with what you're doing. Stop suing our fans. Take off."

I agree, and with my next paycheque I plan to buy at least one Brand New album. I encourage you to look through the Nettwerk artists, find one you like, and do the same. If I download music more than I buy albums, it's because I think they're overpriced and the extra money ends up lining the pockets of middlemen like the labels, rather than the artists. But if I see that "wasted" money being put to good use like this, I'll pony up.

harper already prime minister, apparently

Adding a new twist to the ongoing story of Canada's attempt to keep/take control of big empty areas of frozen ocean, Stephen Harper got into a verbal scuffle with the American ambassador mere days after the election. This despite Harper's constant criticism of Martin for fightin' with the Yanks during the campaign. Oh well.

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins criticised Harper's proposal to build "three new armed heavy ice-breaking ships" and send 'em up north to defend the area against nobody. Harper also wants to set up "an underground network of listening posts", because he likes the sounds whales make.

Harper's response: "The United States defends its sovereignty, the Canadian government will defend our sovereignty. It is the Canadian people we get our mandate from, not the ambassador of the United States."

Harper added, "This outburst has nothing to do with trying to distract attention from Dubya's congratulatory phone call, which could reignite the whole Harper-loves-America thing."

heureusement, ici, c'est le hamas

The militant Hamas party has won the Palestinian election with a big majority (AFP, Reuters). The problem with this is that the party's platform is not so much concerned with taxes or social programs - it's more focused on the violent destruction of Israel. Needless to say, a lot of people are slightly concerned about what this will mean for peace in the region.

a million little pieces

My roommate has Oprah on. She's interviewing James Frey, the author of A Million Little Pieces. It has recently been revealed that much of the material in the book - a memoir of Frey's recovery from addiction - was embellished or made up. It originally made Oprah's Book Club; Oprah publicly defended Frey on Larry King, but now she seems to have decided to take it personally. Here's a paraphrased part of a conversation between her and the book's publisher, Nan Talese:

Oprah: When did you realize he was lying?

Talese: When I first read the manuscript I thought it was sensational. But as a publisher, do you ask the author, "Are you really as bad as you say you are?"

Oprah [interrupting]: Yes!

[Audience claps, cheers, etc.]

Yes Oprah, you do ask. For example, each of Hunter S Thompson's books were carefully fact-checked before they were printed. His publisher personally examined the contents of Thompson's trunk to make sure that he did, in fact, bring "two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half-full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multicolored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... Also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls" on his trip through the desert. After all, the reader will believe everything the author says if the word "memoir" is on the cover, and the reader has a right not to be deceived.

prime minister stephen harper

I'm moving to the friggin' States.

this one's for you

Man, SFB has really been into videos lately. I'm pretty sure it's just a coincidence. I know I should be saying something about the [Canadian] election, but OC has that one about covered, so why don't we just move on to the actual post? It concerns two more videos for you to watch:

• William Shatner's interpretation of Elton John's "Rocketman" - if you've seen Family Guy this will seem somewhat familiar to you. Don't watch it until you've heard the original version of the song, though, or it'll make even less sense. [via Stereogum]
• A recent commercial for a new computer by Apple is very similar to the Postal Service video for "Such Great Heights". The link brings you to a video which plays the two side-by-side, à la that Nickelback thing from ten years ago. [via Boing Boing]
  

Maybe tomorrow I'll post some actual content. I'm a little surprised Neil hasn't told us about the Pluto probe...

for those who've always wanted to shoot jello, but haven't the nerve

The Timing Is Everything gallery collects a bunch of high-speed photography that has been floating around for a while, and it would be a good idea to take a look if you haven't yet seen them. Also included are a couple of balloon-popping images from this Flickr photoset.

best of google video

Google Video is pretty great. Some guy compiling a best-of list for the service is even better. I guarantee you will waste at least forty-five minutes watching these.

look! up in the sky! it's ... physically impossible!

Here's something to bring you down a little on this rainy, climate-change-warm Montreal day: an article by Lois Lane Gresh and Robert Weinberg about why physics tells us that Superman couldn't have existed.

I say, nuts to physics! Down with science! Re-elect George Bush!

why didn't the globe call me?

I missed the debate, but I have it on good authority that it will be giving at least one voter nightmares. (You have a third choice... There is a third choice in this election... Let me tell you about your other choice...)

After reading the nerve-racking poll results showing the Tories ahead by eight points, and then watching a strange argument between Martin and Duceppe about the word "nation", why not go read Rick Mercer's rundown of the upcoming Conversative Cabinet members? From the post:

Rob Anders – Minister of State (Multiculturalism)

Rob Anders is the guy to reach out to Canada’s diverse multicultural communities.

“Nelson Mandela is a terrorist.”
- Rob Anders

“Rob is a true reformer and a true conservative. He has been a faithful supporter of mine and I am grateful for his work.”
- Stephen Harper endorsing Calgary West Conservative MP Rob Anders

Go on over and read the whole thing.

the high cost of low price

I watched a documentary tonight that had been skipped over in favor of final exams. It's called "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price", and it's directed by Robert Greenwald. Although it is entirely geared to Americans and plays a bit too strongly on both nationalism and christianity for my liking, it raises some valid points about the business practices of the world's largest corporation and dominant retail giant. In short: they ain't good. Of course, the documentary tells only one side of the story.

According to the film: full-time Wal-Mart associates make less than living wage, benefits packages are inadequate and the company actively encourages employees to seek state aid in lieu of corporate insurance, there is systematic exploitation and discrimination from the top levels of the corporation, their environmental policies are either abysmal or simply don't exist, and the company actively and aggressively quashes any inkling of a union at the first sign of its inception.

According to Wal-Mart: associates make higher-than-average wages for the industry, their benefits packages are generous by industry standards, Wal-Mart is an award-winning employer in terms of diversity and worker treatment, they care deeply about the environment, and unions are only out to bilk workers for dues anyway.

The truth is undoubtedly somewhere in the middle. But even Wal-Mart can't deny that the (many, many) people in the documentary are in fact ex-employees, did in fact experience the things they're talking about, and the company is in fact fighting off more tax evasion, fraud, and wage-related lawsuits than you can shake a stick at.

You should check it out. Buy it here, or get the torrent here. I don't shop at Wal-Mart often, but I think that frequency just got reduced to absolutely 0.

wolf parade on late late show video

You can see Wolf Parade play on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson over at Prefix. Do you like this band? Leave a comment.

jon stewart hosting the oscars?

You'd better believe it - he even mentioned it on his show. Maybe this year I'll actually watch.

The Boston Herald, for one, thinks Jon will lose his "street cred" (I'm serious, they used that term) by accepting the offer. I'm not sure such a ridiculously stated position even deserves a counterargument, but here goes anyway: Street cred?! Does the guy whose filmography includes an unnamed character in Half Baked, a couple of romantic comedies, and some deleted scenes from First Wives Club really have "street cred" to lose?

Anyway, I'm sure his show will be the best thing on television whether or not he hosts the stupid Oscars.

ariel sharon suffers massive stroke

Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel, has suffered a massive stroke and is not expected to recover. Many are worried about what this will mean for peace in the middle east, but no-one knows for sure. Sharon was for many years an aggressive general and has been accused of war crimes; in the last few years he has seemed to change his stance, earning praise for such initiatives as the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza strip. The two people most likely to replace him are former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (which would be bad) and Amir Peretz (which might be good).

for everything, turn turn (etc)

This blogger has put together a bunch of photographs out of a window in Norway into a time-lapse video showing the passage of seasons over an entire year.

Try not to let it phase you.

that sand just keeps falling

Here is a game, of sorts, to play, sort of. A good hint is that there is no actual objective: just play around with what you can do. Notice also the controls at the bottom. It's called Falling Sand.