Category: Thought

Random thoughts occurring to a random bloke…

World AIDS Day

Today, December 1st, is significant, for no other reason, than it’s World AIDS Day. Please consider giving anything you can, least of all your attention, to the fight against a completely “outrageous” and absurdly “solvable” health issue, ravaging so many individuals, sure, but entire families, too, across the globe.

What can you do? Fair question. One I’ll admit I often ask myself. And it’s a question which I can say I haven’t a fulfilling answer. But that’s just me. But you, like I have in the past, could start by visiting The Stephen Lewis Foundation and, simply, read. And if the mood should strike you, and you possess the means, you could throw a couple bucks at, what I see is, a very valuable organization, doing very important work;

“The Stephen Lewis Foundation supports community-based organizations working to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Since 2003, we have funded more than 300 projects in 15 countries. These grassroots groups are the lifeline for their communities: they provide counselling and education about HIV prevention, care and treatment; distribute food, medication and other necessities; reach the sick and vulnerable through home-based health care; help orphans and vulnerable children access education and work through their grief; and support grandmothers caring for their orphaned grandchildren…”

Consider it, please? Every little bit helps…

I’m Oh So Curious

I’m not at all sure of the technicalities surrounding my governments involvement in being partners with a corporation, and a university — if a difference could be drawn between the 3 entities these days – in “chipping-in” for a 60 million dollar facelift for Maple Leaf Gardens, to, as the story reads, “bring Maple Leaf Gardens back to life.” And specifically, if the changes proposed had to be deemed a “multi-purpose facility” the “public” could “use,” in order to qualify for government funding?

The reason I bring this up, quite simply, is the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) proposed fare hike — slated to take effect at the first of next year, I believe — and why a private corporation’s property is more deserving of the $20 million “facelift,” than helping a public, essential service. Where “costs are already too high and often unaffordable,” for millions of citizens, who depend on it to get them where they need to be.

I’m oh so curious…

The Two-bits

… Of “ridiculousness” today are, as follows;

Amy Goodman Detained at Canadian Border, Questioned About Speech…and 2010 Olympics;

“While traveling to Vancouver, Canada to speak at the Vancouver Public Library at a benefit for community radio stations, Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and her two colleagues were detained by Canadian authorities. Amy was questioned extensively about the speech she intended to give; their car was gone through by armed border guards, and their papers and laptop computers were scoured. The armed interrogators were particularly interested in whether she would be speaking about the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics…”

And PETA Classified as a “Terrorist Threat” by the USDA;

“Animal industries are quite open about their desire to use terrorism laws to keep their practices out of the public spotlight. I recently posted about the Animal Agriculture Alliance calling for federal prosecution of undercover investigators. It’s not because the investigators are violent. It is because they pose an even greater threat: educating the public…”

Jesus Christ, seriously?

For What It’s Worth

I’ve written about the radio show The Ongoing History Of New Music here, in the past, on my way to a more relevant point. And, ever since that post, I can’t say I’ve spent too many Sunday morning’s not listening to Alan Cross do his thing. Even though his interpretation of certain events and circumstances seems flawed, to me at least, but what do I know. It isn’t often I find too much to gripe about.

Then there was this morning…

Continue reading For What It’s Worth