Signs and Portents
2008.12.27 - Saturday
People are always pointing to anecdotal evidence that Western civilization is soft, decadent, weak, and decaying. Here are a couple of things for the pile:
Progress
2008.12.27 - Saturday
Scientists plan to ignite tiny man-made star
Right now it's hard to see if fusion could really be a viable power source in my lifetime. This is the first article I've come across in quite a while where it's even talked about. The potential for fusion power is limitless, literally. If we could figure it out, we would have a clean, safe, limitless power source for all time. No more carbon emissions, no more drilling, no more wind farms, solar cells, hydro dams, or coal furnaces.
Fusion research is treated a lot like the space program. Money is spent and what we get back is largely intangible or requires a lot of explanation. A lot of people would rather we ignore such "pie in the sky" ideas and focus on things that can "really make a difference", like sending billions of dollars to Ghana so we can buy carbon credits and meet our Kyoto goals. A lot of people will never consider the space program worthwhile until it stops an asteroid or finds a cure for cancer in zero-G research labs. A lot of those same people think money spent on fusion research is a waste of resources and time on a fantasy that may never prove useful, and they'll keep on saying it right up until the day it works and starts powering our civilization for as long as we need it to.
Although many scientists may not admit it, all scientific research requires imagination and a little bit of faith. Not in God, but in ourselves. Faith that we'll figure it out; we'll get it to work. A lot of scientists and policy makers are only interested in improving existing technologies, finding ways to be more efficient, more practical. Look back at the history of science, the history of invention, and give me even one example where that attitude opened new doors for our civilization, or made possible new achievements of our species.
Merry Christmas
2008.12.24 - Wednesday
Classless
2008.12.24 - Wednesday
EA Layoffs Double in Size to 1,000 People
I know, no big surprise coming from EA, but could they really not afford to wait a week or two, or do it a week or two earlier? Seriously, either wait until the new year and let people enjoy their holiday, especially considering this restructuring will happen over a couple of months, or lay them off at the beginning of the month so they can budget their shopping accordingly. Doing it the week of Christmas? Awful.
Things like this tend to make me think that a lot of upper management at large corporations view employees as insignificant peons, no more meaningful to them than a hard drive or a video card to you and me, or that they actually get some kind of perverse pleasure out of doing layoffs at the worst possible time, either for the hell of it, or to keep whoever's left on their toes. Either way, it's a sickness.
Hockey Coverage
2008.12.24 - Wednesday
Back when the CBC refused to pay up for the old "Hockey Night In Canada" theme, and it was subsequently bought outright by CTV, owners of TSN, I was actually excited to see some real competition in the hockey broadcasting market. So far, at least for me, TSN's coverage of NHL games has been a real disappointment.
Look, there's no denying that the CBC team, original theme or not, knows how to broadcast a hockey game. Now that they've finally split up Bob Cole and Harry Neale, relegating them to second tier games, I really don't have any huge beefs with the CBC coverage. The new theme is even growing on me. "Hockey Night In Canada" feels like an event, from the 30 minute pre-game show to the long, clip heavy intro, to the almost pure in-rink coverage of the teams skating out onto the ice, hockey on the CBC still feels like and still is a big deal.
Compare that with TSN, who feature an in-studio panel of hockey analysts, cut to their own intro sequence featuring an old-fashioned sounding and too slow tempo-ed version of The Hockey Theme, cut to commercial, and then straight to puck drop. There's no build up, there's no feeling of the atmosphere of the arena. No shots of the host city beforehand, few pre-game player interviews, no coverage of the teams' individual introduction sequences, and no coverage of the singing of the anthems. Nothing about the TSN coverage makes me feel like I'm at a big event, in a big arena, with excited fans. They've got the interesting ice level colour commentator, sure, but when it's Pierre Maguire that does nothing for me. Look, I can think for myself sometimes Pierre, and I like my colour commentary to be sparse and during stoppages. Maguire shoots off about every little thing all the time, during the play, after the play, before the play. Just shut up sometimes, and if it's even possible for you, try not to sound more excited than the play-by-play announcer. It's just a hit, or a pass; it's not that awesome.
It's obvious that CTV and TSN spend a lot less money on their coverage, which makes sense because for the most part they're broadcasting on Wednesday nights. At least, I hope they're spending less, because it sure looks that way. Still, there has got to be a way to improve the show. At the very least, it would help not to make the "TSN Panel" feel so detached from the pesky game they're televising. Some interaction with in-rink reporters couldn't hurt. Right now I feel like I'm watching coverage of a football game. Studio panel, commercial, game, commercial, studio panel, commercial, game, commercial, studio panel, commercial, end broadcast, commercial. Would it hurt to have even 5 minutes of proper post-game coverage, too, before cutting to ads and then to Sportscentre?
As much as I hate the CBC for most things, I have to admit that they still do by far the best hockey coverage, probably in the entire world. It might be a little traditional for some people, but sometimes things are traditional for a reason.
Power Grab
2008.12.01 - Monday
After only six weeks, Canada's Conservative minority government stands on the brink of collapse thanks to an unlikely coalition of egotists, socialists, and separatists. The sheer arrogance of Stephane Dion is almost beyond belief. He has the gall to stand up in parliament and tell the Canadian people that the House has lost confidence in the government? This, after he and his party were handed their worst popular vote defeat since Confederation, one hundred and forty one years ago. After that dismal performance, widely regarded by political analysts as a referendum on Dion as a leader, and after Dion himself agreed to step down as Liberal party leader in disgrace, he has the nerve to tell the voting public that he doesn't have confidence in the government they elected, and strikes a deal to install himself as Prime Minister?
Sick. That's what it is, and I'm dead serious. The Liberal party is sick, literally. They have a mental illness. They believe it is their birthright as party members to form the government. Oh sure, they toughed it out for a while during the last Conservative minority, a minority government which Canadians re-elected with greater numbers not even two months ago. It's clear now, however, that they simply can't accept reality. Dion, set to become only the second Liberal leader in history not to be Prime Minister, has slithered his way out of that distinguished place in history by whoring himself and his party to the spend-happy NDP, and to a party and a party leader who's sole reason for existence is the breakup of our country.
You know, I was glad for a while there that Harper and the Conservatives weren't rushing to spend away yours and my futures in wacky bailouts for dying industries. I was hoping more small businesses and medium sized corporations would make use of their tax breaks and stay in the black. I work for a company like that. I was looking forward to Canada emerging from this economic drizzle ahead of the pack; a leg up on everyone else in the West who's mortgaging their futures at the behest of irresponsible corporate managers and union fat cats who see a big payday. That's all down the drain now. Watch for tax hikes, green shifts, and of course, the installation of a giant funnel overtop of Quebec City into which the rest of the country's money will soon be poured. Duceppe may not officially be a part of this coalition government, but make no mistake, he's the one with the big stick now.
I hope Harper fights it, or I hope we go back to the polls, or both. Half of the country is rolling around with glee, too busy hating Harper and his "hidden agenda" to see where this is leading. I'm saving up a big fat "I told you so", and I'm going to rub it in all their faces. If you think Western Canada was pissed off about alienation before, I don't think you've seen anything yet. There's going to be hell to pay at the next election, whenever that is. The other day my friend Chris was writing about countries like Canada being unable to really stick together with so many disparate interests. Well, with people like Stephane Dion and Jack Layton hanging around, he's probably right.