Stefan Caunter

Rogers and Bell have “bought” MLSE, the huge entertainment corporation that owns the Leafs, TFC, and other such stuff. They have done so together so that neither one gets the whole thing. I’ve been watching access to sport disappear on regular, OTA TV for many years, and this is a big deal. You will not see the Leafs for “free” anymore. No more CBC games. Same thing happened when Rogers bought the Jays. All games went to pay sports channels. I don’t care about basketball that much, but it will be the same.
Which brings me to the larger point. If these companies came by the means to buy this property, and use it to reduce access to local teams, for more profit, through good old fashioned competitive excellence, that would be one thing. But the actual situation is that the only thing that Rogers and Bell are good at is lobbying the government for the right to continue holding exclusive monopoly control over telecom, and the enormous cash flows they can pull out of the pockets of everyone in this country. Access to internet, phone and television should be a basic right, and it should be protected from this kind of rampant avarice. Avarice, I remind you, that is supported by massive and continuous transfers to all media companies in the form of advertising. Bluntly, this advertising chills the critical climate. Fortunately, you lucky readers don’t have to worry about this here. But imagine someone questioning the telecom monopolies at a newspaper or tv news show. Imagine an MP with a private member’s bill, proposing nationalization of some of this essential infrastructure, to save Canadians from being robbed continuously, while the same government permits this robbery. That MP would not get campaign contributions or Christmas cards from Rogers or Bell, would they? It’s an obvious solution, that cannot be discussed. Nationalize the Canadian telecommunications infrastructure. There is no reason for it to be in the hands of two out of control corporations, who exist solely to keep lobbying for their continued existence. The government has the power, and all of us would be better off for the judicious exercise of that power.
Basically, the Canadian regulatory framework has enabled the Leafs to be bought, by the very companies that control access to TV and that own most of the TV stations, so that they can eliminate any chance of not monetizing any aspect of the existence of the sport of hockey. If we are going to support that, we the people should own this infrastructure. It should be used for the benefit of the people.

Poppy tyranny rules once again. This is the only time of year Canadians get as annoying as Americans.
Glorifying war is a bad hobby folks, it keeps conflict and bad feelings alive.
You are being manipulated, and are perpetuating the idea that war, killing, hatred and armies are beneficial and positive. They are the worst aspects of humanity.
I reject this, it is like religion.

1). Money is requested
2). A symbol is taken out of context and used to promote the cause
3). A set of beliefs that have no basis in fact is assumed to be infallible
4). Judgement is passed on non-believers
5). Attendance at a ritual ceremony is required
6). Politicians and people who work in the media embrace it wholeheartedly
7). Existing rituals and habits are taken and replaced with “Remembrance Day”
8). Logical fallacies abound

Example: Canada currently has soldiers fighting. They die. Therefore we should honour them by wearing a poppy.
Problem: This is their job. They sign up for it, and accept this risk. By the same logic, I should eat a donut to honour the fact you sit in a chair all day at your job.

Example: My dead relation did something related to the war. Therefore, I am affronted by anyone who doesn’t want to wear a poppy or participate in Remembrance Day.
Problem: Most people of that generation did something related to the war; my dead relatives all did so. Maybe yours did too, but a) they are dead and don’t exist anymore, b) that’s not a good reason to ask anyone to be influenced by something, and c) why does a plastic pair of red lips on a pin affect your opinion of me?

I’m also not wearing a pink wristband, christian cross, crescent, star of david or an ac/dc t-shirt. It is time to stop encouraging outright narrow mindedness. I remind you there has been no national conscription in 60 years; not here, and not in the United States, and they make more war than anyone. Killing people is a job, now. It shouldn’t be a national cause, and it shouldn’t be supported or glorified in any way.

So make your poppies into lips kids. I know they make you wear them at school. And remember, that poem, that no one reads, is totally anti-war. Message lost, symbol corrupted. Pretty familiar human behaviour.

Commented also here.

Somewhat different issue now, more handles seen, but same result, memory usage increasing to the 32bit limit.