Category: government

movie – Hotel Rwanda

On By Rick McIn bad news, government, moviesLeave a comment

I finally saw the acclaimed film Hotel Rwanda.

Though painful, I recommend it, especially if you do not know the story.

This is the Hollywood treatment of the Rwandan Genocide where over 800,000 were killed — many hacked to death with $.10 machetes — during a period of 100 days from April 6th through mid-July 1994.

The man in charge of peace-keeping at the time, Canadian Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire was hand-cuffed by the United Nations. The few UN troops on hand were ordered to stand by without intervening.

President Clinton later described US inaction as “the biggest regret of my administration.”

This was only 12-years-ago.

It’s unbelievable.

Rent the movie.

Hotel Rwanda

bunks for drunks

On By Rick McIn economics, good news, governmentLeave a comment

In the past I dismissed the homeless.

That was until I moved to the downtown East side of Calgary. In the centre of the homeless area. Those folks became part of my daily existence.

The homeless normally claim they “like the freedom”. They cannot hold a job because they refuse to knuckle under authority.

They cannot live in a shelter because of the tyranny of rules imposed there.

Sounds believable.

Then I heard an NPR podcast: Homeless Alcoholics in Seattle Find a Home

Bill Hobson is a homeless advocate in Seattle who runs a government program that one critic calls “bunks for drunks.” It’s a facility that offers a home for alcoholics in exchange for nothing. They can even continue drinking while living there. Renee Montagne speaks with Hobson about the logic behind the program.

Of 79 chronic, oft-hospitalized alcoholics offered a chance at shelter — 75 accepted.

Seems the real reason for homelessness, normally not admitted by the homeless, is addiction. At least for alcoholics.

This is a brave, honest experiment in how to truly help the homeless. Congratulations Bill Hobson.

Not everyone agrees with me. Especially regarding the funding of the project:

New York Times – Homeless Alcoholics Receive a Permanent Place to Live, and Drink

helping the homeless

On By Rick McIn economics, government, philosophy, TVLeave a comment

Is money the answer?

What would happen if you gave homeless man $100,000?

That’s the question posed by a Showtime documentary called Reversal of Fortune. Ted Rodrigue lives under a bridge in Pasadena and agrees to participate in a documentary about the homeless, though he doesn’t know he’s goint to get any money.

He finds it unexpectedly in a dumpster half way through the film.

Reversal of Fortune (2005 film) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I quite liked Ted Rodrigue before he got the money. He had adapted to decades of living on the street and had a “life” of sorts.

As you probably guessed, money was not the answer for Ted. You could say it ruined his life.

Germany Chancellor, video podcaster

On By Rick McIn governmentLeave a comment

250px-AMerkel.jpgAngela Merkel is the first world leader to video podcast. (If you don’t count Bin Ladin.)

Her first spot, in German only, was about the World Cup of Soccer.

Right now blogging is suddenly “cool”. Time for bandwagoneeers to hop on.

It’s a phase we saw during the adoption of email addresses 10-years-ago or so.

My theory is that everyone will have a blog one day. Everyone will be Master of All Media.

“How much longer will America lead?”

On By Rick McIn bad news, governmentLeave a comment

SafariScreenSnapz002.pngI’ve suggested 2025 as the date when everyone will agree that the USA is no longer the “world leader”. But perhaps it will be sooner.

Dvorak Uncensored » How much longer will America lead?! Public Unaware of Realities

The internet is the best hope for the future, but America seems bent on squandering their seemingly insurmountable lead in this field. If I were Google or Yahoo, I’d be looking to move offshore.

The main problem seems to be the legislative process in the USA. Lobbyists for corporations vie to get legislation enacted for the short-term interests of their shareholders. No one in the US government seems to be protecting free enterprise, free markets, and innovation.

The Bush Republicans are dead in the water, trying to deflect public attention from important issues like Health Care to hot button topics like same sex marriage. It’s embarrassing.

I admire what the USA has done to further democracy, freedom and entrepreneurship in the past. America has been the best country in the world since 1900.

But how much longer?

Tiananmen Square Massacre, June 4th, 1989

On By Rick McIn government, photosLeave a comment

No one understands better the importance of symbolic imagery than totalitarian governments. One day this photo will be revered in China.

I am hopeful that democratization will start in earnest immediately after the 2008 Olympics. Current leadership should be finalizing exit plans.

Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

hero.jpg

The Unknown Rebel – AP photographer Jeff Widener. A lone protester delayed the tanks for over half an hour.

want to patrol the Mexican border?

On By Rick McIn government, humourLeave a comment

“Texas plans to enlist web users worldwide in its fight against illegal immigration by offering live surveillance footage of the Mexican border on the internet.

The cameras will be trained on sections of the 1,000-mile (1,600km) border known to be favoured by illegal immigrants. Web users who spot a suspicious crossing will be able to alert the authorities by telephoning a number free of charge.”

we make money not art: Web users to patrol US borders

bor-der.jpg

mainstream media left to play catch-up

On By Rick McIn government, humourLeave a comment

Technorati Weblog: Stephen Colbert: Bloggers 1, Mainstream Media 0

“Stephen Colbert” and “Colbert” have been the top Technorati searches all week, which is a nice real-life example of how mainstream media and the blogosphere are SO different.

Colbert at the White House Correspondents Dinner

On By Rick McIn government, humour, TVLeave a comment

ColbertPresident Not Amused.

Despite a shaky start, Stephen Colbert’s spin-off late night Comedy Central TV show is now more essential viewing than The Daily Show with John Stewart.

Colbert pretends to be a rabid right wing pro-Bush TV talk show host. And he is hilarious.

George Bush has probably never seen Colbert’s show. But he knows the routine now after being nuked by Colbert at the annual dinner for political correspondents dinner.

Highlights on the Editor&Publisher website.