Sinclair's Principles: or how I play with life until it breaks

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:39:24 GMT

- The contractor finally came, so there is no longer a hole in my bathroom wall. No doubt it will be another 2 months before they'll come back to sand it down and paint, but the most important part is done.

- I have resigned my position as organiser for the alberta YCL. This will likely have two effects. First, I will be less wound up... theoretically. This work takes a lot of time and energy, which I cannot afford at this time given what else I'm working on. (like putting together a teaching career). The second likely effect of this is that the alberta YCL is going to collapse. This is why I am only going to be theoretically less wound up. Let's just say that there's significant pressure to keep doing a lot of work.
For a long time I've had some questions about what kind of world I want to create, and what the most powerful way to create that change might be. The communist party is wonderful in theory, but I have not seen them ever do work that I passionately care about, and certainly never in the way that I believe is the most important. At the same time, the best work being done in this city on the issues I am passionate about, is being done by people in the anarchist collective. As a ycl organiser, I'm really not supposed to associate with them, and they're uneasy about doing work with me. It is very difficult to try and explore my beliefs about politics while being a political organiser. This is one of the reasons why I'm stepping down. Which, for better or worse, means that I have some thinking to do.
This was also complicated somewhat by the fact that the ycl general secretary came through town just before christmas, and we talked about some of those things. He is completely unaware of the disconnect between the party's theory and practice.

- Christmas was wonderful, but hard. I got a little snappish with people. It's always hard going back home, and dealing with family, and my sister. On a completely related note, my mother is not so gently pressuring me to go back on anti-depressants. I'm not saying she's wrong, I'm just saying she has strong feelings about my choice.

- And I really need to start looking in more depth into where I will be working next year. The idea of possibly moving across the world is exciting,and I am committed to doing it, but it is also absolutely terrifying.

So yeah, undergoing a revolution in what I believe about my political activism, which is just my entire identity, and not having any idea where I will be living in 8 months. No wonder I'm feeling a little unstable.

Attention Sun Boycotters:

Sat, 03 May 2008 17:30:18 GMT

Please, if you're going to do this, do it right.

If you really want to send a message to the Sun, do it through the advertising. Follow these steps:
1. Make a list of all the companies that advertise in the Sun.
2. Boycott those companies.
3. Call those companies to tell them that you are boycotting them, because they advertise in the Sun, and because you don't agree with the Sun's choice of front page graphics.
4. Call the Sun. Call every editor you can. Tell them that you are boycotting the paper, and everyone who advertises in it, and tell them why.

Take the above steps, and I will respect your political fervor. Don't, I'll just take you for a bunch of wankers who want some attention, but don't care enough about the issue to take real action on it.

First things first...

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:47:18 GMT

[Unknown LJ tag]

sweet sweet irony

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:59:08 GMT

Yesterday I was going to go look up where I needed to vote. However, I didn't have to do so, because I got a very helpful call from someone giving me that information

... from the Progressive Conservative Party.

Oh yeah!!!! *snerk*
I do understand that statistically speaking it's more efficient for them to call everyone rather than try to work out who might support them, particularly given the huge contingent of undecided voters this election.
And they didn't really do themselves any harm, as I would have gotten the information anyways.

But still... the irony makes me smile.

Young Communist Events in Edmonton

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:17:59 GMT

There are three events coming up that people may be interested in. All of them are free.
All are on the U of A campus in Edmonton.

1. Friday February 1st, 4pm: "Everything you ever wanted to know about Communism, but were afraid to ask."
This is an open question period with Naomi Rankin, the leader of the Communist Party in Alberta. We will meet in the Student Groups Lounge in the basement of SUB, on the UofA campus.

2. Monday February 4th, 7pm. Communist Party of Canada leader Miguel Figueroa will be speaking in the Alumni Room, Students' Union building on the University of Alberta campus.

3. Friday February 8th, 4pm: Want to go to Cuba this summer? There will be an information session on the Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade in the Humanities Centre, room 17.

Please pass this along to anyone who you think might be interested.

Hahahaha!

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:12:24 GMT

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<lj-cut=>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

<lj-cut= "George Bush's resume">
This person needs a job. This individual seeks an executive position.
He will be available in January 2009, and is willing to relocate.

RESUME

GEORGE W. BUSH
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20520

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Law Enforcement:
I was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 1976 for driving under the
influence of alcohol. I pled guilty, paid a fine, and had my driver's
license suspended for 30 days. My Texas driving record has been "lost" and
is not available.

Military:
I joined the Texas Air National Guard and went AWOL. I refused to take a
drug test or answer any questions about my drug use. By joining the Texas
Air National Guard, I was able to avoid combat duty in Vietnam.

College:
I graduated from Yale University with a low C average. I was a cheerleader.

PAST WORK EXPERIENCE :
I ran for U.S. Congress and lost.
I began my career in the oil business in Midland,Texas in 1975. I bought an
oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas. The company went bankrupt
shortly after I sold all my stock.

I bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land
using taxpayer money.

With the help of my father and our friends in the oil industry (including
Enron CEO Ken Lay), I was elected governor of Texas.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS:

I changed Texas pollution laws to favor power and oil companies, making
Texas the most polluted state in the Union. During my tenure, Houston
replaced Los Angeles as the most smog-ridden city in America.

I cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas treasury to the tune of billions in
borrowed money.

I set the record for the most executions by any governor in American
history.

With the help of my brother, the governor of Florida , and my father's
appointments to the Supreme Court, I became President of the United States,
after losing by over 500,000 votes.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT:

I am the first President in U.S. history to enter office with a criminal
record.

I invaded and occupied two countries at a continuing cost of over one
billion dollars per week.

I spent the U.S. surplus and effectively bankrupted the U.S. Treasury.

I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. history.

I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12-month
period.

I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period.

I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S.
stock market. In my first year in office, over 2 million Americans lost
their jobs and that trend continues.

I'm proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any
administration in U.S. history. My "poorest millionaire," Condoleezza Rice,
has a Chevron oil tanker named after her.

I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S. President.

I am the all- time U.S . and world record -holder for receiving the most
corporate campaign donations.

My largest lifetime campaign contributor, and one of my best friends,
Kenneth Lay, presided over the largest corporate bankruptcy fraud in U.S.
history, Enron.

My political party used Enron private jets and corporate attorneys to assure
my success with the U.S. Supreme Court during my election decision.

I have protected my friends at Enron and Halliburton against investigation
or prosecution. More time and money was spent investigating the Monica
Lewinsky affair than has been spent investigating one of the biggest
corporate rip-offs in history. I presided over the biggest energy crisis in
U.S. history and refused to intervene when corruption involving the oil
industry was revealed.

I presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. history.

I changed the U.S. policy to allow convict ed criminals to be awarded
government contracts.

I appointed more convicted criminals to my administration than any President
in U.S. history.

I created the Ministry of Homeland Security, the largest bureaucracy in the
history of the United States Government.

I've broken more international treaties than any President in U.S. history.

I am the first President in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove
the U.S. from the Human Rights Commission.

I withdrew the U.S. from the World Court of Law.

I refused to allow inspector's access to U.S. "prisoners of war" detainees
and thereby have refused to abide by the Geneva Convention.

I am the first President in history to refuse United Nations election
inspectors (during the 2002 US election).

I set the record for fewest numbers of press conferences of any President
since the advent of television.

I set the all-time record for most days on vacation in any one-year period.
After taking off the entire month of August, I presided over the worst
security failure in U.S. history.

I garnered the most sympathy ever for the U.S. after the World Trade Center
attacks and less than a year later made the U.S. the most hated country in
the world, the largest failure of diplomacy in world history.

I have set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously
protest me in public venues (15 million people), shattering the record for
protests against any person in the history of mankind.

I am the first President in U.S. history to order an unprovoked, pre-emptive
attack and the military occupation of a sovereign nation. I did so against
the will of the United Nations, the majority of U.S. Citizens and the world
community.

I have cut health care benefits for war veterans and support a cut in duty
benefits for active duty troops and their families in wartime.

In my State of the Union Address, I lied about our reasons for attacking
Iraq and then blamed the lies on our British friends.

I am the first President in history to have a majority of Europeans (71%)
view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and security.

I am supporting development of a nuclear "Tactical Bunker Buster," a WMD.

I have so far failed to fulfill my pledge to bring Osama Bin Laden to
justice.

RECORDS AND REFERENCES:

All records of my tenure as governor of Texas are now in my father's
library, sealed and unavailable for public view.

All records of SEC investigations into my insider trading and my bankrupt
companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.

All records or minutes from meetings that I, or my Vice-President, attended
regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for
public review. I specified that my sealed documents will not be available
for 50 years.

PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERY VOTER YOU KNOW!

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the
country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag
the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a
parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can
always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have
to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for
lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

</lj-cut>

I'm on the radio!

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:22:20 GMT

http://www.cjsr.ualberta.ca/news/news.php?s=riseup

(obviously, it would be the "Anarchists, Communists and Coffee" episode)

Labour Rally in Edmonton

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:46:48 GMT

Come one! Come all..

Time and Place Date: Saturday, September 22, 2007
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: 10808 - 99 Avenue
Street: 108
City/Town: Edmonton

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=5214177210

Request for ideas

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:29:54 GMT

Okay folks, I need some help and/or some inspiration.

I'm responsible for coming up with ideas and coordinating small anti-war protest events. Things that will keep issues in the public eye without requiring putting together big rallies all the time.
We're thinking street theatre, "impromptu" performances, etc.
I'm looking for ideas and for any resources that I should look at. The only reference type material I could find was a book on street theatre and politics in the 60s.

Anyone have experience with this kind of thing?
Anyone know anyone with said experience? I'm particularly interested in people from Deadmonton, what with the fact that that's where I am, but having a mentor type person from another city would also not be a bad thing.
My current plan is to get my sister to introduce me to everyone she knows and take it from there, but the more ideas and contacts, the better.

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 05:42:55 GMT

Happy Birthday arymede!!!

Yay!
And happiness!
And joyful singing.

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 06:08:25 GMT

1. Name:
2. Date of birth:
3. Where you live:
4. What makes you happy:
5. Currently listening/the last thing you listened to:
6. Do you read my journal?:
6a. How did you find/meet me?:
7. If yes, what makes it especially good or bad?:
8. An interesting fact about you:
9. Are you in love/do you have a crush at the moment?:
10. Favourite place to spend time:
11. Favourite lyric:
12. The best time of the year:

RECOMMEND
1. A film:
2. A book:
3. A band, a song, or album:
4. A food:

PLUS
1. One thing you like about me:
2. Two things you like about yourself:
3. Look at my friends-list and tell what you like about one of our mutual friends:
4. Put this in your journal so that I can tell you what I like about you.

Dagger!

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 03:50:34 GMT

Anyone have a dagger? I need one as a prop for the opera workshop I'm in.

Sat, 02 Apr 2005 01:50:15 GMT

The 'Tempting Fate' meme:

1. Make an LJ-cut post with "DO NOT READ" as the text.
2. Do not select a 'mood' for this post.
3. If anyone clicks the cut, they are to comment and admit to doing so.
4. Anyone who reads this also has to do the same in THEIR journal, thus continuing the neverending madness.

Sat, 19 Mar 2005 00:01:36 GMT

I met with a math prof today, and told him about wanted to study musical form through mathematics. He's going to look into who in north america is researching that (if any), so that I will a) know where to apply for a masters, and b) know what math I should be studying. When I outlined specifially what I wanted to do he said that he thought one could easily research that through math, that it had practical applications (and therefore someday could get funding) and that I didn't know of anyone else who was doing it yet. Of course not, because they're all in music theory departments. But still, very promising.

Breakfast update

Sat, 19 Feb 2005 04:40:24 GMT

More detailed plan:
Nellies on 17th (738 17 Ave SW # B) anytime between when they open at 8am, and when I take off again around noon.

Coffee and Breakfast

Fri, 18 Feb 2005 20:31:30 GMT

Coffee: Starting 9:30/10ish saturday night at Humpties by Erlton station. My bus gets in at 915, I will get there asap thereafter.

Breakfast sunday morning: Nellies has been suggested, but also debated due to long line issues.

I propose a tentative plan. Acelin, given that you will likely only be awake for so long after you get off work, how about you let me know when would be reasonable for you to go for food. I will then arrange to be there starting then, and will hold court at Nellies for the rest of the morning and anyone else who wants to see me can drift in when they awake. (Bearing in mind that I will turn into a pumpkin at noon or shortly thereafter.

Reasonable startings of a plan?

This wouldn't be nearly so funny if I weren't a Quaker...

Mon, 29 Nov 2004 01:56:44 GMT


religious society of friends are love
brought to you by the isLove Generator

Good, but for the profanity

Mon, 22 Nov 2004 00:27:24 GMT

Fuck the South

Here's to disgruntled informed Democratic northerners.

Fri, 06 Aug 2004 17:14:30 GMT

Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday, happy birthday,
ME ME ME ME ME!

....that is all, you may go now.

Mon, 03 May 2004 03:49:42 GMT

Watching "The Princess Bride"

I love this movie

Fri, 30 Apr 2004 20:48:16 GMT

*whimper*

Low: Having strep throat

High: Penicillin

Canadian Census

Fri, 30 Apr 2004 00:40:51 GMT

Why is Stats Canada contracting the 2006 census to an American company?

And furthermore, why an american weapons contractor with a history of violating confidentiality?

read more

Wed, 21 Apr 2004 22:33:51 GMT

How much do any of you lot know about being sued for breach of contract?
(don't worry, I'm not being sued, I just figure I should be prepared for the possibility)
My understanding is that that they can only sue me for lost income, would this be correct? Any information you can direct me towards?

Money makes the world go around!

Mon, 19 Apr 2004 19:44:48 GMT

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been busy looking for "real" work. Tis the season for finding teaching positions for next year.

Previous situation:
Working as a cook in a restaurant part time, 7/hour
Teaching at the karaoke conservatory part time 10.75/hour.
Needless to say, not an ideal situation.

Near future situation:

Working at the Alberta Music Academy. It's a classical clientelle and I get to set my own schedule. I'll make 30/hour minus 30% commission. (gee it's nice being paid what I'm worth.)
Possibly working at Community Music. (20-25/hour) I'll only be working for them a couple hours a week, and it will require my buying a car.

And today I was offered a full time position at Gordon Price. 1700/month salary with benefits.
The downside is that I will have to work every saturday, and if I work at Community music I will likely have to work for them on sundays.

Lots of money, and I'll finally be able to support myself through music. Unfortunately, it makes for a very tight schedule. Travelling to Calgary will be very difficult.
Ironic, now that I finally will have enough financial security to visit, I *won't* have the time.

Perhaps I should pass on Community Music, but I really love teaching.

Sat, 03 Apr 2004 04:37:14 GMT

Argh!!!

I thought I'd decided this already!

I am a musician, I am not a mathmatician. I will not go back to school, abandon music and go get a math degree.

....but it would be so much fun...