Media, Technology and Society

Blogging Hiatus Until Mid-December Atleast...

Finishing up Managerial Economics and Management Information Systems at Segal, and since there are finals and term papers due, I'll be out of commission until December 15th atleast. Happy holidays everyone :)

Hero Stabbed in the Back

NIGERIA - Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Daniel Igali was stabbed in the back three times by burglers in his home in the city of Yenagoa.

Igali said in a telephone interview Wednesday night that he was set upon in his home by four robbers in the city of Yenagoa. They stabbed him three times in the back and made off with cash, laptops and phones.

''I think they stabbed me because they wanted me to give them everything,'' Igali said. ''It was a bad experience.

''I don't have any respect for people from the underworld who would come into your house and taken everything you've collected over the years.'' Story from Canada.com

It is unbelievable that this could happen to Daniel Igali of all people. Mr. Igali is a trully incredible individual, who has perservered through an impoverished childhood, a complete lack of facilities in his hometown of Eniwari, and yet has achieved his goal of becoming an elite wrestler - achieving the highest Olympic Honour. In his spare time, he has founded a school for children in Eniwari, begun studies for a Masters degree in Crimonology at Simon Fraser University, has run for political office in BC, and continues to attract huge audiences as a motivational speaker.

"Daniel is the President of the Igali Foundation Inc., a Not-For-Profit foundation that caters to the needs of underprivileged children all over the world. Daniel spends a considerable amount of time on the "Keep Sweating Tour", where he speaks to school kids, different groups and corporations about the benefits of healthy living, making right choices, and of being good neighbors to each other."

What is so impressive about Mr. Igali is that after have achieved greatness, he has not forgotten his roots, nor rejected his capacity to give back to communities which are in such dire need of investment in basic infrastructure - such as schools and hospitals.

On the subject of charity, volunteerism and philanthropy,  it is an unfortunate truism that 80% of these contributions are made by 20% of the population. In a world where "being famous" eclipses the concept of living a life of 'meaning,' Igali is an inspiration.

US Democrats Win Control of Congress

Six years of a Republican majority in the house of representatives and senate came to an end today. George Bush will somehow have to manage a concilliatory tone when he calls expected Democratic speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi for a congratulatory call in the next couple of days. While news of whether the senate will pass into Democratic hands is uncertain at present, the implications of a republican president and a democratic congress hold several possibilities.

As some CNN commentators suggested, the results of this midterm election may portend a deadlocked, ineffective next two years, defined by a congress which challenges presidential power in ways Mr. Bush has never before experienced, and a president who can use his veto power to thwart congressional actions.

Others noted the possibility that Mr. Bush and the Pelosi-led house will strike a centrist balance, aiming to pass moderate legislation and actions which may satisfy an empowered alliance of moderate republicans and conservative democrats.

As far as policy on the Iraq war - the key issue in this election - Mr. Bush is not likely to change the course. He has nothing to gain politically from a pullout, and little to lose.

Attention now turns to the broader implications of this election. Is this result nothing more than a vote against the Republicans, as opposed to a decision actively in favour of the Democratic party's agenda? Most analysts suggest that, at this point, this is a referendum against the status quo, and the extent to which the GOP represents that unhappy set of policies.

Nonetheless, the disquiting last-minute surge in Republican support, as well as the nail-biting insecurity among Democrats over their ability to obtain a victory - despite an extraordinarily favourable political environment - suggests that popular support for the Democrats may not necessarily accompany this victory. In fact, it may simply allow a temporarily weakened Republican party to re-energize while they prepare to vigorously compete for the 2008 presidential campaign.

To succeed long term, the Democrats must turn their image around with this victory, and establish a reputation for competence, effective centrist social and economic policies coupled with rigorous defence of their constituent's interests. Alternately, the greater prominence their party has achieved holds the risk of highlighting a continuation of their historically lacking party organization and inability to inspire mainstream voters.

Of Two Dire Scientific Reports: Fish Stocks and Global Warming

Sometimes its better for your sense of optimism about the world to just not listen to the news. However, it is generally unavoidable if you're at all out and about these days. Its times like these that it becomes necessary to do your own small part, and just wonder at the plight of humanity at the present time.

Will we survive into the next century? What untold millions or billions will sufffer because of our lack of foresight now?

In economic terms, how can we stop individual nations from engaging in short-term economic self-benefit at the expense of long-term catastrophies? If the costs are not internalized, economically inefficient markets continue to exist (in industries, vehicles, etc, that pollute at a negative level of net social benefit, and as well, within fishing operations that cumulatively lower net social welfare). In short, how can externalities be countered on a global scale?

I am not altogether pesssimistic about the future. I think things will get worse before they get better, and we will pay a higher price for our slow reaction to disastrous courses of action, but the capacity for change has not yet developed a critical momentum. As the consequences (costs) of the status quo become ever-closer, the incentives to change become much more potent.