Back in the spring I bought an issue of Iceland Review magazine on the newsstand in Halifax. At the back of the issue was a rosy advertising supplement about the Icelandic financial industry, including a spread about the health and promise of the country's banks (click on the image to see exciting notes in Flickr):

The headlines say, in order, "Kaupthing is Solid," "Landsbanki Sees Opportunities," and "Glitnir Bank Well Equipped to Increase Efficiency." What a difference a few months makes.

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now

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It's been a while since we've seen Clarke. Not a day goes by that I don't think of this wonderful cat. "Memories of previous cats lie curled in the corner of my mind. Occasionally they arch and yawn, tickling me with their whiskers until a smile stretches across my face." Click to Play: Before This Time - Ollabelle I Just Dont Think Ill Ever Get Over You Colin Hay Up and down we go on An Island Walk.

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Political debates are almost as hopeless as religious ones, so I've avoided them here in the past. But reading about the Conservatives' platform on copyright legislations, I'm compelled to speak up. To get my bias clear first: I'm Christian and I've been voting Conservatives for the last 2 elections. But unless they substantially change their platform, I will not vote for them this election and I urge Canadians reading this not to. Here's why.

From the Conservatives' platform:
Quote:
Dion (Liberals) wants to impose a massive carbon tax that will drive up the cost of everything and hurt families.

That is a lame and empty attack on a good idea. Living in BC, we've already implemented the carbon tax and our economy is doing just fine. Harper either doesn't understand what "revenue neutral" means or is just being conservative for the sake of being Conservative. I drive, and I'd gladly pay more on gas so we have greater incentives for the marketability of viable, mainstream electric cars sooner than later. Same goes for more non-carbon power plants. Strike 1 for the Conservatives.

On same sex marriage, I've voted Conservatives mainly for their opposition to it. But Harper seems to be dropping opposition for that along with abortion. Strike 2.

And for the most important and relevant issue, copyright, the Conservatives show no intent to revise or drop bill C-61, and supports ACTA which is an even worse idea. They shown no support for Geist's copyright pledge, and have continued to show no interest in soliciting feedback from the Canadian public on C-61, a most important legislation since the internet regarding copyright and how we share and consume information. This is about the freedom of speech in the digital age. Big strike out for the Conservatives.

Right now, it seems the Conservatives are leading the polls. But I know about 3.7 million Canadians visited isoHunt last month, which is more than 10% of Canada's population. So I ask all who read this to tell your Canadian friends to not be a slacker and vote on Oct. 14. I don't care which party you vote, just vote any party but the Conservatives. I'll update on any other P2P sites and media who pledge the same against them.

Here are some more links to more information on election issues:
- Election Notebook blog
- Liberals, Conservatives, NDP on twitter
- MPs growing support for Geist's copyright pledge (all non-Conservatives)

For the US election, discuss here instead, this thread is for Canadian election only. But then there isn't much to talk about is there, McCain is a worse idiot than Bush and changes his position every other month. Obama all the way. Wink


UPDATE: Interesting video message from Jack Layton of the NDP to p2pnet. Quote: "Social networking sites, torrent sites, youtube... the truly interactive websites are... fundamental to making a democracy work." What a nice quote we can use to argue our case! He also touched on support for net neutrality.

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Two audio experts hired earlier by Harper said the tape appeared to have been doctored.

An Ontario judge ordered another analysis and Harper tapped former FBI agent Bruce Koenig for the job.

Koenig said the portion of the tape dealing with the insurance policy "contains neither physical nor electronic splices, edits or alterations," according to a report entered in court on Friday.

Last month, Harper was able to persuade the court to put the lawsuit on hold until after the Oct. 14 federal election. Harper also tried to keep Koenig's report out of the court record until the vote had passed, but the Liberals were able to get it on the record Friday.

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A new bus service will run between Charlottetown and Summerside starting at the end of October.

Fares will range from $3 to $7 for a one-way trip, depending on the length of your ride, with regular stops in Charlottetown, Hunter River, Kensington, Summerside and Slemon Park. The bus will also stop in Winsloe, Milton, Brookfield, Fredericton, Summerfield and New Annan on request.

A large majority of UPEI students who voted in a referendum on a transit pass supported the initiative.

All students at UPEI will now have to pay an extra $25 a semester, starting in January, for a special bus pass whether they take the bus or not. Previously, a four-month pass for a student would cost $200.

"I'm just so excited that the U-pass was seen as a favourable option to the student body," said Mike Cassidy, owner of Trius Tours, operators of Charlottetown Transit.

"This money goes right into the general revenue of the company to help operate public transit."

Seventy per cent of votes cast were in favour of the pass, but only 24 per cent of students voted.
Student union president Justin Douglas said he'd like to see the extra $165,000 the school will be pumping into transit go toward more bus routes to UPEI and a later service for students.

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