Today, someone asked me what the G20 was.
I really wasn't sure what to do: do I give him the condensed version from Wikipedia? Or do I reply with my standard sarcastic, rather cynical interpretation?
So, what do I think about the G20 summit in Toronto? Annoyed by the massive waste of money on "security" and embarrassed by the way that Canada's police force has behaved, and cynical about the purposes of the meeting.
First of all, the waste of money. Really, why can't this meeting be held in an out of the way lodge in the Swiss Alps? "Oh, transparency!" we all cry. Yea, well, a billion dollars later, and all we have are a bunch of cops making sure that not a single individual can get within sight of the meeting. How's that for transparency? And doesn't that say something when the government needs police that are increasingly resembling a paramilitary combat force?
The police abuses that make me ashamed to say that I'm a Canadian:
So what do I think that the G20 is all about?
It's a gathering of the richest, most powerful leaders in the world coming together in an orgy of self-importance to discuss their own success, and decide how to move forward with keeping the rest of the world underneath their heel.
I want to see the BP executives hang.
Unfortunately though, I'm likely going to have to settle for them paying cleanup and loss-of-income costs.
Dear Yahoo!:
I have three points to raise:
Yahoo! Answers is an abomination. I understand that it is a profitable component of your services, but I assure you that in the long run you will benefit from such a cleansing of the internet. The world would benefit enormously if you heed my request.
Your name, while pleasantly modern, really should not have an exclamation mark - look to the top of this letter to see the issue.
I will not watch videos on your homepage. Provide me with the text article that you post, or else I will leave, and turn on Adblock as punishment.
Sincerely, Justin
Not to be cynical...
OK, let us be serious: I'm a cynical person. When I first became aware of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, the blatant hypocrisy was almost painful. It would be like Xe (formerly Blackwater) starting a petition for peace in Iraq.
The focus of much of the campaign seems to be about weight - as far as I am aware, Dove doesn't sell any products that claim to assist in weight loss. A safe attempt then, that is unlikely to ostracize any of their current market, and is an easy way to sell self-esteem.
Not to mention the fact that Unilever also owns Axe, whose commercials treat women quite clearly as a prize to be won... but only if you wear their products.
But it's really just a clever marketing strategy: in today's hyper-commercialized, fake-sympathy advertising, the angle was bound to be snapped up by a competitor. And really, I'm willing to put money on this campaign improving people's view of Dove. "They don't sell things, they sell tools for women to empower themselves, to project outer beauty to accentuate their inner womanhood..." Cue motivational pseudo-feminist propaganda reel.
It's a good business strategy. If I was BP right now, I'd be trying to hire the brains that came up with it.
Not made to measure baby
One size does not fit all
~Made to Measure (by My Ruin)
"Sorry for not posting recently, I've been going through some things irl, and I'll try to get back to my regular posting as soon as I can..."
No. I read this constantly and it never fails to annoy me. There are a lot of blogs on the internet, and not all that many are commercial. How many of these writers are being paid to write? Those that are, perhaps, owe something to their readers.
I do not write for money. I don't write for fame (or whatever the blogging equivalent can be considered as) and I certainly don't write for my readers. I write for myself. If along the way, what I choose to say is interesting or relevant to you, your life, or your work, then that's awesome. I enjoy the interaction - I don't crave it, but it does cast an interesting form of reflection over my writing.
Perhaps if I was to promise a post of some sort to the regular readers, and then retract the statement, then I would feel as if I owe an explanation. But that is a matter of common courtesy, not as could be implied, a principle that I would feel myself required to respect.
In short, no apology will be forthcoming if I haven't been posting at a pace on the blog that most people would consider optimal. Your readership is appreciated.
