'Latte Liberal', 'Champagne Socialist', 'Liberal Elites'--how often have many of us here been categorized as such? In the so-called 'Culture Wars' that rage across the political spectrum such terms are easily flung from the right--just as easily as we progressives and liberals have our own pejoratives for our opponents.
A couple of recent diaries got me thinking however (never a safe thing to do) about how often those who could be considered 'minority constituencies' on the left put many of the rest of us in the above categories.
Any who have ready my diaries before will already know this disclaimer: I am Canadian, and I am from Prince Edward Island. For those unaware of Canadian Geopolitics, the Maritime region where I grew up is one of the poorest areas of Canada. More often than not the demographics of Maritime communities are white, Christian and working-class poor with varying amounts of primary and secondary education--but rarely post secondary.
My family was educated, middle-class professionals, and colored--at least we kids were. My mother is an immigrant from Sri Lanka, while my father was a Islander of Scots descent. Both my parents were educated members of the architecture field--although my mother gave up her profession to stay home and raise a family.
I mention all of this to give context to my positions on race and class--in many ways I was a minority in my community, even if I could be considered a member of a majority within my country. Growing up in this manner, and learning to deal with the differences I had socially and politically with my peers has shaped my understanding of the perception of the left.
Ironically, while often considered 'uneducated' Maritimers are very savvy politically--and many would easily fall into a common definition of liberal progressives. Rarely do large majorities of Maritimers vote against their economic best interest on social issues--and on the occasion that we vote against said best interests it is to punish perceived arrogance in the incumbent.
Yet few in the Maritimes would consider themselves small-l liberals, or progressive. The perception is that a 'liberal' is someone from Toronto or Ottawa who has good theories on social justice and talks about them a lot at their fancy school--but has no sense of the realities on the ground. Michael Ignatieff is one example--although I would be loath to consider him liberal or progressive myself.
It is this sense that progressives and their causes are unrealistic and harebrained that has kept the political climate in the Maritimes center-right. Like the Alberta-led resistance to Kyoto, Maritime fishermen and the politicians they support have long been against conservation--even if that resistance led to the depletion of the very resource they rely upon. Human's are nothing if not short-sighted.
In speaking with friends from high school and the Army who still reside in the Maritimes, I often get labeled as a 'Latte Liberal' for my views on social justice issues--even by people who share my political bent. I'm dismissed because I am educated and well-off; considered to be too distant from the economic and social realities of the Maritimes to have a valid point of view. Climate change affects everyone, yet often the response I get from fellow lefties out east is 'When Alberta signs aboard Kyoto then we'll talk--until then, we need to make a living however we can'. Needless to say, the recent development of Natural Gas reserved in the Maritimes is worrying because of the perceived need to make what money you can when you can.
Part of the issue is that the left--netroots or no--has never been, nor never will be as lock-step as the right. We value personal freedom and growth too much to demand ideological conformity. For this reason we do tend to fracture into 'minority constituencies' along both racial and economic lines.
There needs to be recognition from within all these constituencies that our perception of the 'other' may be faulty--while the 'white netroots' may not understand the place the church holds in black communities, that doesn't mean that what they see as key considerations constitute a 'white-man's burden'. Yes, people are often indelicate when frustrated, and yes, we who are educated and plugged-in can sometimes be arrogant because of the information available to us that is unavailable to others, but that doesn't mean we're afraid to get dirt under our nails. Many in the blogoshpere are activists and campaigners. Despite what my friends back home may think, it's a hell of a lot harder getting a Liberal or NDP politician elected in Alberta than in PEI. I've worked hard to do my part--even if we've yet to see the success I ultimately hope for.
In the end, each constituency on the left needs to be willing to reach out and understand the needs and desires of the others--to change their perceptions of the others. White netroots to black churches, poor fishermen to middle-class professionals, Atheist to Jew, Buddhist or Christian.
That, ultimately is what will make our big tent work. And under that tent, we can all hope for peace, prosperity and equality.
Happy Holidays,
Sean
Cross Posted to The Next Agenda and DailyKos
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Sunday, July 23, 2006
O frabjous Day Redux
Robotech Returns!
I chortle with joy--again.
Cheers,
Sean
ps - Thanks for keeping the faith DW
I chortle with joy--again.
Cheers,
Sean
ps - Thanks for keeping the faith DW
Technorati Tags: Robotech
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Movie Meme
from ravenclawdrew via myemmie via sh1mm3r
Think of a movie that you consider to be vastly underrated. It doesn't have to be your favorite, nor does it have to be a good film. Type the title of the movie into Google Image Search then choose the best picture that pops up. Post it in your journal, but do not say what the film is.
Cheers,
Sean
Think of a movie that you consider to be vastly underrated. It doesn't have to be your favorite, nor does it have to be a good film. Type the title of the movie into Google Image Search then choose the best picture that pops up. Post it in your journal, but do not say what the film is.
Cheers,
Sean
Friday, March 17, 2006
A View from the Pulpit
From The Catholic Register, a plea for the Liberal party to Be true liberals:
Now, I'm a self-professed Zen-Catholic, and my faith and spirituality play a huge role in my life, but I take issue with the idea that being 'liberal' means pandering to religious special interests. The basic point of liberal values is to allow people to be people and follow whatever faiths they may have--even if they don't have any! To expect a so-called liberal party (and as a member of the Federal Liberal Part of Canada I think it's fair for me to say it's hardly a leftist entity--then again, compared to the CPC fascists, almost any other party in Canada could be considered leftist) to enforce prayers or any sort in a public, let alone government sponsored gathering is insulting to those of us who practice our religion or faith far more privately--if at all.
I say to Mr. Sinasac that if he wants to have his religion inffluence public policy he should move to the United States, where their President was apparently chosen by God and not the voters, and claims Jesus Christ as his personal savior and counselor--surely Christ had a few choice words about torture and pre-emptive war.
Okay all you Christo-Fascists, flame away!
Cheers,
Sean
Be true liberals
By Joe Sinasac
3/16/2006
The campaign for the leadership of the federal Liberal party ended its shadow phase this month and leapt into the open with publication of the rules of engagement. This is a defining moment for the future of the party and now is the time for those politicians who are serious about their religion to step up and be counted.
This is not about people running for leadership with crucifix in hand, though that would certainly shake things up. Our ambitions are much more modest. Rather, Canadians deserve a Liberal party that makes room for people of all faiths. In effect, we’re asking Liberals to be liberal.
This is not as humble a proposal as it sounds. Though there are Liberal members of Parliament who belong to various churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, and though millions of Liberal voters embrace religious faith as a fundamental motivator in their lives, the Liberal Party is in danger of cutting itself off from this deep source of wisdom and support.
...
Now, I'm a self-professed Zen-Catholic, and my faith and spirituality play a huge role in my life, but I take issue with the idea that being 'liberal' means pandering to religious special interests. The basic point of liberal values is to allow people to be people and follow whatever faiths they may have--even if they don't have any! To expect a so-called liberal party (and as a member of the Federal Liberal Part of Canada I think it's fair for me to say it's hardly a leftist entity--then again, compared to the CPC fascists, almost any other party in Canada could be considered leftist) to enforce prayers or any sort in a public, let alone government sponsored gathering is insulting to those of us who practice our religion or faith far more privately--if at all.
I say to Mr. Sinasac that if he wants to have his religion inffluence public policy he should move to the United States, where their President was apparently chosen by God and not the voters, and claims Jesus Christ as his personal savior and counselor--surely Christ had a few choice words about torture and pre-emptive war.
Okay all you Christo-Fascists, flame away!
Cheers,
Sean
Brother Can you Spare a Cubit?
From Canada's Space: The Imagination Station comes an interesting look at what really happened to the original Cylon Centurions once the newly evolved 'flesh-bots' took over...
Brother Can you Spare a Cubit?
Sad to see genocidal machines reduced to such squalor :)
Cheers,
Sean
Brother Can you Spare a Cubit?
Sad to see genocidal machines reduced to such squalor :)
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Battlestar Galactica
INCOMING REVIEW – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS PART 2
REVIEW – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS PART 2
Well, that's it for Season 2. Only seven months until new episodes!
Cheers,
Sean
Well, that's it for Season 2. Only seven months until new episodes!
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Battlestar Galactica
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
More Hypocrisy from Conservatives (Surprise, Surprise)
Thanks to BitWhys over at SmirkingChimp for digging these up:
Of-course now that the CPC is the government and it's become politically expedient they've changed their 'support-the-troops' song and dance through a full 180 degrees. Are our soldiers just political pawns to them? Sounds like it. Time to contact my MP and let Art have both barrels--this whole situation pisses me off.
Cheers,
Sean
interesting quips from the House of Commons floor last November...
Quote:
The Prime Minister has chosen to commit our Canadian Forces to take a lead role in the restoration of Afghanistan in the U.S. lead Operation Enduring Freedom. What is disturbing to me is that while our forces readily accept any challenge, the government has not brought this decision before the House for debate. Instead, the government prefers to make announcements outside the chamber and avoid serious examination by members of Parliament.
Given the seriousness of this mission, Canadians should have been afforded an opportunity to hear from the Prime Minister in this very chamber as to what our objectives and exit strategies were with respect to operations in Afghanistan.
Dave MacKenzie - CPC - now Minister of Public Safety - November 15, 2005Quote:
When a government decides to intervene in a failing state there are a number of considerations that must be taken before committing troops. It must be satisfied that the mission supports the goals and objectives of Canada's foreign policy; the mandate is realistic, clear and enforceable; there is a clearly defined concept of operation; it has an effective command and control structure; there are clear rules of engagement; there is sufficient international financial and political support for the mission; it has adequate and properly equipped forces; it can sustain the commitment and engage in other international activities that may arise; there has been an effective consultation between mission partners; there are criteria to measure progress; there is a definition of success; there is an acceptable timeframe for the commitment; and there is a clear exit strategy if the mission is not successful.
I do not have great confidence that the government had satisfactory answers to these considerations before committing our troops to increased involvement in Afghanistan. In particular, I doubt that the government has a clear political and military strategy for Afghanistan or criteria on which to measure progress or a definition of success or an exit strategy. We have had pronouncements from government officials who indicate that our commitment in Afghanistan may be 5 years, 10 years or even as long as 20 years. It is obvious that the government does not have an idea how long the commitment will go on.
Gordon O'Connor - CPC - now Minister of National Defence
that's back when it was 250 troops. now all of a sudden 2200 troops aren't worth talking about. go figure.
Of-course now that the CPC is the government and it's become politically expedient they've changed their 'support-the-troops' song and dance through a full 180 degrees. Are our soldiers just political pawns to them? Sounds like it. Time to contact my MP and let Art have both barrels--this whole situation pisses me off.
Cheers,
Sean
Sean's Publishing credits get another WAP
Just found a couple of old articles I wrote on WAP for Linux as published on Linux.com. I'd completely forgotten about these. I guess I should add them to my published credits :)
Cheers,
Sean
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Programming, Writing
First they came for the mice and I said nothing....
Now apparently, for every day that Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles goes un-released, Satan inflicts torment on a kitten. True story, Darkwater told me. Honest.
Cheers,
Sean
Cheers,
Sean
Monday, March 13, 2006
My Letter to the Editor
Considering my military background, I obviously have strong feelings about Stephen Harper's attempts to stifle debate about the Canadian Force's deployment to Afghanistan. After reading Bill Kaufmann's column on this topic in the Calgary Sun, I was prompted to write this letter to the editor:
Editor,
Bill Kaufmann's column from Monday March 13 rings so true my ears hurt. I served for several years in the Canadian Forces, and a common refrain from my sergeant was that we 'defend democracy and not practice it', and while that may be fine for the soldier in the field, it is hardly right to practice that amongst voters, and Canadians both elected and unelected. Mister Harper was democratically elected to provide leadership, not to stifle debate on his whim. He, like any other MP is accountable to the House of Commons, and we, the Canadian people. Few Canadian's understand why our troops are in Afghanistan, and although educating the Canadian public may well begin demand to bring the troops home, that is the price to be paid for an informed electorate. I for one feel that Canadians will support the men and women in uniform just as much as we always have, and I think my friends and fellow soldiers deserve their leaders--especially the politicians--to be willing to revisit the reasons we ask them to serve, and possibly die in some god-forsaken desert. To simply place them there as some sort of show of Canada's testosterone, or worse yet to coddle up to the George Bushes of the world is criminally negligent, and certainly fits my definition of 'unpatriotic'.
Despite what Mr Harper and his Conservatives would have you think, dissent and debate is patriotic, just as Bill Kaufmann pointed out. It is people like Mr Kaufmann, and all those who actually think about the troops as people, and not symbols or props, who are the real patriots, and truly 'support the troops'.
God Bless the men and woman of the Canadian Forces, keep them safe, and return them home to their families.
Sincerely,
Sean Campbell
Calgary, AB
Now, who knows if this will be published, or if I'll even see it. Personally, I find the Sun too right-wing for my taste, and Bill Kaufmann is one of the few columnists of theirs who I don't think should be extradited to the US where they can spew their fascist propaganda to the sheeple there.... but what the hell, sometimes you need to stand up and say something.
Cheers,
Sean
Editor,
Bill Kaufmann's column from Monday March 13 rings so true my ears hurt. I served for several years in the Canadian Forces, and a common refrain from my sergeant was that we 'defend democracy and not practice it', and while that may be fine for the soldier in the field, it is hardly right to practice that amongst voters, and Canadians both elected and unelected. Mister Harper was democratically elected to provide leadership, not to stifle debate on his whim. He, like any other MP is accountable to the House of Commons, and we, the Canadian people. Few Canadian's understand why our troops are in Afghanistan, and although educating the Canadian public may well begin demand to bring the troops home, that is the price to be paid for an informed electorate. I for one feel that Canadians will support the men and women in uniform just as much as we always have, and I think my friends and fellow soldiers deserve their leaders--especially the politicians--to be willing to revisit the reasons we ask them to serve, and possibly die in some god-forsaken desert. To simply place them there as some sort of show of Canada's testosterone, or worse yet to coddle up to the George Bushes of the world is criminally negligent, and certainly fits my definition of 'unpatriotic'.
Despite what Mr Harper and his Conservatives would have you think, dissent and debate is patriotic, just as Bill Kaufmann pointed out. It is people like Mr Kaufmann, and all those who actually think about the troops as people, and not symbols or props, who are the real patriots, and truly 'support the troops'.
God Bless the men and woman of the Canadian Forces, keep them safe, and return them home to their families.
Sincerely,
Sean Campbell
Calgary, AB
Now, who knows if this will be published, or if I'll even see it. Personally, I find the Sun too right-wing for my taste, and Bill Kaufmann is one of the few columnists of theirs who I don't think should be extradited to the US where they can spew their fascist propaganda to the sheeple there.... but what the hell, sometimes you need to stand up and say something.
Cheers,
Sean
Of Mice and Men...
Yikes! Talk about having a bad rodent experience.
BOL with the extermination Ravenclawdrew--I can send over some home-made napalm if you think it would help :)
Cheers,
Sean
BOL with the extermination Ravenclawdrew--I can send over some home-made napalm if you think it would help :)
Cheers,
Sean
INCOMING REVIEW – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SEASON TWO
Well, BSG(RDM) just finished its second season this past Friday, and while I'll leave the review of the final episode itself to Lighthope over on Media Blvd, I'd like to jot down some thoughts about the season as a whole.
The first season of BSG was a spectacularly refreshing take on sci-fi on TV--heck, TV in general--and I was left feeling awed by the writing and vision of the show, a feeling I'd not had since the second season of Babylon 5.
Would the second season of BSG live up to my hopes? Yes and no. Season 2 was seven episodes longer, and the additional work required to write these extra episodes was apparent in a drop in overall writing quality. Yes, there were real gems like 'Pegasus', 'Downloaded' and 'Lay Down your Burdens Pt II', but they were offset by the dreck that was 'Black Market', and other disappointments like 'Home Pt I', 'Fragged' and 'Resistance'. Looking back on what I enjoyed and what I didn't, it becomes evident that the first half of the season was slow to find its stride--in fact, I wasn't truly engaged until 'Final Cut' and 'Pegasus', episodes 208 and 210.
Then there was the mid-season break--after having gotten left with the cliffhanger standoff between Galactica and Pegasus at the end of 210, it was months before that story-line would be resolved. However, I was not--unlike many other fans--disappointed with either parts of 'Resurrection Ship' and for me this signaled a significant upswing in writing and better yet, it seemed that Moore's interest in producing good, rather than 'common' television had returned.
While 'Epiphanies' wasn't my cup of tea, it was required to resolve the President's cancer. The less said about the filler episode called 'Black Market' the better. From there, the season didn't have a miss IMHO. From the enjoyable 'Top Gun' in space episode 'Scar' to Billy's death in 'Sacrifice' and The Beast claiming yet another CO, right into the Cylon POV in 'Downloaded' and culminating in LDYB, where in the second part the entire series changes, leaving us breathless and wondering "What the Frack now?!?"
It's been a great ride from 210 onward, and I'm waiting with bated breath for Season 3 to start in October. BSG's failures in Season 2 can be attributed I think to trying to be more 'conventional' television that it should be. The show is about breaking eggs, and dragging the audience kicking and screaming into the 'realism' presented by the genocide of an entire people and how the survivors deal with that.
My advice to Ron Moore is to focus on what made BSG the mini-series and Season 1 great--real characters, realistic situations and an uncompromising desire to tell the story how it needs to be told, no matter what conventional TV wisdom says.
Until October, I guess I left to build models, and listen to Resurrection Ship from the album "Battlestar Galactica Season Two" by Bear McReady for my BSG fix.
Cheers,
Sean
The first season of BSG was a spectacularly refreshing take on sci-fi on TV--heck, TV in general--and I was left feeling awed by the writing and vision of the show, a feeling I'd not had since the second season of Babylon 5.
Would the second season of BSG live up to my hopes? Yes and no. Season 2 was seven episodes longer, and the additional work required to write these extra episodes was apparent in a drop in overall writing quality. Yes, there were real gems like 'Pegasus', 'Downloaded' and 'Lay Down your Burdens Pt II', but they were offset by the dreck that was 'Black Market', and other disappointments like 'Home Pt I', 'Fragged' and 'Resistance'. Looking back on what I enjoyed and what I didn't, it becomes evident that the first half of the season was slow to find its stride--in fact, I wasn't truly engaged until 'Final Cut' and 'Pegasus', episodes 208 and 210.
Then there was the mid-season break--after having gotten left with the cliffhanger standoff between Galactica and Pegasus at the end of 210, it was months before that story-line would be resolved. However, I was not--unlike many other fans--disappointed with either parts of 'Resurrection Ship' and for me this signaled a significant upswing in writing and better yet, it seemed that Moore's interest in producing good, rather than 'common' television had returned.
While 'Epiphanies' wasn't my cup of tea, it was required to resolve the President's cancer. The less said about the filler episode called 'Black Market' the better. From there, the season didn't have a miss IMHO. From the enjoyable 'Top Gun' in space episode 'Scar' to Billy's death in 'Sacrifice' and The Beast claiming yet another CO, right into the Cylon POV in 'Downloaded' and culminating in LDYB, where in the second part the entire series changes, leaving us breathless and wondering "What the Frack now?!?"
It's been a great ride from 210 onward, and I'm waiting with bated breath for Season 3 to start in October. BSG's failures in Season 2 can be attributed I think to trying to be more 'conventional' television that it should be. The show is about breaking eggs, and dragging the audience kicking and screaming into the 'realism' presented by the genocide of an entire people and how the survivors deal with that.
My advice to Ron Moore is to focus on what made BSG the mini-series and Season 1 great--real characters, realistic situations and an uncompromising desire to tell the story how it needs to be told, no matter what conventional TV wisdom says.
Until October, I guess I left to build models, and listen to Resurrection Ship from the album "Battlestar Galactica Season Two" by Bear McReady for my BSG fix.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Battlestar Galactica
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
An Interesting Auction from a Brother in Arms...
A fellow who blogs as Progressive Programmer is finally getting rid of the duct tape he bought three years ago to protect himself and his family from t'rrists. Take a look at his story here:
Three Rolls of Fear
Amen Brother.
Cheers,
Sean
Three Rolls of Fear
Amen Brother.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Politics
INCOMING REVIEW – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS PART 1
REVIEW – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS PART 1
On a personal note: sorry I took so long to get this link up--my Internet connection at home had been down and work's been hectic, so needless to say, my blogging is getting backed up ;). As for my personal review of LDYB Pt I: 8/10, two thumbs up! I loved it, and can't wait for next week's finale!
Cheers,
Sean
On a personal note: sorry I took so long to get this link up--my Internet connection at home had been down and work's been hectic, so needless to say, my blogging is getting backed up ;). As for my personal review of LDYB Pt I: 8/10, two thumbs up! I loved it, and can't wait for next week's finale!
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Battlestar Galactica
Thursday, March 02, 2006
A serpent is a serpent, and none the less a viper
I appologise for the crappy-ness of the bottom two images, what passes for my digital camera is in desperate need of replacement :P
Well, I just received a pretty cool resin kit the other day--a 1/72 scale Viper Mk II from the new Batttlestar Galactica Series. The Mk II is a sleek little beast, and this kit is a fairly good representation of it, although as I work on it I discover more and more minor issues. One thing that's a total PITA though is the nose intake/vent which comes seperate and is a total bitch to attach and fair into the feuselage.
The top pic here (from The Starship Modeler Store) shows what you get in the box. Well, in addition to the resin pieces, you also get some decals, but IMHO, the less said about them the better...
Crappy pic #1 shows an aft-quarter shot of the Viper with the top equiptment bay and all three engine nozzels attached.
Crappy pic #2 shows a semi-profile of the Mk II allowing you to see the nose assembly now that it's 'seamlessly' faired into the feuselage--the nose tip is significantly smaller than the end it attaches to, so the curvatures seem off. Oh well.
That's all I have for now. These can be picked up from The Starship Modeler Store for $40 USD; not a steal, but not too bad as resin kits go.
I'm hoping to have this little beast done for the May 13 Western Canada Regional Modeling Competition in Calgary so more progress shots (hopefully with a better camera) and more BSG goodness to come!
Cheers,
Sean
Well, I just received a pretty cool resin kit the other day--a 1/72 scale Viper Mk II from the new Batttlestar Galactica Series. The Mk II is a sleek little beast, and this kit is a fairly good representation of it, although as I work on it I discover more and more minor issues. One thing that's a total PITA though is the nose intake/vent which comes seperate and is a total bitch to attach and fair into the feuselage.
The top pic here (from The Starship Modeler Store) shows what you get in the box. Well, in addition to the resin pieces, you also get some decals, but IMHO, the less said about them the better...
Crappy pic #1 shows an aft-quarter shot of the Viper with the top equiptment bay and all three engine nozzels attached.
Crappy pic #2 shows a semi-profile of the Mk II allowing you to see the nose assembly now that it's 'seamlessly' faired into the feuselage--the nose tip is significantly smaller than the end it attaches to, so the curvatures seem off. Oh well.
That's all I have for now. These can be picked up from The Starship Modeler Store for $40 USD; not a steal, but not too bad as resin kits go.
I'm hoping to have this little beast done for the May 13 Western Canada Regional Modeling Competition in Calgary so more progress shots (hopefully with a better camera) and more BSG goodness to come!
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Battlestar Galactica, Scale Modeling
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
And for those of you keeping track... (pt 2)
Today makes it one month officially since I started this Blog. That's a record for me :)
Cheers,
Sean
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Blogs
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
And just before I go to bed...
An interesting blog for y'all to gander at:
Rated Top-Ten
Cheers (and Good Night!),
Sean
Rated Top-Ten
Cheers (and Good Night!),
Sean
Technorati Tags: Blogs
Froogle me this, Froogle me that...
Options with RDF
Now, I don't claim to be an RDF guru, far from it, however I have been working a lot with it recently at the office, and think I have a pretty good handle on it. For that reason, I'm blogging a bit about a pet peeve of how RDF is sometimes written by tools/people who don't really understand it--or at least share my understanding of it.
In RDF if you want to have a list of items, you can use a container of either a <rdf:Bag> type or <rdf:Seq> depending on if you want an unordered, or ordered list. In each of them, you end up having a list of <rdf:li> list items. For people with HTML experience this is pretty simple.
What happens when you generate a list from a multi-select box or drop-down type Option selection widget? Well, it should simply create an XML/RDF structure thusly:
<RDF:Bag>
<RDF:li>Foo</RDF:li>
<RDF:li>Bar</RDF:li>
</RDF:Bag>
Only some people/tools add their own slice of XML:
<RDF:Bag>
<RDF:li>
<option>Foo</option>
</RDF:li>
<RDF:li>
<option>Bar</option>
</RDF:li>
</RDF:Bag>
Not only is this harder to read and understand in a large RDF graph, it generates completely unnessesary triples. Even in RDF, which is by far the most complex XML syntax I've worked with (save XMI from the OMG) the KISS principle should apply.
Cheers,
Sean
In RDF if you want to have a list of items, you can use a container of either a <rdf:Bag> type or <rdf:Seq> depending on if you want an unordered, or ordered list. In each of them, you end up having a list of <rdf:li> list items. For people with HTML experience this is pretty simple.
What happens when you generate a list from a multi-select box or drop-down type Option selection widget? Well, it should simply create an XML/RDF structure thusly:
<RDF:Bag>
<RDF:li>Foo</RDF:li>
<RDF:li>Bar</RDF:li>
</RDF:Bag>
Only some people/tools add their own slice of XML:
<RDF:Bag>
<RDF:li>
<option>Foo</option>
</RDF:li>
<RDF:li>
<option>Bar</option>
</RDF:li>
</RDF:Bag>
Not only is this harder to read and understand in a large RDF graph, it generates completely unnessesary triples. Even in RDF, which is by far the most complex XML syntax I've worked with (save XMI from the OMG) the KISS principle should apply.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: RDF
Friday, February 24, 2006
Stupid or Insane?
Apparently the new Conservative Government is reaching out to the US and suggesting they may want to go against the vast majority of Canadian wishes and join the North American Ballistic Missile Defense:
Defense minister backs U.S. missile plan
Just one more instance where I feel the need to say 'I Told You So' to all those voters out there who thought Stephen Hairpiece would keep his promises and stick to the limited mandate Canadians gave him. He's the Government now, and if his neo-con masters south of us are to be believed, anything he does is the law, so suck it up peons.
And all this talk of BMD despite the fact that former US DoD Asst. Sec of Defense Phil Coyle says the whole program is a colossal failure.
Oh, and that wonderful National Child Care program? Canceled. Thanks Stephen--now my ex-wife can get the $100 a month for my daughter's daycare, and the overall costs will go up treble that. Guess who'll be picking up the extra there? Not you, you prick.
Cheers,
Sean
Defense minister backs U.S. missile plan
Just one more instance where I feel the need to say 'I Told You So' to all those voters out there who thought Stephen Hairpiece would keep his promises and stick to the limited mandate Canadians gave him. He's the Government now, and if his neo-con masters south of us are to be believed, anything he does is the law, so suck it up peons.
And all this talk of BMD despite the fact that former US DoD Asst. Sec of Defense Phil Coyle says the whole program is a colossal failure.
Oh, and that wonderful National Child Care program? Canceled. Thanks Stephen--now my ex-wife can get the $100 a month for my daughter's daycare, and the overall costs will go up treble that. Guess who'll be picking up the extra there? Not you, you prick.
Cheers,
Sean
Sean on an Academic Reading List?
You got it! While bumming around the web the other day I came across a link to my Zend.com Article Web Services with NuSOAP listed on a reading list for a Comp Sci course from the School of Engineering, the University of California, Santa Cruz:
Reading List - Hypermedia and the Web
Sean has hit the big time! Now if only Zend would publish my next article in a timely manner :)
Cheers,
Sean
Reading List - Hypermedia and the Web
Sean has hit the big time! Now if only Zend would publish my next article in a timely manner :)
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Programming, Writing
Thursday, February 23, 2006
A LAVerly model ;)
Mike Grant is a member of the RMMC (our local model club here) and besides being an amazing graphic artist, and very nice guy (aren't all those English blokes nice?) he is an absolutely incredible modeler, as you can see from the 1/35 LAV kit he did below:
Italeri LAV-25
If I can ever be half as good as Mike, I could die a happy plastic-addict.
Mike, I bow to your 'mad skillz'.
Cheers,
Sean
Italeri LAV-25
If I can ever be half as good as Mike, I could die a happy plastic-addict.
Mike, I bow to your 'mad skillz'.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Scale Modeling
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
A Liberal View?
I could have chosen any number of sources to support my ire regarding Harper's continued trashing of typical Canadian process, but I'll betray my Liberal Party of Canada affiliation by linking to their take on it:
Harper to Politicize Supreme Court Appointments
In my mind this is just one more way Stephen Harper wishes to turn Canada into USA-lite. Let's turn the appointment of Supreme Court Justices into a three ring political circus! Damn Harper. Damn Layton, and Damn the Liberals too for being so damned corrupt Canadians felt they needed to replace them with Stephen the Hairpiece, betrayer of Canada!
Cheers,
Sean
Harper to Politicize Supreme Court Appointments
In my mind this is just one more way Stephen Harper wishes to turn Canada into USA-lite. Let's turn the appointment of Supreme Court Justices into a three ring political circus! Damn Harper. Damn Layton, and Damn the Liberals too for being so damned corrupt Canadians felt they needed to replace them with Stephen the Hairpiece, betrayer of Canada!
Cheers,
Sean
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Shiny happy people suck.Monday, February 13, 2006
Some days you just feel like a cigar...Custom 1932 Ford Coup
Well, not quite what you'd expect when you think of a Custom '32 Ford Coup....
This is a 1/25 scale model of a '32 Coup my Grandfather rebuilt as a truck in the 1950s. I'm building it as an entry to the RMMC PPG (Paint-Putty-Glue) competition running in March.
Cheers,
Sean
This is a 1/25 scale model of a '32 Coup my Grandfather rebuilt as a truck in the 1950s. I'm building it as an entry to the RMMC PPG (Paint-Putty-Glue) competition running in March.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Family, PEI, Scale Modeling
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Dear God...Or Allah...Or the Great Pumpkin...
Even my former Alma Matter UPEI is ending up involved in this Muhammad cartoon brouhaha:
CBC News: P.E.I. students return newspapers with Muhammad cartoon
My take on it is people are simply looking for their own bit of infamy by poking the hornets nest here. Yes, there's freedom of the press (although, the fact that the Danish paper involved rejected Jesus cartoons previously smacks of racism in this case) but then there's simply getting in front of a bus to get your name in the paper. I think Cadre editor Ray Keating is doing just that. Let's put PEI on the map as being anti-Islam.
Pull your head out of your ass Ray.
Cheers,
Sean
CBC News: P.E.I. students return newspapers with Muhammad cartoon
My take on it is people are simply looking for their own bit of infamy by poking the hornets nest here. Yes, there's freedom of the press (although, the fact that the Danish paper involved rejected Jesus cartoons previously smacks of racism in this case) but then there's simply getting in front of a bus to get your name in the paper. I think Cadre editor Ray Keating is doing just that. Let's put PEI on the map as being anti-Islam.
Pull your head out of your ass Ray.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Muhammad Cartoon, PEI, Politics
Friday, February 10, 2006
And Speaking of my Brother...
He happens to be this guy:
Cavan Campbell
He's a big-shot movie-dude, I'm a big-shot computer-dude....don't mess my family or we'll mess up your computer--and film it! :)
Cheers,
Sean
Cavan Campbell
He's a big-shot movie-dude, I'm a big-shot computer-dude....don't mess my family or we'll mess up your computer--and film it! :)
Cheers,
Sean
Am I up for a Challenge?
My brother's working on a postcard story for The Writers' Union of Canada Postcard Story Competition and asked me to critique it. Well, I was somewhat harsh, and said I didn't like it too much--so I was challenged to write a similar story (<250 words) on a similar topic (mine disaster) from a similar point of view. So that said, here it is for your considered opinion:
Two Loves
By S.D. Campbell
Cocooned within the bosom of Mother Earth he chipped away at her stony arteries. The air smelled of deep, and dark, and dust and smoke. A glint of steel, a flash of spark, and she would rumble and shift in her slumber.
The smell of fear. His fear. Their fear. Her fear?
Did Her heart beat faster with that fear, or was it his heart, his feet, his fear?
Clutching, grabbing, screaming, choking. Out, where was out?
Stony fingers tore his skin. She wished him to stay. Cries of terror and despair in the darkness. She didn't wish him to go. She would clutch him to her breast, and keep him embraced within her.
Closer now. He could almost smell sunlight. He breathed deeply of it.
A mistake. Coughing, choking, stumbling.
Another rumble in the distance. Was she choking? Choked with fear?
What did she fear?
He was crawling now, over Them, their weak fingers pulling at him, plucking his sleeve, but they could no more hold him back than she could. Her heart-beats grew louder, more insistent. His scrabbling towards sunlight became more desperate.
He loved her, but there was another, and She loved him and he her more so than Mother Earth. He was not ready to sleep with Her yet. The other…
Golden hair, sapphire eyes, molded from pale clay she waited just beyond the dark.
Suddenly, finally all was sound and fury, signifying….
The other and her fear.
Cheers,
Sean
Two Loves
By S.D. Campbell
Cocooned within the bosom of Mother Earth he chipped away at her stony arteries. The air smelled of deep, and dark, and dust and smoke. A glint of steel, a flash of spark, and she would rumble and shift in her slumber.
The smell of fear. His fear. Their fear. Her fear?
Did Her heart beat faster with that fear, or was it his heart, his feet, his fear?
Clutching, grabbing, screaming, choking. Out, where was out?
Stony fingers tore his skin. She wished him to stay. Cries of terror and despair in the darkness. She didn't wish him to go. She would clutch him to her breast, and keep him embraced within her.
Closer now. He could almost smell sunlight. He breathed deeply of it.
A mistake. Coughing, choking, stumbling.
Another rumble in the distance. Was she choking? Choked with fear?
What did she fear?
He was crawling now, over Them, their weak fingers pulling at him, plucking his sleeve, but they could no more hold him back than she could. Her heart-beats grew louder, more insistent. His scrabbling towards sunlight became more desperate.
He loved her, but there was another, and She loved him and he her more so than Mother Earth. He was not ready to sleep with Her yet. The other…
Golden hair, sapphire eyes, molded from pale clay she waited just beyond the dark.
Suddenly, finally all was sound and fury, signifying….
The other and her fear.
Cheers,
Sean
Stephen Harper sets idiocy record
I have to say, I think Greg Felton hit this nail pretty square on the head.
Stephen Harper sets idiocy record--commits political suicide during swearing-in ceremony
and while it might not make a damned bit of difference, you might as well sign this if the Emerson defection gets you irate:
http://www.petitiononline.com/RDE/
Cheers,
Sean
Stephen Harper sets idiocy record--commits political suicide during swearing-in ceremony
and while it might not make a damned bit of difference, you might as well sign this if the Emerson defection gets you irate:
http://www.petitiononline.com/RDE/
Cheers,
Sean
Monday, February 06, 2006
INCOMING REVIEW – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SCAR
As a new, and ongoing feature, I present Lighthope's episodic reviews of current (Season 2) Battlestar Galactica Episodes. Beware, there be spoilers here.
REVIEW – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SCAR
Cheers,
Sean
REVIEW – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: SCAR
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Battlestar Galactica
CBC News: Surprise! Cabinet includes defector and senator-to-be
For those of us who actually paid attention to the substance of Harper's campaign rather than the flash, this is no surprise--he can't even keep his promises for a few weeks.
CBC News: Surprise! Cabinet includes defector and senator-to-be:
It makes me want to vomit how many Canadians will let him get away with this.
Cheers,
Sean
CBC News: Surprise! Cabinet includes defector and senator-to-be:
It makes me want to vomit how many Canadians will let him get away with this.
Cheers,
Sean
Friday, February 03, 2006
Dradis contact! Bearing 3-4-8, Carom 1-2-0.
One more reason to hate Microsoft:
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/82910/microsoft-admits-to-handing-over-search-data-to-feds.html
Isn't it time to take out this threat in our midst? Time to boycott Microsoft.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Programming, Politics, Battlestar Galactica
Thursday, February 02, 2006
If you meet me have some courtesy...
Ah, nothing like listening to the Stones, eating porridge and outlining a software development roadmap. It's not work--it's fun!
I'm a dork, but at least I can accept that.
Cheers,
Sean
I'm a dork, but at least I can accept that.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Programming
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
And for those of you keeping track...
Yes, this would be my fourth or fifth Blog I've started. That said, I think I'm getting the hang of the whole blogging thing, and unlike the rest of my failed attempts, I think I'll be keeping this pretty general--which means that you can expect me to rant about any number of weird and wonderful things.
But, just to pique your attention, here is the state of democracy in the USA today:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060201/ap_on_go_co/state_of_union_sheehan
At least she got an appology...heads and shoulders better than Canadian diplomats in Bagdhad.
Cheers,
Sean
But, just to pique your attention, here is the state of democracy in the USA today:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060201/ap_on_go_co/state_of_union_sheehan
At least she got an appology...heads and shoulders better than Canadian diplomats in Bagdhad.
Cheers,
Sean
Technorati Tags: Cindy Sheehan, Politics
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