SCREEN-FREE WEEK

Posted on April 28, 2013 | 3 comments

[ TV SWARM ]It used to be known as “TV-turnoff week”, and it was probably easier back then to only have to give up TV. Now, the challenge is to give up your addiction to all screen devices. The official dates for SCREEN-FREE WEEK in 2013, are from April 28th to May 5th. I got to say, it’s a tall order. I’m actively looking for a new job, so in my case I can’t afford to not check my emails. But I do plan on going at least “TV and video game free” starting tomorrow, and for the rest of the week. I’ll be posting my impressions once the challenge is over.

[ TV SNOW ]

One might wonder why I might encourage my readers to drop off the grid for a week, because at the same time, I’m reducing the potential amount of visitors I get to this site. I figure this is probably the main reason the mainstream media doesn’t talk about this campaign much. But technology4democracy isn’t about popularity, it’s about principles. Media addiction is real, and it’s especially a problem for some people. I believe the electorate needs to be more media-savvy, and campaigns that promote awareness of the pitfalls of mass-media, should be encouraged.

I cannot think of anything sadder than people who voluntarily sign up to receive a modern-day equivalent of the Ludovico Technique. ( see image below )

[ ludovico ]

For those who missed “A Clockwork Orange”, the Ludovico Technique is a ghastly sci-fi medical procedure that uses drugs, media, and  as you can see,   eye-clamps,  in a vain attempt to reform criminals.

So  in conclusion, please go ahead, take off your metaphorical media-clamps for a week, and see how it feels, I dare [ YOU ] !

[n]

POST-EVENT-UPDATE: I gave it a shot, and in my case Screen-free week was a total failure. During that week, not only did I watch tv and movies, and play videogames, I also signed up for a new cel phone, as well as moved into a new pad that comes with cable tv. So yeah, a total bust!  :(

[ YOU ] two

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The ETHICAL CHRONICLES of [ YOU ]

Posted on April 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

******* UPDATED APRIL 28TH *******

The CHRONICLES of [ YOU ] 3

Niceness saves the day! Thanks to everyone who participated!

the ETHICAL CHRONICLES of [ YOU ] 3

See [ YOU ] on the 20th of May! ^_^

[n]

[ YOU ]

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The ELECTED CHRONICLES of [ YOU ]

Posted on March 20, 2013 | 2 comments

*******  UPDATED APRIL 1st  *******

the CHRONICLES of [ YOU ] 2

The results are in! And as you can see, even though it was a tight race,  the “taking it easy option” won! Thanks to everyone who voted, to everyone who wrote-in an entry, as well as to anyone who just came to read this comic-strip! So, without further ado, here are the duly elected new panels in context:

[ the ELECTED CHRONICLES of YOU ]

[n]

NICNOTE: Credit to Mike St-O for coming up with the winning entry! ^_^

[ YOU ]

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VIDEOGAME SEGREGATION

Posted on March 10, 2013 | 5 comments

[ SF SIGN ] 2

I think there’s nothing worse than hanging out at friend’s place who only has 1-Player adventure/shooter games. It doesn’t make for much  2-player interactivity. I buy multiplayer games, including Capcom fighting games, because, as silly as it sounds, I want to be a good host. Plus, obviously, I enjoy playing them tremendously. I love the Capcom fighting games so much, I’ll buy everything Capcom produces that’s got a versus option. From SF2 on SNES, to Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure on PS1, To buying games on PS3 that I already have on Ps2. Capcom fighting games are like pokemons to me. I want them all!  See photographic evidence below:

[ capcom fighting games ]

Now back to the point I want to make about Videogame Segregation.

Traditionally segregation is defined as:

1. the act of segregating or state of being segregated
2. sociol : the practice or policy of creating separate facilities within the same society for the use of a minority group

*source: dictionary.com

I love all the capcom fighting games, but with all the updates and different editions, I’m hooked beyond my budget. And what really irks me is how they segregate their online gamer community between different versions of the same game. For example: last time I checked, Street Fighter 4 had sold around 4-5 million copies, and because there’s so many copies, and because it’s available dirt cheap used,  most of the people online are noobs. So I can win online matches at SF4 without too much work even though I usually take “random” at the character select screen. The newer edition, Super Street fighter 4 AE, which sold 1-2 million or so copies, is harder to find and is more expensive, so most of the people online for that game are hardcore. They’re hardcore enough to pay more for the same game, and hardcore enough to learn a newer more complicated move-set.  I can’t  afford to choose random when I play SSF 4AE online, no, I gotta stick to my strong characters and work hard for every win.

4426614716_af0f7378ef

It’s segregation because it separates people into groups, based solely on their purchasing power and skills set. everybody should be able to play the best, and latest version of the game. And in my case, since I own both copies,  I find it’s a downer that the community is split up like that, and that with my skill set, it’s not a fun option  for me to play the latest version of Streetfighter. That strikes me as a design flaw on Capcom’s part, that they would split us up like that, that they would make the latest, and most updated version of their game, so unapproachable.

And Capcom keeps repeating the same pattern. They’re doing it to us again with Marvel Vs Capcom 3, and the newer version called: Ultimate  Marvel vs Capcom 3. Yes, against my own personal logic, Capcom will ultimately get me to shell  another 60$ for a newer version of the same game that now has a few new characters. Woo-hoo! And I wouldn’t mind paying 120$ for one game, if only the online offering wasn’t split into two absolutely polar-opposite groups.

So you end up with two segregated gaming communities for the same game. One for noobs, one for hard-core gamers. Which sucks, because everybody should be able to play the same game, the best version of the game. No gamer should be told to go sit at the back of the digital bus.

[n]

razorbladecandyAQUA

NATNOTE: For anyone who wants to call me out, and challenge me at SF4 on PS3, my PSN username is: Razorblade_Candy. And I’ll take on anybody online. Well, at least for a couple of matches…   ^_^

[ - getting screwed - ]

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The UPDATED CHRONICLES of [ YOU ]

Posted on February 11, 2013 | 16 comments

**** UPDATED FEBRUARY 28th ****

the CHRONICLES of [ YOU ] one

Voting is now over! I’d like to thank everyone who participated. I’m really psyched about the level of participation. Take that, stereotype of  modern low voter turnout!! But seriously, big thanks to everyone who voted, and as well to the ones that just came to check it out. Huge thanks to the people that were so into it, they dropped their own write-in ideas for the next panel, that’s pretty awesome!

-Speaking of which, we had 5 write-ins, here they are in no particular order:

-“FAP FAP FAP”

*** ( a sound effect reference I think )

-“Hurl the alarm across the room and clog my ears with paper.”

*** ( Totally! ^_^ )

-“Choice#3 if I lived in Russia”

*** ( A clever reference to the meteorite that fell in Russia that was on the news )

-“I get attacked by two cute cats no choice to get up.”

*** ( Meow! ) ^_^

-“Crush the alarm because I have radioactive blood.”

*** ( It sounds like 1960’s Spider-Man is one of my readers. Spectacular! )

-Anyways, I love that people put in write-ins. Write-ins will play a bigger role next time, I can promise you that. It was an interesting turn-out. The polls were opened for 16 days, at for the first 14-15 days it looked like “I would turn off the alarm, and go back to sleep” was gonna be the easy winner. So much so, I made a thumbnail sketch for it:

[ thumbnail ]

But at some point ( I should have paid more attention every day ^_^ ), there was a shift in the polls, and an unexpected winner emerged. Now here are the results in pie-chart format :

[ pie chart ]

… or for those of us who don’t like opening up diagrams: The winner is “It’s 5 AM and it’s a full sunrise, so once again I turn into a were-rooster.”

Woo-hoo!!!!  ^_^

-So without further ado, here is the newly duly elected new panel in context :

the ELECTED CHRONICLES of [ YOU ]

AAaaaaHHH!!! Isn’t democracy wonderful! :)  Well I hope YOU had as much fun participating in this project as I did. I gotta say, I couldn’t have done it without YOU. I think YOU’ve worked very hard, so I’m gonna put YOU on vacation for the next 3 weeks, YOU’ve earned it.  But next March 20th will be published the next chapter of the Adventures of YOU, so I hope YOU show up again, and show the world what only YOU can do!! ^_^

[n]

[ YOU ]

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WEB WATCH

Posted on January 31, 2013 | 2 comments

[ WEB WATCH ]This is a new feature I wanted to try out. Basically, shining a spotlight on whatever I think might  somehow relate to this blog, or to my campaign to promote digital democracy.

So, yeah, that’s the deal. This time around, I want to shine a spotlight on the Democracy Index.

https://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=DemocracyIndex2011

It’s similar to my Democracy-Volume chart, except theirs is more scientific and widely recognized. Although my chart takes into account the direction democracy is going ( At least that’s what I like to think …^_^ ) .

You’ll have to create an account to download their latest report ( 2011 ) , but it’s kinda cool, there’s some fun nuggets of information in there. For example: “The US and the UK remain at the bottom end of the full democracy category.” Ouch! And in this case it’s not some flaky journalist expressing their view, the report is by the top authority on the subject. I mean, their angle is that they’re evaluating democracy around the world so they can better advise their clients on  the safety of investing in different places around the world.

The top 20 most democratic countries are: #1 Norway, #2 Iceland, #3 Denmark, #4 Sweden, #5 New Zealand, #6 Australia, #7 Switzerland, #8 Canada, #9 Finland, #10  Netherlands, #11 Luxembourg, #12 Ireland, #13 Austria, #14 Germany, #15 Malta, #16 Czech Republic, #17 Uruguay, #18 United Kingdom, #19 United States, #20 Costa Rica.

So, it turns out I’m not the only fool that’s into this kind of  stuff. And, yes,  there’s no pressure on your part to go and download that report, I just wanted to let you know that it’s out there, and it’s available…

[n]

[ EYE NOTICE ]

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“DON’T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS”

Posted on December 31, 2012 | 2 comments

[ hungry-kitty ]It’s a common counter-argument. Not biting hands that feed, is about not going against the people or institutions that have allowed us to get to where we are right now. In our case it’s about not completely trashing the existing system that allowed to get to the point where we’re able to create a newer, better system.

I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t see why it would be going against the idea of digital democracy to also be honoring our roots at the same time. I don’t see why doing a system-update on our international gov-systems, could not be done without somehow acknowledging our previous existing models. And, in that sense, we would not be going against “the hand that feeds”.

[n]

[ - statement - ]

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t4d 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Posted on November 5, 2012 | 16 comments

Yep, already one year! It was November 5th of last year  that I felt compelled and inspired to write this blog after seeing all those worldwide  protesters wearing those Guy Fawkes  masks from  the “V for Vendetta” movie and book. It seemed like every news channel was showcasing them. And as much as I respect the Wachowskis and their movie, I gotta say I much prefer the excellent book by Alan Moore and David Lloyd.

For those not familiar with the material, Guy Fawkes is the British revolutionary of the failed gunpowder plot of 1605.In which  he rented the basement of the British parliament, loaded it with gunpowder barrels, and as the story goes, he was caught just as he was about to light the fuse, with the entire parliament in session upstairs. And ever since then, the British celebrate Guy Fawkes night, also known as bonfire night, on the 5th of November.

” Remember, remember, the 5th of November, the gun powder plot and treason, I see of no reason, why the gun powder plot and treason should ever be forgot”

And has it turns out, November 5th is also my birthday. The “V for Vendetta” graphic novel got published in the early 90’s, and it stayed a cult favorite for some time. Until 2006, when a major motion picture brought the story of ” V for Vendetta” to a global audience. And it didn’t take long after that for real world militants, like the occupy movement and the Anonymous hacker group, to start using the pop-culture imagery of the Guy Fawkes mask in the context of their real world protests.

And up until then my birthday had always been ordinary. But since those Guy Fawkes masks went viral, all of a  sudden, my birthday is the same as international Guy Fawkes day. And I remember this day last year, I was sitting around feeling inspired to do something political, and that’s how this blog ended up being created.

So, yeah, a year later, I’m still at it. I haven’t given up on it yet. Although I am thinking of mixing it up. Possibly take this blog in a new direction. Maybe try new angles, maybe drop more pop-culture related references in my  articles. We’ll see…

Here’s to another year!

[n]

NATNOTE: As much as I think “V for Vendetta” makes for great entertainment, I do not associate myself with the politics of the main character. I prefer to see successions in political systems that are done without violence or property destruction.

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In defence of the politicians

Posted on October 31, 2012 | 6 comments

Everybody hates them. Some people even take pleasure in despising them.  We trash their reputations and attack their character like it’s a national sport. We turn them into caricatures, pinatas and even Halloween masks.

But, ultimately, I would argue, we’re ending up with the politicians we deserve. Because, in the spirit of being realistic,we have to admit that  they’re doing a job that we’re too lazy to do ourselves.  We’re too lazy to vote, we’re too lazy to get involved on the political scene, and we’re too lazy to even care. For the first time in human history we have access to technology that would allow us a real option for self-governance, but we’re too lazy to rise to that challenge.

I believe we’ve reached a crossroad. Either we’re willing to make the effort to figure things out for ourselves and  get involved in a real democracy, but that would be a lot of work. Or, we accept that we’re letting politicians decide on our collective behalf, because the  fact is,  we’re too self-centered and work-shy to get involved. But in that case,  we probably need to go a little easier on the politicians, because the reality is, they’re doing a job we couldn’t be bothered with.

I would say that the average voter is like a 40-years old teenager that’s still living in their parent’s basement, one that has the audacity to complain that their mom doesn’t fold their laundry properly. Maybe, it’s time someone started doing their own laundry. Or even better, maybe it’s time for someone to move to an apartment of their own.

In the end, if we’re too lazy to go and figured things for ourselves, then we shouldn’t complain when politicians are mothering us to death.

[n]

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RED versus BLUE

Posted on September 26, 2012 | 9 comments

Coke versus Pepsi, Republicans vs Democrats, The Canadiens versus the Maple leafs. Color-based rivalries for a color-coded reality. We’re simple people, and we like our confrontations to have as much complexity as a kindergarten color chart.

And the people selling us the conflict understand that, they understand the power of color on the subconscious. The opposing political party are so profoundly wrong, they makes us red with anger. That other commercial brand is so lame, it makes us blue in the face. The psychology of color takes on a completely different angle when you apply it to politics and aggressive marketing. The Green party has a green logo. That makes sense. But considering that red is the official color of communists and liberals, then why are the Republicans associated with red?

Turns out it’s just a coincidence. Apparently RED and BLUE  were assigned alternatively between Democrats and Republicans each election by the media. But after the controversy of the 2000 George W. Bush election, where each district was fought tooth and nail between a red force and a blue force, well, each color stuck. And that’s how the Republican party ended up with the official color of liberals and communists.

I remember my high school history teacher telling us that back in the day, when  Quebec was still ruled like a theological monarchy, that before every election,  the clergy would advise their parishioners on how to vote with the following statement: ” Heaven is blue, and Hell is red, makes sure you vote wisely”! That was referring to the socially progressive Liberal party  and their red logo, as well as to the church-supporting Union National and their blue logo. There’s nothing like having the catholic church spell it out for us kindergarten educated electoral simpletons, using simple color-coded analogies. And then people wonder why Quebecers curse at the Catholic church so much.

And ultimately, if you look at it, why is it always Red vs Blue? Why not Brown vs Purple? Turquoise vs Canary Yellow?  And apart from the fact that those might clash, I would venture to say that the main reason for RED and BLUE to always be picked for rivalries, is because, on average BLUE is always everybody’s favorite color. The sky is blue, the ocean is blue, what’s not to like? And RED is the color that will always “pop out” the most. Unless you put it next to some pink, but then again, pink is just some “light red” if you get down to it.

[n]

NATNOTE : Any similarities to existing brands and their trademarked logos, is a coincidence, unless used specifically for satirical purposes.

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