Hey don't know if you remember this, but I recall some interest here before so I thought I'd drop it by since it's finally done.


If you don't remember, then this is a webseries some friends and I shot in the summer.


Cheers!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ViakMG0Ko

Since it's kinda slow here...was anyone else at Fan Expo in Toronto this year? Any stories + pics + anything interesting?


I went on Saturday as a guardian from ReBoot, and might have seen you there.

Just bought Fable LC for PC at EB Games. Checked it out on systemrequirementslab.com, and it said I should be able to run it.

It's been kind of weird, because first of all, the product key that came in the game was invalid, so I had to go online to find one that would work.

Next, when I tried to start it, it gave me an error that "windows cannot find splash.exe. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."

So I searched online and it said if you just click "okay," it shouldn't make a difference, but once I do, I get the error

"Runtime Error!

Program: C:\ ... Fable.exe

This Application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.
Please contact the application's support team for more information"


I tried searching, but the only answer I could find was that the graphics card isn't good enough, but my graphics card SHOULD be compatible with the game. Did anyone else have these problems? (I find it fishy that the product key didn't work).

Just came across this video on eating dogs in Korea that really made me sick. It's really disturbing, just to warn you, since they really didn't hold back on what they showed. There's dogs being tortured, cut up, skinned, killed etc


If you're too lazy or short on time to watch the video, it basically shows how:

• Dog meat is part of traditional cuisine in China, Korea and other parts of Asia, remote parts of Switzerland, and some parts of Africa. Despite stereotyping, the majority of the asian population does not eat dogs.
• It can serve as meat for those who otherwise wouldn't have access to meat or proper nutrition otherwise
• Some traditionalists believe that it has healing properties
• The conditions of the dogs on farms are not good (at least in the farm shown in the video)
• Some dogs are boiled until nearly liquified so that they make a broth
• It is believed that torturing a dog before killing it makes it taste better

So any thoughts?

Personally, I want to kick the guy who's snipping that dog's tail, and I was overall disgusted by what they did to the dogs, but I don't know if I can say what we do is any better, since we're pretty much doing the same thing (farming and eating animals) it's just that we don't do it to dogs. I'm not sure if dogs are so ecpail to us because we keep them as pets, or if it's the other way around :-/.


EDIT: I forgot to mention, there's also a debate about whether it should be legalized or not since legalizing it would mean there would be regulations about how the dogs are treated and killed, but then again it would also mean legalizing it and saying it's legit.


*I did a quick search and saw dog meat was mentioned in the beanbag activism thread, but I don't know if it was really gone into in-depth or not.

Ended

Ended.

Info
More info


Briefly...
 
(keep in mind I go to a Canadian university and have heard about this issue from a largely Canadian perspective which is likely to be biased about this issue).

-This is about the area/passage of the arctic which lies closest to Canada
-The northwest passage was originally British territory but was given to Canada. At the time it was believed to be useless territory
-Global warming has caused the ice bergs to melt. In the near future, the northwest passage will be the fastest route between northern Eurasia and North America, opening up endless trade and tourist possibilities
-Canada maintains its sovereignty over the Northwest Passage, however, other countries (such as the U.S. and Russia) claim that it is international territory and no longer (and never did) belong to Canada.
-Most likely it will become international territory
-The U.S. has continually sent naval vessels through the Northwest Passage, causing anger from Canadian Media/Citizens when they argued that they did not need to seek permission from the Canadian Coast Guard.




Some International Strait Arguments
-Britain never had the right to give Canada the northwest passage in the first place
-One cannot claim sovereignty over icy areas as they're essentially water
-Without military presence Canada cannot claim sovereignty.
-The Canadian military is unable to protect the arctic waters anyway, so regardless of whether they maintain their sovereignty or not, international dangers in the area will remain the same.
-With Canadian sovereignty in place, the U.S. would be in less of a position to protect themselves against Russia.

Some Canadian Arguments
-The northwest passage indisputably belonged to Canada until it became of use to other countries, after which their minds were suddenly changed.
-At its narrowest point, the passage is less than twelve nautical miles wide, making at least that portion of it indisputably Canadian.
-Any oil spills or accidents would have to be cleaned by Canadian services
-The native people who live in the arctic are Canadian, and any damages made to their home can't be protected by the Canadian government if they don't maintain their sovereignty.
-If it's made an international strait, Canada will not be able to maintain the cleanliness and quality of its arctic water, envirionment, or wildlife.
-Canada did make an effort to place better military prescence in the arctic, but their appeal for subs was vetoed by the United States.
-The northwest passage can open up increased smuggling, piracy, and terrorist activity which Canada will have a harder time protecting itself against if they cannot maintain their sovereignty and prescence in the arctic.



I'm aware of the lop-sidedness of the arguments presented, but like I said I go to a Canadian university and read largely Canadian articles, which is also why I'm opening this up to debate to see what everyone's opinions are on the subject, and other arguments (if you have them).




Arctic Map



The Northwest Passage

Canadian Food and Drug Notice
Calgary Herald
CTV.ca
Medical News Today

Avian flu has fallen largely under the radar since it was the centre of widespread attention in 2005, but now it has emerged in a turkey farm in southern B.C. Examiners aren't too worried since they say that this is not really a deadly strain. However, it does raise some questions-



Some thoughts...
Personally, I find that the avian flu prescence in North America is a reminder of our need as a global player to take part and maintain our medical and preventetive standards to preserve lives around the world, and that even three years after it was seen as a major cause for concern it's stiil an extremely potent threat. If not this specific disease, then others like it. It could be a global pandemic because it's impossible to control birds and flight patterns...while it does seem to emerge mostly in domestic and non-flying birds, however, I do think it's possible for us to prevent teh disease's spread by imposing international inspection laws on all poultry.
I do not believe our international health systems are ready, as most are largely concerned with their own country, which, while effective, will ignore a good portion of the world that does not have teh same finances or medical advances to maintain their peoples' health. The result will be teh disease existing in certain parts of the world and continually spreading to otehr parts, overloading the stabler systems.
On the flipside, a global pandemic would force international leaders and palyers to consider more thoroughly the prescence of global trade, economy, prescence, and medical relations. Now, more than ever, when telecommunications and transportation bring the world closer together, we must learn to work together internationally in order to assure our own survival.

News Story 1
News Story 2



Two men were sentenced to death, and another to life in prison for the tainted milk scandal. 6 babies died from drinking the tainted milk, and others were hospitalized.


Some thoughts-
Do you think this is an appropriate sentence?
How do you think this compares to the Maple Leaf meat scandal (More details here)?
Are there reasons you would give for NOT executing the men? FOR executing them?
If it had not been such a worldwide scandal do you think they would have the same sentence? Or does this have to do with China losing face in the world?
What does it say about the global food trade when toxins in one country can affect the whole world? Are there enough international laws to protect consumers?

It's been all over the news that our neighbours to the south are sliding deeper into recession. Canada, while slightly more protected (due to different financial systems) is also starting to feel the pinch. As well, coutnies all over the world are following suit.

What do you think is the cause of the recession? Some causes I've heard are  poor investments, the Iraq War, normal economic tide, exporting the manufacturing sector in the United States, failing of the North American Auto Industry, China (seriously?), too many loans, buying on credit, and a free global market.

What do you think are possible solutions to ease the blow to the world? Is a bailout the answer? Reforms to our economic structure?

How do you think this will affect you? The community you live in? Your immediate/non-immediate future? The immediate/non-immediate future of others?

Here in Canada, a notable university (luckily not mine) has been closed since early November, due to striking T.A.'s. More information is available here.

A ton of commuter students, res students, and international students have been locked out of the classes, and will remain locked out unless the T.A.'s settle with the university. The Fall Term is over, and we are now into Winter terms at Canadian Universities, meaning that IF classes resume, students will have to attend class through summer. If they had any plans or bookings they will have to change them.
(Tuition here is roughly $5000-$6000 a year for humanities (higher for Science) plus $7000-11,000 for residence (with/without mealplan)



Do you think this should be allowed to happen? Should there be measures installed to prevent situations like this?
Should the university refund the students' money and cancel the school year?
Are there other solutions for students?
Do you think that it's fair for the T.A.'s to strike and close down the university?
Is it fair for the university to push classes into summer to avoid refunding students' money?
Should there be measures taken to compensate international students and students who have moved far away from home in order to attend university (and are now paying rent/or res/food/costs of living etc)




http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/11/05/205958.aspx

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/11/30/york-university-strike-update-no-deal-reached.aspx

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2008/11/08/2008-york-university-strike-is-cupes-waterloo/

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2008/11/06/york-university-strike-is-a-power-struggle-and-not-about-wages/

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/552005

Here's more from the Toronto Star (Centre Left) since you asked. They are against the strike.


Is York U. strike devaluing degrees? http://www.thestar.com/article/560741

Anguish at York University   http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/564272

York U Strike Vote Set for Next Week http://www.thestar.com/article/570057

York U. Students Voice Anger Online http://www.thestar.com/article/533878

These are the first results when searching the Toronto Star for York U Strike. Here's a list of more. It's a google page but it's searched only the Toronto Star Website http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=+site:www.thestar.com+toronto+star+york+u+strike


Here's the first results from a far left paper, the Toronto Sun. It's also against the strike.


Toronto U Strike Splits Students
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2008/11/18/7446496-sun.html#/news/2008/11/17/pf-7444146.html (Video)

One Way or Another, End York U Strike
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/editorial/2009/01/20/8079941-sun.html

McGuinty won't recall legislature over York U. strike yet
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/01/19/8074656.html

End York U Strike Now
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/innocent_madawo/2008/12/11/7703801-sun.html

York U Students Rally Against Strike
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2008/11/17/7440036.html

Again, here are more articles, google used to search through the sun's website. http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=+site:www.torontosun.com+toronto+sun+york+u+strike

I've been thinking about this for the past few days, noticing how many web shows originate in L.A. amongst the same group of people. I noticed just today that most of these people are sponsored by corporations (such as Sony etc), and realized that Sony among others has a channel where they pump out several shows. Out of curiousity, I clicked the top viewed channels on youtube, and found that the top ten were all from large corporations or mainstream artists (and 17 out of the top 20). Which begs the question- has web entertainment become more mainstream recently?

Personally, I think it's a bit of a shame, since most independent artists (at least with shows) can't compete with million dollar-budgets, professional crews etc. And independent musicians (while maybe standing a bit of a better chance) are also up against the odds with big label artists now drawing in most of the views. Even though it's like this in the "real world" it seems a shame that web entertainment which was once distinct because of its independent nature is now being owned by big labels and slick hollywood series, who are looking for another way to sell ads.

I've been listening to this girl's music for a while and thought I'd share it with you guys in case you haven't seen it. Her name is Kate Covington and she writes fantastic fan arrangements of video game music, as well as lyrics which she sings.

My favourites are:
You're Not Alone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmbgCBZ86z4
The Place I'll Return to Someday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXkcswJQ8hE

There are a ton more on her channel. What do you think of her music?

We all know that there are a ton of videos on youtube or other free video sharing sites that are popular but not particularly well-made. Still, there are many videos which are, and are done very professionally despite low budgets and no studio backing. I thought it'd be nice to share some independent films from the net which are particularly good. Not just a dog running in circles, or a guy falling down the stairs.


My favourites are:


My Name is Lisa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRHyzjb5SI

Black Button
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrKnhOJ-R80

I noticed there was no thread about this, but it's been all over the news here...

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/28/f-faq-coalition.html

For those of you who don't know, Canada is currently going through a rough political time.
To summarize things, we have a minority government right now, and the opposing parties wish to form a coalition and govern the country together. Their argument is that the current government is ignoring the recession.

There's been debate lately about whether overthrowing the government would be undemocratic or not.

• The first school of thought says it's undemocratic because the minority government was what was voted in.
• The second school of thought says that the minority government may have been what was voted in, but a coalition between three parties would represent more of the country's votes.

I know there aren't too many Canadians here, but regardless (even if you're not Canadian) what do you think about the issue- and if you were to choose, which would you think was more democratic and why? Should it matter? Do you think Canada should allow this to happen?

I don't usually post stuff found on the web, but hey- if you ever thought one of your term papers was bad, you'll feel much better after reading this. (Some parts are really pushing it, but hey!)
http://cvk.qubes.org/images/funny/best_paper_ever.jpg



Anyway, in light of spicing up the topic- what are some of your funny essay/term paper stories? Desperate, last minute ones? Or anything just out of the ordinary?

My worst essay on an exam was probably when my teacher knowingly said to the class as they were leaving (the day before) to "make sure to study Bach!" When we got to the exam, the essay was about Handel. The only thing I could remember was that Handel wrote The Messiah, and that he went blind in a carriage accident. So I wrote my whole essay on how going blind in a carriage accident inspired Handel to write the Messiah. I did better than my friend, though- who just drew a picture of Handel on a bicycle because she couldn't remember anything at all.

I just rewatched all thirteen episodes. I haven't seen them since I was a kid, and man...they seemed so much better before I could spell. Still, they were entertaining and nostalgic.

What did you guys think about the cartoon (now and when you were a kid).

Just out of curiousity, what do you think are the best philosophical movies of all time?

Mine are (yes, kick me, they're mainstream):

• The Matrix
• Waking Life
• Fight Club
• Monty Python's Anything (just cause they talk a lot about philosophy)
• American Beauty

Also, if you wanna talk about any of the philosophy in the movies...

Sorry if this is the wrong board, I wasn't sure which to post in.

I'm working on a site right now...I have 1 question and 2 problems.

Problem 1- I'm using the same layout for each page, but on one particular page the divs become misaligned. Does anyone know why?
page: http://www.freewebs.com/shamelesscomedy/comment.htm
they should be aligned like in this page: http://www.freewebs.com/shamelesscomedy/home.htm

Problem 2- On explorer, everything looks fine, but in firefox, two of the layers are too high and one is too low . Is there a way to fix this?

Question- How do websites change their layout depending on screen resolutions without having a link to different versions of the layout (their content boxes become wider, etc)

Any help is appreciated. Thanks ^_^

Ok so for all you smart people out there, this one's for you.

I've been studying Marshall McLuhan and am having a very hard time grasping the subject. But I've supplemented my readings with some videos and articles I've found. Still, something is confusing me and it is the most famous of McLuhan's sayings- that is, "The Medium is the Message." Also his definitions of Hot and Cold media.
Normally I wouldn't talk about school here, but he's such a brilliant thinker I thought he warrants a topic. Also, I hate to say it because school has never been a problem for me, but this is something I'm having a really hard time getting my head around, and any discussion is helpful. And no I don't have a T.A.
I really want to understand this, too- not just as a student- but as someone who's genuinely interested in what he has to say.



Firstly, however:
McLuhan says that, a message is  "the change of scale or pace or pattern" that a new invention or innovation "introduces into human affairs."
And he defines a medium as "any extension of ourselves."
Am I then to understand that he means to say any extension of ourselves is the change of scale or pace or pattern introduced by a new invention/innovation?
I tried looking at it this way and feel like I'm sort of getting there, but I'm not entirely sure. The invention isn't the wheel, but the pace at which the wheel allows us to go? Not language, but the ability to freely communicate our thoughts?
Going on, does he then intend to say that we can only truly understand inventions by examining their effects on humanity (the change of pace etc that they provide?)

Secondly, hot and cold media...
A cool media is something which demands little viewer involvement, such as a television show or movie, whereas a hot media requires in-depth involvement and participation, such as in a book. Is this also correct?

Thirdly, the global village
This is what has really confused me because it was never clearly outlined in my readings. Does McLuhan mean to say that because of the mad pace that technology now provides us (through communications, transportation etc) we now are able to behave as if we lived in one village- ie: we are able to communicate with someone across the world as easily as communicating to someone in the hut next door as previsual man would have? Assuming this is true, and by the pace of our technology we've created a global village, how exactly does this return us to a previsual state? He talks about how since the phonetic alphabet, man has been displaced, but how is our media which is largely visual counter this?

If you haven't read McLuhan, he's really worth a look. He's very difficult to understand, but from what I can manage to grasp, his theories are extremely interesting.