 A video was recently leaked of Rob Ford (current mayor of Toronto, Ontario) apparently smoking crack cocaine. When questioned about the video Ford stated that the allegations are ridiculous and the star is "going after" him. The media caught wind of the story very quickly and Rob Ford was soon put on the spot again. After a week long of silence, Ford made a four-minute address, saying: "i do not use crack cocaine, nor am i an addict of crack cocaine." Later, during an interview with a local radio, Ford calls the media "a bunch of faggots", but later apologizes.
 Anthony Smith, the man seen on the left in this photo, was killed two weeks after this photo was leaked. The photo was taken at a house notorious for drug problems. "During the meeting, when concern was raised about the existence of a video, Mayor Ford told staffers “not to worry” as he knows where the video is. To the surprise of some present, Mayor Ford then blurts out the Dixon Rd. address, including the two apartment units on the 17th floor, 1701 and 1703.”
-The Star
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So where is the video that's behind the scandal? It is believed to be in the hands of a few men who are involved in the drug trade and it has been reported that they have offered media outlets the video for “six figures”. A website based in the U.S. has raised almost 200,000 to buy the video. The editors met with a source in Toronto, but the source has recently severed their connection with the editors and are currently "laying low".
| Why didn't Rob Ford take a drug test at the beginning of the scandal? For a long time user, it usually stays in the system for at least a couple weeks after the last usage. I think he was doing cocaine, but unless he's confronted with concrete evidence, he won't admit it. He seems sketchy erratic. His career in politics is badly tarnished and a few of his campaign managers are no longer supporting him, saying he needs to clean up his act improve his “health and well-being,”.
SOURCES: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/06/20/rob_ford_crack_scandal_police_chief_bill_blair_could_say_more_experts_say.html
http://metronews.ca/news/toronto/686706/another-man-in-controversial-rob-ford-photo-was-shot-the-night-anthony-smith-was-killed/
http://globalnews.ca/news/648840/gawker-looks-for-suggestions-on-where-to-donate-crackstarter-money/
If I could have voted in this election it would have been in support of the NDP or Green Party. Before taking the vote compass quiz I didn't really have a clear idea on who I would vote for, but after, I noticed that my views fall more towards the NDP and Green Party. Whoever the party leader is at the time would also play a major part in my vote. I don't have much trust in Adrian Dix, but I think that the NDP would have been a positive change of pace for British Columbia.  In a study done on young voters, twice as many people said that they would vote for NDP, but many young voters did not show up at the polls. In a opinion survey done a few years back, Christy Clark was declared one of the worst premiers in the country. I think the majority of the public were in support of NDP, but many of them just didn't vote.
There are many factors that contribute to the lack of voters in BC. A large factor is that Canadian politics is barely covered in school, so when future voters graduate they do not have a clear idea on what the parties stand for making them not confident to vote. The education system needs to put more effort in making students politically informed and aware and emphasize the importance of voting. Another one is that young people are not convinced that their vote matters, especially in the big scheme of things. It is true that one individual vote does not make a large impact, but as a whole young people are a very important demographic. The predictions of a landslide victory for NDP may have also played a role in the lack of voters and the elections outcome. This could have made NDP voters less compelled to vote because they felt as though the election was already decided. But I think the election turnout as it did because the Liberals had a stronger campaign and Christy Clark was accepted as more charismatic by the public, even though she proved how trust worthy she really was with their party's Ethnic-gate strategy.
To raise the turnout of voters and get a better representation of the population, Canada should considered adopting the Compulsory voting system. In this system it is mandatory for any eligible voters to attend a polling place on voting day and vote. There are penalties ranging from fines to community service for anyone who doesn't vote. However, there is exception for citizens who are outside of the country or ill. I think a simpler solution would be to pay more attention on informing the youth about politics so that they are more encouraged to vote.
SOURCES:
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/b-c-s-political-parties-chase-young-voters-as-election-battle-heats-up-1.175030
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/bcvotes2013/votecompass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/05/15/bc-election-pollsters-wrong.html
Four days after the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013, the manhunt for brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Anzorovich Tsarnaev came to a bloody end with a shootout late in the day on April 19. The brothers were taken into custody shortly after, but eldest brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev was in critical condition and died at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. | |
The explosion at the marathon was caused by two pressure cooker bombs placed at the finish line by the two brothers. Over 260 people were injured and 3 were killed. The explosion did not do much structural damage. For as long as 8 minutes after the explosion, some runners still continued to cross the finish line.
| "Even today, you're warming up and you notice there's a different presence around races," he said. "There's extra security guys, and it's still a little bit different. Things have changed a little bit, and people are adjusting to that." -Craig Leon
It is believed that the brothers were not connected to any terrorist group, but they were motivated by extremist Islamic beliefs. I think that the brothers chose this marathon because they were able to use a small, simple bomb to attract a lot of attention.
The bombing definitely struck fear in people across America and the terror even made its way to Canada. Extra precautions were taken in response to what happened at a marathon held in Vancouver. It also had a global affect with Security measures being increased throughout the world. The security measures may become more strict, but I don't think attacks like these will ever be completely preventable unless citizens lose their freedom and privacy, and that's what these attacks threaten the most.
 "You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning!" Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female Prime Minister, died today on the eighth of April. In 1975, Thatcher became the first woman in the United Kingdom to lead a major political party when she won the Conservative Party leadership election. Then in 1979, she won the general election and became Prime Minister. To this day she is Britain's one and only female Prime Minister, and has held office longer than anyone else in Britain during the 20th century.
"Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope."
-Margaret Thatcher after becoming PM.
When Thatcher became Prime Minister, Britain’s economy was in dire condition. By increasing taxes, cutting expenditures on social services, raising indirect taxes and lowering direct income taxes, (all a part of Thatcher's economic policy) the economy soon recovered. During her time in office Thatcher added free market principles to the economy, brought home ownership to thousands, and ended the NUM (National Miners' Union). However, unemployment, poverty, and inequality rose. She also played a major part in ending the Cold War.
Margret Thatcher did what many and even herself believed was impossible during her time, become the first female Prime Minister of Britain. She led with strong leadership and a stubborn political approach. I believe that she will go down as a historic figure, not just because she was the first woman Prime Minister, but because of what she did while she was in office: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
REFERENCES: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher
http://www.historynet.com/margaret-thatcher
| North Korea’s aggression has steadily escalated since 2009, when it reactivated its nuclear facilities and began testing nuclear devices. In 2013, the country tested its third nuclear device and surrounding countries responded by calling an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council. The most recent military action seen by North Korea was in 2010 when it killed four people during an attack of a South Korean island. North Korea has continued to make threats towards South Korea, Japan, and the United States, but their aims are still unknown. Foreign embassies in Pyongyang have received recommendations to move out of the country for their own safety, but none have made any actions to leave. Since March, both America and South Korea have exercised their military’s by performing series of drills. North Korea responded by declaring that they were now in a state of war.
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"North Korea is dispelling any remaining uncertainties about its intention for developing nuclear arms. It is making it clear that its nuclear arms program is the essence of its national security and that it's not negotiable,"
Sohn Yong-woo
Professor at National Defence Strategy of Hannam University in South Korea.
| Their weaponry is outdated and Kim Jung-uns nationalistic and imperialistic point of view is completely backwards; however, this does not mean they are not a threat. The country has over 9 million men and woman fit for military service and they’re expanding their nuclear programs. Their missiles would not be able to reach North American but they are able to hit all of South Korea, Russia, China, and American military installations in the Pacific islands of Hawaii and Guam.
| | The threats that North Korea is making are serious and should be taken the same way. It is better to prepare for the actions of North Korea rather than underestimating them. It seems like the country is becoming reckless with its recent threats, and unpredictability is becoming their main weapon. Kim Jung-un is a young leader, so it’s hard to decipher his intentions, but I think that it is highly possible that North Korea will deploy a non-nuclear attack on South Korea before tensions subside. I don't see them as a direct threat to North America, only to the military installations far from our soil and the foreign embassies.
| REFERENCES: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/world/asia/north-korean-missile-moved-to-coast.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/06/world/asia/koreas-tensions/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
The United Nations predict that the amount of Syrian refugees will double or triple by 2014 if the country’s conflict does not subside. The Syrian civil war started just two years ago. The intense violence of this war has caused over 1.2 million Syrians to become displaced within the country, and another million to flee to neighboring countries. | “The world is sleeping. It’s failing us. … How can it continue to turn its back on us every day as more and more are killed inside Syria?”
-Syrian Refugee
| Recently the fighting in Syria has been escalating, especially near the country’s borders, blocking people from crossing into the safer neighboring countries. However, this has not slowed down the amount of refugees. In the past week, the amount of Syrian refugees travelling into Jordan has drastically increased, leaving the already financially unprepared U.N. officials demanding more support. Canada has already donated 48 million towards the humanitarian crisis, but the United Nation warns that if financial assistance does not increase, not just from Canada, but from donors across the world, many of the people will die of starvation.
| The perseverance that these people have is incredible. I believe that it’s necessary for the growing refugees to receive more financial support because no one should have to suffer through the fighting that fills this country, especially the children. It’s unsettling to see children traumatized by war, but if they are given a chance, they could overcome their sufferings and heal. Reading about such suffering really opens my eyes to how good I have it, and it makes me appreciate living in Canada much more.
REFERENCES: http://globalnews.ca/news/459044/un-expects-number-of-syrian-refugees-to-triple-asks-for-more-aid/
http://globalnews.ca/news/385444/syrian-refugees-pour-into-jordan-overwhelm-camp-amid-funding-shortfall/
 A 220 pound bomb discovered less than a mile away from a popular railway station in Berlin stopped all nearby transportation. The explosive was found on Tuesday, April 2 by construction workers, and after, the station was soon closed down. By Wednesday, the police evacuated all surrounding houses, streets were cordoned off, and over 50 trains and some flights were either diverted or brought to a standstill. The emergency crews planned to defuse the bomb later in the afternoon. The engineers were well-trained but an 70-year-old explosive like this one is extremely unpredictable. The experts did manage to safely defuse the bomb after half-an-hour.
"One day such bombs will be so sensitive that no one will be able to handle them,"
-Bomb disposal expert Hans-Juergen Weise.
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Many WW2 explosives have been discovered throughout Germany, and sometimes the only way to safely dispose of the bomb is to evacuate the area and detonate it. In 2012, a large 550 pound explosive was found in Munich again by construction workers, and the emergency crew had no other choice but to evacuate and detonate the bomb. The explosive damaged surrounding houses and buildings. Many other European countries also face bomb problems linked back to past conflicts.
| | There will probably always be hidden bombs left over from past conflicts throughout Europe and the world, but one would think that with such possible damage, there would be more concern about locating all of the forgotten bombs. In most cases, these bombs are found close to populated cities or areas by construction workers, builders, and sometimes children. It is no secret that there are many old bombs hidden in Europe, especially Germany, but it seems like they are only taken seriously when they're found.
REFERENCES: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22011590
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/germany/120829/world-war-two-wwii-bomb-explodes-munich-germany-video
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Arcade Fire’s manager, Scott Rodger has confirmed that the band is back in the studio and ready to record. The recording sessions tend to be elaborate and difficult because the band consists of seven multi-instrumental musicians, each being recorded in different ways, usually simultaneously, making it tough to see each piece as an entire song and how to bring it all together. This will be their fourth studio album and the release date is suspected to be sometime this year.
It has been no secret that the band was on the verge of a new album for 2013. Their past release dates have become a pattern, with a three-year gap between each album, and since their last album released in 2010, It was expected that 2013 would be the year.
In 2012, in their home city Montreal, Quebec, the band played a secret gig under the pseudonym of 'Les Identiks' to test out a couple new songs that may be seen on the upcoming album. Mobile phones, cameras, and all other recording devices were prohibited during the performance to limit the songs exposure. That year they also showcased a new song during a gig in New York, but this time recording devices were allowed and the song was uploaded to the internet.
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"They're in with James Murphy on three or so songs, plus Markus Dravs who is a long-time collaborator. They write too many songs - that's a good problem to have. There's around 35 songs with Arcade Fire, two albums'-worth for sure."
-Scott Rodger
|  Arcade Fire is definitely one of my favorite bands both musically and lyrically. Their sound is nostalgic and innocent, yet compelling and hard-driven, creating an overwhelming feeling that can also be relaxing at the same time. Their lyrics are not just meaningful, but also relevant to the modern man/woman. All three of their previous studio albums are unique and strong as a whole, but if took apart, the songs can still speak for themselves. I haven't seen them perform live yet, but with the new album, a tour will certainly follow. I am highly anticipating the release, and I’m very interested to see how the groups songwriting has changed and what direction they go with this album.
The recording and mixing of "The Suburbs".
"Despite self-imposed limitations, the multitrack sessions for Arcade Fire’s latest album grew to epic proportions. Craig Silvey nevertheless mixed it on a vintage desk with no automation."
-Paul Tingen
REFERENCES: http://www.arcadefire.com/
http://www.nme.com/news/arcade-fire/67613
 The Urbee 2 is a ten foot long, three-wheel, two passenger vehicle manufactured by a 3-D printer, and it’s quickly becoming the new thing on the horizon in the automotive industry. The 3-D printer takes around 2,500 hours to manufacture the vehicle and it is so automated that it doesn't require assistance during the building process. Besides the engine and base chassis, the vehicle is constructed of plastic making it lighter and therefore more fuel efficient. Although made of plastic, the Vehicle will be just as strong as any other car. The engines will be hybrid and for lower speeds, it will run on a 36-volt electric motor, then for higher speeds it will transfer over to a diesel engine.
If this vehicle becomes popular, there will most likely be major job cut-backs in the automotive industry due to the lack of labor needed. Or perhaps, workers will be able to focus on more important things such as even better fuel efficiency and work towards making more reliable and safer vehicles. It will be interesting to see if these vehicles take off or not and how 3-D printers impact modern manufacturing.
“With three wheels and a curb weight of less than 1,200 pounds, it’s more motorcycle than passenger car.”
REFERENCES: http://www.dezeen.com/2013/03/07/road-ready-3d-printed-car-on-the-way/
The moment of truth beckons for Oscar Pistorius. The Olympic and Paralympic star sat as if lost in his own world as lawyers debated what was in his mind when he shot dead his girlfriend.
A knife-edge ruling on whether Pistorius will be granted bail and released, or denied it and probably sent to prison, is expected on Friday.
The unenviable decision lies with magistrate Desmond Nair, who faces criticism either way. If he grants bail, he will anger gender violence campaigners who are pushing for Pistorius to remain in custody. If he refuses, Pistorius's well-organised PR machine is unlikely to take it quietly.
On Thursday, seemingly testing the water, Nair asked defence advocate Barry Roux about the South African public mood. There was outrage on both sides, Roux replied, and "you can see the sentiment changing all the time".
Nair pressed: "Do you think there will be some level of shock if the accused is released?" Roux said: "I think there will be a level of shock in this country if he is not released." There were murmurs of support from Pistorius's family in the public gallery.
The runner's haunted expression and periodic fits of tears that have been at the centre of courtroom C in Pretoria magistrates' court this week were in evidence again on day three of this drawn-out bail hearing, along with the now-familiar grey suit, blue shirt and dark tie. But the 26-year-old's brother, Carl, wearing glasses and a striped jacket, seemed energised as he walked through the public gallery, shaking the hands of supporters. He spent long periods looking down at an iPhone and has begun using the Twitter account @carlpistorius to comment on the case.
ENTIRE ARTICLE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/21/oscar-pistorius-case-jail-bail
It seems slightly strange that Mr. Pistorius would jump to the conclusion that who he heard in his house going into the washroom was an intruder rather than just his girlfriend going to the washroom. And if he did believe it was an intruder, why would he take such drastic measure as to shoot them three times? There was also a witness that lived nearby who said that they heard a fight “two people talking loudly at each other" late in the night on February 14th. The girlfriend also locked the door of the washroom before being shot, that seems unordinary for someone living with just their boyfriend to do, especially at 2:00 am. In the past, Mr. Pistorius has been described as violent and unstable. To me, it seems as though there’s more to it than just a simple misunderstanding.
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