Since When is Politics Boring?

December 2nd, 2011 Thomasso

I have always been interested in politics, and my need to know more about it peaked when I took my first Political Science course way back in 2004. I really believe that the first steps in understanding politics is having a really good base of knowledge. I never got any good learning experiences when I was in high school, they never taught it then adequately, and sitting in an armchair would have never gotten me close to what I needed in terms of knowledge (of fully appreciating) all the facets of politics since my University days. I think too, the need to want to learn it plays a huge part in appreciating it?

Here is how I break it down: You have your mainstream politics, and your local politics, but then you have your the in between politics that kind that only deals with the special interest of the clique that you are associated with, and no one else cares about. In my little clique, the Students and Institution of the university that I once belonged to, has had an explosion of activity in the last three days. Student politics has hit the local news media and syberspace like a mid summer grass fire.

The Kwantlen Student Association (KSA) has hit the news feeds with a flurry of activity. On November 30th, 2011, a rally to impeach the current board members from power took place, as over 400 students, whose numbers could form a quorum, voted to oust nearly three quarters of the KSA’s board members. This is politics at its best in my opinion becuase it engaged hundreds of otherwise busy students to take a stand, and hopefully putting a stop to the mountains of negative publicity that Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been getting over this.

Here is the geniuses of the whole movement of the Special General Meeting (SGM) to oust the then KSA on video, thanks the student paper The Runner:

The SGM had its hiccups too on Nov 30, 2011. The fire alarm was pulled twice, and someone sprayed pepper-spry in the hallway leading to the conference room where students had to reregister before the vote took place. Yes, the police and fire department were on the scene.

In the end, the vote took place and the KSA was replaced with about 12 new temporary board members, and changes to the by-laws governing the KSA, and a motion to issue a new election for the new KSA.

With allegations of corruption, criminal and civil wrong doing, out of control spending, and actions that does not benefit the students as a whole, who says student politics is boring?

When I was a student, I missed a golden opportunity right in front of me.

Posted in Diatribe, Events, General, Law, Law and Order, Socail Media, University classes, Video | Comments Off

What Has Tom Been Up To?

November 22nd, 2011 Thomasso

So much has gone on with me in the last four days, that even I cannot laugh it off, and I still have so much more to do. Right now I am living off of just a couple of hours of sleep as the wind storm from last night kept me up. The power outage from the storm, with the pounding rain and tree branches hitting my roof, sleep was just not going to happen so I stayed up. But I was tired before that too. Perhaps I should just start at Friday, and finish off my post with today’s events. You, reader, should be clear once I have itemised my last few days.

(pay no attention to the mistakes in this post – I’m exhausted and will clean them up tomorrow)

Friday was dedicated to the last day of a week from Hell. Both in terms of work, and my personal life, Friday was a painful one. Personally, I was just getting over a harsh flu. Compounded to the pain and suffering of the flu was an equally hard work week of tedious issues and problem solving. It was not the amount of work that created the harshness, but the quality of it. I learned that some players in the business really “kicked the can” as it were, with our forth quarter budget, and made some really bad calls. This translated into an extremely chaotic round of finger pointing at the retails side of it, but fortunately in my department, I only received the stress of working with these people.

On my personal side, I had made preparation to volunteer for the civic elections in Langley Township. I helped a candidate out. I only helped out becuase of my friendship connections and ties to this person in the neighbourhood, not my political colours. Only the ignorant and weak minded would accuse me of playing partisan politics at this level – you know who you are! So I volunteered, helping out a friend in need. I did enjoy myself.

Going into Saturday, the day of the civic election, my commitment to volunteering kept on going. The only difference, was I planned on taking it easy, but I was asked to continue to help out with my friend’s campaign. There was the striking of the political ads signs – which under law each candidate has but a couple of days to pull all the signs from the streets and road, or fine would be given out. So I helped pull signs.

My own personal candidacy was on Monday, so I had to focus on that. The magic balance was now lost, between helping a friend versus getting myself ready for my big moment. I was running for a seat on the Board of Directors for the Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU) Alumni Association, and I had planned spending most of Saturday working on that. Instead, my time ran out on Saturday–and I got to bed around 11:30pm that night.

I almost slept in Monday morning for work. Right from the start of the day I was chasing time. I ignored the other departments as much as I could, fearing that the spill over from last week’s “meltdown” could erupt again. This was the last thing I needed, more stress. While at work, I start sending out tweets to people that I knew who were alumni from the university. Regrettably, getting people to come down to vote on a Monday night was not going to happen. I was too new and had very little exposure to the alumni to get the confidence of voters from the student body. So I tried to conjure up any support I could before I headed down to the Surrey campus. However, not before my work would throw one final hard ball at me.

A crises started brewing in my department becuase one of my co-workers made some errors, and then refused to clear them up before the end of the day. We have a policy that of you make a mistake, you clean it up, even if that means staying some extra time in the day to clean it up. My co-worker refused, and left. I was responsible, and I made some quick patchwork fixes so that I could leave it until Tuesday. My time had already lapsed into my preparation time for the election, which, I had to be there for 6:00pm–less than one hour’s time. Leaving work, late, getting home, I had to forego the fancy clothing, and settle for just changing into a sweater and grabbing my laptop and bag. Yes, still wearing my jeans and street shoes.

The election was held after an hour of formalities with the KPU Board of Directors of the Alumni Association. Each candidate was given two minutes to make a speech, and then had to field only two questions from the room.  I spoke, and was never asked any questions. Sadly, out of the seven of us vying for the six seats, I came in last. I only received 12 votes out of the possible 19. Defeated.

However, I took with pride becuase this was my first time, and this was a learning experience, and learned from it I did. I was offered to join various committees in light of my interests in volunteering with the Alumni Association, but I made myself not make any promises until I had a clear head.

Monday night when I got home, there were weather warning posted on the net. I went straight to bed as it was past 10:00pm, and I was dead tired. Not even 30 minutes into my sleep I was awaken by the sounds of flying branches hitting my window, and the wind pounding my roof. It was brutal. Widows rattled, the walls shook and I could feel the cold air in the room. Then like clockwork, the power went out, just after the second gust of wind started dumping branches on my roof. No sleep.

The power came back on around 5:00am this morning, and soon after my alarm clock went off. I got dressed and headed off to work. Trees were down everywhere. Because of the darkness, my lack of sleep, and the slippery roads, I hit one of the wooden road barricades, as the main road was closed due to a tree down across it. I backed up, and took another route. I spent today being as quiet as I could. The only real interesting thing that happened that gave me contact with the outside world was the grounds keepers accidentally set off the fire alarm late in the work day. But I continued to lay low until I left for home. Now I am fighting to stay up without napping so that i can get my bio-clock back in sync.

Posted in Bitching about weather, Bitching about work, Diatribe, Events, General, Graduation, Socail Media, Story Telling, Twitter, University classes | 1 Comment »

The Labour Day Weekend

September 5th, 2011 Thomasso

Well, this is it, our last weekend of unofficial summer. From here on in we must start bracing for fall, or winter, which ever comes first. Right now it seems that summer can go on for ever, but experience tells me that all of this wonderful weather can end in a day, and the Northern hemisphere can be enveloped into darkness for the next six to seven months. What a dismal thought?

As a precursor to the fall season, I have already started on my Halloween costume. I want to have it done well before the festivities start. This year I will have the lights, the mannequins and scary photos adorning my home. I know this will spark a holy war with my neighbour who believes that anything pagan is punishable to public prosecution, but last year, we, as in the rest of my neighbours, asked him to mind his own business and stick to himself, and we would do the same. So far we are one big happy neighbourhood, but that could end at any moment. But that will not put a damper on my Halloween—he can move!

My friends are going back to their classes for their fall semester starting tomorrow. I already miss those days. Yes, I miss the new classroom smells, and that feeling of starting off a new term, and getting new textbooks and supplies. OK, I am happy that I have no more classes, and that I have money in my wallet because I do not have to give it to admissions, but damn it, I had so much fun back then. My friends look at me with envy, and I look at them with nostalgia. School, it conjure up both hell and happiness, I miss it.

So tomorrow, I go back to work. It will be a super busy day, like having two Mondays wrapped up into one. Fall is also a busiest time out of the year for us, so extra pressure will be on us to get the job done. In a way I am looking forward to it. I guess part of old age is knowing what to expect based on having been there and done that—the philosophy of a Gen-X’er. I am also mindful that our economy it still hurting, and that at any moment North America could come crashing down into a economic abyss. I listen, watch and prepare, while working as hard as I can but knowing that this could be a harsh year if the wrong path is taken. “We will see,” as my optimums friend says.

Now for some summer fun relaxation before the clouds roll in!

Posted in Around Town, Bitching about weather, Diatribe, Events, General, Holiday, Humour, University classes | 1 Comment »

Debt and Doubt

August 12th, 2011 Thomasso

I have being paying very close attention to the money markets this last week. I jumped up for joy when Gold surged up a $100.00, and was very happy when Oil tumbled $10.00. I was also somewhat happy when our Dollar started climbing up again against the U.S. Dollar, and somewhat dismayed and angered when both Oil prices and Charted Bank Rates stayed stable throughout this time of volatility for the consumer. But the one redeeming quality that I have going for me is I do not owe anyone of the non-governmental parasites anything in terms of borrowed money. My vow not to take on debt since 2002 has more than paid off in losses and untold charges. By my estimates, based on a calculation I did in one of my economics classes back in 2006, my saving since 2002 have being roughly $94,000.00 +/- 8%. But that is not the complete story of why I am so very grateful that I took that vow of money borrowing celibacy, to use a human inaction to coin my statement with.

To put things into perspective for you, a little back story is needed.  I weaned myself off the Banks in 2004, starting in 2002 from taking a Sociology experiment in one of my first year classes at the then Kwantlen University College. The deal was simple, the challenge was like this: we were to find out if it were possible to remove ourselves from having any attachment with the Banks, including all financial institutions, and see if it was possible to continue living a normal life, or continuing on with our current life style in Canadian society. This experiment meant taking on some very powerful myths about our society today. There was a leap, if you could call it that, of removing, as we called it, the unnecessary costs from within our personal financial sphere. The challenges were huge at the beginning, but with the some thorough research, the path was very quickly obtainable, and life went on without any bumps. There was also many books and papers published that we could use as model in our experiment, so the idea was not new.

My two biggest challenges was first, how to get paid, and secondly, how to buy really big ticket items like my university education. Both were accomplished with some personal sacrifices. In university, I could easily pay as I go, paying for each semester before hand. That worked out very well. Plus, I paid cash for everything. Just think of 16 small cash payments equalling up to $21,000.00 and another series of “point to point” purchases for text books equalling up to $8,000.00, over that same period of time-I have no troubles whatsoever working that kind of a system. The benefit, graduating with “ZERO” debt. Now the first point, cashing pay cheques, became a bit of a problem because you are tied to a financial institution with them.  In British Columbia, the Employment Standards Act says that an employer must pay in one of two ways, cash or Bank issued cheque. So, in a hurtful way, the law is not on your side if trying to limit contact with money lenders. And it seems the Banks love this, and they do their best to tie (reel) you in, and keep you there. And, from their point of view this makes sense as you, your service charges, account for over $40% of their revenue(CBCnews, 2006), so why would they want to make it easy for you to leave. But I am fair, and I understand that most employers are living on borrowed money to begin with, and it does cost money for banks to operated, so the compromise was to use the employer’s bank that he issued the cheque from, and cash the cheque and pay, in some cases up to $5.00 per cheque. Also, not all banks charge for this, as Banks like the Scotia Bank charge nothing, while Banks like the HSBC, RBC, CIBC, TD and Credit Unions charge up to $5.00 per cheque.

The outcome of the experiment is the concept of only paying for what you can afford. It is one thing to circumvent the Banks, and any other midpoint services, but another to start borrowing on items, or on property that you do not have at your ready. So saving and spending become key points. Saving is tricky because if you do not wish to use the banking industry, then this would leave a gaping hole, as to where, to put your hard, cold cash somewhere. The answer is as old as money itself, as I will later talk about that later on. Also Spending becomes an issue becuase of crime, and accidents. Who would want to carry huge amounts of money in their persons while walking down the streets going to a store?

The one thing that I did that was very controversial back in the day, 2004, was I started buying gold. Not jewellery, or paper stocks, but actual Gold coins that have been minted by the Canadian mint, called Canadian Maple-leaf Coins. In my opinion, buying jewellery and Gold stocks is the equivalent of throwing your money away becuase the value is handled through so many hands, who all exist by skimming a fee from your transactions of each item. Gold coins have the same problem, but becuase they are minted, and guaranteed of their purity, the dealer’s fees are way better than jewellery or paper. The most important fact about owning Gold is its value through turbulent times like this decade will drive it upwards. When the fear of inflation exists, the need to own Gold occurs. So investors dump their U.S. money in favour of commodities like Gold. My first lot of coins were bought at $250.00 a piece, but now their value is, today, $1740.00 per piece. I am getting at least two to three calls a week from fiends asking if I want to sell, as the Gold fever has gotten so hot. Expectations are that Gold will see a $2000.00 per once level by this fall. That is how much faith is in the markets right now.

I think I will stop here. I have talked about where the best place to store one’s wealth based on my experiences, and how to buy with cash, elsewhere on my blog. Just search around, those posts should be easy to find.

The markets are volatile and this volatility does not seem likely to be over soon. It is terrible that people are benefiting from so many who are suffering because of the market meltdown. But this is our culture, as we all believe in it, and capitalism, and free-enterprise, but we must also take it on the nose too.

Posted in Diatribe, General, Social economics, Social Justice, University classes | 1 Comment »

When Trust is Garbage

August 6th, 2011 Thomasso

About a week ago I started seeing the Tweets streaming from members of the Kwantlen Student’s Association (KSA) with regards to the 2006-7 scandal involving allegations of election fixing, misappropriation of moneys, theft and fraud from that council. I was attending Kwantlen at that time, 2006-7, and I do remember having personal issues with the, then Student’s Council. But since then, with all the news about what was going on with that council, at that time, eventually student life mellowed down, and my time there as an undergrad went smoothly.

There was also apathy on my part becuase as I looked at the student’s council as nothing more than just a group of students having fun. I never took into account that that was my money they were squandering with. In fact, I now wonder why I even had to pay into it. I now believe that students should have a choice as to whether they wish to become a member rather than being held hostage with the tuition. I see a need that the government needs to change the law regarding societies, and that students must have the op-out option. Sorry present day KSA members, but this is how I feel about it right now.

Yes, I am that mad about it. When this trust is broken, it can never be rebuilt, because in Canada, white collar crime seems to be nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Justice is lacking here.

I believe that the student’s council must be reconstructed from the ground up, reflecting these past years of abuse, so that transparency and integrity are forged into law. Having elected officials secretly spending money with no worries, covering their tracks  – is – sickening, disturbing and weak.

Very rarely did I have the option of participating in any events with the KSA during my time as an undergraduate. I was a student who worked during the day and did my classes at night. I commuted to the campus, attended my classes, then commuted home. When I think back now, I fed these guys very well with my forced contributions, and that angers me when I read the Forensic Accounting Report of 2007. It is one thing when our Federal, Provincial and Civic leaders miss use our tax money, but quite another when it is a society whose acting in my best interest. Listening to it all over again on the news just opens old wounds again.

What triggered me to write this post?

When I read this news story from the Surrey leader, titled: “Kwantlen student lawsuit on ice,” August 5th, 2011, it made me want to write this post. However, it was not until I read the Forensic Audit from 2007 today that I started writing this post with heated energy. You can read the document here, PWC Forensic Audit 2007, as someone secretly posted it on line. The PDF file is 8.1MB, at 108 pages, and covers a lot of details and heart wrenching accounts of what was going on during that time at the KSA.

This is the first time in a very long time that I had to stop and really focus on what it was I was writing becuase of how much, and how close, this hits home. In hindsight, I should have paid closer attention to the KSA, perhaps even getting involved with it more, but my situation at the time limited me from doing that.

It all seems to be coming out in the wash anyway. Thanks to some students, both members and non-members of the KSA, for caring and taking on the fight to rid the bad, dirty and disgusting from a place of public privilege and trust. If it were not for them, I would be too ashamed to tell people that I was student associated with the KSA.

As for the future students who will pay their fees to the KSA: beware, be forewarned, and be suspicious by keeping an eye on your representatives. These people, your elected council, are there for you. Vote, participate, and get informed becuase without this attitude, the chances of this repeating again in the KSA is a possibility.

Posted in Art, Criminology, Diatribe, General, Graduation, Law, Photographs, Socail Media, Social Justice, Twitter, University classes | Comments Off

My Twitter Charted

August 2nd, 2011 Thomasso

I decided to chart my Twitter Followers Count, just to see what my trajectory looks like. Here are the results shown in this line graph of my three years using Twitter.

I took the data from my Twitter History and divided this line graph into 37 months, or three years, going from July 2008, to July 2011. Yes, I have being using Twitter for the last three year. Time flies!

The left X-axes of the graph is the number of followers I have gained over the last three years.  The Y-axes is the months, starting from July, 2008, to July 2011.

This graph shows that my interests in Twitter really took off in November to December of 2010 after taking a communications course in University earlier that summer. The value of social networking was realised as was my determination to make my mark, and my network took off as my Twitter experience increased, showing today with a follow count of over 500 followers. Hopefully I can maintain this trajectory and reach a follower count of 1000 by November or 2011.

Posted in General, Photographs, Socail Media, Twitter, University classes | 2 Comments »

Fitting into Change

July 16th, 2011 Thomasso

It has being six weeks now since I started with the new job, new position and new pay. I have made it my mandate to keep everything on track, and to redefine my new roles as they present themselves, plus manage my time efficiently and accordingly so that my life fits comfortably with the changes. Keeping on top, and on track, has made a difference regarding my quick fit into this new world.

My friends have noticed the changes, probably more then me, so that will be something that we will all have to work through in the coming weeks. With these changes comes changes on how we will connect, so we will have to figure out how to deal with spending time and communicating from here on in.

Getting paid was a real experience. First, getting paid, that was kind of nice, but this was my first full pay period, so seeing that much money on one cheque was a very nice feeling. Now the dash to buy the necessary items that I need to work in my new environment. Buying a landline phone was done last week, but that will take some getting used to as I have not had one for nearly 15 years now. I will have to wear a tie from time to time, as looking the part and wearing the uniform of authority and business will now become the norm. I will resist the Bank for as long as possible. Cashing such large cheques is going to be a problem as my employer’s Bank does not like letting go of that much cash in one cheque at one time. (I often wonder if they can really give back all the money that people have in their institutions). This leaves me with my next really big investment, a vehicle, which I will need as there will be lot of commuting form one area to another. Should I buy news, or used – that is the question?

From living as a student for so long, and now finally getting paid a real sum of money, and keeping it, is nice – really nice. Giving the bulk of my money to the University for over six years, and only being able to earn so much, has left scars. It now seems all worth while. The only component of my student lifestyle that is still sticking around into my work lifestyle is the stress. Perhaps I could throw in “lack of sleep” too as the transistion from student to career moves forward?

Anyway, it is all connecting together. Finally, change that I can whole heartily embrace and welcome.

Posted in General, Graduation, Social economics, University classes | Comments Off

June is Over Already!

June 30th, 2011 Thomasso

June 2011 has got to be the most prosperous month I have had in a very long time when I compare it to the last major time period back in September 2008 with the same results. This month, I had graduated, or officially finished being an undergraduate. I then found meaningful employment. And from being at the convocation ceremony, I got leads that could start my post graduate down on the road to my dream career as the doors opened up once the pomp and circumstance cleared the air. On top of all this, the visit by my mother. The support from my friends who wanted to be there with me as I went through transition of graduation was incredible. It was so nice to have everyone that wanted to share the experience of the convocation ceremony with me.

The major mile stone of finishing classes has still not fully sunk in. Even while I was at work today, I was thinking that there was something missing, that I was forgetting something. I was thinking that I may have an assignment, or a paper that needs to be handed in, you know that nagging feeling that you forgot something. In other words, I still carry around that guilty feeling that my work day is too light and that I need it weighed down with numerous tasks of dead-line torture.Yeah, I think I have gotten use to begin over loaded? How sick is that?

Today – with so much freedom, I find myself making more mistakes. I feel so lazy now that I know there will be no one critically marking my work so I get sloppy and careless. I realise that there are critical markers in my life now, they just do not give the feed back that my profs did. Instead they constantly adjust my evaluations that they have of me through passive reactions. I have to vigorously push myself with the same amount of discipline that was driving me during my undergraduate days from my instructors. Is this maturity?

The shock of June was meeting a professor that I had when I was in my first year at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Mr. Richard Floyd, a professor of Sociology at kwantlen received an award as Professor Emeritus. This was a man who truly inspired and touch so many around him. The effect that he had on my life was incredible. I am truly privileged to have been a student under him. He was the first person in my life to “open my eyes” on issues that taunted me like how does the cycle of money really work. He showed us all in those classes the world around us as we focused on what makes our social structure work, and why we are what we are today. That course was focused on looking at several perspectives: the good, the bad and the ugly of our society as it is, and is not, and the illusions that we see of it. I will never forget those classes with him.

But June was, in my mind, the spring of 2011. Literally, in terms of weather in my life. The winter that kept lingering from January, and did not stop until June. So, I like to say, we only had a three week period of spring. Even now that we are now officially in the summer season, the spring weather still lingers. So too did the effect of the convocation have on me as I truly blossomed into my next metamorphoses of life during that ceremony. Wearing the graduation gown and tassel, was, well, a dream like state that only could be appreciated until after I had to take them off. Together, the cool weather made wearing the cap and gown bearable during the convocation worked out in terms of being comfortable. Is not what life is all about, begin comfortable?

Posted in Criminology, Diatribe, General, Graduation, Homework and deadlines, University classes | 2 Comments »

Preparing for Convocation: T minus 96hrs

June 4th, 2011 Thomasso

I spent most of the morning (I’ve posted this at 11:00am) so far preparing for my graduation ceremony which is coming up in less than four days. I have so much to do until then! With my Mother dropping by for four days during the event, and then leaving on the following weekend, cleaning has been the number one chore of the day today. As much as I want to get out and enjoy this wonderful super nice weather we are finally getting here in Fort Langley, I must clean–for the sake of my mother, and for my sanity.

Yes, sanity! How do people do it with so much to do, and the mountain of work that is needed to mobilise everyone into position?

Anyway, I have the tickets, which I picked up on Thursday. I spent a few moments admiring them today. I did not realise how much they really meant to me when I sat down and started looking at them. I am thinking now, the thought of actually graduating is starting to kick in–finally. I wish I could explain the feeling of how much work, time and effort it took to get this far. I know some will know the feeling and experience, as this was a very steep mountain to climb in so many levels.

So here they are, three tickets to see me, on stage, in a dress with a square looking cap, to share this moment for my friends and family.

Well, must go and continue one with my cleaning!

Posted in Diatribe, Events, Family, General, Graduation, Photographs, University classes | 2 Comments »

Less Than a Week Until Grad

June 3rd, 2011 Thomasso

Oh, is time ticking away. In less than week to go I will cross the stage to receive my papers and congratulatory handshake, deck out in academic regalia, to be formally welcomed into the world as a graduate in academics. Though not quite at the pinnacle of academia, but a full fledged graduate nonetheless. I have so much to do until then.

Yesterday I was swamped with both work and that huge “to-do” list in lieu of preparations for next Wednesday’s event. I had to brave the rain, or near record rain fall, by bus to get the tickets so that I can invite guests to the graduation/convocation ceremony. I was completely soaked by the time I got home. I smelled so damp, it was sicking. I even thought I was coming down with something after that little ordeal when I got home. I cannot wait until I get my truck back on the road. But anyway, I have the tickets for my friends, and Mom, who will be there to share this moment with me.

To get those tickets, I had to stop off  at Kwantlen Polytechnic University at the Langley Campus. When I went into the admissions offices, I was shocked to find the whole place completed, fully redone, with a brand spanking new look!  Yes, I snapped a few photos. It reminded of a lobby in a convention centre.

When I got home, it started to rain even harder. It was an awful night.

I spent about five hours emailing people. Mostly about the graduation, but I had so many emails from other issues that I finally gave up on the rest and just deleted them. I was getting frustrated. There is so much going on in my life right now, and I was getting frustrated about it all. Oh, do not worry, I only deleted emails that served little purpose and that were not part of my friends and family circles. But I needed sleep.

Posted in Around Town, Bitching about weather, Criminology, Diatribe, Events, General, Graduation, Photographs, University classes | Comments Off