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"The research suggests those using Facebook come from wealthier homes and are more likely to attend college.
By contrast, MySpace users tend to get a job after finishing high school rather than continue their education."
BBC News
25 June 2007
This is really interesting until you consider that up until recently, Facebook was only available to college students, while MySpace has always had open access. Facebook was, I believe, originally created as a social networking site for Harvard students and it slowly spread to other American campuses and then... THE WORLD. Dun dun dun. (The Facebook addiction at my school has become epidemic). What the findings suggest is that, surprise surprise, college students tend to interact mostly with other college students or college educated people.
***
The White Stripes landed in Iqaluit today. Some interesting info:
- they'll play to 600 of the town's 7200 residents.
- they have chartered a plane for their Northern dates
- 3000 kg of sound and lighting gear was flown in
- they flew in an entire road crew from Vancouver
- a stage and PA system is being assembled from scratch for their visit
(Source: Toronto Star, June 27 print edition)
Btw, for the dueSouth fans, Iqaluit was formerly known as Frobisher Bay.
***
Friday June 29 is the National Day of Action The Assembly of First Nations' FAQ says:
"The National Day of Action is designed to raise awareness and support among the general public and the government for urgent action to address First Nations issues.
It is an opportunity for First Nations and all Canadians to stand together in support of a better life for First Nations citizens and a stronger, harmonious Canada."
The Day of Action was originally intended to call attention to the crisis in the Native community, but there is growing concern over militant First Nations groups who are calling for rail blockades, in an effort to force the Canadian government to more quickly settle the hundreds of land claims that are inching their way through the courts. Here is a map that can give you an idea of the number of claims that have yet to be settled, and of the enormous amount of territory involved.
Chief Terrence Nelson is a leading figure among radical Native activists. He's famous for making statements like: "There's only one way to deal with a white man. You either pick up a gun or you stand between him and his money." Sarah Hampson interviewed him June 18th for the Globe and Mail.
"He is outspoken about his plan to mount a 24-hour blockade of a railway near his reserve that carries goods to the United States across the North Dakota border - and is calling on other First Nations to do the same.
The derail-the-nation threat is effective, Mr. Nelson likes to point out. "Canada stands to lose up to $200-billion shaved off the GDP, and the economy won't recover until 2009," he boasts of the day of action's potential impact."
The blockade has been called off, following an offer by Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, of 75 acres of new reserve land. It seems as though Nelson's gamble paid off.
And it's a strategy that's worked before.
"After twelve years of the Tyendinaga, Mohawk Community dealing with the Canadian Government's land claim process near Deseronto, Ontario, their claim finally got some media coverage this week when about 70 Mohawk community members blocked a CN rail line between Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa for thirty hours."
The First Perspective
Michael Bernard
May 7, 2007
It's difficult to condemn Chief Nelson when his beliefs are so easily supported by the attitudes of the Canadian government and people.
A May 2007 Angus Reid poll shows that
"Over half off Canadians (56%) believe Aboriginals are unjustified in blocking railway lines over land claims disputes
Nearly seven-in-ten of Canadians (68%) believe the government should speed up the land claims process
Two-thirds (67%) say native leaders should be penalized if federal money used for blockades
Three-in-five (60%) agree federal government should do more to aleviate native poverty"
It's easy to read this as Nelson would. 60% of Canadians believe that the government should do something about the Native Problem, so those crazy Indians don't interfere with our daily lives. And if those chiefs can't keep their people in line, they have to pay the price. It's infuriating that seven percent of Canadians polled believe that even more important than improving the truly horrible conditions on some reserves, is keeping themselves from being inconvenienced.
I'm part of the 56% of Canadians who believe that rail blockades are not a just response to the slow-as-molasses land claims process, but I absolutely understand the motivation. A blockade is relatively speaking, a much easier, much quicker path to resolution. It takes so damn long to settle these claims (avg of about 8-10 years) that violent action must begin to seem tempting, especially when considered in light of all the other daily inequalities and indignities.
Those who sanction or participate in rail blockades should be prosecuted for their criminal acts. However a country that's worked so hard in the past to ensure the cultural genocide of First Nations, needs to demonstrate a much greater commitment to understanding and addressing the fundamental issues at hand.
If you would like to show support for the Day of Action, the Assembly of First Nations suggets that you write to the Prime Minister's office at pm@pm.gc.ca, or sign their Make Poverty History Petition.
By contrast, MySpace users tend to get a job after finishing high school rather than continue their education."
BBC News
25 June 2007
This is really interesting until you consider that up until recently, Facebook was only available to college students, while MySpace has always had open access. Facebook was, I believe, originally created as a social networking site for Harvard students and it slowly spread to other American campuses and then... THE WORLD. Dun dun dun. (The Facebook addiction at my school has become epidemic). What the findings suggest is that, surprise surprise, college students tend to interact mostly with other college students or college educated people.
***
The White Stripes landed in Iqaluit today. Some interesting info:
- they'll play to 600 of the town's 7200 residents.
- they have chartered a plane for their Northern dates
- 3000 kg of sound and lighting gear was flown in
- they flew in an entire road crew from Vancouver
- a stage and PA system is being assembled from scratch for their visit
(Source: Toronto Star, June 27 print edition)
Btw, for the dueSouth fans, Iqaluit was formerly known as Frobisher Bay.
***
Friday June 29 is the National Day of Action The Assembly of First Nations' FAQ says:
"The National Day of Action is designed to raise awareness and support among the general public and the government for urgent action to address First Nations issues.
It is an opportunity for First Nations and all Canadians to stand together in support of a better life for First Nations citizens and a stronger, harmonious Canada."
The Day of Action was originally intended to call attention to the crisis in the Native community, but there is growing concern over militant First Nations groups who are calling for rail blockades, in an effort to force the Canadian government to more quickly settle the hundreds of land claims that are inching their way through the courts. Here is a map that can give you an idea of the number of claims that have yet to be settled, and of the enormous amount of territory involved.
Chief Terrence Nelson is a leading figure among radical Native activists. He's famous for making statements like: "There's only one way to deal with a white man. You either pick up a gun or you stand between him and his money." Sarah Hampson interviewed him June 18th for the Globe and Mail.
"He is outspoken about his plan to mount a 24-hour blockade of a railway near his reserve that carries goods to the United States across the North Dakota border - and is calling on other First Nations to do the same.
The derail-the-nation threat is effective, Mr. Nelson likes to point out. "Canada stands to lose up to $200-billion shaved off the GDP, and the economy won't recover until 2009," he boasts of the day of action's potential impact."
The blockade has been called off, following an offer by Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, of 75 acres of new reserve land. It seems as though Nelson's gamble paid off.
And it's a strategy that's worked before.
"After twelve years of the Tyendinaga, Mohawk Community dealing with the Canadian Government's land claim process near Deseronto, Ontario, their claim finally got some media coverage this week when about 70 Mohawk community members blocked a CN rail line between Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa for thirty hours."
The First Perspective
Michael Bernard
May 7, 2007
It's difficult to condemn Chief Nelson when his beliefs are so easily supported by the attitudes of the Canadian government and people.
A May 2007 Angus Reid poll shows that
"Over half off Canadians (56%) believe Aboriginals are unjustified in blocking railway lines over land claims disputes
Nearly seven-in-ten of Canadians (68%) believe the government should speed up the land claims process
Two-thirds (67%) say native leaders should be penalized if federal money used for blockades
Three-in-five (60%) agree federal government should do more to aleviate native poverty"
It's easy to read this as Nelson would. 60% of Canadians believe that the government should do something about the Native Problem, so those crazy Indians don't interfere with our daily lives. And if those chiefs can't keep their people in line, they have to pay the price. It's infuriating that seven percent of Canadians polled believe that even more important than improving the truly horrible conditions on some reserves, is keeping themselves from being inconvenienced.
I'm part of the 56% of Canadians who believe that rail blockades are not a just response to the slow-as-molasses land claims process, but I absolutely understand the motivation. A blockade is relatively speaking, a much easier, much quicker path to resolution. It takes so damn long to settle these claims (avg of about 8-10 years) that violent action must begin to seem tempting, especially when considered in light of all the other daily inequalities and indignities.
Those who sanction or participate in rail blockades should be prosecuted for their criminal acts. However a country that's worked so hard in the past to ensure the cultural genocide of First Nations, needs to demonstrate a much greater commitment to understanding and addressing the fundamental issues at hand.
If you would like to show support for the Day of Action, the Assembly of First Nations suggets that you write to the Prime Minister's office at pm@pm.gc.ca, or sign their Make Poverty History Petition.