Author Archives: Dan Malo

About Dan Malo

Dan graduated from the University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT), where he obtained a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. He completed a Planning & Development Internship with the Connecticut General Assembly in 2010 and in 2013, he was elected to his Town of Canterbury’s Planning & Zoning Commission, after sitting four years on appointment. He blogs for #TheGrid about local planning matters in New England and Eastern Connecticut's ‘Quiet Corner.’

Tech Praise: Less Physical Clutter

a retro post, circa 2008

Do you need to own that 20 dollar dvd?  Or has the industry bilked you for something that will sit on a shelf?

I really like the idea of being able to buy movies/songs online.  I bought an mp3 album off of amazon the other day.  It cost me 8 dollars as opposed to the 12 dollars for the physical cd (which sits on the shelf) or the 17-18 dollars it would cost at a retail location (if I could find it, which I wasn’t able to do). By getting the mp3 album, I was able to have it immediately, for cheaper, without the extras that I used to think I needed, but which just turned out to be “more stuff.”

I still think I wasted my money in some way…I would almost rather pay a penny or five cents every time I listened to a song.  I might get a better value that way, rather than possessing something I don’t really need to possess.

Image found via another article which concurs.

Turkey Is Not Part of Europe

I think it is a mistake to consider the admittance of Turkey to the EU.

EU_and_TurkeyFirst, it is silly, considering the geographic location of the country. Second, the admittance of Turkey to the EU would completely upset the religious balance of the organization; the admittance of such a large Muslim country to a vast majority Christian organization is only likely to upset the people of the current member states. You could almost say that Turkey has no business joining the EU.

Now, if Istanbul were to break away to form its own independent city state, that would be another issue entirely. You can’t beat the opportunity that such a location presents; and I would admit the city in a heartbeat. I feel, however, that there are more cons than pros in admitting an Muslim state to a largely Christian organization.

2009 Guyanese H1N1 Vaccinations

image via CDC

image via CDC

In Guyana, people are awaiting a delivery of the H1N1 vaccine from the World Health Organization. Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, said the shipment was due to arrive any day now. The 240,000 doses were originally expected in November, but that deadline proved too difficult to meet.

After only 26 suspected cases of H1N1, the country is still in a low transmission phase according to Dr. Ramsammy. However, vigilance regarding the matter will still be maintained as the Guyanese government “will continue to monitor all cases of influenza-like illnesses …to ensure early detection of any possible H1N1 infection in the country.”

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is urging the public to “continue to practice good hygiene” to combat transmission of the illness. Dr. Ramsammy also suggests that prevention is key, and has asked that health workers “be on the alert to keep the transmission of the virus at a low level.”

http://www.stabroeknews.com/2009/stories/12/20/swine-flu-vaccines-delayed/

Biko Was No ANC Communist

Mr. Biko understood that society must acknowledge its group consciousness, and do so under one banner, as opposed to multiple, self-defeating fronts.

He was disheartened by the committees which advocated revolution, feeling that there was no need for violence–that the overall numbers gave them the leverage they needed. Biko hoped that barbarism and riotous behavior could be avoided. He believed that black South Africans would have a free nation, one day, in ANY outcome, because the untenable situation mandated it and that it would be quite sad if it came by way of bloodbath, when it needn’t be.

The ANC claimed ‘solidarity’ with the working men of the world, but failed to unite their own people against their local oppressors. Biko feared they were at the suggestion from outside influences and willing to use violence when the most effective approach would be peaceful confrontation.Biko felt that submitting to the ANC’s claim of representation, meant sharing the guilt in their crimes, and suffering the penalty of their actions.

The ANC overlaid the nonsense of foreign geopolitics on top of the liberation struggle. This resulted in justice seeking blacks like Biko being called a great many things: ‘agitators’, ‘communists’, while holding no sympathies to Russia or planned economies. From what I have studied, Biko believed that there were more liberating philosophies, and perhaps room for both the public and private sectors in the economy.

Biko believed that participation in the economy had been legally denied, as well a voice in that process. From his point of view, no white representative could suffice in fully representing the concerns of black South Africans. Nor, he felt, should he be the speaker of the people his race marginalizes. What Biko sought was representation and the ability to represent. The same status before the law.

But many of South African leaders leaders disagreed, aligning with the ANC, content to subscribe to borrowed notions to solve the disparity. Biko believed that Communism would not solve South Africa’s woes, in the same way that the Western Democratic model would be ill suited. Biko suggested the solution must be African, and borne of black Africans, who recognize their entitlement to such freedom under God.

Genocide: An Inexacting Buzz Word

France Rwanda Genocide

Genocide is: Killing members of a group or causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.  It can also be describe inflicting conditions on a group to bring about their destruction, as well as preventing births within the group and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Not to belittle the term, or those who experienced violent and barbaric equivalencies as mentioned above, but by those definitions, genocide occurs here, in our own country, first, and still, with the Indian population and shortly afterwards, the black population.  These demographics have consistently, since the inception of this country, have been subject killing and bodily harm by state sanctioned or popularly led actions; though the brutality of such grievous treatment is in remission, elements of hatred based on race still exist. Genocide prerequisites such as “mental harm” to the group are evidenced in land appropriations, forced relocations and legal codes meant to stifle and isolate. The lack of reparations is obvious; the United States still exists: there is no Iroquois Confederacy or Cherokee nation or a sovereign Lakota territory within American borders.

I say this because the term fails.  Its non-usage in the face of obvious atrocities, such as those in Bosnia or Rwanda, almost shows that the term is only applicable so long as the victim is white, Jewish or a popular form of Christianity.  Inaction almost wiped out the Jews and Armenians, and UN idleness in the last few instances that fit the genocide definition, almost resulted in the same for their respective peoples.  The use of the label is inexact, although, I’m sure, a sincere attempt to redress what could just be simply put: barbarism. I say we forget about the nomenclature, and work to stamp out barbarism in our own society and others we are in league with, rather than deliberating incessantly over the term ‘genocide’ and when and if each situation deserves to be legally defined as such.

Vatican: The Ear of One Billion

split-vatican-0314

There are over billion Catholics in the world and crowds still flock to see the Pope every where he goes.  To have the ear of a billion people is a great feat.  Even though the worth of the Papacy and its message are questioned in the media, it’s followers keep the Vatican around.  Though considered conservative, the Pope’s messages are respected.  To summarize: if it wasn’t relevant (as it is) in so many people’s lives, it would have disappeared long ago.

Challenge Yourself: Don’t Just Follow

Flockofsheep

What do you say to a group which claims to represent us all? What happens when the suggested policies of that group stands against our interests, and taints the validity of our cause?  It will continue, interminably, if we wait for a SINGLE leader to arise. In such a case, we will merely be elevating a singular person. We should all become leaders.

Our responsibility should not be delegated. If we, ourselves, do not rise up to that which must be faced, it will only prolong the tribulation.

WW1: “Over the Top” Determination

British soldiers going over the top, Western Front 1918.

British soldiers going over the top, Western Front 1918.

Most of the Allied force in that battle consisted of eager British volunteers. In one of the bloodiest battles in history, the fact that men kept “going over the top” to a coin toss chance of death against entrenched German forces.

To re-take French land, no less.

This a testament to determination and commitment to what they were fighting for. The Allied troops had poor equipment, little experience, dismal leadership, and clearly lacked the strength and resources had by their enemy…yet they kept going in the face of death, persevered, and changed the tide of WW1.

Political Inquisitions & Dubious Charges

Some of the Inquisitions charges were laughable.

ex: Joan d’Arc’s official charge of heresy was a for a ‘relapse’…in wearing pants.

tndHG5e_Jan_Hus_executionThe inquisitions were just as much a political issue as they were religious issues. I noticed as much in my study of Jan Hus, a priest and philosopher who was executed by burning in 1415. During the time of the Great Schism, when there was more than one claim to the papacy, Hus was jailed for speaking out against indulgences and claiming that Jesus Christ, instead of the pope, was the “supreme judge.” This was at a time when the Papacy was extremely corrupt. Antipope John XXIII (a claimant to the position) ordered an investigation, and eventually a trial occurred, considered unfair for its time. He was sentenced and burned for heresy, even though he made a compelling and rational case for himself. His death wasn’t so much about the supremacy of Christianity: If he hadn’t questioned the indulgence system, or the legitimacy of the pope, the trial may not have ever occurred.

Elite Guided Revolution of Third Estate

Pillar10-History-French-Revolution-Delacroix

Liberty Leading the People

Even thought the third estate was comprised of shopkeepers, lawyers, etc. their political responsibilities encompassed that of the French peasants. I found it an unfortunate failure of the Revolution that they “represented the outlook of the elite” at the Estates General in 1789.

Had power not been claimed by the bourgeoisie (in the interests of the nobility), but for the whole of the People, many of the tensions that continued might have been quelled instead of the free-for-all that took place.

Instead, we are left another historical example of revolution stopped cold by the self focused usurpations of the middle class (ex: more land, more money, more power)…revolution presents opportunity. The question is, can you get that many people to behave rationally?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Leading_the_People