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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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There is no God, there are no malevolent aliens here too save us from ourselves. There is only us!
Those are the foundation of my advocacy. I’m not saying there is no god - just not the kind of god you are thinking about - but that god isn’t here to save us - per se…..
Anyway, this is the life I lead, human beings die but the ideas continue. If someone who was my opposite gets a deadly disease and is probably to die soon - that person could nevertheless contact me and have me continue that advocacy till I find someone to hand it off to. There is some reality.
So,we are a bit late - but here is your movie revue for a Saturday night:
https://youtu.be/S4rGnCSrglg
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2024 6:17 am Post subject: |
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Here is a life lesson - as I soak in the tub:
I’m now in life overtime. I tuned 65 last month but don’t feel it - everyone says I don’t look it. I did get one birthday card from my sister otherwise it’s like that birthday never happened. So I keep going like nothing happened until I can’t anymore or it makes sense to retire. Anyway, here is the deal.
Almost everyone I knew that plays it safe, sort of regrets it. Not going after things when young be it in business or school or romance or career - you name it - there is almost always regret when you get older. You only get one trip around the block of life and the years go by faster than you think. I’m not saying you should be irresponsible going after your dreams, but if it makes sense intellectually you should seriously consider it. If you are not a businessman then don’t start a business, but if you work in a business where you grew with that business and know all the parts of it - and always thought about running your own because the owner keeps making mistakes - then in this case you could seriously consider this and take the plunge. That’s just one example.
What I’m saying is that everything has a price and playing it safe also has a price in missed opportunities that make life worth living. If you need to play it safe because of your life situation then there is always that - but if you have a free hand, it is easier to pick up the pieces of a failed attempt then to wonder what could have been.
You only live life once and living that life is always a cheat as it always plays out faster than you know.
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2024 6:14 am Post subject: |
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That last month took forever!
I was shocked to realize that it wasn’t even a month since I was at the UN but it actually was a month when I landed there. I can tell how active I am by how slow time perceived feels. So much of the summer sped fast and then came to a grinding halt when that United Nations trip became a reality. So I had that trip and my birthday and the Worldwide Vote apps and the FOFSTOCK 2 applications and now the feasibility meetings. And all of that slowed the clock down plenty.
YDS/Sankofa
Anyway, a new week. I rust proofed the Mustang and now it is the Enclave - it just never ends. Waterproofing the brick work on the home front. Like I said before, the first of the FOFSTOCK 2 meetings happens on Friday. Things are playing out. I’m also ditching websites as nobody goes there anymore. I’m keeping the ones for the companies and the websites for artists that are actively a part of the organization. The websites for the Positive Mandate for Humanity and the Worldwide Vote. Then there is the idea that we might move to Sheppard Avenue in Toronto if our present office does not move a bit in price.
Sam with the original FOFSTOCK contract for
YDS!
Lots of stuff happening lately…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 6:33 am Post subject: |
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Sam is officially on the FOFSTOCK 2 train…..
This brings a new dynamic as Sam “cut her chops” on smaller bar and tavern events and gives us possible one or two side events to the main event. So this starts to look like a “poor man’s” NXNE but we may do YDS - so it’s actually closer than you think!
Anyway, our first dose of reality comes Friday. Costs have risen in 13 years, insurance is 4X more expensive for one quarter of the coverage. But for a family friendly crowd I probably only need the minimum. So maybe only double the cost. Nathan Phillips Square gives you the venue for free but you pay for everything else. For YDS you have to get a councillor to wave the fees. I have a ball park figure in my head and that will be the “go/no-go” decision maker.
I’m not insane to be doing this but there is more than cost going on here. One is that I’ve been in the music business for 20 years! Next is that we are one if not the only independent corporate record label left in Canada. I know we can now operate in the States, but in Canada - that is the score. We now have FOFSTOCK - a not for profit advocacy and concert corporation to get live acts out there - a real no “AI” zone. But still every one harps on the cost.
Here in the thing. It’s not about the cost. It’s not about the hassle or time. It’s sort of doing the right thing for something you created and a philosophy of free expression you advocate on at the highest levels. But if I’m truthful - it’s mostly because I can! I actually know all the ins and outs of putting in a music festival!
I can do this while the others can’t. If they could they would do it but they can’t. I actually can, so much so that I have to put guardrails around a no/yes decision. And it’s not a flex-move thing, the Canadian music scene needs it! Perhaps if all goes well others may put their fear aside and follow - hopefully. But yes, at the end of the day the real reason I am doing this - is because I can. If Canada fails then there is New York. YDS is just the first venue, if everything works out then we go back there, but it’s just the first venue - so keep that reality in mind. I can make FOFSTOCK 2 happen but I’m not crazy either…..
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/JaaT_HRb4GU?si=X1gs3EpifUVzoTS8 |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 9:12 am Post subject: |
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The business address will stay the same as I renegotiated the contract.
7030 Woodbine
We have to list and present all the ways you can. it’s and time to present the first proposition question.
It’s time to prepare for the YDS meeting on Friday.
Busy, busy, busy…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 6:50 am Post subject: |
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We now have all the different ways to vote on UN propositions:
Jessica King wrote: | Many Ways to Vote on the Worldwide Vote!
By Jessica King
There are many ways to vote on United Nations Propositions via the Worldwide Vote:
1. Google Play App Store download!
2. Apple App Store Download!
3. Worldwidevote.org Website voting!
4. Direct Android APK Sideload (for privacy phones such as de-Googled phones)!
As you can see we have all the bases covered to allow anyone in the world to vote in the Worldwide Vote! In fact our worldwide vote system may be the first truly universal access online voting system ever!
Happy Voting!
https://worldwidevote.org |
I have finally changed the old proposition to a newer one - and you will have to download the app or try one of the other methods to find out what the question is…..
The current downloadable APK for side-loading is found in the second page of the worldwidevote.org main enter page in the top banner called “Vote Apk”.
When the vote statistics are tabulated and presented at some UN event - the worldwide vote concept will have been validated!
Exciting stuff!
https://youtu.be/kxlYbwKuElg?si=jgX-eZQSZZfuWtFA |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2024 6:47 am Post subject: |
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I talk to YDS today.
I actually thought a lot about the whole thing last night and that is all sorted out in my head. We shall just see what happens…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2024 6:43 am Post subject: |
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So the Friday meeting at the Square was just a preliminary meeting and we will have to wait a few weeks for them to get back to us with a preliminary estimate. And that is where it stands as of now.
Presenting the idea at UN Headquarters in 2017!
The big news is that written statement for the Commission for Social Development, where we will release our vote stats on our Worldwide Vote on our old question of access of the general public at the UN. That should happen in a week. The inclusion of the newest data means that everyone in the world had access to the question - perhaps the first time ever in a practical sense - and that vote is communicated to the UN by an NGO in consultative status with the United Nations for improved policy making.
Worldwide Voting app on an iPhone!
So this is an early form of “proof of concept” as now everyone on earth has direct access to vote in many different ways. In this way the votes are fairer than before as everyone can now access the apps and websites. Accessing the apps is easier than finding out about some obscure website - so we really have something practical here!
Our Android App on my Pixel 7!
That’s a direct link to 6.2 billion people that can vote at the click of a few buttons on their phone or computer! Also bear in mind that the rest of the population are children - so we have really scored on accessibility to a worldwide vote! But again, the big deal is access of that vote to the United Nations. We have that with IAIJ - so when I hit “send” on our written statement it will be a done deal - a worldwide vote on a global issue of interest to all communicated to the United Nations to help with policy making for the betterment of all. I should also note there is a big world summit about the Commission for Social Development in 2025. That doesn’t mean this experiment gets anywhere fast - but for an individual like myself who tried something everyone thought would go nowhere - then is is a huge score for myself and the general population!
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2024 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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I took Saturday off.
I always feel guilty doing that. Watched a movie: Midsommar - it was ok…..
Sunday is the written statement…..
Goodnight…..
(NSFW)
https://youtu.be/DB-Fw3P_97I?si=hXHAvok0CNpKZWxd |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2024 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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I basically took the weekend off.
I did get the basic written statement for the United Nations started so there is that. The idea is just to relax and rejuvenate. I have a personality that just likes to go but perhaps human physiology needs a break - so I reluctantly coalesce to this possible need. But the big deal is getting a Dewalt battery to replace a dead one I have dirt cheap at Home Depot. Going there to get it now.
Postscript: I got to the store and showed the guy the reasonably priced battery. He didn’t really look at the phone but asked how many I wanted! I said just one and he looked confused like everyone was buying a lot at a time. Anyway he told me to stay right where I was - apparently they don’t leave these batteries even on sale behind the grates like the others. Finally he shows up with one smiling and all that. I told him thanks and I just needed in cheap battery and he told me that battery wasn’t “cheap” - I just meant inexpensive unlike the others. So some of you women out there are wondering why all the drama about getting a new battery for power tools - it’s just a guy thing and we will leave it at that…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:45 am Post subject: |
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I’m making much progress of that written statement…..
Realize in the end that statement is proof of concept for that Worldwide Vote idea I disseminated there in 2017. The vote is easily available to everyone now and our first vote is discussed and presented to the United Nations in that written statement.
So the system works which is a small victory for me in a way. It is also strange as to how much effort was needed to get this far. Our lives are too short and time runs out before you can really get things done. Anyway that is what continues to happen now.
Supposedly nothing happens at YDS/Sankofa for another week or two. Then we get some feedback on Nathan Phillips Square. I also mention again how. nice it would be to have more life to work this business through - but there is that limited lifespan again.
Also: Remember the Positive Mandate for Humanity? That is such a big deal but you have to pick priorities. Anyway that will start ramping up soon…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 6:02 am Post subject: |
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I keep posting here every day - but is the experiment finished?
This started in 2003 as a forum and then as a blog of sorts in 2005. That is over 20 years and twenty years on this old version of PHP. Now I notice all my contemporaries from those early internet days are disappearing from the net. I guess some of just got old or died off maybe. People just don’t do social media on some obscure website like me.
The reason why I never migrated to some Meta owned platform or even X for example - is that sooner or later you break some rule - and the rules change on a whim and change constantly - and all your posts disappear, or worse, you reform what you talk about to the rules of the platform. When you go to other people’s platform, what you post becomes theirs and you have to cripple your free speech on their terms. So I do mine here.
Trust me, all it takes is one complaint and Facebook or Youtube or wherever - they will just delete your content at a moments notice. So if you are at the United Nations talking about something unpopular like a worldwide vote, and you are on some big platform, expect your account to be deleted due to some complaint.
Sure it is nice to have all those followers you have on the big social platforms. But do something they don’t like and you are gone or the followers disappear along with the algorithm links because you don’t go by their terms of service. It ties into advertising as anything controversial and advertisers don’t want their ads anywhere near that, so what you want to say gets tempered by advertisers - have fun with that reality. In the end those followers and views are nothing but pixels on your monitor. Very few people get any money back from those platforms. So why exactly are you there?
For me it’s better this way….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 5:48 am Post subject: |
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I hate to sound like a broken record but the written statement to the UN is mostly done now. Now I just keep looking at it for mistakes - then I send it in.
I also checked the tunings in all my guitars and amazingly they are all still in tune. Yes I’m still into guitars. It still looks like a good idea to get them all before I retired and I’m now over a year and a half into this - so I have sort of beaten the odds.
Most of it is done, but I should just finish rustproofing my car and move on to my dad’s before the weather gets miserable.
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/E1RN-yghPBg?si=qCJfEvid_TMFBgT5 |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2024 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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Some updates…..
Forums are back up…..
My PRS Hollowbody II!
I’ve started fooling around with the guitars again. I actually have the time to do this now. Just checked tunings and all are good!
I mowed my lawn for the last time this year. I’ll do some more waterproofing and stuff like that and then hunker down for the winter.
No response from YDS yet. In a little over a week Nathan Phillips Square closes bookings. As for Central Park it turns out they have the Summerstage Music Festival on June 28, which was one of the original alternate dates. This is a big festival open to all forms of music. That being said, this may nix plans for a July 1st music festival and on a Tuesday before July 4 festivities on Friday - there is just too much going on. I’Il will keep an open mind but it doesn’t look good right now for Canada Day there in New York.
It turns out you could use our APK voting app on Windows 11 PCs and Laptops. I haven’t tried it but it seems you can do it like you can in a Mac! No guarantees on the size of lettering when doing this though…..
Presenting the idea at UN Headquarters in 2017!
I want that written statement done and off by the weekend. When I hit the send button to the United Nations, we would have proof of concept. That’s a big - but personal - thing for me. The goal was originally just disseminate the idea there, but it turned out I had to do it all on my own. The satisfaction is that it’s done and running now.
Goodnight…..
(NSFW)
https://youtu.be/YjLoP6vg1fE?si=vnjG_WK4mRqwD94Z |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 7884 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 7:09 am Post subject: |
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Hopefully a non-eventful weekend.
After our forum outage on Friday we will backup all the forum files again.
I’ll start reading the Written Statement for the United Nations and when I get sick of that I’ll just send it in and then spot mistakes still in the statement. This is no big deal as only a handful of people read them before publishing them - but it is the consequence of sending the statement in that matters. When I hit the send button a worldwide vote took place and the results were tabulated and that information gets the eyes of the United Nations for better policy making going forward - and that is proof of concept and our first successfully delivered vote! I really just want to send it and move on, but we will look at it a few more times.
Next up is renewed advocacy for the Positive Mandate for Humanity.
Aside from that, this weekend is just getting all the homes ready for winter…..
Goodnight….. |
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