2010.09.01

Social media and Canadian Politics

In follow up to my February report House of Tweets which examined on the use of Twitter by Canadian MPs (see also Twitter is not an official government channelAn update on the House of Tweets and listen to a Round table on Twitter and Canadian Politics), I’m working on new report that examines how MPs have incorporated all major social media in their public engagement. I plan to release the report before the House of Commons begins its fall session on September 20.

In the meantime, here’s a refresher of where things were in my original report.

2010.08.31

Self-importance

I routinely have a Starbucks coffee with colleagues in the early morning. On nice days we’ll sit outside to chat and watch cars park, or attempt to do so, in the metered spots in front of us. Some people impress us with their parking prowess; others impress us with their struggles. Yesterday, we entered new territory.

While sitting at our table, we watched a red Sunfire pull into the rear-most parking spot of the line. The next spot up was also available and when the driver turned off the ignition, the first three feet of her car were well inside the next space (leaving a good six feet of available space in her own spot). In parking this way, the driver had made it impossible for another car to use the spot (except a Mini as the driver later noted).

As the woman fumbled for change through her purse at the hood of her car, one of my colleagues politely pointed out the situation. The driver immediately responded by saying she was lined up with the meter (she was well past it) to which my colleague replied that bylaw officers measure parking spaces by the painted lines. She stepped back from her car to inspect the painted line before sniping that she had to be on [Parliament] Hill in five minutes and had “far more important things to do than to worry about other people.” This is when she pointed out that a Mini could fit in the available space.

I find it particularly interesting that certain personalities succeed by rationalizing their actions on internalized importance — they do better by assigning their mistakes to others rather than accept responsibility for their actions. For them, this approach applies equally to qualitative and quantitative measures.

Is it their self-importance or the fact they succeed by it that most infuriates the rest of us?

2010.08.30

Make fundraising history

Andrea is currently the number three fundraiser for the Ottawa Run for the Cure, taking place on October 3. Of course, when she first decided to run in support of breast cancer research, she never considered that our amazing communities (online and off) would band together to help her raise $4120 in six weeks. Today’s $155 donation by Paul and Sheri of Little Ray’s Reptile Adventure pushed her to the $4K level, then Kelly and Todd kept things going!

You have 34 days left to become a sponsor.

Make fundraising history! Be one of the people that propels Andrea to the number one fundraiser spot for the first time in her life.

Sponsors so far…

Lee Edward Fodi
Snookie & Norman Lomow
Sheree Fitch
Pam Hunter
Anita Neubert
Bob Goyetche
Kevin Chouinard
Evelina Vezarov
Heather Duggan
Mare Swallow
Todd and Christie Bastianon
Ana-Maria Popescu
Lori-Ann, Curtis & Olivia
Laura Bergen
Paul & Sheri Goulet
Kelly Clavette
Todd Tyrtle
Bob Ledrew
Tanya Snook
Robert McCarty
Richard Christie
Chris Brogan
Tom Tentoglou
Mary Lee Hahn
The Gupta/Gustyn Family
Andrew Quayle
Glen McGregor
Carla Howatt
Anne Wiltshire
Jan Annino
Zetta Elliot
Mitch Joel
Sue Murphy
Carolyn Dittburner
Linda Corsini
Corinne Demas
Kaveh Adel
Heather Jopling
Barbara Reid-Crysler
Geoffrey Butler
Bert and Rhoda Blevis
Armeda Vanderwoude
Wilf and Barb Clavette
Clare Rogers
Denise Doyen
Garry and Kathi Tysick
Stephanie Calmenson and Mark Goldman
Carol Heyer
Diane Greenseid
Cathy Arneson
Nancy Pevey
Lane Smith and Molly Leach
William Flanagan
Orit Fruchtman
Diane DeGroat
Sally Ito
Hugh Brewster
Paul Zelinsky
Tania Carriere & Gerry Gaetz
Marla Frazee
The Sinanan Family
Carol Grannick
Coreen Corcoran
Rich Cantrell
Patricia Kahn
Sriram Venkatarman
Stacey MacNevin
Ebony Haywood
Joan Buzick
Tanglewood Books
Mary Antolovich
Jay Schmidt
Daniele Rossi
The Bonsall/Small Family
Joanne Lennon
Greg & Andree O’Donnell
Betti Stiff
Cher & Mo Willems
The Giassa/Whammond Family
Whitney and John Hoffman

$4120!!!!

$3000!!!

$2000!!

$1000!

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