So When Is The Rest of Media in Canada Going to Have Anti-Spam Legislation?

It is now law that anyone that has a mailing list for customers and such in Canada has to have confirmation from those people that they want to receive emails from the business.  The Canadian Anti-Spam Law came into effect in 2014.  One part of what is considered SPAM is unwanted commercial digital messages.

It is not the purpose of this blog to go into the subject of this law or SPAM in general.

What I want to know is: "When will other media have to have my consent to send me unsolicited marketing messages?"

This included telephone, TV, Radio, and Print.  I mean really... why is everyone just picking on the digital age?

I never gave consent to receive oodles of junk and admail, or the tons of flyers in my newspaper.  In addition... show me one place where I signed up for phone or tv, that I gave consent to be shown unwanted commercials or get unwanted phone calls?

Sound ridiculous?  It is sort of...  But think about it.. where is the fair business practice and ethics here?  Digital media messages, flyers and such have to have consent, but print, tv, radio and telephone media do not?  Not a fair at all.

Here's the kicker... you are not paying for services, as a rule, from the person sending your marketing messages digitally... but you are paying for your phone, radio, tv and print in most cases.  So the ones you pay don't need consent, but the ones you don't pay do need consent?!?

It seems a little strange to me.

It should be all one way or the other.  Not picking and choosing who gets the restriction and who doesn't.  Personally, I go for the option that I can opt-out of flyers and admail.

After you really think about it... what about you?

Rob

The Essex School Board Memo About Students Opting Out of Public Remembrance Day Gathering

Okay... so... the infamous Essex County School Board Memo that some are saying stated it was for Muslims and some are stating it was for those fearful for their children's safety.  If you go by the memo text itself.... the memo states "that some families may be reluctant to have their children attend your location municipality ceremonies."  Which really does not state a reason why the parents would be reluctant.  In the next paragraph the memo talks of images available that "reflect Canada's diverse military and to honour those families who are, and have been our allies in conflicts that we as a nation, have participated."

The memo also states "Remembrance Day is a wonderful ‘teachable moment’ – and the Canadian War Museum has lots to offer with resources that are reflective of our Canadian nation – and our equally diverse local
population."

Now to me this would infer minorities... without stating which ones.

HOWEVER in the links included, besides a link to the War Museum Tool Kit for education which is the first link given, the memo then gives two Muslim Canadian Soldier links. The first one is to a blog called the Mad Padre and was to go to a page about a Canadian Muslim Soldier Guide.  Coincidentally that page no longer exists.  The second link goes to a web site that is about a Muslim Canadian Soldier.

These two links are then followed by a Google Image search for Aboriginal Canadian Soldiers.is is then followed  by a Google search link for Aboriginal Canadian Soldiers images.  This then followed by a Google Image Search link for African Canadian Soldiers.  The last link is for a Google Search for Asian Canadian Soldiers.

The last 3 links don't make sense to me.  Aboriginal... Asian... or Africans are not the ones on the hot seat right now.  Muslims are.  So... why have links to the images?  Also... the first two links to Muslim sites...are not for Google Image Searches... they are to actual sites about Muslims.

In my opinion... these links were not there in the original memo and were added as part of covering it up... or... were included to try and cover up what the memo was about.

In my opinion... again this is mine... this memo was for Muslims, but did not come right out and say it.  If it was not for Muslims or minorities in any way... then why include links to any sites or google image searches at all.  The only link that would have been included was the link to the War Museums Education Tool Kit.

Finally why links to Muslim sites...why not to India... or Pakistan... all the
other links were to nationalities or race.  The Muslim links were the only religious link included.

Now the memo does talk of the school providing alternative Remembrance Day activities at the school for those students who may not be comfortable being at a public Remembrance Day gathering.  But, they are not talking about alternative events for all students, just students that come from a diverse background... specifically Muslim, Asian, African and Aboriginal.

This memo was badly done.  They could have just as easily sent out a memo to schools referring to all students and having alternative Remembrance Day Service at the school due to recent events.  There was no need to talk about diverse backgrounds, Muslims, Africans, Asians and Aboriginals.

Everyone will have a different opinion probably based on their political beliefs.  Mine are based on logic.  I have no political affiliations.  I am just a Canadian...  Who likes to dabble in Investigative Reporting.

If you would like to see for your self... here is a link to what is supposed to be the original memo.  Look at it and make your own conclusion.

http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1357145/remembrance-day-memo.pdf

R.

Advice to Bands - Fairs, Festivals and Ribfests

Just finished playing at and doing the sound for a local service organization rib fest.  A couple of observations that may be of some value to bands...

First of all a few points.  Unless you are a headliner that attracts tens of thousands of attendees, you are a basically a filler.  The ten to maybe 50 people you brought don't even amount to 1% of the crowd attendance.  You should thank your lucky stars to even be picked to play at such an event and get paid!  It is not the festival or rib fest.  It is the festival.  It is all about the service organization or community or promoter.  They are there to raise funds.  They raise funds by revenue by whatever they sell... Tickets... Beer... Ribs... What ever.  You are an expense.... An overhead. 

Here are some do's...

1. Have a video of a live performance online for talent buyers to see.  Not a music video.  Talent buyers want to see what you look like on stage.
2. Really consider whatever money they offering.  Most have budgets that they have to stick to.  Any money is good money.  It is better then not playing.  Having to travel far distances is totally different.  Being an unknown you should probably expect not to be offered to much money, unless you have a unique act, this includes travel money.
3. If you are hired, promote being at the event as much as you can promoting the organization/community/promoter that has hired you.
4. Show up an hour ahead of the time from when you are supposed to start,
5. Make sure you greet organizers and thank them for the opportunity.  Also great anyone you know... People in the crowd... Other bands... Stage and sound crew... Etc
6. Get on stage and ready to go as quickly as possible.  Most of these events want as much live music they can get as quick as they can get it.  If you take to long to start, you might not get invited back.
7. When you are done playing, get off the stage as quick as you can so the next band can get ready.
8. Have business cards.. CD... Banners... Swag... What ever you have.  Our band has always gotten more gigs, gained fans, and had more internet radio plays after we have played such an event.
9. After you are finished playing be sure to thank organizers again and say you hope they will will have you back next year.
10. Hang around after you play to watch other bands and greet more people.

Here are some don'ts...

1. If a back line is supplied, do not insist on using your own drum kit.  Doing this slows the flow of bands down and will get you not invited back.
2. Don't be a diva.. Don't insist on having everything  perfect.  This is reserved for big name acts.  Play the best you can under the conditions you have.
3. Do not allow any fan, manager, what ever to go over and tell the sound engineer their job.  The event liked that person or persons enough to have them do the sound, so respect that.
4. Do not complain if you to start early, late, get interrupted, or have your performance cut short.  The event has a good reason and its about them... Not you.
5. Do not complain or bad mouth the organizers or event over the microphone.
6. Do not send an email after the event complaining about some thing.

The above are sure ways not to get invited back.  Also, service organizations, communities, or promoters communicate.  If you are deemed to be a diva or trouble making band, that will spread amongst talent buyers and you will soon find it hard to get a gig... No matter how talented you may be.

Based on what I observed during this event, there are at least two bands that will probably not be invited back.  Thankfully, there are a good number that probably will be invited back.

Shameless promotion time... Visit our websites at...

www.lorrainedavies.com

www.toodrunktofishband.com

www.themacsmusic.net

Take care...

Rob

They Should Be Called Stupid Traps...

They should be called 'Stupid Traps,' not 'Speed Traps!"

I have been driving the highways a lot this weekend and saw something again  that I have seen so many times before done by other drivers. When people driving and speeding see a police cruiser over at the side of the road with their lights flashing and a vehicle pulled over, they hit their brakes and slow down.  Why?  If it is a speed trap and they are speeding, then they have already been hit by the radar and if there is police available to pull them over, they will.  Quickly slowing down is not going to help a bit.  If there is just the one cruiser there, they are busy with the person they currently have pulled over and are not likely to leave them to chase after another vehicle, especially when they are not operating their radar device.

All the driver of the vehicle is going to accomplish is losing control of their vehicle, or, causing the vehicle behind them to run into them.  So don't do it!  It would be best if you don't speed, but if you do, don't make matters worse by hitting your breaks! If you do, you have just been caught in a stupid trap!

R.

I Am A Visible Minority

That's right... I said it... I am a visible minority... For those that know me or have seen my picture you may wonder why I would make such a statement.  For those that do and don't know me... read on...

I am a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant Straight Happy Healthy Sane Monogamous Canadian Born Male...  You can't get much of a bigger minority then that.

There are no special schools... grants... loans... mortgages... help... opportunities... government or corporate hiring guidelines or assistance... new to the country assistance... front of the line immigration rules  for me... I miss them all.  Anything I get... I have to work harder then anybody else out there to get them.  If I complain... I get called racist... or politically incorrect... or something like that.  I none of those... Well... I'm not racist(that's another blog)... but I am somewhat politically incorrect.  Being politically correct means not fighting for your beliefs... speaking your mind.. or trying to right wrongs... and that is definitely not me.  Actually... I am totally politically incorrect.

Also...  I can now add being over 50 years old to the list....  another nail and the coffin of help and opportunity.

Oh sure... there are others like me...  They just trek on and shake their head at what their government are doing, and, what others are let being done.

The only way this country of ours is going to be saved is if this group, and we will add females to it, will get together and form their own political party to challenge the current ones.  The current major political parties are watered down and have sold their souls to anyone that would give them a vote.  Our heritage and our freedoms of what we once had are gone.  The only we we are going to get them back, if we even can, is to fight for them... speak our minds.. get others involved.. and become politically incorrect.  Otherwise, we might as well join the Apathy Party of Canada(www.apathycanada.ca)  

So how about it... you in?  Other minorities welcome... 

For now though... next time you are filling in a job application and they have a check box that asks if you are a visible minority... check it.

Talk soon... R.