steve kwan user experience designer

If you trust CNN...

(July 22nd, 2007 - 11:08PM)

Maybe you should compare the BBC's coverage of the Turkish election...

(From the BBC website)

...with CNN's coverage...

(From the CNN website)

Spot the differences? Here are some:

1. The CNN article makes sure to mention that the party is Islamist-rooted in the title.
2. The BBC used a photo of the Turkish PM, whereas CNN went with a Turkish mob.
3. The CNN front page mentions that many are "unnerved" by the winning party's "appeal to religious supporters."
4. The CNN article makes front-page reference to an invasion of Iraq, whereas the BBC has not emphasized this.

What Canada means to me

(July 13th, 2007 - 11:05AM)

Some belated thoughts on Canada's 140th birthday.

The other day, I was leaving the gym and I saw an older man with a big turban and a long, flowing beard. This in itself is not an unusual thing - at least not in Vancouver - but what was unusual was that he was wearing shades, a leather jacket, and was sitting at a stoplight on a Harley with ape-hanger handlebars. When the light turned green, he floored it and peeled away, his long beard flapping behind him.

I thought this was a funny sight, and I'm not sure that a turban is effective headgear in the event of a bike accident, but this story really represents what I love about my country. In Canada, we get to see cultures from all across the world mixing and mingling in new and interesting ways. And for the most part, we encourage it. That's not to say that we're without growing pains, but overall Canadians are a very tolerant people, and we define ourselves not by racial background, but by shared goals and ethics.

Most of our population growth comes from immigration, not childbirth. And unlike our US neighbours, we don't fight it: we embrace it. We don't define "being Canadian" by ethnicity, but rather, by a desire for peace and mutual prosperity.

Canada is, in my opinion, a great example to the rest of the world. It's what a country should be. And especially with the horrible things happening in the United States, Canada is quickly becoming a role model for other nations.

Happy birthday, Canada.

The site's back up

(July 8th, 2007 - 2:00PM)

You might've noticed that there was some downtime earlier. Shaw decided to change my IP address. It's fixed.

Today will be my 52nd consecutive day at the gym!

A bullet to the brain

(July 1st, 2007 - 11:28AM)

"O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving breast! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."

--1984, by George Orwell

I gave in. I am now a Facebook user.

Here's my profile.