Help! What should I volunteer for next?

I had planned on writing a few more posts about the incoming Trump administration over the break, but have instead channeled my time and energy into finding an organization to volunteer with.

This is more challenging than I thought it would be, and I am open to suggestions. Here is my thought process:

• Coming out of the US election, I decided I wasn't really in a position to a) claim I knew anything or b) complain/feel dejected as I hadn't put any time or work into shaping the result.
• After reflecting some more, I've decided that the break I've taken from the type of volunteering or work I was doing in politics is over. 
• In finding a new organization to volunteer for, I'm looking for the following things (in order of priority):

1. Are they effective? Do they have clear, easily digestable objectives. Do they have strategy and tactics that they stick to.
• For example, I've ruled 123Guelph out as, after emailing back and forth, I can't really tell what they are trying to achieve and how they are trying to achieve it. 
2.  Are they working towards something I believe in?
• For example: I wouldn't volunteer for the group(s) protesting Nestle in Guelph, as I think there are more pressing water issues in Canada, and the impact of those issues are on marginalized and oppressed populations that don't have a very powerful voice.
3. Do I feel a good fit with the organization?
• I don't want to repeat my Green Party experience, where it turned out that most members and leaders of the party were committed to ideals that weren't winning elections, and my involvement usually ended up in damaging conflict as I was committed to winning. 
4. Does the project make an impact on a large scale? (and use the skills I've built in this area)
• I already have a role with the Guelph Community Boating Club that fits a fun/local niche. I don't want a project that would essentially duplicate this (e.g. Hiking Trails, Big Brothers/Sisters, Guelph Hospital, etc.)

I'm not entirely sure what this means, and am open to suggestions. Here are some of the ideas I have: 

• I'm meeting with Fair Vote Canada, as I'm a fan of eliminating FPTP voting as soon as possible...but my perception is that they seem more interested in discussions and rallies, which don't seem to have had much of an impact on elected officials. 
• I could find a potential candidate for the Municipal election in 2018 and help them run. But in Guelph that may be tough. If the seat isn't open, and they aren't aligned with Mayor Guthrie's vision, it's a very high degree of difficulty to win.
• I could find a vulnerable currently elected official who I like, and help them win re-election, but I'm not sure there's anyone who meets that definition.
• In order to prevent Kelli Leitch's Trump-style politics from being in the national conversation after the Conservative leadership race, I could follow the lead of a few of my friends and volunteer for Michael Chong, who I have a lot of respect for.
• With a lack of meaningful local reporting on politics, I could approach someone like Adam Donaldson and guelphpolitico to ask if I can help in coverage of local politics. This wouldn't really use the skills I've built around point 4 above, but could be interesting and fills a void.

Feel free to comment with any suggestions you may have for me! Has to fit around my job at the University :).

New National Basketball Association Collective Bargaining Agreement seems to be good news for the Raptors

Knowing that this blog is where people come to for their up to date information on collective bargaining and the National Basketball Association and, specifically, the Raptors...

Of the facts reported on the new CBA, it appears to be great news for the Raptors:
1) The best players, worth the Maximum contracts allowed, get a small pay bump from 30% to 35% of the team's salary cap.
This will really only impact Kyle Lowry, as he's likely to get the max or just under at some point in the Winter or summer. I can't imagine him leaving the Raptors, his family is reported to be really well settled, he loves his teammates, and he's not likely to join the Cavs, Warriors, Clippers or Spurs...so...so far so good. DeRozan and Lowry are the only two max level players the Raptors are likely to have for the next three seasons.

1b) It became a more difficult choice for players like Durant to leave their original team and join a super team. This makes the formation of another Eastern Conference super team unlikely (sorry Boston).
Their original team, assuming the player is an actual star, can re-sign the player for more money and more years earlier in the contract.

2) The minimum contracts for rookie players are going up. As is the minimum contract for veterans. This is going to make it difficult for teams trying to catch the Raptors to get better.

This is great news in the sense that the Raptors contract situation is more or less set for the next two or three seasons. Teams who are looking to acquire players are going to be really squeezed out by the new CBA: Their first year players are going to be eating up a higher percentage of the salary cap, as will their star player(s) leaving less middle ground for veteran acquisitions. Free agent signing are going to become even more rare. Once again: it's kind of addition by subtraction for the Raptors: They don't have any glaring needs or big acquisitions to make. Teams looking to catch them do, and it just got harder to do that.

2b) One consequence of this will be any player signed between summer 2014 and summer 2016 is likely to have a very valuable contract. Players like Ross, Patterson, Valunciunas, Carroll, and Joseph are going to be incredibly valuable to the Raptors as they'll be getting paid way under market value. This also makes a combination of them plus draft picks a really attractive package for a team who may be looking to trade a star player. Personally: I hope the Raptors don't make a super aggressive move, not much point in getting a Cousins/George or even Milsap if they're going to leave within a year of trading for them and the Raps give up incredible value.

3) The Raptors have drafted really well recently:
Poetl, Nogeura, Powell, Siakam and Delon Wright all look to have NBA player potential, none look to be busts. They're going to get more playing time, more money, and complement the star players well.
The new CBA increases the maximum roster size by two slots, and creates two-way contracts with minor league teams for two players on each roster. All the signs from the Raptors 905 (the minor league team), are that they're incredibly well coached and a great incubator of talent.

4) So, if you believe that the Raptors team is good enough that they're one Cavalier injury away from winning the Eastern Conference playoffs...then it looks like they're going to be in this position for a few years.

So, three more years or so of: Lowry/Joseph/Wright, DeRozan/Ross, Carrol/Powell, Patteron/Sullinger/Siakam, Valuncianas/Bebe/Poetl? While other teams will have a hard time improving quickly? Yes please.

We're Doomed: Everybody count to 3

Here's a story that isn't getting much attention (I think):
In 2011, the Republicans held a primary election to select their opponent to run against Barack Obama. There were 14 candidates, this is the story of one of the losing candidates.

Rick Perry became the Governor of Texas in 2000, following the election of George W. Bush to the Presidency. He left a complex legacy: taking credit for economic growth that exactly mirrored the boom and bust of oil prices,  becoming a/the US leader in wind energy, guiding the state to have the highest percentage of uninsured citizens (meaning many people who couldn't afford health care), supporting the teaching of intelligent design alongside evolution, making abortions more difficult to access, against gay marriage and generally homophobic, killed 278 people via execution...

And so, based on this record, he decided he was the man to unseat Barack Hussein Obama at the end of his first term of President. He was initially viewed to be a friend of the tea party, charismatic,  had the support of the George W. Bush political leadership team, and for the very briefest of moments: Rick Perry was the front runner and likely Republican nominee for President. Sadly (for him), he flat lined to last place and dropped out almost overnight, with Mitt Romney going on to win the nomination.

How did it happen so fast? This debate on the night of November 9th, 2011. He attempts to name three agencies he would eliminate in the government during a live debate. This was part of his "stump" speech: the speech that a candidate gives at every event, only adding in a paragraph or two to personalize for each event. He had listed the three agencies dozens, if not hundreds, of time. It is difficult to overstate the impact cutting the three agencies would have. Let alone the thousands of people who were regularly being told they would lose their jobs.

He only remembered the first two. It didn't go well. The agency he forgot (since it isn't actually mentioned in the video?): Energy.

Last week Rick Perry was selected by President Elect Trump to be the head of the Energy Agency (the Energy Secretary).