Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Protest for gay rights
As they appear in the Central Florida Future: "Gay day strikes for equality" and "A Day Without A Gay plans for service".
Since the passage of Florida Amendment no. 2, California Proposition 8, members and supporters of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community seek to illustrate the result of their exclusion.
For those planning to skip work and saving money through abstaining to spend in protest along side the Day Without Gays boycott, A Day Without a Gay: Call in Gay hopes to open a positive discourse through community service.
On Nov. 15, there were national protests on the steps of City Halls in 300 cities across the U.S. organized by a group called Join the Impact: 1 Million Plus for Equality.
On Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, members and supporters of the GLBT community have been asked to boycott the economy by taking off work and forgoing monetary contributions to society.
“Strike!” states the Facebook.com event page prompting 68,523 Facebook users to participate. “Call in gay, shut down your business, or just take the day off. Boycott! Don’t buy anything, spend anything or support the economy.”
David Craig, a partner with Media Nation PMC— a production company based in Los Angeles, came up with the idea in 2005 while working for A&E television and produced the made for TV movie Wedding Wars featuring John Stamos, which aired in 2006. The movie involves a dispute between two brothers over gay marriage that fuels a nationwide strike when a governor refuses to approve gay marriage.
“After the passage of Prop 8 (in Calif.), I sat down and talk to some friends about what we could do other than protest and march, which I support whole heartedly, and discussed the day without gay idea and they all thought it was a good idea,” Craig said. “We posted the event on Facebook and discovered there were about eight other people on Facebook, MySpace and other locations that had the same idea and literally the same day. So we approached all the other organizers and we all agreed to come together all around Dec. 10.”
Sean Hetherington, a personal trainer in West Hollywood, heard about the A Day Without Gays boycott to be held Dec. 10 and wondered how effect it would be. Instead of staying home from work and not spending any money, Hetherington and his boyfriend Aaron Hartzler, came up with the idea of donating that time to community service.
The couple created a Web site, www.daywithoutagay.org, based off of the Join an Impact, a web based grassroots organization with a agenda, and since its Nov. 15 inception the site has generated more than 100,000 hits with postings of volunteer opportunities in every state as well as opportunities in Washington D.C. and internationally in Canada, Turkey and England.
The naming of the event is inspired by the 2004 film A Day Without A Mexican, where California woke one day to find all the 14 million Hispanic population disappeared and the productivity of the state collapsed. On May 1, 2006 a nationwide economic boycott with the moniker A Day Without Immigrants, which help fueled the debate over illegal aliens and the 700 miles of fence to be build on the U.S. Mexican Border.
“What if, just for one day, those who could take off work, DID?” said Hetherington, one of the organizers for A Day Without a Gay. “And instead of staying home feeling hopeless, they went out and did good things for their own LGBT community and/or the greater world to show America that we are compassionate loving people, even in the face of being outcast as separate but equal.”
According to the American Community Survey 2004, 1.34 percent of same-sex couples comprise of Florida’s population. In Orlando, 1.25% of the 1,644,561 population are same sex couples. Furthermore, in Downtown Orlando, 6.07 percent of the 7,979 population are same-sex couples.
“We are gay and lesbian Americans that pay our taxes and hold jobs; buy goods and defend our country and we deserve the same rights that everyone else has, that’s the message,” Craig said.
Amendment no. 2 passed with 61.9 percent of voters. Backers of the Amendment such as Florida4Marriage state the amendment will protect children in a blanket support of man plus woman equals marriage and to prevent children from being exposed to the gay community. According to Say No 2, the Amendment prevents health care and pension benefits plans for civil unions, pertaining mostly to elderly couples. A clause to the Amendment prevents judges from overturning the law.
“We read about the national boycott of the US economy and the work force, and support it, but wanted to add a service element to it so that efforts were still going back into the non-profit economy,” Hetherington said via e-mail. “Every time someone holds up a soup ladle at a homeless shelter on Dec 10, we hope a camera catches it for the news, and we hope that those images help change the hearts and minds of people on the fence about the LGBT community.”
Many groups in Orlando contributed to campaigning against Amendment no. 2 to no avail, but intend to continue to voice their concerns against it.
According to the Web site, there are “30 states where individuals can still be fired simply for being gay or lesbian,” and for those in fear of losing their jobs, the site offers other ways to participate, by spreading the word.
“The outcome of the election where a majority of voters voted yes for Amendment 2 was devastating for those who worked tirelessly to get people to vote no,” said
Dr. Joyce Hamilton Henry, director for the Central Regional Office of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
Henry continued to say that the amendment has negatively affect thousands of people not limited to the GLBT community and those who those opposed will continue to work in hopes of broadened understanding and change.
“We recently formed a united coalition called One Orlando as a result of the passage of Amendment 2 as well as other anti-gay amendments that have passed across the county that are very harmful,” said Mary Meeks, Orlando attorney with Carlton Fields Attorneys at Law. “The GLBT community and its allies need a better strategy to defend (against) those amendments and for equal rights. We fully support the join and impact initiative.”
Meeks voiced some concerns about asking supporters to miss work.
“I think it’s great to get people to volunteer for a cause,” Meeks said. “I think it will be difficult for many people to not go to work. I don’t know how effect that will be. Many can’t afford to do it, financial or out of fear of exposing themselves.
According to the Day Without a Gay Web site, there are “30 states where individuals can still be fired simply for being gay or lesbian,” and for those in fear of losing their jobs, the site offers other ways to participate, by spreading the word.
“I prefer the idea of not just dropping out but doing something constructive,” Meeks said. “Instead of boycott we try to do the opposite of that by buying services and good from businesses that are friendly to our cause.”
The One Orlando Web site provides links to lists of supportive businesses.
For those wishing to participate, the Habitat for Humanity of Orlando is listed as a source for volunteer opportunities on the Day Without a Gay Website for those who will be participating on Dec. 10.
“We’ve gotten about six or seven people and we are expecting more this week and next wee that have signed up we gotten a lot of inquires form the Web site,” Jennifer Gallagher, a representative of Habitat Orlando, said. Volunteers will be doing general construction for habitat homes.
For more information go to habitat-orlando.org or contact Jennifer Gallagher at jgallagher@habitat-orlando.com
Since the passage of Florida Amendment no. 2, California Proposition 8, members and supporters of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community seek to illustrate the result of their exclusion.
For those planning to skip work and saving money through abstaining to spend in protest along side the Day Without Gays boycott, A Day Without a Gay: Call in Gay hopes to open a positive discourse through community service.
On Nov. 15, there were national protests on the steps of City Halls in 300 cities across the U.S. organized by a group called Join the Impact: 1 Million Plus for Equality.
On Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, members and supporters of the GLBT community have been asked to boycott the economy by taking off work and forgoing monetary contributions to society.
“Strike!” states the Facebook.com event page prompting 68,523 Facebook users to participate. “Call in gay, shut down your business, or just take the day off. Boycott! Don’t buy anything, spend anything or support the economy.”
David Craig, a partner with Media Nation PMC— a production company based in Los Angeles, came up with the idea in 2005 while working for A&E television and produced the made for TV movie Wedding Wars featuring John Stamos, which aired in 2006. The movie involves a dispute between two brothers over gay marriage that fuels a nationwide strike when a governor refuses to approve gay marriage.
“After the passage of Prop 8 (in Calif.), I sat down and talk to some friends about what we could do other than protest and march, which I support whole heartedly, and discussed the day without gay idea and they all thought it was a good idea,” Craig said. “We posted the event on Facebook and discovered there were about eight other people on Facebook, MySpace and other locations that had the same idea and literally the same day. So we approached all the other organizers and we all agreed to come together all around Dec. 10.”
Sean Hetherington, a personal trainer in West Hollywood, heard about the A Day Without Gays boycott to be held Dec. 10 and wondered how effect it would be. Instead of staying home from work and not spending any money, Hetherington and his boyfriend Aaron Hartzler, came up with the idea of donating that time to community service.
The couple created a Web site, www.daywithoutagay.org, based off of the Join an Impact, a web based grassroots organization with a agenda, and since its Nov. 15 inception the site has generated more than 100,000 hits with postings of volunteer opportunities in every state as well as opportunities in Washington D.C. and internationally in Canada, Turkey and England.
The naming of the event is inspired by the 2004 film A Day Without A Mexican, where California woke one day to find all the 14 million Hispanic population disappeared and the productivity of the state collapsed. On May 1, 2006 a nationwide economic boycott with the moniker A Day Without Immigrants, which help fueled the debate over illegal aliens and the 700 miles of fence to be build on the U.S. Mexican Border.
“What if, just for one day, those who could take off work, DID?” said Hetherington, one of the organizers for A Day Without a Gay. “And instead of staying home feeling hopeless, they went out and did good things for their own LGBT community and/or the greater world to show America that we are compassionate loving people, even in the face of being outcast as separate but equal.”
According to the American Community Survey 2004, 1.34 percent of same-sex couples comprise of Florida’s population. In Orlando, 1.25% of the 1,644,561 population are same sex couples. Furthermore, in Downtown Orlando, 6.07 percent of the 7,979 population are same-sex couples.
“We are gay and lesbian Americans that pay our taxes and hold jobs; buy goods and defend our country and we deserve the same rights that everyone else has, that’s the message,” Craig said.
Amendment no. 2 passed with 61.9 percent of voters. Backers of the Amendment such as Florida4Marriage state the amendment will protect children in a blanket support of man plus woman equals marriage and to prevent children from being exposed to the gay community. According to Say No 2, the Amendment prevents health care and pension benefits plans for civil unions, pertaining mostly to elderly couples. A clause to the Amendment prevents judges from overturning the law.
“We read about the national boycott of the US economy and the work force, and support it, but wanted to add a service element to it so that efforts were still going back into the non-profit economy,” Hetherington said via e-mail. “Every time someone holds up a soup ladle at a homeless shelter on Dec 10, we hope a camera catches it for the news, and we hope that those images help change the hearts and minds of people on the fence about the LGBT community.”
Many groups in Orlando contributed to campaigning against Amendment no. 2 to no avail, but intend to continue to voice their concerns against it.
According to the Web site, there are “30 states where individuals can still be fired simply for being gay or lesbian,” and for those in fear of losing their jobs, the site offers other ways to participate, by spreading the word.
“The outcome of the election where a majority of voters voted yes for Amendment 2 was devastating for those who worked tirelessly to get people to vote no,” said
Dr. Joyce Hamilton Henry, director for the Central Regional Office of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
Henry continued to say that the amendment has negatively affect thousands of people not limited to the GLBT community and those who those opposed will continue to work in hopes of broadened understanding and change.
“We recently formed a united coalition called One Orlando as a result of the passage of Amendment 2 as well as other anti-gay amendments that have passed across the county that are very harmful,” said Mary Meeks, Orlando attorney with Carlton Fields Attorneys at Law. “The GLBT community and its allies need a better strategy to defend (against) those amendments and for equal rights. We fully support the join and impact initiative.”
Meeks voiced some concerns about asking supporters to miss work.
“I think it’s great to get people to volunteer for a cause,” Meeks said. “I think it will be difficult for many people to not go to work. I don’t know how effect that will be. Many can’t afford to do it, financial or out of fear of exposing themselves.
According to the Day Without a Gay Web site, there are “30 states where individuals can still be fired simply for being gay or lesbian,” and for those in fear of losing their jobs, the site offers other ways to participate, by spreading the word.
“I prefer the idea of not just dropping out but doing something constructive,” Meeks said. “Instead of boycott we try to do the opposite of that by buying services and good from businesses that are friendly to our cause.”
The One Orlando Web site provides links to lists of supportive businesses.
For those wishing to participate, the Habitat for Humanity of Orlando is listed as a source for volunteer opportunities on the Day Without a Gay Website for those who will be participating on Dec. 10.
“We’ve gotten about six or seven people and we are expecting more this week and next wee that have signed up we gotten a lot of inquires form the Web site,” Jennifer Gallagher, a representative of Habitat Orlando, said. Volunteers will be doing general construction for habitat homes.
For more information go to habitat-orlando.org or contact Jennifer Gallagher at jgallagher@habitat-orlando.com
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hmmm.....
The state of Journalism plagues me. With the whole business about wanting to be employed in the future, 420,000 unemployed in counting, does little to fuel the fire of hope. What to do?
I think my best bet would be to do as much as I can within my means (don't steal my idea, promise?). What I mean by this is, freelance? Sure if I get into any kind of health problems I'm pretty well screwed, but it will still be working in the field that I love and if I can some how find a way to branch out in to other mediums of journalism I might just have chance at working in the field I desire. I'm confident I can do this much, but I have a definitive flaw.
I not good at saying no when it comes to this type of thing. I want to experience as much as I can to the detriment of everything else I need to do. Ergo, school suffers, relationships suffer; is this what is called a work-a-holic (even though the imposed suffix -a-holic lacks proper grammar as the only holic is an alcoholic).
I suppose so, but I have a lot to learn and a lot of drive to earn practical experience. Too bad it's misappropriated zeal.
I think my best bet would be to do as much as I can within my means (don't steal my idea, promise?). What I mean by this is, freelance? Sure if I get into any kind of health problems I'm pretty well screwed, but it will still be working in the field that I love and if I can some how find a way to branch out in to other mediums of journalism I might just have chance at working in the field I desire. I'm confident I can do this much, but I have a definitive flaw.
I not good at saying no when it comes to this type of thing. I want to experience as much as I can to the detriment of everything else I need to do. Ergo, school suffers, relationships suffer; is this what is called a work-a-holic (even though the imposed suffix -a-holic lacks proper grammar as the only holic is an alcoholic).
I suppose so, but I have a lot to learn and a lot of drive to earn practical experience. Too bad it's misappropriated zeal.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Colbert Report
The Colbert Report has featured almost 100 journalists on the show, despite the show's leaning toward anti-journalism. Ted Koppel, Jann Wenner, some names I know, some names I had yet to be exposed to, which begs the assertion, I want to do that.
I want to be in a position where my knowledge and ability are subject to ridicule. want that.
Well, not on the level of Nancy Grace, who I have no respect for, but it's still cool.
Lately, I've been considering the possibly obvious revelation that, shows like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show are, in part, the reason why Barack Obama is now the president-elect. In part, these shows are the reason why so many young people are paying more attention and becoming more active. So much for the first chapter of Poli Sci textbooks dedicated to Apathy.
I want to be in a position where my knowledge and ability are subject to ridicule. want that.
Well, not on the level of Nancy Grace, who I have no respect for, but it's still cool.
Lately, I've been considering the possibly obvious revelation that, shows like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show are, in part, the reason why Barack Obama is now the president-elect. In part, these shows are the reason why so many young people are paying more attention and becoming more active. So much for the first chapter of Poli Sci textbooks dedicated to Apathy.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Winter Park's War on Sin-- Orlando Weekly
Winter Park officials try with all the might of the law to erradicate sin. Sound familiar?
Harem in Winter Park is a very dirty place where women, of seemingly low moral standing, take of their clothes and show their lady bits. In 2006, Winter Park decided it would be a great idea to arrest people for not really breaking the law at club Harem and has continued its raid on questionable piety by harrassing Black Chapel Tattoos and Redlight Redlight.
Here's the thing. People are sinful but no one can force another person into sin (a generalization not meant to include victims of any kind). What I mean by this is? I got a totally rad tattoo at Black Chapel in January of this year. It's a rabbit with a thought bubble over it's head and a energy saving light bulb in it. Totally offensive, right?
Well, I'm definitely a sinner for the $85 tattoo I frequently color in with crayola markers when I'm bored.
I have not been to Harem, but I bet the people there are just as normal as the rest of us sinners.
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=12729
Harem in Winter Park is a very dirty place where women, of seemingly low moral standing, take of their clothes and show their lady bits. In 2006, Winter Park decided it would be a great idea to arrest people for not really breaking the law at club Harem and has continued its raid on questionable piety by harrassing Black Chapel Tattoos and Redlight Redlight.
Here's the thing. People are sinful but no one can force another person into sin (a generalization not meant to include victims of any kind). What I mean by this is? I got a totally rad tattoo at Black Chapel in January of this year. It's a rabbit with a thought bubble over it's head and a energy saving light bulb in it. Totally offensive, right?
Well, I'm definitely a sinner for the $85 tattoo I frequently color in with crayola markers when I'm bored.
I have not been to Harem, but I bet the people there are just as normal as the rest of us sinners.
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=12729
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Holy Crap!
It's like Christmas...not kidding.
For a little while I held a tinge of fear within my rapidly beating heart. Could Obama lose? Nope. Amazing. I was worried I won't get to vote. I had nightmares about it, not kidding. I went to my designated voting spot and had to waiting in line as a "more information needed" sticker was placed beside my name. Crap, read my immediate thoughts. I'm pretty sure I'm legal... I did find out that it's kind of illegal to talk about voting in a place of voting. I was sent an sample in the mail and chose the hour and a half wait to read over the terribly inaccurate blurb provided about the laws pending. I asked the person next to me to explain the political double talk and got shushed. The funniest comment to come out of that was, "I just want my sticker and I want to go home."
How about Will.I.Am interview via holgram on CNN with the lovely Anderson Cooper? Ridiculous! That should be banned from possible converged journalism options. Just like Starwars, Beam me up, according to Am.
Back to the important part. The coverage of the election was pretty cool. It was well worth staying up for. I don't remember any other election being over so quickly. I enjoyed watching the blank states turn red and blue. I enjoyed writing back and forth with my best friend in Norway who would have voted for Obama if she could.
Spectacular experience... ah! Voting.
For a little while I held a tinge of fear within my rapidly beating heart. Could Obama lose? Nope. Amazing. I was worried I won't get to vote. I had nightmares about it, not kidding. I went to my designated voting spot and had to waiting in line as a "more information needed" sticker was placed beside my name. Crap, read my immediate thoughts. I'm pretty sure I'm legal... I did find out that it's kind of illegal to talk about voting in a place of voting. I was sent an sample in the mail and chose the hour and a half wait to read over the terribly inaccurate blurb provided about the laws pending. I asked the person next to me to explain the political double talk and got shushed. The funniest comment to come out of that was, "I just want my sticker and I want to go home."
How about Will.I.Am interview via holgram on CNN with the lovely Anderson Cooper? Ridiculous! That should be banned from possible converged journalism options. Just like Starwars, Beam me up, according to Am.
Back to the important part. The coverage of the election was pretty cool. It was well worth staying up for. I don't remember any other election being over so quickly. I enjoyed watching the blank states turn red and blue. I enjoyed writing back and forth with my best friend in Norway who would have voted for Obama if she could.
Spectacular experience... ah! Voting.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Halloween
No one wants to buy anything, according to CNN.
The article quoted Adam York, an economic analyst at Wachovia Economics Group, as stating from a research note, "Consumers certainly appear to think the sky is falling."
I know I haven't stopped shopping, but a part of my brain feels weary of my finances in light of the current and progressively worrisome economic issues. Should I be more mindful of my mind seeing as the hording mentality is partially responsible for The Great Depression.
Gas prices have gone way done to try and stimulate commerce, which in turn pissed off the people struggling to buy gas to survive. I take no offense to people save their money instead of spending. I take offense to a government that got us into this problem and is now begging the rest of America to fix their mistakes. I understand this to be counter-productive. I understand this to be foolhardy and a waste of energy, but civic duty falls short in a trickle down effect from the top. It's not a cyclical system of influence as poli sci classes would have you believe.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/28/news/economy/consumer_confidence/?postversion=2008102813
Alpha Dog of the Week
"Mark Ciptak names his newborn baby daughter Sarah McCain Palin behind his wife's back."
It's way better than Ava Grace. On the Colbert Report, the Alpha Dog of the Week name his kid for the sake of political campaign.
Artfully manscaped chests are way better for expressing support.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/189588/october-27-2008/alpha-dog-of-the-week---mark-ciptak
I dare say, I learn more from watching Colbert Report and The Daily Show. It's what I love about our country, the things they mock.
Also classic,
Extreme close up of Sarah Palin, because Sarah Palin is best for pretty, not for merit.
It's way better than Ava Grace. On the Colbert Report, the Alpha Dog of the Week name his kid for the sake of political campaign.
Artfully manscaped chests are way better for expressing support.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/189588/october-27-2008/alpha-dog-of-the-week---mark-ciptak
I dare say, I learn more from watching Colbert Report and The Daily Show. It's what I love about our country, the things they mock.
Also classic,
Extreme close up of Sarah Palin, because Sarah Palin is best for pretty, not for merit.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Please make sense of this
Journalism is anti-math. It just is. So why is there so much sudoku? Apparently it's a Japanese games stemming from a Swiss mathematician, or at least that's what the MSNBC Website says.
Let's seem if I can handle this (being a person netoriously horrible at math to the point of losing a certain Winn-Dixie possible thousands of dollars for incorrect change).
The stereotypical japanese music fails at producing claim. So... typing in random number produces a teleportation of said number across the board. I'm pretty sure this doesn't happen in the hand written version. Paint me confused. I hate this game.
To prove you are infinitely wiser and more skilled than me try it for yourself.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20044245?cat=sudoc&d=081025
Let's seem if I can handle this (being a person netoriously horrible at math to the point of losing a certain Winn-Dixie possible thousands of dollars for incorrect change).
The stereotypical japanese music fails at producing claim. So... typing in random number produces a teleportation of said number across the board. I'm pretty sure this doesn't happen in the hand written version. Paint me confused. I hate this game.
To prove you are infinitely wiser and more skilled than me try it for yourself.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20044245?cat=sudoc&d=081025
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Chicken Town
I declare Oviedo shall now be know as Chicken Town. Oviedo has a great little to allow free range chickens to rule the city. I'm convinced they're organized. One day as I innocently waited at a red light, a bleary eyed chicken flew into my car window. Stunned, the chicken walked away. Stunned, cars honked and drives yelled obscenities as I attempted to calm down.
To be considered an inclusion to the madness, the local Kiwanis club held a charity event to raise money for the local gym and aquatic center utilizing wooden chickens in a form of racing.
Inspired I decide to look up more articles about chickens and came up with a story by Kelly Allen that mentioned the fact that all the chickens like to hang out at Popeye's.
It doesn't get any better than that.
http://www.seminolechronicle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/10/01/48e3ec756bab2?in_archive=1
To be considered an inclusion to the madness, the local Kiwanis club held a charity event to raise money for the local gym and aquatic center utilizing wooden chickens in a form of racing.
Inspired I decide to look up more articles about chickens and came up with a story by Kelly Allen that mentioned the fact that all the chickens like to hang out at Popeye's.
It doesn't get any better than that.
http://www.seminolechronicle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/10/01/48e3ec756bab2?in_archive=1
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Housing Loans
The economic situation is a result of banks giving housing loans to people who definitely could not afford to pay them back. As the interest increase and the loans were not paid off, the people not only lost their owns but the banks didn't get their money back.
According to the Federal Debt Relief System Web site, "The country is drowning in debt, both at the government level and at the personal level. The economy needs an enormous amount of constant consumption of its goods and services to keep rolling along. "
Recession and talks of another depression intrance the radio waves of NPR this week supplying questions of why the problem failed to be curbed earlier and searching for answers as to what to do next continue. While John McCain fails to realize there is no point to his involvement, NPR seems to glad points out the politic ploy of his offer for assistance. McCain knows he has nothing to bring to the table. He knows that the only asset to his commentary is to sway voters. He's hoping voters will think something along the lines of, "McCain, single-handedly fixes the economy and saves the nation from systematic failure."
He talked about postponing campaigning to lend a hand and after three days of talking nonsense he did indeed show up.
To learn more go to http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13970.html
According to the Federal Debt Relief System Web site, "The country is drowning in debt, both at the government level and at the personal level. The economy needs an enormous amount of constant consumption of its goods and services to keep rolling along. "
Recession and talks of another depression intrance the radio waves of NPR this week supplying questions of why the problem failed to be curbed earlier and searching for answers as to what to do next continue. While John McCain fails to realize there is no point to his involvement, NPR seems to glad points out the politic ploy of his offer for assistance. McCain knows he has nothing to bring to the table. He knows that the only asset to his commentary is to sway voters. He's hoping voters will think something along the lines of, "McCain, single-handedly fixes the economy and saves the nation from systematic failure."
He talked about postponing campaigning to lend a hand and after three days of talking nonsense he did indeed show up.
To learn more go to http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13970.html
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
John Taylor
You know how important people die and you have no idea who they are? Well this guy seems pretty important.
A specialist in military history who worked for 63 years for the National Archives died at 87.
"For decades, historians and journalists who visited the archives in search of obscure military or intelligence records were invariably referred to Mr. Taylor, who could often direct them to just the documents they needed," states the New York Times Obituary. "Few Americans have been thanked in the acknowledgments of so many books."
It just goes to show how little I know. It's depressing and motivating at the same time.
A specialist in military history who worked for 63 years for the National Archives died at 87.
"For decades, historians and journalists who visited the archives in search of obscure military or intelligence records were invariably referred to Mr. Taylor, who could often direct them to just the documents they needed," states the New York Times Obituary. "Few Americans have been thanked in the acknowledgments of so many books."
It just goes to show how little I know. It's depressing and motivating at the same time.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Wall Street Journal and the proposed plight of Social Security
I remember John McCain being a lot more interested eight years ago, back in the day when he didn't put his foot in his mouth or go back on everything he seemed to stand for.
Luckily, The Wall Street Journal seems to have a handle on the issue of the viability of his stances. The latest installment: Social Security.
Try and make sense of this: Put all your Social Security in the stock market and let it ride. Same difference: put it on a hound named Grease Lightning and let it ride. The only garaunteed promise to privatization would be that of complete lack of security, marking the whole deal as an ironic moniker.
Without government aid, we're all screwed. Without comprehensive and fair taxation, we're all screwed.
The whole Baby Boomer business is the source of the problem. That's why contraception is so important. Stop having babies. It's a nice thought that money is good during economic boom, but a little forethought would be nice. A little, "five years from now, might not be so swell and dandy," might prove as less of a crisis for government aid.
So, dear America, please stop having so many babies. It's not a competition.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122204378523361477.html
Luckily, The Wall Street Journal seems to have a handle on the issue of the viability of his stances. The latest installment: Social Security.
Try and make sense of this: Put all your Social Security in the stock market and let it ride. Same difference: put it on a hound named Grease Lightning and let it ride. The only garaunteed promise to privatization would be that of complete lack of security, marking the whole deal as an ironic moniker.
Without government aid, we're all screwed. Without comprehensive and fair taxation, we're all screwed.
The whole Baby Boomer business is the source of the problem. That's why contraception is so important. Stop having babies. It's a nice thought that money is good during economic boom, but a little forethought would be nice. A little, "five years from now, might not be so swell and dandy," might prove as less of a crisis for government aid.
So, dear America, please stop having so many babies. It's not a competition.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122204378523361477.html
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Pell Grant less stressful
Growing concerns for the cost of high education may be lessen if Congress decides to approve a plan to make financial aid easier on low income families.
A proposed change to the selection process for the Pell Grant may help more students from low income families by focusing on family size, adjusted gross income and Internal Revenue Services providing the financial information instead of the rigorous FAFSA form.
The maximum dispersement of the Pell Grant will be gauged by the Consumer Price Index that will most likely develop a fair standard of coverage for financial aid based on inflation-free dollars. As the price of education changes so will the Pell Grant.
The most promising aspect of the discussion is the idea of a college savings accounts to be opened long before a child reaches the age for college, collecting interest as the funds matures. Along with a change to the payment plan for Stafford Loans to encourage low income families to stray away from private loans.
This is great! This will allow more people the chance to go to college and alleviate some of the financial burden involved.
For more information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/education/19college.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin
A proposed change to the selection process for the Pell Grant may help more students from low income families by focusing on family size, adjusted gross income and Internal Revenue Services providing the financial information instead of the rigorous FAFSA form.
The maximum dispersement of the Pell Grant will be gauged by the Consumer Price Index that will most likely develop a fair standard of coverage for financial aid based on inflation-free dollars. As the price of education changes so will the Pell Grant.
The most promising aspect of the discussion is the idea of a college savings accounts to be opened long before a child reaches the age for college, collecting interest as the funds matures. Along with a change to the payment plan for Stafford Loans to encourage low income families to stray away from private loans.
This is great! This will allow more people the chance to go to college and alleviate some of the financial burden involved.
For more information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/education/19college.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin
Friday, September 12, 2008
Sept. 11
It's strange how distant I feel from Sept. 11. I remember the day it happened, how I felt and how it affected my family afterward, but I was very much an adolescent who wanted to be an adult. Everything I knew, understood or believed was cultivated by outside sources, be that reading books to pass the time or the limit influence I had at the time. I didn't know how to feel or what it meant that Tuesday morning when I was in World History with Mr. Delaney my junior sophomore of high school.
We didn't have a TV in class. A friend of Mr. Delaney's who worked in the school library called to tell him and his first response was, "is this a joke?" We filed out to the library to watch the scene blazing across every channel, news anchors in shock and unable to clarify other than the obvious. A plane crashed into the World Trade Center, I had no idea what that was. The Twin Towers were where the world trades things, was the best guess I had at the time. A second plane dive- crashed into the second building as we watched, confused.
After school, everywhere in the small town conversation was consumed by the dust bowl of crumbling skyscrapers; ever channel, ever station, ever household locked down, eyes forward, ears pierced for what seemed like no explanation. A terrorist attack against the intangible idea of our country; 2,751 people killed: policemen, firefighters, the 8-5ers, gone into dust. Everything moved in slow motion for Tuesday Sept. 11, 2001. The next day everything moved in fast forward as the heads of state attempted to rationalize the irrational. The War on Terror began and continues.
I've become accustomed to the dissatisfaction for everything involved with that day for the last 7 years. I, being far away from ground zero physically and emotionally, have pulled far back from the high wave that fuels the tragedy and continuing sorrow of those most affected by the aftermath. I remain unscathed. I thought little about it on the seventh anniversary and very little about it influence my activities. Most in my direct periphery said and did nothing to commiserate. Remembering now on the day after feels like I've missed a step descending upon the memories.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
China is China
In the Orlando Weekly article "Detained in China," writer Billy Manes conducted a phone Q&A with Orlando filmmaker Brian Conley who was detained for five days under the charge of disturbing the peace in China for casually filming a protest by Students for a Free Tibet.
On Aug. 19, asleep in the hotel room, Conley was woken by the sound of beating fists on the door and Chinese authorities. As he was escorted out, the authorities told him he was being taken for his safety, but that was not the case.
"You know, as far as the Chinese are concerned, I was never arrested," Conley said. "They have what they call 'administrative detention,' which is not an arrest."
Interrogated for 22 hours, Conely learned that his act of filming the protest was a greater offense than the protest itself, as the film would bring an international audience to Chinese internal disputes, which would delude China's "amiable" totalitarian image.
"I was even told by one guy that we were lucky we hadn't don this in the '70s because we would have been tortured and probably killed," Conely said, in his response to the suggestive nature of the opening ceremony promoting China's move toward human rights and freedom of speech.
The Chinese government keeps watch like a George Orwell novel, Internet access, phone lines, behavior is all monitored closely. If a country can dictate what you do in every facet of you life from your job, education, to how many children you can have, it comes as no surprise that Americans would have a vastly different view of life. But to assume an American can still act like an American in a country like China is an act waiting for trouble, ignorance is not a get-out-of-Chinese-prison-free-card.
In China, the authorities can hold you for 24 hours for investigation.
My friend and UCF alumnus Jason Groot is studying for his master's degree in China. He loves the history and traditional culture. Before graduation he took Mandarin Chinese classes. He's living in a dorm, enjoying the international student body, food, and conversation. In our emails and conversations with him, we are advised caution in our choice of words as the consequences are dire. He's there for the experience and he can't have that if he is detained. It's different 180 degrees different over there; the best thing to do is appreciate the experience and co-exist within.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sarah Palin and breaking the glass ceiling
The debate continues as to whether or not Sarah Palin's vice president nomination is based on merit or ploy. Based on experience, the nom is niether quality or quanity, unless you consider the possible outcome if woman across America fall for it.
Let's hope not. Let's hope these seemingly wayward women are voting because they believe in the platform and not the gender sharing.
"Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all," Palin said.
What does being a woman have to do with it? As the Daily Show joked, "Vote vagina!" I think not.
Palin has served as Governor of Alaska since late 2006. Less than two years of experience as governor, she made history because she is a woman.
The real question is not whether America is ready for a black president or a woman vice president it's whether or not America is capable of voting for a candidate based on the obvious stereotypes.
For more information:
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/
http://community.feministing.com/
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
Let's hope not. Let's hope these seemingly wayward women are voting because they believe in the platform and not the gender sharing.
"Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all," Palin said.
What does being a woman have to do with it? As the Daily Show joked, "Vote vagina!" I think not.
Palin has served as Governor of Alaska since late 2006. Less than two years of experience as governor, she made history because she is a woman.
The real question is not whether America is ready for a black president or a woman vice president it's whether or not America is capable of voting for a candidate based on the obvious stereotypes.
For more information:
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/
http://community.feministing.com/
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
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