Our options: Hillary, Obama, McCain
McCain: a GOP Bill Clinton?
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/008013.php
"McCain was still married and living with his wife in 1979 while, according to The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof, "aggressively courting a 25-year-old woman who was as beautiful as she was rich." McCain divorced his wife, who had raised their three children while he was imprisoned in Vietnam, then launched his political career with his new wife's family money. In 2000, McCain managed to deflect media questioning about his first marriage with a deft admission of responsibility for its failure."
And now this new woman in the New York Times article last night? I don't even need to comment.
Hillary: fulfilling the stereotype
She's acting like a hormonal woman. This pains me to realize it as much as it pains me to write it. It's working against her and as a woman, I'm really worried. Can a woman be president? There are other countries with female heads of state. Why can't ours have one too? Because she's attacking Obama on topics that have little relevance to our country's well being. It's the "smile and speak even though I'm angry and yelling at you." Crazy
Obama: I just like him
I am an Obaman, his policies and politics make a lot of sense. Finally someone verbalizing what a lot of us have been wondering for years: why isn't government about GOVERNMENT??? Where did all this politicing and old boys club come into play to the point where it is more important to elect someone who's funny than it is to elect someone who can do the job? Maybe the media's right- Americans are too entertained. We don't even realize that there is a rest of the world.
soo who's going to be president?
My opinion may not be popular, but I am an American
Friday, February 22, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
I am a crazy salsa person
Look at all the salsa congresses!
There's a list to the bottom left of this page
And what is a salsa congress you ask? Basically it is a 3-4 day festival of salsa/mambo workshops, lessons, discussion panels, and performances topped off each night by a social open dance lasting til 3-4 in the morning. It's a great way to learn salsa and a great way to dance with some of the world's greatest! Highly recommended!
There's a list to the bottom left of this page
And what is a salsa congress you ask? Basically it is a 3-4 day festival of salsa/mambo workshops, lessons, discussion panels, and performances topped off each night by a social open dance lasting til 3-4 in the morning. It's a great way to learn salsa and a great way to dance with some of the world's greatest! Highly recommended!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
We are Lemmings
Romney dropped out the race. I don't really care, but a lot of other people do.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/07/romney.campaign/index.html
He uses the term "suspends" which really just kinda means "keep my name in here long enough so I can be McCain's running partner." Tactical and cowardly just to get his ass in the White House.
But I really want to comment on something he said, noted in the link I've included in here.
In Re: to McCain... "But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and I agree with him on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror worldwide," he said."
ok.... pause and think...... pause and think........ ok just pause
What?!
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to be SUCCESSFUL in Iraq?!
Ok Maybe I've been too influenced by media reports and reports from my friends who have been to Iraq... but uh, we're never going to be "successful" in Iraq. It's another Vietnam, we're not suppose to be successful over there. They don't want us to be. We don't want to be. Bush is an idiot.
Ok so put the dumb statement about Iraq aside. Now, find Osama bin Laden? World police here we come, find him? Do you realize how many of him are out there? Do you realize how incredibly effective he is at digging caves? He can be walking around the street market, he sees an American flag and he's digging a cave while holding a camcorder. Finding him? Should that really be a priority? In 20 years, Venice will be gone. Under water. In 30 years, polar bears will be extint- their habitat is melting away. In 50 years, the earth would have doubled in population and that is MORE LIFE THREATENING than "terror" because we will have no more resources, supply in demand will be an ancient term, and we will return to the primal beings we as animals were at the beginning of evolution. But oh, the most important thing now is finding Osama bin Laden. Finding one muthafucka in a cave. really?
Eliminating Al Queda and terror worldwide... what is terror? At my college, it's our mascot. Do any of us know what it really is? No. Does anyone know what this "terror" these republicans keep talking about is? No. Terror is a feeling, an emotion, not a noun. I cannot go to "terror's" house and talk about blue daisies. We need to stop fighting terror, stop these politics - it's killing people. Maybe this ties into the whole "world over population" thing, maybe there is a genocide going on underneath our noses, maybe the problem is being addressed so that every brown, poor person in the world dies and all that's left are White American southerners and oil. This is going somewhere, it's a trend, why don't people wake up.
The country's in so much debt it's not even funny. And now there's a $170 billion dollar tax rebate stimulus plan going through... this is what happens when the country is run by a monkey.
And we are his Lemmings.
My opinion may not be popular, but I am an American.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/07/romney.campaign/index.html
He uses the term "suspends" which really just kinda means "keep my name in here long enough so I can be McCain's running partner." Tactical and cowardly just to get his ass in the White House.
But I really want to comment on something he said, noted in the link I've included in here.
In Re: to McCain... "But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and I agree with him on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror worldwide," he said."
ok.... pause and think...... pause and think........ ok just pause
What?!
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to be SUCCESSFUL in Iraq?!
Ok Maybe I've been too influenced by media reports and reports from my friends who have been to Iraq... but uh, we're never going to be "successful" in Iraq. It's another Vietnam, we're not suppose to be successful over there. They don't want us to be. We don't want to be. Bush is an idiot.
Ok so put the dumb statement about Iraq aside. Now, find Osama bin Laden? World police here we come, find him? Do you realize how many of him are out there? Do you realize how incredibly effective he is at digging caves? He can be walking around the street market, he sees an American flag and he's digging a cave while holding a camcorder. Finding him? Should that really be a priority? In 20 years, Venice will be gone. Under water. In 30 years, polar bears will be extint- their habitat is melting away. In 50 years, the earth would have doubled in population and that is MORE LIFE THREATENING than "terror" because we will have no more resources, supply in demand will be an ancient term, and we will return to the primal beings we as animals were at the beginning of evolution. But oh, the most important thing now is finding Osama bin Laden. Finding one muthafucka in a cave. really?
Eliminating Al Queda and terror worldwide... what is terror? At my college, it's our mascot. Do any of us know what it really is? No. Does anyone know what this "terror" these republicans keep talking about is? No. Terror is a feeling, an emotion, not a noun. I cannot go to "terror's" house and talk about blue daisies. We need to stop fighting terror, stop these politics - it's killing people. Maybe this ties into the whole "world over population" thing, maybe there is a genocide going on underneath our noses, maybe the problem is being addressed so that every brown, poor person in the world dies and all that's left are White American southerners and oil. This is going somewhere, it's a trend, why don't people wake up.
The country's in so much debt it's not even funny. And now there's a $170 billion dollar tax rebate stimulus plan going through... this is what happens when the country is run by a monkey.
And we are his Lemmings.
My opinion may not be popular, but I am an American.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Ex-Offenders: America's legal slaves
Here's a question about prison and reentry: Vocational/job training.
Are we setting ex-offenders up? Hell yes we are
Ok, think about these programs. If you are not familiar with them, they basically teach inmates a "trade" so that when they get out of prison, they will have a skill and be able to get a job. On paper, great idea, right? But think about these jobs that they are being trained for.
Mechanic
Barber
Food Service
Horse Training
Plumbing
Electrician
etc.
These jobs are pretty low paying/low-moderate skill. I would argue that a mechanic and electrician at least are pretty highly skilled, but generally, they're considered a moderate skilled job requiring less education than anything requiring a bachelors. Hence, spotty pay. But my question here isn't about the level of the job training being offered or the subsequent jobs... it's why are these being offered and not the gamut of positions? Why aren't social worker, political scientist (politician), teacher, college-ready scholar being taught?
Easy. We don't want prisoners to succeed or do better because they are... DING DING DING Prisoners! We don't want them working with us, we don't want them living near us, we want them to live in perpetual servitude to us as our new race of "self-made" slaves.
Ok so let me lay out the cycle here to illustrate my point. In ___ easy steps, YOU can become a slave! Here is a general map of the life trajectory of a prisoner/ex-offender:
1. Family lives in poverty because of a history of family members working in low paying jobs stemming from slavery (it still affects us, yes yes yes)
2. Grow up in inner city/high crime area
3. Social learning theory- LEARN how to do crime from environment as a child
4. Shotty education system, learn how to read at age 9 (if at all). School is a waste, drop out maybe or just cut and make money (crimes, more often than not b/c it's more gratifying to get more money quicker with less effort- and that's for anyone, Donald Trump included)
5. Get LOCKED UP whoo hoo now you're in prison/jail
6. Oh great, because you've had good behavior, you now are eligible to go into a job training class (which is actually shown to reduce recidivism in those who participate: one plus I haven't mentioned yet)
7. Learn a low paying job skill
8a. Get out, not get that low paying job because you have a record
8b. Get out, get the low paying job and just live in poverty like your family did from the getgo
I have to say, what the fuck?
How does someone get out of this cycle? Blacks historically have a history or recieiving less-than-acceptable levels of education; less-than-acceptable job opportunities... hell, we were the last ones to get the right to vote and most Blacks STILL DON'T VOTE. Blacks make up 13% of the general population but the majority of the prison population. Doesn't that smell fishy to you? Just a lil? Oh look, there goes Nemo...
My point: It's not just about offenders. Blacks are still slaves. We've got people thinking we aren't, but look at the facts.
A. Blacks: majority are decedents of African Slaves.
B. African Slaves: can't read, can't write... non-slave offspring can maybe read or write, but not well.
C. Non-slave offspring: compared to whites, poorer interpersonal/educational/job skills.
D. People with poor education: get poor jobs
E. Get poor jobs: make no money
F. Make no money: propensity to commit crime explodes
G. Commit crime: get locked up
H. Get locked up: loose civil liberties, now have a record
I. Have a record: can't get a job. Oh wait! Job training! Now I can get a low paying job!
J. Return to step E
*I must note; this cycle does not apply to everybody, but it sure applies to a hellava lot (too many!)
See the cycle? Legally, many Blacks are still slaves and have become so accustome to accepting that status, that most don't even realize that we've been had.
here's a related article, check it out: http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/socialservices/20060524/15/1862
So I reiterate Obama's message (whether he gets the presidential bid or not, it's still a good point made by an intelligent man): YES WE CAN overcome this shit. Black people have the same brain capacity as any other "race" so what the hell. Somebody's gotta stop sitting on their ass and start complaining. Oh wait, that's me. But I can't do it alone...
My opinion may not be popular, but I am an American
Are we setting ex-offenders up? Hell yes we are
Ok, think about these programs. If you are not familiar with them, they basically teach inmates a "trade" so that when they get out of prison, they will have a skill and be able to get a job. On paper, great idea, right? But think about these jobs that they are being trained for.
Mechanic
Barber
Food Service
Horse Training
Plumbing
Electrician
etc.
These jobs are pretty low paying/low-moderate skill. I would argue that a mechanic and electrician at least are pretty highly skilled, but generally, they're considered a moderate skilled job requiring less education than anything requiring a bachelors. Hence, spotty pay. But my question here isn't about the level of the job training being offered or the subsequent jobs... it's why are these being offered and not the gamut of positions? Why aren't social worker, political scientist (politician), teacher, college-ready scholar being taught?
Easy. We don't want prisoners to succeed or do better because they are... DING DING DING Prisoners! We don't want them working with us, we don't want them living near us, we want them to live in perpetual servitude to us as our new race of "self-made" slaves.
Ok so let me lay out the cycle here to illustrate my point. In ___ easy steps, YOU can become a slave! Here is a general map of the life trajectory of a prisoner/ex-offender:
1. Family lives in poverty because of a history of family members working in low paying jobs stemming from slavery (it still affects us, yes yes yes)
2. Grow up in inner city/high crime area
3. Social learning theory- LEARN how to do crime from environment as a child
4. Shotty education system, learn how to read at age 9 (if at all). School is a waste, drop out maybe or just cut and make money (crimes, more often than not b/c it's more gratifying to get more money quicker with less effort- and that's for anyone, Donald Trump included)
5. Get LOCKED UP whoo hoo now you're in prison/jail
6. Oh great, because you've had good behavior, you now are eligible to go into a job training class (which is actually shown to reduce recidivism in those who participate: one plus I haven't mentioned yet)
7. Learn a low paying job skill
8a. Get out, not get that low paying job because you have a record
8b. Get out, get the low paying job and just live in poverty like your family did from the getgo
I have to say, what the fuck?
How does someone get out of this cycle? Blacks historically have a history or recieiving less-than-acceptable levels of education; less-than-acceptable job opportunities... hell, we were the last ones to get the right to vote and most Blacks STILL DON'T VOTE. Blacks make up 13% of the general population but the majority of the prison population. Doesn't that smell fishy to you? Just a lil? Oh look, there goes Nemo...
My point: It's not just about offenders. Blacks are still slaves. We've got people thinking we aren't, but look at the facts.
A. Blacks: majority are decedents of African Slaves.
B. African Slaves: can't read, can't write... non-slave offspring can maybe read or write, but not well.
C. Non-slave offspring: compared to whites, poorer interpersonal/educational/job skills.
D. People with poor education: get poor jobs
E. Get poor jobs: make no money
F. Make no money: propensity to commit crime explodes
G. Commit crime: get locked up
H. Get locked up: loose civil liberties, now have a record
I. Have a record: can't get a job. Oh wait! Job training! Now I can get a low paying job!
J. Return to step E
*I must note; this cycle does not apply to everybody, but it sure applies to a hellava lot (too many!)
See the cycle? Legally, many Blacks are still slaves and have become so accustome to accepting that status, that most don't even realize that we've been had.
here's a related article, check it out: http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/socialservices/20060524/15/1862
So I reiterate Obama's message (whether he gets the presidential bid or not, it's still a good point made by an intelligent man): YES WE CAN overcome this shit. Black people have the same brain capacity as any other "race" so what the hell. Somebody's gotta stop sitting on their ass and start complaining. Oh wait, that's me. But I can't do it alone...
My opinion may not be popular, but I am an American
Yes We Can
Listen to the teachings of Ghandi, MLK Jr., Buddha, John Lennon, both prophets Muhammad and Jesus...they all say basically the same things. So why do people get upset when somebody tries to convince us we have a chance to make a change? Before you try to respond to what you think is my comparison of Jesus to John Lennon, first think about why that's what you are responding to instead of why so many people have a hard time believing they can make a change.
An American Government more corrupt than we thought
so my fiance sent this to me last night. It's a 5 part video, you'll have to go to YouTube to watch the rest.
Just watch the first few seconds of it before you write it off, there were some things in there (with evidence) that certainly made me raise an eyebrow
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