Disclaimer: This is coming from somebody who has recently, on more than one occassion, spent in excess of 6 hours in one sitting playing a video game until 4 in the morning. This is also coming from somebody blogging on company time.
So I know lazy when I see it!
What brings me to this topic is the innocent looking, unassuming door to our office/classroom building. The same door that has the little handicapped, automatic door button outside. You know, the one that when you push it, the door magically swings open, letting you unhindered pass through the open portal awaiting you. A grand idea and very useful, do not get me wrong. What irks me, however, is that 7 out of 10 students going through the door, opt to hit the switch rather than labor themselves to open the 4 pound door. Are you freakin kidding me!? At first, I thought it was a novelty thing. I admit, I punched the button a few times to see its wondrous powers in effect first hand. But we are 8 months into school now. The novelty has surely worn off. Which leaves only one thing remainging. YOU IS LAZY! Open the freakin door.
Postrant disclaimer: I feel this neccessary so that I am not the man in a glass house calling out the kettle for being greener on the other side. Sarah and I got a Wii and Wii Fit 5 days ago. I know it was 5 days ago, because I have done a 30 min or more workout for the last 5 days. So I am allowed to stay up playing Call of Duty 4 every now and then;)
Friday, March 6, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Bailout
I'm so sick of hearing this word. I'm so sick of people not being accountable for their own actions. Not just irresponsible auto CEOs but also John and Jenny who live down the block. I'm sick of hearing so many complain of what they are owed, but not being given. I'm sick of what seems to be an overwhelming sense of entitlement that so many of us have. I readily admit that I fall into this category at times, (good things should happen to good people, right?) but I like to think I have the rational sense to understand what I can and cannot control, and freakin act on that which I can. Frank Molten of Roanoke, VA sits on his computer, ranting obscenities about the current state of our nation; about how he can't even afford to put food on his table. Yet he can afford his computer to type on. And his internet connection. And his monthly cable bill. And a monthly cell phone bill. What entitles any of us to be able to put food on our table in the first place? How many of us have EVER grown or hunted our own food? Who says it is our right to have an affordable dinner, when we have never even afforded our own dinner? Homonyms are fun. To hear someone like this bitch and moan about how unfair life is, truly makes me feel for those who REALLY have it bad; the guy Frank passes on his way to work every day who lives under the bridge. Who freezes his ass off every night. Who literally CAN'T put food on a table. Because he lacks food and a table. Who can't afford an internet connection to voice his displeasure of his current situation. Whose voice isn't heard; EVER. Who doesn't have the education to iterate such, even if he did have a platform to do so. So for all of those who feel the need to wallow in their self pity, who want to fault President Bush for their current situation, who need to blame Nancy Pelosi for their downfall; how I wish they could understand how ignorant they really are being. I truly am sorry that you can't buy the Nintendo Wii for your children this year (they don't understand the difference between wants/needs/cans/can'ts), that they have to settle for pajamas and board games this Christmas. (I bet it beats the hell out of the orange that your great grandmother got for her 9th Christmas.) Yes, you have less than you are used to, but unless you planted the tree that you cut down for the wood that you used to build your own house.... Unless you planted the seed and sowed the field and gathered the water to cultivate your crop to eat your food.... do yourself a favor and BE THANKFUL for those who have provided the little that you DO have. BE THANKFUL that you have a life to live. Lose the sense of entitlement; we are not deserving of anything in the first place.
Oh, and let us not forget, we've all already been bailed out once. What have we done with that opportunity?
Oh, and let us not forget, we've all already been bailed out once. What have we done with that opportunity?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Change
So I've had this blog hanging around for a little over a month now, like the unfolded but clean laundry that litters my living room. Why I haven't written anything yet, I can't say; most likely because it's just such a novel experience. I know nothing about blogging, only of blogging. So I figure, what better topic than politics to throw everything into a tizzy. Tizzy. I like that word; tizzy. It's fun to say, admit it. Maybe as I learn more about it, I will get better at it. Tizzy. Really, say it out loud.
Congratulations Barack Obama, president-elect. I freely admit I did not vote for you. I am white; but that was not why. I am male; but that is not why. I am young; but that is not why. I am a member of the middle class; but that is not why. I am christian; but that is not why. None of these personal characteristics are why I did not vote for you. I did not vote for you because your vision, beliefs, and proposed policies did not best mirror mine and the direction for which I hope our country to follow. This is the only reason I did not vote for you. And had our views mirrored, I would have voted for you. And that would have been the only reason I would have voted for you.
That being said, I understand why so many have heralded this appointment an historic achievement. The U.S.A. will now have an african american president. The same United States of America that only 50 years ago, viewed african americans as second class citizens. Truly, we have come a long way. But by no means have we come all the way. And my true fear is that we never will. So much was made of race during this campaign. Barack Obama would have to overcome being "black" to win the presidency. He would have to sway white voters. And he did; mission accomplished. Congratulations U.S.A. on being diversified, accepting, and equitable.
Or perhaps not? Yes, Obama swayed many white voters to vote for him. Hopefully because those white voters views mirrored those of Mr. Obama. This would indeed support the case that race is no longer a barrier in America. However, I find it deeply disturbing that upwards of 90% of african american voters voted for Barack. This shows me that race is indeed a factor, more so than ever. In an election where the difference in popularity among the entire public differed less than 5 points, the difference in popularity between candidates among african american voters was 80 points. It doesn't take a statistical guru to realize there is a significant variance there. In fact, more registered democrats voted against Barack Obama, than did african american voters. Are we to believe that african americans as a group overwhelmingly mirror Senator Obama's views, more than the political party that endorses those views? Fahgettaboutit. The variance there can only be attributed to a large portion of the african american voting population basing their decision solely on Obama's race. This practice is distinctly parallel with the practice of segregation that Senator Obama's appointment is supposed to be extinguishing. Because white voting populations vote for a candidate regardless of race does not mean we are not segregated. Only when all voting populations, african americans included, vote for a candidate regardless of race will we effectively be a communal population. 90% vs. 10% is nowhere near this ideal state. And when this occurs, african american vote, white vote, hispanic vote will not be a statistic; they will be unequivocally insignificant. Popular vote will be the only statistic that matters. We are indeed a long way from this ideal state, based on our current division.
The other thing I found very disturbing about this election, was the resulty of the newly moblized youth vote. Younger voters improportionately and overwhelmingly voting in favor of Barack Obama. In record setting numbers. Why? Because he was "change". Yet how can so much of one population vary on opinion of ideals, values, and beliefs from the national population? Again, I do not think it can. Therefore, obviously a majority of these voters have based their opinion on a different factor than belief; in this case, "change". What is that change? I fear that many of them truly do not know. For this reason, I am fearful. The fact that our nation's future may be guided largely due to the uneducated views of the newly liberated youth is disturbing.
Blogging is fun. It's kind of like rambling. And I'm good at that. Fragment. All this being said (or typed in this case), my problem with the result of our election is not that Barack Obama won. I hope, and even believe he will do a good job. Surely better than any attempt I could muster. My problem with the result of our election is why Barack Obama won. He won largely because he was african american and because he found a way to convince uneducated youth to vote for him because he was "fresh". Neither of these reasons are valid criteria for deciding who will run our country. Both are decidedly BAD reasons.
So, as historic as this event has been, I do not believe it is change. In Senator Obama's words himself:
I could not agree more. Now that so many have been convinced of the value and importance of voting (thank you, Senator Obama, in all seriousness), they will hopefully learn why we vote. And maybe some day, everyone will vote based on valid reasoning. Not based on race; not based on appearance. A candidates' race, gender, marital status, age, and religious affiliation will not only be a non-issues, but will never even be brought up in conversation. Furthermore, everybody's personal affiliations, be it race, gender, age, etc., will be non-existent. They will be completely inconsequential. The only true affiliation between each other acknowledged among all will be our humanity. Only then will we have achieved our ideal state. Only then, as a population will we have CHANGED.
I have blogged. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta. Exhale.
Congratulations Barack Obama, president-elect. I freely admit I did not vote for you. I am white; but that was not why. I am male; but that is not why. I am young; but that is not why. I am a member of the middle class; but that is not why. I am christian; but that is not why. None of these personal characteristics are why I did not vote for you. I did not vote for you because your vision, beliefs, and proposed policies did not best mirror mine and the direction for which I hope our country to follow. This is the only reason I did not vote for you. And had our views mirrored, I would have voted for you. And that would have been the only reason I would have voted for you.
That being said, I understand why so many have heralded this appointment an historic achievement. The U.S.A. will now have an african american president. The same United States of America that only 50 years ago, viewed african americans as second class citizens. Truly, we have come a long way. But by no means have we come all the way. And my true fear is that we never will. So much was made of race during this campaign. Barack Obama would have to overcome being "black" to win the presidency. He would have to sway white voters. And he did; mission accomplished. Congratulations U.S.A. on being diversified, accepting, and equitable.
Or perhaps not? Yes, Obama swayed many white voters to vote for him. Hopefully because those white voters views mirrored those of Mr. Obama. This would indeed support the case that race is no longer a barrier in America. However, I find it deeply disturbing that upwards of 90% of african american voters voted for Barack. This shows me that race is indeed a factor, more so than ever. In an election where the difference in popularity among the entire public differed less than 5 points, the difference in popularity between candidates among african american voters was 80 points. It doesn't take a statistical guru to realize there is a significant variance there. In fact, more registered democrats voted against Barack Obama, than did african american voters. Are we to believe that african americans as a group overwhelmingly mirror Senator Obama's views, more than the political party that endorses those views? Fahgettaboutit. The variance there can only be attributed to a large portion of the african american voting population basing their decision solely on Obama's race. This practice is distinctly parallel with the practice of segregation that Senator Obama's appointment is supposed to be extinguishing. Because white voting populations vote for a candidate regardless of race does not mean we are not segregated. Only when all voting populations, african americans included, vote for a candidate regardless of race will we effectively be a communal population. 90% vs. 10% is nowhere near this ideal state. And when this occurs, african american vote, white vote, hispanic vote will not be a statistic; they will be unequivocally insignificant. Popular vote will be the only statistic that matters. We are indeed a long way from this ideal state, based on our current division.
The other thing I found very disturbing about this election, was the resulty of the newly moblized youth vote. Younger voters improportionately and overwhelmingly voting in favor of Barack Obama. In record setting numbers. Why? Because he was "change". Yet how can so much of one population vary on opinion of ideals, values, and beliefs from the national population? Again, I do not think it can. Therefore, obviously a majority of these voters have based their opinion on a different factor than belief; in this case, "change". What is that change? I fear that many of them truly do not know. For this reason, I am fearful. The fact that our nation's future may be guided largely due to the uneducated views of the newly liberated youth is disturbing.
Blogging is fun. It's kind of like rambling. And I'm good at that. Fragment. All this being said (or typed in this case), my problem with the result of our election is not that Barack Obama won. I hope, and even believe he will do a good job. Surely better than any attempt I could muster. My problem with the result of our election is why Barack Obama won. He won largely because he was african american and because he found a way to convince uneducated youth to vote for him because he was "fresh". Neither of these reasons are valid criteria for deciding who will run our country. Both are decidedly BAD reasons.
So, as historic as this event has been, I do not believe it is change. In Senator Obama's words himself:
This victory is not the change we seek, only the opportunity to make the change we seek.
I could not agree more. Now that so many have been convinced of the value and importance of voting (thank you, Senator Obama, in all seriousness), they will hopefully learn why we vote. And maybe some day, everyone will vote based on valid reasoning. Not based on race; not based on appearance. A candidates' race, gender, marital status, age, and religious affiliation will not only be a non-issues, but will never even be brought up in conversation. Furthermore, everybody's personal affiliations, be it race, gender, age, etc., will be non-existent. They will be completely inconsequential. The only true affiliation between each other acknowledged among all will be our humanity. Only then will we have achieved our ideal state. Only then, as a population will we have CHANGED.
I have blogged. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta. Exhale.
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