Monday, November 29, 2010
Random Fact of the Day
By the end of the twentieth century, over 300 motion pictures were made about vampires, and over 100 of them featured Dracula. Over 1,000 vampire novels were published, most within the past 25 years.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Witness America’s Long Slide into Oblivion
Barbara Bush says she hopes Sarah Palin stays in Alaska. You and me both sister. But merely hoping for it is not going to make it so.
The Republican Party has already let this unwashed mouthpiece out of the box and they have no intention of giving up on a project that they have spent so much time and effort grooming.
It’s no accident that Sarah Palin was chosen for this project. She very closely resembles what the majority of Americans are becoming. She is a product of an educational system that has failed America. She represents the erosion of culture in this country, thereby making her easy to be handled. Her ego allows her to believe that ‘she’ is the person the public wants, when in fact she is merely a tool used by the GOP to keep their party in power no matter the cost.
She was chosen because she exemplifies the misplaced optimistic view that the American public is in control of its own destiny.
Education is what we so desperately need right now. Education…not just what to think but how to think…to give us the ability to see beyond what is being placed in front of us and deduce the true meaning of why it is being placed in front of us. The lack of this ability is why it is so easy for us to be manipulated.
And make no mistake, the American public is being manipulated. The media is being used by practitioners of what Karl Rove so expertly used to put an under-qualified George W Bush into office. Their goal is to win at all costs and the loser will once again be the American public.
The media has been speculating about Sarah Palin laying out the ground work for a run at the Presidency. No, she is not, the GOP is. Her ‘handlers’ are keeping her in the lime light for just this purpose. Mind you she doesn't need to be pushed too hard because she has enough ambition, drive and ego to push herself, but she needs the expert talent that her backers provide to know where and when and at what pace to keep her name in the public's face.
The main problem I have with the circus that the presidential campaign has become, is that the democratic process of choosing our candidates has been denigrated into a “win at all costs” mentality backed by unlimited funds. What’s best-for-America no longer has anything to do with choosing the best candidate.
When someone from her own party hopes she stays in Alaska and out of the presidential race, you just know we are in trouble.
Here’s a must read along the same line as this post:
Best of the Blogs Appaling Ignorance. The Know-Nothings of 2010 Have a Leader
The Republican Party has already let this unwashed mouthpiece out of the box and they have no intention of giving up on a project that they have spent so much time and effort grooming.
It’s no accident that Sarah Palin was chosen for this project. She very closely resembles what the majority of Americans are becoming. She is a product of an educational system that has failed America. She represents the erosion of culture in this country, thereby making her easy to be handled. Her ego allows her to believe that ‘she’ is the person the public wants, when in fact she is merely a tool used by the GOP to keep their party in power no matter the cost.
She was chosen because she exemplifies the misplaced optimistic view that the American public is in control of its own destiny.
Education is what we so desperately need right now. Education…not just what to think but how to think…to give us the ability to see beyond what is being placed in front of us and deduce the true meaning of why it is being placed in front of us. The lack of this ability is why it is so easy for us to be manipulated.
And make no mistake, the American public is being manipulated. The media is being used by practitioners of what Karl Rove so expertly used to put an under-qualified George W Bush into office. Their goal is to win at all costs and the loser will once again be the American public.
The media has been speculating about Sarah Palin laying out the ground work for a run at the Presidency. No, she is not, the GOP is. Her ‘handlers’ are keeping her in the lime light for just this purpose. Mind you she doesn't need to be pushed too hard because she has enough ambition, drive and ego to push herself, but she needs the expert talent that her backers provide to know where and when and at what pace to keep her name in the public's face.
The main problem I have with the circus that the presidential campaign has become, is that the democratic process of choosing our candidates has been denigrated into a “win at all costs” mentality backed by unlimited funds. What’s best-for-America no longer has anything to do with choosing the best candidate.
When someone from her own party hopes she stays in Alaska and out of the presidential race, you just know we are in trouble.
Here’s a must read along the same line as this post:
Best of the Blogs Appaling Ignorance. The Know-Nothings of 2010 Have a Leader
The present bunch of morons who scream about “FREEDOM!!!” and “PATRIOTISM!!!” wouldn’t know what this country is all about if Thomas Jefferson hit them in the head with a rolled-up Constitution.
Don’t get me wrong-I know that Caribou Barbie is an idiot. That’s been clear from the day John McCain decided to screw this country good and hard by elevating her to national prominence. But, even given that we all understand she’s an idiot, some of the things that this stupid bimbo says STILL surprise me.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
TSA Rules Should Apply to Everone
On the way home this morning, from one of my forays out into the public (this time it was a trip to the bank, post office, library and grocery store), I was listening to a local talk radio broadcast. Not one of my favorite broadcasts because I don't really care for the mannerisms of the talk show host, but he does occasionally stumble onto an interesting topic. This morning the topic was the increased security measures (demands) forced on us by our great 'protectors of life, liberty and the American way', Homeland Security.
One of the callers stated that Janet Napoiitano, secretary of Homeland Security, says they have adopted the policy of not patting down Arab women dressed in their traditional garb. My immediate question is, why not? If they choose to live in America (or use American aircraft to travel) then they should be subjected to the same rules and inconveniences that the rest of us are.
The other day, I heard Ms Napolitano state that travelers have other options to get around this country and if they choose to use airplanes they are going to be subjected to 'patting down' or 'full-body scans'. That is a very hard-line stance, but I understand it is necessary if we are to respect their authority. The one thing that undermines their authority is to begin allowing unfounded exceptions. Since Arab women have the same travel options as the rest of us, why are they allowed to bypass this very intrusive security measure?
And then, the point came to mind that before September 11, 2001 and the atrocious and despicable attack by a group of Arabs on the World Trade Center, we Americans were not subjected to any security measures. Therefore, it stands to reason that the basis of this nations increased 'need' for security measures at our airports is to prevent a repeat of that awful event or something similar to it. By the way, I agree that security measures need to be taken, and not only at airports.
Anyway, I want to make this point clear, I know for certain that not all Arabs are our enemy. I know for certain that there is a subset of Muslims that are dedicated to destroying Americans and our 'devil' ways.
Now, before you get into an uproar over what I am about to say, before you falsely perceive my next statements as racial profiling, hear me out. The only serious threats to airline travel that we Americans have been subjected to have come from...Arabs. The only actual successful and unsuccessful attacks on American soil has come from...Arabs. The only group of people that have declared war on all Americans have come from...Arabs. It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to see that the US government's primary threat level is coming from...Arabs. So, why is an Arab (woman or otherwise) allowed to bypass the very security measures put into place to protect us? And, how can we be faulted for racial profiling?
I truly wish that the trend in human society would be towards more tolerance and less divisiveness, more class and less snobbery, more equality and less elitism. But this is wishing for fantasy. What is not fantasy is, that a sub-group of Arabs (radical Muslims) are out to destroy our American way of life. This is not being racist, this is not racial profiling, this fact has been well-documented.
Every person who boards an airplane needs to be subjected to the same level of security scrutiny as everyone else. No exceptions.
Irrespective of any religious, racial, or cultural differences, it is my observation is that human society is evolving towards more aggression towards each other. More people are resorting to violence as opposed to conversation to resolve differences. We are trending towards less tolerance. We are becoming less concerned about each others right to privacy or to live peacefully. More of us are preying on each others kindness.
It is becoming easier for people to chose to lie to get what they want. More people are favoring their own selfish needs over what is best for society as a whole.
And because of these ever-increasing threats to our sense of 'personal security and safety' we are isolating ourselves further away from each other, which only exacerbates the problem.
It is unfortunate that increased levels of security are becoming a necessary part of life. We need security measures that are not intrusive while not infringing upon our freedoms.
Until diplomacy and tolerance take their rightful place in the forefront of human evolution we will be forced to depend on technology to protect us, and that means everyone.
One of the callers stated that Janet Napoiitano, secretary of Homeland Security, says they have adopted the policy of not patting down Arab women dressed in their traditional garb. My immediate question is, why not? If they choose to live in America (or use American aircraft to travel) then they should be subjected to the same rules and inconveniences that the rest of us are.
The other day, I heard Ms Napolitano state that travelers have other options to get around this country and if they choose to use airplanes they are going to be subjected to 'patting down' or 'full-body scans'. That is a very hard-line stance, but I understand it is necessary if we are to respect their authority. The one thing that undermines their authority is to begin allowing unfounded exceptions. Since Arab women have the same travel options as the rest of us, why are they allowed to bypass this very intrusive security measure?
And then, the point came to mind that before September 11, 2001 and the atrocious and despicable attack by a group of Arabs on the World Trade Center, we Americans were not subjected to any security measures. Therefore, it stands to reason that the basis of this nations increased 'need' for security measures at our airports is to prevent a repeat of that awful event or something similar to it. By the way, I agree that security measures need to be taken, and not only at airports.
Anyway, I want to make this point clear, I know for certain that not all Arabs are our enemy. I know for certain that there is a subset of Muslims that are dedicated to destroying Americans and our 'devil' ways.
Now, before you get into an uproar over what I am about to say, before you falsely perceive my next statements as racial profiling, hear me out. The only serious threats to airline travel that we Americans have been subjected to have come from...Arabs. The only actual successful and unsuccessful attacks on American soil has come from...Arabs. The only group of people that have declared war on all Americans have come from...Arabs. It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to see that the US government's primary threat level is coming from...Arabs. So, why is an Arab (woman or otherwise) allowed to bypass the very security measures put into place to protect us? And, how can we be faulted for racial profiling?
I truly wish that the trend in human society would be towards more tolerance and less divisiveness, more class and less snobbery, more equality and less elitism. But this is wishing for fantasy. What is not fantasy is, that a sub-group of Arabs (radical Muslims) are out to destroy our American way of life. This is not being racist, this is not racial profiling, this fact has been well-documented.
Every person who boards an airplane needs to be subjected to the same level of security scrutiny as everyone else. No exceptions.
Irrespective of any religious, racial, or cultural differences, it is my observation is that human society is evolving towards more aggression towards each other. More people are resorting to violence as opposed to conversation to resolve differences. We are trending towards less tolerance. We are becoming less concerned about each others right to privacy or to live peacefully. More of us are preying on each others kindness.
It is becoming easier for people to chose to lie to get what they want. More people are favoring their own selfish needs over what is best for society as a whole.
And because of these ever-increasing threats to our sense of 'personal security and safety' we are isolating ourselves further away from each other, which only exacerbates the problem.
It is unfortunate that increased levels of security are becoming a necessary part of life. We need security measures that are not intrusive while not infringing upon our freedoms.
Until diplomacy and tolerance take their rightful place in the forefront of human evolution we will be forced to depend on technology to protect us, and that means everyone.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Our Fellow Americans are starving
A federal report on hunger in America raises many questions. Questions that many of us already know the answer to. In the report, as presented by CNN, we learn the number of American households fighting off hunger stayed level last year at 14.7%, that’s roughly 45 million people. It’s the old ‘good news, bad news’ report. The bad news is that the hunger rate is high, the good news is that it didn’t get any worse.
It’s no surprise that there is hunger here in America. Anyone who pays attention (and it is easier to not pay attention when you have an abundance of everything), especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas has heard the increase in requests for donations. We have also seen the signs.
The various grocery stores I visit have begun placing a large donation barrel just inside the front door so everyone walks past it as they enter and leave. The barrel is clearly marked as a receptacle for donated food destined for the food bank. Those barrels remain pretty empty. I don’t need to tell you this, you already know.
It’s a sign of the times that those barrels remain so empty so that makes it easier for us to walk past them without dropping anything into them. If everyone drops one can in (preferably stuff that you yourself would serve to your family) then hunger could be cut down at least a little bit for a little while. But I don’t need to tell you that. You already know.
The report really does nothing more than tell us that government programs, supported by our tax dollars are footing the bill for feeding the poor. But I don’t need to tell you that. You already know.
Many of these people are in their situation as a result of decisions they have made. Is this a good enough reason to turn our backs on them? Do we really believe they don’t deserve our help because they alone are responsible for where they are? Is that the reason food donations are so pitifully inadequate?
The causes for hunger are many and run deep. In September 2009, the US Census Bureau reported rising poverty, falling incomes, and growing numbers of uninsured US households. Even by the Bureau's conservative estimates, 39.8 million Americans were impoverished, the highest level since 1960, and 17.1 million lived in extreme poverty at below one-half the official threshold.
A revised October 2009 Census analysis showed 47.4 million (15.8% of the population, including one-fifth of the elderly) below the poverty line, much higher than the above figure and rising.
Despite a growing national crisis, Obama proposed less spending for the poor saying "our fiscal situation remains unacceptable," not growing poverty, homelessness, hunger and despair at levels not seen since the 1930s.
On February 1, he sent Congress a budget freezing social spending for three years, a de facto cut in real terms. At the same time, he lets Wall Street keep pillaging, plans more wealth transfers to the rich, and proposed the largest ever defense and homeland security budgets, leaving little for cash-strapped states and growing millions of desperate people out of luck and on their own.
It's morally reprehensible that we live in the wealthiest nation in the world where so many of our fellow citizens are struggling to make choices between food and other basic services. But I don’t need to tell you that, you already know.
Despite the fact that we decide who gets into office to supposedly represent us, once they get there they turn their backs on us while they sit at tables over-flowing with food. But, you already knew that too.
Since we already know these things why do we allow our fellow citizens to go hungry? Why is there still so much hunger in the wealthiest nation on earth? I wish we knew the answers to these questions and was more willing to do something about it.
It’s no surprise that there is hunger here in America. Anyone who pays attention (and it is easier to not pay attention when you have an abundance of everything), especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas has heard the increase in requests for donations. We have also seen the signs.
The various grocery stores I visit have begun placing a large donation barrel just inside the front door so everyone walks past it as they enter and leave. The barrel is clearly marked as a receptacle for donated food destined for the food bank. Those barrels remain pretty empty. I don’t need to tell you this, you already know.
It’s a sign of the times that those barrels remain so empty so that makes it easier for us to walk past them without dropping anything into them. If everyone drops one can in (preferably stuff that you yourself would serve to your family) then hunger could be cut down at least a little bit for a little while. But I don’t need to tell you that. You already know.
The report really does nothing more than tell us that government programs, supported by our tax dollars are footing the bill for feeding the poor. But I don’t need to tell you that. You already know.
Many of these people are in their situation as a result of decisions they have made. Is this a good enough reason to turn our backs on them? Do we really believe they don’t deserve our help because they alone are responsible for where they are? Is that the reason food donations are so pitifully inadequate?
The causes for hunger are many and run deep. In September 2009, the US Census Bureau reported rising poverty, falling incomes, and growing numbers of uninsured US households. Even by the Bureau's conservative estimates, 39.8 million Americans were impoverished, the highest level since 1960, and 17.1 million lived in extreme poverty at below one-half the official threshold.
A revised October 2009 Census analysis showed 47.4 million (15.8% of the population, including one-fifth of the elderly) below the poverty line, much higher than the above figure and rising.
Despite a growing national crisis, Obama proposed less spending for the poor saying "our fiscal situation remains unacceptable," not growing poverty, homelessness, hunger and despair at levels not seen since the 1930s.
On February 1, he sent Congress a budget freezing social spending for three years, a de facto cut in real terms. At the same time, he lets Wall Street keep pillaging, plans more wealth transfers to the rich, and proposed the largest ever defense and homeland security budgets, leaving little for cash-strapped states and growing millions of desperate people out of luck and on their own.
It's morally reprehensible that we live in the wealthiest nation in the world where so many of our fellow citizens are struggling to make choices between food and other basic services. But I don’t need to tell you that, you already know.
Despite the fact that we decide who gets into office to supposedly represent us, once they get there they turn their backs on us while they sit at tables over-flowing with food. But, you already knew that too.
Since we already know these things why do we allow our fellow citizens to go hungry? Why is there still so much hunger in the wealthiest nation on earth? I wish we knew the answers to these questions and was more willing to do something about it.
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