Discrimination, stupidity, and embracing differences June 19, 2009

Well this weekend is my 10th High School Reunion…and I am gladly half way around the world from where the events are taking place. Im sure Ill hear all kinds of news soon enough, but Im not sure that Im all that upset about missing it. Im actually rather glad to be where I am and working on my MA. Cause that means I will soon be elsewhere…preferably back in Africa!  But too all those Burg Alum out there…have fun and harrass Stella for me! I hear Ryan already has!

I think its sad that when running for office or being nominated and appointed to an office…someone is forced to give up things that are no apparent hinderance on performance all because someone makes a big deal out of it. In case you havent pieced together where this little rant is going…im talking about Sotomayer quiting the womans club that she belongs too because the GOP says that it practices discrimination. Um…how many all male cigar clubs are there out there? And Im going to go out on a limb that some clubs that GOP officials are members in discriminate more then an all womens club.  Justice Kennedy also faced similar pressures about being a member of an all male Olympic Club when he was confirmed and he too resigned from it because of his nomination. For a country that is diverse, we place too much emphasis on discrimination and those differences…when will we move past this stupidity and let people be who they are for what they are, whether you agree with them or not. If this was a case where being a member would impact job performance then I could understand, but as far as Im aware…hanging out with other women and organizing events doesnt mean you cant rule on legal issues…it just means you have a social life. Heck I wonder if there are any lawyers who attend Pampered Chef parties and whether the local courts would question their ability to serve.  My advice ….Get over it!

Has anyone else watched Whale Wars on Animal Planet?! I cant decide if I enjoy the show or if Im actually just hooked while I watch some crazy, unplanning, uncoorinated efforts to intervene fail miserably or decisions lead them into stupid situations (ice anyone?!) While I agree that Japan is manipulating the Whaling laws to their advantage…I dont agree that these environmental crazies are the equivalent to Al-Queda which is how many Japanese see them. I actually couldnt help but laugh at their direct action tactics involving stink bombs. Im not sure how stink bombs will stop whaling but Im sure it smells to high heaven on that one Japanese ship now.  The thing I find the most disturbing about it is the environmentalists lack of compassion for human life.  Several are almost cold at the news of death.  Yes whales are creatures worth saving, but how are you going to save them if everyone is dead? Theres a fine line that needs to be walked between hating and respecting your enemy and they are failing to do so.

Ok Im done with my rants for the night…

Later!

Vitamin C, Mexican Vacation, and goodbye Souter =( April 30, 2009

Well its been a few days since I last blogged. Its the end of the semester and I am almost done…2 more papers to go! I am working on one right now…well not right now, im procrastinating and decided to update my blog, but I will get back to my prospectus update as soon as I am done here! Class was relaxing tonight, and for once we got out early which was a nice plus! Unfortunately the bus was running late, so I only made it home about 30 min prior to my normal time, but hey, 30 minutes is an eternity in grad school!

In case you havent seen the news…Justive Souter is planning on retiring. Im personally amazed that Justice Stevens is till kicking it! I thought for sure he would be one of the first to retire after Obama was elected , but hey, to each his own.  But for all of you out there who are obsessed with the hot topic issues, a court nomination will bring out all the crazies on both sides of every issue, so it should make for some interesting blogging!

Well earlier today I read an article about how Airline seats to Mexico are easy to come by right now….wanna take that dream vacation to the Mexican Riviera, well this is the time to do it.  While some professionals seem to think that its the flu and the economy that are making an excess of seats available, Im goign to bet its because of Speidi being there…come on, who wants to have to watch those 2 do photo ops all day!

Going along the lines of the ridiculous and needlesss information that seems to be floating around out there… Sarah Jessica Parkers surrogate may or maynot be from Ohio….who cares! Or how about the Jellybean thief…a robber in PA broke into a home, but all he took were some jellybeans….seriously?! How much you wanna bet its a kid who did it! Or how about the coke smuggling Grandpa in Italy…you have to admit it was pretty genius to put the coke inside of his oranges, and then tell the cops he needed the oranges for vitamin C. Regardless, news seems to be full of random and stupid things these days…maybe its the gecko flu…

Later!

Duct Tape Judge, too much Sci-fi, and living the clean life April 21, 2009

Hmm..have scientists finally discovered the planet for us to all move to when our planet dies?! A recent discovery of another planet with vast oceans and similarities to Earth has been found in a completely different solar system than ours… but I think in order to reach it we may need a Stargate or some BSG ships that are capable of carrying us all there….so I guess I wont get my hopes up until Richard Dean Anderson comes and saves our planet from those evil Gu’ould (sp?).  Yes Im beginning to think that I have watched way to much Sci-fi…when i start thinking in terms of planetary space travel you all know we are in trouble!

Hmm…Mexican cartels have told their smugglers to dont drink, do drugs, and to live a goof clean family life….are they taking cues from Weeds now? Cause I seem to remember a scene where she was told exactly that! But you know they never listen!

Oh you gotta love the judicial system in this country.  A judge in Idaho lost his patience with a defendant and ordered that his mouth be taped shut with duct tape.  The best part is that the man is incompetent to stand trial due to impaired mental faculties. I wonder when the ACLU will jump on this one?!  Duct taping an insane mans mouth shut instead of removing him form the room is kinda a weird measure…I just know when I worked with the MR/DD population this would have been ground for firing, so I wonder how the judge will fair!

Um…now Im really concerned about the google searches that are leading to my blog…yesterday “gaible porn” led to my blog…whos googling for gaible porn?!?!  How many gaibles are there in the world anyways?!

Later!

Steeling a seat, a little Tofu, and the evolution of Darwin… April 8, 2009

Who knew that id go from discussing in class about stupidity of people to coming home and reading an article about how modern life is making humans evolve faster…and here earlier we all thought Darwinism was dead.  In class tonight we did a Tabletop exercise on a Hurricane hitting the Big Island…and one of the scenerios involved surfers going out in Cat2 and tourists deciding to hike Volcano Park during a Cat2…Seriously?! While this was all a scenario it was based on actual problems that Hawai’i has faced…I want to know who would really hike a volcano during a hurricane…it just seems like you are tempting fate a little too much there…what do you prefer…death by flying debri or death by lava? Hmmm….how about both!  We even joked about leaving the stranded toruists in Volcano Park because if they were stupid enough to venture out, then maybe the gene pool needed some help…man made Darwinism. Well Darwin evolution seems to be following me tonight cause I get home and see and article about how we are evolving faster now…and that our genes eventually will change enough to create an entirely new human species, one no longer able to breed with our own species…well I guess the evolution monkey chart had to have something beyond us…i wonder if they will still have opposable thumbs?!

I am seriusly distrubed by the route reality tv is taking now…more so then I was before!  A new reality show from the Dutch-based creator of the hit TV series ‘Big Brother’ will allow staff at companies struggling in the global recession to choose which colleague should be fired. Gee…the economy is bad…we need to fire someone…lets make it a televised event! Yes, because only the Dutch would think of something so horrible into entertainment…wait…its coming to the US?! Go figure  (ok its not really coming to the US but with the US leading reality TV, would it really be any shock to see Fox air it!?!)

When you hear the word ‘tofu’ do you think of somethin obscene?  Well a Denver lady who requested a personalized license plate to read “Ilvtofu” was deemed obscene because they said it could be interpreted as I lv to FU…well okay I get that but seriously? When I read it i saw tofu not FU…give society some credit…yes someone may see it and complain, but most people dont read license plates that closely..unless you are in a traffic jam or entertaining kids…but whatever…

Well Burris-isms are taking off everywhere!  A man in South Dakota was going through the drive through and accidently shot himself in the leg…i wonder if he will try and sue the fast food joint for something stupid like allowing weapons on the property…

In an unusual theft move…someone stole from a New Jersey womans Honda…the fact that her car was broken into isnt the strange part…its what was taken…the steering wheel, shift knob and front seats.  Now I know these are all vital parts of a car…but um you might as well have taken the entire car…I wonder if the theif needed new seats?

Jessie…maybe you should give Arkansas churchgoers a chance… A church in Little Rock will be holding Easter Sunday services at a local bar…and in case you cant make it that Sunday…check them out on Mothers Day and Fathers Day at the bar too…come for the choir…stay for the drunken karaoke!

Later!

 

March Madness, fish watching, and Cheney returns March 15, 2009

Well I spent the day reading nad writing about COIN theory and the Vietnam War.Fun times. I ended up procrastinating much of the afternoon though because i was reading in the living room when my roomies joined me. Somehow the TV ended up on, and I got engrossed in Discovery channel. Damn Discovery channel.  For some reason anytime I watch it or Travel channel I get engrossed in the programming, no matter the content. The shows I watched today were all about fish (  I know, of all things). And giant fish at that. Did you know that there is a freshwater catfish in Indochina that can be like 10 feet long!  Seriously!  I saw it!  Although Josh thinks it was all Hollywood editing like the moon landing. I think Im fished out for today!

Man how I miss the days of Cheney!  In a span of two days he has stated that Obama’s policies are creating a greater risk of terrorism on the US, and then decided that Obama needs to debate Rush Limbaugh!  Some things never change.  Things arent going my way so Ill rule by fear, and if that doesnt work, then ill support the next best thing…the GOPs leader! Ahhh Cheney, how Ive missed you’re antics.

In case you missed, March Madness brackets were announced today. While, there are no Hawaii schools present (as usual, im not even sure if people out here know what March Madness is because B-ball isnt their choice of entertainment), 5 Ohio schools did. And Im still trying to figure out how Ohio St got a first and potential second round playoff game held in Dayton?!  I feel bad for any other team playing in that arena because its going to be all Scarlet and Gray. I almost wish I was there to witness that chaos, almost.

Well Im off to watch the Amazing Race…

Later!

Win a private Island, Sci-fi becomes reality, and crazy football days March 5, 2009

I blogged a few nights ago about locing one of my buddies, and tonight was a bitter sweet night, in that Xavier beat UD…he would have been so happy!

I just found out that Flogging Molly is coming to Pipeline Cafe in April!! I so want to go…and have some Drunken Lullabies…

Ive been following the offseason of football, and its craziness!  The Pats let Cassle go for a 2nd round pick?  TJ left Cincy?  The Brownies sent Kellen to Parcells?  Wow…but the oddest off season moves so far has to be with Dallas.  I can understand releasing TO…I mean he is drama filled, whiner, who wants it his way and not the teams way, but releasing Williams?!  Seriously!?  I know he wanted out but you just lost a good safety!  Im so confused by this offseasons tradings and team decisions..we’ll have to see how it all pans out after draft day.

I just found out today that there was a military coup in Bangladesh i which soldiers turned on the officers and dismembered them, stuffint the remains in sewers and manholes.  One of my classmates works at PAYCOM and is dealing with the situation, but it took some digging to find any published news on the crisis…thats just sad…over 70 are dead.

Looks like my concern over the Sudanese President ordering all aid agencies to leave Sudan and the potential fall out was right on target.  Im not the only one who is seeing the crisis worsen before it gets better.  The ICC better come up with some might behind all the talk…so to speak.

Is the age of Battlestar Gallactica coming faster then we thought?  Are we looking for another place to live?  NASA has a telescope that will be looking for more Earth-like Planets in the universe. This is kinda cool, but its ringing total sci-fi right now too!  A little BSG, Firefly, and even Stargate…wow…I knew I loved sci-fi, but the reality is kinda cool too!

LOL..you gotta love Taipei. In a move to increase economic spending and travel, they held a raffle for the right to use an uninhabited tropical island. Sounds sweet right!  I wouldnt mind having my on island to relax on…for awhile anyways (id prob get more island fever). The funny thing is that the winner is a 4 year old boy! How is a 4 year old suppose to boost the economy, let alone understand that he won an island!? Oh well…

Well im off to twitter…im addicted to that too…

Later!

T.O. tv?, even more Hugo?, and Japan goes to Somalia January 28, 2009

Reality TV has hit an alltime low. Apparently T.O. (Terrell Owens) is getting his own reality TV show on VH1.  Im not really sure what the premise of this show is, but considering that the network has brought you such shows as Flavor of Love and a Bret Michaels Rockstar love show, Im not expecting too high of quality!  It will just be full of T.O. antics like I get every sunday during football season, just this time it will be off the field.

Will we see more Hugo?  Thats a good question. The Venezuelan President is petitioning for a constitutional change that would allow him to run for the office again.  Currently after his current term he would be required to step down from the office cause he’s “termed” out.  Feb 15 there will be a vote on whether to change the constitution allowing a President to run for office for a third time…even if it passses, what will happen when a third term is up Hugo? Gonna change the rules again?  Guess we’ll have to wait and see….

There has been a glitch in the ICC trial of Lubanga (a DRC warlord). Apparently after testifying, a witness recanted his statement, calling into question witness safety and threats.  Currently the proceeding have halted until an investigation can be made to determine if the witness was coerced to change his story. I hate to say it, but regardless if it was coerced or not, it is a blow to the ICC and its first true trial…and the world is already skeptical of its ability to survive. (ps…hes on trial for child soldiers)

In an interesting move by the Japanese government, ships were sent to Somalia. Hmm…so much for the national defense force. I wonder if they will be allowed to actually target pirates or if they will have to wait until fired upon.  Either way, I hope they dont approach the situation like the one in Iraq, where the Japanese soldieres require other troops to actually protect them since they dont have the capacity to fire at enemies. This should be interesting.

To everyone in Ohio who are snowed and iced in….hope you got the day off and were lazy!  I am sad Im not getting to play in the snow…so go make a snow angel for me!

Later!

Someone stole my burial plan, an old lizard, and when reality crashes down on religion January 26, 2009

Becoming a dad is always stressful but how about becoming a dad at the age of 111?!  Thats what happened recently to a centenarian tuatara named Henry (aka…a lizard from New Zealand).  111 may seem old, but for these reptiles, they can live well over 100…so gramps got his groove on….and now will be saddled with the burden of a baby for the next 100 years of his life…hope he has a good portfolio plan…j/k.

I love that the creator of Star Trek is taking his love of sci-fi and space to the next level.  His wife and him are planning on being launched into outer space in capsules to live eternally in space!  Its what I wanted!  How can he yank my dream of burial from me…ok, I realize I wasnt the first to come up with this plan, but I still like to claim it as mine!  Guess I can share the universe with a couple of more people…dang…so much for solitude after death!

Everyone always says im a scary driver…I never really see it…I may have a lead foot but Im cautious…unlike a man in Berlin. A German motorist missed a bend in the road, broke through a barrier and hurtled up a bank, crash-landing on a church roof.  Somehow im betting thats not what the pastor had in mind when he was talking to his parishioners about things raining down from the heavens above!

Well Im off to listen to the rain fall and hoefully get some sleep tonight…until then reading as usual…that will never end…but hopefully it will slow after I get done with grad school!

Later!