Collect Experiences. Not Things. :')
Blog Highlights
June 24, 2008
June 19, 2008
June 18, 2008
George W. Bush's WMD Mistake
Iraq War
And certainly, throughout history there were times and places for wars, but from what I observed living, trying to earn a living, trying to raise a family, while a war is occurring outside your front door has to be one of the most psychologically debilitation human experiences. Every day wondering if you're going to live, if your family is going to live, if your profession and assets have meaning or value.
Sometimes I wish I never traveled and could demonize the people of the Middle East, like many Americas. But my travel experiences through Lebanon, Syria and Iran were amazing. Everybody that I met was extremely friendly and helpful, as I'm sure the people of Iraq were before the war. Then again, the people I met during my travels were "everyday" people not government officials. But what? The people of Iraq have to live under George W. Bush's mistake. Okay enuf. God, please grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change and the power to stop drinking and posting!
I really need to get out of the house more and interact with other people. I searched craigslist today and sent some emails out to filmmakers looking for film crews. I'm not sure how reliable craigslist is for this type of thing, but I'll soon find out.
June 17, 2008
June 13, 2008
CNN Crunches Obama and McCain Tax Plans
Based on IRS Data
"Since 2002, the average income of the top 1 percent of households has risen 44 percent, or $335,000, after adjusting for inflation. The average income of the bottom 90 percent of households has risen about 3 percent, or about $1,000."
"As a result, the share of the nation’s income flowing to the top 1 percent has increased sharply, rising from 15.8 percent in 2002 to 20.3 percent in 2006. Not since 1928, just before the Great Depression, has the top 1 percent held such a large share of the nation’s income."
Think about that, in 2006, 1% of Americans made 20% of the income.
How can I become part of that 1%?
McCain Gets Basic Iran Fact Wrong
You can search on Wikipedia yourself, or I'll summarize:
“The Supreme Leader is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, controls the military intelligence and security operations; and has sole power to declare war or peace.
“After the Supreme Leader, the Constitution defines the President of Iran as the highest state authority.”
WHY DOESN’T McCAIN KNOW THIS!!! ... HE’S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!!!
In the video clip above, McCain argues with the reporter and insisted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran, is the Commander-in-Chief.
The reporter explains to McCain, the President is NOT the Commander-in-Chief, but the Supreme Leader of Iran is the Commander-in-Chief.
Simple fact, no?
Okay, there are a lot of countries in the world and I don’t think anybody expects any Presidential Candidate to know the ruler or political system of each country, but Iran is a country that allegedly possess nuclear weapons and verbally to U.S. interest.
How can ANY Presidential Candidate run on a platform of strong national security, if they don’t know who the ruler is of the country they want to attack and destory? And this is not a verbal gaffe, it clear from McCain arguing against the reporter, he doesn't know.
For future reference, this is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, The President.
This is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, The Supreme Leader.
He even looks like a Supreme Leader.
June 11, 2008
N.E.R.D. and Martha Wainwright
I often wonder how I select my music - mostly because I'm a wondering kind of - well anyway, I'm not feeling this N.E.R.D. album. I've liked their two previous albums a lot. Then again, often music I don't like initially, I typically begin liking it over time. The opposite too is usually true, if I like something the first time I hear it, I tire of it quickly - like Paolo Nuntini. Funny that... or not.
I also purchased Martha Wainwright's album, because I like her voice on the song she sings with Snow Patrol. The album ain't bad. Plus, I figured I'd support the family. I have most of her brother's music.
Other Songs...
"The Lake" ....................... Antony & Johnsons
"Muscle'n Flo" ................... Menomena
"Heart It Races" ................. Dr. Dog
"No Heaven"....................... Champion
"Between the Moon and the Ocean".. Bon Savants
"Get Up Get Out".................. The Rosebuds
"Antichrist Television Blues"..... Arcade Fire
"Before I Knew"................... Basia Bulat
"Click Click Click Click"......... Bishop Allen
"Put Your Hands On Me"............ Joss Stone
"Breath Me (live)"................ Sia
"Montreal"........................ Ariane Moffatt
"Truth Is"........................ Brother Ali
"Favourite Subjects".............. Coin-Op
"Hotwax".......................... Mandrew
June 10, 2008
Little Bit
Here's an example of a song that I liked, purchased the EP and now I hate. It's by Lykke Li. And the video is also crap.
June 09, 2008
To Meat or Not To Meat
There are so many arguments not to eat meat today: 1) economic, 2) ethical, 3 )altruistic, 4) environmental, and 5) nutritional.
Throughout my travels and life, I’ve gotten to know many vegetarians and vegans - some were militant, some were not - but they all swore by a vegetarian or vegan diet. I also did a short video while in grad school exploring the decision to eat or not eat meat. And there’s been periods in my life where I ate strictly vegetarian, but could never sustain it for long periods of time. Not eating meat ever again, I don't know... lets just say, I never had the self discipline. Meat every once in a while is good.
But right now, for the last year or so, I decided that I would not eat meat at home, but only at restaurants or other people’s homes.
Recently, one of the biggest pushes to eat vegetarian is energy conservation. The video clip Meat and Climate Change claims cutting one's meat consumption by 20% is like switching from a regular car to a hybrid car. This is an added benefit of eating vetetarian.
But probably the deciding factor for me to eat vegetarian at home is to avoid unwanted calories. Many plants have more protein than meat. For example, a cheeseburger contains 14.57 grams of protein in 286 calories, or about .05 grams of protein per calorie; a serving of spinach has 2.97 grams of protein in 23 calories, or .12 grams of protein per calorie. Green leafy vegetables are good for me, too! So, I'm told.
Growing up on a pseudo farm with steers in the backyard, it was difficult not eating beef. Beef was plentiful and cheat, but today there aren’t steers in my backyard. Eating LESS meat is probably a good thing. Here’s a good NY Times thingy on the topic: Putting Meat Back in Its Place.
June 08, 2008
McCain Leaves Fox Speechless
Who does McCain remind ya of (especially between points 4:38 and 5:02)?
June 05, 2008
Nas “Black President”
The Obama vs. McCain uncensored youth comments are illuminating. This was one of my favorites.
justice4all says:
"He can’t even raise his arm."
This says a lot about the fall elections.
June 04, 2008
The White Shirt – It Always Bothered Me
He’s been running for the Presidency of the U.S. all along, not just the Dem primary, and courting the vote in the middle.
Here’s a numerical example: in the Dem primaries approximately 34 million people voted. They are the true LEFTIST in America. About 120 million Americans vote in the general election. If you generously give McCain 34 million on the far RIGHT, there are still 52 million voters in the MIDDLE that will either vote for McCain or Obama. Obama is going after these voters. The voters he’s going after are the people who voted for Bush, but have been disappointed by Bush, hence the white shirt.
And I don't think the people that voted for Hilary (old, white, uneducated, rural and racist) will vote for Obama in the general election anyway. He will get the black vote in the general election for sure, and the vote of the educated people under the age of 45. And there is a lot of talk about how this group of voters, under the age of 45, even in very conservative areas, like in Texas, are shifting parties from Reps to Dems.
Bush seems to have crushed the Republican franchise that Reagan created. Obama is starting a new franchise for the next generation of voters aimed at the middle of the populous.
As for Hillary, she is old news. Some of her voters will vote for Obama, but the rest will vote for McCain or stay home in the general election.
There is no need for Obama to offer Hillary the VP spot. She brings nothing to the table.
Yes!! More Red Wine
It doesn't get any better.
NY Times: Red wine may be much more potent than was thought in extending human lifespan, researchers say in a new report that is likely to give impetus to the rapidly growing search for longevity drugs.
June 03, 2008
Chuck Todd: "This is the greatest political upset maybe in the history of American politics"
Chuck Todd: "Obama beating Hillary Clinton, is..is easily, may surpass Truman beating Dewey."
Chuck Todd: "It's not just how far ahead she was in the polls, it's that this guy comes from absolutely no where, and beats her on money and beats her on the inside game, the outside game and everywhere in between."
It seems clear that Obama will campaign hard until the November election trying to convince the Americans still hesitant to vote for an relatively politically inexperience, African-American President, but he seems to have the wherewithal to do so.
He has the money and oratorical ability, as well as the ability to stay on message: the "Washington-outsider", "we need change", "unifying the nation" message. Plus, he has an opponent that has attached himself to a very unpopular standing President.
How Will I Die?
After pondering it for a bit, I ruled out a spontaneous death, like a motorcycle accident or crossing the street. I don’t own a motorcycle and I’m fairly adept at crossing the street. Generally, I’m not prone to such spontaneous things. Why? I’m not sure. They just don’t usually happen to me.
That's not to say I don't bring them on sometimes. Maybe a heroin drug overdose, wouldn’t be out of the question, but I’ve never have. Yeah, I know. Never say never, right? Okay, I won’t rule out a heroin overdose, but I will rule out obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
I’m fairly healthy. I exercise on a regularly. I just ran ten miles, and do so on a regular basis. My diet is fairly good according today’s standards (I know, wait ten years and the standards will change, right!). I don’t eat meat at home (only at other people’s homes and restaurants). I eat a lot of greens, fruity things and grainy stuff – basically a low fat, low cholesterol diet.
Okay, if not obesity, heart disease or diabetes, then how will I die? Returning home from the gym, I self-administered all the tests on the NYT Wellness page, evaluating my brain, mouth, ears, heart, eyes, skin, waist, bone, muscle, prostate, feet, skin, and joints.
The tests are useless. So, I mouse to Wikipedia and type “cause of death” and learned that the top ten causes of death in developed countries are: heart disease, stroke, pulmonary, lower respiratory, lung cancer, car accident, stomach cancer, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, and suicide.
After mulling over the list, I type “MY cause of death”. Wikipedia is good, but not that good. The search resulted “List of Minor Characters in Scrubs”. I go back to the original list, and narrowed it down to cancer or stroke. I ponder a bit and decide on cancer, barring a heroin overdose, of course.
Now what kind of cancer you ask? I'd say colon cancer. Why? I don’t know. But there it is: COLON CANCER.
I called my doctor. Made an appointment. I’ll post my colonoscopy results soon. Cheers.
Why Hillary Lost the Democratic Primary…
2) She ran a poor campaign. Coming into the primaries she had money, and name and face recognition as a Senator and prior First Lady, plus the old-school, backroom, democratic party elites supported her. This was supposed to be Hillary’s year. The problem was she, nor her campaign, expected Obama to circumvent the old-school democratic party elites and go grassroots directly to the people via the internet.
3) She is married to Bill, the white elephant in the room. A recent article in “Vanity Fair” highlighted Bill’s alleged philandering during the campaign. In turn, Bill referred to the author of the article as “sleazy,” “slimy” and “dishonest.” Humm...haven’t we been therefore?
OMG He got FAT!!
I remember Morrissey as a tiny waif. What happened? He should checkout The Daily Plate.
It's not a bad site. Per the site, I learned I have to consume 750 less calories per day OR run 6 miles per day to LOOSE one pound a week. I prefer to exercise. I hate dieting. Plus, I'm able to frequent the gym when it’s virtually empty, 10:30 am or 2:30 pm.
I also learned my daily intake of calories, protein, fat, sodium, and charbs are generally right at the daily recommended levels, and my intake of fat and cholesterol is significantly below. I’d like to lower my sodium levels. Less processed foods, I'm guessing.
The video (even though Morrissey comes across as a fat, old queen) did inspire me to listening to the Smith's Greatest Hits....
It's now 1985, Reagan is in office, Morrissey is skinny again, and everything is youthful and okay!!!!
Song in the video: "All You Need Is Me".
"Family Guy"
Funny stuff: Will Smith, gay guys, Helen Hunt, Stewie's quote "my MySpace page is populated with movies, songs, and things which other people created to express my individualism", beer dripping from left side of mouth, REM song, "Strokie", Wimpy, Asian Business Men, "Daucow".
You Got to Wonder...
Last week, three prominent neurosurgeons told the CNN interviewer Larry King that they DID NOT hold cellphones next to their ears.
1) “I think the safe practice,” said Dr. Keith Black, a surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, “is to use an earpiece so you keep the microwave antenna away from your brain.”
2) Dr. Vini Khurana, an associate professor of neurosurgery at the Australian National University who is an outspoken critic of cellphones, said: “I use it on the speaker-phone mode. I do not hold it to my ear.”
3) And CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon at Emory University Hospital, said that like Dr. Black he used an earpiece.
But we don't have to worry because the Lobbyist and F.D.A. (who are controlled by Lobbyist) say there are no scientific studies to suggest that cell phones cause brain tumors or cancer. All the studies are short-term studies - less than 3 years in length - therefore it's impossible to get a brain tumor or cancer from cell phone usage. No one has studies the issue long-term to PROVE a correlation. Without proof the correlation doesn't exist. Lobbyist have to make a living too.
This sounds like "Cigarettes and Lung Cancer: The Sequel."