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Exibit A) Maggie enjoying herself with my screen
Exibit B) Her sister, Jezebel is yet to be video'd. Stay tuned. |
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http://www.360voice.com/tag/pilgrimlost
Seriously, my xbox berates me for days I don't play it.
Can your Wii do that?!?! |
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Okay, this is from my roommate's Circuit City store near us.
Watch till the end... yes this guy is for real :p
2pts for figuring out which song he's singing! |
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What if everyone isn't created equal? Why is it considered racist to even ask such questions? Maybe focusing on different cultures strengths is key to the success of humans as a race? Isn't that the current focus in business today - focusing on individuals strengths?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/19/uk.race/index.html |
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Dear UAW Members:
Thank you for encouraging our struggling economy to go overseas with the automotive industry and helping to completely eliminate the potential environmental hazards that have plagued our country because of the industrial problems the factories and infrastructure for upkeeping those factories can cause. I hope that you, as a UAW worker, can see that in driving car prices higher and generally trying to take advantage of homegrown US companies you are eliminating the industrial presense in the United States. We all understand how dangerous factory jobs are, and completely understand why you wish to eliminate this from American culture. The less industrial jobs present, the more opportunity there is for growth in white-collar and service jobs which are safer, more enlightening, and carry more weight around an ever-developing world.
I do hope that these are your real intentions for striking and not something more selfish, or something that would perpetuate the automotive industry as we know it now in the US. One thing I would ask, however, is that you do use your 10 weeks/year of paid vacation to strike rather than doing it on the companies dime. In the interm this only drives up the car prices for those of us that stubbornly do buy American.
Sincerly,
Me.
*end letter*
Seriously, are they crazy? I wish I made as much as an auto worker. The union single-handedly has a stranglehold on the auto industry in the US. We should have been 90% roboticised 20 years ago (rather than about 40% like now) which would make the job safer, and eliminate tons of waste. The factories are over engineered and the whole infrastructure is a blemish on the country (but it's okay, since it's really just Detroit and the rust belt, right?). Forcing the companies to keep making their product in the US just drives prices up and perpetuates a working class rather than allowing them to legitamately become a higher social-class. The reason Detroit is so destitute now is because the auto industry and its components have given opportunity to non-college educated workers, and not given incentives for many to go to college and start a 'real' career. So the union grows in power and its stranglehold on the country is devistating, keeping us from being competitive as we have been in the past.
I held-back from spitting on them and screaming from my car as I drove by the packs of picketers along 12 mile. So, I just gave the bird and a nasty face. It makes me sick how greedy and lazy the core of this city and culture is.
On this same note, many are going to argue that UAW is just trying to fight 'the man' in the auto companies. Using that same logic, why are so many American's prepared to give the government more control over health care (when we don't trust them to do much else?)? Here's a little test - annoyed at your taxes? Let's make Welfare and Medicaid and any other cock-eyed program completely independant (as they should be). Would you put your difference (of the taxes you'd save) into those programs to help them out? I'd think not... why do we allow the government to take so much of our money for more control over our lives? |
| » Politix |
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What are your rights? Everyone seems to think that their rights extend to every aspect of their life 'I can do what I want!' but there has to be some limits in the society. For instance: a company in this country does not have the right to hire based on race, etc. A man does not have the right to marry another man, and the government does not have the right to tell a newspaper what to print. You're not allowed to use public roads without a drivers license; in addition, you may not be able to get a drivers license if you have certain from-birth disabilities (read: disposition from birth). What do these things have in common? They're all RIGHTS that you, I and everyone else do not have or are significantly restricted.
The tax system in this country has a similar M.O. - everyone gives according to their means in someway or another, and philantrophic folks get a break. You have a RESPONSIBILITY to pay taxes, follow rules, etc. Your property is not your own...
Where is this all going? I recently read this article on CNN.com about a Q&A session Senator McCain had with some high school students. As the first real big aside, he's being harassed hardcore for the 'you little jerk' comment, though it was said in jest. In this day of technology, LISTEN TO THE GOD DAMN THING DON'T JUST TAKE IT AS WHAT YOU READ, but yet the media will probibally quote him in their own tone not even giving him the greater disposition of the situation and him saying it in jest. End that aside, just a greater peeve that the media is skewing the situation. But, I read the article and just was appaled at how absolutely disrespectful the students were. I understand that criticism of government is needed and healthy, but name calling? Since when are kids allowed to talk back so readilly? What are teachers really teaching their students? Sen. John McCain is a public figure and should be treated with respect - why wasn't this hammered into the kids head? In my mind I just picture the teachers focusing so much on their candidates and disrespecting Senator McCain which is carried down to the students.
Another interesting tidbit about the gay exchange: [on GLBT] Once the meaning was clarified, McCain told sophomore William Sleaster he is opposed to any form of discrimination, but he supports the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and he opposes same-sex marriage. What the hell does but he supports the military's ... policy - what's the difference between "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and discrimination? It sounds like McCain said ... "I am opposed to discrimination, but I think that gays should be drown to death" - BUT.
but
...[pronounciation came out like junk, removed]
–conjunction 1. on the contrary; yet: My brother went, but I did not.
2. except; save: She was so overcome with grief she could do nothing but weep.
3. unless; if not; except that (fol. by a clause, often with that expressed): Nothing would do but that I should come in.
4. without the circumstance that: It never rains but it pours.
5. otherwise than: There is no hope but by prayer.
...
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/but
I gave the definition there for reference. BUT implies an exception. How is that an exception? It's probibally the most anti-discriminatory policy out there, it strictly says 'we don't care, we don't want to know, we don't need to know' how more blind to a situation can you be to make a non-judgemental decision? Thanks media for skewing words yet again!
Now, back to my original discourse on rights and what they're good for - these kids, the media, all of the right to say what they want here. They can express their displeasure or shaky 'interpretation' - but Senator McCain brings up a point about gay marriage. He just doesn't care, but he's forced to 'NOT SUPPORT IT' like it's some positive/negative relationship rather than just a why it matters. Gay marriage is in the same pocket as the other RIGHTS listed there - it's really not a right, it's a manipulation of the system for use of public works. What 'right' is being denied by marriage being defined as a man and a woman? Men and women are equal in the marriage, nothing gives explicit change in power - where's the loss of freedom?
If you think that everything should be even, marriage should be all encompassing - then how about a flat dollar ammount tax. Why should we discriminate based on how much you make? Everyone should pay $10,000/year per person in taxes no matter what. Why should I pay 20,000/year when you only pay 5,000/year? I work harder so I need to give more to the government? Where's my right to work hard and make more!?! See the comparasion? Why does 'gay marriage' have to be facilitated? In the end I think that people need to accept: it is NOT a difference in rights - somethings just don't exist. Marriage is a MAN & a WOMAN. So, with that logic, why do gays want to marry? I find it interesting that my dictionary from 20 years ago explicitly states marriage is between a man and a woman - no mention of 'homosexual marriage' - why are people trying to redefine marriage?
The government might as well be debating laws regarding time travel, it's another concept that doesn't exist.
Sep. 5th, 2007 @ 01:01 pm
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| » (No Subject) |
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School has started.
My first full week is complete. In my infinite search for what I want to do with my life, I decided to take a full load of classes - towards a history degree. Now, what possessed me to do such a thing? I don't know. I have been having a hard enough time getting the right classes for a Computer Science degree, and honestly, some of the classes I didn't do all that well in. I know the material, but I didn't learn much new. Hopefully by doing a complete 180 with my plan, I can learn something, be engaged and ultimately be happy with my end choice of a career. So far, I am starting at the ground level for some classes: Intro to American Politics, for example. There's a lot of line-level stuff that I don't know that is presented in the class so far, so that's great! Same for my Ancient History class and Ancient Literature class.
The Ancient Lit class is taught by an Iraqi exile. Out of the 3 classes, so far, he's spent almost 1/2 the time illustrating how bad life actually was in Iraq. Generally he gets on this topic as we read about The Flood and Gilgamesh (I am afraid that I'm going to say Gruumsh in class..) and he starts relating his first-hand experiences with growing up around that region. It's kind of like Americans with Mark Twain - nearly all of us have seen the Mississippi River and can relate to location. Messopotamic, Aramaic or Arabic literature is foreign to us just as Twain is familiar. It's an interesting concept that I've never wrapped my mind around. In the end: the teacher's whole love for literature (Ph.D. from UofM) stems from having to burn books as a child living in a suburb of Bagdad. It seems like such a far removed story, but here's this man obviously pained by reliving it when he tells it, living in oppression - not allowed to read ANYTHING but Islamic literature. Now, some books are more dangerous than others - if it's a Russian author, that's treason and punishable by death. Western authors were just a 5-10 year prison sentence. JUST. Anyhow, the class will mean reading Gilgamesh and the Odyssey for the n-th time. Which is fine, I am sure his perspective on it all is interesting, and since it's a higher-end english class, many of the students are there to learn and be engaged which is a nice difference from the intro classes.
We'll see how this semester turns out - maybe computers isn't the right field for me to get a $60,000 piece of paper in...
Aug. 29th, 2007 @ 09:58 am
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| » 30-3, but still a save situation |
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For those that haven't heard:
Texas Rangers - 30
Baltimore Orioles - 3
Box Score @ ESPN
Yea, that's a baseball game.
The Ranger's pitcher from the 7th inning on, Wes Littleton, gets his first save of the season. HE GETS A SAVE IN A 30-3 GAME. I completely understand WHY he got it technically, but it's still the ultimate irony of baseball stats that give the last pitcher in such a blowout the save (click for the Wiki article on Baseball saves).
Another interesting tidbit: the Baltimore football team hasn't had 30 points against since early 2005.
Lastly and completely unrelated. I got into Warhammer Online beta... woot. It's still in very early beta, so NDA rules any details, but still exciting!
Aug. 23rd, 2007 @ 02:14 pm
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| » Interesting Immigration |
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A recent article on CNN mentioned the idea that Illegal Aliens could be offered a path to US citizenship by serving a term in the Military.
I honestly don't know how I feel about it. What strikes me about the article though is how the author mentions that he doesn't want illegal aliens in the army because of how unruly they are (the author uses the Newark execustions as an example).
SO WHY ARE WE TRYING TO MAKE THEM CITIZENS TO START?
Aug. 14th, 2007 @ 01:24 pm
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| » Don't blame the gun, blame the bullet! |
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http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/07/commentary.johnson/index.html
The gist of the article (and this is no exageration or sarcasm on my part): "Don't blame hip-hop for sexism, blame the civil rights movement. Hip-hop just inherited it."
I don't even know what to say that already hasn't been said. And this is published work! GJ chasing your tail! Honestly, that's just one of those 'WTF ARE YOU THINKING' articles that speaks for itself in obscurity.
May. 8th, 2007 @ 02:51 pm
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| » Protest in English, Please |
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http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/01/immigration.protests/index.html
What good does a protest do, if those impacted by it don't understand the language. Maybe the protesters should protest in english, if they knew it...
Seriously though, please don't break the law and then expect a reprive just because you're human. Also, when you're trying to move into a country - it's generally a good idea to wave their flag - not the flag of your homeland that was soooo bad that you couldn't even live there. FFS.
May. 1st, 2007 @ 05:21 pm
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| » Cat |
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After nearly a year of being sick, my mom and I decided to put Mittens to sleep. I went to say good bye this morning, and she was as cheerful as ever. She never acted sick or disturbed in any way (except for not being able to eat, or keep food down), and was purring the whole time I sat and cried with her. We went for a little walk and I listened to her stories (for those that don't know her - she is extremely talkative). She's the sweetest cat I've ever known. It's amazing how attached we can become to an animal who may or may not understand all that is going on. This is for the better, because despite her cheery disposition, I am sure she was suffering. Her final appointment was at 4pm this afternoon. I'll miss you, cat :(
Mittens - R.I.P. 4/24/07
Apr. 24th, 2007 @ 03:53 pm
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| » Wiccan in Death |
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This is an interesting move, I never realized that there was an approved list of symbols for soldier's gravestones. Glad to see Wiccans get their due.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/wiccan.grave.ap/index.html
"This settlement has forced the Bush Administration into acknowledging that there are no second class religions in America, including among our nation's veterans," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which represented the Wiccans in the lawsuit.
Comments like this make me cry though, do people honestly think that the government is trying to deny any religon? I don't think that the government has anyone out there actively seeking what religons people are and tracking them to make sure that the image is on file to bury them with. Sorry you may be the first Wiccan soldier who's ballsy enough to ask, but that's all it takes - asking.
I don't think that the government is really 'fighting' it - some clerk handing out tombstones just didn't have the option to choose it... now that clerk does.
Apr. 23rd, 2007 @ 03:27 pm
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| » Dragon and Dungeon Magazines Cancelled |
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This saddens me greatly. I was getting to the point where I was considering actually subscribing to at least one of the mags. I have a few past issues lying around in my collection of books, they're always great reads.
The overall community reaction is VERY negative, and I don't blame a single person who is annoyed that such a license got pulled.
Only hope is that in the end WOTC will be distibuting their own publication in print (not just online like they're hinting at).
Press Release on WOTC's Site
Apr. 19th, 2007 @ 04:19 pm
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| » People hearing themselves talk. |
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This is going to be an ironic topic, being posted to a public journal and all - but why can't the news agencies just let the people at VT mourn in peace rather than asking dumb questions like "did the faculty do all that they could" and constantly questioning the timeline. There's as many articles on CNN.com and MSNBC.com about how the high-ups reacted (possibly poorly in the Media's eyes) as covering the activities on campus now.
Srsly.
Apr. 18th, 2007 @ 09:32 am
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| » Starbuxxxx |
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18071619/
If you don't like the work conditions: DON'T FUCKING WORK THERE. Don't make the corporation or CUSTOMERS pay more or have to deal with your laziness.
Look at what Unions have done to the American auto companies and oil companies? You really think that the price of cars is that high? No, 1/4 of what you pay for a vehicle from GM or Ford goes to the UAW. Must be nice to be an industrial worker with a 30' boat, 10 weeks paid vacation and $30/hr for a menial job.
Starbuck's Coffee prices are already high enough, just imagine what is going to happen once they get sued for every time some pimple-face has to work 4 straight 4-10 shifts and wants to complain.
Apr. 14th, 2007 @ 03:31 pm
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| » Nappy Hair |
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http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/13/herron.nappycommentary/index.html
"Nappy Hair" is a children's book about just that - having matted hair from after taking a nap.
So, now, a new derogatory slang is created, all because someone wanted to take offense to it. What if I said 'sparkling nappy haired wiggles' wtf does that mean? Manifest Destiny.
I find it interesting, also, that Imus is starting to be pitied. Well, yea, he got fired from his job. Now even the illustious Rev. Sharpton is saying that "this was never about Don Imus." Then who were you trying to get fired for the past few days? Martha Stewart? Nice tripple hipocracy from the Sharpton front again.
Apr. 13th, 2007 @ 03:53 pm
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| » So, a few questions... (Imus) |
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1) Why is it NOT ok for Imus to once say 'nappy hos' or whatever, but it's okay for every news agency to play the sound bite 10x an hour?
2) Why is it ok for Al Sharpton to campaign to destroy someone's career, but it's not ok for Imus to say something possibly offensive on the radio (which can be ignored)?
3) In reality: how many lives did Imus destroy? Do people that are easilly offended actually listen to his radio show? Yet, how many people are up in arms about trying to ruin Imus' life and career? What about Imus' charities? He has some of the longest running radio-based charities in the nation - just poofed from thin air.
4) WTF is 'nappy-haired hoes' anyhow? This reminds me of the Water Buffalo Incident at UPenn where Eden Jacobowitz called some 'sisters' Water Buffalos. He was refering to a translation from Hebrew which just means 'loud and obnoxious' not some whack racial remark as the girls took it. From Imus' radio show, I guess I thought his comment calling the girls on the BB team 'tatooed brutes' was more offensive.
5) Sparkling Wiggles. Nuf said.
Disclaimer: I do not listen to Imus religously. I do find him and H.Stern entertaining in small doses, but I absolutely do not like to see such blatent hypocracy being used in pushing him down.
Apr. 13th, 2007 @ 02:39 pm
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| » I am offended that this man is called a racist |
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http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/10/imus.rutgers/index.html
The Imus 'contraversy.' WHAT THE FUCK. If anyone is wondering how free speech is going to degrade into a ball of nothing: NAACP lobbying to get the FCC involved in something trivial like this is how freedom of speech will turn into "only if it's nice speech" and go further down from there...
Now, I do think that it was a show of good faith on the studio's parts to give him a temporary suspension. WTF AM I SAYING?! No, let him fight this blatant race-card being played and fight back. Fox News would have given him more air time *snicker*. I am getting more sick every day of people claiming that they need pity for whatever reason. Soon it will be illegal to own a black-colored car that isn't in pristine condition. People might subconciously make an association. News flash ... maybe you should create a dress code for rappers? It's almost worked to add a little bit of respectibility to the NBA. Almost. At least now watching a basketball game isn't as much like watching a 3 hour-long episode of COPS (the resemblance is still there a little though).
Rev. Sharpton needs to get a life. Sorry that Mr Imus said some bad words, he was joking. Just maybe, Mr Sharpton, you need to realize that what you are spearheading now is just as degredational for liberty of all people. Oh? Mr Sharpton, I thought you were for liberty and justice - not just the advancement of blacks for world domination - my mistake (thinly veiled as a fight for equality/liberty/and all those other words he throws out there to make people not want to fight back).
Am I a racist? If persuing true damned equality among people is racist - then I guess I am. I have no quarrels with any race or sex of people. I do worry for a vast majority of urbanites, of all colors, who are wasting away our cities and country. But, in the end, equality - true equality - is the goal. No affirmative action, no biggotry, no crying because of physical limitations, no political correctness, none of this meta-culture of beating down 'the man'. If you cannot life 50lbs easilly, then get stronger or get a different job. If you think that a job is demeaning to you - GET A DIFFERENT JOB. Not every girl is meant to work at Hooters...
Apr. 10th, 2007 @ 11:15 am
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| » (No Subject) |
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I flew to Phoenix this past weekend to see dad, sister and golf. It's warm there for those that don't know... but this isn't about that. In the airport at DTW I keep watching the giant displays that have CNN on them. All I heard about the whole trip, watching the news during the day, was how global warming was causing flooding 'this very instant' across the country. It's fucking march people - get a grip, that's not global warming that's called the 'spring thaw'. I am sorry if you've never seen 5' of snow turn into a rushing stream. 'But it's getting warmer out!' No shit, summer is almost here, sorry that there's no magical switch. Spring is always up and down...
jfc.
Spring 07 is causing the end of the world!!!!!!!!one1!!
Mar. 20th, 2007 @ 07:55 am
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