Enough is enough

If you are anything like me, you love football. You love the fans, the teams and most importantly the anticipation on Sunday afternoon right before kickoff.

But lately there have been some hiccups.

Let’s take a look back at the long and strenuous negotiations of the at this point last year between the players and the NFL. This battle threatened the entire 2011 season and caused the fans (like me) to become far too familiar with revenue splits and stadium credits. I think I can speak for most NFL fans that when both sides reached an agreement with a mere two weeks before the regular season.

Are you ready for some football, I sure was!

Not so fast…It is that time of year, what I like to refer to is Lockout season. The NHL is locked out and so are the NFL referees, which will surly impact the game experience.

The referees have reached an impasse and their CBA expired at the end of last season and both sides have been in talks since last October.  But talks have broken down and the NFL announced on  earlier in the season that they will be hiring “replacement referees” just in case no agreement is reached before the start of the season.  

Well here we are in beginning of week 3 and still no agreement. That being said, you may all be aware of the final play of the Seahawks and Packers game from Monday night, which was said to be the worst of the worst of the countless bullsh**  calls in just three week of the regular season

The Hail Mary pass was caught, but was believed to be an interception, despite being ruled the winning touchdown.  The play has been creatively named “Fail Mary” and "The Inaccurate Reception." But my favorite is “Seattle Screwjob”

I would be amiss if I did not mention my home team of New England, and the bogus call that was made at the end of the game. Raves kicker, Justin Tucker, made the game winning field goal on Sunday night, or so he thought. What it looked like from my seat, was that it hooked right and went over the uprights. But the refs rule sin a field goal and the Raves won by 2 pts.

In week there, on coach’s challenges, 80% of the ref’s calls were overturned. We saw tha most penalty first down in NFL history and we saw at least one game that was decided by clearly bad calls.

Here is my thing, the NFL’s experiment with these replacement refs is no longer funny or working. Every time I watch a game, I feel like I am in a bad episode of Punk’d.  While there were some laughable calls in the preseason, we are in the regular season now and it’s time to let the big boys do their job.

They simply are not qualified to do their job. It’s like putting a second year med student in the position of doctor, they know the basics, but they are out of their element. This cannot be truer when you consider the report from the Lingerie Football league saying that several of the replacement refs, who are now in the NFL, were fired because they were “incompetent."

But I fell like I have to remind the refs that this  is not an episode of Punk’d. This is a million dollar a year industry and the Mr. Commissioner owes it to the fans to get down business with these refs. The longer they wait the more and more fans they will lose. Who do they think makes up the Million dollar industry?

This is enough, this can’t continue and the fans should not put up with it. We have to take it upon ourselves to say enough is enough and we have absolutely no desire to watch this circus anymore.

Unfortunately, the damage is done! Let’s end this shameful lockout before this season is ruled “bogus”

NFL fans we have officially been Punk’d 

Photo credits to Google images. 

The Undecided.......Really???

The election is a mere 44 days away!!! I can feel the excitement in the air...

But…

There are still 20% of Americans who are still “undecided” on the presidential race. This is considered to be an important group that could decide the outcome of the 2012 election. This group of “independent” voters usually weighs the pros and the cons each candidate carefully before making a decision.

Really? They do?

These, to me, are the least informed, lazy people in the United States. If you cannot tell me who the candidates are than you have to do two things, one, you have to admit you don’t really give a shit and two have your head examined. If you cannot tell the difference between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, you’re not a swing voter, your color blind.

What more information do you need? I live in Massachusetts and I see political ads every commercial cycle that could sway you either way.  I would like the media to stop treating these people like they will be the “deciders”

Here are a few “undecided” celebrity voters: 1. The Octomom, somebody asked her this week if she knew who Mitt Romney was? She responded with, “I have no idea”. That is what we do, put these uneducated individuals, who will most likely not vote on November 6^th,  in the hot seat and make their dull lives a little better. These people are not searching out every last bit of information, they are not looking over policy positions of the candidates, they are simply uneducated. 

I went to school for Political science and do you know what we call these voters “low-information voters” it’s a nicer way of saying political dipshit or as I like to call them, the Republican Party.

But I can’t say the republican are all dumb. In a recent Pew Research study, 40% of Democrats do not know that the Republicans are the conservative party.

Another gem this week is that Kim Kardashian, described herself as a “liberal Republican." There are none of these  people left anymore, but this is the kind of knowledge presented by the undecided voter.

We have all seen, or may I say annoyed, by those political adds on television. They are all made to pander to the “undecided” voter, who, if I could say one thing to the candidates is just not that into you. 

When is being a “no nothings” something to be desired? There are many reasons why I go to the doctors when I have a problem and not to my neighbor.

We should skip all the bull and start targeting the educated. This country des not need any more “undecided” then we already have.  

I still cannot understand the concept. Everybody has political beliefs, If you deny that, then you are an idiot. Oh sorry, I mean “undecided”

Energy drainers...

I say “energy drainers” in reference to the people in our lives that seem to have a perpetual dark cloud over their heads. They seem to have the magical ability to make good news bad. We tend to avoid these people, I did, I worked with a girl like that and everything was an excuse or some bad news, but sometimes we cannot escape them.

They are simply just negative people.

A recent study in neuroscience demonstrates how negative people affect us. “Being exposed to too much complaining can actually make you dumb. Research shows that exposure to 30 minutes or more of negativity – including viewing such material on TV – actually peels away neurons in the brain's hippocampus. That's the part of your brain you need for problem solving." (Minda Zetlin)\

So one of the main results to this is that our exposure to negative or critical people can basically turn our brain to mush.  This has the same effect even if you are passively listening to them.

I try to be a positive person and I tend to attract positive people. But there is always that one person, who has to be negative. I feel that a constant barrage of negativity van prove to be extremely harmful to others in the group and can make you feel negativity as well.

So the next time you are with such person, I would try to be positive, maybe they are having a bad day and they need cheering up. . You might come away a happier person because you have helped out someone else. . And you might even come away a bit smarter or, at the very least, not any dumber.

In the spirit of election season...

In the spirit of this election, which as been a good one thus far, I have decided to make a campaign song. No I will not be singing for 2 reasons. One, I can't and two don't have the time. What I have done here is taken the melody form "All I want for Christmas is you" by Mariah Carey and wrote "All I want this election"
It goes something like this....

Verse 1:
I don't want a lot this election
There is just one guy we need
I don't care about Republicans,
Explaining how to set us free
I just want him for the job
He is my Hawaiian heartthrob
Make my wish come true.....(ooooh)
All I want this election...is....
Barry

Verse 2:
I don't want a lot this election
There is just one thing we need
(and I) Don't care about republicans
"Choosing for us what we need"
I don't need to change my mind
Voting republican is just blind
Mitt Romney wont make me happy
his tax cuts just seem crappy
I just want his for the job

He is my Hawaiian heartthrob
Make my wish come true.....(ooooh)
All I want this election...is....
Barry
You... Barry

Verse 3
I won't ask for much this election
I won't even ask you to vote
(and I) i'm just gonna keep on waiting
Please vote Barry to keep him afloat
I won't make a list and send it
To the house and the Senate
I will even stay awake to
Hear those votes counted real quick
Cuz, I just want him elected that night,
Even though he is not white
What more can I do?

All I want this election...is....
Barry
You... Barry

Verse 4:
Oh, all the democrats ate shining so brightly everywhere, ( So brightly baby)
And the sound of reelection cheers fills the air (oooh)
And everyone will be singing
People wont you bring  us the one we really need
Wont you please bring Barry to Commander and Chief!

Oh, I don't want a lot this election
He is the guy I will vote for
I just want to see my Barry
Standing outside the White house doors
Oh I just want how for the job,
He is my Hawaiian heartthrob,
make my wish come true.....
All I want this election....is...Barry...
You..Barry

Yeah, I know, corny right! I like it though!!

I won’t pretend the path I’m offering is quick or easy, I never have; you did not elect me to tell you want to what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth

The DNC has officially come to an end.

            President Obama reminded Americans to hold onto hope and look forward. Nothing comes quick and easy in life. Change takes time, and we must have faith that we are on the right course.

Like Lincoln, Obama came into office with one crisis dominating his agenda. But on Thursday night, the president flaunted other achievements: Obamacare, the death of Bin Laden, the rescue of Detroit. His plan was light on specifics but what he made me feel was that, despite the downturn, the foundations are in place for a new era of growth.

He has seen our country through some dark, dark days, and he, alone, has made decisions, always with input, always with advice. But when it comes time to make the call, he's made the call. Now he's the president of the United States, and after his speech at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, there is no room for even a hint of a question of how seriously he takes his job.

But most importantly, with his speech, Obama reminded us of how seriously we must take ours.

We are the change, he reminded us. We are. If we lose hope, if we stop striving, if we stop pushing, if we stop embracing people because they are not like us, our country stops. We are the engine of this great nation.

My family has a lot at stake in this election: education, college, women's rights, jobs and health care. I listened carefully for those issues in Obama's speech, and he provided me with hope that America is on the right path. His positions on jobs, taxes, energy, education, and war and peace will have a huge impact on generations to come.

I appreciated his statement that hard work will pay off, responsibility will be rewarded, and everyone should play by the same rules. I agree that firing teachers won't help us grow our economy or compete with China. Teachers not only educate students, they teach them to be citizens. Obama's position that no child should have dreams deferred resonated soundly with me, as did his statement that "teachers must inspire; principals must lead; parents must instill a thirst for learning, and students, you've got to do the work." Obama's speech delivered a clear choice for my family and for America.

“If you turn away now, if you buy into the cynicism that the change we fought for isn’t possible…well change will not happen, if you give up on your voice to make a difference then other voices will fill the void lobbyists and special interests; the people with the $10 million checks who are trying to buy this election and those who are making it harder for you to vote; Washington politicians who want to decide who you can marry, or control health care choices that women should make for themselves.”

Obama contended with a simple “I won’t pretend the path I’m offering is quick or easy, I never have; you did not elect me to tell you want to what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth”

It was great and inspiring to know who is on the people side. There is a different between President Obama's speech and the Republicans candidate’s speeches. President Obama speaks with sincerity and compassion for the people and the economy, while Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan speak lies with a big ego.

The night also included some big names such as Scarlett Johansson and Eva Longoria, Johansson dressed in stilettos, a tan blazer and a shirt featuring an American flag, spoke about growing up in a struggling middle class family in NYC. Her family was dependent on benefits for school transportation and food; she also said that some of her friends still depend on Planned Parenthood and Medicaid “That’s why I’m here today,” she said. “To use whatever attention I’m fortunate enough to receive to shed the spotlight on what’s at stake for all of us.” She then contended with a line that seems to have scared Democrats “I’m not going to tell you who to vote for,” she said. “I’m here to ask you to commit to vote.”

Longoria, wearing a conservative blue dress, spoke about growing up in Corpus Christi. Her mother works as a special education teacher and her father on an army base. “There was one cardinal priority: education,” she said, Because money was tight. Longoria had many jobs to pay back her student loans, some include flipping burger at Wendy’s and changing oil at a mechanic shop.

This led to an attack on the Romney Campaign by Miss Longoria “Mitt Romney would raise taxes on middle-class families to cut his own and mine. And that’s not who we are as a nation. And I’ll tell you why,” she said. “The Eva Longoria who worked at Wendy’s flipping burgers, she needed a tax break. But the Eva Longoria who worked on movie sets does not.” “I'm here not just as an actress,” Washington said, “but as a woman, an African American, a granddaughter of immigrants who came from Ellis island, a person who could not have afforded college without the help of student loans and as one of millions of volunteers working to reelect President Obama.”

What really brought home the reelection of Mr. Obama was one of the quotes that Senator Kerry put forth “President Obama has kept his promises,” Kerry declared. “Ask Osama Bin Laden if he is better off now than he was four years ago.

Partnership over Partisanship?

This is going to be a long one so hang in there: 

 Day 2 of the DNC is winding down after a wonderful and passionate speech by former President Bill Clinton. But I will get to that later.

One of the main highlights of the DNC tonight was Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke, who shot into the spotlight earlier this year when Republicans refused to allow her to testify to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the importance of insurance plans to cover birth control during a discussion on whether insurance should have a contraception mandate.  Miss Fluke made her way to the national stage tonight to address the Democratic delegates and show her support for President Obama.

Sandra Fluke painted a horrifying picture of what the USA would look like if Mitt Romney were elected President. “An America in which access to birth control is controlled by people who  never use it, in which politicians redefine rape so survivors are victimized all over again” which she received a high reception from the audience, which she should have. Because we all know, as women, no one knows the vagina and the women’s reproductive organ better than a group of old white men, who still give a shit about Castro, Oh wait, we have Castro! Who may I say has an Obama-esque way and we may see him as the next Democratic Nominee, he is a force to be reckoned with!

Fluke singled out running mate Paul Ryan who worked on legislation that would actually “redefine rape” banning all abortions under any circumstance and cut off all federal funding for abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. “It would be an America in which you have a new vice president who co-sponsored a bill that would allow pregnant women to die preventable deaths in our emergency rooms,”

She spoke specifically to women when she said that we have to ‘amplify our voice” and to “keep moving forward and stop fighting old battles.” Miss Fluke could not be more right. The talk of a women’s right to choose has flooded the political arena and with the gender and age gap in both of the parties, women are a minority that has to be worked with. Many women do not feel, for whatever personal reasons or circumstances, that they are ready to raise a child. Women have the right to choose either abortion or to deliver and raise the child. Personally, I don’t not want to have children and have been on the pill since I was 15 years old. I don’t judge people who want to have children, it’s your right. But for me I cannot see myself having children, ever. This basic and important reproductive choice should not be made by the government or any other outside force against the woman's wishes but solely by the individual woman herself.

Miss Sandra concluded with a powerful “Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s now time to choose.”…

Now let me gush for a minute.

I admire President Clinton I everything he does. To me, he is a political Rockstar whose presidential legacy will live on for years to come.  Anyone who has Mr. Bill Clinton as an endorser, will surly have a surge in the polls, but I digress

Former President Clinton, who rocked a blue suit and a red and blue tie, fired up the democratic audience, saying that the policies of incumbent Barack Obama her in fact healing the country, slowly. The improvements made now will lead to dramatic enhancements in his second term.

Bill Clinton sure brought the house down. If Tuesday was about reminding voters of the excitement that surrounded Barack Obama’s first White House race, tonight presented voters with a sharper contrast with Mitt Romney and his Republican allies. But Clinton dipped his knives in honey and offered voters the most comprehensive rebuttal of GOP attacks on the president this year.

To the cheers of democrats packed onto the convention all, Mr. Clinton said of Obama "I want to nominate a man who is cool on the outside but who burns for America on the inside." This speech was CLASSIC Clinton, it was long, the delivery was precise with the insults followed by a folksy grin, all designed to improve Obama’s chances for re-election in the area where the unemployment is at a painfully high 8.3%. 

Mr. Clinton stressed one point that has been bugging me for years: Why is there so much hatred from the right? What was surprising was that president Clinton worked with republicans in Congress to have a budget agreement to cut spending. “President Obama, a gusher of new spending” Why there is so much opposition from the right. Well maybe it because he is skinny. The republicans are jealous because they don’t have a body like Barack. I hope you can see my sarcasm. But I think we all know why there is so much opposition for the right. It’s because he is black. I hate to say this but it just blatant racism that is coming from the right. But I digress, again…

 “The most important question is, what kind of country do you want to live in,” Clinton asked. “If you want a winner-take-all,  you’re-on-your-own, you should support the Republican ticket.  But if you want a country of shared opportunity and shared responsibility, a we’re-all-in-this-together society, you should vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.”

In conclusion, the speakers of the night praised Obama record: passing healthcare reform, fighting to lower student loan costs, supporting veterans, bailing out the U.S. auto industry. They all said and agreed that things have gotten better under his watch.  The country is no longer bleeding jobs, each speaker noted even if the rate of recovery is slow. But the great weight of effort of tonight seemed to be to cast a bad light on the Romney and Ryan team.

In Conclusion Clinton said it best:

“Look, I love our country so much. And I know we’re coming back. For more than 200 years, through every crisis, we’ve always come back. People have predicted our demise ever since George Washington was criticized for being a mediocre surveyor with a bad set of wooden false teeth. And so far, every single person that’s bet against America has lost money because we always come back. We come through ever fire a little stronger and a little better. And we do it because in the end we decide to champion the cause for which our founders pledged their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor — the cause of forming a more perfect union. My fellow Americans, if that is what you want, if that is what you believe, you must vote and you must re-elect President Barack Obama. God bless you and God bless America. 

This is who we are!

Honesty, integrity, perseverance are some of the key words used in the many speeches made at the Democratic National Convention.

The highlight of the convention would have to be the Keynote speaker, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. Castro, at the ripe age of 37, is the youngest mayor to give a keynote speech, ever. His life story was one of great triumph. In his keynote speech, he explains his first introduction into politics, his mother Rosie. Rosie raised 2 boys as a single mother, pushing them to stay out of trouble and to keep excelling in school. It is a success story not unlike the President's himself. She was also a pioneer in fighting for Mexican American Civil rights.

Castro went on to paint a picture of Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan. He explained that this budget plan would "dismantle the middle class" who, as he said later in his speech, is the engine of America. This is making reference to the auto industry that our current president bailed out to save the economy.

He also painted Mitt Romney as a man against women's rights "when it comes to respecting women's rights, Mitt Romney says No. When it comes to letting people marry whomever they want Mott Romney says No. When it comes to expanding health care, Mitt Romney... Actually Mitt said Yes, and now he says No" this last remark was in reference to the Massachusetts health care overhaul, which he championed while he was Senator in my great state of Massachusetts. Tonight, the main point of his speech opportunity. This is our chance to reelect President Obama and bring America successfully into the future.  We need to invest in opportunities for people who care about education and invest in the skills that will help America compete in the global economy. There is more hard work to do. But that is what America was built on, hard work. There was no "starting a small business and borrowing money from your parents" America was built on hard work and perseverance. I do agree with the  San Antonio Mayor, we do have a choice to make, between a country where the middles class pays more, so that millionaires can pay less? How does that work? I have always that if you made more, you were taxed more. I guess I misunderstood. We  have to be a nation of "fairness" where everyone has a fair chance at a great education, a fair chance to succeed, and a fair chance live the American dream.  Barack Obama answered the call and made a historic lift in our nation’s schools. By expanding Pell Grants, more young people can afford to go to college. This is to ensure that there is no talent that goes unharvested or  unnoticed.

This is who we are, a nation of hard workers. Personally, I have gone to 4 years of high school, 4 years of college and plan to go to law school. I have worked multiple jobs to pay for school. Most of my schooling was covered by grants and loans. I don't know if you all have ever had student loans but you have to maintain a certain GPA in order to keep getting the student loans. This is who we are. The 18-25 age group, we are the future. We have to make the right decision and vote!  We are the talented, hardworking individuals that San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro talked about in his speech. We are the next generation. we have to make a difference and now is our chance.  Although at times, Mitt and Barack may have the same message like changes in healthcare, education and foreign policy. I actually feel like he means what he says. To me, he generally WANTED to make changes and not just what he wanted to change; we have to look what he has been faced with in these last 4 years. In my opinion, no president since FDR has had it harder than he does right now.  I can say that not everything he promised came true, but there was a hell of a mess when he came into office. It is going to take time to bounce back from this economic decline, just like it took time to get to this point.

We all need to look at what San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro said "It begins with re-electing Barack Obama. It begins with you. It begins now"

White Limos to the right, Black limo's to the left.

A few months ago, I had gotten a letter in the mail concerning my high school reunion. (It’s been 5 years)  I politely responded with no and went on with my day.

Fast forward to today…

A letter that lists a “whites graduates only” party as one of the activities planned for a class reunion was put on the invitation in St. Martinville, La.

For over 40 years, the graduates of St. Martinville High School Class of 1973 have been holding racially segregated class reunions.

But…..this year, ABC affiliate KACT reported that they graduates have decided to change this, making the reunion non-segregated.

However, a letter announcing the change also included a letter for an after party for "white graduates only." is to be held at a home of one of the graduates, after the actual reunion. 

This was not the first “white only” event that has caused a uproar in recent months, According to the Huffington post in July, Pastor William J. Collier and his church where planning to hold a “white only” Christian conference in Alabama In his explanation to this  awful incident he responded with “we don’t have the facilities to accommodate other people. We haven’t gotten any to Black Muslim events” (yeah because everyone who is black is Muslim) of course we are not invited to Jewish events and stuff” Nothing says being Christine like segregation. Even in 2012, when we are supposed to be advanced in all walks of life, we still have this. I can’t believe that this was the FIRST year they attempted a desegregated reunion. I wonder what people thought when they got the letter in the mail. Were they mad?? Were they happy??  One might say that they issue isn’t about a private person having the “right” to be racist with respect to who is allowed in his or her home. The issue is that the school’s reunion planning committee has clearly given its official stamp of approval to this racist behavior but letting them put it on the invitation.

How would they feel if it was the other way around? Racism is an irrational belief in the superiority of any given group, nation or people. It amazes me to hear that racism has declined because it obviously hasten. If states continue to be as blind as they are, we will never live up to the name “The United States of America” We may look different, but we all serve a very important purpose. We are all fingers on the hand of life. I hope that we would be able to overcome all those incidents and live in a place where we do not care about an individual skin color or nationality.

My thing is if a reunion is being held for the class of 73, all individuals she be invited, PERIOD! 

Lets watch a group of white trash Americans parade on stage...Oh I mean the RNC!

The RNC has come and gone, I know you are as sad as I am, but what did we learn from these republicans???

Lets start off with ratings. The new TLC show Honey Boo-Boo pulled better ratings than the RNC did on any signal network. What is more astonishing is that the RNC ratings were down on every network except FOX during Mitt Romney's acceptance speech.  Our of 300 million Americans, a staggering 9.6 million in total watched Romeny's speech, that is an estimated 1 in 30 people.  We can all agree that the "convention, whether it be Republicans  or Democrats  has no greater impact than strictly campaigning. ( We will not know the ratings of the DNC, but I think they wont be much higher). American's just see these as a ginat infomercial. 

What I saw that was of may substance was the fervent attempt to shun Ron Paul supporters. In a current interview  former GOP chairman Michael Stelle called this "the height of rudeness and stupidity" because of they way they ostracize what could be a new generations of young voters. for what reason I might ask??

The nomination was wrapped up regardless of how many Ron Paul delegates were seated or who spoke at the convention. 

What I think needs more attention is Marco Rubio's speech. We all know that he is a political rock star. His speech on Thursday night showed his is a major political star. I can say, with confidence, his speech was the best of the night. He was at ease in the MASSIVE national spotlight. His story telling was a compelling touch, but he did mix in jabs directed towards the president. One example was that he said that the president is not a bad person, but just a bad president) I hope that they republicans see what a gem they have in this party. He is force to be reckoned with in the coming presidential races. 

I would be remiss if I did not bring up Clint Eastwood. Stick to your scripts, Clint! I cannot believe this part would allow this side show to be conducted in this manner. Invisible Obama telling Clint to "Go Fuck yourself" this is very inaccurate to how I have seen Obama. Clint proceed to ramble off the script repeatably. He was downright incoherent at times and was a unnecessary distraction to the convention. 

 

New Mars photos!

So, NASA has released a new series of high-definitions from Mars!! (Yippee)

The Images from the Martian surface where taken by different cameras in NASA’s Rover over the past few weeks. The images show the landing site, various features of Gale Crater, Mount Sharp and the tracks that were created by the rover all over the surface of Mars.

NASA has been releasing pictures since the beginning of August, when Curiosity landed on Mars. The first color photo was released on August 7^th, but it was in poor quality and was coated with fine debris.  

The new high resolution images include 360 degree color photos as well as animated GIFS!. 

here is a link to see the other photos:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/29/new-hd-mars-pictures-curiosity_n_1840585.html?ir=Technology

Now there have been some people how have citizen the government for making use of billions of tax dollars on space exploration. They feel that the money could be used for other, more urgent, issues. But what I think they don’t realize is that space travel helps us with things on earth. study of meteorology, for instance, has received a major boost from our ability to launch satellites into orbit and monitor the earth’s atmosphere through them. We are, therefore, able to make better weather forecasts with the help of the eye in the sky.

The implementation of the GPS equipment in cars and trucks to guide drivers to their destination places. The system makes use of a group of satellites up in the sky to precisely monitor the position of the GPS-equipped vehicle anywhere on earth. Without the advancements in space exploration, we would not have been able to enjoy all these technological innovations that greatly increase the quality of our lives down here on earth.

CNN Politics: I'm voting!

I was just on Facebook and I had came across a like that CNN.com had put up. Its called "I'm voting" and it gives a tally of how many people have promised to vote in the upcoming election. But what it also has is sample questions about what you think are the most important issues in this election.

Example: How does Rep. Paul Ryan make you feel about the GOP ticket? You may answer by clicking More enthusiastic, Less enthusiastic, Doesn't change my opinion. On the side  of the webpage it shows the percentages of each option.  It really is a cool interaction and I will put the link here:

http://apps.facebook.com/cnnimvoting/index.html

But what shocked me was that on the top of the page it says 11, 359 people have pledged top vote in this election.  Um... we have 235,809,266 people of age to vote in the USA. Voter turnout is not something that The United states excels in, at all. In the 2008 election, the voter turn out rate was 57.37%  and in 2004 it was 56.69% so we only went up 0.68% ? So why is voter turnout so low? I say this because in my age group 18-24, we are the least likely to vote, which angers me.

I understand that certain elections seem to encourage the voters and get them out to the polls. For example, in the 2008 election there was an increase in the number of young people and ethnic minorities; but in the 2010 midterm elections, these groups did not turn out in large numbers. When there is a candidate that is seen to a be an outlet of change (Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama) people turnout because they do believe that this candidate will change the country direct ion for the better. Also,  research also has shown that many people believe politicians are corrupt and dishonest, (Those campaign adds don't help)  and there is no difference between them. While this is not always true, the belief that things are not going to change contributes to voter apathy, and keeps voter turnout low.

All I am saying is that we should all at least try to vote. Every election is an important one. You have the right, so use it! who cares if you have to get up early in the morning to get to the polling station, you are on your way to work anyway. It's quick and easy! Come on, we are Americans, we love things quick and easy, like Hotpockets, Netflix, and the always reliable McDonald's

Also, look up some of the issues on the "chopping block". Get to know what is going on in the world, and if it makes you mad, change it. In America, there is NOT enough people speaking out. If you think that marijuana should be legalized( which I do) DO SOMETHING!!! organize rallies, sign petitions, picket! take a page out of the occupy wall street book and MAKE SOME NOISE!!! If you think that abortion should be illegal( which I don't) but of you do, MAKE SOME NOISE!!! 

So do something for the greater good. If we don't challenge our leaders, we have no right to complain about how they lead. In the coming months we are going to hear the phrase "voice your choice" a lot! take this seriously. If you can call in 100 times to vote for the next American Idol. I am sure you can get off your butt and vote for the our next leader! No excuses!

You also have the right to ignore all of the above statements and do nothing! If so, you have no right to complain!

There's a hurricane a'commin'

Tropical storm Isaac is in full swing making its way to Florida, while destroying everything in its path.

UMMM this sounds a little like another storm to hit the Florida coastline, but this one is tall, salt and pepper hair, and his favorite toy is an etch-a-sketch!

Yes, the Republican National Convention is also in full swim with Mitt Romney as the leading tropical storm.  Paul Ryan, who is the wind and rain in Romney's tropical depression is said to have already "touchdown" in Florida and is scheduled  to speak on Wednesday night with a backdrop of high winds and storm surges pounding the Gulf coast, which is almost seven years to the day that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans

In a recent interview Paul Ryan said "We are not just picking the next president for a few years. we are picking the pathway for America for a generations. What Mitt and I pledge is to make sure that you get to choose, what kind of country do we ant to have? What kind of people do we want to be?

Does anyone else think that this GIANT coincidence that the Republicans choose Florida for their convention and a giant tropical storm hits????? talk about a sign from "God"

I guess we will have to see??

The water is tainted now...

There is nothing like a nice swim on a hot summer day! Especially in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus claimed in the new Testament that "one cannot live in showers alone, One must invite the Sea of Galilee onto their bodies to advert the devilish heat from piercing their bodies" 

I hope by now you noticed I was being schismatic with my wording, but this indeed happened this week.

According to Politico, a group of GOP officials and congressmen had taken a “late night dip” in the sea, while on junket last summer. They also reported that alcohol may have been a factor in this doing and one of the lawmakers Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.), swam naked and has recently apologized for his wrongdoing. Talk about a baptism. There have been no official charges, but the FBI and the house majority leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), have given a stern talking to, to the man involved. 

Can I ask, what were they thinking???Did they think that Jesus was going to come back and re-baptize them??? I don't think so, Jesus is busy with trying to fill the holes  in his hands so he can eat M&M's again! 

If they were looking for a religious experiences, they have come to the wrong place.  When I have my religious experiences I am usually getting stoned or having sex, not taking a giant bath. What if that is someone's dinrking water?? now your germs are up in there! UGH! I guess this gives a new meaning to "feel the spirit inside you"  I wonder if any of them peed in the water! DOUBLE UGH!! that is an enviormetal hazard and needs to be dealt with! 

 Maybe they were looking for a way to win elections in the upcoming months and they figured a little "divine intervention" was needed!  I am hoping that this re-baptism worked, but who knows!. I don't know I'm not a christian!!!  

I'll show the back of my hand to anyone who tries to force you into a defines benefit plan

In one of my earlier posts, I had written about the newest member of the republican campaign, Paul Ryan. The post was, for lack of better word, lighthearted. I had not even heard of this man until Mitt announced his running mate in the initial part of the week. So I did what any liberal democrat would do in this situation, I looked on the internet to see if there was any “dirt” on this guy.  Where my search took me was NOWHERE, but I did stumble upon his budget proposal, which is aptly named “The Path to Prosperity” here are some key components:

1.) This plan delivers a substantial tax cut to the richest Americans, while gutting programs and services the rest of the court depends on such as Medicare, Medicaid,  banking and clean water regulations, road repair and education assistance.  This would force cutbacks in food stamps, education and law enforcement services.

2.)  Ryan advocates cutting (yes I said cutting) the top income tax rate to 25% ( from 39.6%)

3.) Ryan would replace the existing Medicare system of GUARANTEED treatment, with one that provides vouchers, through private commercial insurance plans (that I am sure get back to the rich 1% in some way. Talk about privatized medicine) with this lovely idea the vouchers would NOT cover all the costs, so you would be paying out of pocket for the remaining , their value rise in accordance with a standard inflation rate and NOT with medical inflation, this would widen the gap even more between the middle class and the top 1 %.

4.)As a result, costs will keep rising and at a faster rate than before.( Of course Ryan would repeal the healthcare reform act, including its cost reducing requirements) less of the increase would show in the governments ledgers because it is showing up in the American family’s budgets which is already tight enough

.  

5.) Ryan calls for eradicating consumer-friendly financial reforms enacted after the 2008 crash. This means removing environmental oversight of oil and gas production, and taking away legal protection for unionized workers. In a recent interview and with a straight face, Ryan listed the “initiatives” under the heading “Ending Cronyism and Corporate Welfare." He originally had the quote by Ayn Randian “a hammock that lulls able-bodied citizens into lives of complacency and despondency” but later removed it from the 2012 version

6.) Repealing the Repealing the Affordable Care Act would remove funding for a Medicaid expansion that would have covered 17 million people. It would also replace the current open ended- federal subsidy to states with block grants to population growth and standard inflation. Basically, states will be able to relieve the resulting pressure on their budgets only by cutting Medicaid enrollments, providing enrollees with A LOT less services, raising taxes or covering the shortfall out of the budgets, which puts a strain on road repair, K-12 education and public safety

Paul Ryan and almost all of his fellow Congressmen and Senators have fat benefits and pension programs for themselves while they decide which crumbs we should be allowed to fight over.  These parasites have no credibility because they are not putting themselves on the programs they want for everyone else. They must lead by example and cut their own benefits, perks, privileges to be on par with other federal workers. If that is not good enough for them, there are millions who could take their place.

Me n' Mahk whento da movies in Hahvahd ta watch the Sax game wit Stacy n' Cahly

Some things you should know about Massachusetts: 

AH the spirit of Massachusetts, is the spirit of America, the spirit of the red, white and blue. We have a lot to be proud of like:

1.) the Movie Hocus Pocus was filed in Salem Ma.

2.) We have 4 Championship teams ( Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and the Celtics) 

3.) having g the best universities in the country, Harvard,  Brandis University, Bentley University. But we have our blind spots. I am going to talk about them now   

  We get a lot of criticism, being called “Massholes” “Taxachusetts” and our Universities have nicknames too: UMass is “ZooMass” and we don’t recognize the letter R in the English language.( examples like Car, yard, park, said in a Bostonian accent)

You can learn a lot by just visiting Massachusetts. One is Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as suggestions and are apparently do not apply during rush hour, Throwing litter on the roads adds variety to the landscape and gives Adopt-a-Highway crews something to clean up, So in Massachusetts we are also job creators to  State Police cars or ambulances passing at high speed may be followed in the event you need make up a few minutes in your travel time, and lastly the most important thing you can learn from us in Mass is, women in Massachusetts are wonderful multi-taskers. We can do anything. Let me tell you real Massachusetts female drivers can put on pantyhose, apply eye makeup and balance the checkbook at seventy-five miles per hour during a snowstorm in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Real Massachusetts male drivers can remove pantyhose and a bra (not their own) at seventy-five miles per hour in bumper-to-bumper traffic during daylight hours. Sounds like my first time, except I was the one driving and he was the one wearing the pantyhose.  Heavy snow, ice, fog, and rain are no reasons to change any of the previously listed rules. These weather conditions are nature's way of ensuring the economic survival of body shops, junkyards, and new vehicle dealers.

So even though we cannot talk, drive, and our Universities  are sometimes party schools. We have rich history that cannot be met. I really do love living in Massachusetts, but those taxes is something that we have to do something about!

Joseph Smith is turning over in his grave!

So, after a long wait ( especially on the republican side) presidential nominee Mitt Romney has chosen his chosen one, like when "God" chose Joseph Smith to create the religion of Mormonism.

Anyways....

Paul Ryan, Mitts "Joseph Smith" has represented the state of Wisconsin for 14 years. After college, Ryan worked briefly for the family business but was drawn to politics. He ran for Congress at 28. But on a lighter note here are a few facts you should know about Paul Ryan.

1.) Home Boy does p90X workout, which mean Obama has a lot more competition with those shirtless photos!!, what an erection, I mean election!

2.) While at Miami University Paul Ryan was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Oh!  My

3.) Before he was elected to Congress, served as a speechwriter for Jack Kemp’s and William Bennet’s “Empower America” organization, a conservative nonprofit. This is good for Mitt, he needs to stick to the script. Maybe he could do two jobs. Of elected Paul Ryan could be his speech writer and be VP!, think about it Mitt you can actually be that “job creator”  you call yourself.

So Mitt, I guess this is a step in the right direction ( no pun intended) Can’t wait to see what’s next for these 2 “Job creators” 

Men are like Slinky's - Good for nothing, but you can't help but smile when one falls down a flight of stairs!

This ball park frank commercial has been all over the airways lately. If you have not seen it, take about 30 seconds now to click on the link above…I’ll wait……

So now that you have seen it doesn’t it make you angry?

Why you ask???

It’s not because I am jealous of the men in this commercial because they have a delicious hot dog in their hands, I am more upset because of the last line in the commercial which is “Men, easier fed than understood”

Really??? …………..Really????

Here is the source of my rage, We see commercials and television programs where the women is smart, sophisticated and the husband is a bumb f*** lucky to have found her.  Which she constantly reminds him of in all of the episodes.  This is made famous on one my favorite shows, The King of Queens, where Carrie Heffernan, a smart, sophisticated paralegal is constantly degraing her husband, Doug a lowly ISP worker, who seems to have some sort of mishap in almost every episode. Oh! and don't get me started on her father Arthur.....

I want to shout at the TV when I see men routinely portrayed as villains or idiots because honestly, I really do believe that men are smarter than women.

Before you start flaming me in the comment sections just hear me out.

First off, men don’t stress as much as women. This is one of the traits that I love about men. They have a devil mat care attitude which is a nice balance to the neurotic side of women.  The men that I know take each day as it comes and tries not to stress about the future. But… on the other hand, the women that I know constantly stress about the future, life, relationship, ect.  Second, men are not afraid to be just men. They show their true self and they are not afraid to be themselves. Women are constantly changing their appearance and  adapting to their surroundings ( Ladies, have you ever liked something that the man you were dating liked?) the majority of men that I know don’t do that. They have the attitude, either you like me or you don’t. 

I understand that women account for 85% of consumer purchases, But come on ladies, have we really become so narrow minded that we actually enjoy these commercials. Oh, the husbands in that commercial is like mine, DUMB.  The Theme and message in these commercials are not meant to offend, but they do. Think about it on the flip side, If they made fun of a women in these commercials there would outrage over the news ways, saying that those commercials are sexists and they don’t portray women in a good light???

But it’s ok to do it for men..

The main theme is that men are dumb, an airhead and incompetent – useless at almost everything while the woman is smarter, more intelligent, successful and more confident and skillful than the man and often she is getting him out of trouble. The women always appear happy, confident, quietly content or even smug that they have one over on the man. Note that you will only see the white man portrayed this way in TV commercials – never the black or Asian man, because we think of an Asian man as being “smart” and a black man as being “ghetto”

The real sign of intelligence is that consumers need to stop condoning these commercials and think of men and women as equals, because that is what we are and what we should be. It really is a double edge sward, and I guess big business has to sell a product somehow.  

But, have you seen the Old Spice commercials?? I will be putting that on my grocery list this week. 

Show me the MONEY

AHH the sweet smell of payday!

 But if you are anything like me you have your money in your hands for about 15 mins on Friday afternoon and then it’s gone faster than a Mexican on the Arizona border.

The word “budget” has become synonymous with money and with the American people. We all have to “tighten the purse strings” for different reasons, whether it be for monthly bills, gas money, school supplies, clothing, ect we all have to be “fiscally conservative” with our money these days, but where does it all go?

The average consumer has a budget that is split into a number of expenses monthly and yearly. “The average American spends $49,639 a year on a range of necessary and desired expenditures” (cnn.com) this comes out of an annual income of $63,091, before taxes. The average consumer owns 1.9 vehicles and 67% of them are homeowners. Housing in America is the largest expenditure of a household income. Housing takes up 31.4% of the yearly budget of households, which is around $16,920 spent on housing. Broken down its more like this:

                1.) Around $10,000 on shelter

                2.) $4,000 on utilities

                3.) $1,000 on household operations

                4.) $600 spent on housekeeping and 3.6 % of that is spent on furnishings and equipment.

The second and third largest is transportation and healthcare, (no surprise to me) “the cost of vehicles purchased is an average of $3,244 per year, making it 6.5 percent of the average budget” (cnn.com) with the cost of maintenance for a car, the average is $9,000 a year! This is around 17% of a yearly budget.

Healthcare, where Americans spend on average $3,000 a year, is “expenditure for an American family, granted this is an average for a family making about $65,000 a year. Food on average is about $3,000 on food a year.

 

With an American family living on a fixed income, where do you cut? The average low income family makes $24,000 a year before taxes (this includes a married couple and their 2 children)   If the above family making $65,000 cab barley make it, what gives the family who makes $24,000 a chance. Being a college student, I do still live at home, but I pay rent, I pay for books, I pay fees, a car, gas, clothing, food, Netflix, gym membership. And working in retail is not much for “making a living” I make $8.23 an hour and I have to work at least 35 hours a week to make my bills each month. Did I mention I don’t get 35 hours a week because I was not hired for full time?

Yeah I have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, but it’s hard to find a job, I have applied for at least 50 jobs! I got two call backs! There is no way that anyone working in retail or in the minimum wage industry can even survive in the world today! I see so many people working 2-3 jobs just to make rent! This cannot and should not be happening. These people ( like me) making less than $24,000 a year cannot and will not survive much longer in this economy.

(information and figure 1: "Where does the money go" taken from CNN.com)