Nothing Worthwhile to Write About?
While sifting through some recent articles in the Washington Post I came across this one:
President Bush in Great Health. After reading this the only question I could ask myself was; Who Cares? I can sleep easier knowing the President's prostate is healthy.
Pet Peeve #456 Dealt With!
After dropping off a friend at the San Jose Airport I passed their new
Cell Phone Waiting Area. This made me very happy, and I'm sure there are many more people in my position. I'm sure you all at some point in time have driven around the airport numerous times waiting on a call from someone you are picking up. Thanks to the new waiting area I won't get dizzy while at the airport.
Are the Democrats Uniting?
The 2004 presidential election saw the Democratic Party at its worst. It was not the fact that they lost the bid for the White House, but rather there was so much internal conflict that on the fence voters went along with a seemingly more stable republican party. Failing to state as a party where they stood on such issues as security and gay rights the democrats were sized up by their opponent who made it quite clear which agendas there were for and against. This proved fatal and as a result we were graced with the Bush administration for another four years. However, at the 2005
Democratic Leadership Conference future presidential candidates stressed the need for unity if the democrats were going to appeal to the majority of Americans.
The convention, which was held in Cleveland, Ohio this year focused on the 2008 election even though it is still three years away. Four potential presidential candidates including Senator Clinton spoke with delegates and spoke on the
unity that was needed in Democratic Party. The candidates highlighted facts about the declining economy, the need for an explanation for going to war, and health care for the American people. After reading these statements I have felt much better for a party that I had my doubts about. Of course the Republican Party slammed Clinton and the DLC for promoting far-left stances on the issues but in my view as long as the Dems are united how far left they swing is not the point. The point is, is that there are a number of Americans who are indecisive on which party to endorse and if the they see the democratic party as one strong body the chances of them considering them is likely to improve.
My parents are card-carrying democrats, always have been ever since I can remember. No matter what election they vote, and vote democrat. Growing up this made me very proud because I was always taught that the Democrats were for the people, and the republicans were for what they could take from the people. Very black and white groups or at least I thought so. Then comes the 2000 election. By this point I was 16 and heavily involved with the republican student group in my high school. This period of time was a war zone in my house. Arguments with my father erupted over why it’s more important to be fiscally conservative and how social programs will break the back of America. Even though I was two years away from voting I believed that the Republican Party had a more cohesive, conservative stance on issues, which I was in favor of.
Fast-forward four years. I’m an undergrad at a pretty liberal university and like most of my peers feel like the last 4 years have been horrible for our nation. We protest the war, fight for rights for all, and demand answers from our questionable administration. We went to the polls in record numbers hoping that we could reclaim our nation and put into motion a rebuilding of nation. As I stood in line I thought about the party I was voting for and realized that even though I was in support of them I was still concerned with the lack of cohesion I observed. The events at the DLC this year have left me hopeful because what the democratic party needs right now is U.N.I.T.Y.
Grand Theft Auto Found Guilty
While listening to
Diggnation today I was informed about the untimely end of Grand Theft Auto's San Andreas. The newest game in the GTA series, San Andreas soon became my least favorite after viewing the intial marketing. Set in San Andreas, California the game follows pretty much the same plot line as the rest; crime is sexy. Complete with hookers, mafia, and now gang members as well as drug dealers this game made me cringe with its realistic setting and "operations." Now the game has been pulled from the shelf following a recent change made in their rating status. Originally rated Mature 17+ by the
ESRB GTA: San Andreas was considered a game not suitable for children but recently it was discovered that the programmers encoded an explicit sex scene in the game. This discovery promted the ESRB to give a new rating of Adult which sent vendors running to the shelves to remove the game. I guess I will have to get my fix for violence from the evening news like the rest of America.
Bootstrap Pullups
I have been neglectful over the past week by not updating. It's not that I haven't had the time, but more of a content dilemma. Trust me when I say there is not a shortage of things to cover, the problem is that there can be too much information. So many interesting topics that I was having a hard time deciding what I wanted to cover; and so I didn't cover anything. Not good. More updates and regularity in the coming days.
VeriChip: We know where you went today
Well it happened. One of Bush's former officials will get a RFID tag placed under his skin (
Tommy Thompson Gets Tagged). Designed by VeriChip RFID tags have been marketed for pets as a locator device. However, with the recent alert in terriosts activitives RFID tags will also encompass humans. Thompson is doing this to promote the technology behind the chip. A device that tracks your movement? Christian conservatives are hailing this as the mark, a sign that satan is about to be unleashed upon the earth. Whether this is true or not one thing is for certain: you could be next. I highly doubt that mandatory tagging will come in the next few months or ever, but the technology is there. One argument for this technology is that it could serve as an emergency aid for the elderly. No more of those "I've fallen and can't get up" commericals. This is all well and good but what happens when John and Mary want to have one installed in their 16yr old in order to track their movements? Another point is that these tags could be used in prisons in order to track inmates which would decrease inmate violence, valid concern, still many loopholes. I'm sure someone will be keeping track of Thompson after his new tracker is installed. I wonder where he goes each day.
The Weakest Leak.
As the recent CIA scandal gets more press I decided to do a little digging on Mr.
Karl Rove. Being a novice at this I went to Wikipedia and what I found was very interesting. Although he may not have leaked the identity of Valerie Plame Rove has a history of political dishonesty. My question is: if Rove has such a sketchy background why is still able to be in politics most importantly the presidential advisor? Well, a simple answer would be politics are anything but honest. Good point, a second would be: would you expect anything less from an advisor of our current less than stellar leader. Of course the media is having a field day. This is yet another blunder by the current administration further proving that they are incapable of running the country. Bush promises to fire any member of his administration if it is found that they were somehow involved, but if it comes down to his own advisor will he keep his promise.
Check out these links for further information
June 10, 2005 White House Transcript Washington Post
1, 2, 3 Go!
The other day an acquaintance of mine responded to one of my many theories by saying "why are you so cynical." For a couple of weeks now I have often asked myself the same question. Why can't I accept things the way they are presented? Why is there this urge to uncover some hidden agenda further more proving to the world that "things aren't always what they appear to be?" I think it's because in the past 4 years I have seem what blind faith/acceptance can lead to. Being a college undergrad for the past couple of years has given me the opportunity to be immersed in a culture that is constantly questioning; never settling for what society and life throws at us. I want to take this mentalilty a step further. Hence the name "Refuge for the Chronic Cynic." What not to expect: A bashing of every piece of information I get my hands on. I may be a cynic, but it's not my M.O. I simply want to provide my slant on the issues. Being the information pack rat that I am, the recent explosion of podcasts has me wanting to write more than ever before. Writing has been my passion for a number of years and has mainly existed in the forms of journals and poetry. While theraputic I wish to add some more fire to my writing and carve out my own corner of the the cyber writing world. My refuge.
