Life and all it's turns

It shouldn't surprise me I guess that after all this time I have so much to say, but not enough time to say it all in. I find it odd how life works, and where do I decide to write about it? This little blog I have. No one I actually know has any idea I have ever posted here, and that I guess is a good thing considering where I am at this point. Hopefully I can find my voice again, and maybe this will help.

Been away from the news

Life has taken over, and as hard as I try to keep up with what's going on it is becoming more difficult. I didn't even know about Bush vetoing the stem cell research bill until a few days after it happened, and then I had to find out from a friend who lives in another state.

More on what's happening in the world as soon as I know what's happening.

Where do we go?

So after much thought I have tried to determine what happens next. I'm not quite sure what it may be, but it is an interesting thought.

The administration is beating us over the head telling us that Iraq is not in a civil war. Well it may not be a war in the terms that we think of, but neither is the "war on terror" so wouldn't it be appropriate for us to look at the term war in a different way than we have?

I don't know if anyone but the people in Iraq could say for certain what is happening there now, and if it could be considered a civil war or not, but there is something happening we just may not have the word to define it.

The question should be applied to the United States as well. The mid term election is only months away. There is a chance maybe to change things.

My hope is that there are people elected who question the administration, focus on the important issues instead of the small things that divide us. I also hope we have people elected who give hope to those in this country who see none.

We can continue to go around about the small things that divide us, but those debates are currently distracting us from recognizing and solving real problems in this country.

In the process of trying to gain added security we are releasing liberties to the government. These liberties are what define us, and now we are either complacent or scared so we are letting them slip away.

We need to increase our attention span. There are many things happening that take time to come to fruition, but many don't take the time to follow up on these things. This is something that is not helped by the media. Do American's have short attention spans because of the media, or does the media cater to our short attention spans. It could be a combination of both. There needs to be more in depth looking at the big things happening.

We have legislators all over the place taking part in questionable activities. This is happening in both state and federal governments. Why this is happening, and how to prevent these things (if it is possible to prevent it) should be looked at.

Scooter Libby is still facing charges, and there have been reports that his trial will be damaging to the administration. DeLay still has charges to deal with as well. These are just to name some everyone should remember.

Among other issues the problems in Darfur are not adequately being addressed by our media or are government. There are horrendous acts happening, but it's easy for American's to forget about it when there are so few sources giving us information.

Back to Iraq. There are problems. Even if there is no civil war there are major problems. It was last week that we sent more troops in and had an offensive move. Hopefully something can done to bring these men and women home soon. Unfortunately, I don't think that is the number one priority of the current administration. It seems more important to them that they not be viewed as weak, and they never admit any mistakes.

South Dakota outlawed abortion except to save the life of the mother. There is not even an exemption for rape or incest victims. I fully expect the law to be challenged, and the court case will be important to follow. This is especially true considering the two new members of the Supreme Court.

We can continue to be asleep or afraid while the world changes around us, or we can begin to educate ourselves about these things and make our voices heard.

I hope the tide is beginning to turn, and I hope that will be apparent when the results of the election are announced. There are two things that we must not loose while going through the events we currently face, those two things are our voices, and our votes.

Could this day get any worse?

It has been a long, hard and stressful day. What can I say nothing has gone right today.

Beware the ides of March--at least that is what a teacher told us when the midterm was scheduled for today. I think that was advise I should have not blown off.

Tomorrow has to get better, right? Well I guess technically it is tomorrow, but when I wake up hopefully things will go more smoothly.

There are many things I would like to write about, but they will have to wait. I'm no longer awake enough to formulate them into a clear stream of thought.

My semester

It is the last week. I have three days of classes left. It has been great and horrible at the same time. I am so glad to have been a part of some of my classes, but it has been difficult. More difficult than I was prepared for.

So, the things I have learned this semester. Some people are great to be around. They are positive influences in the world. Others make life harder than it should be.

Challenge everything that you have been taught. Make no exceptions. If it is valid it will stand up to the challenge. If it isn't it will crumble.

Some concepts cannot be understood unless you erase other things you have been taught.

It is necessary to try things you don't want to do even if it only reinforces your previous ideas.

I cannot be what everyone wants me to be. I cannot follow the guide given to me as a child. I am not able to follow. I must make my own path, and I will not find that path as long as people I know try to shape my path. I cannot let society tell me what to do. Society is wrong.

I must leave this place, and I must leave the ideals handed down to me. They were given to me without all the facts. In light of the facts I cannot continue to go silently on my way. I must speak up and be heard.

I will not be complete until I have claimed my voice and used it. It is up to me alone to do this. No one can do it for me, and until I have overcome my fear I will be angry, sad and frustrated.

I am too strong to fail. Setbacks only make me stronger. I will be okay. If for no other reason than I cannot let them win. I will do things on my own terms, and I will be great for it.

The all nightier strikes again

So last week due to my procrastination, and inability to get all of the information I needed with a reasonable amount of time left before the paper was due I had my first all nighter of the semester. They may never be good, but this one was especially bad.

After a long night at work. A co-worker became angry with just about everyone in the office, then in turn I became extremely frustrated with her.

The transcribing began. Then at about 2a.m. I began working on the paper that was due no later than 12:45p.m. the following day. I did decently on it, but well anything can be better when you have a reasonable amount of time to work on it. I did not give myself that time. Again I have got to work on this procrastination thing.

So, tonight I am about to begin another long night. It too could end up an all nighter. I hope not, but there is just enough I need to accomplish for tomorrow that it could be, and yes at this moment I am procrastinating yet again.

Well, there is something good that comes from these events. For some reason when I have had no sleep and too much coffee I have wonderful moments of clarity. It is an interesting phenomenon. By being to tired to think I get hit with ideas that I wouldn't have thought of any other way.

The Cheeseburger Bill

Well Congress has decided that we can no longer blame McDonald's for being overweight. It's about time. Why anyone would sue for voluntarily consuming two times the calories needed in one day is beyond me.

Yes, fast food is convenient, but anyone who did not realize that it isn't good was never taught about good nutrition. French Fries should not be counted as a vegetable.

As long as it also puts a stop to parents suing because their children are over weight. Well parents are the people feeding this junk to children not Ronald McDonald. Not having time to cook does not meant that it is acceptable to blame the company that did cook for the problem.

Why is it that people want to blame everyone else for their problems. If the food is what caused the weight issue there is no one to blame but the person eating the food. Unless of course it is a child then they can blame their parents for feeding it to them in the first place.

It isn't that difficult to know what to eat either. There are advertisements for three servings of dairy, five fruits and vegetables and whole grains. The TV tells you what to eat listen for a minute.

Soft drinks are not good, candy is not good, fried food is not good. That leaves a few options at some fast food places, but do you really want to chance how long the salad has been in the refrigerator?

The portion sizes are also too big. If one meal at a fast food place has the calories for a day or more then there is obviously too much food to be eaten at one sitting. Going over a personal calorie need continuously causes weight gain it is simple if it's not used it's stored. Guess how it's stored. I don't really need to say do I?

So the fast food places offer crap to be eaten by the American public, and too much of it for anyone to eat at one serving, but they can't make anyone eat it. Next time you want to blame the fast food for the extra pounds try blaming the person who drove up to the window to get it.

Good for congress for making us take responsibility for what we put in our bodies willingly.

Long nights make long days

So, after my much needed studying I slept a few hours. Well this sounds like a good thing, but I don't think the coffee wore off until right before I woke up. I was more tired when I woke up than I was when I went to sleep, but it can always be worse right.

And it was. The test I was expecting to be as easy as the last was much more difficult. As long as I passed I don't care anymore.

Followed by a long interview that I had to fake my way through. All of that just to get information I already knew from someone who has the title to say it.

Then a lot of waiting for the meeting that didn't happen. Although the waiting wasn't all bad in fact it was the most entertaining part of the day.

Then another interview. By that time I was so far gone I just didn't care, and didn't know what to ask. But at least now I have all of the interviews done that I needed to do. Until the next round comes along.

At least I did accomplish something today. I finished writing the one thing I won't be graded on, and got it in a day early.

Well at least tonight I may get some sleep.

New thoughts on W's nomination

So, I have a theory about the nomination of Harriet Myers to the Supreme Court. This is based on my belief that W is not an idiot, he just plays a damned good one on TV.

W nominates Myers who he knows will not be received well by the Republicans. He knows this because he knows all of the possible candidates they believed he might appoint. But this is part of the plan.

Knowing that Myers will not be confirmed by the Senate to the Supreme Court W. will use this when he later appoints a man he knows will be received well by the Senate. When people ask him why he did not appoint another woman he will be able to use the refusal of the Senate to confirm Myers.

In other words they wouldn't confirm her, so I picked someone they will confirm i.e. a man.

This type of planning would take much forethought from W and those around them. Lets face it that hasn't been something they have shown themselves to be good at, but I still wonder if it is possible that W is planning something with this nomination, and in turn tricking everyone around him to get what he wants in the end.

Anything is possible.

Another long night

I could just be asking for trouble. Waiting until the last minute to study, but procrastination is the name of the game. It doesn't help when the people I am studying with are even better at procrastination than I am. I thought I had it down when I finished my last paper five minutes after class started, but I think they have me beat.

I don't know how many more long nights I have before I finally give in and start doing things early. That would be better for my sanity, but I've never worried about being sane before so why should I start now.

I could just be growing up, but what fun is that anyway. Maybe it's not so much that I'm growing up as the people I am surrounded by make me feel old. But then again that hasn't been a difficult thing to accomplish lately.

What ever the reasoning for this new sense of needing to get things done before the stress hits I'm sure it is a passing phase. By the end of the week I will be so worried about all of the things that need to be done right now I won't know what to do with myself.