been gone

I've been M.I.A.

I went to Washington DC, Baltimore, and New York City recently. Got a chance to hang out at KATZ Deli... which is where the orgasm scene occurred in "When Harry Met Sally."

Anyways, I found this awesome blog about home decoration... enjoy!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la

Hi guys! Sorry to leave you for so long. Haven't blogged since post election day. Been busy. I'm actually in Washington D.C., hoping to be around for the inaguration day.

I just want to say to everyone. If you love someone, please love them back. Don't be afraid to stick your neck out to tell them you love them. May it be a lover or your children. Our time on this earth is too short to play games and be aloof.

I recently realized that I was putting out more effort than the other person, but I have no regrets. Because I always told them how much I loved them... and when that wasn't enough, I showed them through actions. I just think we both had a different definition of Love.

I personally think Love conquers all. If BOTH people are trying to make love work... then it will be fine. But if only one person is making the effort and the other person is stagnant or just unwilling to do something on behalf of love.. then I question if its love.

I can and will do anything for my woman, all I ask is the same in return. If that is your situation, then you are ahead of me and the curve. I know women still exist who love passionately and not ashamed to love their man... I hope I can find that girl someday.

Obama Election Night

During the election day of Nov. 4, 2008 I was in London, England (don't worry I did early voting). I stayed up until 4am to watch the election results. All my British friends fell asleep, yet I stayed on to watch Obama win Ohio and then California.

I was amazed at the interest of the British people with our election. Then again, the whole world was watching as America was about to elect the first colored man into the most powerful office in the world. Everyone knew this was a historical moment. It really did give people hope.

BBC, SKY One, and ITV4 had their own special programming to cover the election. My favorite moment was when BBC brought on John Bolton (ex-UN Secretary) and a British Author, it was a little past midnight in London and the panel looked tired. A field reported made a comment that Palin is the mistake that lost the election for the Republicans. John Bolton was quick to defend Palin and the Republican party, then a civil debate began to unfold before my eyes.

It was interesting because John Bolton got huffy and puffy over a comment that was obvious to everyone, but he refused admit to it. The reporter was only making the point that nominating Palin strengthened the Christian right, but alienated the Republican center. Losing the election, since they failed to attract the people in the center of the party (since the Christian right would vote Republican either way).

Yet, John Bolton was quick to accuse how the reporter had no idea what she was talking about, etc. For a prior UN-Secretary, John Bolton lacks human interaction skills. I found him to be crass and condescending to the people around him, not to mention stubborn. I can only imagine how much of an ass he was to work with in the United Nations. He continued to call for a reporter to be fired, because the reporter tried to ask a republican organizer about their chances for a victory that evening. The Republican organizer was elusive in his response and the reporter continued to question him to get a clear and straight forward response. John Bolton thought that was rude of the reporter.

First off, it wasn't that serious. Secondly, he was a reporter... that's what he's supposed to do. GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER! Not let a schmuck get away with elusive responses. We should actually get more reporters like that, who asks the tough questions and state the obvious.

Enough of Mr. Bolton. After the victory, within the next few days I watched programs and news paper articles featuring Mr. Obama and the Democratic Victory. It was amazing to see the interest in our election, they all knew that it would affect them in one way or another. The most touching thing I experienced was a father and daughter behind me on the 207 bus. They sat in the back seat conversing about Obama and the election. Most of the conversation was in Arabic (they were from North Africa I think), yet I got the gist of what the exchange was all about. The father was explaining to his daughter about the American election and why Obama victory was all over the news. He was explaining to her, why the moment was historical.

Because the father knew that this moment was not possible in England or any European country that had white faces in higher office. Articles about institutional racism filled the news paper and how the British government is no where near to having a colored Prime Minister. The father knew that America is still the land of opportunity and equality. That hope can still come from her people. That is when I knew that it was cool to be an American again... not because of Mr. Obama, but because of the American people itself who looked past the color lines, looked past the fear mongering, and walked towards the future together, voting for the first Black President of the United States. Showing the world that we judge people by their character and not by the color of their skin.

As I write this blog entry, I am filled with emotion imagining fathers and mothers explaining to their kids the significance of this election. Explaining to their child that hard work, education and dedication can get you ahead. That anything is still possible in America. Terrorist or not, they can't deny that such a feat could never happen in their countries, may it be in the Middle East, Europe, or Asia.

So to my fellow Americans I say this, "GOOD JOB GUYS! GOOD JOB!"

I'm glad together we voted and showed that progress can me made in 46 years. I hope you are smiling Dr. King, I hope you are smiling.

London 2008: Photo Mayehem I

On my recent trip to London I decided to take some photos as I walked around the city... Wait, what?

What was I doing in London to begin with? Well, I was there to visit friends, record some B-Roll and take photographs of my friend (codename) Koala for a clothing company she was invited to model/represent.

Here are some of my favorite photos from that trip.

Above: Koala waiting for the bus. I love how the "K" appears behind her.
I didn't notice that when I was taking the photo,
but it works out since her name starts with a K.

Above: I remember reading about this Rodin sculpture
in Art History class. It was nice to see it as I wandered
around the Parliament area.

Above: The Thames River with The Parliament and London Eye.
By this point my digital camera battery died and
had to take this beautiful shot with my iPhone.

Above: Walked by a park on my way to catch the bus, when I turned to see this sight.
The light was just right and realized the scene was majestic.
My digital camera was still dead, so I had to use my iPhone.
I'm so glad that my iPhone was able to capture this beautiful moment.

Above: A cool neon light display of the human vascular system.

Stay tuned as I plan to give you a few images from the photo shoot and my wanderings of the famous Brick Lane. Until next time, stay sexy folks.

London Visit

So I just got back from London and neglected my blog. I'll try to post some stories and photos on what I did while I was out in United Kingdom.

I did see "Quantum of Solace" before it opened in the USA.
I got to watch how the people in the United Kingdom took so much interest in our elections. While getting rejected from American Election Parties in Fulham.

More stories to come. Sorry to abandon you guys.

London pub

I'm in a pub in London. Waiting for the Buffalo bar to open up.

Media bias when it comes to reporting crimes.

Above: Ashley Todd, after alleged attack.

By now, everyone has heard of the McCain supporter who falsified an attack by a (black male) Obama supporter. What's amazing is how quick her story flashed NATIONWIDE. Then how so many republicans and blogger's made comments of how bad Obama supporters are, look at the comments HERE yourself.

Links:
McCain worker attacked, mutilated in PA - Oct. 23, 2008 Campaign Volunteer Faces Charges In Attack Hoax - Oct. 24, 2008

Incredible, right! Well, check this out!

Police investigate political confrontation - Oct. 20, 2008

Three days before Ashley Todd made her false report and making national headlines, an Asian woman working for the Obama Campaign was assaulted as she tried to talk to a resident of Caledonia (A city in Racine County, Wisconsin). For full story, read the link above.

My question is, why didn't this make the headlines, but a woman attacked by an Obama supporter makes national news?

Is it due to ethnicity? White woman attacked by a Black man VS. Asian woman attacked by a White man?

How about political party? Democrat attack a Republican VS. Republican attack a Democrat?

It's just so disturbing that a white woman attacked makes national news before her accusation can even be verified. Not only that, but everyone was so quick to jump on the band wagon and believe some black man was responsible for this. Let's not forget that her first thought to accuse of the crime are Black-Americans. Not only that, but they are so quick to try and portray her as a victim of mental illness. What's wrong with just saying she's a dumb-ass racist caught in her own lie?

THEN... we have this Asian-American woman attacked in broad daylight... WITH WITNESSES! A confirmed attack. Yet, we hear nothing about it on the national news. Is the media biased? I thought the media was liberal left wing? But a white male attacks a woman (Asian-American) it doesn't make the news or outrage... maybe suppressed or ignored by national media.

But when a white woman is attacked, the media is quick to jump on the story and build some form of racial tension to hunt down this mysterious black attacker. What the f**K? Seriously, people? I'm glad to see that a lot of people didn't jump on the bandwagon and pick up their torches. At the same time, I am so disappointed with the news organizations who circulated this story with out waiting for the investigation to be complete AND/OR ignoring the other attack that occurred three days prior to that liar Ashley Todd.

No wonder people read the Internet to get their news, instead of watching it or reading the news paper. Stop race baiting and do equal cover on stories. If you will broadcast an attack on a white woman who supports the McCain campaign on national TV, include the other attacks that has occurred to Obama supporters.

Driving in Los Angeles

Driving around downtown Los Angeles, California. These signs/murals caught my eye. From my moving car I snapped these photos, luckly no one from the LAPD caught me.

Early Voting: No Lines, No Hassle.

Today was a very important day. I voted in a very historical election. An election where a Black man might actually be the President of the United States. Fifty-Three years since the start of the Civil Rights movement in 1955, Senator Barak Obama leads in the polls.

I decided to vote early, since I wasn't sure if I will be in town on Election Day. Besides, how can I risk missing out on this historical event. If you are interested in voting before November 4, 2008 please go online and find your county voter register office. If you live in Orange County, CA like myself you can find it at:

www.OCVOTE.com

There you can find information on how to register and early voting. Which will give you a list of locations to chose from, allowing you to vote early at these sites. I chose to vote at the Anaheim City Hall and it was quick and easy. I did not wait in line and they found my name right away.

Anaheim City Hall
Vote Early, November 4, 2008 General Election (October 19-28)

HOURS
Monday thru Friday, 8a-5p. CLOSED WEEKENDS.
ADDRESS
200 S. Anaheim Boulevard #217
Anahiem, CA 92805
SPECIFIC LOCATION
Located at the City Clerk counter on the second level. Park on level 2B of the City Hall East parking structure and cross the pedestrian bridge.
DIRECTIONS
Map provided courtesy of expedia.com maps.
WHAT TO EXPECT & WHAT TO BRING
Find out what services are provided at an Early Voting site, as well as what information you will need to provide in order to vote early.

Once you walk up to the counter, they ask for your ID and proof of residency. I showed them the registration notice I received in the mail. I also had to fill out a form that said, "I haven't received my voter packet."

Which I didn't get until I returned home from City Hall. I then went up to an electronic voting booth and entered a 4 digit security/ID number into the box. This prompted the the first question, "Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin?"

I proceed to use the selector wheel and then hit "enter."

I continue the procedure several times, voting on important measures that covered the environment, rail system, Children's hospital, gay marriage (prop 8), and abortion notification (prop 4). Then upon submitting the ballot electronically and confirming it twice. A print out appears for you to proof read. Then you finally confirm a third and final time, your vote is submitted and the paper print out is deposited with a bar-code, amongst the other voters who used that machine.

Upon completing and submitting my ballot, I felt a tingle wash over my body. Because I realized that I just participated in a historic moment in American (if not World) History. How often can a person know that this day, you became part of history.

So I tell you my fellow Americans... VOTE if not on Nov. 4th, 2008. Vote on the days BEFORE November 4, 2008!!!

God Bless America.

Badass Helmet

This is the hottest helmet I've seen. I plan to rock this helmet if/when I ever get a motorcycle.

This is all made possible by the company Santiago Chopper from Gibsonton, Florida. Although they have a terrible concept of web design. Their bikes and products are beautiful. I'm sure to get a few things from them once I get my motorcycle license in the near future. Vroom, vroom!

Visiting the real world on my day off

Today was my day off after working 6 days straight for a week. Most of my days were between 12 to 14 hours long. *sigh*

That's the film industry.

So today, I just caught up on sleep and relaxed. I was hoping to have a chance to talk to my very lovely friend ANIME (because she has large eyes and cute as an Japanese Anime character). Sadly, she left her laptop charger in her local Starbucks, so I couldn't speak to her... since her laptop died in the middle of our Skype conversation.

Finally got caught up on my laundry, had a wonderful mexican lunch, then had some delicious Tiramisu from my brothers Birthday cake. I just really wish I had a chance to wash my car. *sigh*

Then I wanted to look up some webseries on youtube.com, but instead I found a very compelling series about the struggle in Burma. I thought I could share it with you.



What did you think?

Then, I saw this youtube.com link to Will.I.Am's video contest?!?! It's in hopes to end poverty. I wish them the best of luck... but I myself am a realist and think that as long as we have overpopulation and corporations. Poverty cannot be avoided. Yet, I salute people who wants to try and make life easier for the poor. I think the best thing is having the support and structure available for those who want to get out of their poverty. That being said, here is Will.I.Am of the Black Eye Peas.

http://www.youtube.com/inmyname

I was working on Melrose Blvd. the other day... then who do I see park on a red zone, jump out of his bently, jay-walk thorought traffic in his "Orange" outfit. Then disappear into a mobile store.

Well it was no other than Will-I-AM of the Black Eye Peas. He took a moment to sign autographs and take pictures with fans on the sidewalk.

Driving with stupid.

We were filming on location and we had all the film gear on the sidewalk. Cameramen moving about with their equipment. When suddenly I hear over the radio, "Stop. Everyone stay where you are. Nobody move."

After looking at my fellow crew for a few minutes and hearing radio silence. We got curious and walked out into the street. The scene was quite surprising and unexpected.

There was the Assistant Director, Set Medic, and Production Assistant (who went to EMT training) hoovering over a man. I shout, "What happened?"

Someone responded that an old man was hit by a car. When I asked where the car was, they pointed to a car with a young man standing outside of his car. Nervous and in shock. I instructed him to pull to the side of the street and park his car. Once he did that, I asked him to step outside of the car and sit/stand in the side walk.

From there I noticed the stupidity of LA drivers. Not only with this driver, who was so absorbed in watching our film crew as he made a left turn, that he hit an old man crossing the street. THEN! These Los Angeles drivers on Melrose decided to get upset that we closed off one lane to protect the medic and the old man. Then people refused to slow down or would speed up as they got to the traffic police. Some people are just complete idiots and douche bags. FULL STOP.

When you're beyond tired.

It's 11:42 PM. I've been awake since 4:45 AM. Been working since 5AM. Ran around Melrose Place. Ran into Joey Pantelleone and Will-I-Am from the "Black Eye Peas" today. Picked up a second shift, where half of my shift is just on call and hopefully sleeping. I passed tired about 4 hours ago, but for some reason... I'm still functioning. I guess I have no life but work at the moment.

Yes, it's sad.

Anyways... I can't imagine how difficult it will be to wake me up tomorrow morning. I'm gonna be in a coma. LoL.

Break it down for me Doc!

I took a personality test today and here is my result. I can't complain about it really. Try it out yourself.

Genuine Inventor

About you:

• You are an Inventor
• Your imagination, self-reliance, openness to new things, and appreciation for utility combine to make you an INVENTOR.
• You have the confidence to make your visions into reality, and you are willing to consider many alternatives to get that done.
• The full spectrum of possibilities in the world intrigues you—you're not limited by pre-conceived notions of how things should be.
• Problem-solving is a specialty of yours, owing to your persistence, curiosity, and understanding of how things work.
• Your vision allows you to identify what's missing from a given situation, and your creativity allows you to fill in the gaps.
• Your awareness of how things function gives you the ability to come up with new uses for common objects.
• It is more interesting for you to pursue excitement than it is to get caught up in a routine.
• Although understanding details is not difficult for you, you specialize in seeing the bigger picture and don't get caught up in specifics.
• You tend to more proactive than reactive—you don't just wait for things to come to you.
• Your independent streak allows you to make decisions efficiently and to trust your instincts
• You're not afraid to let your emotions guide you, and you're generally considerate of others' feelings as well.
• You prefer to have time to plan for things, feeling better with a schedule than with keeping plans up in the air until the last minute.
• Never one to be found in chic boutiques or trendy clothing stores, you take an extremely practical approach to getting dressed.
• You tend to believe that things happen for a reason, and that not everything is under our control.

If you want to be different:

• Try applying your creativity to more artistic arenas, and letting your imagination take less practical forms.

How you relate to others:

• You are Genuine
• Your outgoing personality, your preference for order, and your cautious appreciation of others makes you GENUINE.
• You aren't afraid to occasionally be the center of attention. You are comfortable and confident in social situations.
• As a charismatic kind of person, you tend to be energized by other people and enjoy their company.
• When other people are upset, you are able to think about the situation rationally, without getting too caught up in their feelings.
• At times you find it difficult to understand where other people are coming from, and wish they could just see things the way you do.
• You are a strongly principled person who believes in right and wrong. This helps you make decisions easily when it comes to moral issues – you don't have to waste time hedging on important values.
• In your experience, people tend to get what they deserve. Because of this, you work hard and try to follow your principles in your day-to-day life, knowing that you will be rewarded for your efforts.

If you want to be different:

• You have many friends, but you only trust a few of these people when it really counts. Opening yourself up to more of your friends will help you create more strong and meaningful relationships.
• Be cautious when judging someone—try harder to understand his or her perspective—and you will become a more intuitive person.

Need shirts to wear.

Long hours at work... the other day this week, I worked 15 hours and then had to wake up at 4am the next morning. Ugh!

In the mean time, I'm actually getting overtime. That's a relief.

On my ONE day off during the week, I decided to find these t-shirt designs for the ladies. *LOL*

Below are a few from cafepress.com - Asian Collection.

Cafepress.com - Filipino Collection

Fancy that. It got shot down.

Guess what! My idea of the "3 rule" was totally shot down the other day (Friday). I was waiting for a third bad news and expecting this "break" to not happen. But instead of just sitting and waiting for it to happen. I did something about it and got my job.

Saturday morning, I started working for my first television show as a Production Assistant. Finally, broke in to the industry with an entry level position to gain more experience. Please don't ask me what show I'm working on or what it's about... because I can't tell you. I'll just get tired of denying you and start telling you some bullshit answer to entertain myself and make you look stupid later. My coworkers are great except one guy who heads the lighting department. Two words: Napoleon Complex.

As much as I hate using that word, this guy is just a dick. Whines and bitches about why he's not able to do this or that... as if I have anything to do about it. I just tell him what is told from my chain of command. If he has a problem, bring it up with my boss or the Producer. Don't speak under your breath or out loud to pretend to make me feel guilty... cuz I don't give a shit. Since, I'm following my orders and doing my job.

What I will bring to you are quotes I get from set in film format. Let's begin:

INT. CAR - NIGHT

PA 1 (Short Male, Denim Jeans, and black shirt), PA 2 (Slender Female, perky breasts, tank top, dirty BOX blond hair), Line Producer ( Husky Male, zip up sweater, jeans) walk out of a production house carrying various products in hand.

PA 1
How is that a Viking name?

PA 2
Because they do!

PA 1
The last one you read, maybe! But the names you read before that?
Not Viking. Hamm and anything with a "...ski" on it, is not a viking name.

PA 2
What would it be?

PA 1
Those are Germanic names. From Germany.

PA 2
No they aren't.

PA 1 and Line Producer
What?

PA 2
Those aren't, I swear.

PA 1
Dude! Those names were Germanic... Eastern European in origin.

PA 2
(surprised)
What! Eastern Europe is China and shit. Those aren't Chinese names.

PA 1 and Line Producer look at each other in shock. They both smirk.

PA 1
Are you serious? Really?

PA 2
Yeah.
Line Producer
Uhm. That is Eastern Europe.

PA 1
No its not!

EXT. PRODUCTION HOUSE - NIGHT

The group walk out to the front doorstep of the house.

Line Producer and PA 1
What is Germany and the countries next to it then?
PA 1
Dude! Viking Countries are Norway, Sweden, and Finland. That's North Europe.

PA 2
No it's not. Germany is like Europe... and Viking Countries are the North West Europe.
Oh, I forgot something... I need to run back inside.

Line Producer and PA 1 just look at each other and nod in disbelief.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Line Producer is sitting in the driver seat, PA 1 is sitting on passenger seat, and PA 2 is moving around in the back seat trying to get comfortable. PA 2 begins to rummage through the back of the car.

PA 2
Oh my gawd! Is this a China man hat?

Silence lingers in the car for a moment.

Line Producer
Uhm, yeah.

PA 1 begins to laugh sarcastically.

PA 1
I don't think that's called a China man Hat.

Line Producer
It's called a rice field worker hat.

PA 2
No it's not! It's a China man Hat.

PA 1
Uhm, dude! No one uses that word. Do you know the equivalent of that word?

Line Producer
Yeah, that's pretty much an insult and people don't like to hear that word.

PA 2
What?

PA 1
Yeah. That's a derogatory term.

PA 2
Dude. It's not racist. I can't be racist.

PA 1
Why not?
PA 2
Because I'm Hispanic! I'm such a mutt that I can't be racist.

Line Producer and PA 1 look at each other and nod their head in disbelief.

FADE TO BLACK

It's safe to say that we stopped trying to educate her and let her believe that China is Eastern Europe.

Then we were too tired to debate her on how stupid it was to think that just because you are a person of color, you can't be racist. I personally think that is the dumbest shit in the world. To think that a person of color is unable to discriminate another human being due to their color being different from theirs. I've met plenty of Hispanics, Blacks, and Asians who are bigots in their own right.

By definition, she is right I suppose... because by definition. Racist people would have to be in a position of power and use that to influence hold down a group of people. Yet she is still quite the bigot for saying what she said. Since you are reinforcing the use of a racial slur. Justifying to others that it's okay to use a racial slur. Same can be said for using the word n**gger, we**ack, sp**k, ch**k... etc.

Perpetuating racial stereotypes and believing you can't be a bigot due to the shade of your skin is just pure stupidity.

FULL STOP.

"Leave out all the rest" is what I need to do.

So today I got some bad news. Yesterday I got bad news. I'm just waiting for the third bad news, which I expect to arrive later today. *sigh*

You see, I believe in the rule of three... Three really great things happened to me last week (all related to each other) and this week I'm finding out that they will all be taken back... Just waiting for the last and best one of the bunch to be taken.

Oh well, I just found this beautiful Linkin Park Video. It made me feel better and reminded me to just "leave out all the rest" and move on to the next.

Palin Privaledge - Did you know she had one?

The following message was posted on a Bulletin Board. The article talks about the double standards being placed on the Presidential candidates. Especially when it comes to Sarah Palin, the darling of the Republican Party at the moment. A lot of the things mentioned in this article have brought to my attention how Palin's rise would be impossible for most folks.

Tim Wise is quite an interesting man himself. I've never heard of him or his lectures, but I found a lecture/speech on youtube.com and attached it below too. It makes you realize that the media is still playing softball with the candidates(esp. Palin).

After reading the article and the youtube clip. Please comment. I want to know what you think about the presidential race after reading this.

==============================================================

This is Your Nation on White Privilege

By Tim Wise
9/13/08

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was
written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you' re somehow being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them
give your party a "second look."

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just a good church-going Christian, but if you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates America. White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Tim Wise is the author of White Like Me (Soft Skull, 2005, revised 2008), and of Speaking Treason Fluently, publishing this month, also by Soft Skull.

What's wrong with Goths today?!?!

OMFG! This is really disturbing that these people actually believe in this stuff.

Teens eaten by satanists

By LYNSEY HAYWOOD

Published: 15 Sep 2008

A VILE gang of devil worshippers has killed and eaten four Russian teenagers in a sickening ritual.

The Satanists stabbed each of their victims a terrifying 666 times before dismembering their bodies and cooking them on a bonfire.

Russian cops discovered the teenager's limbs, hearts and scalps in a pit in the Yaroslavl region around 300 miles from Moscow, along with the dead body of a small rodent crucified on an upside-down cross.

The victims, three girls and one boy, all aged 16 and 17, disappeared from their homes in June.

But police only discovered the remains of Anya Gorokhova, Olga Pukhova, Varya Kuzmina and Andrei Sorokin last month.

The four pals – described as "Goths" – were lured one by one to a country cottage and were allegedly forced to get drunk before the revolting ritual began.

Hair from the victims was apparently found in the embers of the bonfire.

Cops arrested eight Satan worshippers in connection with the killings after finding out that all four victims had telephoned Nikolai Ogolobyak, the alleged leader of the Satan gang. His apartment lies just 250 metres from where their remains were discovered.

One of the arrested Satanists said: "Satan will help me to avoid responsibility, I made lots of sacrifices to him."

Gravediggers

Another suspect – Alexander Voronovic – said the gang had previously dug up a dead girl's grave and eaten her heart and a third suspect said he turned to Satan because praying to God did not make him rich.

He said: "I tried to turn to God, but it didn't bring me any money. I prayed to Satan, and things improved."

"Did he ever bother to consider it was because he felt more confident after praying to 'Satan' that things started improving for him. All due to the human psyche rather than some spiritual hand."

Teachers of the alleged Satanists said all had been moody at school and of lower than average intelligence.

"Go figure!"

Ogolobyak had previously been in his local church choir, according to his grandmother. All the dead knew Ogolobyak and other members of the Satanist gang.

The distraught father of victim Andrei Sorokin said: "My son said he knew some Goths, and that he had Goths and Satanists among his friends.

"I wasn't scared. I thought 'Well, let him spend his time sitting around in a cemetery, there's not much harm in that is there?'"

I guess those kids proved him wrong.

Love to the living

Yesterday I spoke to a woman very close to my heart and listened to her story about fighting with her family for petty and insignificant things. She couldn't understand why they got on her nerves so much.

It took me a while to process what or why her "blow up" disturbed me. Especially when I wasn't as upset as I thought I would be when she told me that her sister shouted, "You don't have to be a bitch because your friend died."

Oh, let me explain that last party. You see, she had a close friend of hers from high school died recently in an automobile accident a few days before his 22nd Birthday. A total shock and surprise to the community, family, and friends. After hearing of the news, my friend became melancholy and very emotional. Crying, holding herself insider her room, not eating, and lamenting how she wished for him to return and dedicating songs to him on her facebook and blog.

So now that you're caught up on the situation, let me continue.

She told me that it has been around two years since she last saw or heard from this fellow, until this past summer where she was supposed to meet up with him to catch up... but sadly, they never got the chance to meet-up. Partly due to her having to leave early to see her ex-boyfriend "Panda" in Los Angeles.

Now her continuous lamenting and sad demeanor had me thinking. Why is she so sad about someone she hadn't spoken to in a couple of years. Was she feeling guilty for not meeting up with him? Does she blame herself and her ex for leaving her hometown so soon for L.A.? Then I realized that maybe women just process grief differently from men. Maybe women are just more emotional about things.

Yet, when she told me about what happened to her and her family. Especially what the younger sister said to her... it hit a nerve in me. I could swear there was a message in there. I had to sleep on it to figure it out, but I realized what it was this morning.

I realized her sister had a point.

My friend had gone into such a funk after the accident that probably neglected the interaction with her family. In any case it got me thinking, when people die and people mourn we have the tendency to focus on the dead and how we may have failed them. How we never got a chance to say goodbye or how much we love them. Then people get very introspective and guilt ridden, forcing them to fall into a sadness of thinking how life will be like with out that person in this world.

I know, because I've gone through the same scenario with my death and loved one's death. Call me cold and callus, but I just can't imagine crying for a person I didn't really communicate with for the last several years. Not only that, but I believe if we placed as much effort on the living then we wouldn't have to feel so guilty about the dead.

What I'm basically saying is that we should all pay attention to our loved ones while they are alive. So we don't have to cry and feel so much guilt when they die. Because I believe death is their way of ascending to heaven and a chance to celebrate their life, rather than mourn their death. Although this would be especially difficult for people who are victims of a violent crime and/or accident. Yet we need to focus on the gift of life.

Focus on the love who are still with you on this world. They are the ones we need to show and share the love with everyday... I just hope my friend gets past the mourning stage for her friend and refocus that energy to her loved ones sharing this life with her.

My condolences. We (and I) love you too.

Dirty Tricks!

Faux Pollsters target Jewish population of Florida.

This is just disturbing and disgusting. That some people will tarnish the name of math and statistics to gain political advantage.

Using lies, hate, and discrimination these people try to target Jewish voters and insult their intelligence by pretending to be a statistician (with no bias), only to implant seeds of doubt and discord in their minds... trying to link Obama to Terrorist Groups.

Disturbing sight of the day.

I was reading KCAL9 website for the news. They had a photos section of the LA Erotica convention that just passed. Why not? It had photos of lovely women in skin tight and close to nothing outfits... right?!?! What harm could it do.

Until I saw this and nearly lost my breakfast... that is, if I had eaten breakfast.

Grandma, please retire. I don't want the
kids to keep teasing me at school.

Housewife vs Palin, while Republicans wish they were on TV.

A letter from a Wasilla, Alaska housewife regarding Sarah Palin:
Here is a letter from a housewife who has faced Palin when she was in City Council. She fought Palin in 1996 when Palin tried to remove a City Librarian from her job because the Librarian refused to remove certain books from circulation that Palin wanted removed. If you want to read the whole article click the link above (WARNING: It's long, but worth reading.)

Below are some of the bullet points that she provided. Giving the reader an idea on Gov. Palin's history of policy. [Spelling and grammar are all based on original text]

CLAIM VS FACT

• "Hockey mom": true for a few years
• "PTA mom": true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
• "NRA supporter": absolutely true
• social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
• pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
• "Pro-life": mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
• "Experienced": Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
• political maverick: not at all gutsy: absolutely!
• open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
  
• Has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
  
• "a Greenie": no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots.
  
• Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
• fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
• pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system.
  
• Built streets to early 20th century standards.
• pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
• pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla’s history.
• pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.

If you want to read who this author is, CLICK HERE!

VS.

Walter Reed High School vs. Walter Reed Army Hospital. Why doesn't the RNC organize their slideshow photos before posting them up on a giant green screen? How unprofessional is this event?

The moron who arranges John McCain's slide show during his speech does not know how to use google, nor double check their work. How can they not realize that the slide they chose was Walter Reed High School, not Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Has anyone in his staff served in the military? Visited the injured soldiers in Walter Reed Memorial Hospital during his campaign? If so, why didn't any of them remember what it looked like and avoid this mistake. Maybe they just wanted to imitate a TV show (according to TPM) called WEST WING, where a presidential candidate announced his desire to run for president. Pay attention to the building behind this clip and maybe you can recognize it from the picture.



L.A. Times
Talking Points Memo (TPM)

THE PLOT THICKENS:

Now that the story is picking up steam in the blogsphere. The McCain camp sent out a statement claiming it was not a mistake. According to "The Caucus: A New York Times" Political Blog, the McCain camp made this statement:

Not so, according to campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds, who said the campaign intended to showcase “images of Americana” during the Arizona senator’s remarks.

“The changing image-screen was linked to the American thematics of the speech and the public school was simply part of it,” Mr. Bounds said, adding that during the speech, Mr. McCain “called for public education reforms that empower parents and students before bureaucrats and labor unions.”

Yet, the school did not give them permission... nor was the school asked permission to be used by the political party. Then, why did no other slides appear after the school image went away? The high school has actually set up a website to notify the public/parents that the school does not endorse a political campaign. I think they really did make a mistake... they just can't admit their failure... just like in their politics/policies.

Go figure.