Priceless
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Two parts.
This blog post is going to be in two-parts. In the first part I'm going to talk about last night's debate (ya just know I had to do it) in the second part I'm going to talk about an ongoing conversation that my relatives have been having online about G-d and gambling. So let’s get started.
The 20th Debate:
I watched the debate like many of you last night. I noticed that Hillary Clinton may have a point. The media did go after her. I think NBC has an axe to grind with her for some reason. That being said in my humble opinion, Obama was tested. What the hell is up with the Louis Farrakhan, question??? What is the difference between denounce and reject? IMO I think he handled it smoothly but still WTF?
I find it very interesting that the media has turned on her in such a way. Last year she was the front runner now she's the chick who has overstayed her welcome. I do not feel bad for her, but I am curious as to why the media is doing this. Maureen Dowd said it best when she wrote: “Beating on the press is the lamest thing you can do. It is only because of the utter open-mindedness of the press that Hillary can lose 11 contests in a row and still be treated as a contender.”
The only reason why she’s been in this race as long as she has is because her last name is Clinton. If the shoe was on the other foot the press and the DNC would be calling for him to drop out. Senator Clinton may have a minor point, but if she ran a better campaign it would not be that much of an issue. She has failed to learn the basic lesson of Campaign 101: Optimism always beats Skepticism. Bill Clinton knew that in 1992. Overall I think that Obama did well. Hillary tried really hard but Obama just kept his cool and when you think about it that’s the kind of person you want in office a person who can keep his cool when under pressure.
When JFK was president the press protected JFK, everyone knew about the affairs but no one reported it because they thought it would be in bad taste. I wonder if the press/media are consciously making moral decision not to dig too hard into the personal lives of the front runners. McCain has a lot of skeletons in his closet and Obama….well the press can connect him to Farrakhan through Jeremiah Wright. Jeremiah Wright is someone we are going to be hearing a lot about once he is the nominee but hopefully it will backfire on the press.
Is Gambling a sin?
That was the question a cousin of mine recently asked my family’s Yahoo Group message board. It sparked a debate among the various members of the family. Online anonymity helps in these situations because you don’t feel like a kid talking to your uncle; we all are equals on this message board. The generation gap is still there but it is less of an issue. My answer to the question was NO. IMO gambling becomes a sin when it becomes the focal point of your life; because that would be considered idolatry. Anything that becomes more of a priority than your service to G-d is idolatry. Most of my cousins are Christians but there is a segment of them that are starting to question what they've been taught. I never thought in a million years I would see my cousins question the bible. They always seemed like the types that just got along to get along never rocking the boat. But that’s changed. And now the elders have to come to terms with their new found curiosity. I will keep you guys posted on this.
The 20th Debate:
I watched the debate like many of you last night. I noticed that Hillary Clinton may have a point. The media did go after her. I think NBC has an axe to grind with her for some reason. That being said in my humble opinion, Obama was tested. What the hell is up with the Louis Farrakhan, question??? What is the difference between denounce and reject? IMO I think he handled it smoothly but still WTF?
I find it very interesting that the media has turned on her in such a way. Last year she was the front runner now she's the chick who has overstayed her welcome. I do not feel bad for her, but I am curious as to why the media is doing this. Maureen Dowd said it best when she wrote: “Beating on the press is the lamest thing you can do. It is only because of the utter open-mindedness of the press that Hillary can lose 11 contests in a row and still be treated as a contender.”
The only reason why she’s been in this race as long as she has is because her last name is Clinton. If the shoe was on the other foot the press and the DNC would be calling for him to drop out. Senator Clinton may have a minor point, but if she ran a better campaign it would not be that much of an issue. She has failed to learn the basic lesson of Campaign 101: Optimism always beats Skepticism. Bill Clinton knew that in 1992. Overall I think that Obama did well. Hillary tried really hard but Obama just kept his cool and when you think about it that’s the kind of person you want in office a person who can keep his cool when under pressure.
When JFK was president the press protected JFK, everyone knew about the affairs but no one reported it because they thought it would be in bad taste. I wonder if the press/media are consciously making moral decision not to dig too hard into the personal lives of the front runners. McCain has a lot of skeletons in his closet and Obama….well the press can connect him to Farrakhan through Jeremiah Wright. Jeremiah Wright is someone we are going to be hearing a lot about once he is the nominee but hopefully it will backfire on the press.
Is Gambling a sin?
That was the question a cousin of mine recently asked my family’s Yahoo Group message board. It sparked a debate among the various members of the family. Online anonymity helps in these situations because you don’t feel like a kid talking to your uncle; we all are equals on this message board. The generation gap is still there but it is less of an issue. My answer to the question was NO. IMO gambling becomes a sin when it becomes the focal point of your life; because that would be considered idolatry. Anything that becomes more of a priority than your service to G-d is idolatry. Most of my cousins are Christians but there is a segment of them that are starting to question what they've been taught. I never thought in a million years I would see my cousins question the bible. They always seemed like the types that just got along to get along never rocking the boat. But that’s changed. And now the elders have to come to terms with their new found curiosity. I will keep you guys posted on this.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Why do I do it?
My shrink asked me the other day. "What are you trying to do with this blog thing?" "Where do you see it going?" At the time, for the life of me I couldn't answer him. A part of me wanted to say that I'm doing this as a release and as a way to have some fun. Also I see this blog as part of a bigger picture. My long term goal is actually to be a real legitimate writer who gets paid to do this kind of shit. Hell if the staff of Don Diva can have jobs why can't I.
Hell I plan on submitting something to them some time in the near future. Ya gotta start somewhere.
After taking some time and doing some soul searching I have an answer for my shrink and myself. I'm doing this because, I want to be heard. I feel that the words I write will change things, whether to change someone's mood from sad to happy or to show someone a different way of looking at things. I think my perspective is unique and worthy of attention. So that's why I'm doing this. Now for some ranting.
My favorite Brit Chris Hitchens make the mistake of writing the following statement in reference to Barack Obama's race: "What are we trying to "get over" here? We are trying to get over the hideous legacy of slavery and segregation. But Mr. Obama is not a part of this legacy. His father was a citizen of Kenya, an independent African country, and his mother was a "white" American. He is as distant from the real "plantation" as I am. How -- unless one thinks obsessively about color while affecting not to do so -- does this make him "black"? -Wall Street Journal 1-18-08
It is quite pathetic that Mr. Hitchens doesn't understand that he benefits from the wretched legacy that his own country has perpetuated. To put it simply you are part of the legacy sir. And if my history is correct Mr. Obama's father grew up in Kenya which was a British colony up until 1957. So for you to say that Barack Obama is not apart of the legacy is quite ignorant. In fact Barack Obama is as close as you can get to that legacy based on the simple fact that his father was a British subject.
Here's one of my favorite quotes from Mr. Hitchens: "Isn't there something pathetic and embarrassing about this emphasis on shade? And why is a man with a white mother considered to be "black," anyway?" -Slate 1-07-08
When I read that line I actually laughed to myself. Obviously this man doesn't "get it". So Mr. Hitchens by any chance if you are reading this, I would like to recomend that you find a willing black woman that will have sex with you, and make a child with her. And then try to convince society that you have a white child and we'll see how much luck you'll have with that.
Cheers mate.
Hell I plan on submitting something to them some time in the near future. Ya gotta start somewhere.
After taking some time and doing some soul searching I have an answer for my shrink and myself. I'm doing this because, I want to be heard. I feel that the words I write will change things, whether to change someone's mood from sad to happy or to show someone a different way of looking at things. I think my perspective is unique and worthy of attention. So that's why I'm doing this. Now for some ranting.
My favorite Brit Chris Hitchens make the mistake of writing the following statement in reference to Barack Obama's race: "What are we trying to "get over" here? We are trying to get over the hideous legacy of slavery and segregation. But Mr. Obama is not a part of this legacy. His father was a citizen of Kenya, an independent African country, and his mother was a "white" American. He is as distant from the real "plantation" as I am. How -- unless one thinks obsessively about color while affecting not to do so -- does this make him "black"? -Wall Street Journal 1-18-08
It is quite pathetic that Mr. Hitchens doesn't understand that he benefits from the wretched legacy that his own country has perpetuated. To put it simply you are part of the legacy sir. And if my history is correct Mr. Obama's father grew up in Kenya which was a British colony up until 1957. So for you to say that Barack Obama is not apart of the legacy is quite ignorant. In fact Barack Obama is as close as you can get to that legacy based on the simple fact that his father was a British subject.
Here's one of my favorite quotes from Mr. Hitchens: "Isn't there something pathetic and embarrassing about this emphasis on shade? And why is a man with a white mother considered to be "black," anyway?" -Slate 1-07-08
When I read that line I actually laughed to myself. Obviously this man doesn't "get it". So Mr. Hitchens by any chance if you are reading this, I would like to recomend that you find a willing black woman that will have sex with you, and make a child with her. And then try to convince society that you have a white child and we'll see how much luck you'll have with that.
Cheers mate.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Open Letter to Howard Dean
Dear Mr. Howard Dean:
A great man once said "If we stand for nothing we will fall for anything." I ask you, sir what do you stand for? Fairness? Justice? I put this question to you, sir. Where is the fairness in seating delegates who never had a actual choice in their vote? The DNC penalized Michigan and Florida for moving their primaries to earlier dates in violation of party rules. Little did we know at that time that these states would be a very important part of this process. Maybe that is a problem to itself? Both states were stripped of their delegates, and the party's presidential candidates signed a pledge not to campaign in either state.
The people who voted in those contests never got a chance to interact with the candidates. Did these people have a real choice? I think not. I believe the DNC needs to find a solution to this problem. Just seating delegates will not empower anyone, in fact it will only serve to reinforce the status quo.
I agree that these states should develop some kind alternative voting system – like a state caucus. Mr. Dean, this is a very serious problem that could tear at the fabric of the Democratic National Commitee. All this talk of super delegates defeats the purpose of the primaries and caucuses that have taken place. Let us not return to the days of the smoke filled room.
A great man once said "If we stand for nothing we will fall for anything." I ask you, sir what do you stand for? Fairness? Justice? I put this question to you, sir. Where is the fairness in seating delegates who never had a actual choice in their vote? The DNC penalized Michigan and Florida for moving their primaries to earlier dates in violation of party rules. Little did we know at that time that these states would be a very important part of this process. Maybe that is a problem to itself? Both states were stripped of their delegates, and the party's presidential candidates signed a pledge not to campaign in either state.
The people who voted in those contests never got a chance to interact with the candidates. Did these people have a real choice? I think not. I believe the DNC needs to find a solution to this problem. Just seating delegates will not empower anyone, in fact it will only serve to reinforce the status quo.
I agree that these states should develop some kind alternative voting system – like a state caucus. Mr. Dean, this is a very serious problem that could tear at the fabric of the Democratic National Commitee. All this talk of super delegates defeats the purpose of the primaries and caucuses that have taken place. Let us not return to the days of the smoke filled room.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Feels good to be wrong
It really feels good to be wrong. I really thought the Patriots would go 19-0. I am glad I was wrong about that. Sorry Randy maybe next year.
Last night while I was walking through the rain listening to Eminem on my iPod I pasted a newsstand and an overwhelming feeling built up in me. I briefly glanced at the most recent cover of Ebony magazine. The cover story this month is titled "In Our Lifetime", I'm assuming that it's about Barack Obama and the possibility of him being the first black president of the United States. I was in too much of a hurry to actually pick it up, after getting settled on the train, I started thinking about what that really meant. I thought about 1984. I thought about my mother being excited for Jesse and how passionate she was about him making a run for the presidency. I thought about how we all knew deep down he couldn't really win but how exciting it was to see him run. I thought about the many things that I could not have possibly imagined back in 1984. Which leads me to Senator Obama and the results of Super Tuesday. He did way better than I thought.
He took more states than Hillary, and walked away with a decent share of delegates. Professor Angry-Strangejazz (she's hyphenated it since we've gotten married) and I went out to meet up with some friends to watch the results in Harlem. The crowd at the restaurant was full of Obama supporters and it was more diverse crowd than I expected. Black, White, Asian, and Latino were all there enjoying the vibe. Was I transported to Bamelot? Is this what it's going to be like if he wins? All of us on the same page? Nah. I'm too much of a cynic to buy into that fantasy. That being said it's been a long time since I've been this excited about a candidate and my pessimistic side is wearing thin.
I've always thought that I would never live to see a black man become president of the United States of America. If Obama wins it will feel really good to be wrong.
Last night while I was walking through the rain listening to Eminem on my iPod I pasted a newsstand and an overwhelming feeling built up in me. I briefly glanced at the most recent cover of Ebony magazine. The cover story this month is titled "In Our Lifetime", I'm assuming that it's about Barack Obama and the possibility of him being the first black president of the United States. I was in too much of a hurry to actually pick it up, after getting settled on the train, I started thinking about what that really meant. I thought about 1984. I thought about my mother being excited for Jesse and how passionate she was about him making a run for the presidency. I thought about how we all knew deep down he couldn't really win but how exciting it was to see him run. I thought about the many things that I could not have possibly imagined back in 1984. Which leads me to Senator Obama and the results of Super Tuesday. He did way better than I thought.
He took more states than Hillary, and walked away with a decent share of delegates. Professor Angry-Strangejazz (she's hyphenated it since we've gotten married) and I went out to meet up with some friends to watch the results in Harlem. The crowd at the restaurant was full of Obama supporters and it was more diverse crowd than I expected. Black, White, Asian, and Latino were all there enjoying the vibe. Was I transported to Bamelot? Is this what it's going to be like if he wins? All of us on the same page? Nah. I'm too much of a cynic to buy into that fantasy. That being said it's been a long time since I've been this excited about a candidate and my pessimistic side is wearing thin.
I've always thought that I would never live to see a black man become president of the United States of America. If Obama wins it will feel really good to be wrong.
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