There are things scarier than goblins, and ghosts. Now according to schools in Illinois Presidents of the United States are “inappropriate” for kids 8 to 10 years old.
West Elementary School in north suburban Glencoe in Illinois has banned political figures from being Halloween outfits.
Now, when you say – “inappropriate”—does that mean ‘disrespectful to the people it depicts’, or does it ‘expose children to issues they normally wouldn’t be knowledgeable of’.
I really don’t think a mask of Bush or Nixon would be that disruptive, unnerving maybe, but not enough to ban any sort of political facial wear on Halloween.
If given a choice I would think the school would choose a mask of Bush over a sexy French Maid outfit.
-- Eming Piansay
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Married to MySpace
I confess, I’m sick.
I should be locked up in a large white room and studied. My brain should be examined. Guys in scary white lab coats should be allowed to dissect me in the name of science. Why? I am an Internet addict. I probably have more conversations online in one hour than I do in real time.
But I’m not alone in this sickness. No friends, I am one dollar is very large vault of money of people who admit the Internet has become more like an always available friend than a piece of technology.
According to a study, 1 in 4 Americas wouldn’t mind being alone – just as long as they have Internet access.
My mom read this story to me over dinner. My hand shot up like a rocket as I proclaimed, “Oh, hell yeah! That’s me.”
She read off the list of categories the survey addressed.
“Can the Internet serve as a substitute for a significant other?”
I kept my hand raised.
“Would you want a brain implant with Web access?”
Hand still raised I shamelessly said, “Yes.”
My parents think I’m a crazy. But being born in a generation where technology is becoming more and more of a presence I think I get a get out of jail free card for wishing for something like that. Granted, I’m not as big a visitor of MySpace and FaceBook as I used to be – I still am vastly dependent on the Internet. Though it is sad to admit my life exists on a 13-inch portable screen, what else am I suppose to do? Go out and play? Please…
-- Eming Piansay
I should be locked up in a large white room and studied. My brain should be examined. Guys in scary white lab coats should be allowed to dissect me in the name of science. Why? I am an Internet addict. I probably have more conversations online in one hour than I do in real time.
But I’m not alone in this sickness. No friends, I am one dollar is very large vault of money of people who admit the Internet has become more like an always available friend than a piece of technology.
According to a study, 1 in 4 Americas wouldn’t mind being alone – just as long as they have Internet access.
My mom read this story to me over dinner. My hand shot up like a rocket as I proclaimed, “Oh, hell yeah! That’s me.”
She read off the list of categories the survey addressed.
“Can the Internet serve as a substitute for a significant other?”
I kept my hand raised.
“Would you want a brain implant with Web access?”
Hand still raised I shamelessly said, “Yes.”
My parents think I’m a crazy. But being born in a generation where technology is becoming more and more of a presence I think I get a get out of jail free card for wishing for something like that. Granted, I’m not as big a visitor of MySpace and FaceBook as I used to be – I still am vastly dependent on the Internet. Though it is sad to admit my life exists on a 13-inch portable screen, what else am I suppose to do? Go out and play? Please…
-- Eming Piansay
Monday, October 29, 2007
Front Runners Fumble YouTube Debate
The Democratic debate on CNN/YouTube Monday night showed a stark contrast in the pool of candidates – between the familiar faces and the not-so-familiar ones.
The debate was a team-up between CNN and YouTube: American voters recorded their questions on YouTube, and the questions were played for the candidates during the debate. This forced candidates to address the real questions that most Americans want to know, and show how they plan to address these issues if they are elected.
The media-friendly front-runners of the campaign trail – Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards – played on safe, pre-packaged answers that couldn’t be labeled “unpatriotic” or “un-American.” In comparison, the less familiar faces – Christopher Dodd, Mike Gravel, Bill Richardson, Joseph Biden and Dennis Kucinich – delivered thoughtful, detailed responses and essentially said what most of America wanted to hear – the truth. The truth about what these people would do if they were elected. This is not to say the answers from Obama, Clinton and Edwards were not as truthful; but being the front-runners of the Democratic Party, they have a specific image they want to deliver to the American people.
Tough questions like: “Is it okay to cite religion as a reason to deny gay rights?” forced some candidates to admit their true feelings. John Edwards does not support gay marriage, but does not feel a president should force his or her faith on the American public. I want to believe that if Edwards were elected, he would take the same stance of not discriminating against a certain group because of their sexual orientation. But when certain bills come into play like gay marriage and gay rights, he neglected to say where he would stand if he came to an impasse where he would be forced to make a decision between his religious and personal beliefs and the rights of a nation. It isn’t hard to believe that this could be approved in the next administration.
The debate also included candidates’ individual perspectives on Iraq, and blame tossed on the Bush administration for its sloppy handling of the Middle East.
“How do we pull out now? Are watching the same blanking war?” one man asked, censoring himself. Obama offered the standard pullout plan and sending a clear message to the Iraqi government that at the moment the situation in Iraq cannot be cured through military action. In other words, killing each other isn’t going to solve anything. Even though Iraq has become a melting pot of tension, he said the only way to safely to bring the troops back safely would be a phase withdrawal.
Senator Biden pointed out that there is an obvious difference between him and the other candidates.
“Tell the truth for a change!” Biden said to Obama, referring to how long it would take to pull troops out of Iraq. If the American soldiers in Iraq were to start pulling out of Iraq this week it would take one year, he said.
Obviously, the whole idea of jumping out of Iraq isn’t as easy as it looks. The contrast between Obama’s and Biden’s responses highlighted that there is a clear difference in the messages coming out of the Democratic Party.
Obama offered the standard slow but sure pullout answer, whereas Biden offered a straightforward assessment of what he felt the pullout would entail.
Senator Gravel, another less known presidential candidate, was asked if he thought the soldiers who went to Vietnam died in vain. He connected his answer to the situation in Iraq, saying, “There’s only one thing worse than a solider dying in vain, is more soldiers dying in vain.”
Gravel’s passionate response touched me deeply and made me wish more candidates had such personal interest in the issues being set forward to them.
However, with the limited amount of time CNN/YouTube devoted to each issue, many important topics were glazed over at the end of the 60 seconds given to each candidate.
The debate’s format allowed viewers to get a glimpse into the real personality of the candidates. It was refreshing to hear real people asking questions instead of pre-scripted questions and rehearsed monologues. The best responses are the ones that are off-the-cuff, when candidates have to think on the spot.
The beneficial side of the televised debate was that it allowed the lesser-known candidates to get a chance to appeal to the public. I, for one, came away from the debate unimpressed by Clinton, Edwards or Obama. It was Dodd, Richardson, Gravel, Biden and Kucinich who did an impressive job of trying to get my vote.
The debate was a team-up between CNN and YouTube: American voters recorded their questions on YouTube, and the questions were played for the candidates during the debate. This forced candidates to address the real questions that most Americans want to know, and show how they plan to address these issues if they are elected.
The media-friendly front-runners of the campaign trail – Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards – played on safe, pre-packaged answers that couldn’t be labeled “unpatriotic” or “un-American.” In comparison, the less familiar faces – Christopher Dodd, Mike Gravel, Bill Richardson, Joseph Biden and Dennis Kucinich – delivered thoughtful, detailed responses and essentially said what most of America wanted to hear – the truth. The truth about what these people would do if they were elected. This is not to say the answers from Obama, Clinton and Edwards were not as truthful; but being the front-runners of the Democratic Party, they have a specific image they want to deliver to the American people.
Tough questions like: “Is it okay to cite religion as a reason to deny gay rights?” forced some candidates to admit their true feelings. John Edwards does not support gay marriage, but does not feel a president should force his or her faith on the American public. I want to believe that if Edwards were elected, he would take the same stance of not discriminating against a certain group because of their sexual orientation. But when certain bills come into play like gay marriage and gay rights, he neglected to say where he would stand if he came to an impasse where he would be forced to make a decision between his religious and personal beliefs and the rights of a nation. It isn’t hard to believe that this could be approved in the next administration.
The debate also included candidates’ individual perspectives on Iraq, and blame tossed on the Bush administration for its sloppy handling of the Middle East.
“How do we pull out now? Are watching the same blanking war?” one man asked, censoring himself. Obama offered the standard pullout plan and sending a clear message to the Iraqi government that at the moment the situation in Iraq cannot be cured through military action. In other words, killing each other isn’t going to solve anything. Even though Iraq has become a melting pot of tension, he said the only way to safely to bring the troops back safely would be a phase withdrawal.
Senator Biden pointed out that there is an obvious difference between him and the other candidates.
“Tell the truth for a change!” Biden said to Obama, referring to how long it would take to pull troops out of Iraq. If the American soldiers in Iraq were to start pulling out of Iraq this week it would take one year, he said.
Obviously, the whole idea of jumping out of Iraq isn’t as easy as it looks. The contrast between Obama’s and Biden’s responses highlighted that there is a clear difference in the messages coming out of the Democratic Party.
Obama offered the standard slow but sure pullout answer, whereas Biden offered a straightforward assessment of what he felt the pullout would entail.
Senator Gravel, another less known presidential candidate, was asked if he thought the soldiers who went to Vietnam died in vain. He connected his answer to the situation in Iraq, saying, “There’s only one thing worse than a solider dying in vain, is more soldiers dying in vain.”
Gravel’s passionate response touched me deeply and made me wish more candidates had such personal interest in the issues being set forward to them.
However, with the limited amount of time CNN/YouTube devoted to each issue, many important topics were glazed over at the end of the 60 seconds given to each candidate.
The debate’s format allowed viewers to get a glimpse into the real personality of the candidates. It was refreshing to hear real people asking questions instead of pre-scripted questions and rehearsed monologues. The best responses are the ones that are off-the-cuff, when candidates have to think on the spot.
The beneficial side of the televised debate was that it allowed the lesser-known candidates to get a chance to appeal to the public. I, for one, came away from the debate unimpressed by Clinton, Edwards or Obama. It was Dodd, Richardson, Gravel, Biden and Kucinich who did an impressive job of trying to get my vote.
Too Hot for Halloween
Believe it or not. There is a such a thing as too much exposure. During Halloween some young people (teenage girls) are able to wear Halloween outfits with a much or as little clothing as they like. Though some could argue it is merely a form of self expression -- every other costume that can take a regular everyday occupation and some how turn in into an Mad Lib of "Sexy ________" doesn't seem to have much creativity or self expression to it. But if you're in need of one of these outfits -- I don't think you'll lacking in ideas.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Crushing "The Dream"
In essence, we are all immigrants: illegal, legal and other. The Native Americans were here before the American colonies were founded. We just sort of slipped our foot in the door and started pushing till the former property owners were run-out – run-out being the nice way of saying it.
So, now that we’ve, for lack of a better word, stolen the land and made it our own we don’t really want to share it, or any other of our resources. Which is where the illegal immigrant issue comes into play.
The idea of letting illegal immigrants come onto U.S. soil has not faired well in the U.S. Senate. The concept of people from other countries illegally coming into the US and taking the jobs from Americans, probably has to do with the resistance. Even though I would think most of these jobs are ones Americans wouldn’t necessary want to take on. But I won’t get into that.
On Wednesday the Senate turned down a bill that would have let the children of illegal immigrants be legalized – on the conditions that they are in school or in the military.
The “Dream Act” would have also allowed:
Sweet deal huh? But I guess for now this is just a theory in the making.
Illegal immigration is one topic of interest that isn’t going to go away. No matter how you address the issue, or how many fences you build, you can’t hide the fact that people need to support themselves and their families. If they aren’t going to get what they want out of their own country, chances are they are going to move on to bigger and better things, and try to live the America Dream, if possible.
The failed bill may be acting as a filter, preventing any future legalized immigrants from bringing in other illegal immigrants. The so-called “Land of Opportunity” is now an unreachable ideal not only for the adults crossing the border into America, but their children as well. If the eyes of million children cannot soften the hearts of the U.S. Senate, what could?
-- Eming Piansay
So, now that we’ve, for lack of a better word, stolen the land and made it our own we don’t really want to share it, or any other of our resources. Which is where the illegal immigrant issue comes into play.
The idea of letting illegal immigrants come onto U.S. soil has not faired well in the U.S. Senate. The concept of people from other countries illegally coming into the US and taking the jobs from Americans, probably has to do with the resistance. Even though I would think most of these jobs are ones Americans wouldn’t necessary want to take on. But I won’t get into that.
On Wednesday the Senate turned down a bill that would have let the children of illegal immigrants be legalized – on the conditions that they are in school or in the military.
The “Dream Act” would have also allowed:
“conditional legal status to illegal immigrants who have lived in the U.S. at least five years and entered the country before the age of 16”.
Sweet deal huh? But I guess for now this is just a theory in the making.
Illegal immigration is one topic of interest that isn’t going to go away. No matter how you address the issue, or how many fences you build, you can’t hide the fact that people need to support themselves and their families. If they aren’t going to get what they want out of their own country, chances are they are going to move on to bigger and better things, and try to live the America Dream, if possible.
The failed bill may be acting as a filter, preventing any future legalized immigrants from bringing in other illegal immigrants. The so-called “Land of Opportunity” is now an unreachable ideal not only for the adults crossing the border into America, but their children as well. If the eyes of million children cannot soften the hearts of the U.S. Senate, what could?
-- Eming Piansay
Monday, October 22, 2007
Hillary’s Roast and Kisses Fly at Republican Debate
I forced myself to watch FOX News' coverage of the Republican debate for half an hour just long enough to catch the Republican Presidential candidates pull out a Hillary Clinton effigy, mount her on a giant wooden cross and light her on fire, much to the delight of the audience.
OK, there wasn’t an actual Clinton effigy at the debate, but I was seriously surprised no one brought out a blowup doll in a bright yellow wig from under the candidates’ respective podiums and tossed it out into the audience. Blowup doll provided courteously of FOX News.
Each candidate took a good minute or two to rip into Clinton. Romney and Giuliani didn’t hold back on their view of Clinton. Giuliani took the liberty of deconstructing one of her quotes, which was, “I have a million ideas, America can’t afford them all.” Giuliani quickly responded, “No kidding Hillary, America can’t afford you.”
Har-har-har.
Watching the Republican debate was like getting a small glimpse into an exclusive Boys’ Only Club. At one point, Giuliani thanked Florida for the 2000 election.
He blew Florida a freakin’ kiss, man.
How can you call yourself a politician, who respects the forum for democracy, and then blatantly spit in the face of an institute by tossing the entire election system because thehanging chads of America are just one too many to deal with so why bother going back and re-doing it. Thank you, Supreme Court of the United States, for your incredible disservice to the America people. Blows kiss.
With the Republicans so sure that they will meet Clinton in the final dash for the White House, the candidates failed to mention Barack Obama name during that portion of the debate, which I found a little strange. I suppose since the media has dubbed Clinton the poster child of the 2008 Election, the Republicans feel confident that she is will be the beatable candidate – but I guess that also means they have eliminated Obama from their list of threats.
But in an exclusive club of old, industry savvy, conservative white dudes, the absence of Obama isn’t a total surprise. Did I mention Fred Thompson paraded his ideals of basic rights that come from of religion over the government? Someone needs to get schooled in government 101. Church; State; Separate.
See what happens when I turn on my T.V. – Cynical Super Woman.
OK, there wasn’t an actual Clinton effigy at the debate, but I was seriously surprised no one brought out a blowup doll in a bright yellow wig from under the candidates’ respective podiums and tossed it out into the audience. Blowup doll provided courteously of FOX News.
Each candidate took a good minute or two to rip into Clinton. Romney and Giuliani didn’t hold back on their view of Clinton. Giuliani took the liberty of deconstructing one of her quotes, which was, “I have a million ideas, America can’t afford them all.” Giuliani quickly responded, “No kidding Hillary, America can’t afford you.”
Har-har-har.
Watching the Republican debate was like getting a small glimpse into an exclusive Boys’ Only Club. At one point, Giuliani thanked Florida for the 2000 election.
He blew Florida a freakin’ kiss, man.
How can you call yourself a politician, who respects the forum for democracy, and then blatantly spit in the face of an institute by tossing the entire election system because thehanging chads of America are just one too many to deal with so why bother going back and re-doing it. Thank you, Supreme Court of the United States, for your incredible disservice to the America people. Blows kiss.
With the Republicans so sure that they will meet Clinton in the final dash for the White House, the candidates failed to mention Barack Obama name during that portion of the debate, which I found a little strange. I suppose since the media has dubbed Clinton the poster child of the 2008 Election, the Republicans feel confident that she is will be the beatable candidate – but I guess that also means they have eliminated Obama from their list of threats.
But in an exclusive club of old, industry savvy, conservative white dudes, the absence of Obama isn’t a total surprise. Did I mention Fred Thompson paraded his ideals of basic rights that come from of religion over the government? Someone needs to get schooled in government 101. Church; State; Separate.
See what happens when I turn on my T.V. – Cynical Super Woman.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
How Do You Get to Shame Street?
Once I was introduced to the window to the world, a.k.a. television, it was impossible for anyone to keep me away. I hogged that screen like it was life support. Many of my fondness memories growing up were the characters that bounced on and off the screen. Between shows like Mysterious Cities of Gold and Sesame Street I gorged myself in all the shows my parents would let me watch during my pre-school age.
Now, apparently the old season of Sesame Street that my young life pretty much rotated around has been deemed as inappropriate for the today’s pre-school-ers. When I first read this story I went back to the beginning just to make sure I hadn’t read it wrong: Sesame Street – for adults only? Was there some weird puppet on puppet porn I didn’t pick up on?
According to the New York Times, the early seasons of Sesame Street “modeled bad behavior”, such as a skit of “Monsterpiece Theater” where Cookie Monster had a pipe – and then ate it. Right – bad behavior -- just wait till they’re old enough to watch MTV’s The Real World.
First of all, I don’t think anyone could literally swallow down a pipe, dirt maybe, but a whole pipe? Cookie Monster may not have been the best role model in the world – but I don’t think that was his intended purpose. Looking back at Sesame Street and a lot of the old kid shows I used to watch – the reason I liked them so much was they had a variation of characters. They weren’t saints, but they were the most well-rounded and entertaining thing on television at the time.
If you compare Sesame Street to a lot of the other shows airing today – you could probably say most of the shows today are sugarcoated and badass boring blandness.
According to TV.com the highest rated kids show of all time weren’t necessarily the most sanitary of the bunch. Sure, they weren’t targeted at pre-school generation but you’re still in that impressionable age range. The list includes shows such as: So Weird, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Salute Your Shorts, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street, Muppets Tonight and Ghostwriter. Considering so many of the shows that aired way back then weren’t as tidy and sanitized as the parental agenda might like – I personally believe a lot of these shows were the best kids shows – EVER, and it is a sad shame that those shows are no longer being aired today.
Even if a lot of these shows aren’t quiet PC most of us probably don’t notice till way later in life. My little naïve self will contest to that.
-- Eming Piansay
Now, apparently the old season of Sesame Street that my young life pretty much rotated around has been deemed as inappropriate for the today’s pre-school-ers. When I first read this story I went back to the beginning just to make sure I hadn’t read it wrong: Sesame Street – for adults only? Was there some weird puppet on puppet porn I didn’t pick up on?
According to the New York Times, the early seasons of Sesame Street “modeled bad behavior”, such as a skit of “Monsterpiece Theater” where Cookie Monster had a pipe – and then ate it. Right – bad behavior -- just wait till they’re old enough to watch MTV’s The Real World.
First of all, I don’t think anyone could literally swallow down a pipe, dirt maybe, but a whole pipe? Cookie Monster may not have been the best role model in the world – but I don’t think that was his intended purpose. Looking back at Sesame Street and a lot of the old kid shows I used to watch – the reason I liked them so much was they had a variation of characters. They weren’t saints, but they were the most well-rounded and entertaining thing on television at the time.
If you compare Sesame Street to a lot of the other shows airing today – you could probably say most of the shows today are sugarcoated and badass boring blandness.
According to TV.com the highest rated kids show of all time weren’t necessarily the most sanitary of the bunch. Sure, they weren’t targeted at pre-school generation but you’re still in that impressionable age range. The list includes shows such as: So Weird, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Salute Your Shorts, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street, Muppets Tonight and Ghostwriter. Considering so many of the shows that aired way back then weren’t as tidy and sanitized as the parental agenda might like – I personally believe a lot of these shows were the best kids shows – EVER, and it is a sad shame that those shows are no longer being aired today.
Even if a lot of these shows aren’t quiet PC most of us probably don’t notice till way later in life. My little naïve self will contest to that.
-- Eming Piansay
Paris Goes International and Dumbledore Gets Outed
If I had the opportunity to change my reputation by flying over to a third world country I would have to seriously consider some major form of reconstructive therapy – on most materialistic level possible. Sadly, Paris Hilton has beaten me to the punch. Following her trip to the slammer, and a list long of other media worthy headlines – Paris has decided to change her party girls ways, get on a plane and fly to Rwanda.
Great golly Santa Clause, is there anything this girl won’t to do get more media attention? Why not just a stack of money out of your checking account, that would normally go towards overpriced shoes, and barely-there outfits and give the money to a bunch of charity agencies. Paris, you have already inflicted enough pain and misery on the United States – why spread it around?
Does it make me a bad Harry Potter fan that I had no idea Professor Dumbledore was gay?
I mean, my eyes ate up every last word in those seven books and I never even thought, “Hey, I wonder if Dumbledore digs dudes?”
And to think how many people had a problem with the whole "dark magic" aspect of the story; how about a homosexual headmaster at Hogwarts? Any takers? I wonder if Rowling waited till after the final book to come out to release this information so there wouldn't be some kind of mass (insane) protest.
I guess most people don’t really think about the sexual orientation of characters, especially if the character is from a supposed children’s story. The best way to make more money off the Harry Potter series would be a fictional tell-all book on the love life of Dumbledore.
New York Times Best Seller, here we come.
-- Eming Piansay
Great golly Santa Clause, is there anything this girl won’t to do get more media attention? Why not just a stack of money out of your checking account, that would normally go towards overpriced shoes, and barely-there outfits and give the money to a bunch of charity agencies. Paris, you have already inflicted enough pain and misery on the United States – why spread it around?
"I felt empty inside. I want to leave a mark on the world."Believe me Paris, you already have.
Does it make me a bad Harry Potter fan that I had no idea Professor Dumbledore was gay?
I mean, my eyes ate up every last word in those seven books and I never even thought, “Hey, I wonder if Dumbledore digs dudes?”
And to think how many people had a problem with the whole "dark magic" aspect of the story; how about a homosexual headmaster at Hogwarts? Any takers? I wonder if Rowling waited till after the final book to come out to release this information so there wouldn't be some kind of mass (insane) protest.
I guess most people don’t really think about the sexual orientation of characters, especially if the character is from a supposed children’s story. The best way to make more money off the Harry Potter series would be a fictional tell-all book on the love life of Dumbledore.
New York Times Best Seller, here we come.
-- Eming Piansay
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Battle of the Social Networks
First it was the Star Wars and Star Trek and then the Mac vs. PC debate. And now? Now we’re debating whether or not Facebook is better than MySpace.
I personally don’t see the point in the debate. A lot of my friends prefer FaceBook to MySpace. I’m sort of embarrassed to be associated to a generation that are so quick to jump to the defense of a social working site –- A SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE, PEOPLE!!! Gosh, I prefer the Obama and Hillary debate to this any day.
This week, both companies got a chance to see the whites of the others eyes at the San Francisco Web 2.0 conference. I can see it now, little scrawny guys with plastic pocket protectors glaring over their MacBooks.
FaceBook and MySpace have been neck and neck in the war of the social-web world. After FaceBook allowed companies to make programs available to FaceBook users, MySpace followed suit this week.
I don’t see get why both companies are in such a mad rush to out do each other. As long as there are teenagers, with a billion friends, and the ability to make a website flicker and flash enough to give you a seizure there will be a need for social networking sites. Now excuse me while I make a sacrifice to my MySpace gods.
I personally don’t see the point in the debate. A lot of my friends prefer FaceBook to MySpace. I’m sort of embarrassed to be associated to a generation that are so quick to jump to the defense of a social working site –- A SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE, PEOPLE!!! Gosh, I prefer the Obama and Hillary debate to this any day.
This week, both companies got a chance to see the whites of the others eyes at the San Francisco Web 2.0 conference. I can see it now, little scrawny guys with plastic pocket protectors glaring over their MacBooks.
FaceBook and MySpace have been neck and neck in the war of the social-web world. After FaceBook allowed companies to make programs available to FaceBook users, MySpace followed suit this week.
I don’t see get why both companies are in such a mad rush to out do each other. As long as there are teenagers, with a billion friends, and the ability to make a website flicker and flash enough to give you a seizure there will be a need for social networking sites. Now excuse me while I make a sacrifice to my MySpace gods.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
One Nation Under Colbert
So, Stephen Colbert has announced his candidacy for president. Am I the only one looking forward to this Presidential debate?
In a seemingly lackluster Republican vault of candidates, Colbert’s satirical Republican identity on Comedy Central may be what America needs in terms of a – dare I say it – fun – election?
Would it be so bad if America elected a President who didn’t necessarily make his or her citizens feel like they took their ballot, rolled it around in some mud right before their through it down the toilet.
I still stand by my earlier post that America needs a comedian for President. Because after a really bad day of getting stuck in traffic, and getting all the grief in the world from your boss/teacher/parent, most people just really need to come home, pop open their instant microwavable dinner and instead of laughing at their President, laughing with them. Idealistic maybe, but hey – weirder things have happened.
Let’s think of this like a T.V. show. For the first couple years you have this really sad, depressing outlook on everything. The characters are kind of mean, selfish, and the plot gets more and more depressing with each season. Then, the ratings start to slip; the producers fire all the main directors, actors, and writers and completely recast the show with a completely different premise.
I can imagine if Colbert were somehow magically elected, his whole cabinet would consist of all the producers of his show. He might even ask Obama or Giuliani to run on his ticket. Whether or not this turns out to be just one extended skit either way it would make one awesome election season.
-- Eming Piansay
In a seemingly lackluster Republican vault of candidates, Colbert’s satirical Republican identity on Comedy Central may be what America needs in terms of a – dare I say it – fun – election?
Would it be so bad if America elected a President who didn’t necessarily make his or her citizens feel like they took their ballot, rolled it around in some mud right before their through it down the toilet.
I still stand by my earlier post that America needs a comedian for President. Because after a really bad day of getting stuck in traffic, and getting all the grief in the world from your boss/teacher/parent, most people just really need to come home, pop open their instant microwavable dinner and instead of laughing at their President, laughing with them. Idealistic maybe, but hey – weirder things have happened.
Let’s think of this like a T.V. show. For the first couple years you have this really sad, depressing outlook on everything. The characters are kind of mean, selfish, and the plot gets more and more depressing with each season. Then, the ratings start to slip; the producers fire all the main directors, actors, and writers and completely recast the show with a completely different premise.
I can imagine if Colbert were somehow magically elected, his whole cabinet would consist of all the producers of his show. He might even ask Obama or Giuliani to run on his ticket. Whether or not this turns out to be just one extended skit either way it would make one awesome election season.
-- Eming Piansay
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Mr. President You Are Cordially Invited . . .
Last month Iranian President Ahmadinejad visited Columbia University and was met with a host of hostility, not only from protestors outside the building but Columbia University President Lee Bollinger who accused Ahmadinejad of being a “cruel dictator”. The speech also included many other highlights, such as when Ahmadinejad denied the existence of homosexuals in Iran.
This week, Ferdowsi University in the Mashhad city of Iran invited President Bush to speak at their University. The White House responded to the request by saying:
“If Iran was a free and democratic society that allowed its people freedom of expression, and wasn't pursuing nuclear weapons, and wasn't advocating to destroy the country of Israel, the president might consider that invitation."
Riiiiight.
Bush would make a visit to an Iranian University if the whole country embraced freedom of speech, dumped their stash of nuclear weapons, stopped hating on Israel – oh yeah – and the whole speech would be televised from a bunker somewhere outside of Iran, and students would have to ask him a list of questions pre-approved by the White House.
“Mr. President, how do you feel about homosexuals in America?”
“Homosexuals? We have plenty of homosexuals in America. Lots and lots, I don’t believe in their right to get married but I know we have them.”
“Mr. President, how do you think the U.S. is doing with the War on Terror?” “Our brave soldiers are doing a bang up job liberating Iraq from terrorism. I think in time, and with patience and a very large check with a lot of zeroes we can successfully expunge the insurgence.”
“Mr. President, how do you respond to your critics who believe your attempts to secure America has infringed on the rights of its citizens?” “Heh, heh. I am trying to protect the American people. My goal I to protect all Americas – let it be domestic or foreign. If that requires walking on a couple civil rights here and there, as long as the job gets done, right?
Hug, Kiss, Grope -- But Only If You're Straight
From my experience in high school and college whether I was walking from one end of the hall to the other, or simply getting out air outside I never failed to be surrounded by kissing couples. I remember there was one particular couple in my high school that was always attached at the lips. You could set your clock by it. Everyday, right after lunch ended they’d be wrapped up in each other’s arms, their lips glued together with a hot glue gun.
I can’t recall lovesick couples being reprimanded for their public displays of affection. So, when one Orange County high school student was disciplined for showing a public display of affection with her girlfriend at the time popped up on the newswire I started to wonder whether or not same sex kissing was still a hot button topic even though for the most part people seem a little more accepting of whole idea of same sex couples.
However, same sex kissing and any sort of homosexual public displays of affection seem to issues still tiptoed around by the majority of society.
Take the Super Bowl commercial earlier this year, which showed two male auto mechanics kissing. The commercial caused enough outcry for the company to pull the ad all together. The weird thing that is the only thing I remember about the Super Bowl – I don’t even remember the two teams who played, but I do remember that really cool kissing commercial.
Same sex kissing hasn’t had much good PR overseas. Last year, the popular Broadway production The Boy From Oz starring Hugh Jackman removed the same sex kiss between Jackman’s character and male character Greg Connell played by Murray Bartlett.
Even the American sitcom writers who opened the door for a lot of the first same sex kisses on cable TV get squeamish when it comes to shooting the final product. I guess acceptance, like patience, is a virtue.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
One Sided Education?
For as long as I’ve been able to string together a complete sentence adults have told me knowledge is power. Knowledge is power to – insert some random verb here.
But the promise of rewards for getting educated isn’t always as glorious as it seems. Since knowledge is dispensed by the government through the public school system there is a permanent filter that gives the thumbs up or down as to what young people are allowed to lodge into their growing brains.
Last week the United States Democratic lead Senate voted to continue funding the abstinence-education program in U.S. schools. As described by one of the supporters of the program, the National Abstinence Education Association:
"The extension for Abstinence Education reveals the bi-partisan support for this best health message," said Valerie Huber, Executive Director, NAEA, "and while extremely helpful, the short-term extension makes it challenging for states to implement the program. Abstinence Education providers need sustained funding for a minimum of one year in order to assure a dependable and consistent operation of their programs."
Obviously, not everyone is thrilled about the continuing use of abstinence in teaching young children about sex. The organization, Advocates for Youth, responded to the decision:
Last April, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc released the findings of a 10-year, congressionally-mandated evaluation of abstinence-only programs. The evaluation clearly stated that "Youth in the [abstinence-only] program group were no more likely than control group youth to have abstained from sex and, among those who reported having had sex, had similar numbers of sexual partners and had initiated sex at the same mean age [as the control group]." In short, the PROGRAMS DON'T WORK!
What I think the whole institute of education really needs is to be a lot less prepackaged. Instead of cramming our kids with our own ideals, we should be fostering an independent form of thinking. Give them both sides of the story and let them figure out what they want to do. Whether or not they would rather choose abstinence over a condom is really up to them, but it is their right to be informed first before making that decision.
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