The 5 W's

How do we achieve our dreams? How do we go about accomplishing what we want to accomplish when it seems we have no control over our lives? How are we supposed to open doors we can’t find? How do we break free from the mundane, monotonous drone of everyday life? How can we become what we’re meant to become? Does it just happen? Do we have to force it? Do we have to wait patiently until the very last second and then pounce? How do we get that kind of patience? How can we survive this hectic life like that? How is that fair to us? Is life supposed to be fair to us? Are we allowed to do what we want to do? Or are we supposed to do what is expected of us? Who is expecting this of us? What do they expect? Who are they to expect anything/everything from us? How are supposed to make it through this world alive? Can we make it through this world alive?

The Advantages of Apparition

I know it’s not real. But just imagine all you could accomplish with the simple expedience of apparition! Imagine all the extra activities you could do. Starting off the day, I could spend more time at home with my wife and dog before I have to hurry off to work. Granted my commute is only 5-10 minutes, but imagine what your morning could be like. How long do you have to commute? At lunch time I could meet my wife at home or, say, Paris. At night you wouldn’t have to worry about rush-hour traffic. Imagine all the stress that people wouldn’t have to endure by having to wait an hour to drive what would normally take 15 minutes.
During New Years you could celebrate in each of the 24 time zones! You could visit every country in the world, as long as you are careful where you apparate to. You don’t want to end up in some cannibal tribe’s camp, in the middle of a fire-fight, or in crocodile-infested waters. You would never miss a child’s soccer/baseball/football/softball game. There would be virtually no scheduling conflicts. You could have breakfast in Tokyo while watching the sun rise, lunch in Giza next to the pyramids, dinner in Paris, and then party in NYC and LA. Imagine all the photo-bombing you could pull off. You could go to every Olympics and World Cup.
Just imagine all the possibilities!

Precipice

I feel as if I am standing on a precipice. I feel like something pivotal is going to occur in my life. At church this past Sunday I felt God telling me that something was going to happen, but to be patient and calm about it. I’m not sure what though. That’s the most annoying/exciting thing about listening to God. You die in anticipation for whatever will happen, you drive yourself mad trying to figure out what it is, and you second-guess every opportunity that comes along. I’ve found the key to be a sense of calm and relaxation in the decision making. If I feel anxious, then it’s most likely not what God has in mind for me. But when I can breath-easy about making the decision, then I know it’s the right thing to do.

It could be any number of things for me right now, which means I’m conflicted. ARGGG!!!!

• I’ve been trying to get a new job for a few months now, and a friend of ours has recommended me to replace her. So that could be it.
• I’ve been rethinking my educational path. I don’t know if I want to pursue GIS. It’s interesting, but is it me? Is it what God wants me to do? I don’t think it is. I love all things international. I studied history, more specifically world history, in college because I love learning about other countries. US history is boring…it’s only 234 years-old. Nicholas Flamel was around longer than that. I watch Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations because he travels the world and that’s my current way of seeing it. I also love politics/political science. It was my second major in college. If you put the two together you get international studies/international politics/international relations. I have a passion for it, but do I have the aptitude for a Master’s degree in it. Sacrifices will have to be made to pursue it, but if it’s what God wants he often asks for sacrifices. We’ll see.
• Meredith and I have also been looking at moving. We’ve considered buying a house, but that would keep us in our current location for longer than we would like to and keep us from moving abroad which is a dream of both of ours. But we have found a duplex that has washer/dryer, dish washer, and a back yard.
• Meredith and I have also been considering our car situation. My car is 10 years and 160k+ miles old, so it’s almost time to get a new car. So we’ve been looking. We’ve decided to get a 2011 Subaru Outback! It is a perfect vehicle for what we want to do—camping, transporting dog, room for future additions, etc. We just have to wait for the one we want—charcoal gray, black interior, 6-speed manual transmission, all-weather package—which should be 1-4 weeks away.
• Meredith just got a job! Thank God for that. So now our income has just about doubled. We’ve been able to live on mine and Meredith’s inconsistent, yet crucial, income; plus we’ve saved almost 20k. We’ve been doing well, but this will allow us to save more so that we can do more.
o We could move to DC so Meredith can pursue an Urban and Regional studies program in Environmental Policy and Planning at the Virginia Tech campus in Alexandria. I could pursue an international studies degree once she is finished. One of us would have to work. I’ve already discovered that it’s difficult to work full-time and go to school full-time.
o After that we could move to Europe and pursue that dream of ours.

It’s not easy to let others direct your life, but it’s God, he knows what he’s doing. So I’m standing here at the precipice, waiting.

Crossroads

My wife and I are at a major crossroads in our life. We’ve been married a year now, lived in our apartment for almost a year now, have been graduated for a year now, and have been working for a year now. We have done so in a day-to-day fashion. About the only long-term planning we have done is saving money. We’ve been saving for several things—a dog, a car, a house, emergency, etc.—but nothing specific. Our one-year lease is almost up and we have to decide to stay or move. We love our apartment, but we want more. We also want to save to do bigger and better things, so we will probably stay and save more. Neither of us are doing anything that deals with the degrees we received from our respective institutions of higher education. I am a data entry clerk and I do just that, I enter data. My wife just got a new job, a more permanent job which gives us the ability to do more. We’re still deciding what we want to do next because neither of us wants to stay in these jobs long-term (5+ years). I have had a door opened for me that I hope will lead to a new, better job. My wife has found a graduate program that she would love to pursue. Both would give us an opportunity at a “real” career or at least a glimpse of one. Yet at the same time we have a dream. Not the Dr. King kind, but similar. We both have a desire to live and to experience. We don’t want to just travel the world we want to live in various places throughout the world. We’re not content with living in Norfolk, in Virginia, in the eastern United States, or the Western hemisphere. We want to go and do. The first place we would live would be Europe and most likely England. When we tell people about that wish and they respond “Why?!” I can only think “Why NOT?!”. There is so much to the world, so many corners and niches to find that it would be a crime not to search for them. We are at a crossroads in that we have to decide to do what we want to do or do what previous generations say we must do. But why should we be forced to live within their parameters? It’s our life; we are the here and now. We are the ones that can change and are changing the world. Maybe the problems that previous generations faced and the problems our generation is facing is because a lack of understanding of the world. If previous generations understood the world and the various cultures/people within it do you think there would be such divisiveness between Christians and Muslims? They have been divided for centuries, but not for the reasons they are today. They first divided over doctrine and land—the Holy Land—because it was sacred to both. I don’t think either should stake claim over it, for the world is not one persons or a particular groups. Today, they are divided because of ignorance. Neither culture understands the other and therefore neither culture respects the other. So maybe my wife and I can change the world by living, going and experiencing what the world has to offer. Maybe respect is the key to solving the world’s problems. For with respect comes understand, with understanding comes cooperation and with cooperation comes an ability to solve our problems together.

My wife quoted me a study that said our generation would change professions/careers 7-10 times before they settled on one. Instead of previous generations where they basically have had one, maybe two jobs their entire lives. My wife and I are at a crossroads—do we live our life the way we want, pursue what we want; or do we let others dictate where we go and why?

Lack of Motivation Sucks!

I haven’t blogged in God knows how long—since March 23rd actually. Anyways…. It has been awhile since I’ve written anything because I have been lacking motivation in a lot of things. Except beer, ironically enough. Not the consumption of it, so don’t worry I’m not an alcoholic. I have started a trend for myself where I get a different beer each time I go out. My wife and I usually pick a place that will provide us options and we have found a few places that offer a wide variety. I’m like a kid in a candy shop when I see a lengthy beer list. My eyes dart all over the place. I don’t know where to start. I don’t mind if it is dark or light, hoppy or not—I want to try them all. My only hang up is fruity beers, or as Colin Farrell’s character in In Bruges calls them, gay beers. Regardless, even those can be delicious. A friend of ours got one that was Watermelon flavored. I kid you not; it tasted like a Watermelon Jolly Rancher. So far I have fallen in love with a few of my recent discoveries. Trois Pistoles, I tried it last year on my birthday and it is by far my current favorite. If you find it, try it. I stake my reputation on it. Another favorite is Delirium Tremens, which (I’m sure on purpose) is the name of the condition that occurs when alcoholism has reached the point of no-recovery. My wife got a semi-regular that I had never tried and I found it rather delicious—Smithwick’s—it was so creamy! I also tried a Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen and a Paulaner Hefeweizen. At first I didn’t enjoy the taste the cloves brought to the party by the Weihenstephaner, but it began to grow on me with the Paulaner. I also tried a dark ale called Arrogant Bastard Ale, it was heavy and probably wasn’t the best choice as a third beer and after I had close to half a pizza, but it was good nonetheless. I have also been passionate about starting my own microbrewery. I have compiled a list of 16 different beers that I want to brew, but I don’t have any of the equipment. Frankly, I don’t have the slightest clue about how to brew beer. Whatevs, I’ll figure it out. I just found out that a microbrewery opened up just a few streets away from where I live! I want to go, but it’s not open to the public. I would love to be able to learn from the guys and it sounds like they are pretty open about helping fellow microbrewers.

Stay tuned for more on my microbrewery. I almost have names and types for each of my 16 beers with potential flavors.

History is our Greatest Teacher

I understand how people feel. I see their point-of-view. I get that people don’t want to pay more in taxes. They are afraid of bringing in less money than they already do. We all are. No person wants to be poor. No person wants to feel like they are drowning. Everyone wants to be able to take care of themselves and their family. That is why I support the health-care bill. My tax dollars already go to pointless, frivolous spending that President Obama has no part of. Example 1: The Iraq War. Enough said. Why do we spend money trying to impose our will on people/kill them when history shows time and time again that it just won’t work. Forcing your culture and way of life on a group of people never turns out well for either group. The British tried it all over the world and they only remain in very few places; small places, insignificant places. They were defeated by their colonies/trade posts in the Americas and in India. In India they left with a little more dignity rather than losing a war, but they were going to have a war on their hands if they didn’t get out. True the United States was created, but the US has failed to learn from that experience. Napoleon failed in his attempt to impose the Continental System on Europe. Hitler failed. Stalin/USSR failed.

History is our greatest teacher and if we fail to learn its lessons then we will fail time and time again. It won’t be just egg in our face, it will be a pants-pulled down in front of everyone, including that boy or girl that you like, and forced to walk around town with everyone laughing at you. Now that is embarrassing. End tangent 1. Example 2: The Patriot Act. There has never been a piece of legislation any more invasive than the Patriot Act. Granted, it was during one of our country’s most fragile times and no one in their right mind, at the time, would go against something called the PATRIOT Act. You would be branded un-Patriotic if you voted against it. It would work too, because people take things at face value. They don’t want to take the time to read through something. We are a nation of headlines. No wonder the youth of this country are ADD. The premise of the Patriot Act was harmless, but there are people who use fragile situations for the greater good and there are others that take advantage of those fragile situations. The Patriot Act flew in the face of our Constitutional freedoms. Everyone was vulnerable to an unwarranted wiretap or an unfounded arrest and detainment. Thankfully those aspects have been deemed unconstitutional, but not before the innocent were hurt. End Tangent 2.

There are billions of ways people can waste their money. To name a few: snuggies, Sham-wow, porn, Cheez-whiz, Glen Beck, Bill O’Reilly, FOX News in general, novelty shot glasses, bottled water (unless in case of emergency), NFL tickets (watch college), NBA tickets (watch March Madness), Lifetime, and Housewives of Whatever County. I could go on, but I don’t have the time. I am as guilty as anyone about wasting money/time. But is it a waste if your money is going towards something good? Towards something that could help someone? Your tax dollars aren’t going to pay for all of their bills, they’re going to have to cover some of it themselves. But it will make it more affordable. We all like affordable. I’m sure even Bill Gates likes a deal or buys things on sale.

So why can’t we take our own advice? Why can’t we learn from history? Hasn’t most of this country been raised in the Church and been taught to love thy neighbor as thyself? So stop disagreeing on principle and actually ask yourself why you are saying no to this.

Rights of Men

“The US Treasury Department has eased sanctions on Iran, Cuba and Sudan to help further the use of web services and support opposition groups.” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8556341.stm)

The US, in an unofficial capacity, is showing outright support for the opposition parties in Iran. The article includes Cuba and Sudan, but the US isn’t really worried about either. Neither Cuba nor Sudan are stubbornly opposing calls from the around the world to halt their nuclear aspirations. Iran claims not to be working towards nuclear weapons, but rather nuclear power. No one believes them. So, while the US and other members of the UN are threatening continued and stronger sanctions on Iran, the US is going underground in an attempt to destabilize President Ahmadinejad’s regime. Opposition has been growing steadily in Iran, particularly after the last disputed election which saw Ahmadinejad re-elected. This move equals Sen. Charlie Wilson’s during the Cold War when he helped supply Afghans fighting the Soviets (by sending Rambo). The US is opening a virtual (pun intended) two-front attack on Iran. By allowing US technology firms to export their services to Iran the opposition party can more effectively spread their message and organize against Ahmadinejad. It’s a brilliant plan. It worked in ’08 to help Obama and the Democrats dethrone the tyrannical Republican Party.

Our country, possibly better than any other, has found out that if the citizens’ most basic rights are protected, then a country can begin to progress for the better. Hopefully that will occur in Iran, as well as in Cuba, Sudan and the rest of the world.

Oceania and Southeast Asia

Oceania refers to Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific.

While in New Zealand I would like to go to a rugby game, go sailing, go to the various filming locations of the Lord of the Rings, and eat some traditional New Zealand food.

When I visit Australia for the second time I would like to visit the capital of Canberra, the island of Tasmania (to see a Tasmanian Devil), the city of Adelaide and the city of Perth. I would also like to visit Rod Laver Arena, preferably during the Australian Open, and watch an Australian Rugby match. I was hesitant the first time to interact with the Aborigines, but this time I would like to spend some more time with them, for they are a fascinating people, plus they could teach me how to play the didgeridoo.

I don’t know what to do in New Guinea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam. But I’m sure my friend Doug could help me out with some ideas or be my tour guide. I could go visit the islands that Survivor has been to.

In Thailand I would like to go watch some Muay Thai fights/tournament and go visit Bangkok.

In all of these places I want to sample their traditional foods; maybe not all of them, but some if not most. I want to experience their culture. I’m tired of my little island, I want to experience more. I want to experience all this life has to offer. After all, you only go around once.

A Few Things to do in Central and South America

When I go to visit Central and South America I would like to eat some authentic Mexican food, not this Tex-Mex crap they’ve got here in the States. I would also like to get some Cuban Cigars. I don’t smoke, but I would make an exception for those. I would like to watch a Caribbean League baseball game. Many of Americas professional players play Winter Ball in the Caribbean and it would also be a great opportunity to watch the future of American Baseball before it arrives. It’s always an experience to take in a game in a foreign country—it’s a whole different atmosphere, it’s wonderful. I also want to try coffee from each country. Getting things from the source is always better. I want to visit the Galapagos Islands and take a ride on a giant tortoise. I want to visit the Amazon Rainforest. I want to walk along the equator. I want to visit the major sites of the Mayan, Incan and Aztec Indians, especially Machu Picchu. I want to see a real live Peruvian Pan-Flute Band. I want to go and watch a South American soccer match, particularly the Brazilian or Argentine National teams. I want to score some fresh coke from Colombia—not really, but it is part of their culture and that’s what this trip is about. I want to visit Tierra del Fuego—Land of Fire—and the Falkland Islands where the British defeated Argentina with only a handful of men and in only about a month. I want to go visit the statue Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

Those are just a few things I would like to do while in Central and South America, but I am open to suggestions. You're welcome to join me on this trip and any of my others, just give me a heads up.

Next time: Oceania

My Plan to Take Over…Er…Travel the World

Let me start by prefacing that I have no idea how I will achieve this because I neither have the time nor the means to accomplish such a feat. My plan is to travel to all 192 United Nations Member States and various dependent areas (i.e. Greenland). I will spend up to a month in each nation. The larger and more “friendly” nations will be given the full allotted time, while trips to the smaller and less “friendly” nations will be shorter. I estimate a month because it is enough time to visit most of the country, to get used to its culture and for you to decide whether you want to come back or not. Some counties won’t require a full month because of their size and political situation. Like the Boy Scouts of America taught me…Safety First. I will be joined on this journey with my wife, because she wants to see the world as well. I couldn’t have picked a better partner/person to share this with (all together now…AAWWWWW). She doesn’t have much say in where we go or how long we stay there seeing how this is my dream and my blog. Anyways…if I spend 1 month in half of the 192 major countries and 2 weeks in the other half and another year for the various dependent areas, then the trip would take approximately 13 years.

My plan of attack is to invade Central and South America. We will then cross the Pacific and descend upon New Zealand and Australia. Next we’ll head north through Oceania and into Southeast Asia deploying the strategy of island-hopping. We will then faint westward into India and when you least expect it switch back east and trek across China. With a hop, skip and a jump we’ll cover Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, but we’ll skip North Korea unless something drastic happens with their political situation. Learning from history we’ll try a different tactic with Russia—we’ll invade from the East instead of the West… MWAHAHAHA!!! Unfortunately we’ll run into the Ural Mountains which will force us south into the Stans. As we move south into the Middle East we’ll apply copious amounts of sun-screen to be able to survive the onslaught of concentrated sun rays. We will exit the Middle East through Yemen and enter Africa through Djibouti rather than Egypt. Next we will head south, zigzagging down the east coast and then pulling a 180, we’ll head north zigzagging through the western portion of southern Africa. We’ll then power-slide through West Africa heading towards Egypt. We’ll continue along the Mediterranean through Jordan and Israel and ending up in Turkey. We’ll continue our assault on Russia by coming from the south through Georgia and Azerbaijan. After we’ve dealt with Russia we’ll take care of its former buffer states in Eastern Europe by swooping in on Ukraine and Romania on our way towards Greece. Then we’ll turn north, skirting Western Europe, and hitting Poland on the way to St. Petersburg. Once in St. Petersburg we’ll prepare to invade Finland, Sweden and Norway on skis. After conquering Scandinavia, we’ll drop down into Denmark and head south through the Fatherland (Deutschland). Unlike Hannibal we will successfully conquer the Alps en route to Italy. We’ll jump from the toe of the Boot onto Sicily and then Sardinia and Corsica. From there we will begin the easiest portion of our journey—conquering France. We’ll take southern France and allow the north to think they have diverted us into Spain, when in reality, we planned it all along. We’ll sweep through Spain and Portugal and then reenter France with a head of steam on our way to Paris. After marching on Paris and eating some croissants we’ll take the convenient Chunnel into England. Then we’ll travel north through Wales and into Scotland, taking in all the lowlands and the highlands. We might even buy some kilts. Then we’ll take a ferry into Northern Ireland and then move on to Ireland. If all goes as planned it will be spring and we can make it safely into Iceland and then onto Greenland as if we were Erik the Red and the Vikings/Norsemen. Next we will move into Newfoundland and Labrador. Then we’ll trek across Canada (Eh) on our way to Alaska to visit everyone’s favorite moron Sarah Palin. Then we’ll drop down to Hawaii. Finally we’ll head back to the continental United States and pick up any stray states we haven’t been to.

That’s my plan to conquer/travel the world. Doesn’t sound too hard.

Next time: Part 1: Central and South America

I'm...a Beer Man

Some guys are butt men and some guys are breast men. I am a beer man. We have a secret, yet not so secret, love affair together. Like all relationships we have our good moments and our not so good moments, but the good outweighs the bad. I like to experiment and try new things, and the beer does too. We like to extend our palette beyond the mundane and generic brews. The usual suspects have run their course and we’re getting into a deeper relationship. We’ve even talked about taking the next step and making little brews of our own. I want more than just a six-pack or a full suitcase; I want my own micro-brewery. But we have a long way to go in our relationship to get there. So much more to try, so much more living to do together before we tie ourselves down to such a large commitment. You could say we’re still in the honeymoon phase of our relationship, neither can do any wrong; well, some wrong (i.e. Natty). But we won’t go there. We both want to travel and taste what the world has to offer. I’m not sure if we’ll ever settle down in a particular country. I want to stay true to my German roots, but Beer likes to get me out of my comfort zone when I get complacent. Instead of going to the movie store and bringing back a few different movies, we talk about going to Total Wine and bringing back a variety six-pack. When we go out to eat we try a different beer each time. Recently we’ve fallen in love with Blue Moon and Stella Artois, but I think it’s time to move on—there’s so much more out there. We are limited financially and therefore limited in our selection, but every so often we splurge and go exotic. If I drink wine I feel like I’m cheating on Beer. I don’t drink liquor because there’s nothing to savor, no real flavor. I stay true to my first love, Beer.

I want to start brewing my own beer and eventually develop my own line. I’m trying to think of new and interesting combinations that I can perfect and make into my own brand. Give me some suggestions of beers I should try or your top echelon of brew. If you inspire me enough, I might just name a beer after you.

The Olympic Spirit

The Olympics, be it Summer or Winter, are a time for the country to come together. The Summer more so, because not everyone gets a winter. These events allow the host nation to “welcome” in “friends” and share their hospitality with them. It gives them the chance to showcase their culture, what a great way to educate the world! It’s almost an excuse for world leaders to show support for each other by sending normal citizens to represent their country in front of the world. Every summit the “Big 5”, the “Big 5 plus 1”, or the G-20 attend there are protestors. Don’t get me wrong, protestors are good, they force those in the summit to address issues to a certain extent, but they also tend to mar the proceedings through their actions. So why not use the Summer Olympics or the Winter Olympics to normalize relations with one another? As I watch the events I notice that at the end of a race/run the competitor that lost, had a slower run or that was bumped out of contention congratulates the winner or the person that bested them—that’s the epitome of sportsmanship. Why can’t our leaders conduct themselves with sportsmanship? Every country has pride, every country wants what is best for their people (or their leader), and every country wants to be the best; just like every competitor wants to win, wants to beat their rival and wants their place atop their respective sport. But at the end of the race, event, or season they congratulate the better man and rededicate themselves for the next go-around. Competitors need each other to make themselves better. They need someone to push them to their limits, to be the best they can be. We need our leaders to push each other to be better leaders. We don’t need our leaders to call others bluffs or force their hand, i.e. repeatedly call for sanctions. We did it to Saddam in the 90’s and 00’s. We kept calling for him to reveal his WMD’s when he probably didn’t have them, he was just trying to show possible threats that Iraq wasn’t as weak as it really was. We don’t need to repeat that with Iran or North Korea, because what if we force their hand, what if they are further along militarily than we think. We need our leaders to show sportsmanship. We need them to cooperate and work together to make this world better. They need to recognize that every side has pride in their country and that every side wants a piece of the pie. Only when the leaders of the world have the same understanding can they work towards progress, otherwise they are working to someone’s gain, not everyone’s.

The Best Offense is a Strong Defense

The US government is currently developing an anti-missile program. Earlier this week they tested the system in the Pacific Ocean, but due to electronic troubles the test failed. The US also just agreed to establish another system in Romania designed to shoot down short and mid-range missiles from rogue nations like Iran. Poland has also signed on to the same program. By establishing this system the US has agreed to dismantle another system in Eastern Europe designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles. That system caused much unrest in Russia because they believed it to be pointed at them. The US is doing this to try and improve relations with Russia and to insure the protection of its allies from “rogue nations”.

I personally think it’s a brilliant idea to try and work together with other nations. Especially at the present time when Iran is determined to go forward with their nuclear facilities. Iran claims that they are merely trying to create nuclear power for their country, but many are wary of their “intentions”. Reagan’s idea of Star Wars isn’t going to happen, but it has been adapted to a realistic and rational level of implementation. They say defense wins championships, but can it win wars?

Preparation

There are always stories about how much athletes prepare for games and how much time they spend watching film on their opponents, but who prepares the most for what they have to face? Certainly not city government officials! We just had a, for a better term, blizzard in southeastern Virginia. For the area it was a blizzard. Everyone was watching its progress across the country. Every one heard stories about how much snow it was dumping on its way east—except for Hampton Roads city governments/VDOT. Everyone prepared for it except them. They didn’t prepare for it by spreading salt or even sand—which we have an abundance of. When the snow fell it stuck and no snow plows were in sight. No evidence of them on any streets, highways or even the interstate. You’d think if they would plow anything it would be the major veins of transportation in and out of the area, but no. My wife and I drove over to Chesapeake (20-30 minute drive), but this Saturday it took over an hour. The roads were covered and people were forced to drive very carefully so as not to fishtail and wreck. There was no clear indication of lanes. There was one lane where there should have been three, and that one lane didn’t reside within its designated lines—it weaved slowly over the entire space of the highway. The snow stayed on the highways through Saturday and Sunday and schools closed, business closed and the government closed down Monday. They could have gotten it cleared by Monday easily. I enjoyed having the day off, but schools are still out today. Why, because VDOT does not know how to prepare. They could have called in trucks from other areas, they could have contracted out to local companies, but no they decided to let us risk our own lives to try and get anywhere—that is a bit drastic, but they didn’t do much to help out the people they are paid to service. Maybe in the future they’ll learn from their mistakes—but I doubt that.

Constant Vigilance

Everybody needs to pay close attention on what’s happening in the Pacific right now. The Middle East is the US’s current focal point, but Korea and China could quickly supplant it. North and South Korea have been exchanging warning shots since Wednesday. North Korea claims it has been taking part in a regular military exercise by launching missiles over the disputed sea border. South Korea has responded by lobbing missiles back warningly. Earlier this week South Korea also expressed that they have no problem using force against North Korea. Keep your eyes on that because if they go to war the US will likely be dragged into the fight.
The US is also set to announce an arms deal with Taiwan, China’s disputed territory. China has repeatedly warned the US about arms deals with Taiwan, because China believes that Taiwan is its property. Taiwan claims that they are a free nation. The weapons are mainly defensive weapons, but in such close proximity anything can be used offensively. The US is already at odds with China for several reasons and this won’t help relations with the largest economy in the world (and our current world banker of choice).
Keep your eyes open.
CONSTANT VIGILANCE!

Ignorance is never blissful

A legal family member of mine recently posted something on Facebook that really disturbed me:

“Shame on you America: the only country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going to without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment—yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations? 99% won’t have the guts to copy and repost this!”

I had to read it several times to make sure of the tone and meaning of the statement. It made me so angry. I immediately went looking for statistics to disprove this most ignorant of statements. I looked up poverty levels by country and found this. According this graph we’re ranked 121 out of 141 countries reporting. There are 120 countries that have a higher percentage of people living below the poverty line. I’m sure our numbers have fluctuated since 2004, but so have the other countries’. Right away you can see that we aren’t the only ones with “homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going to without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment.” Soon anger turned into pity. To think that someone who lives in his own place, has food on his own table for he and his son, and who has a job can say something like that is pathetic. What is he doing to help those in this country? What is wrong with helping others? Isn’t that our job as citizens of the world? Isn’t that we’re called to be as human beings—caring, helpful, sympathetic?
I saw the benefit on all those channels. I was initially annoyed by it, but after traveling from channel 2 to 68 I realized that it wasn’t just on the major networks, but on various cable channels. I was impressed. I went up and down to see just how many channels were airing this. I thought it was brilliant. To witness the level of caring and humanity was impressive. The best way to reach Americans is through the TV or internet and to have something on almost every channel doesn’t give us a chance to escape it, we can’t run from it, we can’t hide from it lest we turn off the TV—and that’s close to blasphemy. I am impressed by all the help Americans have given to the country of Haiti, especially since it’s during one of the worst recessions in our country’s history. To look past our difficulties and help out people who are facing worse times than we are. We have military there, we have celebrities flying supplies there (Travolta flew a plane of supplies), and former Presidents calling for more, challenging our people to give more because more is needed and we are a country that can afford to give more.
I feel sorry for that family-member, but I feel more for the people of Haiti. Jesus said we would always have to poor, but he should have added that we would always have the ignorant. Oh well.

Why are we the way we are?

Last night was the President’s first State of the Union Address. Unfortunately I was only able to watch the second half of it due to being in class. But what I heard was fantastic. I enjoy hearing President Obama speak. He is awfully mesmerizing, but eloquent and very brilliant. One quality a President/Prime Minister/leader should have is being a good orator, and Obama is a great one. I also enjoy watching the members of Congress in the crowd. Last night, to quote my wife, “The Republicans are ridiculous and Democrats get up and clap and interrupt too much.” That’s how it is every State of the Union; the party in power gets up and claps at every other thing the President says while the other party sits and sulks, brooding over every word trying to show that they don’t like anything he says. I don’t get that. Why do we insist on being poor losers? Why can’t we get over ourselves and work together? Congress, you’re in Washington because We the People sent you there to represent We the People.
In what I did hear from President Obama, he addressed that mentality. He didn’t call the Republicans sore losers. That’s just my opinion. Obama addressed the need for cooperation between parties. He wasn’t ignorant about what divides them, but called for a common sense approach to working together. He argued that every one in the House Chamber that night loved the US. They loved their freedom, but acknowledged that they all have a responsibility to the People. Saying “No” just because you can and with the aim of preventing any program/idea devised by the opposite party is not how government should be. Give a better reason than “Because”. Do more than just sling mud. Rise above and be the bigger man/woman. The GOP relies heavily on the Religious Right, they should take note of the scripture that they “live by” and turn the other cheek. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Let he who is willing to work for the greater good, challenge others to do the same and then back that up.
President Obama was correct in his assertion that people are becoming disenchanted with our government. No one really trusts it. Congress has the lowest approval rates out of any branch and their rates have been decreasing for years. They need to redeem themselves. The Supreme Court made a bone-headed decision recently to rival the Dred Scott case and Korematsu. Constitutionally, it isn’t fair to keep people from speaking and spending their money supporting candidates. Corporations and labor unions represent the people that make them up, that work for them or that they fight to protect. But for a corporation to assume that every one of its workers supports a candidate is reckless. For them to pour money into advertising for a candidate amounts to mere coercion. The candidate isn’t forced to but is obliged to protect that corporations interests. The corporation has basically become a sponsor for the candidate, like a major league sports team. I contributed to a facebook thread about just that, it got carried away, but that’s what could happen. President Obama challenged the Supreme Court on the issue, and Justice Alito refused to believe him. Obama argued that corporations are going to drown out the regular voter, but Alito adamantly shook his head in protest and mouthed “No they won’t. No they won’t.” I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone that George W. Bush nominated to the Supreme Court. But we as the electorate can counter-balance the Supreme Court’s decision. If we educate ourselves about the issues, not just take someone’s word on it. Particularly someone who is paid to spout out “facts” about the issues. My former professor, who can’t stand Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Stooksbury would support Thomas Jefferson’s belief that an educated electorate is the best. That educated electorate must not be a mass of sheep. They need to think for themselves and decide for themselves—that’s democracy. We The People need to assert ourselves. Congress, the President and the rest of the government are responsible to We the People.