1. Hates it when people that have as much experience in something as Palin does in Russia speak on issues in which they have no experience.
2. I guess it's supposed to take me 30+ minutes to get gas when I get home
3. I wonder if I should go ahead and refinance my Mortgage
4. Last day of work this week - TGIF
5. Expects that each adult take ownership for their own actions, but understands momentary periods of out of character behavior
6. Cannot wait to go to Spain
7. Surprised by the latest fall out, WaMu
8. Cannot imagine how terrible things are in ATL, really. Somebody fill me in, I am hearing stories, but want the real deal. If you've been hit with an economic woah, holla atcha girl (including waiting for gas for more than 5 minutes).
9. I'm still waiting for a Republican to convince me for non-religious or non-emotional reasons why McCain/Palin makes sense
10. I talked to my mommy last night which made me happy as a well fed baby.
9.26.2008
9.24.2008
How often do you think
Barack Obama gets his hair cut? What if he started growing a Bobby Brown sloped box cut? Or even a solid Scotty Pippen box cut? Or perhaps a Michael Jordon fade.
Thank God, I can watch him from over here. I missed-ed him.
Thank God, I can watch him from over here. I missed-ed him.
9.23.2008
For one of my best friends on her birthday
Love Ya LBoogie.
(It's technically your birthday in Dublin Ireland, you've got another 5 hours before it's officially 9/24 in VA).
Rich v. Middle Class: A state of mind
You ever observe somebody and realize that yo' ass is truly middle class?
Like they casually mention shopping at some high-end store and/or having other luxuries that you always thought 'rich' people had.
Yeah, I'm as middle class as they come. In the same way that 'ghetto' is a mentality, I think being middle class is a mentality.
For example, when I started working and staying at nice hotels, I'd be annoyed by bell men. First of all, I can do it my damn self...hell, that's how I and my family had been doing it for the past 20+ years AND I don't want to tip you. Same concept with Valet. There is nothing that drives me more bat-shit crazy than when the valet walks 10 feet in front of me to get my car. If I valet, I want the attendant to have to run to some unknown location and bring my car which is nowhere in my sight. Or with cleaning. There was often a 2-3 hour block dedicated to the family cleaning the house during the weekend. To deep clean, my dad got some kinda industrial carpet cleaner or would purchase Amway cleaning materials. We didn't have help.
Is this middle class, or down right poor? Perhaps I was poor growing up, and didn't know it.
I guess my concept of the difference between 'rich' and middle class is the ability/ willingness to hire and/or employ help. I suppose I have the ability to hire help; however, I don't have the willingness.
Like they casually mention shopping at some high-end store and/or having other luxuries that you always thought 'rich' people had.
Yeah, I'm as middle class as they come. In the same way that 'ghetto' is a mentality, I think being middle class is a mentality.
For example, when I started working and staying at nice hotels, I'd be annoyed by bell men. First of all, I can do it my damn self...hell, that's how I and my family had been doing it for the past 20+ years AND I don't want to tip you. Same concept with Valet. There is nothing that drives me more bat-shit crazy than when the valet walks 10 feet in front of me to get my car. If I valet, I want the attendant to have to run to some unknown location and bring my car which is nowhere in my sight. Or with cleaning. There was often a 2-3 hour block dedicated to the family cleaning the house during the weekend. To deep clean, my dad got some kinda industrial carpet cleaner or would purchase Amway cleaning materials. We didn't have help.
Is this middle class, or down right poor? Perhaps I was poor growing up, and didn't know it.
I guess my concept of the difference between 'rich' and middle class is the ability/ willingness to hire and/or employ help. I suppose I have the ability to hire help; however, I don't have the willingness.
Repression breeds narcissism
My travel mate this phrase out. I think our topic of conversation was republicans and/or conservatism. Below I use the term republican and conservative interchangeably; however, I'd consider black people conservative in regards to sex, as evidenced by their general inability to simply talk about it candidly and comfortably. However, most black folks are democrats.
The problem with conservatives, in my humble opinion, is that they assume the best in human nature and ignore the capital vices. When capital vices are present (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth wrath, envy and pride), all humans will self-correct by following the word of the Lord (aka the Bible). Based on these assumptions, Republicans like to write law. So for example, nobody has premarital sex; therefore, abortion is not necessary. Or greed never seeps into capitalism; therefore, regulation is not necessary. I believe Democrats recognize the capital vices and instead govern via regulations and/or oversight to moderate the flourishing of the capital vices.
The most tangible example of 'Repression breeds narcissism' is America’s underground obsession with sex. I recognize that sex is as natural as eating and breathing. It is necessary for survival; thus it is amongst one of the most natural urges. However, in America we suppress a healthy appetite for sex and attach negative stigmas to it. Through religion we are taught to feel shame in our sexual selves. However, we are absolutely obsessed with sex as evidenced by (lol) the porn industry and high rates of unwed pregnancies and STDs.
I can also demonstrate this via a tale of one of my college hall mates. She started her freshman year as a virgin. She went to a catholic school and all that jazz. She would proudly claim her virginity. About 6 months into the school year, she was having anal sex...and the night she lost her virginity she got with two men. Had she been taught healthy concepts of her sexual self; perhaps, she would've at least engaged in sex with a man/boy that cared for more than her bedroom prowess. If that story was too graphic for you...take this example: Bristol Palin.
Make it make sense to me. My open-mindedness fails to extend to what I presume to be ignorant positions; thus I come off as condescending and judgemental. I'd try to change, but I kinda like me :-)
The problem with conservatives, in my humble opinion, is that they assume the best in human nature and ignore the capital vices. When capital vices are present (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth wrath, envy and pride), all humans will self-correct by following the word of the Lord (aka the Bible). Based on these assumptions, Republicans like to write law. So for example, nobody has premarital sex; therefore, abortion is not necessary. Or greed never seeps into capitalism; therefore, regulation is not necessary. I believe Democrats recognize the capital vices and instead govern via regulations and/or oversight to moderate the flourishing of the capital vices.
The most tangible example of 'Repression breeds narcissism' is America’s underground obsession with sex. I recognize that sex is as natural as eating and breathing. It is necessary for survival; thus it is amongst one of the most natural urges. However, in America we suppress a healthy appetite for sex and attach negative stigmas to it. Through religion we are taught to feel shame in our sexual selves. However, we are absolutely obsessed with sex as evidenced by (lol) the porn industry and high rates of unwed pregnancies and STDs.
I can also demonstrate this via a tale of one of my college hall mates. She started her freshman year as a virgin. She went to a catholic school and all that jazz. She would proudly claim her virginity. About 6 months into the school year, she was having anal sex...and the night she lost her virginity she got with two men. Had she been taught healthy concepts of her sexual self; perhaps, she would've at least engaged in sex with a man/boy that cared for more than her bedroom prowess. If that story was too graphic for you...take this example: Bristol Palin.
Make it make sense to me. My open-mindedness fails to extend to what I presume to be ignorant positions; thus I come off as condescending and judgemental. I'd try to change, but I kinda like me :-)
Overseas
Have you ever been overseas? Did it change your perception of the world, the USA?
I've been watching SKYNEWs which is akin to CNN or MSNBC. I believe that the British operate this station. I also enjoy the BBC, another publication owned by the UK. The one thing you notice about it most is the fact that it reports on global news as a part of its daily news.
I'm growing a distaste for the American mind. We are so narrow-minded. I just watched Gordon Brown, UK Prime Minister, give a speech at the Labour Party Conference. I have chosen to stay ignorant about other countries and I don't believe that I'm alone in that. We turn our nose up at other countries and our arrogance has isolated and ruined our global image. Back to Gordon Brown...I learned that UK is going to offer free prescription drugs to all Cancer patients next year. Yes, you read that right. Under the Labour Government, UK prescribes to a slightly socialistic economy/government. Public service is paramount to the individual.
Most notably, in his speech Gordon Brown said a word that I haven't yet heard from either candidate: Global. I've cried several times that we are no living in a Global Economy. I'm also learning that the collapse of the US economy had a ripple effect worldwide. I'm sure we all heard that the stock markets in other countries were faltering; however, what I heard from a mother was that child care is growing unreasonably expensive because the overall cost of living is growing at a pace faster than her salary increases. For example, the cost of milk is up...milk compounded with other groceries have caused the day cares to charge more. It's not just the USA that is struggling to stay afloat, it's several other solid countries.
Again, I am a firm believer that we need a president that is diplomatic.
I've been watching SKYNEWs which is akin to CNN or MSNBC. I believe that the British operate this station. I also enjoy the BBC, another publication owned by the UK. The one thing you notice about it most is the fact that it reports on global news as a part of its daily news.
I'm growing a distaste for the American mind. We are so narrow-minded. I just watched Gordon Brown, UK Prime Minister, give a speech at the Labour Party Conference. I have chosen to stay ignorant about other countries and I don't believe that I'm alone in that. We turn our nose up at other countries and our arrogance has isolated and ruined our global image. Back to Gordon Brown...I learned that UK is going to offer free prescription drugs to all Cancer patients next year. Yes, you read that right. Under the Labour Government, UK prescribes to a slightly socialistic economy/government. Public service is paramount to the individual.
Most notably, in his speech Gordon Brown said a word that I haven't yet heard from either candidate: Global. I've cried several times that we are no living in a Global Economy. I'm also learning that the collapse of the US economy had a ripple effect worldwide. I'm sure we all heard that the stock markets in other countries were faltering; however, what I heard from a mother was that child care is growing unreasonably expensive because the overall cost of living is growing at a pace faster than her salary increases. For example, the cost of milk is up...milk compounded with other groceries have caused the day cares to charge more. It's not just the USA that is struggling to stay afloat, it's several other solid countries.
Again, I am a firm believer that we need a president that is diplomatic.
9.21.2008
Greetings from Dublin, Ireland
It’s absolutely beautiful and wonderful over here.
We arrived yesterday at 9:50 am local time…Ireland is 5 ahead of eastern time. The plane ride was 8 hours. Basically I went 24 hours with maybe 3 hours of sleep. So when we arrived, to say I was tired is a gross understatement. However, all was not lost on the plane ride. I had an absolutely delightful time sitting in first class. My co-worker and I made it pretty obvious that it was our first time in an overseas first class seat. We over ate, but I’m proud to announce that we didn’t over drink. One major take away - I listened to the Madonna CD, “Hard Candy,” on the plane and I give it two thumbs up. Timberland and Pharell produced the majority of the songs, and it’s a high energy dance CD. I purchased the CD at a HMV here in Dublin.
Okay, so we get off the plane…the first thing we do is drop our bags off at our hotel. Unfortunately we couldn’t check in. We decided to stay at “The Modern,” in Temple Bar. Temple Bar is an area South of the Luffie River that is equivalent to Buckhead/Pharr Street bar scene circa 2001, (the year that I got way too intoxicated and had to take it back to the house by 11:00 pm). After we dropped our bags off, we went to an information/tour plaza where I exchanged my $180 in exchange forNO 120 Euros. Yeah, that kinda hurt. We also bough city tour bus tickets. Before boarding the bus, we found a cafe in Temple Bar where I sat down and had a delicious coffee. I requested milk and sugar to decorate my coffee. They brought out milk and what I thought were rocks…however, it was simply sugar. lol. I can be so simple at times.
After we finished the coffee, I had enough energy to do the bus ride. The bus tour took us around the major streets of Dublin. I saw the Guiness Compound - the place is HUGE. Other things of note that we saw: Pheonix Park (2 times as big as Central Park), Trinity College, and some other stuff. lol…I must say stuff because at one point on the bus ride, I fell the hell asleep. KNOCKED OUT.
After the bus ride we headed back to our hotel; however, we were not quite starving, yet a tid bit hungry. There was an open food market in Temple Bar and we walked around. Initially we were going to pass it up, because nothing tickled our fancy. However, I spotted the largest oyster shells that I’ve ever seen. Knowing that Dublin is a hop skip and a jump from water, I figured that the oysters would be amazing. Well, I sure was right. They were HUGE and tasted just like the ocean smells. Perfect…they even had Tobacco sauce! Delicious!
From there we went back to the hotel and checked in. At this point it was about 4:30 local time. I took a much needed shower and then we slept until about 7:00. We woke up ready to take the world on. Temple Bar at this time was packed to the brim with crazy Irish Folks.
As an aside. I’m not sure what I expected Irish people to look like. Some over generalizations, they are of course pale. Dark hair. And a handful of them have beautifully blue or green piercing eyes. There really aren’t black people as I know them to be in America. I saw people of direct African decent; however, most black people in America are muts that don’t truly resemble Africans.
We found an Italian place to eat. Interesting, Italian food is supposed to be some of the best. So anywho, we did Italian food. After that, we stepped inside of one of the rowdy bars in Temple Bar. It was packed to the brim with people drinking beer. I walked in and became somewhat of a wonder. People did look at me. A handful of men tried to speak to me. Between the drunk slur and Irish accent, and loud music, I could not make out much of what they were saying. We made our way to the bar, and some short Irish man was being facetious with me. I ordered a red bull and vodka - safety drink, plus I needed a boost of energy. We chatted a bit with the older Irish lads. Random other Irish lads would stop and talk to me. We found a corner to stand in and some guy from Poland tried his best attempt at flirting with me. However, after seeing his scarey tattoo, which he said, “it’s a tattoo of my monster,” my coworker and I made a fresh exit when he went to the bar for his next drink.
We walked away from Temple Bar, as it seemed like it was full of the Fighting Irish. We ventured slightly away and came upon a lovely wine bar. My coworker and I have a very casual relationship; however, traveling iwth a person for two weeks forces a relationship upon you. I’m pleasantly surprised. We shared a bottle of a lovely, deep oaky and spicey red-wine and talked about men, politics, and work gossip. For the most part we are on the same page. We’re twenty-something women who have come thus far successfully and have trouble being comfortable being vulnerable in a relationship. All is well in the world.
After we finished our bottle of wine, we merrily walked down the street. We made our way back to the rowdy Temple Bar area and continued walking up the cobble stone street. We were quite amazed with the women wearing barely nothing and stillettos. First of all, it was like 55 degrees outside, second of all, cobble stones + stillettos = disaster. We stopped to listen to a band playing on the side of the street that gained a pretty large audience.
We continued walking and along come two drunk Irish men. Mind you, a guy here or there would stop to look at me as if he’d never seen a black woman before. They’re prety complimentary…and eyyy - who am I to deny a compliment. So anywho these two come along and want to go dancing. Well by golly, we followed them to a half way decent dance club. They were playing familiar music (losts of songs produced by Timberland and then older 80s American hits). The only thing of note that happened was that I tasted my first taste of Guiness. I like it. I wouldn’t buy a pack and bring it home or anything, but I was pleasantly surprised. Especially given that my first drink of beer was Natty Lite. So anything above and beyond that is a step in the right direction. We all danced a bit, and then they got a bit creepy. So my coworker and I decided to call it a night.
And that was my first 24 hours in Dublin, Ireland.
We arrived yesterday at 9:50 am local time…Ireland is 5 ahead of eastern time. The plane ride was 8 hours. Basically I went 24 hours with maybe 3 hours of sleep. So when we arrived, to say I was tired is a gross understatement. However, all was not lost on the plane ride. I had an absolutely delightful time sitting in first class. My co-worker and I made it pretty obvious that it was our first time in an overseas first class seat. We over ate, but I’m proud to announce that we didn’t over drink. One major take away - I listened to the Madonna CD, “Hard Candy,” on the plane and I give it two thumbs up. Timberland and Pharell produced the majority of the songs, and it’s a high energy dance CD. I purchased the CD at a HMV here in Dublin.
Okay, so we get off the plane…the first thing we do is drop our bags off at our hotel. Unfortunately we couldn’t check in. We decided to stay at “The Modern,” in Temple Bar. Temple Bar is an area South of the Luffie River that is equivalent to Buckhead/Pharr Street bar scene circa 2001, (the year that I got way too intoxicated and had to take it back to the house by 11:00 pm). After we dropped our bags off, we went to an information/tour plaza where I exchanged my $180 in exchange for
After we finished the coffee, I had enough energy to do the bus ride. The bus tour took us around the major streets of Dublin. I saw the Guiness Compound - the place is HUGE. Other things of note that we saw: Pheonix Park (2 times as big as Central Park), Trinity College, and some other stuff. lol…I must say stuff because at one point on the bus ride, I fell the hell asleep. KNOCKED OUT.
After the bus ride we headed back to our hotel; however, we were not quite starving, yet a tid bit hungry. There was an open food market in Temple Bar and we walked around. Initially we were going to pass it up, because nothing tickled our fancy. However, I spotted the largest oyster shells that I’ve ever seen. Knowing that Dublin is a hop skip and a jump from water, I figured that the oysters would be amazing. Well, I sure was right. They were HUGE and tasted just like the ocean smells. Perfect…they even had Tobacco sauce! Delicious!
From there we went back to the hotel and checked in. At this point it was about 4:30 local time. I took a much needed shower and then we slept until about 7:00. We woke up ready to take the world on. Temple Bar at this time was packed to the brim with crazy Irish Folks.
As an aside. I’m not sure what I expected Irish people to look like. Some over generalizations, they are of course pale. Dark hair. And a handful of them have beautifully blue or green piercing eyes. There really aren’t black people as I know them to be in America. I saw people of direct African decent; however, most black people in America are muts that don’t truly resemble Africans.
We found an Italian place to eat. Interesting, Italian food is supposed to be some of the best. So anywho, we did Italian food. After that, we stepped inside of one of the rowdy bars in Temple Bar. It was packed to the brim with people drinking beer. I walked in and became somewhat of a wonder. People did look at me. A handful of men tried to speak to me. Between the drunk slur and Irish accent, and loud music, I could not make out much of what they were saying. We made our way to the bar, and some short Irish man was being facetious with me. I ordered a red bull and vodka - safety drink, plus I needed a boost of energy. We chatted a bit with the older Irish lads. Random other Irish lads would stop and talk to me. We found a corner to stand in and some guy from Poland tried his best attempt at flirting with me. However, after seeing his scarey tattoo, which he said, “it’s a tattoo of my monster,” my coworker and I made a fresh exit when he went to the bar for his next drink.
We walked away from Temple Bar, as it seemed like it was full of the Fighting Irish. We ventured slightly away and came upon a lovely wine bar. My coworker and I have a very casual relationship; however, traveling iwth a person for two weeks forces a relationship upon you. I’m pleasantly surprised. We shared a bottle of a lovely, deep oaky and spicey red-wine and talked about men, politics, and work gossip. For the most part we are on the same page. We’re twenty-something women who have come thus far successfully and have trouble being comfortable being vulnerable in a relationship. All is well in the world.
After we finished our bottle of wine, we merrily walked down the street. We made our way back to the rowdy Temple Bar area and continued walking up the cobble stone street. We were quite amazed with the women wearing barely nothing and stillettos. First of all, it was like 55 degrees outside, second of all, cobble stones + stillettos = disaster. We stopped to listen to a band playing on the side of the street that gained a pretty large audience.
We continued walking and along come two drunk Irish men. Mind you, a guy here or there would stop to look at me as if he’d never seen a black woman before. They’re prety complimentary…and eyyy - who am I to deny a compliment. So anywho these two come along and want to go dancing. Well by golly, we followed them to a half way decent dance club. They were playing familiar music (losts of songs produced by Timberland and then older 80s American hits). The only thing of note that happened was that I tasted my first taste of Guiness. I like it. I wouldn’t buy a pack and bring it home or anything, but I was pleasantly surprised. Especially given that my first drink of beer was Natty Lite. So anything above and beyond that is a step in the right direction. We all danced a bit, and then they got a bit creepy. So my coworker and I decided to call it a night.
And that was my first 24 hours in Dublin, Ireland.
9.18.2008
Impulse Buy - I bought a Wii
So I have one now. Thanks to Lil' Fingers for aiding me in consultation.
That was pretty stupid given that I leave for Europe in less than 24 hours.
But game stop had it, I wanted it, so I got it.
I'll be uber frugal when I get back.
That was pretty stupid given that I leave for Europe in less than 24 hours.
But game stop had it, I wanted it, so I got it.
I'll be uber frugal when I get back.
I won a debate against a black republican!!!!
I am so proud of myself.
Here is what he wrote (which I disected into 5 points):
What have I started! I think we need a conference call so we can have at it. It would be fun! I really enjoy doing this especially in the tasteful and educated manner we have conducted ourselves.
Couple things on taxing the wealthy, keeping well benefited jobs at home, and healthcare. I am sure most of us have taken some kind of Economics and/or accounting class.
1. You have to be careful anytime you mess with the wealthy corporations balance sheet. They will find ways to stay profitable. For example, you guys work at XYZ_Corp. When XYZ_Corp has to pay higher taxes it will ripple down. Jobs will be cost, raises will go down, and the price of XYZ_Corp's product will go up. This ripple effect of Obama's tax plan could affect the middle class and the poor more than the tax breaks we might get.
2. In a nut shell when the rich are happy the poor are happy.
3. Every time the government messes with the free market it backfires. Clinton wanted every American to be able to afford a house, and pressed Fannie and Freddie to give loans to those that didn't previously qualify. Times were good, but those subprime loans which only made up only 8-12% of all loans and the Fed's lowering of interest rates during the early Bush years are crumpling the economy now.
4. When products are American made by well paid and benefited American workers, the poor will not be able to shop at Wal Mart, and having a $100 extra dollars a pay check will not help them.
5. Also, all Americans are compassionate on health care, but can you tell a small business with a gross profit of $300K to give all its workers premium health care? They will fail. Do you want government run health care? I had it in the Navy. I saw people die of Cancer because it took them 3 months to see a specialist. I know many Canadians that come here when they have major health issues. Serioulsy, talk to a Canadian about their gread federal health care system. Not saying either side can fix it, but just like drugs that cure you there can be harmful side effects. Anyway, the poor have always had it bad and that is a depressing fact or life. Better ways to make helath care affordable would be to get rid of frivoulous lawsuits. Doctors make mistakes, period, but you shouldn't be able to sue them for milions of follars everytime they do. Make the 12 million illegal immigrants that way down our clinics, nurseries, emergency rooms get registered and pay taxes. And force people who chose to be unhealthy to pay higher health care. In Japan everybody's waist size is measured to determine their insurance rates. I am one of those fat Americans that have to go the doctor often and take medication. Why should pay the same as a helthy person that takes cares of themselves.
Best Regards,
Black Republican
Here is what he wrote (which I disected into 5 points):
What have I started! I think we need a conference call so we can have at it. It would be fun! I really enjoy doing this especially in the tasteful and educated manner we have conducted ourselves.
Couple things on taxing the wealthy, keeping well benefited jobs at home, and healthcare. I am sure most of us have taken some kind of Economics and/or accounting class.
1. You have to be careful anytime you mess with the wealthy corporations balance sheet. They will find ways to stay profitable. For example, you guys work at XYZ_Corp. When XYZ_Corp has to pay higher taxes it will ripple down. Jobs will be cost, raises will go down, and the price of XYZ_Corp's product will go up. This ripple effect of Obama's tax plan could affect the middle class and the poor more than the tax breaks we might get.
2. In a nut shell when the rich are happy the poor are happy.
3. Every time the government messes with the free market it backfires. Clinton wanted every American to be able to afford a house, and pressed Fannie and Freddie to give loans to those that didn't previously qualify. Times were good, but those subprime loans which only made up only 8-12% of all loans and the Fed's lowering of interest rates during the early Bush years are crumpling the economy now.
4. When products are American made by well paid and benefited American workers, the poor will not be able to shop at Wal Mart, and having a $100 extra dollars a pay check will not help them.
5. Also, all Americans are compassionate on health care, but can you tell a small business with a gross profit of $300K to give all its workers premium health care? They will fail. Do you want government run health care? I had it in the Navy. I saw people die of Cancer because it took them 3 months to see a specialist. I know many Canadians that come here when they have major health issues. Serioulsy, talk to a Canadian about their gread federal health care system. Not saying either side can fix it, but just like drugs that cure you there can be harmful side effects. Anyway, the poor have always had it bad and that is a depressing fact or life. Better ways to make helath care affordable would be to get rid of frivoulous lawsuits. Doctors make mistakes, period, but you shouldn't be able to sue them for milions of follars everytime they do. Make the 12 million illegal immigrants that way down our clinics, nurseries, emergency rooms get registered and pay taxes. And force people who chose to be unhealthy to pay higher health care. In Japan everybody's waist size is measured to determine their insurance rates. I am one of those fat Americans that have to go the doctor often and take medication. Why should pay the same as a helthy person that takes cares of themselves.
Best Regards,
Black Republican
My Rebuttle:
I also enjoy debates. It was
1. Using Yahoo Finance, I researched the stock price of XYZ_Corp from 1992 (Clinton Era, when taxes were higher) through 2008. As Obama has stated that his tax plan is similar to Clinton's in the way that taxes would increase for certain demographics, I thought it'd be interesting to see how the XYZ_Corp stock price fluctuated between the Clinton era and GW Bush era. Surely, if taxes rise and company's lose out; then your theory holds.
January 1993: $16.21
Peak during Clinton era (Nov 98): $60.12
December 01: $40.01
Increase in stock price of approximately 150%
January 2002: $30.37
Peak During Bush era: $60.87 (2007)
Sept 08: $52.66
Increase in stock price of approximately 73%
And given that this is a consumer product, it benefits us most when the middle class has more disposable income to afford consumer products. Given that the majority of Americans fall into the middle class....Obama's tax plan would be beneficial to drive volume of our sales.
2. When rich are happy poor are happy. That is the republican viewpoint on economics. However, I do not hold the same view point. As a rich person, I can come up with wonderful business ideas; however, if the poor do not have disposable income to enjoy my product...I end up poor as well. Right now there are factors other than taxes that impact the poor more greatly than increased taxes would effect the rich. Need an example? I invite you to watch the following Video.
3. I greatly respect Alan Greenspan, a republican (who sometimes leaned independent) set economic policy during Clinton years. I encourage you to research the facts around the mortgage/credit crisis. Hopefully we can agree on a couple of factors that have caused this credit/ mortgage crisis. Speculatory residential investment purchases in 2000-2005 drove the value of property up (one source indicated that 40% of home purchases in 2006 represented investment properties rather than primary residential). It appeared to builders that there was a large demand. Hence building boomed. Laws of economics show that when supply outweighs demand, prices fall.
Thus...when demand waivered....prices dropped dramatically. This represents true capitalism. Also, Subprime Mortgages are a phenomenon of the Bush era. Subprime Mortgages represent a clever capitalists idea to get rich by giving folks what they want. While I'm not for socialism, I do expect that the government's oversight of certain industries and practices aims to protect the greater good of the people. Perhaps if regulation wasn't the key, the increased oversight should have been. Creative destruction is a key element to capitalism; however, it's intersection with the American dream has proven to be disastrous.
My lunch break is running out, so I'll resort to emotional / non-fact based arguments for the remaining points...
4. I see your point. Keeping American's healthy and well paid is costly. However, it seems unpatriotic to auction off our assets (both financial and resources) to other countries to keep prices down. Perhaps a new set of ideas (aka Change) could come up with a new way to determine the most cost effective way to leverage our resources. Another point on the concept of auctioning off our assets. We no longer live in a USA-confined economy. On one hand, we have a hot-head POTUS hopeful and a VP hopeful whose foreign policy experience rests on the basis that she can see Russia from
land in her state. Diplomacy is so essential given that we now live in a global economic environment. I simply don't trust the McCain/Palin + potential cabinet & foreign policy advisors in regards to diplomacy.
5. I expect that American government would study healthcare systems in other countries and learn. Again, it seems rather unpatriotic to look at my low-income family members and tell them that I refuse to allow my taxes to help them...errruhhh...live.
Lastly...even if I weren't GUNG-HO Obama, McCain's voting record stands against the essence of what I believe in. To better educate myself on McCain's voting record I visited On The Issues. I then had a bit fun with his positions as seen below...
-McCain Opposed Equal Pay Bill for Women, Said They ?Need Education and Training? Instead. (Women, except Sarah Palin, are generally pretty stupid. They just need to get smarter if they want equal pay).
-McCain Voted Against Increasing Benefits For Children With Special Needs In The Social Security Act. (I'd like to hear Palin's take on this).
-McCain has voted consistently against women?s health, and he supports overturning the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Roe v. Wade. (I LOVE it when men get to dictate what I do with my body! I mean, it was the act of him dictating (pun intended) me that got me preggers in the first place!)
-McCain opposed spending $100 million to prevent unintended and teen pregnancies. (Two Words: Bristol Palin.)
-McCain Voted Against Providing Tax Credits to Small Businesses That Offer Health Insurance To Employees. (Ehhh, you?re not worth saving until you're big business.)
-Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (Because you know, a low-income mother has the time and money to hire a private tutor).
-Voted NO to protect workers? overtime rights. (Slaves didn?t get paid overtime, neither should you).
-Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (I want my gun and I want it NOW!)
-Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (If you want a gun, it totally makes no sense to have restrictions. I love it when unstable people get guns, it makes for interesting news?like Va Tech).
-McCain Opposed Extending Coverage To Uninsured Children. (This is the alternative to the pro-life position. The uninsured child might not get enough coverage to erruhh?....live).
-YES on limiting death penalty appeals (because the legal system is fair and innocent are NEVER executed).
-McCain opposed requiring insurance coverage of prescription birth control. (After I take my Viagra, which is covered, I'm going to go populate Alaska).
Have a fantastic day,
SunFresh
1. Using Yahoo Finance, I researched the stock price of XYZ_Corp from 1992 (Clinton Era, when taxes were higher) through 2008. As Obama has stated that his tax plan is similar to Clinton's in the way that taxes would increase for certain demographics, I thought it'd be interesting to see how the XYZ_Corp stock price fluctuated between the Clinton era and GW Bush era. Surely, if taxes rise and company's lose out; then your theory holds.
January 1993: $16.21
Peak during Clinton era (Nov 98): $60.12
December 01: $40.01
Increase in stock price of approximately 150%
January 2002: $30.37
Peak During Bush era: $60.87 (2007)
Sept 08: $52.66
Increase in stock price of approximately 73%
And given that this is a consumer product, it benefits us most when the middle class has more disposable income to afford consumer products. Given that the majority of Americans fall into the middle class....Obama's tax plan would be beneficial to drive volume of our sales.
2. When rich are happy poor are happy. That is the republican viewpoint on economics. However, I do not hold the same view point. As a rich person, I can come up with wonderful business ideas; however, if the poor do not have disposable income to enjoy my product...I end up poor as well. Right now there are factors other than taxes that impact the poor more greatly than increased taxes would effect the rich. Need an example? I invite you to watch the following Video.
3. I greatly respect Alan Greenspan, a republican (who sometimes leaned independent) set economic policy during Clinton years. I encourage you to research the facts around the mortgage/credit crisis. Hopefully we can agree on a couple of factors that have caused this credit/ mortgage crisis. Speculatory residential investment purchases in 2000-2005 drove the value of property up (one source indicated that 40% of home purchases in 2006 represented investment properties rather than primary residential). It appeared to builders that there was a large demand. Hence building boomed. Laws of economics show that when supply outweighs demand, prices fall.
Thus...when demand waivered....prices dropped dramatically. This represents true capitalism. Also, Subprime Mortgages are a phenomenon of the Bush era. Subprime Mortgages represent a clever capitalists idea to get rich by giving folks what they want. While I'm not for socialism, I do expect that the government's oversight of certain industries and practices aims to protect the greater good of the people. Perhaps if regulation wasn't the key, the increased oversight should have been. Creative destruction is a key element to capitalism; however, it's intersection with the American dream has proven to be disastrous.
My lunch break is running out, so I'll resort to emotional / non-fact based arguments for the remaining points...
4. I see your point. Keeping American's healthy and well paid is costly. However, it seems unpatriotic to auction off our assets (both financial and resources) to other countries to keep prices down. Perhaps a new set of ideas (aka Change) could come up with a new way to determine the most cost effective way to leverage our resources. Another point on the concept of auctioning off our assets. We no longer live in a USA-confined economy. On one hand, we have a hot-head POTUS hopeful and a VP hopeful whose foreign policy experience rests on the basis that she can see Russia from
land in her state. Diplomacy is so essential given that we now live in a global economic environment. I simply don't trust the McCain/Palin + potential cabinet & foreign policy advisors in regards to diplomacy.
5. I expect that American government would study healthcare systems in other countries and learn. Again, it seems rather unpatriotic to look at my low-income family members and tell them that I refuse to allow my taxes to help them...errruhhh...live.
Lastly...even if I weren't GUNG-HO Obama, McCain's voting record stands against the essence of what I believe in. To better educate myself on McCain's voting record I visited On The Issues. I then had a bit fun with his positions as seen below...
-McCain Opposed Equal Pay Bill for Women, Said They ?Need Education and Training? Instead. (Women, except Sarah Palin, are generally pretty stupid. They just need to get smarter if they want equal pay).
-McCain Voted Against Increasing Benefits For Children With Special Needs In The Social Security Act. (I'd like to hear Palin's take on this).
-McCain has voted consistently against women?s health, and he supports overturning the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Roe v. Wade. (I LOVE it when men get to dictate what I do with my body! I mean, it was the act of him dictating (pun intended) me that got me preggers in the first place!)
-McCain opposed spending $100 million to prevent unintended and teen pregnancies. (Two Words: Bristol Palin.)
-McCain Voted Against Providing Tax Credits to Small Businesses That Offer Health Insurance To Employees. (Ehhh, you?re not worth saving until you're big business.)
-Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (Because you know, a low-income mother has the time and money to hire a private tutor).
-Voted NO to protect workers? overtime rights. (Slaves didn?t get paid overtime, neither should you).
-Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (I want my gun and I want it NOW!)
-Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (If you want a gun, it totally makes no sense to have restrictions. I love it when unstable people get guns, it makes for interesting news?like Va Tech).
-McCain Opposed Extending Coverage To Uninsured Children. (This is the alternative to the pro-life position. The uninsured child might not get enough coverage to erruhh?....live).
-YES on limiting death penalty appeals (because the legal system is fair and innocent are NEVER executed).
-McCain opposed requiring insurance coverage of prescription birth control. (After I take my Viagra, which is covered, I'm going to go populate Alaska).
Have a fantastic day,
SunFresh
His Response (In 2 seperate e-mails)
1. I know everything about the mortgage/credit crisis and Bush had nothing to do with it. Note that I did not assert that Bush had anything to do with the mortgage/credit crisis
2. SunFresh has had the best comeback yet. If you have time read my paper on the subprime mortgage crisis. I love the subject.
2. SunFresh has had the best comeback yet. If you have time read my paper on the subprime mortgage crisis. I love the subject.
9.17.2008
BBBS
Are any of the readers/commenters/lurkers also Big Brothers or Big Sisters? I have an interview today and I'm very excited about the prospect of becoming a Big Sister. If you have a Little Sister/Brother, what are some activities that you have done with them in the past? If you're not one and have time, would you consider joining? If not, would you consider donating to the Obama campaign? (lol, okay the last thing had nothing to do with BBBS!)
What your girlfriends think...
So many moons ago I agreed to go a date with this one guy, we'll call him Java. I wasn't completely attracted to him; however, he cleaned up nicely and his conversation was engaging. He was perhaps the first guy that I went on a date with after I broke up with THE EX. We had a really nice time; however, I was still in love with the EX and once I realized this I more less cut-off communication with Java.
I ran into Java when I was out with a few girlfriends. He approached and said something to the effect of, "Hello stranger." My girls beckoned for an explanation. I told them that we went out on a date. They giggled, looking at him being less than 6 feet tall, and a bit of this that and the other. Because I valued their opinions a bit way too much, I joined in on the giggling.
Fast forward current times. Well, Java found me on facebook. He's rather aggressive...or rather assertive. I've been hanging out with him a little bit. Nothing too heavy or nothing to write-home about; however, I will say that I genuinely enjoy his company. And to think, I had let the girls that are still single and continue to be single to influence my perception of him. He wasn't the physical prototype per se; however, WHO THE FUCK IS?
I'm glad that I met him second time around when I am no longer dealing with that group of women. I've grown a lot and learned a lot from that experience (which I will say time and time again). I do have a mind of my own; however, I admit to insecurities at times. Sure I want to walk down the street with a man that people sit back and think, "wow they're an attractive couple." I think they played into that insecurity. I suppose that I fell into the trap of being an insecure single woman instead of a secure single woman. I choose the later.
Really it only matters that I find the person attractive. And for me, attraction prevails only after I see a person's inner spirit. I don't care that he's a little shorter than the desired standard, 'talks white,' or dresses in button ups and khakis all the time...he stimulates my brain and makes me feel beautiful.
I ran into Java when I was out with a few girlfriends. He approached and said something to the effect of, "Hello stranger." My girls beckoned for an explanation. I told them that we went out on a date. They giggled, looking at him being less than 6 feet tall, and a bit of this that and the other. Because I valued their opinions a bit way too much, I joined in on the giggling.
Fast forward current times. Well, Java found me on facebook. He's rather aggressive...or rather assertive. I've been hanging out with him a little bit. Nothing too heavy or nothing to write-home about; however, I will say that I genuinely enjoy his company. And to think, I had let the girls that are still single and continue to be single to influence my perception of him. He wasn't the physical prototype per se; however, WHO THE FUCK IS?
I'm glad that I met him second time around when I am no longer dealing with that group of women. I've grown a lot and learned a lot from that experience (which I will say time and time again). I do have a mind of my own; however, I admit to insecurities at times. Sure I want to walk down the street with a man that people sit back and think, "wow they're an attractive couple." I think they played into that insecurity. I suppose that I fell into the trap of being an insecure single woman instead of a secure single woman. I choose the later.
Really it only matters that I find the person attractive. And for me, attraction prevails only after I see a person's inner spirit. I don't care that he's a little shorter than the desired standard, 'talks white,' or dresses in button ups and khakis all the time...he stimulates my brain and makes me feel beautiful.
Catholics - How are you coping with this election?
I recently read a painful article in which a Catholic was denied communion due to his support of Obama.
These actions underscore my apprehension toward Catholicsm. It appears to the one popular sect of Christianity that is furthest from the foundation of Christianity principles: LOVE.
That is simply my opinion, and I realize my opinion could be offensive. But after reading something like this...I just shake my head.
These actions underscore my apprehension toward Catholicsm. It appears to the one popular sect of Christianity that is furthest from the foundation of Christianity principles: LOVE.
That is simply my opinion, and I realize my opinion could be offensive. But after reading something like this...I just shake my head.
Confession re: Patriotism
I'm headed out to Ireland and Spain in less than 72 hours. I'm ashamed to claim that I am American right now. I'm aiming to pick up an Irish accent so that when I get to Spain, people will not be able to detect that I'm American. I'm not comfortable with it right now. Not only that, but I'm vetting Europe to see if I could realistically live there for a short period of time in the event that McCain/Palin win. Next year, I'll visit England and Italy to see what I think of those locations.
*note that I'm being a bit sarcastic and extreme; however, these are random thoughts of mine*
Is that bad?
*note that I'm being a bit sarcastic and extreme; however, these are random thoughts of mine*
Is that bad?
Just say no...or maybe not?
I had dinner last night with one of my friends who I love because she is so atypical. She's traveled the world, she marches to the beat of her own drum, is gorgeous, and has a very diverse social circle. In a nutshell, the second you think you have her pegged, she surprises you with something new.
So last night she was casually telling me a story. As a part of the story she casually revelas that she's done lines of coke.
Had she said weed, I wouldn't have flinched. But the only white powdered substances that I've ever seen are sugar, salt and flour. She said it so casually that I had to interrupt her and ask her more about her 'recreational coke' use.
I passed no judgement cuz to each their own. I just hope she's safe about it. She's by no means a drug addict, she said it's just something that if it's there and somebody offers, she won't necessarily say no. I just found it fascinating.
Do you use white-substance drugs? Do you have friends that do so? It's so foreign to me. As ignorant as it may sound, I imagine coke to be some hollywood white person drug. (and perhaps the drug of choice for the Browns/Houston household).
So last night she was casually telling me a story. As a part of the story she casually revelas that she's done lines of coke.
Had she said weed, I wouldn't have flinched. But the only white powdered substances that I've ever seen are sugar, salt and flour. She said it so casually that I had to interrupt her and ask her more about her 'recreational coke' use.
I passed no judgement cuz to each their own. I just hope she's safe about it. She's by no means a drug addict, she said it's just something that if it's there and somebody offers, she won't necessarily say no. I just found it fascinating.
Do you use white-substance drugs? Do you have friends that do so? It's so foreign to me. As ignorant as it may sound, I imagine coke to be some hollywood white person drug. (and perhaps the drug of choice for the Browns/Houston household).
9.16.2008
BAP
So on one of my favorite discussion boards the holier than thou converter posted a subject title called, "Have you "renounced the hidden things of shame" in your life: Have you "renounced the hidden things of shame" in your life— the things that your sense of honor or pride will not allow to come into the light? You can easily hide them. Is there a thought in your heart about anyone that you would not like to be brought into the light? Then renounce it as soon as it comes to mind— renounce everything in its entirety until there is no hidden dishonesty or craftiness about you at all. Envy, jealousy, and strife don’t necessarily arise from your old nature of sin, but from the flesh which was used for these kinds of things in the past (see Romans 6:19 and 1 Peter 4:1-3 ). You must maintain continual watchfulness so that nothing arises in your life that would cause you shame.
My response?
I couldn't support this assertion in practice...because a lot of people feel shame due to societal standards and not because of their love and relationship with God.
I don't fall in line with the typical BAP that roams the streets of Atlanta. If I suppressed my thoughts, reactions and actions to be more in line with what I consider to be these BAPs...I wouldn't be me. And I love me. (not that I don't love BAPs).
When I read other's blogs and their reservations to just live life...I realize, I'm no BAP. And I'm SO okay with that.
My response?
I couldn't support this assertion in practice...because a lot of people feel shame due to societal standards and not because of their love and relationship with God.
I don't fall in line with the typical BAP that roams the streets of Atlanta. If I suppressed my thoughts, reactions and actions to be more in line with what I consider to be these BAPs...I wouldn't be me. And I love me. (not that I don't love BAPs).
When I read other's blogs and their reservations to just live life...I realize, I'm no BAP. And I'm SO okay with that.
9.15.2008
A game for any readers/lurkers/commenters...
From where did I obtain the following points:
- a sudden, severe rise in unemployment
- Although the times appear on the surface to be a prosperous time, income was unevenly distributed
- wealthy made large profits, but more and more Americans spent more than they earned,
- U.S. stock market downturn, which ruined thousands of investors and destroyed confidence in the economy
- businesses and banks closed their doors, people lost their jobs, homes, and savings
- While businesses showed remarkable gains in productivity, workers got a relatively small share of the wealth this produced....At the same time, cuts were made in the top income-tax rates
A) A CNN article published on September 15, 2008 describing the current economic environment
B) Encarta encyclopedia article on the Great Depression
C) Huffington Post article cynically comparing the Great Depression to the current economic environment
D) My ass
- a sudden, severe rise in unemployment
- Although the times appear on the surface to be a prosperous time, income was unevenly distributed
- wealthy made large profits, but more and more Americans spent more than they earned,
- U.S. stock market downturn, which ruined thousands of investors and destroyed confidence in the economy
- businesses and banks closed their doors, people lost their jobs, homes, and savings
- While businesses showed remarkable gains in productivity, workers got a relatively small share of the wealth this produced....At the same time, cuts were made in the top income-tax rates
A) A CNN article published on September 15, 2008 describing the current economic environment
B) Encarta encyclopedia article on the Great Depression
C) Huffington Post article cynically comparing the Great Depression to the current economic environment
D) My ass
9.14.2008
Tim Wise on White Privilege
*As many of you who direct link to this article, I'm surprised that there are no comments*
This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise
9/13/08
For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.
White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.
White privilege is when you can call yourself a “fuckin’ redneck,” like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll “kick their fuckin' ass,” and talk about how you like to “shoot shit” for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.
White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.
White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested.”
White privilege is being able to say that you support the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance because “if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,” and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the “under God” part wasn’t added until the 1950s--while if you're black and believe in reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school, requires it), you are a dangerous and mushy liberal who isn't fit to safeguard American institutions.
White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.
White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto is “Alaska first,” and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.
White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college and the fact that she lives close to Russia--you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because suddenly your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.”
White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.
White privilege is when you can take nearly twenty-four hours to get to a hospital after beginning to leak amniotic fluid, and still be viewed as a great mom whose commitment to her children is unquestionable, and whose "next door neighbor" qualities make her ready to be VP, while if you're a black candidate for president and you let your children be interviewed for a few seconds on TV, you're irresponsibly exploiting them.
White privilege is being able to give a 36 minute speech in which you talk about lipstick and make fun of your opponent, while laying out no substantive policy positions on any issue at all, and still manage to be considered a legitimate candidate, while a black person who gives an hour speech the week before, in which he lays out specific policy proposals on several issues, is still criticized for being too vague about what he would do if elected.
White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.
White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a “trick question,” while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.
White privilege is being able to go to a prestigious prep school, then to Yale and then Harvard Business school, and yet, still be seen as just an average guy (George W. Bush) while being black, going to a prestigious prep school, then Occidental College, then Columbia, and then to Harvard Law, makes you "uppity," and a snob who probably looks down on regular folks.
White privilege is being able to graduate near the bottom of your college class (McCain), or graduate with a C average from Yale (W.) and that's OK, and you're cut out to be president, but if you're black and you graduate near the top of your class from Harvard Law, you can't be trusted to make good decisions in office.
White privilege is being able to dump your first wife after she's disfigured in a car crash so you can take up with a multi-millionaire beauty queen (who you go on to call the c-word in public) and still be thought of as a man of strong family values, while if you're black and married for nearly twenty years to the same woman, your family is viewed as un-American and your gestures of affection for each other are called "terrorist fist bumps."
White privilege is when you can develop a pain-killer addiction, having obtained your drug of choice illegally like Cindy McCain, go on to beat that addiction, and everyone praises you for being so strong, while being a black guy who smoked pot a few times in college and never became an addict means people will wonder if perhaps you still get high, and even ask whether or not you ever sold drugs.
White privilege is being able to sing a song about bombing Iran and still be viewed as a sober and rational statesman, with the maturity to be president, while being black and suggesting that the U.S. should speak with other nations, even when we have disagreements with them, makes you "dangerously naive and immature."
White privilege is being able to say that you hate "gooks" and "will always hate them," and yet, you aren't a racist because, ya know, you were a POW so you're entitled to your hatred, while being black and insisting that black anger about racism is understandable, given the history of your country, makes you a dangerous bigot.
White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism and an absent father is apparently among the "lesser adversities" faced by other politicians, as Sarah Palin explained in her convention speech.
And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because a lot of white voters aren’t sure about that whole “change” thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.
White privilege is, in short, the problem.
This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise
9/13/08
For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.
White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.
White privilege is when you can call yourself a “fuckin’ redneck,” like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll “kick their fuckin' ass,” and talk about how you like to “shoot shit” for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.
White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.
White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested.”
White privilege is being able to say that you support the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance because “if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,” and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the “under God” part wasn’t added until the 1950s--while if you're black and believe in reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school, requires it), you are a dangerous and mushy liberal who isn't fit to safeguard American institutions.
White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.
White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto is “Alaska first,” and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.
White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college and the fact that she lives close to Russia--you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because suddenly your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.”
White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.
White privilege is when you can take nearly twenty-four hours to get to a hospital after beginning to leak amniotic fluid, and still be viewed as a great mom whose commitment to her children is unquestionable, and whose "next door neighbor" qualities make her ready to be VP, while if you're a black candidate for president and you let your children be interviewed for a few seconds on TV, you're irresponsibly exploiting them.
White privilege is being able to give a 36 minute speech in which you talk about lipstick and make fun of your opponent, while laying out no substantive policy positions on any issue at all, and still manage to be considered a legitimate candidate, while a black person who gives an hour speech the week before, in which he lays out specific policy proposals on several issues, is still criticized for being too vague about what he would do if elected.
White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.
White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a “trick question,” while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.
White privilege is being able to go to a prestigious prep school, then to Yale and then Harvard Business school, and yet, still be seen as just an average guy (George W. Bush) while being black, going to a prestigious prep school, then Occidental College, then Columbia, and then to Harvard Law, makes you "uppity," and a snob who probably looks down on regular folks.
White privilege is being able to graduate near the bottom of your college class (McCain), or graduate with a C average from Yale (W.) and that's OK, and you're cut out to be president, but if you're black and you graduate near the top of your class from Harvard Law, you can't be trusted to make good decisions in office.
White privilege is being able to dump your first wife after she's disfigured in a car crash so you can take up with a multi-millionaire beauty queen (who you go on to call the c-word in public) and still be thought of as a man of strong family values, while if you're black and married for nearly twenty years to the same woman, your family is viewed as un-American and your gestures of affection for each other are called "terrorist fist bumps."
White privilege is when you can develop a pain-killer addiction, having obtained your drug of choice illegally like Cindy McCain, go on to beat that addiction, and everyone praises you for being so strong, while being a black guy who smoked pot a few times in college and never became an addict means people will wonder if perhaps you still get high, and even ask whether or not you ever sold drugs.
White privilege is being able to sing a song about bombing Iran and still be viewed as a sober and rational statesman, with the maturity to be president, while being black and suggesting that the U.S. should speak with other nations, even when we have disagreements with them, makes you "dangerously naive and immature."
White privilege is being able to say that you hate "gooks" and "will always hate them," and yet, you aren't a racist because, ya know, you were a POW so you're entitled to your hatred, while being black and insisting that black anger about racism is understandable, given the history of your country, makes you a dangerous bigot.
White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism and an absent father is apparently among the "lesser adversities" faced by other politicians, as Sarah Palin explained in her convention speech.
And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because a lot of white voters aren’t sure about that whole “change” thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.
White privilege is, in short, the problem.
Bush / Palin supporter.
This is what I imagine every McCain / Palin supporter to look like.
This pains me. I'm going to go donate.
9.13.2008
Woah
Is when you run into a LOT of people that you know at the local spot to be at
Is when you dance your heart out
Is when you have a great time and hear songs you haven't heard since '97
Is when you cap the night off with a good dude and good waffle house food
Is when your ex calls you 6 times and texts 3 times in 10 minutes
Is when you get home at 4:30 am and your ex is waiting for you.
Is when you dance your heart out
Is when you have a great time and hear songs you haven't heard since '97
Is when you cap the night off with a good dude and good waffle house food
Is when your ex calls you 6 times and texts 3 times in 10 minutes
Is when you get home at 4:30 am and your ex is waiting for you.
9.12.2008
Anxiety disorders..
I think I might have one which is being triggered by this presidential election.
My chest (heart) was tight for a solid 3 days. During these 3 days I had been inundating myself with political banter. Hearing people supporting McCain/Palin and that they were up in the polls.
That shit literally makes my heart hurt.
Like can you imagine the USA under another 4 years?
Complete recession...perhaps the GREATEST depression. People lose jobs, their houses, their savings. We're at war with 3 countries at a time. We start getting attacked on our soil more frequently. Because we're at war with 3 countries, our national debt increases and we start allowing foreign investors to rescue us because we can no longer survive on our own. Abortions are outlawed, single mother rates increase, health-care is terrible. The death rate increases. Crime goes up as gun laws are completely relaxed. We start a draft because nobody really supports the war; however the Bush Doctrine is finally understood by Palin and enforced. She is president b/c John McCain has passed away. Race relations deteriorate. Economic disparity increases.
That gives me heart pain.
My chest (heart) was tight for a solid 3 days. During these 3 days I had been inundating myself with political banter. Hearing people supporting McCain/Palin and that they were up in the polls.
That shit literally makes my heart hurt.
Like can you imagine the USA under another 4 years?
Complete recession...perhaps the GREATEST depression. People lose jobs, their houses, their savings. We're at war with 3 countries at a time. We start getting attacked on our soil more frequently. Because we're at war with 3 countries, our national debt increases and we start allowing foreign investors to rescue us because we can no longer survive on our own. Abortions are outlawed, single mother rates increase, health-care is terrible. The death rate increases. Crime goes up as gun laws are completely relaxed. We start a draft because nobody really supports the war; however the Bush Doctrine is finally understood by Palin and enforced. She is president b/c John McCain has passed away. Race relations deteriorate. Economic disparity increases.
That gives me heart pain.
Prediction: SNL 9/14/08
Obama is supposed to be on SNL this weekend.
I'd like to predict that in a skit they will give him the opportunity to really put lipstick on a pig. (And perhaps have Tina Fey put lipstick on a pitbull).
How funny would that visual be?
Just to make sure you are aware. You know that Wissila was the only municipality in Alaska that charged the cost of rape kits to the rape victim.
I'd like to predict that in a skit they will give him the opportunity to really put lipstick on a pig. (And perhaps have Tina Fey put lipstick on a pitbull).
How funny would that visual be?
Just to make sure you are aware. You know that Wissila was the only municipality in Alaska that charged the cost of rape kits to the rape victim.
Random thought re: Brazilian Wax
So I've now been getting Brazilian waxes for a little less than a year. The spot I go to is up and coming and has changed quite a bit. They've evolved from having a mostly Brazilian staff to mirroring the ATL population...white and black. Instead of playing Brazilian music...it's now Top 40 music. However, I still love it.
Mary is my new waxonista. She's fun...well as fun as a waxonista can be. She suggested that I do a sugar scrub to prevent in-grown hairs. Not exactly knowing what that concoction was mixed of...I asked, "How would I go about making a sugar scrub?"
Mary: Oh, sugar and oil.
SunFresh: Like, Olive oil?
Mary: Yes, that'll work. But olive oil can get expensive.
SunFresh: Well, it sure beats Crisco oil. I'd come out tasting like fried chicken for sure.
Mary: bwhahahah.
Silently I thought...well with a sugar and olive oil sugar scrub to prevent in-grown hairs "down there," I'd walk away making a fried chicken and koolade meal out of my lady parts.
Any other scrub suggestions for lady part area?
Mary is my new waxonista. She's fun...well as fun as a waxonista can be. She suggested that I do a sugar scrub to prevent in-grown hairs. Not exactly knowing what that concoction was mixed of...I asked, "How would I go about making a sugar scrub?"
Mary: Oh, sugar and oil.
SunFresh: Like, Olive oil?
Mary: Yes, that'll work. But olive oil can get expensive.
SunFresh: Well, it sure beats Crisco oil. I'd come out tasting like fried chicken for sure.
Mary: bwhahahah.
Silently I thought...well with a sugar and olive oil sugar scrub to prevent in-grown hairs "down there," I'd walk away making a fried chicken and koolade meal out of my lady parts.
Any other scrub suggestions for lady part area?
I want to save the world this weekend
I'm a lazy weekend type gal. I'm not the type to want to run around mad. Matter of fact, I usually do cleaning on Monday nights b/c I am already conditioned to loathe Monday...so ad in some extraneous chores and it suits my general distaste for Monday.
But I'm going to Ireland and Spain for two weeks starting on September 19th. I HAVE to get ish done this weekend. As I sit here I come up with things that I'd like to do, but first and foremost, my schedule will revolve around participating in a VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE.
1. Voter registration
2. Buy things that will make traveling to Ireland/Spain easy and stylish.
3. Wash clothes to take on the trip
4. Inundate myself with political media
5. Finish reading Al Greenspan's, "The Age of Turbulence."
6. Do Yoga
7. Dance
8. Go on at least one date
9. Catch up with Miracle Man, who has been sick.
10. Locate a Nintendo Wii (altho' the guy I went out with last night offered to get me one).
11. Go to AAA to get a triptick for Ireland/Spain. (Are there any black people in Ireland?)
What is on your agenda?
I have been MIA on this blog. For some reason, I'm feeling more private with my thoughts / daily life. And aparently I'm supposed to join the masses and be scared to talk about sex. Despite this whole Vow 08 thing being a real challenge and me wanting to think outloud via the blog. I by no means want to just go have sex. I'm craving a connection, a connection with depth. The real challenge is trying to change my thought that sex is the physical manifestation of what you feel for a person. Most men don't see it that way. So clearly there is a disconnect. I was going to post about my trials and tribulations with Vow 08...but nawwww.
But I'm going to Ireland and Spain for two weeks starting on September 19th. I HAVE to get ish done this weekend. As I sit here I come up with things that I'd like to do, but first and foremost, my schedule will revolve around participating in a VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE.
1. Voter registration
2. Buy things that will make traveling to Ireland/Spain easy and stylish.
3. Wash clothes to take on the trip
4. Inundate myself with political media
5. Finish reading Al Greenspan's, "The Age of Turbulence."
6. Do Yoga
7. Dance
8. Go on at least one date
9. Catch up with Miracle Man, who has been sick.
10. Locate a Nintendo Wii (altho' the guy I went out with last night offered to get me one).
11. Go to AAA to get a triptick for Ireland/Spain. (Are there any black people in Ireland?)
What is on your agenda?
I have been MIA on this blog. For some reason, I'm feeling more private with my thoughts / daily life. And aparently I'm supposed to join the masses and be scared to talk about sex. Despite this whole Vow 08 thing being a real challenge and me wanting to think outloud via the blog. I by no means want to just go have sex. I'm craving a connection, a connection with depth. The real challenge is trying to change my thought that sex is the physical manifestation of what you feel for a person. Most men don't see it that way. So clearly there is a disconnect. I was going to post about my trials and tribulations with Vow 08...but nawwww.
9.08.2008
Hurricane Schmurricane.
Well, the wedding venue truly canceled the wedding; however, the wedding coordinator and the hotel worked absolute Magic to deliver a beautiful wedding to a beautiful person.
I'll edit at some point tomorrow to talk about the best man smashing the bride's cousin. My embarrassing morning. The renewing of the vows. How I might be THE CHAMP when it comes to laser tag and air hockey. Hair and make-up. Ode to the Green Machine, a 1991 Honda Accord that still rolling at 188,000 miles. The 12/13 year old boys that were spitting game to me. Lessons learned for my future wedding.
I'll edit at some point tomorrow to talk about the best man smashing the bride's cousin. My embarrassing morning. The renewing of the vows. How I might be THE CHAMP when it comes to laser tag and air hockey. Hair and make-up. Ode to the Green Machine, a 1991 Honda Accord that still rolling at 188,000 miles. The 12/13 year old boys that were spitting game to me. Lessons learned for my future wedding.
9.04.2008
Blogging from the airport
Please forgive any typos and short hand typing, I dont have spell check and u know its not comfy typing on these pdas.
1. I took Marta, cuz u know its smarta. I got on the plane kinda jiggy in my work clothes and sexy hot shoes. Immediately, 3 men offered me their seat. I graciously said thank you and announced, "they dont do that in new york!" Which got a giggle out of those around me and generated some chatter.
2. What would u do if u were getting married and the venue called u 2 days before to cancel? Hurricane, schmuricane. So my bffs wedding is cancelled at the chrysler musuem and the alternatice is the marriott hotel. I hope this is not a precursor to their relationship.
3. I think that I will start a seperate blog for my political banter. I want to link certain people in, but I dont want them all extra in my bizness. Sure they could find this blog on their own; however im not inviting them.
4. How ironic that im eating wendys before i go to the 757. Which successfully upset my stomach. Erg, i hate fast food like that...but those damn fries will make me a large lady one day.
5. Miracle man has been entertaining. In the words of TIH, that is all.
1. I took Marta, cuz u know its smarta. I got on the plane kinda jiggy in my work clothes and sexy hot shoes. Immediately, 3 men offered me their seat. I graciously said thank you and announced, "they dont do that in new york!" Which got a giggle out of those around me and generated some chatter.
2. What would u do if u were getting married and the venue called u 2 days before to cancel? Hurricane, schmuricane. So my bffs wedding is cancelled at the chrysler musuem and the alternatice is the marriott hotel. I hope this is not a precursor to their relationship.
3. I think that I will start a seperate blog for my political banter. I want to link certain people in, but I dont want them all extra in my bizness. Sure they could find this blog on their own; however im not inviting them.
4. How ironic that im eating wendys before i go to the 757. Which successfully upset my stomach. Erg, i hate fast food like that...but those damn fries will make me a large lady one day.
5. Miracle man has been entertaining. In the words of TIH, that is all.
What can we do?
I hope you are as offended by Palin's speech as I am.
I'm offended on many levels. First that you think that I'm too stupid to see through the Republican Rhetoric. Obama is going to raise taxes? I'm sorry, I'm in the 80%majority of people who would actually benefit from his economic. Who are you speaking to? Ohh...that's right, your constituents.
I'm offended MOST by her belittling Obama's community organizing experience. One person came to mind, don't know if you've heard of him: Martin Luther King. She invalidated him. Martin Luther King was a community organizer that was a great speaker who was motivated by a dream...a hope...a vision.
The hypocrisy makes me heart hurt. Seriously y'all my angst with her words have seeped into my physical being. My heart literally hurts.
The sad thing people is that there are millions of 'small town,' Americans that will eat this rhetoric up. They probably laughed heartily at her zingers and started to question their support of Obama.
I want to talk to these people. To ensure that they know the facts. Unlike Barack, I won't take the high road and not question the hyporcrisy. Unlike the Media, I will call John McCain out for leaving his disabled wife for a younger rich trollop/cunt. I want to GO IN. How can we do this?
I'm offended on many levels. First that you think that I'm too stupid to see through the Republican Rhetoric. Obama is going to raise taxes? I'm sorry, I'm in the 80%majority of people who would actually benefit from his economic. Who are you speaking to? Ohh...that's right, your constituents.
I'm offended MOST by her belittling Obama's community organizing experience. One person came to mind, don't know if you've heard of him: Martin Luther King. She invalidated him. Martin Luther King was a community organizer that was a great speaker who was motivated by a dream...a hope...a vision.
The hypocrisy makes me heart hurt. Seriously y'all my angst with her words have seeped into my physical being. My heart literally hurts.
The sad thing people is that there are millions of 'small town,' Americans that will eat this rhetoric up. They probably laughed heartily at her zingers and started to question their support of Obama.
I want to talk to these people. To ensure that they know the facts. Unlike Barack, I won't take the high road and not question the hyporcrisy. Unlike the Media, I will call John McCain out for leaving his disabled wife for a younger rich trollop/cunt. I want to GO IN. How can we do this?
9.03.2008
Serious Question: Where would you be?
How do you think your life would be different if your mother chose her career over family?
In college, I used to truly believe that I could do it all. People saw me, a young woman who was involved in volunteering, Supervisor of a campus job, NABA Vice President, and Student Council Representative...and assumed that I'd aspire to become a C-level executive of some Corporation. And I blieved that too.
Until I got into the working world.
I was exposed to the type of women that were top executives of the Company that I worked for. They did not resonate with the woman that I aspired to truly be. Who is this woman?
My MOTHER.
My mother is Ivy League decorated. Her peers are amongst the best & brightest at NY Times and NBC. But you know what? They don't have children. They opted to pursue their career over a family life. To each his/her own; but observing that left a strong impression on me.
My mother was the REAL soccer/basketball/piano/gymnastics/PTA mother. When I cried, she was there. When I got caught up in bad things, she was there. When I laughed, she was there. When she took me to the gynecologist who asked if I was sexually active, she left the room to put my health and safety above Jesus Christ (yes, I said it). I then immediately told her the truth that yes, I was 17 and sexually active and she immediately put me on the pill. But she was THERE.
You know where she was not?
In some board room parenting a business or the government.
I have no clue where I'd be without my mother. And I really ponder in light of Palin. What mother with 5 children, one having a disability opt to parent the government over her own children? That is the antithesis of family values.
Women, if you had 5 children, including a new born with downs syndrom...would you accept the position as CEO of your Company...or the top role that you could possibly achieve in your desired field? Is there a proper time in life to do such things?
In college, I used to truly believe that I could do it all. People saw me, a young woman who was involved in volunteering, Supervisor of a campus job, NABA Vice President, and Student Council Representative...and assumed that I'd aspire to become a C-level executive of some Corporation. And I blieved that too.
Until I got into the working world.
I was exposed to the type of women that were top executives of the Company that I worked for. They did not resonate with the woman that I aspired to truly be. Who is this woman?
My MOTHER.
My mother is Ivy League decorated. Her peers are amongst the best & brightest at NY Times and NBC. But you know what? They don't have children. They opted to pursue their career over a family life. To each his/her own; but observing that left a strong impression on me.
My mother was the REAL soccer/basketball/piano/gymnastics/PTA mother. When I cried, she was there. When I got caught up in bad things, she was there. When I laughed, she was there. When she took me to the gynecologist who asked if I was sexually active, she left the room to put my health and safety above Jesus Christ (yes, I said it). I then immediately told her the truth that yes, I was 17 and sexually active and she immediately put me on the pill. But she was THERE.
You know where she was not?
In some board room parenting a business or the government.
I have no clue where I'd be without my mother. And I really ponder in light of Palin. What mother with 5 children, one having a disability opt to parent the government over her own children? That is the antithesis of family values.
Women, if you had 5 children, including a new born with downs syndrom...would you accept the position as CEO of your Company...or the top role that you could possibly achieve in your desired field? Is there a proper time in life to do such things?
9.02.2008
90210 :-) Yea!!!
The inner 16 year old in me is so pumped. I tried to watch the RNC to feel well balanced. But I couldn't do it, it was too lame.
OMG - Shannon, the guy from the Pit. OMG OMG OMG. This is AWESOME. Kelly!
There's even a black person on the show in a permanent role.
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