On the news...

Wow... it's been a while...

Anyway, on to the rant...

I find myself annoyed beyond measure (not to mention worried) lately whenever I check the news... and not because of the news themselves, despite all the things that pop up... but, rather what scares me are the people that comment on the news.

Yeah, I'm not going to say that I can argue point by point in all of them to prove they are wrong somehow... but, when you look at all the hate that they propagate with racist, biggoted, insensitive comments... are these guys for real? They are more scary than the news! How can they be so hateful and yet consider themselves moral individuals?

Makes me sick.

Bureaucracy: The lethargic death of the modern world.

Imploding Detroit: Theatre Bizarre

Recently, I finally got the chance to attend Theatre Bizarre, the Carnival-like themed Halloween Party to end all Carnival-like themed Halloween Parties.
It has been going on for years now, 10 to 11, I believe with an ever increasing number of shows and artists participating.
So far it has provided a history of fun and creativity; a gathering place for artists and performers to do what they do best and let the rest of us mere mortals appreciate their fantastic productions, their unbelievable displays of dexterity, contortion and talent in a setting that takes our minds away from the mundane world into the twisted and unbelievable Halloween experience.
But this year, the City of Detroit took notice of it for the first time, and rather than support its very own, it not only closed it down and made everyone relocate, it also decided to step in and destroy years of work and love. Although it has gathered sympathy as well as increased coverage, the fact remains that the sudden taking action is dubious at best. Not to mention, what kind of self-centered moron reported that Theatre Bizarre didn't have an alcohol license in the first place?
So, what is it that drives Detroit to destroy everything in its path? Is it the questionable ethics of the Detroit City Council? Are racism and inverse-racism so much part of the soul of the City that it corrodes every good thing? Is it the corruption that pumps through its veins that makes everyone that heard the news realize that "they just didn't pay the right people"?
Even a quick glance at the History of Detroit reveals how many things "slipped" under the watchful eye of regulations. Let's not forget either, the convenient Zoning Laws that up until now were as mutable as your average Pokemon (2). The City of Detroit deserves its very own TV Tropes Page. It is also mentioned as a destination in the "Places worse than Death".
Of course Mayor Dave Bing is (incredibly) more lawful-oriented than his predecessor and that tends to shift things a bit... however it is still sad that they would concentrate their collective efforts on messing up a creative and harmless party while things like Devil's Night still go on with nothing but well-wishes to counter it.
Meanwhile, in the Hall of Injustice (California Branch)...

All this talk about dubious reasoning and clerical incompetence brings out another problem that popped out recently. Turns out that the State of California wants to deny Ciaran his MediCAL on the basis of missing documents and we would need to present ourselves to challenge this decision.

Despite the fact that:

1. The documents in question were presented IN PERSON.
2. We got a RECEIPT.
3. We left a voice-mail asking the social worker to let us know that the DOCUMENTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED.
4. Also, when we went there we changed our address, which, got lost with the rest of the photocopies and documents given, so not only did the letter have no real basis in reality, it ALSO ARRIVED LATE!

One has to wonder what the hell the Governator was thinking when he froze State hiring in California which ended up assigning 400 cases per Social Worker, amongst other problems, such as making life more difficult for everyone looking for jobs or about to get them. Now, over-worked, overwhelmed Social Workers are somehow trying to manage all those cases. I guess in that sense clerical incompetence could be forgiven, but the fact remains, that Ciaran will lose his health coverage on Sunday thanks to moronic governmental decisions and lost paperwork.
Best thing? They don't even have emails. Let's see how the infrastructure of California can function up to date when they're still comparatively medieval with the rest of the world.

Update: Thankfully Ciaran has kept his Health Benefits, and the letter sent was an automatic process initiated when the Social Worker did not enter the information onto their system in time. However, the point remains that the only reason that happened was because of the Hiring Freeze imposed in California. At least it is one thing less to worry about.

Once a fan...

... Always a fan! This just started airing in Japan! :D

Musings of a first-time dad

What to write about parent-hood? Hell I've been at it for less than a week! And with all that's in my head now, this is probably going to end up looking more like a stream of consciousness than anything else.

This time there are so many ramifications to life that I hesitate to even put it in writing. I think the most obvious thing is that I am going to be second-guessing myself all my life from this point on. Oh, sure there are morals and basic guidelines that adapt people to society. You learn them and you can live anywhere where those rules apply, but the deeper teachings, the basic structure is what worries me.

To paraphrase Syun Matsuena, "if you are going to build a castle, you'd better have really strong foundations." So what does that mean? That means that you can teach your kid the ten commandments if you so feel like it, but unless the life you live is an example of how you want them to be interpreted, chances are your child is going to memorize it, but not really understand what you mean.

And I don't want to force a perspective of life on my child, but until he is old enough to make a serious choice of his own, I have to do my best to put things into focus as clearly as possible so that he will understand what his options are. He has to grow up to make up his own mind, and I (we) have the challenging mission of giving him the tools to do so.

Everyone with children wants to teach them certain things.

Some will insist on strong religious beliefs over anything else, while the advocates of reason will procure a way to do things maybe in a more scientific way.

My son will have to deal with "informed" individuals of all sorts. People that claim that salvation (in different guises) will come from their method or system of beliefs, or that he should do this or that to get better results (despite common sense).

He will have to deal with success and disappointment with the same amount of determination, pride and humility.

He will have to learn the diligence and rewards of hard work, both, the type he loves and the type he hates.

Besides basic skills like swimming and whatnot, I have decided that there are at least four things I definitely would want my child to learn if I can inspire some interest in him for it (no point in forcing the issue):

1. I would like him to learn Martial Arts. - Although I won't take him on a 10 year training trip when he hits five, I believe that the discipline and exercise and (obviously) learning to defend himself can only benefit him in the long run.

2. I would like him to love books like I do. - This, mainly because it will open his mind. He doesn't necessarily have to like the type of books that I like, however, IF he lives to be 12 without having read at least 1 book on his own volition I will consider myself an utter failure. I've met waaay too many parents that control what their children read and believe me, I get a bad taste in my mouth (not to mention morally) when I see a mother force a child to "choose" a book that corresponds only with what SHE likes. Way to teach love of literature.

3. I would like him to learn how to act. - He doesn't necessarily need to become an actor per-se, but the skills that you learn in acting make you much more effective at communicating, hell, even selling yourself later on at a job interview!

4. I would like him to learn how to play a musical instrument. - Preferably one he likes (despite the fact that it would be totally awesome to have him play the Ocarina). If I need to explain my reasoning for this, maybe the reader should stop reading at this point.

Chances are, of course, I'll get one or two out of the list, but at least I will have tried! Now I have to think of a way of awakening his interest in those subjects...

Mary Schmich wrote "Don't worry about the future, or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum."

Which is of course one of my favorite quotes ever, but one that know I find myself at a struggle to take to heart. Just like saying "Hakuna Mattata" or "Moumantai" won't sort out feelings of stress every time!

Let's face it, I'm not in the best financial situation as it is. Playing the Lotto is no guarantee of winning and what I want to do is provide for him enough financial stability to make it to his doctorate without having to rely too much on government loans. Heh. Easy right?
Who knows at this point even IF he will want to get a Masters in anything (although with me and his mom being as we are chances are he'll do it) but these are the kind of things that we are facing now.

Him being a boy places him in my playing field, I guess, and I find myself with this apprehension... I'm not afraid to mess up, everyone does at some point, I'm just hoping to do right by him and not mess up too badly.

And yet, when I hold him and look into his eyes, I can't help but feel that there is something that I must do, that I have to be better and wiser and maybe be able to fly like Superman. I'm most likely not the only dad to feel that way, but it is a bit daunting what my mind demands of me in the best interest of a little creature that I helped create. In a way parents are Larger than Life to a newborn, right?

I do wonder what words of wisdom I will have for him as the years go by.

First day of school: "Don't worry kid, it's not as bad as it seems."

First scrapped knee: "No, you are not dying"

First fistfight (hopefully avoided, but if my Martial Arts plan works, I pity the fool that challenges him!): "Now, what DID I tell you about breaking kneecaps?"

First crush, first date... well, it's an endless list, but the point is really about being able to give any advice at all.

Two sources of indirect advise come to mind.

The first being from Tolkien through Gandalf, when he points out that we should "Seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill."

The second source, being again, Mary Schmich: "Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth."

A flippant attitude, a moment of not caring, a piece of bad advice and you've basically f****d up.

Returning to the slight rant about the mother that wouldn't let her child choose her own book, that is another thing that worries me. What is too much involvement? What defines the line between guidance and making the choices for someone? I know how I felt when my parents seemed to be more involved than they should have been in my early life... I guess I just need to learn to listen.

All in all I am looking forward to being a dad, but I guess this is my way of admitting to myself that it is not going to be easy, and that my responsibility this time extends way beyond my own person and little universe.

Yahoo Buzz!

I HATE Yahoo Buzz.

But, Dice, why do you hate it? You might ask.

Well, it is simple. It has become a breeding ground for morons.

You can't read any news without some Tea-Party activist jumping in to share their "enlightened" opinion on the government.

Throwing around words like "fascism", "socialist", "communist" or even "Marxist" without motive, or understanding of what they mean... using them as synonyms! Synonyms! What the hell people?!

Obama cannot possibly be both a fascist and a socialist! They are mutually exclusive concepts!

But well, let's face it. Talking with big words (correctly) to the average Tea Party Activist is like kicking a puppy. Except that they're not that cute. And it's a bunch of puppies convinced that their whining is righteous justice. And you don't have a foot big enough to kick them all at the same time and shut them up.

But, I digress. Returning to Yahoo Buzz! - It is completely annoying to read any article precisely because some random idiot is going to bring their unrelated government opinions to it.

For example. I once read an article about the ice melting and how it would affect oceanic currents. It was a study done and reported by French Scientists. In France, which is in Europe... just in case some of our Tea-Partying friends need further clarification.

First comment just at the end of the article? "Oh, great MORE government money spent on Democratic leies!" (Yes, he couldn't spell "lies")

I will concede that there were a few interesting comments (much further down) by some individuals arguing the actual topic of the article. But finishing the article and encountering stupidity on that level just ruins it for me.

I mean, granted, I am not reading the article to look at people's opinions on it, but well, people ARE entitled to share their opinions and Yahoo Buzz! is designed to allow them to do that. The problem is that there is NO moderation whatsoever. So you get morons trolling an otherwise interesting article with their misled political propaganda. And beware if someone reports you as "abuse" (justified or not) because then, you can't even share your own opinion until YB decides you can.

So, Yahoo Buzz can go to hell in my opinion and drag with it all of its effing Tea-bagging followers.

A third Decade

So finally I have reached my third decade. 30 years old, and not any less opinionated about things. I still haven't grown wings and/or a tail & horns, just if you were wondering, so physically I cannot say I feel much different... perhaps I'm in better condition with all the walking and bicycle riding I've done of late.

I have to say that the last few years have included a lot of change. But this last year is definitely the one that contains the most evident and defining changes.

I've moved to California and now I am starting a family. It is a good way to start into the 30s, after all, a new decade demands change, and flowing into this stream of change is the birth of my son in two months.

Having settled down over here and looking for jobs has also defined my identity in relation to my plans for the future. I am here with the woman I love, we are expecting parents and that does put a few things into perspective. First and foremost what kind of example I can be to this person coming into the world.

There is a lot to think about, this time. It's not a completely care-free birthday occasion, but it certainly is a happy one!

I'm looking forward to see what this year brings to my life.

Thanks for reading, and I'll post some other random rant later!

Tea anyone?

First a note:

A dear friend of mine had a brain hemorrhagic episode, otherwise known by some as a stroke. My best wishes go to him and his family, so far away right now that I cannot visit, but still all dear to my heart. I know you'll be fine my friend, but know that all of us that know you will be hoping for your fast recovery!

Captain America and Tea Baggers (belated blog from a few days ago)

This is starting to feel a bit like a political-oriented rant blog... which it isn't. However, the sheer lack of logic of some individuals in the political war-zone that we face today just feeds my annoyance and therefore merits a rant.

In this occasion, I've taken offense with the "Teabaggers" otherwise known as the extreme-right ultra-conservatives. Or, according to one entry of the URBAN DICTIONARY defines them:

	teabagger
	A whining fool shouting loudly for liberty but not willing to pay the bill. After most American workers saw more money in their paycheck due to the lower tax rate, the teabaggers at Fox News railed against high taxes, but did not discuss how much Jesus hated hypocrisy. hypocrite mad sheep disease rectocranial inversion sufferer bloviator pretender

(Point of note: the definition above makes a reference to one of the major teabaggers have, which is taxes. Conveniently ignoring that President Obama did indeed lower the taxes, they demand that he do so, as if he never had.)

They are probably the manifestation of what I detest in politics and all roads of life- extremists. Oh, how do I rant and rave about extremists!

Now, to clear things up, I don't think the issues that they have trouble with are stupid... I just think that their understanding of the actual issues and their approach to dealing with them is, well, dubious to put it blandly.

Also, another point of note is that they are not necessarily Republicans! This rant has nothing to do with the GOP, being that a lot of them do NOT condone the actions of Teabaggers in general.

Anyway, by today, you might have heard about the reaction to Captain American #602 where one panel shows a protester with a sign that ties them to the Tea Baggers.

Quoting: "Tea Bag the Libs Before they Tea Bag You!"

According to Joe Quesada there was no intention of putting a direct reference to the Teabaggers in the issue. You can find his exact answer (as well as a very unflattering photograph of the original protester looking like a complete r*****) in THIS INTERVIEW. Of course if we believe FOX NEWS, it was all intentional and a premeditated chastising of the Teabbaggers.
But really... who believes FN?

My problem with Teabaggers is their amazing ability to claim the most dubious and sometimes outrageous things... and protest about them. Never mind that polls by real news networks and news papers have proven that only a dramatically (or should that be ridiculously?) low amount of Teabaggers actually know what the movement is about- seriously, doubting that Global Warming is a real issue?

How much scientific proof do you need?

I mean, George Berkin might disagree that it is a reality because he ended up in a snowstorm in Jersey and well, when someone tells you that snow is an effect of warming (heat)... unless you are unfamiliar with basic physics, possess absolutely no knowledge of weather and how atmospheric pressure and wind work and create climate changes (or possess the ability to blatantly ignore it), well you just might believe the same.

But what could that prove anyway? It's just science... it doesn't feel the people of America and their necessities and "real" problems. Unlike political parties.

But seriously, it's getting out of hand!

It would be hypocritical of me to say: "Shut the hell up about what you dislike!" (given the nature of this blog) but it is about time they realize that deluding themselves, hiding behind their ignorance and advocating for causes that are aimed to destroy rather than build is not going to benefit anyone, including them!

So, I while won't tell Teabaggers to "SHUT THE HELL UP!" I will tell them to "GET REAL!"

Airports and Fanatics

On this blog I have mentioned on several occasions how useless and pointless and many other “something-less” airport security measures were up to this point in time.

I spoke to airport security officials about it from time to time, experts on the field, engineers that designed the x-ray machines and such... and now I stand vindicated when it was proven that all of the measures amount to nothing if people don't try to do their jobs with a bit of professionalism and consistency.

So, everyone is aware of the Detroit “terrorist attack” perpetrated by a Nigerian youth that, according to recent news, “felt lonely and ignored." If feeling depressed was a valid excuse to blow people up then fair enough, but it isn't.

It is slightly annoying to find out that the reason this came to be was because some random asshole didn't check that Mr. Farouk was ALREADY in the list of terrorist suspects and let him on the plane.

There are many things wrong with that. First, on a personal level, that kid should have known that when your previously supporting family draws a line and informs the government that you are a terrorist maybe you have some issues.

That does not happen simply because you complained about Christians or decided to become Muslim... it takes a bit more and it requires really worrying attitudes. I mean... your own father reported you. Get a hint.

So, what did he achieve with this foolhardy attitude? Well... being sent to a hospital with the guy that knocked him down and... now people have been banned from reading books on the last hour of the flight... or using a blanket.... or holding a baby.

Yes, Mr. Farouk, your attempt at a jihad only ended up bringing really pathetic “security” measures and also makes people laugh in disbelief when they are told about them.

Not that that can be all blamed on Mr. Farouk. He didn't tell them to make up useless rules, in fact he only brought to light that people at the airport where he departed were not doing their jobs and that inspired the quacks at homeland security to emerge from their cubicles laughing manically with new “improvements” for the security of passengers.

I am sure that reading a copy of the “The Secret Garden” is going to be a serious threat to national security and god/goddess/entity/nothing out there forbid a mother holding her child!

How is it that it is illegal to drive around in a car with a child of a certain age without a specialized seat and it is not only legal but now encouraged to put it on a random, adult-sized seat in an airplane about to land? What if the baby gets loose from under the belt and the movement of the plane sends him rolling down the aisle?

And what does the TSA representative has to say about the incongruousness of these “security measures”? According to the Associated Press, it was a verbatim: "It keeps them guessing”

So, in a combination of inadequate performance of duty and a depressed youth that rather than off himself somewhere decided to take others of a different religious inclination with him in the ultimate act of self-serving egoistical whim (which I think is also against the rules written down by the prophet, but well, don't quote me on that) we are all inconvenienced. Well done.

This also brings out something else to rant about... Personally, I don't think having a religion is a bad thing. Be it Christian, or Muslim or Wicca, your religious beliefs are pretty much a choice in life-style that will affect how you interact with people, as such choices do.

However, those same groups have what we call “Fanatics” and to be clear they don't come only in “Main Religious Colors” no, there are Wicca/Pagan fanatics, just the same as there are Atheist Fanatics.

Fanaticism is, after all, not limited to people that pray, it is a blend of absolute, unquestionable, unbending and fastidious belief in an idea... equally encountered in “God exists” and “God doesn't exist”

I am much less afraid of the average Muslim than I am of the average Christian Fanatic. In fact, I am not afraid at all of the average Muslim. But I do feel threatened by the average Christian Fanatic.

And it is not because they are “right” or I am afraid to see the “truth” but rather because they are more likely to invade my personal space with their BS and encourage me to retaliate by introducing my elbow to their kidney.

The danger out there with religion has never been its existence. I have heard some people say “blame it on religion” but that's simply not how it works. You can argue the validity of religion, but you cannot blame the stupidity and single mindedness of fanatics on it.

Both the Bible and the Koran have simple and good advice in their pages. As books, they are also to be taken in context. Things have changed, a fact that the Fanatic does not understand.

Change is part of the stories and in their own time that change was what causes [some] contradictions to pop up in it. It is the blind acceptance of the literal that creates hate towards the different or interpretative.

Take the whole Palestine and Israel thing going on. It has even gotten to the point of not being anything more than a brawl of “I want this to be mine!” and “I won't share!”

Although people make jokes about Scientology, I bet not even half of them are as wild eyed and crazy-looking as Tom Cruise was on that spiel about Psychologists. Nor, for that matter do I believe all “Satanists” are actually sacrificing children as people tend to imagine. The ones that do that are not only mentally unstable, they are also fanatics.

I honestly tire of the “You are one of these: choose a group/hobby/life-style from list A therefore you are automatically this: choose an adjective from list B” approach.

List A	List B
Christian	Crazy
Muslim	Loser
Wicca	Fanatic
Gamer	Terrorist
RPGer	Uneducated
Footballer	Brain-dead
Cheerleader	Dweeb
Mexican	Bimbo

And sadly it is not only fed by the fanatics of the groups that are being “classified," but also socially acceptable to some degree.

It is comfortable and easy to set yourself to an idea and make it your belief because admitting to the fact that you just might be wrong makes you think and generally you tend to find that you are wrong about something. So people feel fit to conform their surroundings into simple black and white.

Because, no matter what everyone says, no matter how much a “law” is written down on stone... there is ALWAYS gray.

A person will simplify another individual's existence by putting them in categories they can make fun of and demoralize to feel superior. What other point is there in criticizing a hobby than to assure yourself on some level that you are not as pathetic as you perceive others that have it to be? What other point is there in dehumanizing a follower of a different religion than to make yourself look wiser or more holly?

So if you want to say that religion is what messed up today, maybe you should consider that the real reason the world is messed up today on many levels is because of religious fanaticism in some way or another. Not from a single faith. Not by a single group. And certainly not by the majority.

Just like a small mistake is more easily remembered by your peers than most of your achievements, the few religious fanatics that go ahead and kill others before dying or prove how much they are unbending and say it is a proof of “faith” before dying are even less dangerous than the idiotic religious fanatics that turn them into martyrs or use them as an example.

The problem with some religious fanatics is that their devotion to a single cause makes others look up to them (which is the other side of the problem: gullible idiots) and follow their lead in blind-faith to a certain bloody result.

Contrary to some people's beliefs it is different when people fight a battle for lands because they NEED the lands to grow crops than when people decide to invade another country because their “god” told them so. Which, also translates into attacking and killing innocent people in the name of religion.

The fact that some people don't understand how that is wrong is depressing by itself.

Hell, even if their tactics are pretty much useless and have proven to be not fool-proof at least the “anti-terrorist countries” try to go (or at least they claim to go) for the terrorists and their leaders, rather than shooting civilians to try to get to them.

Whereas what we get from terrorists is how they are going to win by killing all infidels (aka everyone else), which by the way at this points means the same as “heathens” so just because Christian fanatics don't tie bombs to their bodies yet don't think you are too far away from doing it too.

Like with swords and guns, you cannot blame the use of religion on religion itself. It is the people that use it that are to blame and religion gets judged along with them.

It is not the average Christian, Jew or Muslim that accuses Television or Video Games (on TV, no less) of bringing out evil and mayhem in people, or that it causes them to want to kill others.

The average believer of any religion will not feel threatened by change, because their faith evolves with them. It is just the Fanatics that cannot and will not understand that their frame of mind has been left behind.

This is not a world of Fanatic vs Fanatic. It is about the Fanatics vs the Rest of Us. The more we allow fanaticism to grow, the more intolerance and and bigotry is allowed to express itself in violence and we not only stop it or cut it off at the bud, but condone it and cheer it on, then the more this world is going to sink and drag the rest of us down with it.

Mexico

Whoever is aware of Mexico's newest Tax proposal (a 3% Tax on IT including INTERNET access) might be reminded of the infamous quote,"We are on the border of the abyss... but today we will take a firm step forward!" (loose translation)

Seriously, as if the place wasn't already seen as a pit technology-wise. Where companies hesitate to even consider sending video games to home owners and a depressing number of children haven't even learned how to type on a keyboard... Now we have a bunch of obviously computer/internet-illiterate politicians who believe that forcing a tax on the internet is going to be beneficial.

Haven't they considered that Mexico already is really expensive already for really low quality services? That by doing that, people that have to go to Internet Cafes will have to pay even more for the short time they use the computers? That some schools might consider passing the chance for a connection to reduce costs? That the INEGI once pointed out that people who earned less than minimum wage were the owners of about half of the computers in the country? What will this tax do to them?

What about people that will hesitate to continue having it, despite the need their children might have of it? Computer Illiteracy in Mexico is pretty wide-spread, and making it more difficult to reach is not going to solve it.

They might as well build a real wall on the borders (both north and south), prohibit interactions with the rest of the world and fester in their own stupidity. But we cannot pretend that this is new, Mexico has previous history of stupidity in Taxes, as I am sure every country in the world does to some level... take the British Tax over owning TVs for example.

Those familiar with Mexican Taxes might also remember the "Tenencia" a "temporary" Tax introduced in 1962 by former President Adolfo Lopez Mateos to pay for the projected costs of the 1968 Olympic Games to be held in Mexico City.

This tax became so convenient that the government completely "forgot" that it was a temporary measure and as such it carried on irritating everyone that owned a vehicle, until recently, when President Calderon finally put down a termination date- by the 1st January in 2012, (which is also the Mayan Year for the "End of the World" as sensationalists like to call it) it will be gone. Supposedly.

So, what is the response to it? Well, in the long history of rather useless shows of solidarity, instead of marching (which would have been just as useless as it always is in Mexico) people decided to Twitter messages of discomfort about the tax.

Now. I don't have a problem with this method of complaint. In fact, I think it is better than messing up the traffic of Mexico City even more for such random causes as, I don't know, still supporting AMLO (classic show of downright stupidity.)

My problem is that they have stopped. Just like the marches, once they have done it, people tend to feel better about themselves and simply forget to check up on it believing that they have said their share and that is enough.

I say put pressure on the bastards and force their hand. They are elected officials -that means that they can be kicked out by the people that elected them.

Thoughts

Everyone wants something, be it fame or fortune, or any of the many other things that bother us in life and we have yet to achieve.

Sometimes we have part of it, just in our reach and it goes away, and in those times the choice is either the simple one, walk away... or the hard one, reach for it again.

When you do reach again, and again for it, tension builds. People expect things from you, but worse, you demand from yourself to grasp it, because it is *just* there. And sometimes, you cannot do it, not because you lack the strength or the intelligence or the drive- sometimes things happen that set you back and make you feel like a fool. Sometimes it takes longer than you want, and sometimes it surprises you how quickly it works out.

When you are betting everything on chance; when things are looking like there is no way you will manage to do things in time, when the people you hope would stand by you don't and you only receive accusatory looks or remarks...

What else is there to do but stand up, bear and grin it and march over again to try and get that which eludes you?

There will be some that will judge you. There will be some that will make fun of you. There will be some that will try to diminish everything you try to do... but in the end, you only answer to yourself.

People will always judge and pretend to know what is best for you or even assume that they know you better than you do. If you are afraid to stand up even if you might fall yet again, you have no business trying.

If history has taught us something it is that everyone looks at the same object and sees two different things. I'd rather see hope than despair. I'd rather see chance than stagnation. I'd rather say "I'm getting there" than "I'm quitting."

But that's just me.

MORE Politcal BS from the Extreme GOP and Co.

So, now some Reps in the USA are complaining (big surprise) about Obama telling children to make an effort in school and study.

To those guys, and the teachers and principals and government officials that are going to block a non-political statement encouraging children to better themselves, I can only ask this: "Just-how-stupid-can-you-really-get?"

If you don't want your children to get an education or get inspired to go get more, don't send them to school!

Now, about the Health Care...

First of all, for those people (Hard-Core Republican and otherwise) that complain about how Obama has no right to pass the bill without the consent of Congress, read this: George Bush: Commander in Chief

It is annoying to say the least just how much BS is being talked about the current President over nonsense.

First, (unlike his predecessor) he shows respect and an attempt at joint work by going the extra mile to get bi-partisan approval, and what does he get? Attacks and derision, not even on the results of his bill, but mostly on the basis of partisan choice.

So what does that mean? In simpler terms, the reason the Hard-Core Republican politicians complain about it, is not because it is bad for the country; they complain because it comes from the Democrats.

So, what about the masses? Well, let's see. First off, they are easily influenced by whatever some asshole in a suit says. Don't believe me? Just look at the "Pulling the plug on Grandma" quote reactions.

That's just the paranoia of the uninformed being fed to the credulous masses. Where is the truth in that? Have you read the statement of what the plan hopes to accomplish? What the goals are?

Health Care is excessively expensive in the USA. STUPIDLY expensive. Do you think any economy can work if the people that don't have much money have to suffer or even die because they cannot afford Health Care? So, making it cheaper is bad? How?

Let me tell you before you answer... you will say, "well, it needs more money injected to work" and my answer to that is: "What the hell doesn't require money to work?"

You complain about Afganistan. And how things are bad there... for a war that was started by George Bush... and then diverted to "free" Iraq (we can see how well off they are not) and then went back to the "original" purpose.

People, don't forget, with all the BS and excuses he used to divert your minds, that it has been proven that the White House knew about the terrorist attacks that happened in the US. Newspapers around the world published it!

You call Obama a Socialist and compare him to Hitler. Of all things. How much bullshit can you really come up with? Really? If you had ANYONE that could have been compared in certain actions to Hitler, it is not Barak Obama.

Let's face it, little boys and girls: things didn't get this way just because Obama became president... this comes from before...

So, here's a question for you to consider: While Bill Clinton was in office taking the US into the best economic growth in 30 years during his presidency. George Bush came in and left it in the worse shape it has been in 60. DO THE MATH!

If you are going to be blaming the presidents for the Economy, then you have to look to the origin of the problem, not blame it on the current president.

Heat!

The last few days in SLO have been burning hot.

I think that heat is much worse than cold. Yes, your nose freezes in the cold, yes, you tremble and yes, it is normally darker and less appealing (at times) to go out. BUT! When it is cold you simply dress up. You choose warm clothes to put on, and you do so. And you heat up, while outside the cold breeze helps you enjoy it. If you are cold, you cover yourself more until you are not.

However, when it is hot, you have to deal with it. Other than activating the air conditioning, or drinking ungodly amounts of water, there is really not much you can do. And if you don't have those, you will start cooking in your own juices soon enough. There is not much you can do... you can take off your shirt, then your pants, then you are naked... and the heat seems to build up. You HAVE to go out, there is no other way around it, or suffer.

When it is cold outside, you grab a book, get covered in something or turn on the fire, heater, whatever. If it gets too warm, you lower the temperature and let the cold do its job. You make hot chocolate, you eat marshmallows, you prepare a nice warm dinner.

When its hot, you never have enough to drink to get results. Cold water doesn't cool you down the way a hot tea warms you up. Cold drinks, while nice, don't really do their jobs. Yeah, you could drink Gatorade and be healthier, and yes, it is definitely good for you to replenish your electrolites, but it is not going to cool you down that effectively.

Now, there is always the vacation spot thoughts: If it is hot, you go to the pool, the beach, the mall, stay out of the sun, cook outside, lie down and get a tan, etc.

But, what if you don't have a pool? And even if you did, how often will you swim? Are you going to spend every day tanning or swimming when you have to work, cook and do other things? Going to the beach, unless you live just on the shore is another thing that is basically only on the weekends, as is the mall. BBQ (and my readers know how much I love doing it) is great, but between the heat from the grill and the sun, you don't want to do it the next day. Let's face it, even Bobby Flay will probably not grill outside every day.

Besides, it is not really affordable!

Staying out of the sun is great in concept, but again, unless you have air conditioning, at 110 it gets very, very uncomfortable. While I will not even go to the point of comparing it to deserts and such (since, well, they are deserts and let's face it, whining about the heat to a desert-dweller is, well, stupid) I will say that I can't wait for winter to freeze my toes.

The Truthiness of the G.O.P.

One has to wonder what the hell goes through the minds of Hard-core Republicans these days.

The GOP (which, despite popular belief does not mean "Gathering Of Pretenders") has time and again demonstrated their excessively conservative views in outright stupidity to the point where it is almost not funny anymore.

Yes, democrats like to laugh it off since if taken seriously, it would probably start another civil war! But, there is a limit. Whenever racist attitudes come out, Hard-Core Republicans are fast to remind the rest of the world that good ol' Lincoln was a Republican... but that was back in 1861, when the beliefs of Republicans were the same as Democrats today... imagine that.

We (the world) had become used to the Hard-Core Republican ways under the leadership (snicker) of George W. Bush, where the policy was to answer with variations of the word "terror" to just about any question out there, IF they ever got an answer. "Vague" was the theme, and during those times, things like the Patriot Act and torture under the pretense of "Protecting the USA from Terrorists" made the USA seem more like Nazi Germany than the "Land of the Free".

But now, it seems that the Republican "Machine of Fear" has transformed into a new form... that of senseless and rather childish attitudes.

President Obama has been under constant attack by Republicans who claim that were it McCain in his place, it would have been the same situation... please... don't put the rest of us down with your credulous masses.

Would you have asked McCain for proof of his birth on American soil?
No.
Would you have made up a false Birth Certificate (from a country that didn't exist) to try and start a debate?
No.
Would you be chasing after McCain to fulfill the campaign promises he made whilst in the middle of a depression created and perpetrated and not prevented by G.W. Bush?
No.
Would you be accusing him of being a socialist?
No.
Would you say that the posters of him being depicted as the Joker are admissible as a form of "free speech"
No. ( Especially with the history Republicans have had of destroying and mutating free speech.)

Most Republicans I know seem to have an attitude of wanting President Obama to fail. There is this underlying current of speaking up and pointing how he is acting like a "Rock Star" and not doing his job...

Let's analyze that for a moment... So, it is okay for George W. Bush to literally have a several month vacation at the very beginning of his presidency, but it is not okay for Obama to help improve the USA's International Perception at the same time he tries to push his changes? Hm.

All I see is Republicans WHINING about whether what Obama is doing is to their liking or not. Throwing terms like "Obama Inflation" trying to scare others into their system of beliefs... (Sort of like, you will go to hell if you don't believe what I do) But I don't see any attempts in favor of productivity.

To those Republicans out there that like so much to say "Obama is not doing this..." well, let me remind you that if George W. Bush had done what most of the world wanted, he wouldn't have survived the pretzel.

As a bonus, I leave you this: The Illegitimate Grandson of an Alligator (Just my luck that it was the only video with no "embed" code)


-WD

You knew it would come...

So, Michael Jackson is dead and people debate on whether there is too much hype about it. What I would just like to point out to them is that MJ was, after all, the last of those artists that were at any one point comparable to Elvis or the Beatles (or Jesus). Of course there is going to be a lot of hype: since MJ there has been no-one to reach that amount of comparison or recognition... can you imagine someone saying with a straight face: "If Justin Timberlake died he would be bigger than Elvis"? of course not. Nor for that matter any other singer since then.

So what I really hope not to see are the opportunists that will try to make use of the hype to create attention to themselves with false MJ related claims that will be investigated and turned out to be nothing more than some idiot trying to get attention.

Chicago - SLO - L.A.

So as many as you guys know I have been traveling around. I visited Chicago for a couple of weeks, went to my first ever Baseball game (White Sox!) and went out boating.
When I got to San Luis Obispo things quickly piled up with a lot of things to do! I accompanied a group from Cal Poly on a tour of Los Angeles.
I learned a lot about what City Planning is and how it really affects lives. I was guided through the city by people from the Planning Department of City Hall, people from the Transportation Department, and others.
I learned about the L.A. architecture, the changes it has lived through, and I stayed at both East L.A. and Beverly Hills.
I also went to a Dodgers game there!
Back in San Luis Obispo I got a chance to show off my cooking skills and got to enjoy and appreciate the difference between really fresh off-the-garden fruits and vegetables and the supermarket variety. To the point that I actually started enjoying beets. (Which I formerly hated)
Now as rough days in the airport and tough luck with planes has modified my plans a little bit, I am preparing to return to Mexico soon, but I forsee a quick return to California.

Travel begins with a thermal camera

First time I've ever seen a thermal camera... I never expected it to be in the Mexico City International Airport!
But it is there... which is quite amusing, you get to pose only for a guy to usher you in. The Influenza scare is still fresh in Mexico's mind, the radio comes up with apocalyptic warnings: don't let your guard down!
It's, I imagine, a bit how the Cold War was, or the Cuban Missile Scare... keep out an eye for commies! Don't let Russian Spies thrive amongst us! Report them!
One good thing out of this is that it most likely increased the amount of people that will actually wash their hands regularly.
I think my views on the actual inflenza scare are well documented here (just scroll down) so I will leave it there.

Security here has also increased from what it used to be... it is quite annoying too. For example, we all know that regardless of where you are, most airports have a basic rule: if you bring liquids with you, they better be in your check-in bag, or you will have to dump them. If you want a coke, or a coffee you can drink it all before going through security (inadvisable as last minute rushes through it will make you miss the flight) or you go through the check-up and THEN buy it.
Here however, you go through the check-up (x-rays, take the laptop out of the bag, put coins and your belt on a tray, security personnel checking to make sure you are not slipping through drugs or something and/or making you throw into the trash whatever they might frown upon) then you can CONSUME some products.
Unlike the USA where you can buy stuff like drinks inside the airport and carry them into the airplane itself, over here they insist on a second "layer" of "security" where whatever you bought that was not "Duty Free" (and therefore given to you once past them) is taken away and thrown out. So you end up losing money if you didn't gobble down your drink.

Another layer of security which I consider pretty much useless over here is the X-ray machine that checks your bags just before you leave the airport (on arrival). Not because I think the machines are useless, but because you put your bags through the machine and THEN you still have to push the green button for a random chance to get your bags checked.
What irks me about this is that they already checked your bags (all of them) on the X-ray machine. So, theoretically they know exactly what you have in your bags. What is the point in forcing you to "randomly" submit to yet ANOTHER search. Heck, the wait for the bags is annoying enough without having to stand in line for double-check-ups.

Anyway, regardless of this airport rant I am glad to be on the "road" again.

So, for now I bid you all good bye and invite those of you that read Spanish to check out Vilrandir's amusing (and true) post about Raquel Levinstein and "Quantum Psychology"

Later!

-D

The last Vestiges...

Vestiges by the way, means: 1 a (1): a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (Merriam-Webster) for those Evangelical Republicans out there that might frown at the strange word. (Click the link for the MW online entry)

Haven't you all noticed how the "SWINE FLU" terror cloud is slowly dispersing? Oh, sure, there are a bit more cases being identified around the world, but what happened with the Global Pandemic? Is the WHO still saying anything else about it other than how "Better Prepared" we are for an Influenza Pandemic? "Normal" influenza has killed thousands more than this "potentially devastating strain" (which was later found to be really not that aggressive) and they turned the whole thing into another SARS or Avian Flu scenario.

Let's face it people, we were scammed. Not only did the virus NOT originate in Mexico, but in the US (In San Diego California) and also NOT with a Mexican Immigrant... even better, there are studies that suggest that it has been floating around since September 2008... it's just that nobody noticed.

Mexico City closed off and left most of us stranded here (for the time being) completely bored out of our minds. No eternal coffee! In the meantime, there was enough panic to distract people from laws being passed or changed.

Now, I am not saying that this whole thing was a plan by the government to mess up the lives of literally millions of people, however, I do think that it is a prime example of the lack of capacity leaders here have. They blew the whole thing out of proportion, (something that is echoed in the states too by people such as Michelle Bachman, who Blamed Swine Flu on Obama) and created Global Panic (which is not quite the same as Global Pandemic)

What ended up happening is that it fed fear to those assholes out there (i.e. Jay Severin, or the Chinese Government Department in charge of the imports) who rather than inform themselves will point fingers and blame others to feel empowered in their twisted perception of the world.

So, all in all it was a messed-up affair and the world just pointed fingers at Mexico because it was convenient (Not that Mexico was completely blameless or anything) instead on focusing on a real investigation.

All we (the world) got in return was fear, ostracizing, and millions of dollars lost. So, please, stop sending those stupid "informative" emails about what we can and cannot do to avoid Voldemort... I mean, the Swine Flu.

So China isn't discriminating?

China in all its thousand-year-old wisdom has decided to state that they are not discriminating by basically shoving any Mexican that arrives there into isolation. Thousands of years of Philosophy and teachings reveal that even the current Chinese government has forgotten the words of their very own Confucius when he said: "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself." otherwise known as THE GOLDEN RULE

I guess that entitles the rest of the world to do the same to them with their next Toxic Candy or Avian Flu scare.

2010 - Year of the (Possibly Sick) Tiger

"Here is my passport."
"Chinese? Please, step on this line. Be prepared for everything you own to be searched, and for blood samples to be taken. In the meantime, you will stay in this little gray room with every other Chinese that comes to the country."
"But... that's discrimination against my people!"
"Oh no, it's not discrimination, you see... it is a natural, perfectly justifiable way of preserving our country safe from whatever it is that you bring with you. We have also decided to kill every single Sichuan Partridge under the radar and to burn all the candy from the last 17 years that came from your country."
"But I feel fine?! And why would you kill that bird?"
"What? You don't feel ill? Well, you are Chinese you see... and birds have flu there. And candy is toxic. Now, step on the line."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Well, your government taught us this was the rational, educated way of preventing illness from spreading. It's not personal. Now strip please."
"This is an outrage! I demand to speak with my Ambassador!"
"You will. He's in the gray room too."
"But... that other person was also on the plane, he was coughing and sneezing and he hasn't been stopped!"
"Yeah... but you see... he's German. Sorry."

Swine Flu and Panic

WILL PORCINE ZOMBIES RISE UP TO EAT OUR BRAINS?!

So Swine Flu or Influenza has been the topic of choice for the last few days. When things got pretty hot in the city I was out, and on the way back I was kindly given a face mask by a police officer upon my return to the Mexico City limits.

My mask, of course was not so nice looking, but rather one of the blue ones that look like diapers.

The previous day we had found that people were rising the price of the Face Masks on the small towns outside the city. It is this mercenary-like profiteering that makes me know that Mexico City will survive, and although I am sure at least one person out there would rather see me catch the Flu, shrivel up and die, well, I guess "S" will have to wait for that to happen.


What has really got me going is some of the world reactions. I can understand the assholes that think preventing Mexicans from leaving the country will stop it completely -they are uneducated fools that don't even bother to watch the news to find out that it doesn't work that way, much less look for information on their own.

It is actually some of the Governments that have surprised me with their excessive zealousness. Countries such as China and Russia that actually decided that stopping pork meat imports would prevent the flu.

Even after THE WHO explained in minute detail that eating Pork meat does NOT cause the flu or comes even close to being a danger (unless it is undercooked, but that is another cookie altogether.) Is this an attempt from China to point fingers and say "See?! Tainted food products come from other places too!" and give back as much grief as they received with their TOXIC CANDY? Or simply a way to calm down the masses? "Yesss... trust the system..."
Not to mention the fact that this strain of Influenza is a mixture of Swine, Avian and Human Influenza. Different thing than the classic Swine Flu which was extremely hard to catch.

I think people are ignoring the fact that the best way to avoid passing on the flu to others, and contracting it is simple: Hygiene and what would be called good manners, such as putting your hand up in front of your mouth when sneezing or coughing, washing your hands, taking showers, cleaning your house, etc.

The Economy will suffer the most out of this with restaurants, and cinemas closing down (nooo! I wanted to watch the Wolverine movie!) among several other places trying to prevent spreading the virus.


Of course we are seeing a lot of people dying of Influenza in Mexico City. First, look at the ratio 2000 cases of infection versus what, 60 or so in the US? 90 World wide? Second, the deaths have not ALL been confirmed as Swine Flu being the cause or even the decisive factor. In a city known for smokers, contamination, altitude, etc, there is a high chance that those that died were not only afflicted by the Swine Flu itself, but might have been asthmatic or have another type of respiratory disease that worsened their condition. The actual CONFIRMED cases at this point have been 25.

Stick to the facts people... it seems we skipped on the Zombie Apocalypse once again...

ALSO CHECK THIS OUT: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090501/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu

One more year!

So today I'm 29. Wow. The last of the Twenties as a friend pointed out.



What is there to say, really? Do I feel any older than two or three days ago? Nah. I've never been much to worry about my age. Life goes on and now I have to search for new objectives. Change sometimes comes easy, sometimes hard.
Fighting to achieve something and being pulled down a few pegs by lack of employment or bureaucracy teaches a lot of things to a person. But the most important lesson, I think, is not to give up hope.
Job options, like life options, are all around and it is up to us to take them or not. Sometimes the smart thing to do is to stay with what you have despite how much you hate it, and sometimes it is better to let go of something that makes you so sad or angry or stressed.
So I am still moving forward, still searching for the right place to be and still writing stories. This last year has provided me with more material than before and I intent to use it until I can fulfill my dreams.
I hadn't been having many dreams until I let go of certain things... and now I have even more things to write about; more images in my head... a kaleidoscope of feelings and hopes, dreams and nightmares that can only help my writing.

So, here I am, a year older, but learning and going stronger.

My day was pretty amazing thanks to my many friends who took the time to write emails, sent text messages, leave facebook notes and go with me to a restaurant to celebrate this day! I never expected more than 3 messages but got all in all around... well, let's not brag about it :D Thanks again to those that were kind enough to think about me today!

-WD

"One often finds his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."

Or so the quote goes.

"Yesterday is History. Tomorrow is a Mystery. But Today is a gift. That's why it's called 'Present.'"

Good luck Tiger.