Oh God! I have not posted in twelve days. Truth be told, I didn't think there was anything with posting. The news blows! The only thing the news outlets want to talk about is the elections, the Foley fallout... and North Korea.But one thing that has caught my attention - maybe for its silliness - we acheived (allegedly) 300,000,000 Americans as of today at 7.46 Eastern Time. I want to know who that person is! Is it an immigrant or a newborn child?
(Picture of the always handsome Anderson Cooper during his "300,000,000 Melting pot or Meltdown" edition of AC360 is from All Things Anderson. I myself love his expression in this particular screencap. Its kind of like he's aware that this is as schticky as I feel it is)
Seriously though, why are we sweating over our population rising to 300,000,000? Journalists have been doing stories on commute time, houseing costs, animal habitats, etc... There have been stories that talk about poverty, jobs and food shortages. I ind the last incredibly interesting since we A) export much of our excess food and B) we pay farmers to grow less. So, that story is conjecture at best.
Poverty: Trying to get rid of poverty in a country where even if you have $5 in your pocket makes you better off than like 80% of the world is really pretty shallow. We are one of the wealthiest nations in the world and poverty is not a new problem. It should not take a milestone to initiate solutions for poverty but hey if it does, good. Really don't think so.
Now, employment is another thing. From what I know of economics, the market will grow to embrace the population. For as big as the economy is, jobs will be created because of the growth in demographics. I'm not sure how to explain it but it made sense in microeconomics class.
I want to bring up one last thing before moving on to other sundry items. We rank as the third largest country in world in terms of population. I decided to actually look at the current populations of the other two. Now everyone pretty much knows China is the most populous. They were at 400,000,000 back in the late 19th century. Currently, China's population is 1,313,313,317 which amounts to 20.28% of the world's population. India is the second most populous country with over a billion people as well and almost as many languages. They are currently listed as having 1,100,000,000 people but I'm sure its more already. In fact, according to population clock, 42,434 people are added to the population every day. Odds are that India will likely overtake China in numbers because it doesn't have the one child per household rule. not to mention, in India, it is important to have lots of children.
I find it interesting that their forms of government are exactly opposite. China's is an open economy, communist government. India is a secular Democracy. It has recently (like in the last two decades) opened its economy and privatized enterprises.
Well, after looking at the 1 billion plus nations, its put our paltry 300,000,000 into perspective. This is 4.58% of the world's people. I also did a little math and discovered that we add 7,854 (and some extra and slightly disturbing decimal points) people a day. So, we are never going to catch up with India. With all the scary problems with people growth, who'd want to?
CNN's article on our impending doom.
Next on my issues is the Earthquake in Hawaii. This 6.7 magnitude earthquake is being treated as like a non-story. No one seems to care. To get any news on the earthquake on CNN, I have to dig through the US section page, go to the west part and there is only one article about damage to historic home. The lead article on that page was a woman who put her newborn child in trash bag (She got 5 years in prison, just so ya know). Really, why are we not caring about this? Hawaii is insulated being well, ISLANDS, and getting in and out of there isn't the easiest thing. Hmmm.... Maybe it should have been caused by a plane crashing into an obscure condo....
I have to say this right now: I'm sick of the elections. First time I've ever said that. I'm a news junkie and I love politics. I also love election night. I usually sit watching CNN consuming every last bit of political news-juiciness. I've chewed off my nails for the last three in row because the tension - the heightened suspense - is so thrilling. But this year, I just want it over. However, the graphics and political cartoons are worth perusing. I won't hide the fact that I lean left. That doesn't mean I can never be right. I'm closer to being an independent voter who is left of center. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
Yeah, I realize the Daily Show covered this one, along with everyone else, but I had to post about it, too. I read about it on Wonkette yesterday. To be honest, I am not surprised. The fact that it happened on the O'Reilly Show, really not surprised. For someone who claims its a No-Spin Zone, he sure as hell does a ton of spinning. Not to mention shouting matches that leave me one or both several things: a) angry, b)bewildered, c) confused, d) dumbfounded, e) exacerbated f) frustrated g) galled h) hysterical i) inflamed j) jaundiced k) kvetching l) livid m) malcontented n) nonplussed o) offended p) perturbed q) quesrulous r) raging s) splenetic t) troubled u) upset v) vexed w) withered x) xerotic (look it up) y) yarling and z) zealous.
Here's a link so you can actually view said "mistake". I watched Anderson Cooper 360 last night, though I also watched The Towering Inferno right before. The Towering Inferno made me feel better, if that means anything to you. At least I got to look at a younger (near 50) Paul Newman (like his age even matters, he's still gorgeous!) and Steve McQueen in one of his last major roles before his death (my Mom adored him and even had a crush on my Dad when they first met because she thought he looked a little like him and was a Macinist Mate like McQueen's character in The Sand Pebbles - a great movie with Mako back in the day...). I then watched the replay of 360 and there were more gorillas! Yay for Anderson and gorillas. 
Cuteness and adorkability aside, he's living out a dream of mine. I've always wanted to see gorillas. Even the one checking out his ass would have been fine to me. I wouldn't care if a gorilla did that.
Anyways, my real beef though is the feedback. Are people honestly unhappy about this? What, you think the government is seriously working on this? If they were, wouold we really have Bono running around talking about debt relief?
The blog over at 360 makes the point (actually, Anderson did and I don't know if it might be because of Final Jeopardy question he got wrong...) about how our hi-tech life is basically bankrupting the Congolese people. How? We need a particular mineral called coltan which is a black, graphite looking substance primarily made up of Niobium and Tantalum. The name is, in fact, a contraction of Columbite and tantalite. It is used to make tiny little electronic parts in cell phones, laptops and PDAs. Think of a mobile tech device and it likely has it. It is found mostly in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For those of you who are unfamiliar with geography, it was once known as Zaire. Its in AFRICA. That's South of Europe in the eastern hemisphere. It was once colonized Belgium (called the Belgian Congo) and was brutally impovershed, oppressed and enslaved by King Leopold in his quest to have empire. The legacy continues. Coltan mines are valuable and therefore, roving militias fight for control of these mines and the revenues they bring. They pillage, burglarize and rape the people and little to nothing is done to stop conditions there.
Thats basically (really basic) problem. There are indeed far deeper issues and problems facing DR Congo not to mention, many central African nations. But what I don't understand is why aren't we talking about this? We could protest aratheid but not the massive humanitarian problems in Afrcia? Is it because we can't be bothered to think our cell phones are causing harm to others? Blackberry-addicted Anderson Cooper seems to be well aware. And I'm not holding him up asa model of who to emulate but keep in mind, he's a techy guy. He likes his mobile devices just as much as the next 30-something male professional.
Yeah... Go Coop...
Back on this day in good ol' 1969, Monty Python's Flying Circus went on the air. It really was something completely different. Ironically, the following year, PBS became a real station. Imagine that!
In 1986, we found out what we pretty much knew: Israel has nukes.
And in 1991, Linux vers. 0.02 was released. This was the first official release of the kernal and after that, my PC would never be the same. Really, its not. You should try linux.
(Screencap coutesy of Anderson and the gorilla (who was a girl, too) came from All Things Anderson cuz they're so cool)
(BTW, if I was going to show a screen cap of Fox, whom I loathe, then I had to show CNN, a channel I love. You can see the bias written all over this post in several layers...just letting ya know!)
I love this. CNN put up a headline that says "Beer Drinkers Beware; US hops crop burns". Then when you actually go to the news item, its only 4%. But what got me was how much my brother was like "What???? No beer???? Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!" He then calmed down.Well, I wasn't talking about Foley cuz.... well, everyone else was. I have to throw my 2 cents in. I think trying to get Dennis Hastert to step down over this is not right. The man had little to do with the scandal. From what has been released so far, his office knew about the e-mails and that action was taken to halt contact between the teen from Louisiana and Rep. Foley. So, why go after Hastert's head? Witch hunt. Honestly, you'd think they'd get this fired up about Rumsfeld!
Update: I changed my mind ... let's destroy the man! See how fickle I am? Tomorrow, I'll be like "Oh, Hastert's just a management-type guy. You can't expect him to micromanage Congress and take care of every little crises?"
Back on this day, way back in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII implemented a new calendar. Guess which one? The Gregorian calendar forced people to go from October 4th to October 15. This helped alleviate the inaccuracy that led to Europe being 11 days off. So, if you thought changing an hour for daylight savings time was harsh...
In 1958, the Fifth Republic was begun. We're still figuring it out. I want to know what exactly "co-habitation" means for the MP and President...
And in 1983, the first Hooters opened. Skinny girls with tits have worn three pairs of nylons ever since.
Air Raid sirens sounded near my place of residence for a piddly ass thunderstorm. Ok, its a severe thunderstorm packing 60 mph winds, tennis ball sized hail, blah blah blah... Really, I've lived through hurricanes, massive Fujita defying tornadoes, the Mississippi river flood of '93 and war. I can live through this!I want to only add a few things to my previous post. In the aftermath of the recent violence in Amish country, there is a fund to handle donations to the victims of this horrendous incident. Go to Home Towne Bank to donate what you can to help. Many of the Amish do not have insurance nor extra money to handle the mounting medical costs they will now be saddled with. So, again, be generous. Always be generous of yourself
Also, its fitting with my previous post but, on this day in 1993, the Battle of Mogadishu occurred. This was when Operation Gothic Serpent was carried out in efforts to capture warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. It is during this campaign that the infamous Black Hawk Down incident occurred.
Also, on this day, eleven years ago, the verdict was returned in the OJ Simpson trial. Do I need to tell you this verdict?
And, back in 1929, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was created. Boy, that was a success!
I should have blown up in a fiery ball of .... no clue what to put there. But, gratification is mine! (BTW, screencap from All Things Anderson. .. he looks just like how I feel: numb, silenced, weak... maybe not weak.... whatever.... Thanks ATA! When I can find a screen cap from the interview, I'll post that.)A little while back, CNN advertised that Anderson Cooper would chat with George Clooney about Darfur. Clooney travelled there earlier this year with his father, Nick. I saw denied the happiness of seeing them together (CNN lied!!! John Roberts interviewed him instead as Coop was in Afghanistan... I think) The Clooneys saw the state the the beliguered war and genocide ravaged country is in. Its heartwrenching. In fact, this week, Anderon Cooper and his motley crew of journalists will be reporting on the state of things in Africa. If you aren't aware of things in Africa, their bad. For several years there's been a bloody conflict there involving something like eight nations. We've heard precious little because the world does not care about a world war in Africa. All anyone cares about is the natural resources that remain to be pillaged from these impovershed lands such as gold in the Congo which we need for our precious computers. Its difficult to fully comrehend the suffering on such a massive scale and the fact that is largely ignored should stir some serious emotions.
They have in people such as George Clooney who spoke about this at the UN last month. For the 360 staff, they are doing their part as journaists to shed some light on the subject. They will stay there for the remainder of the week and hopefully, something will come of it. Maybe a serious project to build some god damned roads will start to take shape. Maybe the pharmaceuticals will finally send vaccines and medications to countries that need them so badly. Maybe the UN will write some stronger fucking language so that Resolution 1706 isn't just toilet paper (likely Scott's brand at that). Maybe the world will wake up and see that Africa is miserable and forgotten. Maybe...
When Cooper asked Clooney (love that bit) if he was optimistic, he said no. How could he be? What evidence is there that it will get any better? I have to agree. I want to weep... but unfortunately, the air raid sirens are sounding here. So, I have to flee for my own safety.
Pray for the Amish in Lancaster County. Pray for Africa. Pray for me!!!!
Yesterday, a man by name of Charles Carl Roberts IV walked into a little Amish one room school and took the female students hostage, near Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. The school normally has 27 students, 11 of them female. The gunman let three women go who had infants and a pregnant woman who I believe was the teacher. The teacher was able to alert authorities. The gunman then boarded up the door with lumber. He lined the girls up against the blackboard and tied them to each other to prevet them running away. When the police arrived, he called them and told them they had 10 seconds to vacate the premises or he'd start shooting. He then started shooting. It is unclear if he let the 10 seconds actually expire. He shot some of the girls point black and many in the head. Three were dead at the scene, one in the arms of a state trooper. He killed himself as police entered through the window. After listening to the entire press conference from the Commisioner of the Pennsylvania State police, things now seem clearer. There were 11 girls but a 9-year-old escaped with her brother. Five have died thus far. Five more remained injured. Initially, they reported that one of the girls who died at the scene was a teacher's aide but she was just an older student.
After the three who died at the scene, the following two died at 1 and 4.30 this morning. Of the five reminaing injured, two are at Hershey Medical Center: a 6-year-old remains in critical condition and a 13-year-old has been upgraded to serious. Three girls aged 8, 10, and 12 are also listed as Critical at Philedelphia's Children's Hospital.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, Roberts claimed to have molested young minor relatives 20 years ago. These relatives are unnmaed and asserted to have been 3 to 4 years of age at the time. Roberts said he had been dreaming of molesting again. In the school house in addition to his arms and 600 rounds of ammunition, was a bottle of KY Jelly, a personal lubricant. It appears he was planning to molest or sexually assault the young girls.
He rambled in notes left for his family that he was "angry at god" for the death of his premature daughter, Elise, nine years ago. The milk truck driver told his wife on a cell ohone during the seige that he was not coming home and that the police were there. There is nothing that I can add to this very horrific episode in American History. Lately, there's been a spate of school violence. Emily Keyes died last week in Bailey, Colorado and Principal Klang died in Wisconsin on Firday. Since only one was perpetrated by a student, it now seems sick, adult men are in need of some serious counseling.
In addition, President Bush wants to holda conference next week to discuss ways to make our schools safer. I honestly think its a waste of time. School violence has now permeated the most sane and obscure level possible: a rural Amish schoolhouse. This is a place where violence is unknown and humility and love are a given. The problem lies not at the school level or security any longer. This is a case of the Wilding of America. From strange cases of children assaulting homeless men to Abu Grahib, we have shown ourselves to be an irrational,violent and sick society filled with all sorts of loathsome problems, diseases and attitudes. We cannot continue to believe that are society is good. There is something substantially broken in our culture. We need to examine this in addition to finding better ways to secure our children from violence and sexual attacks within their schools.
As for my own personal feelings on this, I'm angry. Of all the people in this country, innocent little school girls, Amish or not, should not be exposed to this. And to think he picked a little Amish schoolhouse... Amish people live their lives according to wholesome, God-loving pinciples. They reject modern conveniences and they are quaint but they live this way because of principles. Not for novelty or to make Lancaster County a tourist trap. And they are pacifists. Pacifists!!!!
Words cannot explain how much I feel right now. I can't define it but merely say I feel a huge amount of emotion.
I will pass on the requests of the Amish families: They wish for privacy and prayer. Please be generous with these.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
