A juggling technophile shares personal stories, challenges, humor and perhaps some political commentary.
Political commentary and awareness
Did you watch the Obama "Yes we can" video? If not watch it now! (embedded below)
Now it is only fair that John McCain have a similar video:
Special thanks to Rachel on Knoxviews for bringing this one to my attention!
Update: See also HOPE Is No Longer JUST a 4-Letter Word.
Papers please. Thanks Tom.
I was pressed for time on that post. Didn’t want to cross the 100′ barrier and sound like I was reporting something.
At the time I made that post (4:30pm), the staff reported that roughly 800 people had been through those polls.
Today is Election Day! Make the time to vote please! We have all seen that everybody’s vote counts. Voting is a civic duty and is important to the democratic process. (For the asinine Stacey Campfields out there, "democratic" is not to be confused with the Democratic political party. Until fear mongering, constitution shredding, AT&Tism, and Homeland Security improprieties in the name of protecting your freedoms, completely erode it, you live under a democratic form of government. Specifically, the United States of America is a Representative Liberal Democracy.)
I also encourage you to print your sample ballot and, at the bare minimum, do an Internet search on the candidates you will be choosing. To go the polls and vote on someone because their name rings a bell, or one name sounds better than another is not helping anyone’s cause. Your wild guess may knock a potentially good candidate out of office. If you are in Knox County, your sample ballot is online. Print it, spend a few minutes researching your candidates, and vote knowledgeably! Remember, your employer is obliged to give you time off to go to the polls.
Update: See also: Video of me encouraging voting and far better video of Todd Jordan encouraging voting.
Whether or are an Obama fan or not, the dipdive video is a must watch!
People of Tennessee, particularly District 18, quit voting Stacey Campfield into office. It’s embarrassing!
Related: The pernicious effects of banning words, by By Christopher Hitchens, slate.com
Dear Sen. Doug Jackson, Please quit wasting time and money trying to legislate morals. Allowing people the free will to turn off their televisions is far cheaper and more in line with the basic principles of freedom on which this nation prides itself. These commercials are shown late at night when children should be in bed. Our legislature should be far more concerned with important issues such as education and health care. Please keep your eye on the ball!
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A proposal that would ban late-night TV ads showing half-naked young women is stalling its second time through the Legislature.
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The legislation sponsored by Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson, would fine cable and satellite companies up to $50,000 for airing ads for obscene products. [Source, Michael Silence, Knoxnews No Silence Here]
What is obscene? Much of Europe finds America’s prudishness laughable.
Wasn’t this a Simpon’s episode?
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Rutherford County Commissioners have been meeting privately with the developers of a controversial Bible-themed park. [Source, Knoxnews]
Here’s what the Lakota Nation looks like:
“We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us,” long-time Indian rights activist Russell Means told a handful of reporters and a delegation from the Bolivian embassy
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A delegation of Lakota leaders delivered a message to the State Department on Monday, announcing they were unilaterally withdrawing from treaties they signed with the federal government of the United States, some of them more than 150 years old.
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Lakota country includes parts of the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.
[Source, AFP]
Is the South next?
Update: I’ve had it explained that this is just one of those fluff things that The House does.
I ran out of grounds again. Yes, pathetic. I indulged myself and stopped into the local convenient store for a cup of overpriced Joe only to learn that my neighbor, who wanted to go fight in Iraq, got denied by the National Reserves because 16 years ago, when he was 18, he purchased 5 ounces of marijuana from a police officer (which made his crime a double felony). The clerk chimed in that on her parent’s 60 acre farm, her brother used to grow pot by the barn and her mother never understood why no one mowed the grass by the barn. Her mother would pay her $10 to mow it; her brother would then pay her $20 to not mow it. So, indirectly, she was making a killing off of pot. She also had a good laugh when her child came home from school declaring she had learned that smoking pot will make you hallucinate (what are the schools teaching these kids! Oh right, Newspeak). I had to rant my belief that we will pay for an illegal war by 1) reducing government infrastructure costs (ie. release 800,000 prisoners), 2) increase gross national product via larger work force (ie. 800,000 new employees to the workforce), 3) increase income tax revenues (ie. 800,000 new employees with taxable income instead of using taxes to support them in prisons), and 4) sell a high demand product which is already in demand, all ready in a supply chain, all ready being manufactured and heavily tax it (ie. make marijuana legal). I’m not saying I support people running out and getting stoned off their butts; we are talking about a substance less harmful than beer. In my conspiracy mindedness, I’m documenting, that what you will see in the next 5 to 10 years, was predicted right here! My neighbor suggested I should run for congress. Somehow I don’t think I’d get far on the "Dude! Make it legal man." campaign.
In short, I bought a cup of coffee and learned that my neighbor and the store clerk toke it up.
I’m heading to Bearden High School to give my input how the next school superintendent. I hope you’ll be there. This is important. This is our future!
Do you care for the future of education in Knox County? We have asked that the citizens be heard in choices like rezonings and choosing a school superintendent. They are now willing to listen!
Knox County residents are invited this week to share their suggestions on what characteristics the school system’s new superintendent needs.
And the school board has been told to stay away.
[Source, Knoxnews.com, Residents’ input sought on superintendent]
I personally think the superintendent needs to come from outside of Knox County and maybe far from TN where local politics and good ol’ boy relations will not be an influence. I want someone making decisions that are right for our children and not because of politics or helping a buddy out.
Don’t forget to attend the superintendent search forums tonight (11/26) at either Austin East or Central High School auditoriums, beginning at 7:00 pm.
Additional forums will be held Tuesday, 11/27/07, at South Doyle and Bearden High School auditoriums, also at 7:00 pm.
This is very important! Make the time to voice your opinion please.
