I dont see how this hasn’t been written about before, but I haven’t bothered to look since it’s a blog. What I am talking about is how people these days, with the power of the internet are instant experts-virtually at least. Many times I find myself e-mailing or chatting online and if I hear a word or idea that is foreign to me, I instantly look it up on Google, Wikipedia, or Dictionary.com. Come to think of it, sometimes I’ll be on the phone but have my laptop near, I will look something up and continue the conversation based on that. This is good to help impress people with broad knowledge, but at the same time, it may, just may, at some point discourage people from educating themselves at institutions. I did my dirt and put in my work-so I’ve got the right to do so. I’ve spent many nights studying for a test and other times passing up on social events for a paper.
This is probably blasphemy to most, but who would’ve thought CDs would become obsolete? landline telephones? home cooked dinners during weeknights?or even church on Sunday? If everyone thinks the knowledge they need is at their fingertips, aside from “sounding” smart, people can easily find a wealth of information on a variety of subjects online. As a cultural change, where employers and society no longer see the value in degrees, is probably far off and may never happen. But, at the same time, the common folk, with the rising costs and the amount of time required for formal education, may opt to self-educate for free and with minimal time. I personally believe that if anything, only a small number of self-educated people will get anywhere based on it. The world, society, and the culture of mankind as a whole is changing. Regardless of what happens, no one can get in the way. I just hope my mammoth student loans and academic “clout” don’t go down the Sunday church route.
That is the “minimum” sentence a British judge has recommended for a man accused of raping his two daughters and impregnating them 19 times over the course of 27 years. According to the article on Cnn.com, “If either daughter tried to refuse their father’s attacks, they would be punched, kicked and or held to the flames of a gas fire, burning their eyes and arms, PA reported.” This case, similar to the Josef Fritzl case, is obviously making headlines around Europe. The Fritzl case is still under investigation, but I surely hope its more than 19 1/2 years. Aside from the stomach turning details and the names I could call the men or the situation, there is a serious need for more severe prosecution for these crimes. Im no conservative, but with crime&punishment, Europe may want to re-think its liberal stance. The crime must befit the punishment. Raping your daughters and holding them as prisoners to abuse at your discretion over the span of decades, and fathering their children. Firing Squad.
I always thoughts pirates only existed in fantasy land. As I grew up, I realized remote places had pirates on a small scale. With the recent hijacking of a Saudi oil tanker with over $100 million worth of oil, it’s a much bigger problem than the world had realized. The world’s oceans are a free for all. The world’s large navies can’t be everywhere all the time unfortunately. In a country like Somalia, with no real central government, it’s even tougher to find a solution. Curiously, Islamic militants in Somalia want to assist in recovering the ship and its cargo. Even more interesting, is the Indian navy sinking a suspected pirate “mother ship” this past week. I’m not here to analyze the piracy phenomenon. What I would like to do is make suggestions to both sides. For the pirates, keep your ambitions a bit lower. In places like Somalia, you can make away with much less than $100 million. Keep going after smaller prizes. And secondly, for big oil tankers and other cargo ships, my suggestion comes in question form: if your ships carry cargo that valuable, how much of a fiscal impact would it make to hire maritime security?
I was reading an article on the white supremacist plot to kill President-elect Obama the day before elections. Though they deny the charges, federal prosecuters are still moving forward. I heard things of this nature from everywhere, or at least the possiblity of it, due to a black president. It is a great milestone in American history, the election of Barack Hussein Obama. This however, comes with increased polarization, and controversy. There were, only 7 and something million less McCain voters. Of course that doesn’t mean McCain voters are bigots, it just means there are a few people out there who believe to the contrary of a black president.The United States has proven itself as a tolerant and progressive nation once again. I just hope it stays that way.
I did this blog last weekend and saved it so that I may post it up by Monday, before the election. For some odd reason I forgot. I still thought it was interesting, though outdated, so I’m going to post it now:
Undecided Voters
I’m surprised that there are undecided voters this close to election day. Of course, there are undecided voters in every race, at every level, at every given point of the election. I’m surprised during this presidential election because the candidates are so polarized. From political views, to age, to race, to experience, and even appearance, John McCain and Barack Obama are very different. Almost everyone I associate with is a staunch Obama supporter. McCain supporters I’ve met are the exact same way. This election, I haven’t met a single person that was “wishy-washy” about his or her decision. I remember in 2004, while I was still an undergrad student, a few people had made the Kerry to Bush, Bush to Kerry conversion. Naturally, when I saw news articles about strategies that will assist McCain in winning over undecided voters, it came as a surprise. With only days remaining till the election, undecided voters must decide whether they want “four more years of Bush,” or an “inexperienced left-winger who associates with terrorists.”
I was reading an article on an American man living abroad because his student he’d be accountable for his student debt. He had family issues and defaulted on his loan. When creditors started calling him non stop, he decided to escape. Apparently he isn’t alone. Many other students have done the same. Researchers estimate up to $60 billion in defaulted student loans. This is pretty ironic, since just a few days ago I looked up my Sallie Mae account and the number was pretty high. Definitely ruined my day-though I haven’t contemplated leaving the country because of it. What is sad though, is that by the time people get out of school, and even grad school their salaries aren’t conducive to helping pay off student debt-quickly at least. The problem is particularly amplified living in high cost area. The cost and obligation of home ownership and car ownership speak for themselves in this equation. The problem here is the fact that there’s nothing bad ever associated with education, or at least that’s how I grew up. There was nothing that wasn’t “worth it.” As if, educating, is the solution to all problems of life, especially financially. For some, it may be a financial problem. The whole, “do you want to flip burgers the rest of your life?” mentality needs to go. Some people are better off at trade schools, in blue collar work, or simply better off at a school that isn’t a super expensive top-tier school. Now, I know there are many people who know their own and their familial limits to what they can/should do. The way I grew up, and alot of my friends, they were told to educate themselves, at any cost-because at the end it would pay off. I’ll be starting my payments soon. We’ll see what happens.
As promised, this is a continuation of my last blog complaining about gas prices and how they jump around unwarranted. The full extent of the whos, whats, and whys of gas prices we may never fully know. What I do know is that I am a fan of alternative sources of energy. Yes it’s better for the environment and it will save money in the long run. I look at it mainly as a way for the United States to become a country with less enemies. Everywhere oil is, the area is troubled. Or maybe vice versa? Corrupt regimes, people who hate their own government along with the United States are a plenty in oil producing nations. What does that mean? that means American presence or influence in the Middle East an other areas that guarantee this energy supply. What do extremists want? they want the United States out of that area. Many political theorists will say that American foreign policy of the last century, particularly post WWII has revolved around oil. Now this may not solve all the problems in the area that we have, or this may not be the only problem, but Obama’s proposal to invest $15 billion yearly on researching alternative energy sources is much cheaper and a much better use of my tax dollar than the war in Iraq.
Finally. The break in gas prices we thought we deserved. In the wake of this economic “meltdown” our gas prices stabilize. We’ve seen a drop of nearly a dollar a gallon and it should drop even further. Where I live in Virginia, it should drop to under $3 a gallon around Thanksgiving. Guess what, we’re still 19% above last year’s prices. Beyond that, I think we can kiss the days of $1.24 a gallon goodbye. How come gas stations are quick to raise prices, yet slow to drop? If they have a 60-90 day stockpile, why don’t they still give it to us at the prices they bought it till we get to the gas they purchased at a higher price. How do oil companies and Middle Eastern countries make record amounts of money, with the same gas that’s always been there? Peroleum reserves are obviously finite, but how does it fluctuate so quickly? I’ve read on this for many years, though I’m not an economist, and I’m no conspiracy theorist, but something is going on here. Instability in petroleum producing areas? Those areas have been unstable since petroleum was discovered. It is quite sad that that us normal folk, have really no choice but to deal with all of this- besides ride bikes. Look for more of my postulates about gas on my next blog. To be continued…..
I was reading the news recently and I saw that authorities are beginning to find bodies of Ike victims who stayed behind and refused to leave their homes despite warnings. Some died in the storm surge, others in the aftermath-when electricity and medicine were scarce. There are still hundreds of people missing. First, I’m not sure why people invest their money and lives in areas that are prone to natural disasters. Whether it be areas that are vulnerable to hurricanes such as the Gulf Coast, or mudslide prone places in certain parts of California. It is expensive to live in these places. Insurance must not be fun either.
I guess that’s a different ballgame. I’m awed at the fact that it takes people so much to leave their homes. Despite warnings such as “residents will face certain death” prior to Hurricane Ike or Katrina a few years ago, some people decided to stay. To me, life is more valuable than my pride or my money. I’m sure most, if not all valued their lives. Why take such a gamble though? I have relatives in Afghanistan, who besides a few occasions where they relocated across the border to Pakistan, decided to stay. They stayed during all the various conflicts of the last 30 years. The threats of bombs, kidnappings and food/supply shortages didn’t deter them. Their response, similar to some of the victims of Hurricane Ike, “I was born here and I’ll die here.” The lone piece of advice I have also relates to other types of risk-takers. You may gamble with, or simply not value your life much, but please think of others affected before deciding that your home is sweeter than your existence.
A Chinese man walked on the moon recently. What’s the big deal right? The United States did it decades ago, as did the Soviet Union. It means now China’s space program is rivaling that of th United States and Russia. It means a superpower is in the works. I’ve heard mixed opinions about the emergence of China as a superpower, but some facts are undeniable. A nation with 1.4 billion people, a 10 million man army, second largest economy, and over a trillion dollars in foreign exchange reserves, is not a nation to be taken lightly. I know there are people who say China’s economy is largely tied to the United States by way of Chinese trade with the U.S. and their ownership of U.S. Treasury long-term bonds and whatever else. I don’t know much about economics. What I do know, is the United States and the world in general needs China. Probably more so than the Soviet Union’s 12.5 million barrels of oil a day at peak production. Also, people say that their military doesn’t have the technology that the United States has, nor do they spend as much, etc. Maybe they don’t need to. I don’t know much about military science either. Nonetheless, I don’t think they will “overtake” the United States anytime soon, but as China grows, along with its need for the world’s resources such as oil, Chinese deniers will see them taking a more proactive role in exerting its power and influence over the world. Little can be done about it. Denying definitely won’t help.
