Friday, January 4, 2008
Obama by Numbers
* Obama beat Clinton among women 35% to 30%* Obama beat Edwards among voters in union households 30%-24%* Obama beat Clinton and Edwards among voters of almost every income level (Obama and Clinton tied among voters who make $15-30,000)* As many voters age 17-29 as voters 65 and older participated last night -- in previous years senior participation has been 5-times greater than younger voters.* Obama beat Edwards and Clinton among voters who want change (51%-20%-19%)* Despite countless attacks and hundreds of thousands of dollars in negative mail, TV, and radio, Obama beat Clinton and Edwards (34%-30%-27%) among voters who say health care is the most important issue* Obama won among those who said the economy was the most important issue (36%-26%-26%)* Obama won over Clinton and Edwards (35%-26%-17%) among those who said Iraq was the most important issue* Won across the ideological spectrum – winning among liberals, moderates and conservatives* Won among high income and lower income voters among voters with household income below $50,000 (34%-32%-19%) and among those over $50,000 (41%-19%-28%)* Also won among the 82% of voters who said Pakistan was “very or somewhat important”
Blacks should be thankful for legacy of slavery
“But, on a current note, if slavery was the price that a modern American’s ancestors had to pay in order to make one an American, one should get down on one’s knees every single day and thank the Lord that such price was paid. To the extent that America — or New Jersey — ever owed any kind of debt to anyone, that debt was more than repaid through the blood and suffering of 650,000 federal soldiers who died or were wounded during the war provoked by slavery. No one today need feel the slightest guilt, as no one today participated in the wrong.”
- Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (NJ-R)
- Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (NJ-R)
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Work-Watch-Spend Treadmill
I guess I'll stop spending right after I use all of those cute plastic gift cards from yesterday...
Checkout this little "teaser" on how American consumerism works.
Intrigued? See more.
Checkout this little "teaser" on how American consumerism works.
Intrigued? See more.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas
Today is the day that I celebrate the birth of my savior, Jesus Christ. I know that there is a lot of Christian backlash and hatred in America; however, secularist continue to latch onto our most sacred holiday. That I will never understand.
Some days I wonder if the face of Christmas will change. Will true Christians stand up and make a conscious decision to observe Christmas on Jesus' actual birthday? Will we finally move away from the secular traditions of the tree, Santa Clause, Rudolph, and other things that lack true symbolism.
It bothers me that people who cannon even acknowledge Christ hold this holiday so dear to their hearts. How can one value something that they cannot truly understand nor respect? Christmas is more than a mere feel good holiday; but that is the prevailing attitude as it has become enlightened and trendy to live as a "non-believer."
Although I cannot understand the concept of "Secular Christmas," I have stumbled upon a blog post from the folks at Queerty, that allows me to respect a point of view that is quite secular, thus completely different from my own. Please enjoy!
We all remember when Christmas ruled the holiday roost – it’s a subject that comes up every year now, as reliable as Black Friday. “Christmas” salutations dominated the seasonal vernacular until equality-minded people called the linguistic saturation “alienating”. “Not everyone wants to have a Merry Christmas,” they said.
While that’s technically true, these arguments always struck me as excessive: perhaps a spawn of the frivolous 90s. It’s political correctness taken to misguided, hyperbolic heights.
I learned almost everything about “Christmas” from my Jewish father. No, he didn’t sit me down and tell me about Mary and the Three Wise Men – popular culture taught me all that business – but he did revel in the festival of Christian light. God, did he love it! One particular Christmas sticks out: the year he bought a 15-foot Christmas tree. Dr. Barry Belonsky was not a man of moderation, to say the least.
That Christmas morning my father bounced around the living room snapping shots of my sister and I opening our gifts. I can’t exactly remember what I received that year, probably something superhero related, but I recall being struck by my father’s enthusiasm. And it confused me.
Of course I loved Christmas – what kid doesn’t? But I couldn’t understand how this Jew from South Africa could be so keen on a foreign holiday. It wasn’t until much later in life, after I had [mostly] outgrown superheroes, that I understood my late father’s enthusiasm. Whether my reasons and his are the same, I’ll never know.
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ – an obvious statement, yes, but one that’s central to my appreciation for the holiday. While I may not recognize him as my lord and savior, it’s important, I think, to reflect on this man’s life. For better or for worse, this admirable, generous man’s legacy has shaped history. His charitable ways have inspired billions of people. Christ’s image brings hope to the seemingly hopeless. It would be culturally irresponsible and selfish not to appreciate such an influential figure. That’s the first reason I’m affected by this festive commemoration. The second reason aims less for the head and more for the – gulp – heart.
That 15-foot Christmas remains lodged in my memory for more than just the hard wood. That’s the last time I remember my family being together for a holiday. Well, my family in that childish context. Two of the key figures from that year – my grandfather and my father – have since died. Two more, meanwhile, have joined the Belonsky fun: my niece and nephew. It’s a pretty good trade, if you ask me. And, no, I don’t think my father – nor my grandfather – would balk at my seemingly flippant mortal barter.
My father loved Christmas because he enjoyed being with his family, a rarity for a workaholic doctor. That’s something many of us neglect to do: appreciate those we call “family”. As we all know or will learn, blood doesn’t constitute family. It’s a fragile yet necessary collective comprised of the people from from which we learn something, the people with which we laugh, cry and scream; the people with whom we are, well, familiar.
Seen in this light, Christmas becomes nothing more than a day during which we can all relax with the people we love most. “Have a Merry Christmas” becomes a reminder: a plea to enjoy the people you love, because you never know when they’ll be gone.
So, on that note, “Merry Christmas” to all and, yes, a to all a good night.
Some days I wonder if the face of Christmas will change. Will true Christians stand up and make a conscious decision to observe Christmas on Jesus' actual birthday? Will we finally move away from the secular traditions of the tree, Santa Clause, Rudolph, and other things that lack true symbolism.
It bothers me that people who cannon even acknowledge Christ hold this holiday so dear to their hearts. How can one value something that they cannot truly understand nor respect? Christmas is more than a mere feel good holiday; but that is the prevailing attitude as it has become enlightened and trendy to live as a "non-believer."
Although I cannot understand the concept of "Secular Christmas," I have stumbled upon a blog post from the folks at Queerty, that allows me to respect a point of view that is quite secular, thus completely different from my own. Please enjoy!
We all remember when Christmas ruled the holiday roost – it’s a subject that comes up every year now, as reliable as Black Friday. “Christmas” salutations dominated the seasonal vernacular until equality-minded people called the linguistic saturation “alienating”. “Not everyone wants to have a Merry Christmas,” they said.
While that’s technically true, these arguments always struck me as excessive: perhaps a spawn of the frivolous 90s. It’s political correctness taken to misguided, hyperbolic heights.
I learned almost everything about “Christmas” from my Jewish father. No, he didn’t sit me down and tell me about Mary and the Three Wise Men – popular culture taught me all that business – but he did revel in the festival of Christian light. God, did he love it! One particular Christmas sticks out: the year he bought a 15-foot Christmas tree. Dr. Barry Belonsky was not a man of moderation, to say the least.
That Christmas morning my father bounced around the living room snapping shots of my sister and I opening our gifts. I can’t exactly remember what I received that year, probably something superhero related, but I recall being struck by my father’s enthusiasm. And it confused me.
Of course I loved Christmas – what kid doesn’t? But I couldn’t understand how this Jew from South Africa could be so keen on a foreign holiday. It wasn’t until much later in life, after I had [mostly] outgrown superheroes, that I understood my late father’s enthusiasm. Whether my reasons and his are the same, I’ll never know.
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ – an obvious statement, yes, but one that’s central to my appreciation for the holiday. While I may not recognize him as my lord and savior, it’s important, I think, to reflect on this man’s life. For better or for worse, this admirable, generous man’s legacy has shaped history. His charitable ways have inspired billions of people. Christ’s image brings hope to the seemingly hopeless. It would be culturally irresponsible and selfish not to appreciate such an influential figure. That’s the first reason I’m affected by this festive commemoration. The second reason aims less for the head and more for the – gulp – heart.
That 15-foot Christmas remains lodged in my memory for more than just the hard wood. That’s the last time I remember my family being together for a holiday. Well, my family in that childish context. Two of the key figures from that year – my grandfather and my father – have since died. Two more, meanwhile, have joined the Belonsky fun: my niece and nephew. It’s a pretty good trade, if you ask me. And, no, I don’t think my father – nor my grandfather – would balk at my seemingly flippant mortal barter.
My father loved Christmas because he enjoyed being with his family, a rarity for a workaholic doctor. That’s something many of us neglect to do: appreciate those we call “family”. As we all know or will learn, blood doesn’t constitute family. It’s a fragile yet necessary collective comprised of the people from from which we learn something, the people with which we laugh, cry and scream; the people with whom we are, well, familiar.
Seen in this light, Christmas becomes nothing more than a day during which we can all relax with the people we love most. “Have a Merry Christmas” becomes a reminder: a plea to enjoy the people you love, because you never know when they’ll be gone.
So, on that note, “Merry Christmas” to all and, yes, a to all a good night.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Former U.S. Rep. McKinney enters presidential race as Green
Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is running for president as a member of the Green Party, which she says shares her views on ending the Iraq war, protecting the environment and other issues.
McKinney, who served five terms in Congress before losing her seat to a fellow Democrat last year, declared her candidacy in a video posted late Sunday on the Web site of a group that had been drafting her to run.
"The Democrats are no different than their Republican counterparts, eat out of the hands of corrupt lobbyists and feed at the same corporate trough. I am proud to say that the Green Party is my new political home," McKinney said in the taped announcement.
McKinney's names will appear on ballots in California, Illinois, Arkansas and several other states holding presidential primaries on Feb. 5, according to www.runcynthiarun.org.
The site does not contain further information about her campaign schedule, and an e-mail sent to the site's operators did not receive a response.
McKinney, who moved to Northern California this year and registered to vote as a Green, is one of seven presidential candidates running under the Green Party banner, according to the party.
Among them are Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate who was the party's nominee in 1996 and 2000, hip-hop scholar Jared Ball, Kent Mesplay, former president of the environmental organization Turtle Island Institute and Elaine Brown, a former leader of the Black Panther Party.
The Green Party of the United States is scheduled to hold its nominating convention in July in Chicago.
"The Republicans have deceived us, the Democrats have failed us. But we cannot deceive ourselves and we must not fail in our struggle for peace because the world still looks to America for leadership," McKinney said in her taped message. "Now, we must be those leaders." [sfg]
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Jamie Lynn Spears pregnancy raises legal questions
The announced pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears -- the 16-year-old children's television star and younger sister of beleaguered pop star Britney Spears -- is casting new light on how states deal with the thorny issue of consensual sex among teens.
Spears, the star of Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101," told OK! Magazine that she's pregnant and that the father is her 18-year-old boyfriend.
There has been no public talk of criminal prosecution in the case. Consensual sex between the two may well have been legal, depending on where and when it took place.
But critics of the nation's statutory rape laws say that laws that are ignored in some cases can be used to put other teens in prison and land them on sex-offender registries.
"You have a disturbing disparity in how these laws are enforced," said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University. "I have no problem at all with nailing adults who sleep with children, but I have a problem with the prosecution of teenagers in consensual relationships.
"What this case should focus the nation on is having a more evenhanded approach to these cases." [CNN] continue reading
Spears, the star of Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101," told OK! Magazine that she's pregnant and that the father is her 18-year-old boyfriend.
There has been no public talk of criminal prosecution in the case. Consensual sex between the two may well have been legal, depending on where and when it took place.
But critics of the nation's statutory rape laws say that laws that are ignored in some cases can be used to put other teens in prison and land them on sex-offender registries.
"You have a disturbing disparity in how these laws are enforced," said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University. "I have no problem at all with nailing adults who sleep with children, but I have a problem with the prosecution of teenagers in consensual relationships.
"What this case should focus the nation on is having a more evenhanded approach to these cases." [CNN] continue reading
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