...please read this blog entry by my friend Jon.
In a nutshell, it discusses why all this coverage of Michael Jackson's death is ridiculous...and makes you wonder if there is any hope we, as a whole, will ever change our profit-driven motives.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Miss Bimbo drives same old stereotypes
If you think outlandish stereotypes of women don't exist in new emerging social media, then you might want to look at Miss Bimbo.
I first spotted this Web site in April when I was writing an essay for an international communications class. My specific essay aimed to cover how women are represented in some aspects of the global media, and through various links and research, I found Miss Bimbo, an insanely popular Web site based in the United Kingdom.
Here's an excerpt from my essay describing the Web site...and just how ludicrous it is:
Miss Bimbo is an “online virtual reality social networking game…where bimbos from around the world can join one another and be proud and happy of bimboland." This company is based in theUnited Kingdom Europe , is so controversial because of how the online game is actually played. Anyone 13 years or older can sign up for an account, and there are more than 700,000 “bimbos” worldwide.
Once people have created their bimbo, they manage the bimbo as if it were a real person. It must be fed, find a job, look for a boyfriend, and accomplish goals to move up levels in the game. The controversy kicks in with the appearance of the bimbos and the accessories. All bimbos are incredibly thin, and once a bimbo is first created, the only clothes available are tiny T-shirts and very short skirts. (I actually registered with the Web site in order to see firsthand how sexist and demeaning the concept was).
In order to keep a bimbo happy, things much be purchased, and some of the more questionable items include breast implants and face lifts. Diet pills used to be an option to keep your bimbo at a designated weight, but they have since been removed due to negative public reaction.
It’s almost overwhelming on where to start criticizing Miss Bimbo first: the actual name, the appearance, the goals, the products, the reinforcements of negative stereotypes of women. This Web site’s average user is 19 years old, so it obviously catering to the pre-teen and teenager crowd—and that is an incredibly influential part of anyone’s life, where identity crises are a commonality. To encourage young girls and women to sign up for this virtual bimbo (which implies stupidity on the part of the female character) in order to look “great” and attain goals of fashion and social excellence does a great injustice to women everywhere.
One of the main creators of the company and Web site, Nicolas Jacquart (a man), said, “It is not a bad influence for young children. They learn to take care of their bimbos. The missions and goals are morally sound and teach children about the real world."
If by "morally sound" he meant "stereotypically insulting," then yes, I’d agree with him. But the fact of the matter is this caters to a young audience, and the images presented only perpetuate the views that women should be tall, skinny, tan objects of sexual desire. For Jacquart to say that Miss Bimbo also teaches “children about the real world” is also incredibly narcissistic and paradoxical. The real world does not have to involve insulting stereotypes of body image and other insecurities. Rather, the real world does involve those things because they are reinforced in global media such as Miss Bimbo. Yes, some parents help out this Web site by allowing their children to demean themselves through shallow and short-lived materialization. But if Miss Bimbo did not promote this shallow image of the real world, then the real world could then change to one of gender equity and to one where women to do not have to have these body image pressures placed upon them.
Video of the Day: Absolutely incredible stop-motion art...using only Post-It Notes.
I first spotted this Web site in April when I was writing an essay for an international communications class. My specific essay aimed to cover how women are represented in some aspects of the global media, and through various links and research, I found Miss Bimbo, an insanely popular Web site based in the United Kingdom.
Here's an excerpt from my essay describing the Web site...and just how ludicrous it is:
Miss Bimbo is an “online virtual reality social networking game…where bimbos from around the world can join one another and be proud and happy of bimboland." This company is based in the
Once people have created their bimbo, they manage the bimbo as if it were a real person. It must be fed, find a job, look for a boyfriend, and accomplish goals to move up levels in the game. The controversy kicks in with the appearance of the bimbos and the accessories. All bimbos are incredibly thin, and once a bimbo is first created, the only clothes available are tiny T-shirts and very short skirts. (I actually registered with the Web site in order to see firsthand how sexist and demeaning the concept was).
In order to keep a bimbo happy, things much be purchased, and some of the more questionable items include breast implants and face lifts. Diet pills used to be an option to keep your bimbo at a designated weight, but they have since been removed due to negative public reaction.
It’s almost overwhelming on where to start criticizing Miss Bimbo first: the actual name, the appearance, the goals, the products, the reinforcements of negative stereotypes of women. This Web site’s average user is 19 years old, so it obviously catering to the pre-teen and teenager crowd—and that is an incredibly influential part of anyone’s life, where identity crises are a commonality. To encourage young girls and women to sign up for this virtual bimbo (which implies stupidity on the part of the female character) in order to look “great” and attain goals of fashion and social excellence does a great injustice to women everywhere.
One of the main creators of the company and Web site, Nicolas Jacquart (a man), said, “It is not a bad influence for young children. They learn to take care of their bimbos. The missions and goals are morally sound and teach children about the real world."
If by "morally sound" he meant "stereotypically insulting," then yes, I’d agree with him. But the fact of the matter is this caters to a young audience, and the images presented only perpetuate the views that women should be tall, skinny, tan objects of sexual desire. For Jacquart to say that Miss Bimbo also teaches “children about the real world” is also incredibly narcissistic and paradoxical. The real world does not have to involve insulting stereotypes of body image and other insecurities. Rather, the real world does involve those things because they are reinforced in global media such as Miss Bimbo. Yes, some parents help out this Web site by allowing their children to demean themselves through shallow and short-lived materialization. But if Miss Bimbo did not promote this shallow image of the real world, then the real world could then change to one of gender equity and to one where women to do not have to have these body image pressures placed upon them.
Video of the Day: Absolutely incredible stop-motion art...using only Post-It Notes.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Milton Bradley: Go home
This is one of the greatest points of the regular baseball season because it pits the two Chicago teams together for the second time.
The White Sox and Cubs always fill up the seats, and as a Sox fan, I always hope for a smashing of the Cubs. Well, after yesterday, I think Cubs fans will want a smashing of one of their own: Milton Bradley.
Yes, it's the man who infamously shares the name with a board game company. Bradley threw a tantrum in the dugout after a lazy flyout in the bottom of the sixth, and he took it out -- in typical Cubs fashion -- on a Gatorade cooler. Niiice.
So what did Sweet Lou do? He finally did a good thing: Pinella told Bradley to leave. Get out of here. Go home.
I thought Bradley's low point with the Cubs was earlier this month when he threw the ball into the stands with only two outs in the inning. WRONG.
Keep in mind this is a guy who is making $7 million this year and $23 million over the next two years.
What's the phrase I'm looking for...oh, yeah. Waste of money.
Bradley was this year's "missing piece" for Cubs' fans' "World Series puzzle." Turns out, he has been a step above a cardboard cutout of himself (and just barely). He's batting under .240 and only has five home runs. It's times like these that make me relish in the fact the White Sox have Jermaine Dye, a humble, consistent producer ( .282 BA, 17 HR, 43 RBI so far) who flys under the radar.
It's not as though the Cubs didn't know what they were getting into, however. Bradley has had a past of being a complete nutjob.
Maybe Bradley should heed Pinella's order one step further...and just stay home. He's been a distraction every step of the way so far this year, and with the trade deadline coming u
p next month, the Cubs should consider two things (and this is coming from a White Sox fan): 1. Trade him. Actually, there isn't a second "thing." They need to trade him. He had to have been on a short leash coming, but we all know Bradley's position within the Cubs is safe.And why? Because the Cubs management so foolishly gave him so much money. He's not going to be sitting on the bench while making $30 million.
It's players like Bradley that make these Crosstown series even more heated, but Bradley can be easily handled by opponents. Really, he's nothing more than a toy anyway.
Video of the Day: By far, this is one of the nastiest home runs of this year.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
You make my world go roundabout
This past spring, I drove around in my first career roundabout in Carmel, Indiana. After six years of seeing stop signs and lighted intersections, this roundabout threw me for a loop (no pun intended...that would've been too lame), but it was surprisingly simple to use. And to go one step further, roundabouts are more efficient and safer than a typical crossroads intersection.
I first heard what a roundabout was last year, and now after being through a couple recently, I am convinced many more intersections need to make the switch permanently.
Several studies have shown that roundabouts, first and foremost, are safer than stoplights and reduce injuries and deaths in car accidents. A roundabout just about eliminates a head-on collision and T-boning (unless an absolute moron drove the wrong way in a roundabout). In intersections that were replaced with a roundabout, there were 39 percent less crashes and a "76 percent decrease in injury-producing crashes." And fatalities? Those fell almost 90 percent.
We're also living in an age where everyone and his or her mother is trying to "go green" and save the environment (myself included). Roundabouts do just that, as they cut down maintenance costs of traffic stoplights by thousands annually, save gas mileage (most times, you only need to slow down to around 15 miles per hour--there would be no more idling at red lights), consequently reduce carbon dioxide emissions drastically (about 30 percent), and lend themselves to landscaping.
The internal combustion engine is one of the polluting inventions, but it's so ingrained into our driving society that we need to roll with it and slowly evolve into alternative forms of transportation. Roundabouts not only ease traffic and stoplight eyesores, but they also prevent crashes and are better for our environment.
They are not being developed because of stubborn officials in charge, but thankfully, 23 states are on the roundabout bandwagon. I think it's getting very close to the time where we stop talking about how cool and innovative roundabouts are and actually move to their mass implementation.
Video of the Day: Don't believe me? Well, listen to this lady. She knows what's up.
I first heard what a roundabout was last year, and now after being through a couple recently, I am convinced many more intersections need to make the switch permanently.Several studies have shown that roundabouts, first and foremost, are safer than stoplights and reduce injuries and deaths in car accidents. A roundabout just about eliminates a head-on collision and T-boning (unless an absolute moron drove the wrong way in a roundabout). In intersections that were replaced with a roundabout, there were 39 percent less crashes and a "76 percent decrease in injury-producing crashes." And fatalities? Those fell almost 90 percent.
We're also living in an age where everyone and his or her mother is trying to "go green" and save the environment (myself included). Roundabouts do just that, as they cut down maintenance costs of traffic stoplights by thousands annually, save gas mileage (most times, you only need to slow down to around 15 miles per hour--there would be no more idling at red lights), consequently reduce carbon dioxide emissions drastically (about 30 percent), and lend themselves to landscaping.
The internal combustion engine is one of the polluting inventions, but it's so ingrained into our driving society that we need to roll with it and slowly evolve into alternative forms of transportation. Roundabouts not only ease traffic and stoplight eyesores, but they also prevent crashes and are better for our environment.
They are not being developed because of stubborn officials in charge, but thankfully, 23 states are on the roundabout bandwagon. I think it's getting very close to the time where we stop talking about how cool and innovative roundabouts are and actually move to their mass implementation.
Video of the Day: Don't believe me? Well, listen to this lady. She knows what's up.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Richard Nixon -- as if things could've gotten worse for his reputation
President Nixon: I thought things were bad enough when he and his administration pulled one of the biggest political scandals in the history of the United States.
But after the unleashing of new audio tape from right after his second inauguration, his already defunct reputation took another blow.
Nixon declared that abortion was detrimental, but some specific cases called for it:
Nixon worried that greater access to abortions would foster “permissiveness,” and said that “it breaks the family.” But he also saw a need for abortion in some cases — like interracial pregnancies, he said.
“There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,” he told an aide, before adding, “Or a rape.”
"When you have a black and a white."
Wow, Dick. I think even for the '70s, that was incredibly racist. What's more is that he made that comment before including rape.
The sad thing is, I'm sure there are still people who would agree with Nixon. There is still a lot of growing up to do for a lot of people.
Video of the Day: Freedom is "ringing" in the ol' U.K.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Obama press conference
President Obama covered a wide array of topics today during his press conference, most notably touching on health care, the unemployment rate and Iran.Iran is by far the most burning issue. The video of Neda that surfaced a few days ago (viewer discretion strongly advised: this video is very graphic and depicts an innocent human dying) shocked the world as it spread virally across the Internet. President Obama briefly touched on Iran, saying that the "Iranian regime still has a clear, open path to international acceptance, despite the violence of the recent crackdown in Tehran."
I'm curious how you all felt President Obama handled himself during the press conference. If you didn't see it, you can still see what his talking points were and how he responded to reporters questions in the first link above.
Did he say enough about how this health care reform is going help out citizens of the United States? What were your reactions when you found out the unemployment rate will probably reach double digits? And what about Iran? This is one of the most serious issues today...is the United States doing enough?
Regardless, the video of Neda is a true testament of what we all take for granted here. This poor woman--who was merely demonstrating--was killed for a freedom that we could easily take advantage of here.
We must realize that even with a terrible health care system and a crumbling economy, there are people in the world who are suffering far worse fates.
Video of the Day: In case you forgot what Lebron's magical 3-point buzzer-beater looked like during this past playoffs against the Magic...too bad the Cavs choked harder than P.J. Carlesimo versus Latrell Sprewell.
Monday, June 22, 2009
I can't stop looking at my fantasy baseball team
It's true. I can't stop looking at my fantasy baseball team.
I have been playing fantasy sports since I first started surfing the Internet in middle school. The first fantasy sport I ever participated in was at Small World (which has since been swallowed by Sporting News). It was great--I felt the power of a general manager at my hands. I was "buying" players. They were on my team. And now, checking my team is one of my essential functions of even going on the Internet.
This is how bad my "disease" has gotten (and I know other fantasy managers in my league have it as bad--or worse--than I do...and it's times like these when I wish Bill Simmons could be in our league. I'm sure he'd understand our delightful plight.):
I go to the league homepage every day. After perusing the league posts to see who has been talking trash, I click on my team to see how they did the night before. The days where I see my team batted .160 and my pitching staff had an 8.53 ERA lead me to fits of internal cursing, shame, and a desire to trade/eliminate every last one of them. But the days of a .400 batting average and an ERA under 2.00 make me crap for joy.
Of course, there are the numerous mediocre days that fill in the norm, but all scenarios lead to one result: I wind up staring at my team. For minutes. Sometimes, for an hour...or more. There's a constant feeling of "How can I make my team better?" How can I improve my lead? How can I comeback from such a terrible week? Why did David Ortiz suck such a big one for the first two months of this season, and why am I still looking at his face on my team? In fact, I just looked at my team again...right now. I had to take a break from blogging (of all things) to see if my team has miraculously changed.
It didn't.
I'm currently in the middle of the pack in our league, which consists of die-hard fantasy baseball addicts and friends of nearly eight years. I probably will not win this year, but there's still a feeling that maybe my team will breakthrough over night. All I want is fantasy baseball immortality, and my only solution right now is staring at my team.
I love it. It's my drug. Better this than crack, I suppose.
Video of the Day: As a former mascot, I can appreciate this act.
I have been playing fantasy sports since I first started surfing the Internet in middle school. The first fantasy sport I ever participated in was at Small World (which has since been swallowed by Sporting News). It was great--I felt the power of a general manager at my hands. I was "buying" players. They were on my team. And now, checking my team is one of my essential functions of even going on the Internet.
This is how bad my "disease" has gotten (and I know other fantasy managers in my league have it as bad--or worse--than I do...and it's times like these when I wish Bill Simmons could be in our league. I'm sure he'd understand our delightful plight.):
I go to the league homepage every day. After perusing the league posts to see who has been talking trash, I click on my team to see how they did the night before. The days where I see my team batted .160 and my pitching staff had an 8.53 ERA lead me to fits of internal cursing, shame, and a desire to trade/eliminate every last one of them. But the days of a .400 batting average and an ERA under 2.00 make me crap for joy.
Of course, there are the numerous mediocre days that fill in the norm, but all scenarios lead to one result: I wind up staring at my team. For minutes. Sometimes, for an hour...or more. There's a constant feeling of "How can I make my team better?" How can I improve my lead? How can I comeback from such a terrible week? Why did David Ortiz suck such a big one for the first two months of this season, and why am I still looking at his face on my team? In fact, I just looked at my team again...right now. I had to take a break from blogging (of all things) to see if my team has miraculously changed.
It didn't.
I'm currently in the middle of the pack in our league, which consists of die-hard fantasy baseball addicts and friends of nearly eight years. I probably will not win this year, but there's still a feeling that maybe my team will breakthrough over night. All I want is fantasy baseball immortality, and my only solution right now is staring at my team.
I love it. It's my drug. Better this than crack, I suppose.
Video of the Day: As a former mascot, I can appreciate this act.
Happy Father's Day
I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to all those quirky dads out there. For those out there who forgot what a "father" is, have no fear--here is the Wikipedia page to give you a refresher (notice the top photo chosen for that wiki...it's pretty damn funny).
I'll keep this short and sweet because we are all grateful for the fathers and father-like figures we all have in our lives, but here are a couple personal favorite things my dad has taught me:
1. How to wash and wax a car properly. To many dads, mine especially, washing and waxing a car is not just another routine you can do on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It's a freaking science. My dad first taught me how to wash a car properly in middle school--from where to start washing, to what type of washing strokes you should have while washing. He also made sure to show me all the spots where so many people forget to wash (i.e. the wheel wells, the bottommost part under the front grill, etc.). Sounds excessive, but I wouldn't wash my or anyone's car any other way. And waxing--well, that's an even more exact science. But thanks to all the waxing lessons, I can make a car look nicer than a "cat's ass"...a phrase I also learned from good ol' dad.
2. How to mow the lawn as if you are preparing it for a Beautiful Lawn Contest. Much like washing and waxing cars, mowing the lawn is something I've grown to take very seriously. Never cutting the lawn with the same horizontal pattern and making the lawn look classier with a diagonal cut--all dad. Of course, that mainly applies to the front yard only because, honestly, who gives a crap about the backyard? It's all about the front yard pride.
3. Sweating profusely...and enjoying it. Thankfully, I've inherited my dad's sweat glands, which produce roughly 30 liters of perspiration per hour on a normal 70-75 degree day. Many people are disgusted by their own sweat. Sure, it's acidic as hell and makes you smell like a dog, but my dad and I wear it as a badge of honor. It shows that we're working our butts off--and a strong work ethic has always been a great characteristic of my dad.
Video of the Day: Sometimes, don't you just want to punch everyone at Fox News right in the face? For those who don't get that urge from time to time, maybe this will trigger that feeling.
I'll keep this short and sweet because we are all grateful for the fathers and father-like figures we all have in our lives, but here are a couple personal favorite things my dad has taught me:
1. How to wash and wax a car properly. To many dads, mine especially, washing and waxing a car is not just another routine you can do on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It's a freaking science. My dad first taught me how to wash a car properly in middle school--from where to start washing, to what type of washing strokes you should have while washing. He also made sure to show me all the spots where so many people forget to wash (i.e. the wheel wells, the bottommost part under the front grill, etc.). Sounds excessive, but I wouldn't wash my or anyone's car any other way. And waxing--well, that's an even more exact science. But thanks to all the waxing lessons, I can make a car look nicer than a "cat's ass"...a phrase I also learned from good ol' dad.
2. How to mow the lawn as if you are preparing it for a Beautiful Lawn Contest. Much like washing and waxing cars, mowing the lawn is something I've grown to take very seriously. Never cutting the lawn with the same horizontal pattern and making the lawn look classier with a diagonal cut--all dad. Of course, that mainly applies to the front yard only because, honestly, who gives a crap about the backyard? It's all about the front yard pride.
3. Sweating profusely...and enjoying it. Thankfully, I've inherited my dad's sweat glands, which produce roughly 30 liters of perspiration per hour on a normal 70-75 degree day. Many people are disgusted by their own sweat. Sure, it's acidic as hell and makes you smell like a dog, but my dad and I wear it as a badge of honor. It shows that we're working our butts off--and a strong work ethic has always been a great characteristic of my dad.
Video of the Day: Sometimes, don't you just want to punch everyone at Fox News right in the face? For those who don't get that urge from time to time, maybe this will trigger that feeling.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Recommended reading: "9-11" by Noam Chomsky
I've only become familiar with noted linguist Noam Chomsky and his books since this past year, and it feels like I've been missing out on so much.
I just finished reading 9-11, which is a short book that compiles numerous interviews of Chomsky and concludes with his own article about the events of September 11 one year after the fact.
His commentary is simply stunning. This is one of my favorite excerpts about the hypocrisy of the Bush Doctrine:
The government and commentators are stressing loud and clear that they intend to apply the [Bush] doctrine to Iraq. The elementary standard of universality, therefore, would appear to justify Iraqi preemptive terror against the United States. Of course, no one accepts this conclusion. Again, if we are willing to adopt elementary moral principles, obvious questions arise, and must be faced by those who advocate or tolerate the selective version of the doctrine of "preemptive response" that grants the right to those powerful enough to exercise it with little concern for what the world may think.
9-11 is only one of the numerous books and articles that Chomsky has eloquently written about U.S. foreign policy--and how incredibly hypocritical it has been throughout history.
Perhaps the greatest part about Chomsky's arguments is the fact that he uses so many concrete examples. He explains U.S. mishaps in Central America, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Sudan and others and how double standards exist in how the U.S. attacked those situations and how the U.S. has responded to attacks aimed at them.
It's an interesting book, a quick and easy read, and offers great perspective on the atrocities of 9-11--and it's brave enough to criticize the United States on many fronts, something that Chomsky always does with great thought in all of his articles.
Video of the Day: One of my favorite music videos/songs.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Letterman and Palin
This past Monday night, talk show host David Letterman issued an apology to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin about comments he made about his daughter. I've seen and heard his joke several times, and it's sad that he's had to issue an apology about this whole ordeal.
The last I remember from my First Amendment journalism courses, it's perfectly legitimate within David Letterman's rights to make comments about Gov. Palin and her daughters, who indirectly has been thrown into a public official status due to the popularity of her mother (and national-wide news of their own).
Were his comments in bad taste? Maybe. He didn't actually name any of Gov. Palin's daughters, which is a big controversy of the whole situation, but he did make a "taboo" sex joke.
Honestly, this is being blown out of proportion. Not once did Letterman tacitly endorse rape of minors...that is merely a mirage.
Letterman's joke never mentioned Palin's underage daughter, and now he must pay the price by this issued apology to appease the angered Palin and right-wing nutjobs. For the love of God, what happened to comedy? Should Bill Maher, Jay Leno, and Conan apologize for all of the jokes they made about Palin and Sen. John McCain, especially when Palin was still new to the ridicule scene?
Letterman: Continue the sarcasm with little remorse. It's your job, and the butt of your clearly jesting jokes need to get over it. That's what happens when you're placed within the public spotlight for all to critique.
Video of the Day: The first overall pick of this year's MLB draft, Stephen Strasburg. He will be great if the money doesn't get to his head.
The last I remember from my First Amendment journalism courses, it's perfectly legitimate within David Letterman's rights to make comments about Gov. Palin and her daughters, who indirectly has been thrown into a public official status due to the popularity of her mother (and national-wide news of their own).
Were his comments in bad taste? Maybe. He didn't actually name any of Gov. Palin's daughters, which is a big controversy of the whole situation, but he did make a "taboo" sex joke.
Honestly, this is being blown out of proportion. Not once did Letterman tacitly endorse rape of minors...that is merely a mirage.
Letterman's joke never mentioned Palin's underage daughter, and now he must pay the price by this issued apology to appease the angered Palin and right-wing nutjobs. For the love of God, what happened to comedy? Should Bill Maher, Jay Leno, and Conan apologize for all of the jokes they made about Palin and Sen. John McCain, especially when Palin was still new to the ridicule scene?
Letterman: Continue the sarcasm with little remorse. It's your job, and the butt of your clearly jesting jokes need to get over it. That's what happens when you're placed within the public spotlight for all to critique.
Video of the Day: The first overall pick of this year's MLB draft, Stephen Strasburg. He will be great if the money doesn't get to his head.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Fun facts about U.S. military spending
We all know the "War on Terror" has cost a pretty penny since Sept. 11, 2001. Heck, it seems like the only thing that has been accomplished is the ungodly squandering of tax money.
Here's some fun facts about the obscene spending and allocation of funds in the U.S. Department of Defense (this information comes from defenselink.mil, warresisters.org and a Feb. 28, 2009, article from The New York Times):
Video of the Day: I guess Jan Terri slipped through the cracks of pop music stardom. But how? This video is just too damn good.
Here's some fun facts about the obscene spending and allocation of funds in the U.S. Department of Defense (this information comes from defenselink.mil, warresisters.org and a Feb. 28, 2009, article from The New York Times):
- Former President George W. Bush approved a 2009 fiscal year defense budget of more than $515 billion, nearly $36 billion more than 2008.
- This figurative "War on Terror" has cost us an estimated $860 billion.
- In 2006, it cost about $390,000 per year "to sustain each American trooper overseas."
- $965 billion of our income tax goes toward the current military; $484 billion of our income tax goes toward past military (such as veterans' benefits and the interest that is put on our national debt due to past military endeavors).
- The largest chunk of the current military spending is operation and maintenance, which is estimated to spend roughly $241 billion
- The other money-sucking components of the current military spending are "procurement" (i.e. let's buy a lot of unnecessary crap, thank you Haliburton, Blackwater, ....), military personnel, research and development, retiree payments, nukes within the Department of Energy, Homeland Security, NASA, and others.
- The United States has roughly 545,000 military facilities in roughly 5,300 sites in the Unites States and around the world.
Video of the Day: I guess Jan Terri slipped through the cracks of pop music stardom. But how? This video is just too damn good.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The 'lone-wolf' extremist theory - a load of crap
We've seen a drastic rise of domestic terrorism the past few weeks with the killings by James von Brunn at the Holocaust Museum and Scott Roeder of Dr. George Tiller, a doctor who performed late-term abortions. This precipitous rise in violence even goes as far back as Jim David Adkisson when he shot up a church during a musical almost one year ago.
A lot of headlines indicate that these lunatics commit these acts of horror in a "lone-wolf" manner. In other words, they are crazies who are going nuts with no outside influence.
Well, that's a load of crap.
David Neiwert, an intelligent man, author and blogger at various blogs such as "Crooks and Liars," wrote a great entry yesterday about Glenn Beck and how right-wing pundits and authors like him and Bill O'Reilly have driven many of these crimes. I'm sure I will write a entry that is completely devoted to Glenn Beck and his unbelievable lack of credibility and incredible surplus of idiocy, but that is for later.
When Jim David Adkisson shot innocent people a year ago, it was because of his hatred of liberals and because of the literature and things he read and heard -- which included the works of Bill O'Reilly! (Well put, Joan Walsh.)
Long story short, Neiwert shows a great point. These acts were not committed by people who live in a cave and don't pay attention to current events. In some way, shape or form, these killings have an impetus behind them--whether it is watching "The O'Reilly Factor" or reading a radical conservative book (it sounds like I'm picking on the "right," and I am...many of these killings can easy be traced back to radical right-wing verbage), there is a very small (or large) mode of influence.
Here is another good article that shows the new-age "lone wolves" is more of a mirage than reality.
I only hope that these senseless murders end...once again, when will we, as humans, realize we are all a part of the same race? It is the differences in all of us that should make us want to learn more about and respect each other. But perhaps that is asking too much.
Video of the Day: This doesn't really go with the theme of this entry, but who cares? This is one of my favorite sports videos of this past year.
A lot of headlines indicate that these lunatics commit these acts of horror in a "lone-wolf" manner. In other words, they are crazies who are going nuts with no outside influence.
Well, that's a load of crap.
David Neiwert, an intelligent man, author and blogger at various blogs such as "Crooks and Liars," wrote a great entry yesterday about Glenn Beck and how right-wing pundits and authors like him and Bill O'Reilly have driven many of these crimes. I'm sure I will write a entry that is completely devoted to Glenn Beck and his unbelievable lack of credibility and incredible surplus of idiocy, but that is for later.
When Jim David Adkisson shot innocent people a year ago, it was because of his hatred of liberals and because of the literature and things he read and heard -- which included the works of Bill O'Reilly! (Well put, Joan Walsh.)
Long story short, Neiwert shows a great point. These acts were not committed by people who live in a cave and don't pay attention to current events. In some way, shape or form, these killings have an impetus behind them--whether it is watching "The O'Reilly Factor" or reading a radical conservative book (it sounds like I'm picking on the "right," and I am...many of these killings can easy be traced back to radical right-wing verbage), there is a very small (or large) mode of influence.
Here is another good article that shows the new-age "lone wolves" is more of a mirage than reality.
I only hope that these senseless murders end...once again, when will we, as humans, realize we are all a part of the same race? It is the differences in all of us that should make us want to learn more about and respect each other. But perhaps that is asking too much.
Video of the Day: This doesn't really go with the theme of this entry, but who cares? This is one of my favorite sports videos of this past year.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The ongoing tension in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and the other Israeli/Palestinian territories has troubled me for a while now. Obviously, the violence is part of the problem...the other part of the problem is how the ordeal is being portrayed to us.
Because the United States has been buddy-buddy with Israel since it became a state in 1948, the Israelis have consistently looked like the good guys. Well, they're not. I particularly aim that at the Israeli government, which has shown that it is a soulless group of individuals who shed the blood of the Palestinians and then use them as the scapegoat.
I wrote a column in my university newspaper this past April about it, and I want to post here because I found another relevant and interesting story about this conflict. But for now, here's my article from April:
The Butler Collegian, 04/15/09
Bob Herman
"Reading articles about Israeli forces killing Palestinians or a Palestinian suicide bomber murdering several Israeli civilians has become commonplace, and it's sad to say that.
Maybe during the past several months, I merely became too jaded from the situation in Israel and Palestine.
But then I saw the underlying facts, particularly about the total death counts on each side. I am no longer worn out from hearing about the bloodshed in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Israel as a whole--and none of us should be, especially considering the United States' general position on the conflict.
The United States has always supported Israel (despite a myth of U.S. neutrality...please watch MSNBC or Fox News if you beg to differ), but with the way Israeli armed forces have been treating Palestinians, it is apparent the Palestinians are getting the short end of the stick--and a gamut of unwarranted and unpopular coverage.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there have been 6,348 reported Palestinian death from Sept. 29, 2000, until this past February. How many reported Israeli deaths have there been in that same time frame?
Answer: 1,072.
Yet, most of the news we hear involves radical Palestinian suicide bombers killing innocent Israeli civilians and the uncontrollable violence of Palestinian natives toward Israeli military officials.
This is by no means a vindication of those acts. Both Palestinians and Israelis have committed heinous acts toward each other, leaving many, including myself, to wonder when everyone will realize we are all a part of the same human race.
But the facts are skewed against the Palestinians. Israelis, who have killed more than six times as many Palestinians, are seen to be reacting to and retaliating against the acts committed against their side, which is only partially true. It is consistently overlooked that the Israeli government has occupied land (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) that is not theirs.
Imagine if Canada occupied parts of Minnesota and mapped out settlements for Canadians. The United States would flip out.
Obviously, Minnesota does not hold the same kind of religious significance and geographical setting as does Israel and Palestine, but the concept is the same.
The solution is simple yet so complex. Israeli government and civilians: Get out of Palestine, and stop provoking mass retaliations. Palestinian government and civilians: Stop the violence.
Both parties really want the same thing. They desire the land to signify their respective religions, but the problem lies in the fact that neither is willing to compromise and share. And hence, all this fighting.
But before any solution can be conceived, we, as citizens of the United States, need to understand and acknowledge the two sides of this frightening story. Even though Israel is a close ally to the United States, Israel (and by Israel, I mostly include its government) has been the instigator in much of this mess. Organizations like B'Tselem and the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories are great outlets to learn more about the situation.
This area of the Middle East is so substantial to our world culture. Becoming jaded from the death tolls and acknowledging only the Israeli motives does not give the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict justice."
And now, I found this article today that yet again shows how Palestinians are not being treated fairly. The Israeli government is largely at fault. Enough is enough. When will this end? I can only hope it will be soon before an entire race of people is decimated.
Video of the Day: Here is the documentary, "Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land: Media & the Israel-Palestine Conflict", in its entirety. It is a great film.
Because the United States has been buddy-buddy with Israel since it became a state in 1948, the Israelis have consistently looked like the good guys. Well, they're not. I particularly aim that at the Israeli government, which has shown that it is a soulless group of individuals who shed the blood of the Palestinians and then use them as the scapegoat.
I wrote a column in my university newspaper this past April about it, and I want to post here because I found another relevant and interesting story about this conflict. But for now, here's my article from April:
The Butler Collegian, 04/15/09
Bob Herman
"Reading articles about Israeli forces killing Palestinians or a Palestinian suicide bomber murdering several Israeli civilians has become commonplace, and it's sad to say that.
Maybe during the past several months, I merely became too jaded from the situation in Israel and Palestine.
But then I saw the underlying facts, particularly about the total death counts on each side. I am no longer worn out from hearing about the bloodshed in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Israel as a whole--and none of us should be, especially considering the United States' general position on the conflict.
The United States has always supported Israel (despite a myth of U.S. neutrality...please watch MSNBC or Fox News if you beg to differ), but with the way Israeli armed forces have been treating Palestinians, it is apparent the Palestinians are getting the short end of the stick--and a gamut of unwarranted and unpopular coverage.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there have been 6,348 reported Palestinian death from Sept. 29, 2000, until this past February. How many reported Israeli deaths have there been in that same time frame?
Answer: 1,072.
Yet, most of the news we hear involves radical Palestinian suicide bombers killing innocent Israeli civilians and the uncontrollable violence of Palestinian natives toward Israeli military officials.
This is by no means a vindication of those acts. Both Palestinians and Israelis have committed heinous acts toward each other, leaving many, including myself, to wonder when everyone will realize we are all a part of the same human race.
But the facts are skewed against the Palestinians. Israelis, who have killed more than six times as many Palestinians, are seen to be reacting to and retaliating against the acts committed against their side, which is only partially true. It is consistently overlooked that the Israeli government has occupied land (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) that is not theirs.
Imagine if Canada occupied parts of Minnesota and mapped out settlements for Canadians. The United States would flip out.
Obviously, Minnesota does not hold the same kind of religious significance and geographical setting as does Israel and Palestine, but the concept is the same.
The solution is simple yet so complex. Israeli government and civilians: Get out of Palestine, and stop provoking mass retaliations. Palestinian government and civilians: Stop the violence.
Both parties really want the same thing. They desire the land to signify their respective religions, but the problem lies in the fact that neither is willing to compromise and share. And hence, all this fighting.
But before any solution can be conceived, we, as citizens of the United States, need to understand and acknowledge the two sides of this frightening story. Even though Israel is a close ally to the United States, Israel (and by Israel, I mostly include its government) has been the instigator in much of this mess. Organizations like B'Tselem and the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories are great outlets to learn more about the situation.
This area of the Middle East is so substantial to our world culture. Becoming jaded from the death tolls and acknowledging only the Israeli motives does not give the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict justice."
And now, I found this article today that yet again shows how Palestinians are not being treated fairly. The Israeli government is largely at fault. Enough is enough. When will this end? I can only hope it will be soon before an entire race of people is decimated.
Video of the Day: Here is the documentary, "Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land: Media & the Israel-Palestine Conflict", in its entirety. It is a great film.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Appreciating the simple beauty
I couldn't help but think of Gene Weingarten's Pulitzer Prize-article winning today while I was in Chicago.
After taking the 9:06 a.m. South Shore train from Hegewisch to the Randolph station, I hit the street of the Loop a full hour before an 11 a.m. job interview. This has happened plenty of times so far this month. I have to take an early train to ensure that I make my job interview on time, leaving me with plenty of time to, well, walk the streets.
Most times, I will stroll around from block to block, no destination in mind, but with the purpose of simply watching people. During the work week, it's astonishing to see how robotic we can be. There's almost an intrinsic need to get from Point A to Point B as fast as possible, but for no particular reason. Americans, simply, are in a rush to go nowhere.
I experienced the inverse of this today, though. Unlike Weingarten's article, I was able to witness people who were thoroughly enjoying their day, people who were appreciating the beauty around them.
After hitting Michigan Avenue, I immediately went to Millennium Park and found an area with a decent amount of foot traffic. I sat on a well-shaded bench amidst a slowly cumulating crowd. For the next 40 minutes, I saw numerous people enjoying the 75-degree day. A dad was holding the hand of his very young daughter, staring at the shrubery as they walked past. An elderly man with his arm draped around his presumed wife slowly sauntered by, vividly talking about how great the weather finally is. Two women sat two benches down from me and talked. The simplicity of taking a break and conversation. It was great to see.
It's all too easy for us to freak out at every article we read in the news during this "frightening" recession. We have to worry about keeping our job, finding a job, saving up for next month's mortgage, the results of doctor visits and everything in between. But really, we have it pretty good here.
And really, we're not that busy. Take the time to enjoy the world before you kick the bucket.
Video of the Day: This guy's acrobatics and sheer physicality will make your day a little better.
After taking the 9:06 a.m. South Shore train from Hegewisch to the Randolph station, I hit the street of the Loop a full hour before an 11 a.m. job interview. This has happened plenty of times so far this month. I have to take an early train to ensure that I make my job interview on time, leaving me with plenty of time to, well, walk the streets.
Most times, I will stroll around from block to block, no destination in mind, but with the purpose of simply watching people. During the work week, it's astonishing to see how robotic we can be. There's almost an intrinsic need to get from Point A to Point B as fast as possible, but for no particular reason. Americans, simply, are in a rush to go nowhere.
I experienced the inverse of this today, though. Unlike Weingarten's article, I was able to witness people who were thoroughly enjoying their day, people who were appreciating the beauty around them.
After hitting Michigan Avenue, I immediately went to Millennium Park and found an area with a decent amount of foot traffic. I sat on a well-shaded bench amidst a slowly cumulating crowd. For the next 40 minutes, I saw numerous people enjoying the 75-degree day. A dad was holding the hand of his very young daughter, staring at the shrubery as they walked past. An elderly man with his arm draped around his presumed wife slowly sauntered by, vividly talking about how great the weather finally is. Two women sat two benches down from me and talked. The simplicity of taking a break and conversation. It was great to see.
It's all too easy for us to freak out at every article we read in the news during this "frightening" recession. We have to worry about keeping our job, finding a job, saving up for next month's mortgage, the results of doctor visits and everything in between. But really, we have it pretty good here.
And really, we're not that busy. Take the time to enjoy the world before you kick the bucket.
Video of the Day: This guy's acrobatics and sheer physicality will make your day a little better.
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