Rhode Island Fights Church over Athletic Fields

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091227/ap_on_re/us_rel_athletic_fields_catholics

Tribe Buys Back Land

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091227/ap_on_re_us/us_buying_back_america;_ylt=Ao6XzbxpqJ5QOfhutXY58olv24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTNiMWtyY21kBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjI3L3VzX2J1eWluZ19iYWNrX2FtZXJpY2EEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM1BHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDaW5kaWFudHJpYmVz

Vatican to Overhaul Papal Security

Romanian Nostalgia

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091222/ap_on_re_eu/eu_romania_revolution_remembered

 11:59 pm

I am Hugo Chavez and I WILL Shoot Down Your Spy Planes – CARACAS, VENEZUELA - Once again that maniac in training Hugo Chavez feels neglected so he took it upon himself to tell the rest of the world about it.  Though doubltful that anybody still pays attention to Senior Hugo, he loves to be in front of the camera making threats  and cracking smiles with those big pointy teeth.  A few months back he took over the only television station in the whole country and began doing weekly variety shows that featured news, comedy, and a random execution or two.  Within the last few weeks he conducted a nation-wide p.r. campaign urging people to lose weight and get healthy or he would shoot them in their sleep.  That’s nothing. Just today he threatened to destroy all US spy planes with his x-10 modulator, if he can get the damn thing to work.

Earlier today Chavez accused the U.S. of violating Venezuelan airspace with a drone type of spy plane and ordered the Venezuelan Air Scouts to be on alert and shoot down any suspect aircraft or ufo.  Speaking during his weekly television and radio program, Hugo said the aircraft overflew a Venezuelan military base and dropped a few bombs for the hell of it, then flew back into neighboring Colombia, his most despised enemy.  He did not go into any detail, but suggested the plane was being used for espionage, then he went into a few yuk yuk jokes followed his sock puppet show.  “These are the smart ass Americans making trouble again. They are entering Venezuela illegally ,” he said.  “I’ve ordered them to be shot down though we will still deliver our processed oil as usual.” (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091220/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_us_colombia)

Chavez has repeateldy accused Colombia of allowing the United States to use its military bases as a ploy to overththrow the country.  Both the U.S. and Colombia have denied such allegations in the past, saying the U.S. military presence is for the sole purpose of protecting the United States’ secret cocaine operation which runs right through Caracas.   It’s pretty much a weekly thing for Chavez to accuse the U.S. and its allies of conspiring against Venezuela so nobody really listens to him.   Tensions between Venezuela, the US , and Colombia have been heightened for years months due to Chavez’s accusations of warmongering and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe’s dirty politics, but he’s just mad because Uribe and certain unnamed US officials have cut him out of the coke business. 

 11:59 pm

Jesus and the Jury Pool – BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -  If you’re an American in good standing, or if you’ve recently renewed your driver’s license, chances are you have been or will be called for jury duty some time soon.  With this being one of the most irritating of all social responsibilities, there’s a better chance you already have a sorry-ass excuse brewing.  Yes, some work and some don’t, but if you play your cards right you could be pardoned from showing up at the courthouse bright and early Monday morning, or maybe tossed out permanently once you get there, if your story is hard to lick.  You could tray the old “Yes, I know the perp, his mama and his baby’s daddy.”  Or, you   could always chug a bottle of cough medicine on the way, then pass out in the jury box before you’re even called up to bat.  If neither of those lame-brain ideas work, you could always tell the judge you’re Jesus Christ and that you’re not answering one goddamn question, no offense to the Lord of course. 

A Birmingham woman who changed her name to Jesus Christ, yes, that’s correct, Jesus Christ, didn’t live up to it when she reported for jury duty drunk as a skunk last week.   After six attempts to blow off her civic duty she was finally sent to the courtroom for a drug trafficking trial.   It didn’t last too long though as the 59-year-old impostor was excused because she was disruptive when nobody believed her name was the son of God, and kept she asking questions instead of answering them.  “Jesus Christ.  You brought me here for a weed trial?  Daddy created it so it must be good.”  (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091202/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_jesus_jury_duty)

During the trial people there were flabbergasted when they heard the drunk Mrs. Christ tell everybody her name was Jesus Christ. Some of her co-potential jurors laughed their asses off when her name was called but others got pissed because they didn’t think of saying they were Jesus Christ first.  However, despite a public drunkenness charge and being in contempt of court, Jesus’ main squeeze said she was “perfectly happy to serve until I found out it was a trial for weed, then I got pissed because I had to drag my ass out of bed for a pot bust.”

It  would appear that I was some what right in my belief that the child welfare and court system is a crock. 

My daughter and her husband have spent thousands of dollars on legal fees, which could have been used to make a better life for their children as well as themselves. 

My daughter lost her job at one point during this custody process, when her husband and his lawyer dragged her into court at a rate of at least 4 times a month trying to force her to meet his demands. 

 After causing her to lose her job , he decides not to pay child support and goes on welfare, where he remains to this day.  He becomes what is called I believe a dead beat dad. 

The children have been pulled and pushed in every direction. They have had their own lawyers since shortly after this legal farce began, who have only added to the confusion.  

Except for the lawyers big pay-day I can not for the life of me see what good this process has done anyone and by  this I mean. 

 My grandchildren are now getting to the age where any decision the court takes will be moot.  The oldest will be 15 years old followed by the next who will be 12 followed by a soon to be  6-year-old.

The children who love both of their parents have been made to suffer a horrible fate.  They are constantly being asked to choose between parents and trying to please both parents.  They are often asked to keep things quiet.

The children’s lawyer finds it necessary to deal with only one parent and has chosen to meet only with the father. 

 Her recommendation for the custody placement is as follows;the oldest child ,the girl should reside with her mother; the oldest boy should remain with his father;leaving the baby boy to float back and forth in joint custody. Am I losing it or is this not insane.  After 6 years this is going to be the recommendation to the court from the children’s lawyer. 

The father who is embarrassed to have a child who has A.D.D. has okayed his son to go to high school although his reading is at a grade 1 level.  This is the same father that refused to let his son take his prescribed medicine for the same disorder.   This is the same father who refuses to work to support his children, but rather allows his children to become his income. It appears white slavery has found a new supporter and it is the children’s  court system. Where fathers lay back and pimp their children, by getting the government and the ex-wife to pay while they sit back and make house with the mistress and go on trips to New York and abroad and it is all court sanctioned and legal. 

Why do I write you may ask and I would have to say, “If I did not write it out, I would revert back to my old self and handle things in the old way and then there would not be a choice, there would be just the one.”

Congo Op Shut Down

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091216/wl_nm/us_congo_democratic_un

Itachi Uchiha once said, “People live their lives bound by what they accept as correct and true. That’s how they define “reality”. But what does it mean to be “correct” or “true”? Merely vague concepts, their “reality” may all be a mirage. Can we consider them to simply be living in their own world, shaped by their beliefs?” I believe nothing supports this quote better then the movie Memento. In the psychological thriller film Memento, The main character, Leonard Shelby, is plagued by short-term memory loss. Shelby, being unable to create new memories, lives his life in a perpetual repeating nature. Shelby believes he had acquired this indisposition through a tragedy in which he was hit in head the head, and unnamed assailants murdered his wife. His last memory is of his wife being raped and about to be murdered, for that he plagued with the perpetual feeling of sorrow and vengeance. Through his detective work he is able to find the person he believes killed his wife, however at the end of the movie, it is said that he had already killed his wife’s speculated murderer, and is now killing various criminals which he is tricked into believing are the murders by a police detective. Once he finds this out, he is ok with it, instead of stopping himself, he just continues committing the planned murders. It is not because he wants to, but because he has nothing else in his life. Leonard Shelby is truly alone in his world and does not have a true home to go to. One similarity I see between Leonard Shelby and society in general is their lies. People lie to themselves everyday, for various reasons. These reasons maybe to make themselves feel better, or to help them continue to function in society. I suspect the reason that he continues to commit his murders is because he wants to feel as if he is a part of something or is needed. In that respect I believe he is similar to society in general. People desire to be needed or wanted for a purpose no matter what it is or it may be. My view is that people are born with an inept yearning for that. Another reason I believe that Shelby continues to commit his murders is because he believes that the short period of happiness he receives from his vengeance is worth the life of a criminal. This is related to society as well. People will go about things in different ways if they believe the end justifies the means. Memento is a good representation of society by showing the audience distinct characteristics which are prevalent among all persons. These characteristics include the lies he tells himself, the desire to be needed or wanted among society, the false sense of control through the situation, and by the belief of the ends justify the means.

People lie. This is a well-known fact. Some lie for salvation and self-preservation, others for happiness. These lies however are not told to others; these are lies people tell themselves, so that they believe what it is they want to believe. This is best shown as the last line spoken by Shelby in the movie. “Do I lie to make myself happy? In this case, I will.” Leonard Shelby presents himself as a retired insurance fraud officer and related his condition to a case that he once took about an old man who has the similar memory. It shows the old man having short-term memory loss, however his wife doesn’t believe it and her disbelief is proven stronger after talking to Leonard. She decides to put him through a test. The test involved having her husband give her insulin shots for her diabetes, however she told him to give her a shot in 15 minute intervals, as a way to call his bluff, however, this resulted in the wife dying of insulin poisoning. Unfortunately, that is a lie he tells himself to make himself happy. There was no old man with a similar condition. Leonard was merely projecting his thoughts and created him as a lifeline to the rest of society, as a way to not feel like an outcast. The lies people tell themselves are usually little, but they are lies nonetheless, each with the same purpose of self satisfaction; Self preservation and satisfaction, those are two innate traits humans are born with and live by. Society does this everyday to make them feel better or happier. Whether it be cheating on a diet by eating a cookie which “won’t hurt,” or by telling yourself that the damage you caused to your car isn’t that bad, when the whole under carriage must be replaced, people lie to themselves everyday to stay sane and still be able function properly in society even with a “setback” like Shelby’s memory condition.

Another similarity between Leonard Shelby and society is that Shelby wants to be part of something. If Shelby weren’t a puppet of a police detective, he would be sitting in a mental institution till who knows when. People always yearn to be a part of something greater in their life, people don’t like to sit on the sidelines and just watch life pass them by, they want to be active and participate. According to a Journal of Human Nature and Environmental Responsible Behavior by Stephen Kaplan of the University of Michigan, research involving motivation shows that one key reason people join groups or projects is the fact that they will be needed and will have a chance to play a meaningful role. I believe that Leonard Shelby’s work with the police was an involuntary act of his subconscious as a way to be a part of something.

Shelby’s false sense of control is another key aspect worth looking at. Throughout Shelby’s murders and detective work, he believes that he is in control through most of it because he thinks things through and keeps notes, however he is still a mere puppet at many times. If he forgets to write a note, or is unable to, his condition gets the best of him and he becomes mere pawn to whoever wants him to do his or her bidding. This is shown once in the movie, but once the viewer sees this scene they realize just how little control Shelby has. This is similar to society in my opinion. Society is controlled by a system of laws and bills. In a greater sense, the government controls society. The government approves everything we see, hear, and read as well as everything we are allowed to purchase and keep. Although it may seem as we are in control, we are merely bring controlled, much like Shelby.

In the movie Memento a retired insurance claim officer named Leonard Shelby is diseased by short-term memory loss and his haunted by his last memory being of his wife being murdered. Because of this tragic memory, he lives for vengeance. He enacts his vengeance by murdering the suspected assailant, multiple times, in order to achieve one brief moment of happiness. To him that one brief moment of bliss and inner peace is worth the death of a criminal and worth being labeled a murder. A trait that is common between Leonard and society is the belief that the ends will always justify the means. One example of society doing this is the Atomic bombs dropped by the USA in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1945 when Truman gave the orders for the bombs to be dropped he believed that the damage in destruction would be worth the quick end to the war, however, the damage and harm was on a whole other level. Although the bombs accomplished what they were meant to do, I felt that the damage and casualties were far greater than they should have been. 220,000 died from the two bombs that year alone, many others followed due to radiation poisoning. Truman still believed it was worth the sacrifice. Shelby has a similar mindset. He has been killing for who knows how long, all for only a brief moment of ecstasy, which he cannot remember.

The motion picture Memento is about the trials a middle-aged man faces with antro-grade amnesia, which makes him unable to create new memories. I believe the main character in the movie resembles humanity. He is grief stricken and alone therefore resorting to his basic instincts to survive. Although these instincts are more prevalent in Leonard Shelby’s case, society is plagued by a similar mindset. These traits include people lie to themselves, people need to be needed or wanted, people having a false sense of control, and people justifying their actions by the end result. Although Memento is a motion picture of a man who cannot create new memories, I believe that it is a brilliant insight into basic human nature and emotion.

Work Cited

Galt, John. A Cognitive Analysis of the Movie Memento. Associated Content Society, 09 Aug. 2007. Web. 13 Dec. 2009

Kaplan, Stephen. “Journal of Social Issues.” Human Nature and Environmentally Responsible Behavior 56 (2000): 461-508. Web. 13 Dec. 2009.

Rosenberg, Jennifer. “Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” 7 Jun. 2002.  About. Web. 13 Dec 2009.

Teen Pot Use Grows

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091214/ap_on_he_me/us_teen_drugs

This is the last section of the conversation I have had with my friend during our class together. We managed to wrap up our discussion though with no definitive answer for either of our bickering. That is alright though in my opinion, since it leaves the topic open for more discussion and debate at a later date as well as for me to take the ideas we have here and run with them. Thank you all for keep up with this small commentary.

The Conversation

Patriot: I understand that I just don’t believe that we should throw away one of the most representative and democratic systems out because you don’t agree with what politicians are doing.

Revolutionary: Yet, it suffices as a good enough reason despite how much you are minimizing the argument. Another fact for that falls in, is on the grounds of how government limits the individual in number of ways. So, in such a way government should be cast aside for more a sake of liberty if nothing else at all.

Patriot: A good government does not limit the individual in anyway. The perfect government knows that it only exists to protect the rights of its people and for no other reason, which prevents it from acquiring too much power. When governments overstep that boundary and do more than that, even with good intentions, they bring themselves one step closer to a tyranny where the common man is stepped on in order to gain power.

Revolutionary: Ok, and the American government has not over-stepped these boundaries? I mean, it seems to me that it has. Though in any case, the government will step on the toes of the individual or minority in some way.

Patriot: It has, in my belief, over-stepped some of those boundaries, yes. However, I don’t think that a bloody revolution is necessary to fix that. And yes, the institution of a new form of government, even if it were to have no government, would be a bloody one.

Revolutionary: Well, I never asked for a revolution, but if there has to be one to change things than so be it. And a revolution of this kind would not be to terribly bad, but with the state at which the American society is at now, there will not be one soon.

Patriot: Styles of government fit onto a scale with one end being Anarchy with no government and the other end being Totalitarianism with everything being the government. No form of government has ever changed to one closer to anarchy without a revolution. How do you expect it to happen now?

Revolutionary: Well, I expect some sort of revolution, but the thing is that society is not ready for it yet. With the government reaching to the left at least in a socialistic way, people may start to see. Otherwise, all I can honestly do is bide my time.

Patriot: Bide your time…? You sound like some sort of evil genius. I totally agree with you though that a revolution is coming. Hopefully it will be a political, true republican revolution instead of a bloody one or one where no real change takes place.

Revolutionary: Well, it depends on the connotation of “biding my time”, I mean I am only stating I am willing to wait. Though, personally a revolution such as you hope for will not come since by now politicians are so far caught up with their own thing that it would take a series of just and pure individuals to purge the current system. Yet, I think society is against this. So, at least from what I can see is a revolution of the bloody kind.

Patriot: While you are most likely correct, I’m still going to hope.

Revolutionary: Just as I hope for anarchy.

“we in the same place that we first got rich at
They only gon’ give us what they know they can get back
So when you get money don’t you ever forget that”

- another verse from Papoose “monopoly” I know it may seem as if im going hard for this song but truthfully this song speaks truth in so many ways. this verse is talking about the government no matter what all the money yu get from them welfare, social security, etc… you end up using the money & its going right back to the  government through taxes. & people woulda never thought this would come out of the mouth of a rapper, but this speaks truth.

Louisiana Native American Tribes Protest Move

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091213/ap_on_re_us/us_isle_de_jean_charles;_ylt=AoeyHMWav2D2Yd8fOebvl0yp_aF4;_ylu=X3oDMTNjbHAxYWFrBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjEzL3VzX2lzbGVfZGVfamVhbl9jaGFybGVzBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDNQRwb3MDNQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA2xhaW5kaWFudmlsbA–

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8udhM8QKxg

Global Polution Found in High Altitudes

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20091210/sc_livescience/snowathighestelevationsnolongerpure

Alright, If you haven’t heard already, Obama-care’s plan has the decks stacked against senior citizens. I have read from numerous political news sites that as seniors get older they will begin to receive counseling on planning how to shorten their lives. And the reasons for counseling, so that it takes the financial burden off of their families and government. How bad do you want to make them feel?!!? And how on EARTH does Obama plan on passing a bill like that?! Does he and his party think that Americans have become so stupid that we just don’t care anymore? My grandma is a strong willed woman. If Obama went up to her telling her she had to shorten her life she’d probably kick him! I apologize for the overuse of exclamation points but if you can’t tell I’m a little bit passionate on this topic. I think that Obama can do a good job but he needs to take a new perspective. I have sent him letters and gotten back the old “Form mail response” from his secretary. I feel like it’s getting harder and harder to make a difference in our government. They try to make all of these decisions without making it obvious to the public or making the public a part of the vote on a bill. There needs to be a revolution! Things have to change and I just don’t see things looking upward at this point. And on a financial aspect of things. How can the Congress and President complain/report that we are in a depression while they are getting 6-figure paychecks with the benefits of a free house and healthcare for life!? The Government used to be made up of volunteers at one point in time. I realize that “times change” and people can’t just do stuff for free anymore but when do we need to draw the line? And likewise the Government (State, local, and National) should operate similarly to any other business. I.E. You don’t do your job, you don’t get paid. We don’t pay taxes to have people look pretty on TV or speak well! Being a good speaker is not necessary to be a President! There are people who get paid to make you a good speaker. We don’t need people who can butter up their words to make them appealing, we need someone who is passionate about changing America for the better! Okay, my rant is over. And at 410 words I think it should be too.

Thanks for reading, this was a long one,

-Tristan

Have you ever noticed whenever nations meet it is always their president who is the representative of their country I mean i am not talking in reference to all nations but yes most of them…. President is the highest individual or post of any country…. For eg:- For USA it’s ‘Mr Barack Obama’…. But in India I think it’s not the same case…. Yes have you ever heard ‘Mrs Pratibhatai Patil’ ever go for some Summit or any Nations meet the answer is NO…. I hope you guys must not be knowing this personality…. You guys must be wondering what am I talking about? Who’s she?… Well let me tell you guys out there she is the president of India she is the first ever female president of India…. Are you shocked and want to know then who is ‘Mr Manmohan Singh’ well he is the ‘Prime Minister’ of ‘India.’…

I know it suprises me too that if india has a president then why is the ‘Prime Minister’ taking all the responsibilities of the country…. What I know is that India is a democratic country and it is the Prime Minister who is responsible…. But my question is then why do you have a president who is like a nominal head for a democratic country like India…. Are you just adding to the Constituency just for the sake why don’t you do this instead give the President’s minimal power to the Prime Minister instead that sounds logical … I have seen,read that the representative of a particular country is always the president…. I analyzed it strongly and I had to write a blog on this…. ‘Indian Goverment’ I know you must be thinking that this is not even an issue what I mean to tell you is please try to keep the president the highest post of the country like India also ‘ACTIVE’……

Native American Tribes Get Reparations

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091209/ap_on_bi_ge/us_indian_money;_ylt=AiH68UIlO8lXtuMyom22JWpv24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTM0Ym0wdjh1BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjA5L3VzX2luZGlhbl9tb25leQRjY29kZQNtb3N0cG9wdWxhcgRjcG9zAzcEcG9zAzcEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawN1czNidG9lbmRyb3k-

Broken Sidewalk has partnered with SeeClickFix to provide the municipal problem mapping service on the site.

SeeClickFix is a mapping site that allows users to post the locations of potholes, broken public restrooms, insufficient bike racks, or in the case of Louisville, a misspelled street sign on Beringer.

Click over to Broken Sidewalk to check it out. If someone has already posted a problem you first noticed, you can still show support for the repair.

For the last one year or so, our country has been experiencing a very severe drought which has seen most parts of the country and human beings are dying of hunger because there is nothing left to eat.

It was declared a national disaster many Kenyans have suffered due to lack food and clean water for domestic use. In places like eastern province, where I come from, people really face a lot of problems during such times because they survive by relying on rain water which they save in dams. Water there is as precious as gold

That is the water which they share with their animals as no rivers or underground springs found because it is a semi arid area .Just a few months ago we saw on our local media people boiling raw paw paws and mangoes for food which is not fit for human beings to feed on to. The situation is so dire and people are being forced to share water with their few animals as no rivers or underground springs.

Since independence people have lived suffering, walking long distances in such of precious commodities, whenever drought hits our country we only take temporally measures instead of solving them once en for all.

Farmers lost many of their livestock as they died due to lack of pasture and water, for some parts of the country the government tried to save farmers from big losses , by buying some of the livestock through the Kenya meat commission though at a throw away price.

Through that period of time many NGO’S came out to give a helping hand to our brothers and sisters who were facing hard time. If we lived with that spirit of love we would see our country prosper as together we can make it.

The government on its side worked hard by providing food to many families and even in school where it was highly needed as education can’t take a hungry belly.

Since beginning of October we have been experiencing the long rains in which we have very high hopes with, farmers around the country had been supplied with free seedlings from the government, and so everyone was able to plant which in future will reduce the high rates of hunger in our country.