Because wonders will never cease...

"This legislation would provide employee benefit programs to the same-sex domestic partners of federal employees," Lieberman said yesterday at a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. "They would be eligible to participate in health benefits, long-term care, family and medical leave, federal retirement benefits, and all other benefits for which married employees and their spouses are eligible."

Opposite-sex partners are not included because they have the option to marry.

All but one of the five witnesses who testified favored Lieberman's legislation, as did the other two senators who attended the hearing, Maine Republican Susan Collins and Hawaii Democrat Daniel K. Akaka.

The lone naysayer was Howard C. Weizmann, deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management. Curiously, his opening statement took no position on the bill, though it certainly had nothing good to say about it. When Lieberman, the committee chairman, asked if the OPM had a position, Weizmann said no. After getting a note from a colleague, he reversed himself 10 minutes later, stating the administration's opposition.

"Maybe it changed during the course of this hearing, I'm not sure," Weizmann said.
One problem the OPM has with the legislation is that it would allow an employee in a same-sex relationship to get family benefits once that partnership is certified with an affidavit. "OPM believes this process could lead to fraud and abuse in the programs we administer," Weizmann said.

To bolster his point that worries about cheats are realistic, he cited an unusual source: "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," an Adam Sandler movie about two firemen in Brooklyn who pretend they are gay so they can get domestic partner benefits. "The subject was . . . insurance fraud," Weizmann said. "This is not farfetched."

That really upset proponents of the bill, who said they were astounded by Weizmann's comment. "It is an insult to suggest there is any added likelihood of fraud from LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] employees," Leonard Hirsch, Federal GLOBE president, said in a telephone interview. "Currently, the proposed legislation mandates a higher level of certification for LGBT benefit enrollment than for heterosexual employees."

- Taken from The Washington Post -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092403598.html

I wonder if they will also try to stop the development of artificial intelligence because The Terminator would probably be the eventual outcome. Which is quite a shame because I think artificial intelligence goes above and beyond this man. Needless to say, the guy is a Republican, surprise.

There is an ongoing question that pops up in my Journalism class, "Does the media influence us, or do we influence the media?" Here is what I have come up with so far. I think that we often look at "THE media" as some sort of titanic, disembodied force, but if you really think about it, "the media" is just another everyday mundane person in charge of some heavy machinery. In the overall view, I believe that we the people influence the media, our incomes, our habits, our vices, these all contribute to the machinery that drives the media to "sell us" whatever it thinks we might want or need. However, there will always be a few outstanding individuals who will always rise to the top who can and will develop something that will influence us (those individuals, I guess are the "trendsetters") and most people will often fall for this (whether it be beneficial or detrimental to us). The only way to combat the alluring call of the media is, well, to be informed. To question every logic, motivation, every driving force about what is trying to be sold to us. I believe that a healthy, thriving, and well informed society will always be the ones to influence the media. It is when the "masses" are underserved, undereducated, and uninformed that the media runs like a rampant leviathan wreaking havock on the general populace.

I am not a very religious man. I am not one for organized religion although I have a very healthy respect for some people who do follow their religions, I'm sure that it's not the other way around though. I live simply in the belief that one should treat others as you should want to be treated, this of course is known as the "Golden Rule." Some people might say, "Well, duh Alex, wasn't it religion that taught you that Golden Rule?" I beg to differ, I think that people would have come to this conclusion by themselves and it was only a religion that managed to give it a very interesting turn of phrase. After all, if religion was ALL that it's fluffed up to be, why then, my dear brothers and sisters, why are some of the biggest hypocrites, the most religious?

I'll be going to a funeral on Saturday. It is also my ten year high school reunion. What a contrast. Both very serious events, although the latter doesn't carry as much levity as the former. There is a joke that I always tell my friends, when you're younger most of the events you go to are house parties and clubs. And as you get older these things morph into bridal showers, weddings, and baby showers, then as you get even older they change into funerals. Such a bleak outlook. More and more there seems to be a driving force that makes you want to accomplish things. Both events make me want scrutinize my life and see where it's headed.

Goodbye summer hate to see you go

I wasn't ready for autumn wind to blow

So lonely

We had a fine time holding hands in June

Warm in a sunshine watching love in bloom

Where are you now?

- India Arie -

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A much smarter man (Denis Waitley) than I said, "Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the 'someday I'll' philosophy'.” I've been holding back on sending out my graduate applications. I know, I know, I have to have a writing sample, but I've been so despondent about it. I've been told that I always "write" the ending in my head before I've even gone through the beginning and the middle. It's funny how most of us already know what we're consciously doing and yet we still do the things that are ultimately not-so-good for us.

Writing sample paragraph:

She was born into a large family, the middle child amongst a sea of brothers and sisters. Her childhood was as normal as it could get, as normal as it would allow. Her father was strict and her mother did as best as she could to alleviate this with her own brand of caring. As she grew into her teens she noticed that people, men in particular, would vie for her attention, apparently she was someone worth paying attention to. Inside she knew that it wasn’t what would make her future -- that kind of life wasn’t for her. She focused on her studies with the usual trouble that young people get into peppering her youth, it was mostly to test how far her leash from her father would let her roam. She graduated from college and moved to the city, she was glad to have left the constricting rural life, but missed the stability that strict lifestyle provided in comparison to the chaos she found in the city. At least now, she was truly free to follow her dreams. But as we all know, life intervened on her plans as it is wont to do.

Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.

- Eskimo Proverb -

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I must admit, when I first signed up to blog for the newspaper, I thought it would be an easy gig. Blog five times a week, at least one paragraph. With so many things going on in the world, how could it be so hard to write about something, anything!

... It is difficult, as hard as having to watch grass grow for three hours. Sounds easy until you try it... at least... that's what I've heard. I always feel like I have to juggle apples while balancing my check book and teaching a class of chimpanzees how to do advanced Calculus. How did it get so hard?

The fact of the matter is that most days, most days are pretty boring. Most days we just live, we just go hour by hour doing the mechanical and the mundane. And sometimes when some of the really big things happen, we don't necessarily have the need to share it with others, because, despite the need to have it out loud, sometimes we need to keep a few things to ourselves, the stuff that make us unique, that make us feel alive.

If we shared all the things that were running amok in our head, more than four-fifths of this world would be incarcerated and the only reason other fifth wouldn't be if simply by the virtue of already being there in the first place... or comatose in the hospitals.

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R.I.P. Uncle Russ.

I've been playing "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" for a few days now. In terms of graphics, I'd give it an 7, not because they were crappy, far from it, there were many instances where the surroundings bugged out or disappeared altogether. In terms of game play, I'd give it a 9.5. Come on now, who wouldn't want to be a Sith Lord? Well, unless you want to be a Jedi ;) The storyline I would give a 7.5 (SO FAR, I haven't actually finished the last stage yet so the WHOLE storyline isn't done as of yet, so it could give us a nice twist in the end). I do want to say though, that the biggest disappointment with this game is with it's length, compared to previous Star Wars game releases, this was the shortest. Yes, I know that you can repeat the game in harder modes and you can do some lame off-quests, but I don't buy a game for that. I wouldn't sugges buying this game, paying that much money for that short a play time. I suggest heading on out to Video 94 and giving this thing a whirl. If you really like it afterward, then you should go out and buy it.

I received a letter today. As most letters go, some good, some bad, this was placed in the ranks of amazing or unbelievable. It started with...

Dear Alex,

I have noted with interest your consideration of Creative Writing as an area of graduate study, and I would like to encourage you to apply to our M.F. A. program here at the University of XXXXX XXXX. I am enclosing a brochure on the program for your consideration...

My first thought, someone's messing with me. Why would a Tier 1, Top 25 national school (OK, I just had to put that in there as a pat on the back) be interested in me? Especially a school that would not even have come close to a school I would have been considering? Given, it's just an invitation to apply, but still... why haven't the schools I was thinking about even sending me this kind of letter?

It's amazing how quickly my mind went into action. Thank the powers that be for the Internet, within the course of two hours I had done my primary research as to the location, the fees, and most importantly, of course, the social life of the school. Those are the things you have to think about ;) Then I had to question myself, were my grades high enough? No. Were my works good enough? No. Doesn't look like I'll be going to this school after all! But then again, it's not always about the grades.

BUT... and it's a big "but", (it almost deserves another "T" but that would give it a whole new meaning) it surely gave me a confidence boost... even though I still think it's joke.

If those little girls slept with as many men as they say in the tabloids, why their little butts would have more fingerprints than the FBI!

- Dolly Parton -

(Yes, yes, I know, they're both trying to turn a new leaf, but it doesn't mean I can't poke jibe here and there.)

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Ever since India Arie came out in 2001 with her album "Acoustic Soul" I became a follower. After that great a;bum she followed through with two more albums, her second album "Voyage to India" came out in 2002 and her latest one in 2006 "Testimony: Vol. 1, Life and Relationships". With the advent of her "Testimony: Vol. 2, Love and Politics" soon to come out this year, it's time to get excited!

First of all, she sings R&B, so if you're not an R&B fan and you're willing to venture out of your comfort zone, give her a shot. I think that the first thing you will notice from India's songs is her, duh, voice. She has an earthy and comforting tone, like a soft-spoken friend. And if you're anything like me, her words will astound you. From each of her self-empowering albums like her most well known "Video" --

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me

Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be

And I know our creator didn't make no mistakes on me

My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see

or from "Beautiful Surprise" --

What ever it is you came to teach me

I am here to learn it cause

I believe that we are written in the stars

or from "I Am Not My Hair" --

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations no no

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am a soul that lives within

Then come the catchy beats which will make you drum your fingers along with her song. Her songs are the kind of songs you want to listen to when you're feeling down and out about yourself. Try listening to "Summer" from her third album and you might actually see a little skip as you walk around.

Could it be that we are our own worst enemy? Gone are the days of muckrakers and political voices that once rang out to call the government into account. It seems that we were so burnt out by being "political" that people regressed into the safety of their own homes and locked the doors. Meanwhile, while many of the masses retreated into their hideouts, the powers that be came out and looted the countryside. Many are burned out by the political bombardments made by the Donkey party or the Elephant party. But let's step back and look at the biggger picture. This is what's supposed to happen in a Democracy. People are SUPPOSED to poke and prod and look into every single action that the government and the people in power are doing (not to the point where the political system comes to a dead halt, never that, but people should be called into account). Many have been raised in the safety of their homes, protected from political chaos. Maybe we have sheltered our children not to have opinions or inquisitive minds. While it is true that people have the choice NOT to be political, but isn't funny how the ones who have absolutely no knowledge of the political comings and goings of the people in power are the ones with the biggest voices?

If a political pundit calls into account a government official of the opposing party they are immediately labeled as being biased. But lo and behold, one can still be biased and STILL have a point. When people are questioned about their motives in their lines of thinking, instead of answering the questions they toss a red herring into the crowds and pray as if someone threw a Hail Mary (Oh Em Geeh, I just used a sports reference, shoot me now). Don't be afraid to voice your opinions, but make sure you're informed as well and not just talking out of your behind. Saying that the investigations about such-and-such are only a political ploy MAY be true, but is there also merit in the cause of the investigation?

We are so wary of poking and prodding into the lives of prominent figures. The President may be the man in charge, but we're the ones that put him there, hence, he is accountable to us. That is what a Democratic government is all about. And for those ignoramuses who say "If you don't like America, why don't you leave?" I think that you should be the first ones on the boat out, because you OBVIOUSLY don't understand how the concept of America works, but if we did that, we should just be put on the same boat as you.

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At the heart of racism is the religious assertion that God made a creative mistake when He brought some people into being.

- Friedrich Otto Hertz -

- - - - -

There I was standing at the bus stop waiting for my bus when I passed a tree. Carved on the trunk of this tree were the words "Kill All N*gg*rs." It shocked me to no end. I stood there staring at this tree, looking around as if I could spot the perpetrator, even though the carvings were already browned with age. There was in me a mixture of simmering outrage, disbelief, and sadness. I myself, in many ways, was also a victim of this overt racism. People often think that simply because they are not the "target" or the "victim" of such an attack that they are safe, they are wrong.

One would think that in this day and age, things like would be put behind us, like the foolish mistakes of our ancestors who knew no better. As I thought about it more, I was less and less surprised. Why would people learn to think differently when people are taught (whether discreetly or overtly) within our society's infrastructure that such kinds of hatred are acceptable? It seems that there will always be an underdog, whether they be women, homosexuals, the elderly, minorities, and so on and so forth. Maybe, some day, enough years will have passed that we will hopefully only hear about these kinds of things in our history text books and shudder at the thought of the foolishness and ignorance that some of our predecessors carried with them and shake our heads in disbelief how the culture and the society could have withstood and sanctioned such stupidity and hatred. But until then, until the powers that be (whether it be the government or religious institutions or cultures) stop perpetuating such righteous ignorance, I suppose none of us should be at all surprised that such things still occur.

In war, truth is the first casualty.
- Aeschylus -

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September 11 has come and gone. I woke up Thursday not really knowing what specific day it was, only that it would be my best friend's birthday on Friday. I turned on the computer and opened a browser and saw a September 11th news piece and it all came back. I still vividly remember what I was doing on that day, I don't think one forgets but it helps that it will slowly creep to the back of you mind. It's been 7 years since then, and we're still fighting a war that doesn't seem to want to end. Even the President that started the whole fiasco isn't even going to partake in the decision making process soon enough anyway. So, in the years to come, if there should be epic failure to come as a byproduct of this war, the President then will be tossed to the crowds, but no accounting will be given to the original sinner who brought us all to this point.

ACBTF:

LC: I had a dream with you in it last night.
AT: was i naked?

(It was actually a boring dream about college grants... who the heck dreams about college grants?!? >_< ).

- - - - -

I have taken many different languages. I am fluent in Tagalog and English (depends on the mood). I can converse in French and Spanish (a little rusty on both though, no one to practice with) and I have passing familiarity with Italian. I must say that out of all these languages, the one I'm taking now, Japanese, is the most challenging. Why? It might be because it does not use the regular Romanic letters that I'm used to (A - B - C, etc.) It might be because the sentence structuring is somewhat different. Or it could be because I'm getting older and it's more challenging to learn languages when you're older. If asked to recommend a foreign language, I would recommend Italian for it's romanticism (most would say French, but personally, I think Italian is more romantic). In terms of usefulness and practicality, I would suggest Spanish and Japanese (Chinese is also viable, but I've never taken a Chinese class) or Canadian ;)

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On a side note... Why is Sarah Palin avoiding the media like the plague? O_O Got something to hide much? AND isn't it interesting that ALL OF A SUDDEN her daughter is engaged to be married? INTEWESTING. VEWY INTEWESTING.

ACBTF:
ja: ah cool....go chat =P
at: lol
at: eye candy, you don't talk to eye candy, that's like talking to your steak
ja: haha i talk to my steak O_O
at: and didn't i always tell you that you needed to be medicated?

- - - - -

This entry is about public transportation, however, this primary paragraph is about something else that I've been thinking about...

I always wondered why Mt. SAC didn't turn the back lots (that would be parking lots F and H [technically a side parking lot] for those of you who actually need to have a proper point of reference) into a parking structures. As is the case with most schools in need of space, instead of building outward, you build upward. It would solve the need (if ever) for more places to build classrooms and give parking a much needed breather. I personally don't drive, I take public transportation, but I do take rides from kindly friends once in a while, everyone knows finding a parking space can be hellish. And another thing, I know it would be diffcult to implement, but why not give students more incentive to ride public transportation? Why not shoulder most of the costs when using public transportation? Of course, that would also lead to a whole new ballgame as most of our public transportation in SoCal isn't the best.

I'm going to name 3 places with great public transportation, San Francisco, New York, and (surprise) Orange County (and yes, I've used public transportation in all 3 areas, they are wonderful -- in terms of getting you where you need to go and back). I'm sure there are probably other areas with BETTER plans than this, but these are the ones that I've experienced personally. But first an insight in the public transportation around the Mt. SAC area...

If you want to get from point A to point B, you ride bus X, which will cost you a flat rate of $1.00, a round trip comes out to $2.00. Not too bad. However, as there is not bus that runs directly down Grand Avenue (Why? It's a major road that leads to numerous other cities!) you usually have to dish out another $0.50 for a transfer add another $0.05 depending on the bus company. Financially, it comes out to this (let's use my transportation habits as a model), I ride the bus 4 times a week (with transfers) it translates to $12.00 a week. Four weeks a month translates to $48.00 a month, which (to a typical person who fills up on gas) translates to about one full tank of gas, give or take a few dollars. It's quite cheap, right? But let's put things in better perspective now and you will see why I love the public transportation in those three different areas.

First of all, in San Francisco they issue out a timed pass for $1.00. With this pass you will be able to ride the bus or the metro for a set period of time (and it's a generous amount of time!). The amount this would save you, $1.00 a day, depending on the time you would be spending doing whatever you have to do.

Second, New York, the cost is a tad more than what we pay in CA, BUT the thing is the area is thoroughly permeated with public transportation, from buses to subways, you will be able to get from point A to point B with relative ease (we're not going to talk about the crowds and such, let's keep it simple since we're not touching upon just the simple concentration of people in a set area).

Third, in Orange County, there are certain schools that issue out bus passes connected with people's school IDs! Meaning, I swipe my school ID on the bus scanner and voila, I have unlimited rides on the buses! Of course this would require an intense collaboration between the schools and the bus companies, but it's heaven!

Public transportation is a very feasible alternative to driving to school and going to other places. It reduces traffic, reduces the stress of looking for parking, saves gas, saves the planet, and let's face it, saves you money to buy more PS3 games... or books, if you really want to be practical. This is a known fact, but it's hard to pick the better alternative when (even though the cost is less) it takes you approximately 1 hour to get from point A to get to point B which would normally be only a 15 minute car ride.

A CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO FOOLS.
at: liar
ja: if i went back to school i would move
at: oh wait, i spelled that right
at: LIER
ja: hah why would u spell it wrong
ja: because apparently, america is proud that it's stupid
ja: ehhhh
ja: dont go pc on me....nerd of nerds
ja: ha
at: i'm going to follow the trend
ja: hehe ok... barack for change

*screen names have been changed to protect the chatters from bodily harm.
_ _ _ _ _

I was watching He-Man: The Movie (the cartoon one, "The Secret of the Sword" 1985) tonight. It was a nice change of pace, blast from the past kind of deal.

GIVEN:

• the cartooning sucks
• the plot is overly simplified
• the characters are mostly flat
• the graphics and specials effects are... you know

I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. Why? because it reminded me of the "good olds days." While I'm far from being a relic, it seems like a long, long time ago when things were simpler (a bit more socially/culturally underdeveloped, true, but who bothers to think about that when you're a kid?). I couldn't quite stop myself from saying the magic words "By the power of Greyskull." I guess we idealize a lot of things while wer're growing up. And while I would not trade my Naruto Uzumaki and Ichigo Kurosaki for Prince Adam, there's a big sense of "that's where I came from, I grew up with that guy." And while it's interesting to see the "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Knight Rider" v. 2008 (and yes, there was a remake of "He-Man" in 2002), it will never be the same. Those things were much more than cartoons to us, they were culture, I mean, come on now, She-Ra? Empowerment for the female side!

I was told no disclaimer was needed. Read at your own peril. :)

08-0908

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Starting on Monday, September 08, 2008 -- this blog will be dedicated solely to the Mt. SAC Mountaineer. Any entries PRIOR to that date are to be viewed at your own discretion and do not reflect the opinions or beliefs of Mt. SAC.

Arigatoo gozaimasu. Muchas gracias. Salamat. Merci bien.