What comes to mind when I think of Barrack Obama? A candidate of nothing. An interesting man, a talented orator, a devoted father/husband, and a political novice. A shell of a president. A man with a brilliant future, several years from now, when he has the experience to command anything more than an audience. His own supporters have been stumbling in interviews when simply asked to state one legislative accomplishment. Why then is he winning? Two words: incandescent speech. When the man talks, he glows. He beams of confidence, optimism, and truth. In reality those beams consist of arrogance, naivety, and rhetoric. I appreciate a good public speaker and do value words. I would never lobby his lofty speech against him like some people have. Now his lack of experience is another issue that I have no problem holding against him.
So what is my point? You already know I support Clinton, but respect Obama (that does not mean I have to respect people who vote for him). Words are really all he has and now the news is reporting some of his words are not his own. Yes, I speak of plagiarism, a borderline curse word in the academic setting. Apparently plagiarism is completely acceptable in the campaign for the White House. Because he continued his surge of victories after the story broke. A man running solely on his words shouldn’t be simply quoting others. Many of you will jump to his defense, that is was his speech writers who plagiarized, but therein lies the problem. If words are all he has and we don’t hold him responsible for his words then there is nothing left of his candidacy.
In defense of being “just words”
Obama responded nearly word for word and without attribution, a quote from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. “Don’t tell me words don’t matter. ‘I have a dream’ — just words. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ — just words. ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words.”
On another occasion
Deval Patrick: “I am not asking anyone to take a chance on me; I am asking you to take a chance on your own aspirations”.
Obama: “I am not asking anybody to take a chance on me; I am asking you to take a chance on your own aspirations”
On Pharmaceutical Ads
Edwards’s 2004 stump speech: “I love the ads. Buy their medicine, take it, and the next day you and your spouse will be skipping through the fields.”
Obama: “You know those ads where people are running around the fields, you know, they’re smiling, you don’t know what the drug is for?”
During Announcement Speeches
Edwards (2003) : “I haven’t spent most of my life in politics, but I’ve spent enough time in Washington to know how much we need to change Washington.”
Obama (2007): “I know I haven’t spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I’ve been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change.”
Unionized Labor
Edwards: “We need a president not afraid to use the word ‘union,’
Obama: “We need a president . . . who is not afraid to mention unions,”
Working Class
Edwards: “Hard work should be valued in this country, so we’re going to reward work, not just wealth.”
Obama: “We shouldn’t just be respecting wealth in this country, we should be respecting work.”
Political activist / Media correspondent Snoop Dogg, oh wait, I mean Blunt Smoker/Rapper/#1 Pimp Snoop Dogg is torn up about who to vote for. Or at least thats the implication between CNN political ticker headline Snoop Dogg torn between Obama, Clinton. Now I have no problem with this article, I mean people are always curious what candidates celebrities support. And with the rockstar like craze Obama has been using to help people look past his weak credentials and even weaker plans, it is refreshing to see a celebrity not just jump on the wagon. Many celebrities with little to no political knowledge have jumped behind Obama helping to raise money and awareness. Some how there is this implication if you don’t support Obama over Clinton you are some racist who hates change.
What I thought was funny is that the article is the top story on the CNN ticker, which is a blog I frequent several times a day. If I were Snoop I would write a rap about the two candidates and switch between the verses who I was supporting. Add in his characteristically smooth hooks and he now has new hit that every station will jump to play throughout the primary season.
Here is a story straight from the streets of my school. A guy walks down the street (the street is Broad Street), feels a punch to the back, figures ‘damn that hurt, whatever’ and keeps walking. The man continues down the street until someone informs him he has a knife in his back. He goes to the hospital, he will be fine. I think this story is a perfect summary of the area I go to school in. First off, a stranger might just stab you for no reason, you could get punched in the back and know it is not worth reporting, another stranger wouldn’t hesitate to get up in your business about the knife, and Temple hospital still wouldn’t be shocked when you came in. It also says something about the students in the area, an article about the event has been the biggest e-mailed story through campus all week. Read Article Here. Here is a quote from the article.
Here’s something you’d hear only on the hardscrabble streets of Philadelphia:
“Dude, you got a knife in your back.”
That’s what a passer-by yelled to a Philadelphia man after a bizarre incident as he was walking along Broad Street in North Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
After receiving what he thought was a punch to the back from a stranger, the victim told police that the passer-by pointed to his back and yelled about the knife.
I am sure many of you have seen the Dove love your body commercials before, but I got linked to a site that had a bunch of them posted. There were two I hadn’t seen that I thought were interesting. I have mixed feelings about the videos, but I think the editing and the points are good. My problem is two fold, one I don’t really care that girls get bad images from the media, and two Dove has all sorts of skin care products that sell completely because women are expected to take care of themselves physically. So I really don’t need my soap company telling me how the world should be or how to raise kids. But on the other hand they are visually effective.
Also someone posted this video in my pharmacy class’s facebook group. I thought it was cute/funny. It is a .swf so I didn’t know how to put it directly into the page.
The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says the nation’s homeless veterans are mostly males. The majority are single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45% suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems. They have served in every war from the second World War to Iraq.
How many homeless veterans are there?
The VA estimates that nearly 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. And nearly 400,000experience homelessness over the course of a year. Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country.
Why are veterans homeless?
In addition to the complex set of factors affecting all homelessness — extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to health care — a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.
Doesn’t the Department of Veterans Affairs take care of homeless veterans?
With an estimated 400,000 veterans homeless at some time during the year, the VA reaches 25% of those in need. For more information about VA homeless veteran programs, go to www.va.gov/homeless/.
What services do veterans need?
Veterans need a coordinated effort that provides secure housing and nutritional meals; essential physical health care, substance abuse aftercare and mental health counseling; and personal development and empowerment. Veterans also need job assessment, training and placement assistance.
The solution?
I don’t know. More government money, more private charity, and more awareness would be a start. But on a personal level, I think the first step is just keeping in mind when you see the homeless on our streets that many of them fought for our country. I also think this is a cause that organized religion really can and often does step up for. I know personally, my church and the Catholic church in general does a lot to help the plight of the homeless.
BANGALORE, India (AP) – A two-year-old Indian girl born with four arms and four legs regained consciousness Friday, wiggled her toes and smiled at her parents, 48 hours after massive surgery removed the extra limbs, doctors said.
Lakshmi, who has been revered by some in her village as a reincarnation of the four-armed Hindu goddess she was named for, was still in intensive care. Lakshmi was born joined at the pelvis to a “parasitic twin” that stopped developing in her mother’s womb. The surviving fetus absorbed the limbs, kidneys and other body parts of the undeveloped fetus.
On Wednesday, a team of more than 30 surgeons concluded the 24-hour operation, removing the extra limbs, transplanting a kidney from the twin and reconstructing Lakshmi’s pelvic area. Doctors said the complicated surgery was a great success, meaning she would not need further major reconstructive surgery. However, Lakshmi will need further treatments and possible surgery for clubbed feet before she will be able to walk.
Children born with deformities in deeply traditional rural parts of India such as the remote village in the northern state of Bihar that Lakshmi hails from are often viewed as reincarnated gods. But some had sought to make money from Lakshmi. Her parents kept her in hiding after a circus apparently tried to buy the girl, they said.
“They say she is going to be back to normal, I believe them,” said her father Shambhu, who goes by one name. “I have just these doctors to thank for this miracle. It is a debt I could never repay.”
Alex put me on Lupe Fiasco a couple of months ago, but it just didn’t click initially. But now I am addicted. I just heard the wrong song first. I first heard his break out hit “Kick Flip” and thought it was okay, but nothing to write home about (or blog about). But now I’ve listened to all his previous work and it is solid.
I am huge fan of urban-suburban meshes that blend street and skate culture. I think the result is intensely cool fashions that utilize bright colors, functionality, comfort and freshness. It also tends to result in fun music. I think music should be essentially a reflection of life. So I want to listen to love songs when in love, loud rock when I’m angry, and expect to have upbeat songs to listen to when I am happy. So when happy (and if you are doing life right that is the majority of the time) I usually get stuck listening to poppy top 40 songs or oldies, as opposed to my preferred rap music.
That is where some of the current and up and coming rappers are really stepping up. Jason Fox, Gym Class Heroes, Kayne West, Pharell and my currently love Lupe Fiasco are pumping out catchy non gangster rap. I don’t have to feel bad about being a middle class white kid who listens to rap. I am not some sort of wigger, I like the music, I’m not out wearing gangster clothes, talking in slang, and rocking gang symbols or tims. I am listening while driving, studying, or dancing. Not to say these guys are rapping about some heavy things, but in those instances it is not related to glorifying violence or drugs. If those topics are in the song it is about how guns, drugs, violence, crime, and poverty are holding the black community down.
So I highly recommend checking out some of his work, these are the links to a few of my favorites:
I thought what better way to get through hump day, than a little kissing trivia. Enjoy!
The average person will spend an estimated 20,160 min kissing in their lifetime.
Ancient Egyptians never kissed with their mouths. Instead they kissed with their noses.
Kissing helps reduce tooth decay because the extra saliva helps clean out your mouth
On Valentine’s Day 2004, 5,122 Philippine coupes gathered together at midnight and locked lips. This kissathon beat the previous world record of 4,445 set in January in Chile.
The Chinese didn’t kiss until the practice was introduced by Westerners, and they’re still not very keen on it.
You burn 26 calories in a one minute kiss.
Kissing releases the same neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) as those that are released when you engage in intense exercise such as running a marathon or skydiving. This causes your heart to beat faster and your breathing to become deep and irregular.
Our brains have special neurons that help us find each others lips in the dark
The science of kissing is called philematology.
There are many strange laws regarding kissing that are still on the books. In Indiana, it is illegal for a man with a moustache to “habitually kiss human beings”. And in Hartford, CT, it is illegal for a man to kiss his wife on a Sunday.
In Naples, Italy in the 16th century, kissing was an offence that carried the death penalty.
Onur Guentuerkuen of Ruhr-University Bochum in Bochum, Germany, studied hundreds of couples kissing.
In his study, he found that two-thirds of people turn their heads to the right when kissing.
On Valentine’s Day 2004, an Italian couple made their way into the record books with a 31-hour 18-minute Valentine kiss. The couple beat the previous record by 18 minutes and 33 seconds, however, the man had to receive oxygen afterwards.
Blue Jersey is airing some pro gay marriage ads over the next two weeks. They are not very in your face or controversial. They are simple civil unions are not the same as marriage arguments. They are cute. Hopefully they will be effective. But as many of you know gay marriage is not one of my top political priorities so I will not get on my high horse right now. (Keep in mind, I do believe gays should be able to get married. If they want that headache, they should be entitled to it).
What this post is about is effective political advertising. I came across this ad a while ago, but was unable to find a working link to it when I last looked for it. Today when I was watching the Blue Jersey ads, this came up on the youtube side bar. I think this anti-gay marriage ad is troubling because it exploits children. I find it disturbing because I found the children cute, even though they were spewing discrimination (albeit taught to them by some adult). But what it really makes you question are where are their parents. In a twisted way I could understand teaching your children hate, if you thought it would save them or it was part of your religious beliefs. Because it is a parent’s job to do what is best for their children, if a parent honestly believed in the dangers of being gay they should talk to their kids about it. But to have your child on national television clearly stating your views like political puppets, without regard to how it might affect them in the future.
He should have turned himself in. How does a poor desperate criminal from North Philly who’s relatives even turned on him, expect to successfully flee. Philadelphia police turned up the intensity on the manhunt and there was never a doubt they would find him. If only the same energy and resources could be used on all the murders in Philadelphia. Or better yet the murders and the hit and runs the city is rapidly becoming famous for.
I know criminals are not very intelligent in general but let me point out some major flaws in this boy’s logic.
First, he robbed the same Dunkin Donuts recently. He was video taped robbing it and the video aired on tv, so there is not doubt he knew they had cameras. He was easy to identify because he worked at two other Dunkin Donuts, was caught on video twice, is kinda goofy looking, didn’t wear a mask, and has very distinct tattoos on his hands (that reveal where he lives/ is from).
Next, who shoots a cop???? He had the gun, the cop was just getting some coffee he wasn’t there to stop the robbery. He could have told him to get on the ground or do whatever he wanted, instead of shooting him from 5 feet away. Additionally shooting someone in the head is pretty much assured to kill the person. So now we have jumped from robbery to homicide.
The community really rallied together over this. Lots of information and witnesses came forward which is out of character for Philadelphia.
There an informal memorial of flowers, stuffed animals and tributes continued to pile up outside the doughnut shop at 6620 N. Broad St. The Dunkin’ Donuts owner mounted a plaque at the memorial, noting that the shop would remain closed until after Cassidy’s funeral Wednesday out of respect to the officer who regularly stopped in at the shop as part of his security rounds.
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