We are currently in the midst of our sixth freezing rain event of the season, and our fourth significant event. As I've mentioned on other posts, we only had two freezing rain events in the previous three winters; the fact that we've tripled that number through one half of one winter is incredible.
I think that the ice is beautiful, but I'm starting to get sick of falling down all of the time. We received an inch of ice last Friday, and it didn't melt until Monday. That meant that all weekend I was slipping and falling on my arse...or knees...or side...or back... I already slipped once tonight while I was getting the chicken eggs. I think that I'm going to have to buy some crampons pretty soon! Walking on ice-covered slopes is tough!
Oh, I don't want to forget to mention that my Buffalo Sabres are back to their winning ways! They've won five of their last six games, and it looks like they have a shot at making the playoffs!
Okay, Super Tuesday. I like Mike Huckabee's personality, but I'm not crazy about his politics. With that said, I don't like any of the other Republican frontrunners. Consequently, I was disappointed to see that John McCain fared well last night. I keep getting closer and closer to changing my party registration from Republican to indepedent...
To be blunt, I detest Hillary Clinton. Although I disagree with many of his political stances, I like Barack Obama because I perceive him to be honest, straightforward, and intelligent. I was glad to see him win a majority of states last night, but I was unhappy to see that "the alternative" won the states with the greatest numbers of delegates.
The bright side about living in a state that will vote Democratic in almost every presidential election is that I can "waste" my vote without affecting the outcome of a close race. If I want, I can vote for Ron Paul, the Libertarian candidate for president, the socialist candidate for president, my father-in-law...whoever I want and it won't affect the election's outcome. In a state where my presidential vote is worth less than a pile of horse crap (I can fertilize my garden with horse crap), being free to "waste" your vote is not a bad consolation.
Showing posts with label Government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Government. Show all posts
23 August 2007
Finally Leaving
Tomorrow will be my last day at my current job. I will be moving on to a new job that I am extremely excited about.
For the past 14.5 months I have been employed at a public sector non-profit organization. During that time I have worked in a 10' x 6' cubicle in (what amounts to) a secretarial position. I wasn't hired as a secretary, but it quickly became apparent that I was simply going to be assigned the stuff that other people didn't want to do. Consequently, I have had no direction in which I could focus my energies.
Despite the fact that I have been working for an "educational organization," the institution that I have been working for has demanded unconditional support for its policies. Unfortunately, the underlying goal of those policies is to bring "modern economic development" to Yates County, New York. By "modern economic development" I mean franchise-based sprawl ("a Starbucks on every corner" etc.). To me, the most cherished aspect of the area in which I live is its rural character. That rural character, and the land-rich/money-poor people who make up that rural character, will be destroyed by modern economic development. In short, I was working for an organization that was dedicated to destroying what I hold most dear.
You might ask why I didn't leave sooner. The reason? Student loans. I finished my Master's degree in June, and it left me with many thousands of dollars of debt. I could not have continued to support my family unless I had another job to go to.
Now I have found that job, and I can not wait to start. I will look back at the past year with fondness for my fellow co-workers, but with frustration and mistrust toward the organization that is spending my tax dollars in an attempt to destroy my lifestyle. I believe that I know more about government after working here, but it's information that I almost wish I'd never learned.
"Everyone benefits from tourism and development (but the locals)."
For the past 14.5 months I have been employed at a public sector non-profit organization. During that time I have worked in a 10' x 6' cubicle in (what amounts to) a secretarial position. I wasn't hired as a secretary, but it quickly became apparent that I was simply going to be assigned the stuff that other people didn't want to do. Consequently, I have had no direction in which I could focus my energies.
Despite the fact that I have been working for an "educational organization," the institution that I have been working for has demanded unconditional support for its policies. Unfortunately, the underlying goal of those policies is to bring "modern economic development" to Yates County, New York. By "modern economic development" I mean franchise-based sprawl ("a Starbucks on every corner" etc.). To me, the most cherished aspect of the area in which I live is its rural character. That rural character, and the land-rich/money-poor people who make up that rural character, will be destroyed by modern economic development. In short, I was working for an organization that was dedicated to destroying what I hold most dear.
You might ask why I didn't leave sooner. The reason? Student loans. I finished my Master's degree in June, and it left me with many thousands of dollars of debt. I could not have continued to support my family unless I had another job to go to.
Now I have found that job, and I can not wait to start. I will look back at the past year with fondness for my fellow co-workers, but with frustration and mistrust toward the organization that is spending my tax dollars in an attempt to destroy my lifestyle. I believe that I know more about government after working here, but it's information that I almost wish I'd never learned.
"Everyone benefits from tourism and development (but the locals)."
13 April 2007
Don Imus
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265701,00.html
Don Imus, one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in the United States, was fired Thursday evening for comments made about the Rutger's University women's basketball team. Specifically, Imus called the players a bunch of "nappy-headed-hos." (The basketball team is comprised of many inner-city black women)
I have never liked Don Imus. I think that his show was terrible and that he is an arrogant jerk. Nonetheless, I am angered by his firing. Imus was fired because a number of politicians and minorities expressed outrage at his "racist and insenstive" remarks.
What ever happened to the idea that "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?"
I first experienced political correctness fanaticism as a high school student in Vermont. As a politically conservative student in an extremely liberal school, I was often chastised by my teachers and fellow students. For example, I was labeled a racist for my opposition to the policy of affirmative action. It was that experience in high school that showed me who the real intolerant people were: those that refused to tolerate alternative view points. Back then, I assumed that such people were limited to liberal places like college towns and major cities. However, in the past seven years, political correctness fanaticism has spread to all parts of the country.
The Don Imus firing illustrates how freedom of speech is being obliterated based on the notion that it is unacceptable to offend others. I acknowledge that Imus' employers have the right to fire him, but I fear that the number of politicians calling for his firing are evidence that we are losing our freedoms of thought and speech. I have no doubt that, one day, it will be illegal to make "offensive remarks." When that day comes, I'll have some mighty big choices to make.
Don Imus, one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in the United States, was fired Thursday evening for comments made about the Rutger's University women's basketball team. Specifically, Imus called the players a bunch of "nappy-headed-hos." (The basketball team is comprised of many inner-city black women)
I have never liked Don Imus. I think that his show was terrible and that he is an arrogant jerk. Nonetheless, I am angered by his firing. Imus was fired because a number of politicians and minorities expressed outrage at his "racist and insenstive" remarks.
What ever happened to the idea that "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?"
I first experienced political correctness fanaticism as a high school student in Vermont. As a politically conservative student in an extremely liberal school, I was often chastised by my teachers and fellow students. For example, I was labeled a racist for my opposition to the policy of affirmative action. It was that experience in high school that showed me who the real intolerant people were: those that refused to tolerate alternative view points. Back then, I assumed that such people were limited to liberal places like college towns and major cities. However, in the past seven years, political correctness fanaticism has spread to all parts of the country.
The Don Imus firing illustrates how freedom of speech is being obliterated based on the notion that it is unacceptable to offend others. I acknowledge that Imus' employers have the right to fire him, but I fear that the number of politicians calling for his firing are evidence that we are losing our freedoms of thought and speech. I have no doubt that, one day, it will be illegal to make "offensive remarks." When that day comes, I'll have some mighty big choices to make.
23 March 2007
A Convenient Lie
Lately, one thing that has been driving me nuts is the Republican media's offensive against global warming. Every time I've turned on the radio, I've heard a Rush Limbaugh type talking about how: (1) global warming is not a big deal and (2) humans have nothing to do with it. The assault began after a number of reputable organizations conceded that the opposite is true. The fact is, the Republicans came up with "A Convenient Lie" to try to save face.
I don't know what these idiot Republicans are thinking. They remind me of:
- the Catholic Church when it locked up Galileo
- the state of Tennessee when it outlawed teaching evolution
- Michael Jackson when he denied having plastic surgery
I'm not doing a good job of expressing what I'd like to say. The bottom line is that you Republicans better watch out, because I elect you, and I am pissed.
I don't know what these idiot Republicans are thinking. They remind me of:
- the Catholic Church when it locked up Galileo
- the state of Tennessee when it outlawed teaching evolution
- Michael Jackson when he denied having plastic surgery
I'm not doing a good job of expressing what I'd like to say. The bottom line is that you Republicans better watch out, because I elect you, and I am pissed.
29 January 2007
Put into words.
For quite some time, I have tried to put certain thoughts into words. Today, during a chance visit to Laurence Hunt's Blog, I came across these quotes:
"A democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury." (Alexander Tyler)
"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money." (Alexis de Tocqueville)
These quotes highlight the greatest flaw in democracy. I worry that the situation described in the second quote has already happened.
"A democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury." (Alexander Tyler)
"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money." (Alexis de Tocqueville)
These quotes highlight the greatest flaw in democracy. I worry that the situation described in the second quote has already happened.
03 December 2006
30 November 2006
Favorite Article
I think that my favorite magazine article of all time is "ANWR: The Great Divide." It is found in the October 2005 issue of Smithsonian. If you haven't read it, seek it out. Both the writing and photography are excellent.
17 November 2006
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