Because these things will change...

First of all, sorry I have not blogged for a while, long story.

Secondly, I just was looking at the Dove Web-site and I am officially in love with it! I knew about their campaign for change for a while, but I did not know how serious they were about it until recently.

Watch this ad:



Now I have said it before, if we are going to talk about feeling insure about your self, I will win that battle most of the time. But I think most girls feel that way. I know it is old news but I know I have a new found love for DOVE about watching this, and I have decided to dedicate this blog to just that, ways to make yourself feel better about you.

I for one am sick of always feeling as if I am not good enough and going through life like it is some kind of competition. NO, not any more.

Finally after how many years I have a theme for this blog, but I think it took this long for me to find what is important to me, and that is not feeling bad about being you.

Falling into you

I cannot believe I did it!
I make fun of people all of the time for falling into journalistic traps, and I go and do it tonight. I am always sick of it when people ask me how I feel about 9/11. Yes, I know a lot on the subject but after a while I start to have fun with people.
I will make them feel guilty about the way Muslims were treated, and although I was a victim of a lot of hate, I tend to get more emotional when I tell these stories. I am sick of the questions about Islam always being asked to me, and I often wish I could lie about those.

So what about the military?
In the new industry soldiers are seen as easy bait. Get a story about a soldier going to war or coming back and you have at least 10 inches of space in the paper, along with photos, most likely in color and hundreds of people reading your work. Who does not love a story about a solider?
But what about the soldiers themselves?
I love how they are seen as an easy story, and not as complex people. I think this needs to change, and I think that when soldiers hear that people are going to ask them questions they need to feel safe knowing it will not be the same old questions being asked.
As sad as it is, the only time we see a soldier these days is in a political commercial, on the news talking about the war or at war. We rarely speak to those who are not at war.
We never hear the stories of soldiers do not want to fight.

I really wanna change this. Who knows I may be wrong, but there has to be more to our soldiers than what we need on TV.

I might find someone who might actually treat me well!

I have complained about this before, and I do not know why I am doing it again, but I honestly find this annoying enough to vent about.
I was never too good at this whole dating thing. Hey, it is made for some people but for me it is just annoying. I would rather have the title of girlfriend than to be the girl that a guy is just seeing for fun. But one thing that I find funny is that no guy these days will ever tell a girl when he thinks she is cute. I am sick of having people tell me what the guy is too scared to say to my face. If you want a quick rejection that is the way to do it.

Be open!

I do not understand why people will tell how they feel to everyone but the person who needs to hear it the most.

Opps, I Think I Did It Again!

Forgive me I have not been blogging. Not because I do not love you all, but I have been a bit busy. I finally found a job! YAY!
But I honestly feel bad for not writing... sorry... more to come soon promise!

Give Me Just Once Inch I Swear That Is All I Need.

So I finally have employment! YAY!
I start orientation today at Victoria's Secret. I am so excited to finally not have to worry so much about money. I suck at being cheap or managing a budget. Do you have any idea how hard it is to go from paying for meals for your friends or a movie ticket if someone is short on cash, to not being able to do any of those things?

I hope this first day goes well. It is going to be weird being a productive member of society again. My biggest fear, the semi-annual sales and the day after Thanksgiving. Everyone goes to VS on black Friday for a tote bag. I don't think I have it in me to handle that, but lets hope I do. It is going to be upsetting to miss my shopping holiday for the first time in 8 years. :0(

And A Little Bit Of Chicken Fry, And Cold Beer On A Friday Night...

The last I checked Florida was a part of the south. We were part of the confederate states, and were one of the last states to integrate schools, so we were bunched together with the other southern states in that regard. If you go to northern Florida, all you hear is deep southern accents.

SO WHY IS SOUTH FLORIDA NOT CONSIDERED SOUTHERN!!!

Not everyone down here has a mom that knows the perfect country fried stake recipe. We do not have accents and most people hate country music. Heck, I have had to explain to people what fired pickles are!

I understand this is all due to the massive amounts of immigrants down here, but it still upsets me. We are southern, love it or hate it, geologically that is what we are. Southern culture is fun and full of interesting things that the rest of the country just does not get. And no I am not talking about inbreeding.

The south has some amazing music, and some fun traditions. Like coming out parties, swimming in swimming holes, farming, Southern culture is bound by patriotism and religion. I still have never eaten frog legs or other southern foods but I can honestly say this strange culture that people live out every day only a few miles north of us is one that I think would be fun to explore.

So as Paula Deen, pictures here, would say... get out an explore your southerness ya'll.

Some Day You Might Care And I Wont Be There...

Message Delayed

Some recipients won't get your message right away, but they will soon.

I sent a message to one of my friends on Facebook today and the above is what the message said on top of the page. It made me laugh because, well... come on without sounding emo this is a huge metaphor!

Not everyone is everyone is going to understand what you are trying to tell them right away, but one day they will.

I need to add more to this, but the words just are not coming out just yet..

How Things Add Up...

It is so funny how I always make a to-do list at the start of every weekend, and there is always more to add by Sunday. I remember the good old days when today was the day of rest. I officially cannot wait until I can sit in bed, watch movies and eat all day. Those had to be the best days of my life.

Sounds weird I know, but there is nothing better than doing nothing. Not thinking about school or work. Just relaxing and not feeling guilty after. We have made it to this place where we cannot relax or not have anything to do without feeling as if we are not paying our dues to society. There is no shame in doing nothing. There is nothing fun about stress.

Song is overplayed, but it fits.

All I Wanna Do...

I now think that finding a job is the hardest thing ever!
I got a call back this week though... wish me luck.

No really start wishing.

We'll All Stay Skinny Cause We Just Wont Eat!

So today was column research day. Which in my case means going to sports bars. I am telling you journalism is the best major to have!
I still have one more place to go tomorrow and I am done. Now I am trying to think of where to hang out next week. Coffee shops, beach theme, sport theme?

So many choices.

Have You Forgotten?

It is so funny, today is 9/11 and I guess seven years after that horrid day is enough time for people to think of this day as just another cynical holiday. Let's get one thing straight, there is NOTHING rebellious or "cool" about denouncing the importance of today. Innocent people, hard working people from every background died or lost loved ones on this day. Remember how we were all one country in the days following 9/11? Have we forgotten that too?

Today is not about whether or not you agree with the current wars. Or if you think that it was in inside job. It is not about Obama or McCain. It is not about politics what so ever! Today is about remembering those who gave their lives on that day. Today is about remembering the feeling of unity that was within all of us on that way.

I think it is easy for people to put down a day like 9/11 because they see it a symbol for that they do not like about the current wars or president. This is wrong because, well I have never said this before but, it is sort of not American to look down on this day. A part of being patriotic is being able to recognize important days in your countries history and to come together with those who agree or do not agree with your views. Today is about being an American, which all of us are. No matter what your nationality, on 9/11 everyone around the world became an American in spirit. They all felt our pain. The world cried with us. The world prayed for us.

When I think of this day and reflect back on seven years ago my mind goes to one image, the people. Watching people walk around New York with photos of family members, hoping that someone had seen their loved ones. Seeing people covered in dust and jumping out of buildings. I think of the fire fighters, paramedics and police men running in while everyone was running out. I see normal people standing in awe on the streets watching that was going on. I have the image of a nation being shocked and brought together at the same time running through my head. How can this is trivialized?

How anyone can all this day of unity some Hallmark holiday, as some of the people I know have, is beyond me.

As always I leave you with a song. But today I am leaving a tribute to those brave men and women who are out their on the front lines fighting for our freedom.


Where Were You On September 11, 2001, By Alan Jackson:

Have You Forgotten by Darryl Worley


Only in America by Brooks and Dunn



Do not forget about all of the people who passed away on this day and the men and women who have gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Do not forget about the hero's because they have not forgotten about you and they have not forgotten what they are fighting for.

Never Forget

A Young Boy Two Hands On The Wheel...

Remember the first time you drove a car? The feeling of the car under you and knowing you were in control of it all. The way you wanted to drive everywhere as soon as you got behind the wheel of the car.

I forgot it too. After years of being stuck in traffic and driving to school or work everyday, the joy of driving is no where near where it was the first time. It was not until yesterday when my little brother got his license e that I realized how much fun it is.

Oh how I miss it!
There really is no better feeling than that.
Ah forget it, let Alan Jackson tell it...



It is so funny how much we take those little things that made us happy when we were younger for granted over time. Driving, used to be fun. Getting your first bank account was amazing. Oh God, you should have seen me when I got my first job. I thought Starbucks was the best company in the world, still do in many ways.

All of those first are so exciting.

Maybe I am being sappy, but we need to reflect back on those things a little more. Watching him get excited about driving, getting nervous before the test, the excitement, all of that came back to me while I watched him.

I was reliving it with him, all of my firsts.


In fact, when I got my first car, which I named Stone Phillips after the news anchor. (PHOTOED ON THE LEFT) my parents surprised me with it. I was babysitting and my dad called me and told me to come outside and to hurry. I came out and saw Stone sitting there in the street. After I took it in for a second, I screamed! Even on of my neighbors came out to see if anything happened. It was love at first sight!

Up until the day I crashed it, and even now, I have never loved a car that much. After my crash I got my current car, named Brain Williams, after the anchor. Even though Brian is newer and has a CD player, unlike Stone, I would still pick it over Williams.

I had all my firsts with Stone, or Stoney as I called it. My first time driving to school alone, going to pick up my friends to see a movie, paying for gas! It is like Alan Jackson said, it is a piece of my childhood that will never be forgotten.

I cannot replace those memories with any car! I wish my brother the best of times when he lives through all of his firsts. Heck, I wish that on all new drivers.

Just Drive Safe!

Making Memories Of Us...

I used to have a Dell laptop. In fact, it was my first laptop.
I loved that thing up until the day it stopped charging and I got my Gateway.
At the moment my Gateway is broken and we just got the Dell to work again.

I am sitting here typing on the Dell and it feels odd. I do not know how to say it but I just keep thinking back to that Sex and the City when Carrie got her new computer. The new one was fresh, had no last memories of papers once written on it. Going back to an old computer is like reliving all of the good times that were once had with it.

Sappy attachments to objects aside I am upset at my self for one thing when it comes to using this Dell. I deleted a bunch of my old photos on here! I was so excited to see them and like the "smart" person I am, they are all now gone.

Oh Joy!

Football!

It is officially the best time of year.
Football season has once again started, and so has my tradition of spending my Sunday afternoons on the coach watching games. I do not know if it is wrong of me to tell every employer I have ever had that I cannot work on Sunday because of religious reasons, when it is really because I do not want to miss a game is wrong or not, but I do it anyway.

There is something about the first Sunday of the regular season that is exciting. During the off season I almost forget how much fun it is to check your fantasy team after every play, talk about the game all week and eat like a pig while watching the game.

WELCOME BACK FOOTBALL!
I MISSED YOU!


PS. Once, again the Dolphins lost today, making it 260 something days since their last win. GO PHINS! But at least we gave Bret Frave a nice scare at the end of the game. That has to be worth something.

And They Call It Puppy Love?

* Photo on the top is of the dog I cheated with, his name is Cookie. The one at the bottom is of Karma.

I love that every time I come home my dog Karma has to smell me. If I had been "cheating" on her by petting another dog, she knows. And she gets really jealous! To the point where she will run away and not play with me. She gets so upset that she will sniff me for hours on end, I guess she is just trying to get the full scent of the other dog.

So I am going to be the first to admit it. I cheat on my dog sometimes with other dogs, and I am okay with it, because I know if she ever sees a nice human and I am not around well, we all know she will let him or her rub her belly.

I find it funny that dogs just know when you are cheating on them. They get hurt by it and they do not know how to react. I love that Karma cares that much, because lets face it having a dog is like having an over protective mother, only smaller and hairier.

She stay up until 3 a.m. waiting for me to come home some nights, she does not complain when I stay up late studying. She will just sit next to me and let me rub behind her ears. She will wake up early when I feel like going on our walk early, and she will always forgive me when I do all of these things.

I guess asking me not to cheat on her is not really asking for a lot.

Oh well.


This is Karma, not a good video. but it's all her.

Like The Wind When It Blew Me Into The Hurricane!

There is a hurricane.
It is a category 4. Why am I not scared?
When I came back from Canada, Fay about to hit Florida. Lucky for me I did not have cable in my room for two days so I missed all of the coverage. In return I could have cared less about the storm. I don't even know what category it was.
Now that Ike is about to hit us, I have made up my mind not to care.
I want to stay safe but there is no point in tracking its every move. In fact is annoying!

Hope it doesn't hit but my day is not going to be wasted tracking a storm that I have no control over. That and let's face it, there is nothing worse than standing in line for 45 minutes for gas like I did yesterday because I was on E for some storm.

I am not going to lie though, the best part of any storm is watching the reporters when they are on the scene. They try so hard to make rain and wind exciting. Does the reporter need to stand outside to make the point that hurricanes are dangerous?
Both these videos are powerful, only difference is that the one with the reporter makes you wonder why they put him out there.

They must hate this guy for making him stand out during the storm. Poor guy cannot even stand while the anchors are nice and dry inside, and are taking without a care. My concern is that, is coverage of a storm worth the safety of a reporter and his or her camera man or women?

Here I Am Once Again I'm Falling To Pieces

Okay I am jobless.
Like one of the 6.1% of Americans right now I do not have employment and it is killing me!
It is 1:30 in the morning and I am freaking out about it. I have amazing parents who pay for my stuff but come on, I hate acting like I am 12 and asking for money.
I miss going out!
I miss using my debt card and feeling good about it.
I miss it all.
I have filled out 30 something applications in the past 2 weeks and no call backs, if this is the strong economy they speak of then I do not want to see a weak one. If this is life under an old system then bring on the change.

Politics aside, at the end of the day the world becomes about people like me who are freaking out about payment, I don't care if you are a pitt bull with lipstick, a war vet, brought up in an ethnic family or if you take a train home from work. I DON'T CARE!
I care about what you are going to do to make me be able to pay for gas, get food and live like a normal 19-year-old.
Forget politics I want change.
Both presidential candidates — Senators Barack Obama and John McCain — said through spokesmen that they would favor an economic stimulus package from Congress this fall. "

FORGET THAT!
I WANT NOW! These guys are not president yet, why cant the guy in office do anything?

"

Just A Small Town Girl...

She comes out in a short shirt and tight cloths, way not to play up the sexiness governor. Is this how all "hockey moms" dress in Alaska?
Oh and no I am not being rude, there is a women wearing a pin saying:Hottest VP! Don't tell me they don't see her as a sex icon.

Mistake number one she made though, she calls it I-RACK!
IT IS E-ROCK! GET IT RIGHT!
I do feel for her that her son is going to Iraq. I feel for war military ones, because I am a member of one. Being a women, I think that she speaks about her family different than a man would, she does it with more passion.

I admire she reached out to families with special needs children. I admire that she cares about the topic because it is an important one, and one that needs to be addressed more. I still do not understand why they keep passing the baby along from person to person. She is trying to play up the family values, which I guess she needs right now. But I do not understand why she is playing up the small town, don't they normally vote Republican anyway. She is not making her self more likable. By the way, why is it wrong for the Democrats to question the Republicans for Palin's experince but the other way around is a sin?

"A small town major is like a community organizer only you have actual respobiablities," nice jab. "Talks One Way in Srantin And One Way In San Fran," as if that choice of city was by chance. Nice job making it seem that all dems are gay, more right wing calls.

"Some in the media consider..." croward boos... "here is a little news flash for those reopters and comminiters I am not going to Washington to seek their good opinon I am going to Washington to help the people of this good country."

EXTRA EXTRA PALIN HATE THE MEDIA AND FROM THAT QUOTE SHE IS GOING TO BE CLOSED IN THE WHITE HOUSE!

"When I stood up to the speical interest groups and lobbiest... true reform is so hard to achieve but with the support of the people of Alaska we shoock things up and but government back on the side of the people," not a bad quote.

I do admire that she got rid of her jet when she came into office, along with her chef and other things but Carter got rid of the presidents yhatt, and gets no credit... weird no?

She says she has saved the state half a billion in vetos, I want to know on what, I am checking it out and will get back to you soon.

"I fought to bring out private sector project and we began nearly 40 billion dollar pipeline to lead America to engergy independence..." Her overall view on the oil was not bad, even what she said about Russia was okay.
On enegery she said, "the fact that drilling wont stop all of our problems doesnt mean we cant do anything at all." She said we need to drill more and look at other engery, eh... not buying it because she wants to use nuclear.

She makes fun of Obama for not using the word victory in the war, well I am sorry Mrs. Palin... IF WE WON WHY ARE MY TROOPS NOT HOME!
WHY IS IT WRONG IF HE WANTS TO FINALLY OPEN TALKS WITH IRAQ AND IF WE ARE A DEMOCRACY SPREADING FREEDOM WE SHOULD READ EVERY ONE THEIR RIGHTS. WE SHOULD SHOW TERROIST THE BEAUTY OF OUR SYSTEM!

"There are those who use change to promote their careers and those like John McCain who use their careers to promote change." *nice one liner.

If McCain is a leader not looking for a fight... he is doing a great job with attack ads.

"Only one man who has truly fought for you..." okay that is nice, but is it Obama's fault that he was too young to fight in Nom? Does not mean he does not love America.

"Join our cause and help America elect a great man as president of the United States."

YES... AND THAT MAN IS OBAMA!


I love how is she trying to paint a reformist image, when a "private attorney is authorized to spend $95,000 of state money to defend her against accusations of abuse of power and that Palin sought pork-barrel projects for her city and state, contrary to her reformist image."
*That's not change that is more the same!

Is No One Seeing The Elephant In The Room...

Oh the RNC!
There is nothing better.
Anyone else laugh when they saw good ol' Rudy talking behind a New York Skyline back drop.
By the way, if you hear this man speak, he knows NOTHING about foreign policy. NEWS FLASH: RUSSIA DID NOT BREAK ANY INTERNATIONAL LAW WHEN GEORGIA ATTACKED IT!
He should not be making fun of Obamas "300 foreign policy advisers" were not there to tell you that. And when did the Democrats become the party of no religion?

STOP WITH THE CHEAP SHOTS!

You Smile Like A Saint... But You Curse Like A Sailor

So how about them republicans?
I honestly do not see it to be that big of a deal that Sarah Palin's daughter is having a baby. This happens a lot to families and it does make them seem more normal. What it shows me though is how horrid McCain's judgment was to pick her.


When running for president, don't you think you would pick a vice president who, oh I don't know, knows what the job entitles! And has more international experince, and can put the moral values that she believes in on to her kids. If I am not wrong, the republicans are supposed to be the party that teaches students not to have sex before marriage, so what happens when the same people who preach this cannot practice it?

Okay, maybe I do have an issue with it. I think it is just funny that they "knew" she was having a baby and did not check it out. I want to know how come she is not even defending that she is the mother of her youngest child to dismiss the rumors that it is her daughthers child. This women has been in our lives for what four days and I already do not trust her. They could at least get a good PR on them and have the daughter not hold the baby at the convention. Smart move people, nice damage control.

It is like my friend Alexa said today, did she watch Juno and think to herself, hey I live in Alaska I should do that!

I think that Sarah Palin is the worst choice for McCain and if you think otherwise, ask yourself who you are kidding with that comment.There are so many good republicans out there right now, Charlie Christ, Sonny Perdue, John Cornyn would have all been good choices.

There is nothing wrong with having two white men on a ticket, and to pick a minority just to pick one is wrong and goes against what this democracy stands for.

I cannot wait to see how the rest of this season comes out. Who needs soap operas when you have republicans and democrats?

I'm Out Here On The Front Lines, So Sleep In Peace Tonight...

So I am reading some articles about the military from the New York Times and I come across this one called, After the Battle, Fighting the Bottle at Home. Now anyone who knows anyone in the military knows that generally when they come back from well, anywhere they drink a lot more. But even more so when they come back from war.

I think when my cousin Mike came home from his first tour of Iraq he drank at least a 12- pack and then everyone else's beers! So it did not come as a shock to me when I read that most of our men and women who come back from war resort to drinking and to using drugs to deal with their post traumatic stress disorder instead of getting help. According to the article one in five soldiers come back from war with mental illness of some sorts. This is really heartbreaking to think about.

What I find odd about this all is that there really is no reason for the drinking and drug use other than pride really.
"In part, this dynamic is rooted in the warrior code. Trained to be tough and ignore their fear, many combat veterans are reluctant to acknowledge psychic wounds. Or they worry that getting help will damage their careers. And so, like Mr. Klecker, they treat themselves with the liquor bottle or illegal drugs."

I understand what a part of being in the military is having the "right stuff." I know it is a sin to talk about dying on the battle field, or problems that come from being in war, but come on! We need to make it okay for soldiers to come home and get help. We need to make them see that we realize that they went through a lot when at battle and that while we may not understand what it is like to be at war, we want to help. Men have been coming back from battle for years, the difference is that before they have had week long boat rides to recover from the realities of wars. They have not been in a war zone one day, worried about getting killed, wishing to come home and then to come home and have flash backs.

Isn't a part of having the "right stuff" is to be strong enough to ask for help?

I have heard so many stories of soldiers who come back from war that become violent, who freak out when they see a car on the side of the road, who do not trust anyone because they cannot mentally come back from the war zone.

From Walter Reed to service men and women drinking too much and using drugs, we need to take better care of out vets!

American Solider by Toby Keith:

Mo Money, Not So Many Problems?

So I am looking through stories on the Sun-Sentinel Website and I come across this article from the LATimes called, Can a Troubled Economy Actually Improve Public Health?
The article is about how the current state of the economy is somewhat linked to people living longer due to them taking less risks. They are saying how there are less accidents now that people are driving less, and there are drops in obesity as well.

Who knew?

He Was Raised To Think Like His Dad With A Mind Full Of Hate...

For my multi - ethnic reporting class I was told to go on this Harvard Website to take a test that tells how racist you actually are. I had to take the test to see which I preferred, Arabs or white Americas, blacks or whites, Jewish people or other religions and one test that tested which country you saw better, India, Japan or China.

At first I thought the results of these tests would be dumb, and not have anything to do with me what so ever. Come on what does some guy at Harvard know about my thoughts? Turns out, that guy from Harvard knows a lot about me, GO HARVARD! (There would normally but a mascot name there but Harvard doesn't have one. There is John Harvard but how horrid does Go John Harvard sound?)

According to the test I strongly prefer the Jewish faith over other religions. When I saw the result of this quiz, it made me laugh at first. People always assume that since I am a Muslim girl from Iran I must hate everything that has to do with Judaism. Actually, fact that I strongly prefer the Jewish religion is a direct result of my upbringing with people who happen to be Jewish. Growing up all my close friends have been Jewish. Without sounding stereotypical, my best friends are all Jewish. I love the religion; I honestly think it is a beautiful one filled with a lot of traditions. I grew up going to my friends houses for Passover, Hanukkah, Yom Kippur and other Jewish holidays.


The test results on which race I like better, Arabs or whites, shocked me a little. Thinking that I did not see a difference between blacks and whites I would not see a difference in this category either, turns out I do. I prefer Arabs, only slightly though, over whites. I did not think these results were right at first but I stopped and thought it for a second. I am Persian, and although I am not in anyway ethically similar to Arabs, I am close to them in other ways. We share a region, a religion, although different branches, and similar history. In a way we are neighbors, and aren't you supposed to love thou neighbor?


Who knew this much would come from some test. I guess I owe my friends at Harvard an apology for doubting the school. But honestly when it comes to race I think people can change their views, and that a test does not say it all. I think country band Montgomery Gentry said it best with the first part of their song, Some People Change.


*Not the best quality but here are the lyrics, read them they are beautiful!

His old man was a rebel yeller:
Bad boy to the bone.
He'd say: "Can't trust that other fella,"
He'd judge 'em by the tone of their skin.
He was raised to think like his Dad:
Narrow mind full of hate.
On the road to no-where fast,
Till the Grace of God got in the way.
Then he saw the Light an' hit his knees an' cried an' said a prayer:
Rose up a brand new man; left the old one right there.

Here's to the strong; thanks to the brave.
Don't give up hope: some people change.
Against all odds, against the grain,
Love finds a way: some people change.

She was born with her mother's habit:
You could say: "It's in her blood."
She hates that she's gotta have it:
As she fills her glass up.
An she'd love to kill that bottle,
But all she can think about,
Is a, a better life, a second chance,
An' everyone she's letting down.
She throws that bottle down.

Here's to the strong; thanks to the brave.
Don't give up hope: some people change.
Against all odds, against the grain,
Love finds a way: some people change.

Thank God for those who make it:
Let them be the Light.

(Let them be the light)
(Some people change.)
Here's to the strong; thanks to the brave.
Don't give up hope: some people change.
Against all odds, against the grain,
Love finds a way: some people change.
Some people change.

(Some people change)

I Got a Crush On Obama!

I remember being in the 11th grade and sitting in my American history class listening to my teacher talk about how he felt when Reagan ran for his first term. He spoke about how moved he felt when he would hear Reagan speak and how he finally felt as if there was hope for the future of his country thanks to him. He felt moved and a part of the cause. When Reagan won he felt as if he had won the election as well. He told us about how Reagan became his voice and that he felt a personal connection to the candidate.

I HAD NO CLUE WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT!

At the time Kerry was running for president and lets face it he was not that good at making young people feel anything. But now that Obama is on the ticket, as corny as this is going to sound, I finally know what he was talking about. There is something that happens when Obama speaks that gives me hope, that makes me feel proud and that change is on the way.

I am not saying that Obama will do for the democrats what Reagan did for the republicans, but he could come as close as any one in his party has ever gotten. Reagan's impacts are still being felt until this day on the party. He set the platform for the party and love him or hate him he was a good politician and a VERY strong speaker!

But so is Obama. He is a better public speaker than McCain. The same way that Reagan outspoke Carter, hands down.

The funny part of this all is that right now the republicans are saying that Obama is too big of a celebrity to make a good president. Yet the one of the best republican presidents, the man who reformed and began a party revolution in this country, was indeed a celebrity.

I am in Love with a Stripper.

*For class too. We are supposed to blog about something that makes us uneasy and go out and explore it.

As I was driving to a place where I had to do an interview today, I got lost. No, I got really lost! I drove around the Miami International Airport area enough times to make my full tank of gas go down to half a tank. While I was driving I realized that I needed help and stopped at a pink building to ask for directions. What made me turn into it was the sign that said valet. Hey a valet would know his or her way around town, right?

So I pull up and roll down my window, and ask the man for directions. He says, "do you want an application?" I ask my question again, and he tells me where to go but every few seconds he stops and asks me the same question. Now I need a job, but I could not for the life of me figure out why he was asking. As I left I realized that it was a strip club parking lot I was leaving called, The Pink Pussycat.

The thought of that guy asking me if I want to work there still makes me want to throw up. In fact, the whole idea of the adult industry makes me want to throw up. I understand people like it, but I personally do not get why anyone would want to see porn or see another person take their clothes off. I do not get why people will want to do that.

These places scare me, and I don't know why. Maybe it is because I was brought up in a home where we never spoke about sex. We never talk about relationships or anything romantic. I guess this is where my dislike for the industry starts. Of course, I do love the show Girls Next Door, so I guess I am okay with the idea of a porn star, as long as he or she stays clothed and acts normal on camera.

So my project, overcome this fear of porn, or at least become more comfortable with the idea.

If We Stand United Why Do We Fall Divided?

Okay, so for my Multi Ethic Reporting class we are supposed to write a blog about what we talk about in class. Since I do not know if I can add this blog onto this one or not, I have decided to just write on this until I am told otherwise.

So in our last class we were talking about the importance of accepting other cultures and embracing differences, which on the surface sounds like an after school special. topic. Of course, out of the idea of racism came about the fear of differences, and honestly I think that this fear is a result of our own doing. In fact, fearing others is what this country was founded on, hell for worse or for better we are a country of racist.

What do John Smith and the rest of the Virginia colonist have in common with the pilgrims? And no, it's not that one landed on a rock that no one cares about and one landed on the coast that people travel to on their own free will.
Honestly, how many of us have visited Plymouth rock, and how many of us enjoyed it?
Both groups ran into Indians when they came to this country and both were afraid of them. Despite what we hear on Thanksgiving the first Americans looked down to the natives and did not see them as their equals. Both groups essentially exchanged small pox infested blankets with the Indians for land and food. And while we have apologized for it, Indians remain the minority group with the highest numbers in teen pregnancy, alcoholism and drug abuse in many areas around the country. Think about we, I just referred to the people who were living here before the first settlers came as a minority group! And then there are the sterotypes that Indians are lazy people, who all use their magical money dances to steal all your money in their casinos as a form of revenge.
I guess no one can admit that they may just suck at poker and gambling away your child's college fund may not be a good idea.

And the same thing happened to the Irish, Italians, Africans, women, gays, Hispanic, Chinese, Japanese and more recently Middle Easterners, along with nearly every other group in this country. America is racist, and that is the reality of it and it is not right. This whole tradition of racism needs to stop. I think that we are advance enough to leave our history of hate behind us, and since almost every group has been discriminated against, we should know better than to discriminate agisnt others.

But this is not just an American problem. I think that white people get a lot of blame for being racist when in reality minorities are often more racist than anyone. Come on, we can get away with saying ethnic jokes and we get away with it! I think as a nation we need to look at ourselves and say "I am a little racist but I will no longer be afraid of coming forward and talking about it. I will learn about different cultures and learn that people are people." People are like that box of chocolates some are really good and some are so awful you wonder why they were made and if anyone likes them.

But until then, I think the writers, actors and puppets of Avenue Q said it best when they said that Everyone's A Little Bit Racist.

lair, lair if we're keeping score, we're all chior boys are best interested and arrogant.

I am the worlds worst lair, and since I told one today, actually within ten mintues of waking up, I feel that I need to confess my sin.

Here it goes:
Forgive me father, or in this case readers, it has been a few weeks since my last confession. I told the person I am interning for I could not come in today because of school, but I really have a story to do for the newspaper. I didn't mean to lie. I just had because I haven't had a story in a while and figure if I do one now more is to come.

Response: Two hail Marys?

First Comes Heavy Breathing...

It has to be that time of year again, I just know it is.
I cannot breathe half the time, my face is burning, I can feel myself turning 22423423 shades of red and I cannot sleep because I just keep worrying. And I know why. It happens at the start of every semester, I get scared.

No, forget that, I lose all sense of sanity and lose every ounce of logic that I have ever had within me. I just cannot help but worry what is going to happen to be when I start classes tomorrow. I feel like I am back in the first grade, not knowing any English, sitting in the front of the room and wondering how all the kids in class are so smart while I have no idea what is going on, and this happens at the start of every new school year. It's sad, I know.

Only now that I am in college my worry has gotten worse. I am not only concerned about what is going to happen the first day of school but the rest of my life as well. I have two years until I am done with college. I could have been done in a year but I decided to extend my stay at FIU. All I keep thinking is what am I going to do with my life when this is all done, and yes this has added to my worrying enough to keep me up at night. In two short years, I need to pick what I am going to do, go to grad school or get a job? I don't even know how to do either of those things, they never taught me and again, how do you know which one to do. I feel lost.

I know what I want out of my life, I have always known what I want the outcome to be, but I have no idea how to get there. It's actually really funny, they raise us with these phrases like, reach for your dreams and you can do whatever you want if you work hard enough. This advice does motivate people, including me, to aspire to certain goals, but it doesn't tell us how to get there. I guess this is partly due to the fact that there is not one answer to all the worlds problems.

As childlike as this is going to sound I honestly think that making choices is one of the hardest things to do in life, no really Paradise we all know that. How do we know if we are making the right ones and what will truly make us happy in the end if there is always that what is. Hey worriers like me think about stuff like that, get over it. Maybe I am making a bigger deal of all this than I should, I worry a lot. I know I do. And who knows maybe my neurotic nerves will help me onto finding what I am looking for.

All that is clear to be right now is that it is 1:25 a.m. and I am still awake worry about something that will work out in the end. I know in less than 12 hours I will be sitting in a classroom wondering why I was ever sitting on my bed worrying about stuff like this.

All I Know Is You Look Good In My Shirt...

Okay, when did 19 become the age when all your friends get married?
I don't get it!

I feel like I should be married by now and thinking about filing for divorce.

By The Way...

The first thing I am doing when I get back to Florida, after I sleep of course, is going to be beach! I have not seen a palm tree in forever and I think I forgot what the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Then again it is nice seeing little Christmas trees everywhere.

Last night we went to a Greek Fest, which of course made me miss Miami more. I just don't think that it is socially acceptable to eat Greek food and not have an ocean near by. It's just wrong, I am sure there is a law about it somewhere, just look it up.

:0(

*home sick a little

I did however see something yesterday that reminded me of Miami. We were driving in downtown Ottawa and I see this sign that says "VIVA CUBA!" on it. I should have taken a picture of it, oh well.

for purple mountains....

Hey ya'll,
I am so sorry I am slow in posting on this, the Internet is a little slow here in Canada.
Today is my last full day here, and I am back to the hotness of Florida. Can you believe it is 65 here! And their idea of rain, if you want to call it that, are our sun showers, oh to be Canadian.

Tonight we are off to a county fair, then to drink bubble tea, after we are off to the casino. I still have not bought any ketchup chips but I promise I will soon.
I cannot believe I am out of here so quickly. My flight leaves at 2p.m. tomorrow and I don't land in Florida until 1 a.m. Did I get the worst flight ever? I think I did!!

Sending some Canadian love!

in white houses....

Hey ya'll...
So while I am in Canada there will be one major change to this blog and that is there will be no links or pictures added to it. WHY? Because it takes forever for me to load one page on the computers here due to the low speed Internet, that's why.

Anywho, that is really the only thing I can complain about here in Canada, not bad eh? I have not really watched TV at all since I have been here, sorry I still cannot report how the news is here, and I have not used my cell phone once. No text messages, no checking my e-mail a million times a day, no phone calls at random times. I finally have quite in a place where everyone is still attached to those things. I love it!!

My new goal while I am here though is to buy liquor and do so legally! The legal age to drink in this provience is 19, a good age when you think about it because I feel 18 is much to young. I really wanna buy something while I am here simply because I cannot do it for another year and a few months back in America. I still feel kind of like I am cheating the system if I buy wine or something, ha I will drink in public and do so under 21! (take that!)

I do not have a camera here but I am using my cousins, so there will be photos when I get back to the states. :0)

Oh Canada, My Home and Native Land...

Hello ya'll and greetings from Canadaland!
Okay, so that is not the offical name of the country but that does not mean that I cannot call it that. I just got in Canada yesterday and after delayed flights and trying to figure out why we have to pay for drinks of a plane I have can honestly say that travling is not for the light at heart.
I am writings this blog on my cousins computer and to be honest it feels so weird to write in a differnt location and on a differnt copmputer than I am used to. I know this sounds weird but every laptop has a feel to it, and while the keys are always in the same place the way that the spirit of each computer is differnt. It sounds crazy I know but I swear it is true, luckliy this one has a good vide to it.
So far I am trying to get over how odd it is to be watching Canadian TV. Why? Because shows that are traditionally on ABC, such as Greek or Punk'd which is normally on MTV are both on the same network here. In fact Are You Smarter Than a 5TH Grader is called Are You Smarter Than a Canadian 5th Grader maybe it is silly but I find it funny. From a media standpoint, there are a lot more commericals for radio stations here, which I love because I do not think people are exposed to good shows anymore. Also a lot of the commericals have a lot to do with human rights and equality, something that I think we need more of in the states. There is a sense of unity in Candaian TV that we do not get in the states. Why am I talking about commericals, well because they feed to the taste of a nation, state and or community. To understand a countries ads and news, which I have yet to read or watch yet, you can get a sense of what the people in this country find important and what the culture is all about.

Nothing else too exciting to report yet but I promise I will yet ya'll updated on my trip.
Missing ya'll so much!

Is he a superhero or just a hero?

Batman in my opinion is not a superhero. he is a hero but does not have super quailities about him.
he does not fly
see through wall
turn into fire
or become a hero against his will, he never had to deicide if he was good or evil and if he wanted to be a hero.
he woke up one day and wanted to do it, he is a rich man with time on his hands and money to burn.
Think about it people never pick really rich when asked what superpower they want to have.

*The reason this is not with the blog below is that my phone won't let me.

But He Sucked As Batman

Okay so I am currently sitting in the movies watching Dark Knight for the second time against my will.
* My grammar maybe horrid in this because I am typing on my cell phone.
As I am sitting here watching I think I figured out why I am not as crazy for this movie as everyone else is. It is not because this movie is poorly made, it is a solid movie. Well kind of, I like the fact that this movie shows the fight between good and evil and does so in a modern manner. I love the connection with the war on terror "play the hero long enough to become the villian."
The acting for the most part is decent but there is something missing.
Christian Baole, as good as he may look, does not give me the batman vibe. The only reason to watch this movie is Heath.

but no, that is not the reason something does not sit well...
I can let the acting go and the inconsisanities with international realtions.
The reason it doesn't sit well is that something gets lost in the story telling. There is no connection, we do not get into their lives and understand the characters, they lack development everything just happens.
yes this is a superhero movie, but look at spiderman, you cared about him watching that movie because he was relateable. you understood your hero. and it did not matter if you missed one of the movies, you got into it and understood he did what he did.
I have seen Dark Knight twice and I still don't feel the connection, nor do I think that this movie warrents a second viewing,hence why I am blogging during the movie instead of watching it.
This movie is not like Tiainic where you watch it a million times and are still in love with it and feel something everytime. No this is the movie you watch once, understand why the war on terror is a lose lose situation and move on.
That is all.

Don't get me wrong this is a good movie, but not one that I would say is welcoming to non superhero fans such as myself.

oooo and speaking of superheros, is batman really a superhero?

What's That Rule That You Live By?

Forgive me readers for I have sinned, I has been over two weeks since my last posting.
Side Note:How many hail Mary's do I owe you for this one?
Anyway, so what is new in the life of Paradise? The answer: nothing really!
I know odd because it has been so long but honestly with school and work it is hard to find drama of ones own. Sadly I am left working off the lives of others, who are often more fun than your own.


Oh! But I have been a but counterproductive!
I have lost a best friend (not death, someone decided friendship no longer has any meaning... and really who can blame her?), broken my toilet, broken the breaks on my car, lost a little self-esteem but gained it back and realized why I am single... wow maybe there has been a lot going on!


(at work right now posting this now, adding more when I get home)

Okay,But It Still Smells Like Eggs!

WARNING: Do not let the title of this post fool you, it really has very little to do with eggs... although they do play a part.

For the 1000th time in my lifetime I broke my cell phone this week! I actually broke it twice in one day, yes I am that good. Unlike the times I have broken my phone before this time I will admit that it breaking was my fault. The first time it broke I dropped my phone into a cup of putting I had in my car, yes I had an open cup of pudding in the car... don't hate, and if you are Bill Cosby just be happy I was eating pudding.
Pop Culture: Bill used to do Jell-O pudding commercials where he would say silly things like, "you got to eat the pudding."
So I brought the phone over to the good people at Sprint and within an hour they fixed it. YAY! But on my way home I had the phone in my car where I spilled water on it making it die for the second time. I told you I am amazing at breaking things!

As a result of all of this I spent my entire day yesterday at the Spring store in Pembroke Pines waiting for my phone. They could not fix it but they did give me a new phone and a free memory card, score! I now have a new cell and although I wish I would have asked the guy to save my texts and pictures I have promised myself that I am never going to break my phone again... well at least for another week...

Oh but Paradise you promised us eggs.

While I was waiting for my phone I went over to Starbucks and had one of their fairly new egg sandwiches. I had the eggs Florentine, which is actually really good! It's eggs, cheese and spinach all on a massive toasted English muffin, for only $2.95 and tax, and I am told like 300 something calories, GOOD DEAL! (okay a little high for breakfast but for lunch it is perfect and filling). Just think of it this way, if you go to McDolands in the morning you can get a McMuffin for buck, but lets face it the thing is little, is not very filling and packs just as many calories for one of those hockey puck sized things. From now on I am only getting my breakfast at Starbucks when I want something hot. The best part is, I can get my favorite breakfast food anytime I want at Starbucks, unlike McDonalds who will stop selling me breakfast at 10:30, or is it 11, either way I cannot get it anytime I want. Honestly who are they to tell me when I can have eggs?
As of now the score in the capitalism wars are as follows:
coffee chain one, fast food chain zero!

Just Like Mom Used to Buy!

So today I went over to BK for lunch, normally I get a veggie burger when I go there but this time I came across an odd item on the menu that I felt that I had to share. They are now serving Kraft Mac Cheese and, here is the kicker, they also have apple slices that look like French fries. HOW WEIRD!

Now while this may sound like a good idea in theory, what could go wrong? According to the box the mac cheese is only 180 calories and an apple pack that is 25 calories. Add that with a bottle of water to drink and you or your kid has a low cal lunch... no more overweight kids... YAY!

The downside to this all... the taste! The mac cheese, which comes from a container that Kraft specialized for BK, is simply frozen and microwavable, does not leave much to the palette. For my taste it is crying out for some pepper, but then again I have a thing for peppery foods and twists on traditional. I am sure any 5-year- old will love the mac cheese so I am going to say that for the market they are targeting they totally score big.

But the apples, do not fair as well. The idea of apples that are cut to look like fires are a great idea, they are more kid friendly and due to their shape and color look like unhooked potatoes. The downside is that these pre-packaged lunches, they lack the crunch that we normally associate with fresh fruit. It is really upsetting eating these and I never thought I would EVER say that I felt fruit needed something to be dipped in to taste good, but here we are. The people at BK give caramel packages with these apples and please... USE THEM! Also they market these apples, that are shaped like fries like I have mentioned a million times before, in the containers that they typically put French fries on, yet when you order it you get a plastic baggie... NOT COOL!

I was honestly really excited when I heard about these items but they were kind of a let down when I went for it. I think it came about with good intent but there is something odd about going out to get food that you can easily make at home... no joke the food is just Kraft Easy Mac, and if I had kids I would much rather feed them fresh fruit than pre-packed ones. Moreover, I am at a place called Burger King, it just does not feel right to go there for pasta. But then again this would not be the first time the chain went away form burgers, remember a few years ago when they had tacos on their dollar menu?

Eating this lunch lead me to think why these fast food places do not put salads or veggie burgers on their kids menus. If their true intent is to provide kids with healthy choices, then they would do so by giving them choices that do not involve cheese, carbs and caramel.

The mac cheese and apples are currently only in a few test markets, so if they are in yours go for it and give it a try... what do you have to lose?

Let Freedom Ring!!

Today is Independence Day!
Well actually it has been for about an hour and a half now.
I have never been as thrilled to celebrate this holiday as I am this year. First of all, last year I did not get to celebrate the day at all... I had an exam the next day so I had to stay in all day and study, I even missed the Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest! Oddly enough though I was studying for an exam in U.S. Military History.
This Fourth is also special to me because my cousin is FINALLY home from Iraq this year. After serving active duty over there he can now celebrate our independence safe at home. Of course I still have a few friends over in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries that make celebrating even more special.

I think people often get the wrong idea of the Fourth of July, this is not a day just light fire works, and have a huge bbq with friends. Of course those things are wonderful days to celebrate the day, and have tradition behind them, today is a day to reflect on what it means to be an American and to be proud of the country we live in, with all of its beauty and ugliness. Maybe it's because of the military history class I took last summer that prevented me from taking part in the activities that made me see the importance of this day. The kids, yes kids as young as 14, who fought in the Revolutionary War so we can have this country. For the people who went against the British because they believed that America could be someday be among the greatest nations on earth. The men who died during the civil war to bring this great nation together and the families that were torn apart from it.

This country has a rich history of hard working, regular people who fight for what they believe in. So today as you are watching those fireworks and eating your hotdogs, think of all those men and women who died for this country. This of the men who rebelled against the British in order to give us the right to have a country and heck to give me the freedom to write this blog.

Good Bless America... from sea to shining sea.

ps. If this is coming off overly patriotic there is a reason for it. I am sick of people who say they don't care of this day. This is your countries independence were taking about, be proud of it! People risk their lives to come to this country and for the chance to be an American, don't take it for granted. People have died for your independence and are always fighting for your freedom, don't disrespect them by saying that today means nothing to you.

It's the End of the World as We Know It..

Who said that life never feels like a sitcom? Or in the case of current event, life feels more like a sci-fi show.

Somewhere near Geniva they have been working on this particle acceleator called the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Sounds all fancy right? It also sounds like the biggest sci-fi comes to life intrument ever! Not only is the center about 100m underground on it, turning it on could end the world... feel like the aliens should come in soon? yeah me two.

The machine is supposed to allow us to discover new dimentions, and gain a better understanding of the world around us. We currently know of only three dimentions, and if Stargate SG1 is correct, there should be about 11 more out there for us to see. (of course on the show they have already discovered all of them. It sounds like no big deal that they would even consider turning this thing on right? So we learn more about the world and how it works, la de da. But this is the part when the situation becomes more sci-fi like: although those working on the LHC say that it is safe and will be benefical, they also have said if they do turn it on, as they plan on next month, it could distory the world. OH JOY!

Although the odds of the world ending when someone turns on the massive machine are low, it can still happen.

Since I am no physicist, nor do I play one on TV, I am going to allow the European Center for Nuclear Research to fo it for me.

"It is a particle accelerator used by physicists to study the smallest known particles – the fundamental building blocks of all things. It will revolutionise our understanding, from the miniscule world deep within atoms to the vastness of the Universe.
Two beams of subatomic particles called 'hadrons' – either protons or lead ions – will travel in opposite directions inside the circular accelerator, gaining energy with every lap. Physicists will use the LHC to recreate the conditions just after the Big Bang, by colliding the two beams head-on at very high energy. Teams of physicists from around the world will analyse the particles created in the collisions using special detectors in a number of experiments dedicated to the LHC."

So good luck all in case they turn this thing on... I know everything will honestly be okay, but come on thinking that they can make something like this only makes one wonder about what else could happen. (ooo the times in which we live...)

By the way, does the photo I have on this post is of the LHC itself. The thing is about six stories, so don't let picture size fool you.

Some People Change....

So this morning I am taking part in my ritual of listening to Evil Durdan and the Y-Morning Zoo, or z-morning news depending where you live, and they mentioned a story that I feel needs to be shared.
Apparently women who are bi-lingual tend to change their personalities based on which language they are speaking! HOW WEIRD!
They mostly spoke of Hispanic women, and how they tend to be more assertive when they speak Spanish rather than when they speak English. I do not doubt this, but I don't speak Spanish, and I find it funny that Farsi has the opposite effect. I am more passive when I speak it and not nearly as sarcastic.

I find this all funny. It makes sense that we would change the way we speak based on the culture that language comes from, but I to change personalities based on what your speaking? Now that is some cool mind trick that I love!

In These Times In Which We Live...

So the Miami Herald began offering people buyouts last week, and I just got the worst e-mail I could possibly get as a result. My editor, Hamal, is taking the buyout and leaving the newspaper.
I cannot stop crying about this!

He is a brilliant editor and probably the nicest person I have ever met in the field, with more talent than anyone should have. He was the kind of editor who cared enough to explain details, he wanted his reporters to become better writers and I really hope I did him justice.

Whoever replaces him has some big shoes to fill... he is one in a billion, no one else would have taken a chance on me, but he did last year. He saw me working one day with another reporter and asked me to freelance for him. He taught me so much, and it hurts to know that such a wonderful mentor is now gone.

If people want to know why journalism is not doing well, it is because newspaper are allowing people like my editor to leave the industry! People who know what they are doing and have the experince to make a section great. I understand the economy is suffering and that everyone is trying to pitch a penny, so to speak, but this is too much. Making reporters buyout of their jobs should be a crime in my eyes because it goes against democracy and everything we stand for as Americans. How is a free press supposed to continue when they are forced to get rid of their best editors and reporters? Journalism is not the kind of job that can easily be done by the lowest bidder; it is a job that takes time to learn and one that is never perfected.

I am still in shock as to how this can happen. As a journalism student it is upsetting to see the best leave, but I am thankful enough to know that I was lucky enough to work with one of the greatest.