Senior Reflection; Senioritis Prevention?

So I was kinda sorta pumped for the end of Senior year. Personally I thought it would "over" because AP exams are done with, but nope; Gotta love those finals!!! The increase of work seemed to just surge all of a sudden. I'm not quite sure why because all throughout the year work was pretty simple and easy to get done. I just think that the senior teachers are trying to keep our attention until June 22 and keep us from getting the dreaded Senioritis. I personally loved how the Attendance Office actually sent our parents "Tips on Helping Seniors Avoid Senioritis". That was just great. Haha, all I pretty much have to say on the subject of Senioritis is that it's honestly nothing new and it's actually increasingly worse this year because of the late graduation date, but I feel that in the back of our minds we know that we just have to hang in there by June 22 then we're home free. So no "Senioritis Tips" needed Attendance office. (:

Michelle Obama Looking Gawgeousss!

So this article was about the outfit Michelle Obama chose to wear for the state dinner honoring the Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala on May 19, 2010. Looking at her past dresses, such as her outfit to the Inauguration Ball, the first lady loves one-shoulder gowns. It seems to fit her perfectly too because of her toned arms. The article also spoke about the "underground" designer she chose to go with for her evening outfit. This seems to also be a trend with Michelle because I remember distinctly Jason Wu's career sky-rocketed after she chose the cream one shouldered gown for the Inauguration Ball. The author also commented on this note how she tends to avoid the mainstream high-end designers such as Valentino and Versace. The color also complemented her skin tone perfectly as well as the draping of the material. The article also noted that she seems to be a fashion icon similar to that of Jackie Kennedy, another one of my faves, in that she sets her own style rather than following the trends.

I chose this article because I saw this picture of her gorgeous gown and had to comment on it. Maybe it's the fact I'm still in "prom mode" from looking through hundreds of dresses and this one seemed to catch my eye. I felt that this article was very well written and managed to make connections to minor details I would have overlooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this article because of the depth it provided into not only the world of fashion, but into the mind of the first lady. I know she's sort of an icon for her "typical J Crew" wear and it's nice to see that she tries to look flawless without over splurging too much.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100520/ap_on_en_ot/us_fea_fashion_state_dinner

Senior Reflection; APs DONE, PARTAYYY!

OMG I did it! I finally finished all the AP Exams that I had to take this year and it feels as if a huge weight has been lifted of my shoulders. I know cliche but it's the truth. Haha, I also loved how they planned prom right at the close of the exams because that was just great too. I'm actually pretty exhausted right now from prom last night but it was a blast! I really liked seeing my fellow classmates all dressed up [some better than others (;] and finally celebrating a huge landmark in our high school career, our senior prom! I must admit though, it was INSANELY strange seeing some teachers/faculty there--and some were dancing. Yeaaaaaaaa, could have done without that but in general it was absolutely great for a "Disco Inferno" themed prom.

Country-Wide Ban On Facebook, WHAAAA?

Yup, it's true boys and girls. Pakistan has now issued a ban on Facebook, YouTube, and Wikipedia until May 31, 2010 when they decide in the court whether or not the ban will become permanent. Why so uptight you say? Well, turns out there was a "growing amount of sacrilegious content" on all of these sites. What seemed to grind the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority's gears the most was the fact that there is a Facebook group called "Everyone Draw Muhammad Day!" The author of this article went on an extremely bias rant for a bit about how South Park, the cartoon, depicted the prophet Muhammad in a bear suit. What she failed to mention though is that this is not the only instance that Muhammad was mentioned in the show. In my English class we were discussing satire and this exact issue came up. The writers of the show commented that they had also depicted other religious leaders such as Jesus throughout their many seasons and this is nothing new. They also felt that since 9/11 tensions about referencing Muhammad, for example would anger people naturally. Before the tragedy occurred though, the writers had the prophet Muhammad in their show with virtually no outcry.

Anyhow, the author ended on a more reasonable note on recognizing deleting the group[s] formed rather than taking an extreme by blocking websites for the whole country. The way I see it is that there is no way avoiding it, there are morons out there who use the internet to release their rage and blocking a whole country from sites WILL NOT ERASE these idiots permanently. It's sort of living in a state of disillusionment. I agree in that the individual groups should be monitored more carefully but I must also note that Muslims are not the only ones targeted through these sites as well, many other races, religions, and beliefs are mocked over the internet by people who have nothing better to do. I'm glad I found this article because it was a very interesting read.


Source: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/asma_uddin/2010/05/pakistans_facebook_ban_protects_the_wrong_party.html?hpid=talkbox1

The GOP's Dirty Sexy Money--LOL

First off I didn't make up that title, it was the title of the article, but I liked it so much I decided to use it! LOL. Anyways, a new scandal on the Hill is emerging! Apparently new reports surfaced yesterday that the Republican National Committee took their "young republican donors" out for a night on the town to "an edgy sexually themed Hollywood night club called Voyeur" aka a strip joint! Not only did they drop $17,514 to fly privately to the strip joint in class, but $9,099 at a Beverly Hills hotel, and the icing on the cake nearly $2,000 to the so-called "edgy strippers". As you can imagine, the GOP is in some hot water now. The RNC's chairman, Michael Steele, is facing much of the criticism. There are rumors that re-election for him is bleak calling this stunt "the end of his career". The article went on claiming that this could be disastrous for the republican party resulting in lost seats and even lost jobs.

I honestly could not read this article without laughing out loud. The author who wrote this writes exactly the way I do so it was enjoyable to read but other than that, this whole circumstance is just so pitiful. I mean really, you high rollers from the republican party, the best you can do to show your "young republican donors" a good time is to fly them out in class to a strip joint? Good to see their donations are put to excellent use! And the fact that they didn't think anyone will notice prominent members of the GOP at in the strip joint? Hahaha, you have got to be kidding me. Either way, it serves them right for being reckless like that. I agree with the author of this article in that the way they went about celebrating was completely moronic especially considering that they are notable figures who will be noticed for their actions--whether it's voting during Roll Call or flying to Hollywood to visit strip clubs. I would not be the least bit surprised to see some of the republicans lose their jobs after this.

Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-03-29/the-gops-dirty-sexy-money/?cmpid=p_yahoo

Where I got the "edgy" description: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100330/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1374

Standards Fo' Schoolz

So as I was looking around for editorials to comment on, I stumbled across an article addressing a nation-wide school standard. As you should know from Government class, states are essentially in control with the standards they establish regarding school. With the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, states essentially create their own standards so that government funding can be awarded on the basis of their scores. The article commented on how states can manipulate this to their advantage so that they can receive much more funding. The article also spoke about how the incredibly low test scores we have here in the United States became more and more apparent after the implementation of this law. The U.S. as a whole is falling behind the other countries educational-wise and it's about time that a nation-wide effective plan is created. The author emphasized this belief all through her editorial because it is essential in this day and age to keep current and not fall behind in comparison to other countries as well.

I cannot agree with this author more. Everything she spoke about just seems like common sense to me. I mean take the S.O.L.s for example. They're basically a joke and it's sad to think that we, Fairfax County, one of the best counties in the United States, have to take such a ridiculously insulting exam. Just thinking that some students even fail that is honestly just wrong. I can't even imagine the standards implemented in other states and counties that remain below ours. I know that this doesn't apply to students that actually apply themselves but really we're slacking in comparison to other countries. I find it disgraceful that "a land full of opportunities" is just barely passing the average mark. I believe with a nationwide standard, admittance into college would be more fair as well--and no such thing as grade conversions and bullshit. I agree with the author in that a new system should be created to replace Bush's failed attempt to regulate education in the United States.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/opinion/14sun1.html

Democrats In Charge, Baby!

So this week's editorial spoke about how President Obama's recent Health Care Summit was a chance to create a bipartisanship plan to fix our fragmented heath care system. This article reviewed the meeting and spoke about how the republicans pretty much blew their chance to have any say in the matter at all. When asked to compromise, the republicans refused to negotiate at all so you know what? Their loss! Everyone knew that the loss of sixty Democratic senatorial votes was a set back but now the Democratic senators can pass the Health Care Bill through reconciliation. Don't know what reconciliation is? It is the passing of a bill as is with fifty-one senatorial votes. We have fifty-nine so the odds are in our favor. This editorial also commented that this is "the one shot we have for centuries to come, to finally ensure health coverage for Americans". The author also commented on how this giant leap forward would not only provide coverage for thirty million uninsured Americans but also help reduce the deficit over time. Either way, all of this power is now in vested in the Democrats' hands to push this bill through once and for all. The author also remained strongly in favor of finally passing the Health Care Bill.

I agree with the author of this editorial because it is absolutely ridiculous how one of the richest nations in the world, America, cannot provide affordable health care for it's citizens. I watched some of the Health Care Summit and couldn't help but become so angered at the way the republicans carried themselves. Obama was being serious in trying to establish a compromise, and the nonchalant attitude and utter rudeness the republicans showed at times must have been aggravating. They brought up points that had nothing to do with the actual bill itself but focused on criticizing everything from length of the bill to just criticizing Obama himself. After that meeting Obama was pretty angry himself. I know I would be! Again, it was Obama reaching out and the republicans were not reaching back. Like the author had said, they now lost their chance to have a say in the matter because the Democrats will pass the bill through reconciliation. The benefits that the author spoke about seems that the pros outweigh the cons. The most prominent overarching goal would be providing for those who do not have enough for health care coverage. All in all, I have full faith in what is to come if the Health Care Bill in fact passes.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/opinion/04thu1.html

FAUX "News"--'Fair and Balanced'*

*Except not so fair or balanced.

I love Jon Stewart and The Daily Show in general, not only because he is hilarious, but also because Stewart very bluntly and often sarcastically points out some of the most obvious political faults and biases we face in the world today. When I heard that Stewart was going on The O'Reilly Factor I could not wait to see what fast ones O'Reilly would try to pull--as he often does to make himself seem more intelligent than he actually is. Turns out I wasn't the only one anxious to see what would unfold.

Recently an editorial came out in TIME magazine critiquing how the intense debate went between Stewart and O'Reilly. The editorial seemed to report what had actually happened during the discussions between the two while also providing personal insight into who the author felt defended his case better. O'Reilly actually managed to pose some insightful questions for once and "Stewart responded truthfully and unrehearsed" the author remarked even when asked about President Obama. Stewart is known to be pretty liberal but still managed to review Obama dispite party lines while applauding him in some areas and not in others. Stewart kept this coy "onlooker" manner throughout the interview which the author liked as well. O'Reilly kept on referring to those who follow Stewart on his show, The Daily Show, are "stoned slackers". The author was quick to point out that O'Reilly's remark was "just a lazy shot" when in fact "[TDS] has one of TV's best-informed news audiences". Stewart's main focus of the evening though was his persistent jab at FAUX News oops, I mean FOX "News" often taking stupid nonsensical stories and blowing it extremely out of proportion [observe the picture I posted along with this entry] as well as the whole "fair and balanced" claim, the author states. The author, and I also, absolutely adore how Stewart sarcastically refers to old, tired, and rehearsed FOX's alleged "selling of the clearest narrative of any news organization". The author didn't rip on O'Reilly too harshly but he definitely applauded Stewart for "winning that battle".

I could not agree with the author of this editorial more. Stewart is amazing at what he does. I don't agree with him just because he is a liberal, it's the fact that he actually takes a thoroughly honest approach when confronting political issues. Other than that, his hilarity is a definite bonus. I often find myself being pretty sarcastic as well when referring to certain politics and policies just because I watch The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live THAT much. Anyways, back to the point, like I had said, I watched Stewart online and I was really proud of him. The reason I watched the interview online was because I had expected FAUX to mess with the tapes and my God, they did! When the show aired, it was an edited version that took out all the parts where Stewart cooked O'Reilly really good. The kicker is that O'Reilly was all over Stewart's case during one segment [OF THAT EXACT INTERVIEW] for editing TDS clips when O'Reilly in fact did it himself! Newsflash O'Reilly, Stewart is on a comedy show not a so-called "news" show like yourself. Also the "stoned slacker" reference O'Reilly made was absolutely pathetic and trashy especially considering how the author pointed out how incorrect that claim really was. Stewart really didn't back down on his morals yet he wasn't a complete douche about his beliefs either--like pretty much every one on FAUX. I agree that Stewart did burn O'Reilly pretty badly when O'Reilly tried to outsmart him, especially with how he started out asking Stewart how he felt about Obama at this point, but it's the fact that O'Reilly hadn't even chose to air the good parts [AKA when he was being burned] which really just shows how hypocritical and sad he is to use is own devices to essentially manipulate the "news" for the public. I especially liked how Stewart mocked the extremely right-winged channel on their brainwashed beliefs that perhaps if THEY think they are "fair and balanced" perhaps OTHER people will as well. Not anyone with a brain for that matter. (: Calling themselves something doesn't make it true--they're only saying what they want to hear. All in all I am very proud with the way Stewart carried himself, he didn't pretend to be someone he's not and still held his head high in a room that despised his guts.

Source: http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2010/02/04/stewart-and-oreilly-taking-on-fox-news-on-fox-news/

Stop-And-Frisk

So an article recently came out that questioned the legitimacy of cops stopping random people on the street and frisking them for weapons, drugs, etc. For 2009, a record of 575,000 people were stopped and nearly 90% of that total was African-American or Hispanic. As you can imagine, this editorial was debating the issue on whether or not this was fair. On one hand, the author talked about how racial profiling is taking over the world and one person, an individual cannot represent an entire race. On the other hand, the author was saying that the police often stake out the real rough areas of the slums where the majority of that population would be minorities so the popo weren't intentionally being racist. The editorial ended on a note claiming that if the number of these "reckless and unfair" stops increase, "the [police] department will risk alienating an entire generation of people where trust in the law is needed the most".

I agree with the author to a certain extent. I mean, just because a Hispanic person did something bad for instance, it doesn't mean that that makes all Hispanic people bad. But on the opposite side of the spectrum, it does say that minorities comprise those high-risk areas making the percentage of people skewed more toward the minorities as a whole. This is a tricky editorial to comment on because I don't know in particular the basis of how policemen decide on how to pull people over off the street but the article also commented on how some were beaten and abused in the process. Usually if they show restraint to authorities that is a strong indicator that they have something to hide. We don't have this in Herndon, I don't think, but I believe if a person looks suspicious or somewhat dangerous that should be looked into but not just as a basis on their race or ethnic background.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/opinion/19fri3.html

Limbaugh, Shut Your Piehole

This cartoon was drawn by Pat Bagley and published in the Salt Lake Tribune on January 16, 2010. This political cartoon depicts the horrible earthquake that took place in Haiti injuring and killing thousands of people in the left frame. On the right is a picture of the fatty himself, Limbaugh, claiming that all those Haitians are simply "faking being killed or injured".

Now let's back track a little bit. A few days ago, Limbaugh made the usual completely atrocious remarks against the Obama Administration but this time he really hit an all time low. He dragged the recent earthquake into the equation stating that "the Haiti earthquake plays into Obama's hands" and that the President will use the earthquake "to gain credibility with the light-skinned and dark-skinned black community". Wait, it actually gets better. Limbaugh then defended his comments which were brutally attacked by the media by stating that "Obama sees this as a political opportunity to make himself look good and slander republicans as having no compassion". Wow, just wow. Limbaugh's doing the republican party just as good as Palin! I mean really Limbaugh, Obama and all the dirty Liberals caused the earthquake to use that tragedy just to make themselves look better--that's exactly it Limbaugh, you caught us.

I honestly thought this was some sort of sick tasteless joke but apparently not. The cartoon's message conveys that Limbaugh is a complete psycho and constantly wants to remain in denial just to prove the Obama Administration is incompetent and manipulative. You know, if he really wanted incompetent and manipulative, he could have just looked back at when Bush was in office. (: But really, I am appalled that someone could even say such a thing. I sure as hell agree with the message this political cartoon expresses. Limbaugh should really get off the air because he is a complete moron. I believe the only reason anyone agrees to broadcast him and hear all this ridiculous crap he constantly spews over the radio is to show that even the clinically insane can become radio talk show hosts. :D

My Political Sphere

Now that half of my senior year is pretty much complete, I noticed that my future is becoming more and more clear. I was never fully sure what I actually wanted my career to be and always ended up changing my mind. This year in particular, I have taken a liking to politics in general and thought about entering the political sphere. I remember being bored out of my mind when my parents would watch the news, but this year I learned that all that stuff is actually really interesting. The biggest shocker would actually be my new found liking to C-SPAN 2, the Senate channel of course. It's neat to see what actually takes place thirty minutes away from my house which in turns affects the whole country.

Also, with the blogs we have to keep current with, I have found that it reinforces my feelings toward politics in general. I love being able to voice my opinion and correct all those backwards, completely warped claims people try to present as a "legitimate argument". Now I know that everyone has different views on different matters but when speaking about a certain topic, he or she better make sure that they are familiar with what they're trying to say and not spew useless garbage in "retaliation".

I find that this year I keep more current and I'm very well read with what is going on in the world today. In turn, I have become more confident in my beliefs regarding politics and conveying these beliefs through my posts for example. Anyways, I'm glad that we're doing these blogs because not only does it open our eyes to what is actually taking place around us, but also allows everyone to express themselves however they may please. (:

Airline Security--So Great!

With the recent terrorist attacks brought on by the Christmas Bomber, extra precautions have been taken by TSA. Hmmm, that sounds familiar...

Mike Luckovich drew this political cartoon for the Atlanta Bugle on December 30, 2009. This cartoon deals with the Christmas Bomber who tried to detonate and "underwear bomb" on Christmas Day. Despite being on the Suspected Terrorist List, the Nigerian man breezed on through the airport security with no luggage, despite the fact that this flight was half way around the world, and the fact that it was a one way ticket should have raised some flags but nah, of course it didn't occur to any one. Anyways, he tried to set of the bomb but there was a technical difficulty when he tried to ignite detonator resulting into a failed mission to him yet great relief for us.

The cartoon suggests that in lieu of this recent attacks, it's necessary for us to have our underwear go through the x-ray scanner. It's ridiculous if you think about it--it takes a terrorist attack to increase security just to prevent that same attack from happening again. Take the Shoe Bomber for example, we always have to take off our shoes now. Also, no more liquids are allowed on board. It took real attacks to make security crack down on those specific areas, but they overlooked all other possibilities it seems.

I agree with the cartoonist in that he is simply proclaiming that things used to be "easier" to a certain extent when it came to airport security but after all these attacks with bombs in hidden areas make everything that much more difficult to track. I also agree with the cartoonist and his message subtly indicating the ineffectiveness of TSA and Security as a whole because they must wait for an actual attack to happen then they strengthen security to prevent THE SAME sort of attack from happening again. All those "extra precautions" taken on by security is to ensure the exact plot will not happen again. It's time they really should just take on fully body scanners because this crap is getting ridiculous. Especially considering how it gets past all that security.

A New Year With The Obama Administration!

Well it's the start to a whole new year ahead of all of us, 2010! While most of us have resolutions [for the most part], the Obama Administration has a whole bunch of tasks ahead of them as well. I believe we are headed in the right direction though. I remember when the end of 2009 was steadily approaching and President Obama said that he'd like to get the Health Care Bill passed before the end of the year, everyone knew that it couldn't be done--there was simply too little time, but look how that eventually turned out. (:

I know Obama and his administration are doing much more good than they actually seem to get credit for, but I have high hopes for this year. The economic catastrophe is far from being completely over, but it takes time for something like that to completely heal.

Regarding the status of War on Terror, it seems as if we are in fact doing worse because of the Christmas Plane Bomber and the CIA Bomber and it is true that Obama took responsibility for those unfortunate circumstances but in reality, he had nothing to do with what had happened. It's nice to see that he is in not playing the blame game and just accepts the responsibility like a true president should. This helped reinforce my views on Obama because it shows his noble and true character rather than snitching on those whom are actually responsible for these incidents. As for the actual war and extra deployment of troops, it is too soon to tell how things are progressing right now. It's best that we sit tight and wait until they begin to report on the circumstances before making a thoroughly informed opinion on that matter.

All in all, I'm pumped for 2010 and I have high hopes what is to come from Obama and his administration.

Lieberman--The Giant Ass!

John Sherffius published this cartoon on December 16, 2009 in the Boulder Daily Camera. The issue Sherffius so blatantly shows is the whole recent Lieberman controversy. Live under a rock? If so, Lieberman is one of the two Independent Senators currently in Congress. Both Senators are essentially considered "Democratic" because they almost always lean in that direction when voting to pass legislation. The Democrats need sixty Senate votes, the fifty-eight Democrats and the two Independents in order to pass the Health Care Reform Bill. Lieberman comes into play because he wasn't making a fuss about the bill, he pretty much just sat there quietly not making a big deal about anything in particular. Now as the Democrats work hard to secure that the sixty senators are on board, Lieberman decides to jump up and say he doesn't agree with this bill now. Good timing, Lieberman. He is now controlling the passage or rejection of the Health Care Bill. Lieberman is refusing to compromise on Medicare for instance and the Democrats have no other decision but to meet all of his demands in order to pass this bill. Now the Democrats may have to make these compromises in the Senate but outside they unleash their feelings toward this "flip-flopping, thin-skinned, conniving, untrustworthy" excuse for a Senator.

The message this cartoon expresses is that being an Independent, Lieberman doesn't even belong to either party therefore he is essentially the ass of both parties and pretty much an ass in general. President Obama actually gathered all the sixty senators in a conference recently and told them they all literally "have to get their acts together" in order to fix the flaws the current health care system in hopes that Lieberman would get the message.

I agree with the cartoon's message that Lieberman doesn't belong to either party entirely and that he's basically a giant ass because his recent behavior really shows what kind of man he really is. He also gives a bad name to the political sphere in general because as Americans grow more and more distrustful of their own government, this stunt Lieberman just pulled enforces that belief! If he really had a problem with the Health Care Bill in the beginning, he should have made it clear in the first place. Sheesh Lieberman, hold every one back why don't you.

My Favorite Holiday

My absolute favorite holiday would in fact be Christmas but more specifically, Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is the perfect day where every one is happy and excited for the big day right around the corner. Ever since I was young, I always enjoyed the feeling of anticipation more than an actual event itself. There is always that wonder--that excitement that seemed more intriguing to me.

Anyways, the Christmas holiday is usually spent with my entire family because we all live so far away from one another, it's a chance for us to finally meet up and celebrate. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins--you name it, they're there. Every Christmas Eve a glorious feast of ham, turkey, fresh breads, cakes, pastries--the list is almost endless, are all prepared and laid out to munch on all throughout the day and into the next simply because no one wants to cook on Christmas Day and no one can wait to dig right in either. Also, every one usually tries to scope out the presents under the tree to guess what he or she will unwrap tomorrow. The whole day is full of a lot of food, drinks, music, dancing, and relaxing as we celebrate the joyous occasion. Pictures are taken, videos are recorded, and after every one becomes exhausted, the cousins all hang their stockings by the fireplace and leave out a plate full of goodies for Santa and his reindeer. The adults are usually pretty wasted by the end of the day and are usually watching a random movie anyways. For some reason, they always seem to be The Matrix Revolutions only because of my one geeky uncle who ALWAYS brings that DVD over even though he is the only one who actually enjoys that film. Hahaha.

Somewhat wearily, the cousins all head down to the basement to prepare to finally doze off in all the beds laid out for us but actually all hell manages to break due to the excitement and rush of adrenaline within every one usually exerting itself in the form of an intense pillow fight, extreme karate matches, mattress races down the stairs, or something similar to that extent. Music is blaring and the television is being watched by that one cousin who cannot live without missing an episode of Robot Chicken. It doesn't matter though, because the grown-ups can't hear upstairs. (:

I live for moments like these. Moments that one just doesn't want to end; moments that truly make every one relive his or her childhood memories once more. With all the excitement and anticipation brought along with Christmas Eve, usually leaving me feeling indifferent about Christmas itself. Now of course the relatively same routine takes place the next day but for some reason when the day is not actually at hand, it seems to be the most fun. Christmas Eve is full of so much crazy fun chaos when the whole family is gathered together, I wouldn't have it any other way. [So nostalgic~]

Wrong Side of History Huh?

This cartoon was drawn by R.J. Matson and was published in the "Roll Call" section of Cargle Cartoons on December December 10, 2009. For those who are unfamiliar with the Congressional term "Roll Call" it's the name given to the recordings of how the congressmen and congresswomen happened to vote on a proposed legislation as well as providing information on the proposition and whether it was passed or rejected.

The issue Matson is referring to the Health Care Debate in the Senate obviously. The cartoon shows that the Democrats are trying to make progress by taking a full force approach forward while the republicans are trying to pull them back while referring to the Democrats of being on "the wrong side of history". This is referring to the Democrats recent proposition to alter Medicare to include 60-year-olds rather than the traditional 65-year-olds as what was originally laid out. The new change in Medicare seems to anger republicans because they're essentially relying on the fact that Democrats are changing the "tried and proven" system into a new uncertain one. It's funny because when Medicare was initiated in 1965 there was much opposition from the republican side. Reagan and Bush Sr. for instance actually claimed that Medicare was "socialism". I love how republicans are now defending Medicare and are strongly opposed to changing this plan they were initially so strongly against. This just shows that if President Johnson had not persevered for a change who knows where Health Care would be now. I believe that this act by Johnson reinforces the claim that change is absolutely essential for progress and without change, we'd all be stuck wondering "What if?".

Also shown in the cartoon is Senator Reid who is now a driving force for the Democratic idea of progress regarding the Senate Health Care Debate. Reid has recently come forward with a whole league of doctors from all over the country who joined him on the Capitol Hill and are in support of the proposed bill. They actually claim themselves that they "know from experience that our system is broken". With this action Reid has taken, many more people are hearing from the professionals themselves that something is fundamentally wrong with our existing Health Care System.

The message this cartoon conveys is that Democrats are persevering forward for change themselves while the republicans try their hardest to pull them back. Reid is now a driving force pushing for a change with his recent actions of flying in doctors all over the country in support of the proposed Health Care Bill.

I agree with the cartoon's message that Democrats are trying their hardest to move forward whereas the republicans are trying their hardest to keep them back by remaining unwavering in regards to the whole "change" and "progress" aspect Democrats push forward so diligently. I also agree with the fact that Reid's recent actions serves as a major push forward for the Health Care Bill in general.

Religious Symbols on Public Property

When faced with the question whether or not the display of religious symbols should be allowed on public property the answer seems pretty clear to me--no.

Public property is meant for the public [obviously] and should be a more professional atmosphere. I don't see how displaying religious images would be beneficial because it will please one person but it would also anger another. The angry person could argue that this shows favoritism to a specific religion. Now one could argue displaying all religious symbols would eliminate a bias toward one specific belief but there are still people out there who do not participate in religious holiday festivities. Essentially displaying religious symbols just leads to an endless circle of offended angry people. I believe it's best to avoid this all together by just not displaying religious symbols during the holiday season.

Now there are plenty other non-religious alternatives that don't "ruin the holiday spirit". For instance holly, lights, wreaths, snowmen, and mistletoe are only a few of the alternatives that could be taken and used to decorate in an attempt to be more festive. Point being, the separation of church and state is crucial simply because one never knows who he or she might offend.

Plus, this doesn't say that one can't decorate his or her house, inside and out, and put up whatever he or she pleases. Private property is fine for a religious display because it is self-owned, not at place for the public. Even personal websites or blogs are fine to post whatever you please because it belongs to the individual and anyone who visits does so because of free will.

I personally don't mind seeing Christmas decorations simply because I take part in the Christmas festivities however other cultures might become offended when their beliefs are not mentioned or are disregarded during the holiday season. I am only an individual, the public must be taken into account as well, not just my own personal preference. In conclusion, I believe that public buildings and offices should be kept professional even during the holiday season because one can't assume he or she is not offending someone else--the public in general, with a religious display he or she chooses to put up.

Political Cartoon #2; Give it up Cheney

This political cartoon was drawn by Joel Pett and published in the Lexington Herald on December 1st, 2009. This cartoon deals with two key issues, the recent White House party-crashers and Dick Cheney's consistent arguments against President Obama. Sure, Cheney is entitled to his own opinion but it's the fact that no one really cares what he has to say anymore. Unless he's shooting people in the face, we don't want to hear about Cheney and his old tired remarks against the Obama administration. I agree with the cartoon's message that Cheney acts out for public attention when in fact he knows that he is old and washed up just like Bush. Bush at least has some sense to stay hidden away in his Texas ranch but Cheney seeks out media attention just to blast the new administration. C'mon Cheney, I think it's time for you to retire on a ranch of your very own too.

The Current Status of Health Care

The famous Health Care Reform Bill has now passed on from the House of Representatives to the Senate. Now, each of the Senators are debating the pros and cons of the Health Care Bill while also proposing some amendments. I have also been watching and listening to the debates closely on C-SPAN 2 and I have noticed that one of Maryland's senators, Barbara Mikulski has proposed an a amendment that many Democrats and some republicans favor.

Mikulski's proposal is directed primarily at women and their health by providing insurance coverage certain examinations that can be costly to the average woman, such as mammograms. Mikulski's reasoning in doing so was that women pay "for too much and receive far less treatment". Right now, only women over 50 can receive insurance coverage for a cancer screening which is ridiculous considering how cancer effects all ages--not just those 50 and older. Mikulski also reinforces that "without [her] amendment, there would be no guarantee that women under 50 would be covered for mammograms, no guarantee of an annual women’s health exam that would include screenings for heart disease, and no guarantee that women would have access to this preventive care at no cost".

From what I've seen, Mikulski's amendment is being talked about much in the debate. It seems as if many of the senators, regardless of their party, have female family members that already have been affected by cancer so this amendment tugs at their heart a bit. She's receiving more praise than criticism and I feel that they might adopt certain aspects of her amendment.

I've also noticed that during the senate debate, republicans just seem to be reiterating the same "facts" over and over again--"the government can't run health care and that private practice must be honored". The Democrats strike back every single time stating that "there is still a public option; whether the citizens choose private institutions or use the new government issued plan, it's up to them". The Democrats seem to have a stronghold in their cases for the bill while also providing legitimate cases defending republican rebuttals.

To be honest, I believe that this bill is going to pass. The Democrats seem to really be making their points rather than just repeating the same nonsense over and over again. Watching the Senate debate directly eliminates bias of the media; all these observations were made by myself. I would strongly encourage my classmates to do the same rather than relying on biased news sources. After reviewing some peoples' blog posts, it seems as if they lack the basic understanding as to what the whole Health Care Proposition actually is. Many often make obscenely fictitious claims due to the lack of understanding. I'm glad that the debate is being televised because this allows every one to make their own opinion on the Health Care Bill however I feel that people should at least take a small portion of the day to remain updated on the constantly changing status of the Senate's view on the Health Care Bill.

Political Cartoon #1; Obama's Bow

This cartoon was published on November 18, 2009 in the Creators Syndicate by Daniel Kurtzman. I choose this cartoon because it conveyed a bunch of underlying meanings. For instance, the most obvious being the large bag of debt owed to China President Obama must now carry upon his back which is what is making him bow.

Another thing Kurtzman decided to play off of was the whole uprising among conservatives and republicans on how Obama chose to bow to the Asian officials. Apparently it made the United States seem "weak and ineffective" and "ugly" according to the conservative Bill Bennett. Really? Not only is it a custom in most Asian countries to bow in the presence of officials but also incase the conservatives never got the memo, we're in debt by the billions to China so I'm pretty sure this gesture of respect is really the least of our worries.

I disagree with the cartoon's message conveying that the reason Obama bowed was because of the huge debt we owe to China, I just believe that he wanted to honor the Asian tradition and not seem to represent the United States as a snobby jerk [even though there are some of those here] who doesn't have to respect foreign leaders either. With all the media attention on this particular event, I have grown much more respect for Obama because he really has to put up with a bunch of pointless crap and scrutiny with every little thing he does but he still stands proudly by his decisions.