Great blog

Obviously, I just recently started my blog and have not really discovered or developed the format I would like to continue. But, my friend Ericka (who moved from Lincoln, NE to California) has an amazing blog. Her writing is more literary and less journalistic, but she also includes interesting features on things of importance such as upcoming films, artists and so on. Her blog explains a lot about her and her lifestyle and it is definitely not boring. Be sure to check out her blog http://erickapedia.blogspot.com/.

You may remember when you were younger people would always ask "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Well, I figured after I "grew up" the question would stop. But really, the question just changed into "What are your plans after you graduate?" This is really discouraging. I don't want to jump into a career I am going to be unhappy with merely because I am expected to get a job. I don't want to be stuck at a dead-end job in a state that I'm constantly wanting to leave. That sounds like a miserable path to me.

For the sake of courtesy, I usually just avoid a specific answer by saying "Well, I don't actually graduate until the summer. I still have two more classes to take."

Plus, I had a friend tell me once that his friend (an econ major) said people who start their careers in a recession end up making 15% less over the span of their lifetime. Therefore, the smartest thing for me to do is wait until the economy starts peaking again. Right?

This same friend is also interested in the Peace Corps and he plans to do that and then attend graduate school. So who knows what I will end up doing. Wherever the wind may take me is kind of my philosophy right now.

Cinco de Mayo

Porque hoy es el Cinco de Mayo quiero escribir esto en español. Estoy utilizando un traductor de Inglés a Español por lo que los resultados podrían no ser completamente exacta. Sin embargo, sigo pensando que es genial. No puedo creer que canceló las celebraciones del Cinco de Mayo en algunos lugares. Cinco de Mayo es un gran día para la liberación de Mexico. Todos a causa de la gripe que maldito que tiene a todos en un ataque. No se preocupe. Yo todavía celebrar.

Cuando se baja de mi cuarto de trabajo a los seis vamos a ir a Chicago vieja para tener un par de tragos. Recientemente he descubierto que me gusta Corona. Así que probablemente el orden de la Corona un bar con mi comida. No es una fiesta muy grande que conozco. Porque tengo un examen pasado mañana.

Public Relations vs. Journalism

I am confused when it comes to the conflict between journalists and public relations specialists. I understand that journalists try to remain neutral and PR reps most generally are working for a corporation and therefore only promote one-sided news releases. But, in talking with PR specialists and reporters, they both tend to bad mouth the other.

Why can't they each respect that they have different jobs and different objectives?

It also confuses me that there is negative stigma associated with the media, yet public relations people prefer newspaper experience.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Photos of Iraq--Column 3

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Dead Week

After reading through some of my classmates blogs, I ran across Megan's blog on "dead week" and I completely agree. It seems as though everyone stresses about finals, but I always have the most to do/turn in during dead week, which is supposed to be a break before finals (so we can study.. or whatever).

This semester had the most hectic dead week I could've imagined. This semester I am taking 22 credit hours, which equals out to I believe eight classes aka eight final projects/tests/papers. Talk about stress. On top of it all, I am terrible with time management. I always think I have more time than I actually do, which ends up kicking me in the butt, but (that was akward butt, but) I never seem to learn my lesson.

This semester my class load is as follows:

JMC425-Blogging/Commentary
JMC300-Website Design
JMC409-Public Relations Strategy (WI)
JMC350-Antelope News Staff
JMC336-Radio Workshop
ENG460-Women's Literature: Women and Revenge
ENG426-Adolescent Literature
CSIS108-Computers in Society

During dead week I had a short paper due for ENG460, a 8-10 pg research paper for ENG426, final website and presentation for JMC300, video commentary for JMC425, and two final projects for CSIS108. In addition to these things, I spent my entire Tuesday night working on my ENG460 research paper because I wrote down in my agenda the wrong date. Basically I was working on a research paper that isn't due for another week when I could have been working on the other assignments that are actually due!

So obviously I was already frustrated with myself. Then I tried to do the video commentary with my webcam on my HP and it turns out I don't have a software that allows video recording or even taking pictures. I tried to do the quick capture on YouTube, but YouTube was unable to pick up my webcam. So I recorded it four different times to my roommate's computer only to find out that the software he had wouldn't allow me to save it elsewhere or post it to YouTube. Finally, I settled with recording it on my digital camera, hence the poor quality, awkward view and bad lighting. After recording three or four times on my camera, I decided enough was enough and tried to upload it to YouTube via the SD memory card. Of course it wouldn't upload. So at about 12:30a.m. Thursday morning I gave up with the video and decided I needed to start my 8-10 page research paper that was due at 4 p.m. that day. Needless to say, everything worked out. I finished everything and am so relieved. I am even happy with the outcome of my research paper!

That is my rant about dead week. But, now it is over and only one week left, then two summer classes and behold! graduation. Thank the Lord!

Peace Corps: Video Commentary

After Kevin Sites came to speak to our class, I have been thinking a lot about what he said. Which was something along the lines of before going directly into the job market, take a year off and travel. I would love to do this! The problem I'm running into is money. But, I think I may have found an alternative...the Peace Corps.

I love volunteering and in high school I went on several mission trips for my church. These generally included working with a group of people in a low income neighborhood, to help rebuild, paint, add on to or clean their houses for a week. I know you must be thinking, wow that is only a week. No way can you do this for two years. But, its a great way to experience a different culture and help people.

This is just something I am throwing around right now, so if you know anything about the Peace Corps that I should probably know... let me know!

Journalist on hunger strike

A U.S. journalist working in Iran was jailed for espionage. Well, initially the Iranian officials claim that she was taken in for buying a bottle of wine, but, later the Foreign Ministry said she has been detained for reporting without proper credentials. Apparently the court process was quick. It was a closed trial completed within one day. Her lawyer has not been allowed to see her in jail. In a desperate attempt to be freed, Roxana Saberi, 31, has decided to go on a hunger strike until she is released.

Saberi has been living in Iran since 2003. Her press credentials were revoked by Iranian authorities in 2006. The story does not tell why her credentials were taken away. She continued working as a reporter and that is the basis of their espionage theory. I'm just wondering why after three years she hasn't gotten her press credentials back. She was sentenced to eight years!

Oddly enough, I would still love to report as a journalist in other countries.

Final draft of Column 3

My sister talks to me about everything. She is my best friend, counselor and protector. My sister is everything to me. My sister has been under enemy fire and gone to sleep with constant blasts from nearby mortars shaking her bunk.

She is generally a well spoken person, but when Iraq becomes the topic of conversation, she experiences a loss for words. My sister’s memories from her first deployment to Iraq are mostly in images, thoughts and fragments.

The morning of her first convoy from Kuwait to Baghdad, Iraq, Private First Class Noel Purdie said she felt like she was suffocating when she put on her uniform. She was wearing the typical Army combat uniform: T-shirt, pants, boots, improved body armor suit, groin protector, ear plugs. She had 11 pounds of ammo strapped to her vest, a 30 pound medical aid bag secured on her back, a personal bag that carried her sleeping bag and extra uniforms in hand and her M-16 rifle slung across her shoulder. The extra 40 pounds of weight and layered uniform increase the temperature from 80 to about 90 degrees.

She didn’t feel the intensity of the heat until she climbed into the backseat of the HUMVEE, which happened to have a temperamental air conditioner. The heat came in waves and occasionally sweat dripped off her face and down her neck. She sat with her rifle between her legs, muzzle down thinking “I can’t believe this is real. I miss my family. I want to go home. I want to stay alive. I’m scared. It’ll be ok, it’ll be ok. Nothing is going to happen.” She tried to prepare herself for the three day drive, eight to ten hours a day, stopping only to refuel and sleep. They were driving slow, scanning the land for improved explosive devices (IEDs).

She was nervous and scared. She was thinking about the training that led her here. She had only been in the Army for a year. She was trying to remember all of the stories other soldiers told her about IEDs, enemy fire and Iraqis ambushing convoys—especially between Kuwait and Baghdad.

On the second day her truck finally crossed the border into Iraq. “The TV was right. I can’t believe people live like this.” Children were on both sides of the street. She said they looked like they haven’t bathed in a few days, they were barefoot, their clothes were ragged and they were skinny—bony, their elbows and knees were prominent. She thinks, “I want to hug them and tell them it will be ok.” She noticed one room shacks along the road. They were made out of wood, tires, soda cans. “I could never live like that. I wouldn’t want to live if I had to live like that.”All she could smell was oil. “It’s so dirty. Trash everywhere.” The kids run after the truck shouting “Chocolate, chocolate!”

She replayed everything she had been trained. “Seeing those kids makes my heart break. But, I have to protect myself. If I had to, could I really shoot this child? If they do something, could I seriously stick my head out this window and fire at them? If my life is in danger, I’ll do anything. Me and my soldiers have to make it home.”

The third day, her convoy stopped. The road was coded black—something dangerous was found within the last 24 hours. “All I can hear is gun fire. I don’t know where it is coming from, who it is or what’s going on.” The road cleared two hours later and after a couple hours of driving, her convoy made it into Baghdad.

We set a spot for her at the dinner table. She was settling into her new barracks in Baghdad. It was Christmas Eve. She is my best friend, counselor and protector. My sister is everything to me. But, she can no longer talk to me about everything. I don’t know any of her stories about missions, being under enemy fire or encountering an IED. I don’t know what she went through or what she is still probably going through. Sometimes I feel like my sister never came back from Iraq.

first draft of column 3

Tara Purdie
JMC425
Column 3
April 24, 2009

My sister talks to me about everything. She is my best friend, she is my counselor, she is my protector. My sister is everything to me. My sister has been under enemy fire and gone to sleep with constant blasts from nearby mortars shaking her bunk. My sister has been in the Army for almost five years. She received several awards such as “The Army Commendation Medal”, and after several promotions is now known by fellow soldiers as Sergeant Promotable Noel Hunter.

She is generally a well spoken person, but when Iraq becomes the topic of conversation, she experiences a loss for words. My sister’s memories from her first deployment to Iraq are mostly in images, thoughts and fragments.

The morning of her first convoy from Kuwait to Baghdad, Iraq, Private First Class Noel Purdie said she felt like she was suffocating when she put on her uniform, which was made from a rough material that constantly scratched against her skin. She was wearing the typical Army combat uniform: T-shirt, pants, boots, gloves, improved body armor suit, groin protector, ballistic sunglasses, ear plugs. She had 11 pounds of ammo strapped to her vest, a 30 pound medical aid bag secured on her back, a personal bag that carried her sleeping bag and extra uniforms in hand and her M-16 rifle slung across her shoulder. The extra 40 pounds of weight and layered uniform increase the temperature from 80 to about 90 degrees.

She didn’t feel the intensity of the heat until she climbed into the backseat of the HUMVEE, which happened to have a temperamental air conditioner. The heat came in waves and occasionally sweat dripped off her face and down her neck. She sat with her rifle between her legs, muzzle down thinking “I can’t believe this is real. I miss my family. I want to go home. I want to stay alive. I’m scared. It’ll be ok, it’ll be ok. Nothing is going to happen.” She sat with her rifle between her legs trying to prepare herself for the three day drive, eight to ten hours a day, only stopping to refuel and sleep. They were driving slow, scanning the land for improved explosive devices (IEDs), that could be hidden in boxes, tires or buried in the sand.

She was nervous and scared, really scared. She was thinking about the training that led her to this point. She had only been in the Army for a year. She was trying to remember all of the stories other soldiers told her about IEDs, smalls arms fire and Iraqis ambushing convoys—especially between Kuwait and Baghdad.

On the second day her truck finally crossed the border into Iraq. “The TV was right. I can’t believe people live like this.” Children were on both sides of the street. She said they looked like they haven’t bathed in a few days, they were barefoot, their clothes were ragged and they were really skinny—bony, their elbows and knees were prominent. She thinks, “I want to hug them and tell them it will be ok.” She noticed one room shacks along the road. They were made out of wood, tires, soda cans. “I could never live like that. I wouldn’t want to live if I had to live like that.”All she could smell was oil. “It’s so dirty. Trash everywhere.” The kids run after the truck shouting “Chocolate, chocolate!”

She said when she was driving down the road she replayed everything she had been taught and trained. “Seeing those kids like that makes my heart break. But, I have to protect myself. If I had to, could I really shoot this child? What if they do something, could I seriously stick my head out this window and fire at them? If my life is in danger, I’ll do anything. I have to make it home. My soldiers have to make it home.”

The third day, her HUMVEE had to stop. The road was coded black—something dangerous had happened or was found within the last 24 hours. “All I can hear is gun fire. I don’t know where it is coming from, who it was or what’s going on.” The road was cleared two hours later and after a couple hours of driving her convoy made it into Baghdad.

While my family was setting a spot for her at the dinner table, she was settling into her new barracks in Baghdad. It was Christmas Eve. She is my best friend, she is my counselor, she is my protector. My sister is everything to me. But, she can no longer talk to me about everything. I don’t know any of her stories about missions, being under enemy fire or encountering an IED. I don’t know what she went through or what she is still probably going through. Sometimes I feel like my sister never came back from Iraq.

Lindsay Lohan is always a popular topic given her severely out-of-the-ordinary behavior; especially recently, her relationship with Samantha Ronson has been under public scrutiny.

Lohan and Ronson recently broke up for unknown reasons. Lohan seems to be doing ok mentally, but only time will tell how this break-up affects her.

Britney has a stalker..well at least one

According to CNN.com, police arrested Miranda Tozier-Robbins outside of Britney Spears' home in Calabasas, California. Apparently, Tozier-Robbins was creeping around Spears' windows in camouflage fatigues with a backpack full of video equipment.

Security asked Tozier-Robbins to leave the property. She ignored their request and they had to physically remove her. The police were then called and Tozier-Robbins was arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Britney Spears' whereabouts during the incident are unknown.

Britain's got talent

I was extremely disappointed after watching Susan Boyle's audition for "Britain's Got Talent". Don't get me wrong. In no way did her performance let me down. But, the audience's reaction, or judgment rather, was extremely disappointing. Before hearing her performance, the camera rolled over the audience as they laughed and rolled their eyes in unison. The entire audience expected the worst from Susan Boyle. It really hurt to watch Susan stand up on stage and I prayed that she didn't acknowledge their rudeness. How horrible are we? She is standing up their trying to achieve a dream, which is close to being lost because of her age, and people look down on her because of the clothes that she is wearing and her bubbly personality. If she has received that kind of criticism every time she auditioned, I am thoroughly surprised she keeps trying, but extremely thankful. She sang beautifully while making the entire audience feel guilty. Boyle sang a song "I Dream a Dream" from "Les Miserables", which was more than just a song, it was the story of her life.

I would have liked to include the audition that was available on YouTube, but the embedding option has been disabled. So here is the link. Take a look, you won't be disappointed.

sweet

Iforgot to mention my sister is back from Iraq. So we are trying to re-adjust her to good old Nebraska life. I'll keep you posted.

Alibi

While celebrating my sister's return home from Iraq at the bar, we glanced up at the 17 televisions on the wall. Over half of the televisions had a male pictured. I asked who the guy was and what the big fuss was about. Well, it is a pretty big fuss. I soon found out that a professional baseball player was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver.

So today I didn't have to search too hard to find out more details on the story. Apparently, the baseball player was the pitcher for the Los Angelos Angels Nick Adenhart. Not only did the drunk driver kill him, but also two others while going 30 miles over the speed limit.

The driver was going 65 in a 35 in a mini van when he ran the red light and hit Adenhart's vehicle. The driver was not only three times over the legal limit but driving on a suspended license from a previous drunk driving charge.

If the driver is convicted on alll three murder charges he is looking at life in prison.

It's pretty crazy what you learn at the bar.

"The Haunting in Connecticut" movie review

What wouldn’t a mother do for her children? Well for starters, dragging your family, including your cancer-ridden teenage son, to your new, highly paranormal home in Southington, Connecticut may seem like a bad choice, however, it was exactly the sudden and predictable choice the audience could expect from mother Sara Campbell after the devastatingly heartbreaking car-ride home after one of Matt Campbell’s treatments. This impulsively rash decision provides the setting for the movie “The Haunting in Connecticut.” The real estate agent claims that the antique-looking house “has some history”, but instead of asking further questions, the distraught mother thinks of only one thing before accepting the incredibly low amount being asked for the home—after stopping every ten minutes for her son to vomit, the only thing on her mind is reducing miles from their home to the treatment center.

Early in the beginning of the film the family realizes that their new home was previously a funeral home. But, because Matt is skating the thin line of life and death, he is the only one who can see the trapped spirits and the past that haunts his new home. Conveniently, his family believes that his strange behavior is the result of hallucinations caused by his new treatment.

Although the movie utilizes some of the fairly common horror conventions to frighten the audience, the most terrifying aspect of the film is its ability to take the audiences’ genuine fears to the extreme, therefore intensifying unknown fear even after leaving the theatre. The movie contains several moments that make the knee-bouncing, fist-clenching movie goer gasp for air and clutch towards the person closest to them. These scares, though sudden, were slight, including Matt’s hand plunging through the pillar on the porch and coming out covered with maggots, Sara mopping the floor with blood, flickering lights and the frequent shadow of a ghost lurking behind. The sound and lighting effects were, to say the least, comparable to other horror movies.

But, the more substantial terrors that won’t be forgotten two minutes after they happen include more depth and special effects that play on typical fears such as darkness, blood and obviously terrifyingly violent ghosts that seem relentless to push this family out of their home any way possible.

Kyle Gallner plays Matt Campbell and provides the audience with an incredibly convincing performance that evokes not only sympathy but also increases the creepiness factor with his erratic and aggressive behavior. His weak, fragile body and pale complexion increase throughout the movie in accordance with the paranormal encounters. Gallner has been in several movies but is most recognized for his role in 25 episodes of “Veronica Mars” as Cassidy “Beaver” Casablancas, in which he turns out to be a murderer that takes his own life. Gallner’s work in the “Veronica Mars” episodes led him to the leading role in “The Haunting in Connecticut” in which he cultivates his ability to manipulate the audience’s emotions.

Gallner’s character outshined Madsen who seemed emotionally detached from the audience in her all-too-believable mediocre performance as a worried, tiresome mother that refuses to accept her son is dying and their house is haunted.
Although the acting was persuasive and realistic, the script itself proves to be the main obstacle towards success. Throughout the movie, it seemed as if the actors were deliberately putting themselves in compromising positions when these situations could have easily been prevented. The viewer often finds him or herself asking “Why don’t they just leave?”.

Depressed Wong kills 13 and himself

Jiverly Wong was 41 years old on the day that he killed 13 people and then took his own life. He is now being described as a "coward" by Police Chief Joseph Zikuski.

People that knew Wong were not surprised by his violent massacre. One woman, who knew Wong said "Zikuski said Wong was depressed about his poor English-speaking skills, which he believed he was being teased about, and his recent unemployment.
People 'degraded and disrespected' the gunman over his inability to speak English well, Zikuski said on NBC's "Today" show."

Wong, who lived with his mother, father, and sister, worked at a place called Shop-Vac and recently lost his job there; he believed the bad luck would never end and was unhappy with the $200 weekly unemployment checks.

The shooting occurred April 3 at the American Civic Association where Wong "opened fire Friday morning on workers and immigrants taking citizenship courses at a community center" and was thoroughly thought-out beforehand. The victims had multiple gun wounds from Wong's two registered hand guns. Wong barricaded the back door of the community center with his car before opening fire on those inside.

Shooting in Pittsburgh

Three officers were killed after responding to a call early this morning. This article does not state the specifics on why the domestic abuse call was phoned in, but the call sent police to the house of Richard Poplawski. Apparently, Officer Paul Sciullo III was the first to arrive on the scene at 7:05 a.m. and upon entering the house he was immediately shot in the head.Officer Sciullo was with the force for 14 years. Shortly after Officer Stephen Mayhle entered the house to help Sciullo and he was also shot in the head. The third officer,Eric Kelly, had just finished his shift, but rushed to the scene to try and help the wounded officers when he was also fatally shot.

A stand-off between Poplawski and the law enforcement soon followed. Poplawski was shooting from a bedroom window. An ARMY SWAT vehicle arrived at 8:30 a.m. and Poplawski opened fire, which prevented them from attending the wounded officers.

Two other officers, Timothy McManaway and Brian Jones, were wounded in this shoot-out before Poplawski surrendered. Police had responded to the Poplawski house two or three times before and neighbors said the family was trouble.

This is the first time since 1995 that Pittsburgh, Penn. has lost an officer in the line of duty.

This article leaves questions, "What was the domestic dispute about" and "Why did Poplawski open fire on the police officers" that will probably never be answered.

Movie Review

As we consume ever more sophisticated forms of animation, it's easy to lose sight of the emotional connections we seek under all the technological fireworks.

When you watch "Coraline," it's easy to admire its imaginative fusion of low tech and high. But with stereoscopic 3-D, high definition and computer-generated effects added to the equation, the movie becomes supercharged with in-your-face palpability. (Find a theater showing the movie in 3-D for the full experience; most theaters will show it in the 2-D format.) We feel as if we could reach out and caress the characters' smoothly rounded faces or tweak the lacquered strands of their shiny hair. The problem is, we just don't want to hug them.

The movie, adapted from Neil Gaiman's enormously successful book of the same name, follows 11-year-old Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning), whose wish to replace the adults in her life leads to a nightmarish experience in a parallel universe. She finds herself in another world where charming replicas of her parents invite her to live with them. There's a major hitch, of course. Coraline's "Other Mother" (Teri Hatcher) makes her a prisoner and demands unyielding devotion.

For all its visual delights, however, "Coraline" remains more an engaging spectacle than a connective drama.

That is chiefly because of the writing. Director-writer Henry Selick doesn't reach for the kind of universality that would enrich the movie.

It's a shame because Fanning's performance is the movie's most emotionally persuasive element. Her assured modulations, from cheeky to sweet, from bored to anguished, should have been part of a bigger, deeper movie. Unfortunately, the screenplay is one humanistic rewrite away from realizing that. Animation's great purpose isn't merely to build superhighways to imagined worlds. It's to show us new footpaths to the human heart.

-- Desson Thomson (Feb. 6, 2009)

OVERVIEW--In this animated adventure from the director of "Nightmare Before Christmas," a small girl discovers a door in her home which leads to a skewed version of her own life.

Starring--Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ian McShane

I really liked this movie review because it talks about more than the surface of the film. It digs towards the deeper meaning as to why adults enjoy cartoons. The writer is arguing that there is more to a cartoon than the sheer animation process and that a good cartoon should emotionally connect with the viewer. I completely agree. Some of my favorite cartoons have been those that I really connected to such as "Finding Nemo", "Monsters INC." and "Little Mermaid", I suppose the great animation does help with the overall enjoyment, but I believe Thomson is saying there is much more to a cartoon.

I have not seen this movie, but after reading what Thomson has to say, I would like to see this one. Thomson does claim that the director-writer could have pushed himself to make this even better because Dakota Fanning's performance was extremely persuasive and believable.

I also love the two ending lines, they sum up his thoughts on the article and emphasize why this movie was successful.

Tate Slaying

Defense attorney Chiquita Tate was found stabbed to death in her law office on Feb. 20. Tate was stabbed 38 times and police suspect her husband of 14 months. While questioning the husband the police realized he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest from 2007 of battery domestic violence against Tate. However, Greg Harris, Tate's husband, is only suspected by the police. Friends, family and neighbors said they were nice people who seemed happy. However, police believe that Tate had intentions of divorcing Harris due to marital problems, which seems to be cause for motive.

column grief

I really had a difficult time coming up with a topic for my spring break column. I didn't do anything over spring break, just slept and watched tv, so literally nothing worth writing about. I also talked to several of my friends but still didn't come up with anything to write about.

My initial column began as how my spring break differed from the typical beaches and gambling. But, it was definitely uninteresting to say the least. So I was scrounging around trying to remember every thing that happened and person I talked to during spring break. Finally, I vaguely remembered talking to my roommate about his time in the NAVY and what he was doing on Sept. 11.

Although I am pretty disappointed with the outcome of my column, I couldn't come up with anything else I felt people would want to read about.

Column 1

Tara Purdie
JMC 425
Column 1: Spring Break
March 26, 2009
I never thought I would meet someone who was personally involved in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. I imagined, if I ever did meet this person, I would know right away. I figured they must be cynical, sarcastic and most likely less tolerant of any culture that “threatens” the unity and patriotism of the United States of America. I never expected this person could be my roommate.

My roommate, Isaac Bachmann, a happy-go-lucky, mellow kind-of-guy, was 21 years old when Al Qaida terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon. After nine weeks in basic training for the Navy and one-and-a-half years at nuclear power school, Bachmann was sent to Sub Base New London in Groton, Conn. on Aug. 3, 2001. As a nuclear-trained electrician, Bachmann’s orders were to fly to Italy on Sept. 19 to meet the USS Providence on the Mediterranean and join them on their trip back to Sub Base New London.

But, early Sept. orders changed. Security levels were raised to THREATCON (threat conditions) from Alpha to Bravo and all submarines were commanded to return to the submarine base. The new seamen waiting for the return of their submarines completed odd jobs around base but were given a new mission—filling 40lb sandbags and building 5 ft tall bunkers on all 32 piers until they were given other orders.

Bachmann felt like part of a chain-gang completing a dauntingly back-breaking task for an unapparent reason. He worked in the heat of the day and the howl of the storm. The rain instantly added 20 lbs of weight to the sandbags. For a week, Bachmann alongside other seamen filled thousands of bags until Sept. 9 when they had constructed a bunker on every pier. These bunkers were built to protect the men standing charge with 50-caliber machine guns. Upon completion of the job, although security levels were still heightened, Bachmann was ordered to complete his daily chores. Orders changed once again on Sept. 11.

Bachmann had just completed his morning chores and was waiting in the holding unit for more orders when the Petty Officers in Charge came in and announced the attack. Bachmann, who was one of several men, was told to return to his barracks and get rest so he could come stand guard for the night shift. Although he had been packing thousands of 40 and 60lb sandbags for a week, Bachmann had the same reaction as almost every other American. He was filled with disbelief when he first saw the airplanes crash into the towers, but he also realized the importance of the work he had been doing the past week.

For the next month, Bachmann stood watch in the Sub Base New London verifying identification and reporting suspicious behavior for 12 hours a day, every day, until the previously increased security levels began to fall.
Bachmann finished his 6 year enlistment on Oct. 20, 2005 with new ambitions. He enrolled in school and is currently working on his Bachelors of Science. No one would ever guess that he was involved in protecting the country on the day of the attacks because he is optimistic and surprisingly trusting of others. Some people affected by the terrorist attacks on that tragic day find it hard to forgive, but Bachmann is kind-hearted and willing to help those in need. I wouldn’t have pegged my roommate for someone that was involved in Sept. 11 because I didn’t give the person I imagined enough credit.

Editorial 3

Budget reductions totaling $629,294 raise the critical eyebrows of several faculty and staff at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Fear of losing employment at the university has pushed faculty to conceive extreme solutions for a problem that could possibly affect over 1,000 full and part-time positions to permanent and temporary employees.

The solution? Oddly enough, faculty and staff members propose their own salary cuts after receiving an email from Chancellor Doug Kristensen warning that budget cuts could include the elimination of faculty and staff positions, a rise in tuition costs and cutting of university programs. Their proposition suggests that instead of eliminating jobs, everyone should take a pay-cut, which would be determined on the income with the cut ranging between .25 percent and 10 percent. The proposal was presented at the Faculty Senate meeting and was the numbers were suggested for discussion purposes and are workable.

Although this is generous of the faculty to recommend, salary cuts would be impractical and almost impossible to implement due to bargaining agreements some faculty members are already under—even if possible, renegotiating individual contracts would be time-consuming and would most likely not amount to the full budget deficit that is necessary. If salaries were cut, quality professors would not have an incentive to join the university faculty, also, because Kearney is a small university it is difficult enough without competitive wages to offer. However, Kearney professors already have the competitive edge because on average they make more than professors at the University of Lincoln. A freeze on these salaries would prevent the recommended salary increase of 2.9 percent that would take place in the next two years, thus saving a considerable amount of money.

Substantial financial problems don’t necessarily call for an apocalyptic solution. The budget reductions demand answers from all sides of the room, not just the front. A combination of eliminating unnecessary or unpopular programs on campus, raising tuition, freezing faculty pay, reducing the number of faculty and staff positions at the university and urging the Unicameral legislature for financial help is an acceptable solution, which would hold everyone involved responsible.

Editorial 3 things to remember

*some professors suggest pay reductions are good for the economy

*pay reductions would be based on salary
-------> 10 percent pay cut for those making more than $150,000
-------> 9 percent pay cut for those making 150,000-125,000
-------> 8 percent pay cut for those making 125,000-100,000
-------> 7 percent for those making 100,000-90,000
-------> 6 percent pay cut for those making 90,000-80,000
-------> 5 percent pay cut for those making 80,000-70,000
-------> 4 percent pay cut for those making 70,000-60,000
-------> 3 percent pay cut for those making 60,000-50,000
-------> 2 percent pay cut for those making 50,000-40,000
-------> 1 percent pay cut for those making 40,000-30,000
-------> .5 percent pay cut for those making 30,000-20,000
-------> .25 percent pay cut for those making less than 20,000

*pay reductions could prevent increasing tuition costs

*must make $629,294 in reductions effective July 1, 2009

*is the pay cut proposal impractical? impossible? bargaining agreements?

*are contracts negotiable?

*eliminating staff positions will make it harder to offer courses

*faculty said they are concerned about effect on economy and students

*faculty said if jobs are cut it is directing cutting the basis of education

*MAIN PROBLEM W/CUTTING PAY
----would lose edge and quality of staff higher salaries bring in
----need to stay competetive

Other suggestions for cutting the budget:
-raising tuition
-urging unicameral to give university more $
-cutting programs

articles for editorial 3

http://www.kearneyhub.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=20261923&BRD=268&PAG=461&dept_id=577576&rfi=8

http://www.kearneyhub.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20257853&BRD=268&PAG=461&dept_id=577571&rfi=6

http://www.topix.com/city/kearney-ne/2009/02/unk-faculty-propose-pay-cuts-to-ward-off-layoffs

http://www.topix.com/colleges/university-of-nebraska-kearney/2009/02/some-at-unk-seek-salary-reductions-to-avoid-job-cuts

http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/ART/4990185cc0bd4

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10559374

http://www.klkntv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9814391

http://www.kolnkgin.com/news/headlines/39342887.html

http://new.khastv.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=16170

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2009/02/25/news/local/doc49a5ddc1d8377902794547.txt?orss=1

Event center

The Kearney City Council made an offer to purchase the First Tier Event Center. The council was willing to spend between 2-3 million to purchase the event center.

The council hopes that by purchasing the First Tier Event Center more money will come into the community.

Early Graduation

I was trying to think of topics for my next editorial this past week and after not finding many news-worthy issues I decided to consider my own experiences.

I was thoroughly disappointed earlier on in the semester after finding out that UNK does not offer an early graduation program. My advisor told me as long as I was within 12 credit hours of completing my degree, I could register for early graduation. I am not sure if this used to be possible, but after I called the registrar's office I find out that early graduation is not an option. I am left with disappointment because I wanted the big graduation ceremony with hundreds of other students, but now I will have to be satisfied with a small summer graduation ceremony.

I think early graduation should be re-instated so long as the student is within a certain amount of credit hours of completion. There is no harm done if they don't end up finishing the courses because the diploma isn't sent until everything has been completed.

Phone alerts

UNK will now be sending alert messages via phone, either an actual call, text message or both. This new protocol will hopefully help in the speed of delivering emergency messages to students.

According to the Kearney Hub, "Students and staff will be notified during tornadoes, ice and snowstorms, fires, hazardous materials leaks, floods, bomb threats, earthquakes, bio-terrorism, shootings, a pandemic, attacks with weapons of mass destruction, or any other emergency that requires action by the campus."

School officials wanted multiple ways of notifying students in case of any emergency and phones and text messages open the options even further and quicker.

Parking after 5 p.m.

This is not the typical parking issue argument. I am completely satisfied with the amount of parking available for both live-on-campus and commuting students. There is substantial parking for the number of students and faculty that UNK has and the walking distance is minimal--especially in comparison to UNL. However, I do have one complaint and my beef lies with parking after 5.

I think I should start off by stating an extremely generalized statement that I believe, for the majority, is true. Students are led to believe that they can park in any lot or any space--so long as it isn't illegal (aka handicap, no parking or fire zone)--after 5 p.m. without receiving a ticket. I have been attending school here at UNK for three years and have lived both on and off campus. This is a general assumption many students have.

Obviously, this might be a misconception and if so clarification needs to happen. I recently received a parking ticket after 5 p.m. at the library, while I was on-air in the radio workshop studio. There were plenty of available parking spots in the faculty lot just west of the east-front entrance, but because the 30-minute stall was open and closest (and I was running a little behind) I parked there. I have parked in this 30-minute stall before without any problems or complaints only because I was led to believe that you can park in any space or lot without getting a ticket.

My objection is this: If students are allowed to park in lots and spaces they typically are not allowed to park in, why can they not also park in a 30-minute stall for longer than 30 minutes? Students are led to believe that you can park in any legal stall without receiving a ticket after 5 p.m. So, if students are being allowed to break the rules and park in otherwise off-limit spaces how does the 30-minute space differ? Why are students allowed to park in metered stalls after 5 p.m. without getting ticketed for not putting money in or following those time constraints?

Had I known the "difference" between parking where you aren't allowed/parking in a metered spot without putting money in and parking in a spot for longer than 30 minutes, I would have saved public safety and myself the hassle of writing and dealing with a ticket.

Editorial 2

Nebraska is one of eleven states that are considering bills that may require women to receive an ultrasound before continuing with the abortion procedure. Sixteen states already have abortion-related ultrasound laws. Some of these require that the doctor show the patient the ultrasound, some require the patient to hear the fetus's heartbeat and some require the doctor to inform the patient where she can receive a free ultrasound.

The two proposed bills under speculation in Nebraska are LB675 and LB676. Legislative bill 675 would require doctors to show their patient the ultrasound before she would be permitted to receive the abortion. Oklahoma's version of the ultrasound bill, which is much like LB675, is currently facing a lawsuit against the center for Reproductive Rights, who claim that this bill violates privacy, endangers health and assaults dignity. Legislative bill 676 states that the doctor must tell the patient an ultrasound is available and refer her to a crisis pregnancy center that tries to discourage the woman from getting an abortion.

Both bills are a biased way of discouraging women from getting an abortion regardless of the circumstances or situation. If the goal of these two bills was to have absolutely no abortions, why are they skirting around the issue and why didn’t they propose to outlaw abortions altogether?

By forcing women to listen to the fetus’s heartbeat or look at the ultrasound, the bill is patronizing, humiliating and degrading women. It assumes that women going in to receive abortions are not informed and even suggests that they don’t realize they have a fetus inside of them. This bill is not concerned with the woman’s health or mental security but instead, determined to get rid of abortions altogether.

Everyone agrees that a decreased number of abortions in Nebraska is desired, but the bills being proposed do nothing more than fault the women without identifying the key cause. The goal is to decrease the number of abortions by assessing how to prevent the unwanted pregnancies to begin with. These women need to be informed before getting pregnant. Birth control and other preventatives need to be more accessible to women so the number of unwanted pregnancies decreases along with the number of abortions. If an abortion is sought, the woman needs to be referred to an unbiased counseling center to help her make the most appropriate decision for her situation.

ultrasound goals?

We all want decreased numbers reported for abortions.. but are they going about it the right way? What is wrong with their bill proposal as is?

1. They are attacking women in a vulnerable state.
2. They are not offering unbiased help.
3. They are not concerned with the health of the woman or fetus.
4. They are assuming that all women who go in to receive an abortion are completely ignorant to the fact that they have a fetus inside of them.

Required ultrasounds before abortion

Nebraska is one of eleven states that are considering bills that may require a more informative visit before receiving an abortion. Sixteen states already have abortion-related ultrasound laws. Some of these require that the doctor show the patient the ultrasound, while others are required to inform the patient where she can receive a free ultrasound.

Nebraska Sen. Tony Fulton of Lincoln offers two different views he has on informed consent. First, he suggested that Nebraska doctors be required to show their patient an ultrasound before she would be permitted to receive an abortion (LB675), much like the Oklahoma law that has caused a lot of controversy, however Oklahoma's law also requires the doctor to describe the picture to the patient. Fulton suggested this law despite the impending lawsuit from the Center for Reproductive Rights stating that it violates "privacy, endangers health and assaults dignity." Indiana's abortion ultrasound law similarly requires the patient to listen to the heartbeat rather than viewing the ultrasound.

The second option is much less intrusive and requires the doctor to tell the patient an ultrasound is available--but does not have to be performed(LB676). This bill seemed favorable because it would not bring in the constitutional issues.

South Carolina debated for over a year on the same issue and finally reached a similar compromise.

The main objective is to see a decline in the number of abortions in Nebraska. The goal is to better inform women who feel overwhelmed and vulnerable.

There is one problem still seen by pro-choicers on the subject. When women are given a referral to receive a free ultrasound it would be to a crisis pregnancy center, which aim to discourage women from getting an abortion, when rather they should be aimed at fully informing the woman to make the best decision for her situation.

Jessica Simpson--attacked about her weight by media

Jessica Simpson has always been know for being a gorgeous Texan beauty, and she has also been constantly criticized about her weight. Jessica has been in the spotlight numerous times for her up and down pounds and she claims that she just loves food and that she is a girl with natural curves. So what will satisfy the media--apparently whatever sells...

When she lost weight for her role as Daisy in the Dukes Of Hazard and after a photographer caught this picture they said that she had an eating disorder and was sickly skinny.


After her breakup with John Mayer, Simpson reportedly gained more weight and after much criticism she lost the weight. Her weight has not been in the spotlight until just recently when unpleasant photos were taken of her at a concert. This was one photo that caused the media to go into a frenzy.


The funny thing is that in this picture the 5'4'' singer is around 132lbs, which is the average and healthy weight for that height! I don't believe that Simpson was criticized fairly by the media, but are celebrities ever? It should be expected that she will receive bad publicity sometimes and if it hurts her feels she should try to brush it off. However, the media is sending the wrong message to young girls, who already have a hard time accepting their own body images. They are either too fat or too skinny. I think the media needs to consider their responsibility and influence over young girls before blitzing a celebrity about trifle things such as their weight.

13-year-old dad sparks controversy

The UK has the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Western Europe. So why is this young man having a child such a big deal? Probably because Alfie Patten was only 12 years old when his 15-year-old girlfriend Chantelle Steadman conceived. The couple seems ignorant of the actual necessities for raising a child. Neither has a source of income--unless you count the ten euros he receives from his father as allowance. They are oblivious to reality and actually believe that they can give this baby a "great future". As the both expect to stay in school, child-rearing will fall on their parents list of responsibilities.

Where has adolescence gone? Children are having children. Clearly children are not being sexually educated soon enough to prevent this from happening. Also, there is almost a glamour aspect to having a child. Teenagers are wanting children because it is associated with being adult, with having more freedoms and especially their own place. Teenagers should not be contemplating parenthood as CNN.com reports.

Former Conservative party leader Duncan Smith said ""It's not being accusative; it's about pointing out the complete collapse in some parts of society of any sense of what's right and wrong. There is no opprobrium any more about behavior, and quite often, children witness behavior that's aggressive, violent, rude and sexual. It's as if no one is saying this is wrong."

Teenage pregnancy should not be glamorized and education needs to be improved. These children have no idea how hard parenthood is, they don't realize its not an excuse to be treated like an adult--it takes you straight from carefree childhood into adulthood with responsibilities, bills, money worries, sleepless nights, etc. I don't know how they conduct sex education in the UK, but if their teen pregnancy rate is the highest in Western Europe they clearly need to try alternative methods of education.

FINALLY, Stimulus Bill passes

The Senate finally passed President Obama's stimulus bill for a total of $787 billion on Friday, February 13. President Obama hopes that the bill will "boost an economy in freefall with a combination of government spending and tax cuts and credits" according to CNN.com.

After several revisions to the first draft of the stimulus package, it is finally broken down as follows:
$267 billion for direct spending such as food stamps and unemployment benefits
$212 billion--possibly more-- will be aimed towards tax cuts
$120 billion towards infrastructure development--this includes road and government building repairs
$100 billion to be used towards education (improvement in school technologies and the such)
$30 billion on energy projects (this encouraged a majority of the controversy as the immediate effectiveness for economy)

When the stimulus package went to the House for a vote there was no Republican support. Not much changed when it faced the Senate for the final vote, but it did manage to swipe three Republican supporters, which was all that was needed for the bill to pass. All of the Democrats in the Senate supported the package, whereas seven in the House rejected it. The bill passed through the Senate with a final vote of 60-38.

In this article, I found it interesting that they broke down exactly how individuals will be directly affected by the package:
Individuals will receive a $400 tax credit
Couples will receive an $800 tax credit
Many students will receive a $2500 tuition tax credit
First-time home buyers may qualify for up to an $8000 tax credit
Those who receive social security will receive a one time credit of $250

Although these tax credits look nice, apparently the stimulus package is only 35% tax cuts and 65% spending. But, hopefully that spending will generate all of the things President Obama anticipates. It is still estimated that this package will create somewhere between 1-3 million new jobs.

Christian Bale's rant

I'm not sure if anyone is surprised by the recent news that Christian Bale freaked out on the set of his "Terminator" movie. Apparently, the set's director of photography Shane Hurlbut, started checking one of the lights on set when Bale lashed out. He said several curse words and even threatened that he would not come back unless Hurlbut was fired because Bale says he was unable to concentrate. Bale used very explicit language when trashing Hurlbut. But, he has apologized and he is only human. Everyone has their diva moments; it just so happens that Bale's was accidentally caught on camera.


People need to give him a break. Just because he is a celebrity does not mean that he is any less human or any less emotional than the rest of us. He apologized and admitted that he acted in an unacceptable manner, so in my opinion, that says more about his character than a lot of other celebrities who lash out and NEVER apologize (aka Naomi Campbell).

Cannibalism in Russia

I know this seems like a strange topic and trust me it didn't just pop into my mind. Yesterday during my Adolescent Literature class, we were discussing the Grimms brother fairy tales and what moral or warning they wanted to convey to children. One of the guys shouted out "stranger danger", the teacher laughed and then went on to say that the fairy tales are telling children not only to watch out for strangers, but not to take food from them, lie in bed with them, etc.

My teacher is a pretty creative mind and her thoughts dash from one topic to another. For some reason, one of the fairy tales we were reading reminded her of an article that she read.

Earlier in January a young teenage schoolgirl went missing. It was later found out that she was lured into the apartment of two boys she knew. The boys were only a couple years older than the girl. After bringing her inside they somehow drowned her in their bathtub and then cut out her organs and ate them. The only reason the boys are giving for murdering the girl is that they were simply hungry. As if they couldn't walk to a grocery store?

My teacher went on to say that she believes one of the boys was a butcher and the other was a florist. Word-of-mouth stories get mixed up a lot, and I cannot guarantee factuality of the story, but what is important to take from this is that cannibalism is not against the law in Russia.

My teacher ended our discussion by saying that it is not only stranger danger that one needs to be aware of, but also be cautious of friends that might eat you because they are hungry.

Octuplets' mom

CNN reports that Nadya Suleman had eight babies after taking fertility treatments. Sule man already had six children at home before going in for the fertility treatments. The main conflict in this story that is causing much controversy is the fact that while Suleman went in for the fertility treatments, she did not have a stable income and she was living at home with her parents.

Suleman believes that the controversy over the matter is the fact that she is a single mom (all of the children have the same biological father, who donated sperm). However, the real problem lies in her ability to support the children. Suleman who claimed that she only ever wanted children should not have gone in for fertility treatments (I'm assuming using government money because a single mom without a job would most likely not be able to afford these costly procedures)when she already had six children at home that she was unable to take care of without the governments help.


I believe that because Suleman was unable to financially support her first six children the fertility treatments should have been denied. What kind of life does she plan on offering her fourteen children? The question that might be more appropriate is what kind of life can the government provide for these fourteen children? I believe Suleman, like many others, is taking advantage of the system.

I cannot offer any suggestions for improvement in the government to prevent this type of situation from occurring, but if a woman who already has six kids and then implants eight more with in vitro fertilization, why won't the government help a married couple that don't have any children?

Editorial for JMC425

The declining economy weighs heavily on the shoulders of every American. We voted for a president that promised change and we should expect nothing short of outside-the-box creative solutions to problems that seem to be bursting that box to shreds. The unemployment rate was at its lowest point in the year of 2008 than at any other time since World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost and savings diminished, while the economy shifted lower and the nation’s deficit grew higher. President Barack Obama’s solution is the $825 billion stimulus package, called the President’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. President Obama says this package will boost America out of the current recession. The stimulus package is not about satisfying one single party over another; it is about pacifying our nation’s economy by creating jobs, offering tax cuts and supporting alternative energy sources among many other things.

The stimulus package promises the creation of millions of jobs and long-term growth for the economy. The common misconception is that tax cuts are the only answer for immediate relief. Some Republicans suggest that tax cuts should account for more than the allotted $275 billion. While tax cuts are guaranteed and do immediately relieve the economy, tax cuts are a short term solution. Tax cuts do not offer jobs to the millions of unemployed. Tax cuts do not benefit the future growth of our nation. Tax cuts are necessary, but only in combination with the creation of jobs, infrastructure development, investments in healthcare computerization, improvement in school technology and training, and modernization of federal buildings and homes.
Although we cannot completely depend on the government to fix the entirety of our country’s problems, we must rely and trust in the government to provide a short-term boost that will lift us from this severe recession and give Americans the confidence to make the changes that will provide long-term benefits.

The President’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is a blank slate, a fresh start. Our country is at a low point but we do not have to stay between the rock of rising unemployment and the hard spot of our economy. This is a considerable amount of money and it will add to the budget deficit in the short-term. But, if nothing is done jobs will continue to deplete and incomes will dissipate along with the pride of our country. The American people have called for change and President Obama has provided our nation with an opportunity. With this stimulus package, President Obama has provided us with the opportunity to stand up and re-claim our spot as one of the most enviable countries.

Republican's criticism of stimulus bill

Republicans are questioning the overall effectiveness and price of Obama's stimulus package. As the result of House Republican insistence, a calculation was made determining the overall price of the stimulus package including interest to pay the borrowed money back. The "actual" cost of the bill would be around $1.2 trillion including the $347 billion in interest.

I was quick to criticize the Republicans for being, it seemed, close-minded, but it is important to admire their criticism of the bill from all aspects--especially since they don't feel they were able to share their input in crafting the bill. Republicans have said that they feel left out, and although they know the bill is going to pass regardless, they want answers and are unhappy about being pressured into voting on such a huge amount of money.

Both parties want what is best for the country, however, the problem lies in agreeing on the same solution.

For a look at the current economic recovery report click here.

To glance over President Obama's economic agenda click here

Stimulus bill passed by House

As stated in this article , Obama hoped to receive bipartisan support for the bill regarding the economic stimulus package. Although no Republicans voted in favor of the bill (and 11 Democrats also voted against it), Obama is not giving up. In order for this bill to be passed in the Senate, Democrats must all vote in favor and rally support from at least two Republicans.

Republicans offered their amendment, which would include more tax cuts and less spending. This amendment was voted down.

One thing that the two parties are agreeing on is that something has to be done and it needs to be done fast. Both the Republican and Democrat parties want to get the final bill to President Obama before President's Day in February.

Daily Briefings

President Obama is dedicated to his new economic plan. He has requested that he receive daily briefings because he sees the economy in a state of crisis. These daily economic briefings will be led by White House adviser Larry Summers, who is the head of the president's National Economic Council.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/22/gibbs.presser/index.html

Obama encourages hope for bleak economy

Americans watch with desperate hope as the economy grows dimmer and dimmer. Some pray that President Barack Obama is the answer to our nation's problems, but while his ideas are innovative, Republicans criticize that even his creative plans can’t remedy the seriously bleak economy. Obama plans to focus his strategies on solutions that will not only solve one problem but several, such as unemployment, the economic situation and global warming studies.


Obama sees the economy and unemployment rate as “a bad situation” that “could become dramatically worse” without urgent action. Obama wants an $825 billion stimulus package to give the economy a boost. This would include adding 3,000 miles of electric lines, in efforts to transport an alternative energy source. Obama says that this plan could save taxpayers $2 billion by making federal buildings energy efficient and would save American families on average over $300 on their energy bills. Obama seeks to put more money into science grants to inspire innovation. Obama’s plan would create an estimated 4 million jobs in the next two years.

It seems Obama wants to put money into the economy to create more jobs to relieve the rising unemployment rate, make the nations buildings and homes more energy efficient to save taxpayers money in the long-run and he wants to inspire and reward creative thinking among college students to expand their knowledge to find better solutions to these problems in the future. In my opinion, this plan offers solutions to several different problems, but I am not an economist or a Republican. So I have neither the experience to completely assure that this plan will be as effective as Obama assures, and I also am not stuck inside a box thinking there could only ever be one solution to each and every problem. Tax cuts are not always the answer and they certainly won’t solve the devastation of our economic situation, but that is exactly what Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers offers as a resolution. Tax cuts and balancing the budget is her simple answer to the complex equation of our economy.

I think some Republicans may have a case of temporary tunnel vision, but after Obama’s plan is put into action and starts to boost the economy and create more jobs, as promised, they will be just as thankful as everyone else. There are several things I admire about President Barack Obama, but at the very top of the list is his honesty and sincerity. He truly wants to help the nation rise up and he wants us to know what he is doing to make that possible along every step of the way. I don’t see how Republicans can criticize his plan after promising full accountability for government spending. President Obama wants to create a website to show Americans how and where each dollar is being spent.

While I was unsure of my final thoughts for Bush, I can wholeheartedly say that I have faith in Barack Obama’s inventiveness to help this country succeed.

Will Bush be vindicated?

Every American seems to have several things to say about Bush’s presidency but I am not too sure that the majority of the thoughts spoken would be positive. Tara Wall, who is deputy editor for The Washington Times and a contributor to CNN, suggests that Bush will be remembered for “keeping America safe”. In my opinion, those are hardly the passion-filled remarks and attitudes shared by the discouraged and disappointed citizens of the U.S. The nearer the end to his presidency came, the more vocal people became about their feelings of disgust regarding his dealings with the war, the economy, among many other policies. Although I am not supportive of President Bush’s last term in office, I remind myself that he is only one man and people make mistakes. I wish people would be more forgiving towards him. I am not saying that everyone has to like or agree with him, however, I wish that, like Wall proposes, people could respect his efforts.

Facebook Mania

What is the hype about Facebook? Why is everyone suddenly so interested in becoming socially connected? While I wish I never created a Facebook profile, it cannot be undone. Obviously, I wasn't too anxious to heed my professors' advice on how Facebook profiles, pictures, comments, about me, interests, and groups among other things, can be damaging to future job opportunities. After graduation I will reluctantly delete my Facebook profile. But in the meantime this is a humorous video (that I wanted to share--courtesy of YouTube user Happy Slip) about the new obsession that pretty well sums up the relationship I share with Facebook.

While browsing other students blogs, I also found this comical story about Social Networking Diseases on Kara's F.Y.I. Biweekly Zine.It is well worth your time to read if you could use a chuckle.

Hello

Just a little hello. I am new to this whole blogging idea and I'm sure it will be a curious adventure.