Thursday, December 31, 2009
In 2010 I Will...
I did that last year, and while I did accomplish wonderful things such as graduating from college, receiving a prestigious internship in the nation's capital, and being blessed enough to be offered three great jobs; In my own mind, I still fell short of what I wanted to accomplish for '09. Being a perfectionist and always having a "go super sized big or go home" mentality really takes a toll on me. When I feel like I am a loser or failure by not accomplishing a desired task, I tend to fall into depression. The antidepressant pill I take isn't a cure.
This year I am making things easier on my psyche and focusing on simpler, yet still important, goals. I am going to enjoy life and actually stop to take time and smell the roses (I know it sounds corny but it's true). I am going to take as much pleasure in the simple, sometimes taken for granted parts of life, as I do in the big successes and milestones. I rededicating myself to do a better job of showing those close to me how much I love them everyday. I will strive to continue doing the good things I do now better, such as adding more volunteering hours to my schedule, increasing my faith and spirituality by reading the word of God, and continuing to live a healthy lifestyle.
I am going to go into this blessed new year with a light heart, positive attitude, and with the knowledge that life isn't about chasing happiness and successes; life is about actually enjoying living and then those things will find you.
From my family to yours, have a very safe, prosperous, happy, love-filled new year! :)
Sincerely,
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Whoo! I Got A New Hairdo!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Prescription For Panic Rx
First, my mom thinks that just because I moved back in with them to try to better weather this recession and save money, that she gets the right to keep me confined to these four walls. When I do try to leave I find myself either assaulted by a barrage of a thousand odd questions, OR in an argument. Great options I have there. I'm 23 years old, and I lived by myself in Daytona Beach and Washington, DC!! I don't need a keeper! I have to almost sneak out to even drive to Leesburg or Orlando to meet friends or hangout. So of course it's easier to just stay in most of the time (which is what she loves) so I wind up not going out anywhere unless it's to a doctor's appointment or something else I HAVE to do, but nothing for leisure.
Yeah, I am totally going stir crazy and becoming depressed. Then, my little sister who's 18 has got this bad habit of borrowing stuff like my jewelry and my iPhone without permission of course. She thinks it's no big deal. She's extremely immature. So, it's not even worth it to argue with her over it. The most I can do is lock up my jewelry cases (which is an inconvenience when I need to get to it) and activate the passcode for my iPhone. I hope I find a job soon so maybe I can save up enough to get a condo or apartment VERY soon, because this is insane.
Sincerely,
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Are You Kidding Me??!
What an amazing example of needless spending on our Governments part. The Republicans are of course in full support of this $2.5 billion dollar project, oh but they say that ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable healthcare is a bigger waste of tax payer dollars. The Senate is expected to vote on the healthcare bill on Christmas Eve, and I am praying that they pass it. That would be a great Christmas present for so many people in this nation.
I remain hopeful that the Senate will do what's right, with gay marriage to be legalized in Washington, DC tomorrow by Mayor Fenty, and federal money going back into stem cell research, I see big signs of societal progress all around. I hope that by next week I will be able to count healthcare reform as another victory for our nation's people.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Makes Me Want To Scream
Yours Truly,
Friday, December 11, 2009
Hold Your Head Up Baby
Janet spoke about how the support of her family, along with remembering all the wonderful times she had with Michael, (or Mike, as she lovingly refers to him as) are helping her to heal. She also talked about the new book she has written about how she came to accept herself, and be happy with her body and who she is. Robin asked Janet about her weight issues that have made tabloids in the past.
Janet talked about how she's dealt with low self-esteem due to her weight gain and other body image issues. She talks about how she recently overcame the feelings of low self-worth with the help and love of her long time boyfriend Jermaine Dupri (they have broken up but Janet said they still remain very close friends), and some deep soul-searching on her part.
I can totally relate to those feelings of low self-worth. There have been times in my life, I am sad and ashamed to say, that I have let the negative way I viewed myself stop me from doing certain things. My weight has always been something I've struggled with my whole life. Trying to deal with how I feel about being overweight has even caused me to suffer bouts of deep depression.
In my head I think things like, "Gabrielle that guy is never going to like you because you're not pretty or thin enough." "Gabrielle you can't wear that dress because you're thighs are too fat." "Will people laugh at me or talk behind my back when I show up to the pool party wearing a two piece bathing suit?" This kind of thinking really takes a toll on a person.
The media, along with other stupid ass people who agree with it, constantly try to force feed this unrealistic standard of what the "perfect body" should look like. It's no wonder we pick ourselves apart when we feel like we don't make the grade. We've all felt like this at one point or another-like we're not good enough because of our bodies. And people who tell you that they haven't are straight lying to your face.
The key is to be aware that this is a problem that can destroy your life if you don't confront it. Loving yourself in this society we live in is pretty much a constant struggle from day to day. It's super important that we work on building ourselves up instead of tearing ourselves down. Beauty comes in all different shapes, forms, and sizes. We mustn't let what a few ignorant sources say determine the amount of love we have for ourselves.
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Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Just Dance
I have been dancing and performing off and on pretty much my whole life. I did ballet and took theatre from age 4 to 11. I started playing and performing in bands and recitals with the tenor saxophone, trombone, and oboe when I was 12; and I still do play the sax. I did tap from age 15 to 19.
The main point being, that I have always loved the performing arts. I am stoked to be back dancing again. Jazz dance is super stellar. The steps and moves are cool. I can't wait til our recital comes around in June (our costumes are going to be so rad too)!
Yours Truly,
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Become A Motto Citizen
What quote or words do you live by? What phrase inspires you to be the best you can be? What is your personal motto? The dictionary defines motto as a brief statement used to express a principle, goal, or ideal. That's also true, but a personal motto is more commonly defined as a saying that sums up someone's beliefs, outlook on life, or their purpose for living.
Do you have one? If you do, then great for you! When a person has a personal motto it is a good sign that they know what drives them and who they are. Developing a personal motto forces a person to look deep into themselves in order to evaluate what is important to them. Once a person chooses a motto to live by they are a lot closer to knowing what they want out of life and what makes them tick.
My personal motto is "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." This is a very famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi. It really sums up my belief on why I was put on this Earth. I was put here by God to make a positive difference on this planet. I always think of this phrase to make sure my daily conduct lines up with it. I would like to see people be kinder to one another, stand up to those who do wrong, and get involved in charity.
So these are the things that I do. I am kind to people, I call people on their wrongs and try to show them why they are wrong (although they don't always listen) to hopefully inspire them to make a positive change, and I volunteer my time to charities devoted to animals and needy families.
If you don't have a personal motto you live by, I strongly suggest that you start developing one. Reading philosophical and religious works, studying Latin sayings, and listening to positive music will help get you on your way to finding that one phrase that sums up your view of the world. Choose it carefully and thoughtfully. Once you have it, follow it as closely as you can.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Ciao!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
I've Found The Cure To Growing Older
I don't care about making lots of money, and I am certainly not going to do something just because I can. I have to actually want to do the job, I need to feel like I am making a positive impact on my work environment and society, and I have to actually look forward to getting work each day. I want a job that I wake up each morning and get excited because I get to go to work. I know that job is out there for me, and I am determined to find it. My parents have been super supportive of me while I try and figure out the next career move in my life, and it has kept me encouraged.
I submitted a resume, cover letter, and an application to work as a patient representative and advocate in Ocala. I also applied to be a court liaison for a nonprofit that works with children in foster care who need to be adopted. I have an interview for the former on December 2nd. I'll let you know how it goes of course.
Sent from my iPhone
Sincerely,
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Countin' Them Down!
The Perfect Thanksgiving Poem
More Than A Day
As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,
It brings up some facts, quite profound.
We may think that we're poor,
Feel like bums, insecure,
But in truth, our riches astound.
We have friends and family we love;
We have guidance from heaven above.
We have so much more
Than they sell in a store,
We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.
So add up your blessings, I say;
Make Thanksgiving last more than a day.
Enjoy what you've got;
Realize it's a lot,
And you'll make all your cares go away.
-By Karl Fuchs
Sincerely,
Monday, November 23, 2009
Make Light of It
Janet Jackson's 2009 AMA Performance
Jennifer Lopez's fall at the 2009 AMA Awards
Lady Gaga's 2009 AMA Performance
Ciao!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Every Dog Has Its Holiday
Ciao!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
2AM Thoughts
Now doing a complete 360 on topic, let me just say that I so love the holiday season. I love decorating, eggnog, and festive music and celebrations. But, you know something that really annoys me about the holiday season, all the extra junk mail in my mailbox. Around this time my mailbox always gets bombarded with catalogs and magazines and advertisements from almost every store on the planet. It is so annoying.
I checked the mail yesterday and as soon as I opened it 5 catalogs from Gap, some shoe store I had never even heard of, Fossil, H&M, and Kmart fell out. I only get all that shit this time of year. I am not one of those people who goes crazy and buys tons of stuff I don't need from tons of stores just because it's the holidays. Imagine how much better people's finances would be at the beginning of the new year if they just shopped normally around Christmas.
Black Friday shows just how much we Americans love to overdo it. Instead of people remembering the real reasons for the season (i.e. Jesus, family time, togetherness, charity, etc.), they focus on material stuff that doesn't last or matter. The holidays are so commercial now it's sickening. Well, I guess that's capitalism for you.
Sent from my iPhone
Friday, November 13, 2009
Merry-Go-Round
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How Far We Sunk
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Good vs. Evil?
But the more I have been thinking about it lately, maybe there is some validity to it. Maybe that is why the friends and family of people who commit heinous crimes can say that the person is usually kind, sweet, nice, a good person, etc. Maybe the friends and family weren't there to observe the person while they were going through a rough time or a bad situation.
For example, let's look at the accused Ft. Hood gunman, Major Nidal Hasan, by all accounts from his family and close friends he was a stand up guy who was usually mild-mannered and polite. So what could make him do something so terribly out of his character as to kill 13 fellow soldiers? There have been numerous reports that said that Hasan was being...harassed if you will, because of his religion or views on Islam. Maybe his family and friends didn't see the toll that this situation was putting on Hasan? Maybe the situation pushed him too far? Maybe he was a good guy in a bad situation who lacked the proper social skills to cope with conflict?
In NO WAY am I taking up for what he did. It was a very disgraceful, hateful, hurtful, terrible, and destructive act. I have family serving in the armed forces so I was shocked and emotional hurt by the Ft. Hood incident. I am just someone who thinks a lot and tries to look at all angles and sides of an issue before I make my final judgement. It just seems that if people were either good or bad by design then we should be able to spot the bad apples sooner (i.e. before they commit a mass killing) since they would have always been doing bad deeds.
Let's look at a more mild scenario, a loyal wife and friend who happens to cheat on her husband. She's been emotionally and physically loyal to him for say 10 years, but then he gets a new job that requires him to travel and not be home as often. The wife gets lonely feeling more emotionally and physically distant from her husband, and looks for some extra companionship. You can't argue she was always a slut because she has obviously been loyal to him for 10 years. Is the situation to blame here? Maybe she wouldn't have had an affair if her husband hadn't gotten the new job that keeps him away a lot? Someone certainly could make that argument.
I mean, it's no secret that things that happen to us in our life sometimes change who we are and how we react to the world around us. A woman who repeatedly gets cheated on by men she dates might learn to not trust men, and therefore become a person who is more doubtful of others and their intentions. A person who was once optimistic about the world and life might have a change of heart after a very bad or traumatic event takes place in their life. They could become a very cynical individual. I know I have had situations and experiences change me, and I have seen it happen to others countless times. But could a situation really change someone enough to where it could make them kill? And if so, are we all just a negative interaction or bad circumstance away from becoming someone we would never want to be?
I am still not 100% sure of this theory about situations determining a person's behavior rather than vice versa. But it is definitely worth thinking about so I am putting it out here to you all.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Make Or Break Me
And if you haven't had to grapple with these questions yet, you will. And when it comes time to make the decision, I hope that for at least the sake of your sanity, you choose to do what you have always known to be right. As human beings we seem to have a tendency to always want to believe that once we make it to the big league and land that perfect job we will be happy and life will be perfect. Unfortunately, that is so not the case.
I guess the point I am trying to make here is that I have found out the hard way that no amount of success or "great opportunity" is worth my happiness, emotional, mental, or physical health, or my values. I have learned that any gains from compromising are usually not permanent, and if they are, then the scars that you will have to show for it probably won't be worth it in the end. Is all I know for sure is that I am back home in Florida (where I have always belonged), hanging with my family and true friends, minus roommates, blogging on my own terms, free to share my political views, without a business Blackberry, pretty much stress free, and going to the beach often; and I couldn't be happier.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
This Is It
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, October 15, 2009
You Can Read Me Like A Book
1. Amelia Bedelia
2. The Baby-Sitter's Club
3. Dr. Seuss
4.Sweet Valley Twins
5.Clearwater Crossing
Oh, and the play I went to see at Ford's Theater was called "Black Pearl Sings." It was a perfect balance of comedy, tragedy, triumph, and music. It was touching and I would recommend it for anyone who is a fan of good theater productions. I am going to try to give you a little bit of a synopsis of it without telling too much. Pearl is an African American woman with a golden voice who is imprisoned in the South. All Pearl wants is to find her daughter. She meets a woman named Susana who records old African American spirituals and songs for the Library of Congress. Pearl and Susana team up and form a friendship bond all their own. It is a wonderful play. Now, get up and go see it!
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I Guess This Is Growing Up
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Monday, September 28, 2009
10 Things I Have Learned About Living In DC
2. The shopping here is only second to NY, in my opinion.
3. It can easily be 63 in the morning and 81 by a little after noon.
4. Don't let it's appearance fool you, Cleveland Park has the best sports bars.
5.Seeing sexy men in business suits are as common as seeing street lamps, concrete sidewalks, and street vendors.
6. This city never sleeps.
7. You seriously get blackballed in this town if you don't have a Blackberry or iPhone.
8. A $39 week pass is more economical than using a Smart trip to go everywhere.
9. Things are generally more expensive here, but if you look then you can run across great bargains.
10. Manners don't have as much a place here as they do in the South.
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Rushing to Catch Ourself
This 23rd birthday was a milestone for me. Not only did I celebrate it here in DC, but I also realized that life moves so fast and it's real. I always knew those to be true before, but the weight of life and what's next just hit me like a rock. I had always been sheltered by my parents and school. Now, I am out here as an adult college graduate and completely by myself. It's a very humbling and scary feeling.
I remember when I was 17, and I would ways say that I can't wait to be done with school and out living my own exciting life. Well, that time is here. I am enjoying life very much, but I do often long for the simplicity and guaranteed stability that being young, in school, and living with mom and dad brings. What fools we are to try to wish life away. Enjoy each chapter of life and live it to the fullest. Plan for the future but, don't long for the future.
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Thursday, September 24, 2009
Homesick
They won't know I have been absent for months. But I do imagine that if me walking out the front door to talk to my neighbor for 10 minutes seems like a lifetime to them (and it must because everytime I would step out momentarily and return, they would act like they hadn't seen me for 30 years lol), then 4 months must seem like an eternity. I am going home to visit in October though:) I also go home for Thanksgiving for 5 days. After Thanksgiving I only have like 3 weeks left of my internship. I miss my family and friends a lot too, but I raised my animals and I am their primary care taker, so I really have a special attachment to them. My family is doing their best to fill in for me in my absence, and they assure me that the animals still play and are adjusting to me being gone better and better each day. I just really miss them, their sweet faces, and the unconditional love and comfort they give. I can't wait to get back to see my babies.
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Confessions of a Shopaholic
The restaurant was very nice and upscale, with pretty decent prices considering the ritzy area we were in. I also love how part of it is just open and the breeze is able to blow through. And of course, no shopping trip would be complete without a stop at Starbucks. I broke down and temporarily dissed my diet for a double fudge cupcake. It was so worth the guilt later though. I did drink water with the cupcake, so no calories there lol. Anyways, We had a fabulous time, and are planning on making that a twice a month thing. Hey, we work hard so we deserve to shop hard every once in awhile. Every gal does;)
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Saturday, September 12, 2009
With Love
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Sunday, September 6, 2009
Zoom Zoom Zoom
about starting work on Tuesday! People in the city walk EVERYWHERE! No need for a treadmill here lol. I am seriously going to have the best legs for a Christmas present lol.
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Suga's Been Flyin'!
I have finally made it safely to DC. I am at a great hotel called The Legacy. Getting here was a friggin' hoot, let me tell ya. From a long ass line to check my bags at OIA to a more than 2 hour delay because of a severe lightning storm. My first plane tide went well. I flew JetBlue and they were great. I ofcourse had to speak with the pilots because I was freaking out when we were boarding. Them and the flight crew were so nice to me and reassuring. I was almost totally relaxed during the ride. I watched Family Guy on the TV in the headrest in front of me like the whole time. I also listened to Michael Jackson on the ride. There was some mild to moderate turbulance, but it never lasted too long. Thank God. Our flight was supposed to be 2 hours, but our pilots got us here in an hour and a half. I even earned my wings:) I made a new friend named Anne in the chauffeured car that drove me to my hotel. She told me about all the hot spots here in DC. I can't
wait to go to the outdoor jazz picnic concerts. The shops and boutiques are cute in this area. I shall go and explore them tomorrow;) Anyways, I am sooo thankful to finally be in DC after months of preparation and the busiest week of my life leading up to today. I can't to start this new journey in a new land, and I feel so blessed to have made it here:)
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Ted Kennedy: An American Great
Kennedy was recently honored by President Barack Obama with a Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Senator Kennedy was the third longest-serving senator in U.S. history. Kennedy emerged as a central figure in the 2008 presidential campaign, boosting Obama's candidacy by endorsing the rookie Illinois senator over former first lady Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination.
As a sponsor of landmark legislation including the Civil Rights Commission Act Amendments and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Senator Kennedy worked his entire career to secure a higher quality of life for men and women with disabilities. Making sure everyone had access to a high-quality education – particularly the most disadvantaged – was a major legislative priority for Senator Kennedy throughout his career in the United States Senate. Senator Kennedy believed that civil rights remain America’s great unfinished business, and he had a major role in every civil rights battle in Congress for the past half century.
He attended President Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration despite being severely ill, only to collapse at an inaugural luncheon for the new president the same day. He made his final public appearance in Washington in April, joining Mr. Obama at the White House for the signing of a national service bill named in his honour. As he neared death in recent weeks, Kennedy remained a key Obama ally on the President's primary domestic issue – helping craft legislation intended to produce the most dramatic reforms to the U.S. health-care system in decades. Kennedy called the healthcare reform the summation of his life's work in Congress. I think that the passing of the healthcare reform would be the best way for Kennedy's colleagues to honor his memory.
This man has given so much to our country. We owe him a huge debt. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends during this time of mourning.
"Every American should have the opportunity to receive a quality education, a job that respects their dignity and protects their safety, and health care that does not condemn those whose health is impaired to a lifetime of poverty and lost opportunity."-Senator Ted Kennedy
Where's Waldo?...And Elvis, Tupac, and MJ?
Daily Commercial+Me=More Fame for Me
Sunday, August 23, 2009
My Article! :D
AND the article was also run in the Baltimore Sun: http://tiny.cc/Lmx1f
Friday, August 21, 2009
Run Me Around Town.
*Sidenote: Btw, I have been so disgusted with all the "news" and weird "facts" and stuff the papers and news channels have been reporting on Michael Jackson. Now all of a sudden, after the man is dead and no longer here to defend himself, there are all these strange characters coming from only God knows where, claiming everything from that they have had a homosexual encounter with the late popstar, to MJ was taking 40 Xanax pills each night before bedtime. Yeah. Because we all know that if you take 40 of ANY pill you'll be waking up the next morning (total sarcasm at work there). *Gabby rolls eyes* People are obviously trying to cash in on his freak persona that the media has created. It's so sad that even after a person is dead, they can still be drug through the dirt and ostracized. People just need to leave this Black man and his family alone; and let him be buried and rest in peace finally.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Read All About Me!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Welcome to America, Where Ignorance Reigns Supreme.
Who the hell wouldn't want socialized healthcare? Why is making a public option for healthcare so bad in the eyes of Conservatives???! The reason is because most of them are ignorant and only do what corporations and the rich Repubs. on Capitol Hill tell them to do. They research nothing themselves. Their sources of information are people like Bill O'Reilly (who recently said that allowing gay marriage would lead to marriage between humans and turtles. Yeah.) and Ann Coulter (who said that racism and racial profiling doesn't exist because 8 BILLION traffic studies proved it.)
Conservatives idolize people like these along with Sarah Palin because they allow them to continue to believe that their deepest fears and beliefs are valid. (By the way, Sarah Palin advocated for 'death panels' when she was mayor of Wasilla, but has done an astonishing 360 degrees since Obama's healthcare plan has started to come into play. By the way, Obama's healthcare plan would do nothing to promote or create the dreaded 'death panels.' It's just a silly rumor put out in the public to try to discredit the Obama Administration's efforts.)
Republican/Conservative is synonymous with some type of bigotry. Racism, homophobia, xenophobia, sexism, ageism, classism, ethnocentrism, sizism, religious intolerance, etc.; Conservatives exhibit one or more of these traits. They like to think this way because they don't want to know the truth. Not paying attention to facts is what allows them to continue to live in their fantasy world where they are the "perfect" beings.
What I find to be the most ironic about the stance of Conservatives on healthcare reform is that those who are opposing it the hardest, are actually the ones who would benefit the most from it. All these big and loud protest at town hall meetings and outside Democratic politician offices are just plain stupidity. It's obvious that these people have been put up to this by their Republican politicians in D.C. and on the state level. They believe everything that is force fed to them by greedy capitalistic companies, and lying Republicans in Congress who are seeking recognition from helping to defeat the first Black President's major domestic policy goal.
Most of the ones protesting against healthcare reform are the ones who fear that they will lose the little piece of shit coverage they have with Medicare and Medicaid (it's weird how Conservatives claim to hate ALL form of social welfare until you threaten to take it away...they are the ones who use it the most!).
First off, I didn't see anyone protesting against Obama when he signed the first part of the healthcare reform that forces pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers to help close the doughnut hole in seniors' Medicare Part D over the next decade. The new reform would automatically close that gap!! It's a no-brainer. Medicaid and Medicare are practically bankrupt as it is. Why do you think that they force you to play $4,700 of your own money before they will cover you??!
The reform would just give people who have jobs that don't offer healthcare coverage an option to get it. 43 million people in this country don't have health insurance. That is a social problem because it contributes to high mortality rates and the spreading of infectious diseases. Private providers wouldn't be shut down or run out of town, because the plan would put public and private providers on the same page as far as coverage for price. The Government would not make anyone take the public plan either. A person can choose to keep the same doctors and insurer they have always had if they so choose to.
Most of the people who they interview at the anti-healthcare reform rallies look like they stepped right off the cover of Uneducated Trailer Trash Today in the U.S.A. It's obvious they have just taken the rumor mill and run with it. What makes me so mad is that they don't even try to learn the facts. They are extremely irrational on ALL levels. Not to mention that our President is Black, so that is even more of a reason for them to oppose him. They are really wrecking a good thing for America and society for all the wrong reasons. There is NO logical reason to be against this reform. EVERYONE will benefit no matter what class, sex, religion, race, etc.
Well, look at how Conservatives feel about gun control. They wreck a good thing everytime they oppose stricter laws on gun purchasing and ownership. There is irony at work again: it's their children who get shot and blown up at schools and shopping malls because of the lack of gun control, but yet they claim they want safe schools while still continuing to support lenient gun laws. I swear, being a Conservative is like being a walking contradiction; and is all they're walking on is broken glass.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
iRock the iPhone
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Presidential Medal of Freedom
"This is a chance for me and for the United States of America to say thank you to some of the finest citizens of this country and of all countries," Obama told the audience assembled for the ceremony at the White House. "At a moment when cynicism and doubt too often prevail, when our obligations to one another are too often forgotten, when the road ahead can seem too long or hard to tread, these extraordinary men and women, these agents of change, remind us that excellence is not beyond our abilities, that hope lies around the corner and that justice can still be won in the forgotten corners of this world," the president said.
The 16 honored at the ceremony Wednesday afternoon were:
- Nancy Goodman Brinker: The death of her sister from breast cancer prompted Brinker to found Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which has grown to become the world's leading breast cancer grass-roots organization.
- Pedro José Greer Jr.: Among the many hats Greer wears, he is the founder of Camillus Health Concern, an agency that provides medical care to more than 10,000 homeless patients every year in Miami, Florida.
- Stephen Hawking: The internationally recognized theoretical physicist has spent his career making complex scientific concepts accessible to the layman, including penning the best-selling book "A Brief History of Time" and its updated version, "A Briefer History of Time."
- Jack Kemp: The quarterback-turned-politician was honored posthumously for the years he spent, leading up to his death in May, raising awareness of and encouraging development in underserved communities.
- Sen. Edward Kennedy: During his 46 years as a lawmaker, Kennedy has called health care reform the "cause of his life," championing nearly every health care bill enacted by Congress in the past five decades. However, Kennedy missed Wednesday's ceremony because of his ongoing battle with brain cancer, the White House said. His sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who died Tuesday, received the Medal of Freedom in 1984 from President Reagan.
- Billie Jean King: With her victory over Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match in 1973, and in the years since, King has champion gender equality not only in sports but in all areas of public life.
- The Rev. Joseph Lowery: With the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights icon co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a leading civil rights organization, and has continued to highlight the cause worldwide, including speaking out forcefully against apartheid in South Africa until its end in 1994.
- Joe Medicine Crow-High Bird: The last living Plains Indian war chief and author of seminal works in Native American history is also the last person alive to have received direct oral testimony from a participant in the Battle of the Little Bighorn: his grandfather, a scout for Gen. George Custer.
- Harvey Milk: The first openly gay person elected into office in a major U.S. city, Milk is revered as a pioneer of the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender civil rights movement. He was honored posthumously.
- Sandra Day O'Connor: At a time when women rarely entered the legal profession, O'Connor graduated Stanford Law School third in her class and went on to become the first woman ever to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Sidney Poitier: The first African-American to win a Best Actor Academy Award, Poitier also broke ground by insisting that the crew in one of his films be at least 50 percent African-American and by starring in the first mainstream movie portraying interracial marriage as acceptable.
- Chita Rivera: The winner of two Tony Awards, Rivera was also the first Hispanic to receive the Kennedy Center Honor, awarded annually for exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts.
- Mary Robinson: Since ending her term as the first female president of Ireland, Robinson has headed Realizing Rights, an initiative that ensures that human rights is not forgotten as nations chart a course toward globalization.
- Janet Davison Rowley: Her work on chromosome abnormalities in human leukemia and lymphoma has led to dramatically improved survival rates for previously incurable cancers.
- Desmond Tutu: An Anglican archbishop and a leading anti-apartheid activist, Tutu is widely regarded as "South Africa's moral conscience" and chaired the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission when it was created in 1995 to discover and reveal past wrongdoing.
- Muhammad Yunus: A Bangladeshi economist and winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Yunus pioneered the use of micro-loans to provide credit to the poor without collateral, a successful model that has been emulated worldwide.
"They remind us that we each have it within our powers to fulfill dreams, to advance the dreams of others and to remake the world for our children," The President said.
I am happy that the people who were honored were chosen and given national recognition for their work. They are all extraordinary, and exceptional people. They are trailblazers in areas of human welfare and health, civil rights and equality, academia, sports, politics, and the performing arts. They are a great group of leaders, and we should all strive to be like them and make a positive impact on our society and influence the world.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
My Favorite Things
Sunshine on lilies and whiskers on kittens
White pearly necklaces and soft chairs for sittin'
Pretty pink things all laced up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Sweet smelling perfumes and tasty cherry fillings
Rainbows and hair bows and starry like ceilings
Sapphire, amethyst, and ruby red rings
These are a few of my favorite things
Boys in white dress shirts with button up collars
Entertaining books written by wonderful authors
Splendorous winters full of glorious things
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.
Monday, August 10, 2009
All Bark With No Bite
People tend to use social networking sites and forums as a way to create a whole new persona. Now, I am obviously a blogger, so I am all for using technology as a voice to carry a message out into the world. Sometimes people who are shy share their thoughts and feelings better that way. The Internet also gives you an opportunity to reach more people.
However, I only support positive messages. So if you happen to be one of those low life, disrespectful, scummy little pieces of sh*t that promote hate and animosity or start drama over the Internet, a little advice: If you wouldn't have the balls to talk your shit in person, then just do the world a favor by keeping your sick thoughts to yourself. It's so obvious that you just use the computer to hide behind because you know you would get your lily ass kicked if you voiced your thoughts in person, which makes you look all the more pathetic.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
That Really Grinds My Gears>_<
1.) I wish people with those stupid McCain/Palin stickers on their cars would take them off already. They look like idiots. Did you not get the message that they lost??! Obama is president for the next four years at least, so get over it and quit living in the past. I live in Florida so I see these stickers and buttons quite often. Obama took FL in the election by the way, but it is still the South. Well, I guess I can't expect too much here since some Southerners are apparently still devastated over the Confederate losing the Civil War; as evident by the number of rebel flags and plates I see while driving down the road. Sawrry baby, but you lost again. :)
2.) I wish girls would quit wearing those super thin AE and AERO graphic screen tee shirts that you can see right through. You can tell what color and design their bra is the shirt is so thin. The chicks look so trashy in them.
3.) Spandex doesn't look good on anyone-period. No matter what size, shape, color, make, model, year you are... just stay away from it. Simple as that.
4.) I wish people would stop depending on Fox (Faux ) News for their political information. Their representation of current events and information is skewed and purposely misleading at best. They represent irresponsible journalism and bias/prejudice reporting to the T. That's why only Republicans watch it.
5.) I hate how no one seems to have manners anymore. I think it's horrible that people showing such common courtesy like saying please and thank you, or holding the door open for someone like 2 inches behind them, has become a rarity in this day in age. The other day I was in the grocery store line and this middle aged woman decides that instead of saying "Excuse me, may I please get through," she would just slide all up on me, and try to squeeze her way through literally a 5 inch space between me and a display case of meat.
Her back totally hugged my stomach and she just pretended like it didn't happen! I was thinking, "I know now that she's so obviously touched me she's going to say sorry now at least." NOPE. Was everyone raised in a dang barn?? I stood there for a couple of minutes totally stunned. I just watched the lady walk down the isle and turn the corner. She didn't even care! I think that people should have to take mandatory etiquette classes to get a driver's license or something, because peoples' lack of consideration for others has gotten way out of hand in this society.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Sing Out Loud!
(Verse 1)
I'm the life of the party
So contagious
All the boys wanna catch me
But I'm just playin'
(Verse 2)
Now I Believe In Miracles
And A Miracle
Has Happened Tonight
(Chorus 1)
Forever, and ever, you'll stay in my heart
and I will love you
Forever, and ever, we never will part
Oh, how I love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me.
(Verse 3)
You were the sweetest thing that I ever knew
But I don't care for sugar honey if I can't have you
Since you've abandoned me My whole life has crashed
Won't you pick the pieces up
Cause it feels just like I'm walking on broken glass
(Verse 4)
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame
The shame, the ones who died without a name
(Chorus 2)
Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
(Answers: Verse 1 is from Saving Jane's Supergirl. Verse 2 is from Michael Jackson's Black or White. Chorus 1 is from Aretha Franklin's I Say A Little Prayer for You. Verse 3 is from Annie Lenox's Walking on Broken Glass. Verse 4 is from Green Day's Holiday. Finally, chorus 2 is from Beyonce's Single Ladies. )
How did you do?! :)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Let My People Go!
In June, they were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in a North Korean prison camp for committing the "hostile" act of illegally entering a rogue nation before being pardoned. Ling and Lee were in the country illegally in the first place to film a documentary about North Korean women being trafficked into China for the sex trade for Al Gore's Current TV.
Months of preparation and negotiations went into Bill Clinton's "surprise" visit. After all, he is the highest-profile U.S. official to visit the region in almost ten years. Clinton and the White House have reported that Clinton's visit was purely a humanitarian effort, despite some claims made by media that Clinton carried a message from President Obama. There has been speculation that Clinton also spoke about the country's nuclear program with Kim Jong-il. State-run media described Clinton's landmark trip to Pyongyang as resulting in rare talks with reclusive Kim Jong Il that were "wide-ranging" and "exhaustive."
I don't believe that North Korea's nuclear program was a major topic of talk, if at all. Clinton was there to free the journalists and that was his main objective. The situation was already delicate and Bill Clinton's wife, Secretary of Sate Hillary Clinton, had worked hard to separate the case of the journalists from the world wide condemnation of Korea's nuclear ambitions. I believe had he brought up the nukes issues on this trip, then the journalist would not be home now.
The US Administration had recently changed its rhetoric in discussing the case and said it was seeking amnesty rather than an acknowledgment from the North Korean Government that the women had been wrongly arrested. The North Koreans said Mr Clinton, who was acting in an "unofficial capacity," offered an apology on behalf of the women. However, US officials said he made no apology for the conduct of the journalists. The White House made it clear that Mr Clinton’s journey was ‘‘not in any way’’ linked to the nuclear issue
I am hopeful that this success story can lead to the United States and the Korean Government having a better relationship. I hope that trust of eachother and a better understanding of eachother's point of view will be developed on both sides. The trip also brings light to former President Bill Clinton's history as an exemplary diplomat. I think a lot of people lost sight of that when they started focusing on other irrelevant stuff like his affair.
The truth is, Bill is a hell of a unifier and humanitarian. Clinton won an award from NFID for his work to promoting AIDS treatment and prevention in the developing world. If Obama's as smart as I think he is, then this trip was just the first of several diplomatic trips Clinton will make on behalf of the U.S. The right thing to do would be to make Bill a U.S. diplomat. If anyone is capable of helping to greatly improve the U.S. 's tarnished image (we have the Bush Administration to thank for that), it's Bill Clinton. He would serve as an extremely valuable asset to the Obama Administration.