PS3 sales are down

PLay station 3 is tanking while XBOX 360 Sales stay steady, and WII Sales are shooting through the roof. Any thoughts?!

Rob Lacey

India gears up for air-strikes against pakistan

This is just gonna be anothier crusade against terrorism that will fuel an outbreak of even more terrorism in India.

Rob Lacey-

Obama 08

this year the people of the United States of america has made history. We needed a change and now we got it. Barack obama is now my president and yours. The key to obama and his sucessis that he has the same people that clinton had when he was in office. so good choices will be made.
obama will do a good job because he will focus on in house issues. Why focus so much on foreign countries when everything is not right in your own house. How can you help foreign people, when u got people in your country struggle just as well. that where we are falling apart. we pay millions to help other countries, when the people you share land with needs assistants as well. you got to worry about your house first. and that is where obama comes in, because he is more interested in us the US people the taxpayers of this country. Why give a man a fish when u teach a man how to fish.

US troops should Leave Iraq in 2011

Its a done deal. the country's Council of Representatives had ratified a controversial security agreement that requires American troops to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. Shrugging off heated arguments about "national sovereignty," Iraq's lawmakers finally moved to redefine the country's relationship with the United States.
After months of negotiations and political theater, the two nations have an agreement that calls for U.S. troop withdrawal as well as establishes a framework for bilateral cooperation in the years ahead.

Rehab

Actress tara reid goes to rehab, probably for an alcohol problem.

Gas cheaper.

Even though gas is so cheap, its seems that i now make more trip to fill up now. could this be menital thing since gas is cheap i can drive alot more. When gas was 3.99 i would fill up once a week and itll last the whole week. nowi fill up twice a week. so really im spending jus as much. so they are still making jus as much money off of me.

Facebook the new Myspace.

Facebook has grown from a college based community system to a worldwide community such as myspace. maybe two years ago u had to a college email now anyone can be a facebook user. Facebook is growin because such include in the internet browser as a site listed to go to on. do companys pay facebook to advertise for them? probably because its used 24hrs and there is no limit on the people who can be a member. Only thing is now is to wait and see who will come next ot take the spot from Facebook.

Do you what we pay for books and what we get back is fair???

I just cant believe that i paid for a brand new Acct. book for this semester and now its not being used anymore so its only worth $15. how can u buy a book that was jus worth $210 now only $15. that highway robbery. the next edition will have the same information probably just worded differently. some of the books that i bought was a waste of money. didnt even have to pick up and read it for my law class. jus used in class notes given in class. some use out of that .

Do you what we pay for books and what we get back is fair???

Obama, the man in red

This situation reminds me of what is happening to our country. As you can see we are almost all the way in the shitter but not all of the way. Obama (man in red boxers) can either pull us out or just go ahead and let the heavier part of us fall straight in.

One of the many reasons we need healthcare

Do you think we would have people walking around with teeth like this if we had government health care? I think not. I don't even have to write anything else this picture says enough... you're welcome.

k rod

the mets signed k rod today. if this isnt a guaranteed world series, i dunno what is.

SCHOOL DAYS NUMBERED

A short note to thank Nikki for her work efforts in putting this blog on line. I look forward to the upcoming break, and I hope the best for each and everyone of you; exams, Christmas, New Years, and Holiday break, whichever is your pleasure or religous leaning. I plan on spending the break reflecting on the joy that I have had this past year. I returned to College after 39 years, and the experience has been truly rewarding, and exciting. The classes and student interaction have been educational(sic). I have met many fine young people , including the faculty. I wish for all of you a happy and prosperous New Year. Come 2009, you will witness an event that make's this country so great: a peaceful transition of power. God Bless America

Do you know someone effected by the lack of student loans?

Myself I went from being able to get a private student loans through places like chase bank.. to not being able to get a student loan at all from any non-government funded loan agency. Im hoping to make as much money as I can this summer in order to pay for next fall.. What are people who have to fund their own way through college suposed to do, esp. when its their SR. year

-Rob Lacey

Is bailing out GM really a good idea?!

Look at the past... they have been bailed out before havn't they? I think that spending 15 billion dollars to help out a failing automaker is a bad Idea... Maybe instead we should use 15 billion dollars to come up with new ways to run our vehicles and stop foreign dependance on OPEC. or use 15 billion dollars to clean up inner cities and stop homelessness, and poverty in our own country, since we do a good job helping to stop the spead of poverty in other parts of the world

The use of both democrats and Repulicans in O'Bama's Admin.

I think that O'Bama putting both Democrats, and Republicans in his Cabinet is a great idea. Such a thing has not been done since Ab. Lincoln did it. If change is what we want, it looks like change is what were going to get. I hope that both Democrats, and republicans alike can come together and act like "Americans". Maybe save our economy and subside terrorism in the process.

-Rob Lacey

Coastal Carolina

I guess the campus cops needed those brand new dodges trucks and chargers.I love how many golf carts there are rolling around campus with chrome rims and lifts. Who ever oversees Coastal's budgets is doing a crappy job and the teachers and students are paying for it. How are they accepting freshman with below a 2.0 and that is a fact i know they just did last semester. I like how they accept more and more people without hiring teachers or building more facilities.

Reply to be careful what you wish for.

Gas prices getting this low actually makes me worry. It only cost me $100 to drive home AND back over the break. The last time I remember gas being this cheap is in 2004 and it isn't making sense to me. How can gas prices recess this much in a matter of less than 3 months. When I get gas now I feel like that poor guy who can only afford to put $10 in my tank (which I am) and in reality I am getting a half of a tank. Is this just the beginning of the economy leveling itself back out?

OJ Simpson

So, OJ Simpson is sentenced today for 15 years behind bars and he must serve at least 9 before he is considered for parol. If this recent event is anything its Karma. He should have been in prison ten years ago and he actually had the nerve to wirte a book "If I did it." This fait was waiting for OJ his entire life. He will never be remembered as a talanted football player, but only a criminal. The wheels of justice turn slowlly. I only hope that the jurors in his murder trial take heed of a true verdict and not one that was racially motivated.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Art, I think this is very ironic, people like myslef couldnt wait for gas prices to come down, but know we got what we wished for with a crappy economy. Now every time i see gas prices go down at the local gas station i dont even have to check the news, I know the market has gone down. Be careful what you wish for...huh...

MEAT EATERS

You have to admit with your arguement that a humans teeth is not ment to eat animals is obsuured. I am all for your choice to not eat meet, but I do not agree with this arguement. For one if you saw a person eating a rabbits raw flesh you would think they were crazy because as humans we were designed to think and reason. We were also given to hands to remove the animals skin and the ability to use fire to cook. I understand were that arguement was going but humans can not be compared to animals.

As far as the stomach acids goes...A typical vegetarian will have much lower amounts of meat digesting bacteria in their gut than the average person.This also helps explain why people who eat relatively low fat diets often get sick from greasy foods, or why spicy foods cause upset stomach in people who have not acclimated themselves to such a diet.

Gas Prices

With the recent drastic decrease in gas prices the American people will have more discretionary income.  This will help in the short run because eventually supply will catch up with demand and the prices will level off. So we should enjoy this now while it lasts and not be surprised when the prices go back up.

Quality of the food we consume

On the topic of animals, hens are so mistreated. I am glad we spoke about this today in class. People usually make fun of Kosher, but if they really understood it they would be more accepting. Kosher food such as hens, are blessed by a rhabi. Other then that, they are made sure if an animal that it is killed with out any suffering and it was raised in a comfortable environment. Why would you want to eat a chicken or its egg that has been confined to a small cage with six other hens. These hens are so pent up they would peck each other to death except for the fact we debeak them. Can a person honestly think that this animal is healthy enough to be eaten. Science has shown when an animal is killed brutley it releases certain hormones when it is dying.

Tuition Prices

We go to a relatively cheap college. Relative is the key word. Tuition prices have skyrocketed in U.S. universities. This is outrageous because without a college degree it is unlikely that a person in todays generation will be able to accomplish their dreams. Instead the people that take out student loans are put in a huge financial hole before starting adulthood. With a huge burden on students to pay back loans it is hard to find ways to save money for a house etc. This country needs to focus on providing affordable education.

Animals

I don't know why groups like PET exist, or that we have to learn about it in class. With the country in a recession and  pending economic doom I find this topic ridiculous. I wish that groups like this would focus resources into helping the country and not a few rats. God gave us animals and nature to enhance our earth experience. These people want to make animals equal to humans. This notion is out of this world.

Plaxico

As a Giants fan this is just more bad publicity for black athletes. He ruined his career at its peak over a stupid mistake. His mistake has distracted the team and has destroyed a promising career. I wish that athletes would think how priveleged they are before they make these stupid choices.

Election

I am glad that Obama won so that this country can see real change.  It is not about race anymore and I am glad that Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson have no platform to stand on.  Obama will bring this country change and help make it better over the next 4 years.

Animals

There are many arguments as to what is right/wrong or good/bad when it comes to the treatment of animals. Most times when I tell people I am a vegan they tell me what animals they are going to kill with their bare hands and eat. This does not bother me because in SOME sense I think it MIGHT be okay to eat animals. Let me explain - People often argue that it is the food chain, circle of life, etc and that we are carnivorous and we were indeed designed to eat animals. Fine, I can see that. BUT if you think about it... were we really designed to eat animals? One particular book I read on the topic says "If you were meant to eat animals then go out, catch one with your bare hands and kill it with your bare hands. This might not be too hard to do with a bunny if you can catch it, but unlike any other animals we have to cook it. Is this evolution? Did someone somewhere just say one day "Hey lets make our dinner take longer and put it in the fire!" ???? Your teeth are not designed to bite through raw flesh. Although capable, our teeth are much more similar to a horses than a tigers. Say you eat the bunny you caught and killed... go ahead take a big nice yummy bite out of his side with your nubby ass teeth. Now, you have finished your bunny, but it takes quite a long time for meat to digest in the human stomach. (Don't believe me try NOT eating it for 2 days) This is because your stomach acids must work much harder to break down tissue. (skin tissue, muscle tissue, etc) If you believe you are supposed to eat them then fine, I mean you're not playing Charles Manson here. Unfortunately, many people believe that they should eat animals, thus buying more product and making farmers look for new ways to cut cost and sustain maximum profit. We will take cows for example. Your average dairy cow last for 3 years before it is sent to the slaughter house. Since cows are forced to take medicines that make them lactate year round, they are also hooked up to those lovely milking machines year round too. There is not always someone with these cows and many DO stop lactating and are left with the machines still running and trying to suck every bit of milk from them. This causes pain and infection on the cows, and many are left like this - with infection in their nipples, increased dead white blood cells, blood, and puss getting into your milk... but who cares its homogenized lol.

Okay just so I can whip all you boys into shape... Here is what we have so far... we need 128 posts and we have 39 not including comments.
Jay - 8
Brian - 4
Tom - 13
Jose - 0 wtf jose?
Carl - 11
Mattie -1
Jake - ?
Art - 5
Me - 14

Enough of Britney

Somehow, I can't help but think that all of the craziness we saw from Brittney Spears over the last year or two was nothing more than a publicity stunt. Think about it, if not for all of the crazy antics over the past year or so, would anyone be paying attention to her at this point ? Would anyone really care about her new album ? Probably not.

Our society treqats her as a public freak show. I am suprised she keeps comming back for more, and the saddest thing about it is her album wont sell at all. People dont truley care about her talent they just care abuot the laffable character she turned into. She is nothing more then a public circus.

Auto Bailout

so the largest auto makers in the country are asking us to bail them out so they won't go bankrupt. Their will be a tremendous cut in jobs extending to every supplier that contrinutes to the cars beeing built in america. And their case is that people dont want to buy their cars, but im sorry it sounds like they dont need to stay in business. It very ironic that the american compnaioes had hybrid technology years ago but never develpoed it, the Japanese found out we were studying hybrid technology and became scared so they dove head first into it. Know look at the place were in.

I truely think the middle eastern oil companies should bail out the auto makers since they are so loyal to each other. They wouldnt be in this mees if they produced cars people actually wanted to buy.

Someone who has worked at GM for 10 years or more receives $140,000.00 severance. And I'm supposed to feel sorry for them? Yet they want more. The seem to never be satisfied.

Shoppers trample man to death on Black Friday

Well this grabbed my attention this past holiday weekend to see a walmart employee get trampled by eager shoppers at 5am trying to save a buck on their holiday shopping. This Walmart in Long Island is located about 30 mins from my house which made me especially interested in the case. Shoppers allegedly broke down the WalMart doors killing a 34 year old employee and injurying 4 others including a pregnant woman.

Perhaps the most obscene aspect of this tragedy is that, when the store was forced to close for several hours – because of the death – customers “shouted angrily” and “kept on shopping”.

Another incident of the American Dream, the disregard of a human life, in order to perhaps save $100 on a television. Where does a society lose such control to trample a person to death and not just one person step on his body as he lay on the ground but rather hundreds. What is sooooo… ironic as the American self portrayal of “the land of freedom and opportunity”, whist in their attempts of achieving the American Dream, they have considerably contributed to the Global economic crisis, by being allowed to purchase homes, cars and vacations that are well beyond their economic capabilities.

Then in order to get a good buy.. feel it is morally consciousable to trample a man to death… Wow… in order to quote Walt Disney ” the land of a million dreams”? thanks but no thanks.

SARA PALIN-post from begining

Sorry guys im just posting this one so i get credit- I mistakenly created a blog when I first tried to post it.

I wanted to comment on Sara Palin's interview by Charles Gibson on 20/20 on September 13. I can't take this polotician serious due to multiple comments she made during this interview. When asked about the Bush Doctorine she hesitated and Palin replied "In what respect, Charlie? " In my opinion its sick how Palin was picked out of Alaska because she is a female and had the best chance to take ex Hilary supporters. If Obama chose Hilary we would never have learned her name. Her views on Ear Marks don't correlate with the way she voted for the "bridge to no where." She is a HAACK.

"I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" - Tucker Max

Okay So I am reading a book right now about a guy named Tucker Max. Speaking of ethics, this guy has absolutely none. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone because it is a good laugh AND teaches you how NOT to be a good human being. Here is a lovely story... http://www.tuckermax.com/archives/entries/date/the_absinthe_donuts_story.phtml#280

Go to www.tuckermax.com and read some of these stories... I don't even know what else to say about it lol

VIDEO

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/11/19/pn.toddler.fight.cnn

Baby Cock Fight

i just watched a video clip of two 2-3 year olds routed on by their father and little sister to fight. I was pretty much a baby cock fight. This discused me and hope the father that provoked this fighting between two children that don't know anybetter is punished to the fullest extent. What type of father puts his two kids to fight and on top of that puts it on youtube. How morally wrong can a person be.

Coming to an End

The semester is winding down. The election is 2 weeks in the past. A one week respite is on the horizon:) Aahh(!!) No TV, no newspaper, a little R&R, family to meet:), and a Morals and Ethics paper to complete:(
Enjoy the week. Happy Thanksgiving.

The arguement topic.

So today I got asked what a Vegan was. Well I figured more people knew what it was or what it required. Unfortunately, people who DO know what it is only want to argue with you about why you are wrong. The majority of people respect your opinion about religion, politics, and abortion but NOT Veganism. I have had people go as far as telling me "Jesus ate meat so you should too." or "You are going to die." My other favorite is "It is the life cycle and you are supposed to eat meat." Even better, many people after you explain to them the lifestyle say "I am going to go out and kill a whole cow and eat it." But my number one FAVORITE vegan comment is "You need vitamin B12! and you cannot get it anywhere but from animals." My question is, do people think I am attacking them by not eating it myself? Are these just ways of them justifying their actions to themselves? I have never ever told anyone "quit eating animal products," so why do they feel they need to down my lifestyle? Or like customers at my bar who have had 3 beers and a whole pack of cigarettes and feel as though I need nutritional advice from them. I wish I didn't work at a corporate restaurant and I could just tell them "Really? because the 10 chicken wings you just ate have 1765 calories." Oh, and add in 250 for the shit you dipped them in too. Another good one - Your veggies grow from cow shit."
Now - it is not that I completely disagree that you can eat animals, but have you ever looked at pictures of a slaughterhouse? If you haven't, then believe me it is in your best interest not to. People get grossed out by in the movie "waiting" when he puts pubic hair on the plate... like I said if you knew where your meat came from you probably wouldn't want it anymore. Now, aside from coming from possibly the grossest place known to man... there are over 500 chemicals in your meat products :) Quite a few of these are also cancer causing (yay!)
Another classic is, "You need milk or your bones will become brittle"
Well then, why no dairy? A mother cannot drink alcohol while she is breast feeding, so do people think "pasturizing" will kill ALL of these chemicals for you? Humans are the only species that drink the milk of another, and since we are not cows we can only absorb 25% of that calcium anyway. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/calcium-and-milk/
The good ole' vitamin b12 - that "only comes from animals." b12 is a bacteria!!!!! not some kind of complicated only animal forming DNA. My fake meats have more b12 than the majority of your animal products. People look at me like im a freakin leper when I say this and usually only respond with "no it doesn't, if it does then its not vegan because it comes from an animal." (ugh)

So in being asked what a vegan was, I said "I don't eat anything that comes from an animal." People STILL don't get it after that... most times I get a "So do you eat eggs?" or "Not even chicken?"... last time I checked a chicken was an animal... just throwing that out there.

Most people tell me "I don't know why you torture yourself" Well, I haven't even had as much as a stuffy nose since I began eating this way (which by the way is a little more than a year). When you eat the chemical crap they put into your food, your body's immune system is weakened because it is constantly fighting off these things, therefore cannot REALLY defend against viruses and such. My whole body feels good on a regular basis, so how am I REALLY torturing myself? Recently, I was in a situation where everyone at work got this awful virus, except me. I was the ONLY person who didn't get sick.

Now, everyone has their questions and arguements ( def. arguements) so feel free to ask if you wish.

I would just like to add to the last blog I wrote about the election. I just hope Obama was picked for the right reasons. Although it is an historic event that an African American was elected president, I just hope that was not the reason a lot of people voted for him. There a lot more important reasons to elect someone to run our nation besides their skin color...

Election

I agree with Art when he said I'm glad the election was over. I wasn't sure how to react to the results though. I guess we wont find out until Obama is finally in office and we see these changes actually happen. I have to admit I did not vote myself. On top of the fact I wasn't registered in this state, I was on the fence about this decision and I wasn't really sure what would be the best choice. There is nothing I can do about it now, so I am just looking forward to see how Obama plans on improving our nation. I am going to stay optimistic about our nations decision and hope that only good comes out of it. There are a lot of scary things (war, economy) being handed over to someone else to deal with. I just hope the people in charge as of January will do the right thing.

Election

Well, I am glad that it is finally all over. Now we get to see what is going to happen. The promises are now over and now we get to see what Obama will do. As a supporter, I am very hopeful that this change will be real, and that our country will take a new course. The best thing about this election is that we finally know that Bush is on his way out. I hope that Obama will live up to his promises, and lead this country into a new era.

So today I finally got it.

When I heard about Obama even running for president I thought all the same "this will be historic" and all but I never understood what the big deal was until today. You see my father is exactly 40 years older than me, so he was actually my age when the Jim Crow laws were ruled unconstitutional. So really, in just one generation the African American race has gone from fighting for civil liberties to president. PRESIDENT in just one generation. I am really excited now to see how much people can change their thinking if you just give 'em a year or 40. Now, me coming from the generation where race really isn't an issue could not comprehend what kind of win this must be. I saw Jessie f'ing Jackson crying yesterday. It is very strange and I can't really comprehend the mindset of thinking that people are different but DIFFERENT - colored, black, or whatever. I am actually thankful that I did grow up in the generation where the mindset was much more open and accepting, and for the first time I think I am glad that I didn't understand something.

Now, I did not really care for either candidate until yesterday. When Obama won his attitude, demeanor, and the really f'ing scared look on his face just impressed me. He still didn't win me over until he said he was going to get his daughters a puppy to come live in the white house with them. Obama actually won me over not with his issues on the economy, healthcare, or anything else except the puppy. Knowing that he wasn't going to give me an ivy league bullshit answer about anything at that point in time, he just wanted to announce that his baby girls were getting their first puppy since he won. Knowing that he didn't get up there and make unrealistic promises to the country, himself or his family made me feel a little more sound on what he can accomplish for our country.

election day blues (!!)

Ask any of your grandparents if they recall the "West Side Story" movie. Lyrics from the song: "Tonight"
Tony singing:

Tonight, tonight,
Won't be just any night,
Tonight there will be no morning star.
Tonight, tonight, I'll see my love tonight.
And for us, stars will stop where they are.
Today
The minutes seem like hours,
The hours go so slowly,
And still the sky is light
Oh mooon, grow bright,
And make this endless day endless night!

Abortions - yes or no?

Sarah Palin believes that if a father rapes his 15 year old daughter, she should keep the baby...




Too bad George died, I was thinking about writing him in lol. Yes George, Palin is anti woman.

"Black has nothing to do with the Arabs are trying to sneek this guy into our country!"

In times like this, people who spend way too much time on the internet run across videos that make them giggle. Everyone has the right to vote, but maybe they should give breathalysers in the booths too. I am glad to see this woman voted for Hillary... I think?

* P.S. I will give anyone who can tell me the exact number of teeth in the driver's head $5.

Election

As art said in his recent post. What is the deal with the election, he is right how as the day comes closer the issues are on a nack burner compared to the issues of what the other one eats for dinner, thier past, the things that mean absolutely nothing to an election. I seen on the news the other day about Sen. McCain's brother who called 911 for a traffic report, haha. Yea and he made an absolute ass of himself and endangered people who needed help, but thats not the debate or the news that we should be haring about. It is a election based on who will do the most with the economy and the country, who will give us the most opportunities for growth. That is why we see politicans as the dirtiest and untruthful people in the world.

Gas prices in steepest drop ever

Gas prices are at the lowest price in quite a while. What is the deal with this, is it that the demand for gas is low and the prices have dropped. It is a long time coming with this drop in gas as we have seen gas go up to almost $4 in recent weeks and has killed the economy of this country. Coming from someone who lives in NY where gas is always expensive for the last year or 2 you so it becomes something your used to, but is that right for people to become used to $4 a gallon and strapped for cash while OPEC and these oil companies making millions of dollars. From what is hear say these companies are going to cut supply and will lead to higher gas prices again. This is what is wrong with this country, they are dealing with issues of this that are bleeding this economy dry and that is why this election is the biggest election in a long time.

Election

As the outcome of the election becomes clearer the candidates have to bottom to their cheap shots at the other side. Over the last month there has been no significant meaningful debate out the issues. The economy is failing and the government is spending too much but the only thing the candidates are actually talking about is each other. Who cares who they were in contact with 30 years ago. This is a pathetic excuse for a campaign and  I am fed up.

TODAY(!!) SPYING AT HOME

Today, the boss guy brought up the spying for security issue. I know, I know, it is for the good of the country(sic). My brain had turned to stone. Things are no longer absorbed, they bounce off it and rattle around inside my head. Politicians, no matter which party, are not to be trusted. Do not, ever, leave a daughter or son(Barney Frank) alone with a politician. The Alien and Sedition Acts were four bills passed and signed into law, in 1798, by President John Adams. The bills were passed, due to partisan hysteria and hostility to foreigners, namely the Irish and French. The Sedition Act forbade writing, publishing, or speaking anything of a false, scandalous and malicious nature against the government. For those of us with limited capacity, the bouncing off the brain thing, now that they have the right to listen to your private conversations, now that your employer has taken liberty to invade your privacy, what will be next. Will there be a renewal of the Sedition Act? Will there be monitoring devices added to public and private phones and computers? Will we fined if we voice displeasure at the way government is running? Remember, they can hear you, where ever you are. Your work phone, your work computer all have monitoring devices/programs installed. That security badge your employer gives you to protect you at work, monitors your activities and movements throughout the work day, and any other day you are at the office. Your employer does monitor all e-mail and usage of the company computer, when it is logged on. The company vehicles can and probably have an ON-STAR capacity to monitor the vehicles whereabouts and speed. I know, I am a good person/worker so; " what do I care, let them monitor me". Sad to say, all good people are guilty of that remark, at one time or another, BUT NOT GUILTY OF ANYTHING ELSE. The very thought that anyone would be willing to give up any of their rights and freedoms scares me, more than anything else. A lot of very good people fought and died protecting those rights and freedoms, so we can continue to have this discussion and talk about the inept politicians. Support the Social Security amendment for free golf for seniors:)

election year taxes, more taxes

As some of you venture out into the world(SIC), be aware that you will have to pay income taxes. Currently, the Federal Tax bite for single, earning $50,000 is $6,613. Then there is the State tax nibble, depending on which state in which you reside, could be anywhere up to $1,200. Lucky enough to go the New York City, you pay city tax along with the Federal and State. Then, don't discount the area sales tax on beer, restaurant, clothing, home products, taxable items at the grocery store, cars(don't forget to check to see just how much tax is on the vehicle purchase), then to add insult to injury, there is sales taxes on each gallon of gas sold. In New York I believe the total tax, federal, state, and local, is 63 cents per gallon(depending on county). Then there are those wonderful deductions of Social Security, Medicare. Top off the drain with additional tax, fees/licensing/registration/other licensing, road tolls(up north) coming to I95 closest to you and your $50,000 salary qualifies you for public housing(!!) Marry a rich women/man that has no dependents and wants to leave most of his money to you, so the gov can get the inheritance/death tax. Win the lotto and the gov takes about 50%. No matter which party is in power, the pols are corrupt and cater only to the ones they legislate tax loop holes for, during their administrations. No tax loop hole for youse guys. Graduate and get to work. I need youse guys to pay my Social Security. The government free mandated golf for seniors is a good program, so support it. It will "create" jobs for Coastal Grads from the PGM School. Good Luck:) If any of you have any cash left, pay those pesky student loans.

Hatered from McCain Supporters

Several months ago when Obama told voters that people were going to make us scared of him being that he was like most presidents on the dollar bill and his skin happened to be a diffrent color, led many conservative republicans to blame Obama for playing the race card. I find this funny know that there have been several incidents at McCain Palin rallys that memebrs of the audience yell hateful remarks against Obama. People gather shouting out comments about Barack Obama like, "Kill him! Terrorist! Treason!"
In this town hall meeting ---
McCain passed his wireless microphone to one woman who said, "I can't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's not, he's not uh — he's an Arab. He's not — " before McCain retook the microphone and replied: "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign's all about. He's not [an Arab]."
I am glad McCain is not supporting false aqusations and is sticking up for the right principles.

OK for ALCS AND NLCS no DEBATE WATCHING

According to Webster: Philosophy is a pursuit of wisdom and a search for general understanding of values and reality. Wisdom, Values, and Reality all sadly missing from this election cycle. I guess I must be glad I am in the final act of life. Just give me my Social Security and a government golf course. My $25 a month and standing in line for my bread, chicken, and health care(like Cuba, Russia, China, Canada, United Kingdom, and France), will probably keep me of the golf course, so no need for government sponsored golf:)

State of the Old Guy

Nikki:
The hair plug thing and the butt joke, was that a slap at us seniors(SIC). We vote and some of us come from the sixties and seventies(!!). Having voted for Jimmy Carter, is reason enough not to trust us, but consider the fashion statements of my generation: bra-less and mini skirts. We had a lot of seniors smiling, not complaining.

The Presidential Election & World Series

It is torture listening to the the campaign speeches of the candidates for president. I had to turn to the comedy channel, during the last debate. No baseball on TV. Thank you baseball for the up coming NLCS & ALCS, followed by the World Series. The games will be a welcome relief from the tiresome, embarrasing process. I am a person who had been active in the Democratic Party, campaigned for many Democratic Candidates, worked polls, and yes drove people to and from the voting sites(sic). This election cycle will set a tone for the US, HOPEFULLY NOT LIKE THE JIMMY CARTER(idiot savant)ERA. The next president and congress will have a lot to say about the future of your lives. I am in the last act of my play, and my only concern at this juncture, is will I have enough cash to improve my golf game. Talk about politicians tuning out a country: this political season is playing like an unwatched episode of the Soprano's.

Hairplugs are the new boob jobs.

Now Art, I think that you are just a little upset because McCain's "healthcare plan" (what a joke) Doesn't include things like hair plugs haha. Maybe he should promise a plan to keep those damn kids from driving so fast down the street. Or maybe one of those devices that will keep you from passing out in a chair with the TV turned up REALLY loud. MAYBE just MAYBE his healthcare plan will include a belt for all of those dang wipper snappers who wear their pants around their knees.


-Nikki

2nd Debate

This debate was ridiculous. I wish that they would stop going after each other and actually answer a question. Even with a different forum they still just fight with each other rather than actually figure out how to get us out of this economic mess. I am fed up with the whole thing and just want things to get better, but it does not look like that will happen in the next 4 years. 

Hey person right under Sarah Palin post...

Hey log in with your regular e-mail address, unless you want ME to get credit for your blog :)
-Nikki

I hate Sarah Palin.

I think is Nader ran this year, he would actually win. So in bits and pieces I was hearing on the news a few days ago about Obama being friends with some terrorist? But they haven't had contact in a while? I don't even want to vote this year because I don't want either candidate to win! You have a 72 year old guy who "can't write an email because he was injured in war"??? And a guy who has terriorist friends but they don't talk anymore? I don't get it. I should be thrilled that we may actually have a female vice president for the very first time... but I am not. Excuse my language but she's a stupid dramatic bitch. (Hey you clicked the warning lol) The context of this news piece I caught some of she sounded like a high school girl who didn't make the captain of the cheerleading squad. I WILL NOT vote for McCain solely because of her. So McCain is a billion years old and about to croke over and this crazy drama queen who can't even get her daughter to take birthcontrol wants to run the country? How pathetic is this when people don't have homes because they cannot afford them but WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SHIT THAT HAPPENED IN THE 60s!

I found an article about this... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081005/ap_on_el_pr/palin_recharged

"People say that I speak too simply, or don't have quite the — I don't have my thesaurus in my back pocket all along through my speeches," she told donors in Englewood, Col. "Well, I don't have time for that."

Hmm... Well since you won't answer questions publicly from donors to your campaign, you most likely write your speeches... Maybe you should invest in one? YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN! YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO IMPRESS BLUE COLLAR WORKERS! Now come on people you are donation lots of money here... don't ask "unfair questions"

http://gratefuldread.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/palin-whines-about-unfair-questions/

Bailout plan

I wanted to comment on the bailout plan issue we were discussing in class last week. I'm not sure what would have been the best choice and I honestly don't think anyone else really does either. I personally don't like the idea of bailing out businesses who made bad decisions in the past. Sounds like the government is sending a message saying its okay to take risks and mess up because they'll be there to bail you out. I was actually discussing this topic in one of my other classes and heard arguments stating that if this plan was implemented it would ruin the future of the economy and the business world. It seems like we will be rewarding the bad and punishing the good.

VP debate

Interesting! No winner, no loser among participants. Biden did not speak plainly, or tell the truth, on his accounts of prior votes. Mrs. Palin, did not trip or fall down.

economic disaster or market corrections

Do you want to have additional taxes taken from your earnings, future earnings, to cover a host of fraudulant activities, committed by the financial enterprises, AIG & Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. ? 95% of all mortgages are being paid timely. 5% of mortgages are in arrears. Why should we allow our tax dollars to be spent to bail out that 5%, and bail out the corrupt business practices of AIG, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac? The Government has no money. The Government takes money from you, your family, me and my family, then spreads the money around in a manner that is beneficial to them, not you and me. I say open the windows on Wall St, and let the nice people jump, without a parachute.

fools for politicians

I have read this weeks column by Mr. Walter E. Williams, a retired economics professor. Mr. Williams provides a guide and information for the would be voter. The President of the United States cannot create jobs. The President of the United States cannot raise or lower taxes. The President cannot be held responsible for budget deficits or surpluses. The president cannot spend a dime that that Congress does not first appropriate. A good civics lesson. Mr. Williams ends this weeks column with a quote from an English philosopher Herbert Spencer. The quote: "The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." This is thought provoking as we near election day, and follow the news as to what Congress is doing.

Gas Prices

In the last week the price of a gallon of gas has gone up almost 50 cents a gallon. I know that a lot of this has to do with the hurricane and down refinery rigs, but it almost seems unfair. The oil companies are still making the same huge profits, yet it is the consumer that gets hurt in the end.  The rapid increase saves the profits of the oil companies, but the price gauging is incredible.  I find this unethical that the general public is the victim in all of this. The oil companies should take a hit for this and not the public. Instead of big business taking a small hit it once again gets put on the shoulders of the American public. So my question is why can the government bail out companies like Bear Sterns, and Freddie Mac, but the all these price hardships get put on the middle class.

8 Weeks until Election Day.

Ethics, morality, fairness, equality are all issues in the ongoing presidential campaign. The Democratic Party has turned this into a Obama vs Palin match. The truth is the election is an Obama vs McCain toss up(sic), no pun intended. It appears that all sense of fairness, equality, morality, and ethics has been left in the drawer, and the political medica continues to churn out it's spin-speak. Which view should we apply, before voting? The Utilitarian View; The Libertarian Approach; Nozick's Theory of Justice; or, Rawls's Theory of Justice( The Veil of Ignorance) which is applicable to most voters.

Addition to Art's Blog (scroggins)

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/09/01/palin-pregnant.html?ref=rss#socialcomments-submit

^ Here is the link to the article.
I believe the only reason the daughter is getting married to this young man is due to the election. Is it right for the family to make their daughter to feel obligated to marry the young man so they don't look like trash? There were pretty much only two choices the family could make in their situation; have an abortion (ha ha yeah right they are republicans) and try their best to conceal it or make the daughter get married. Now, it appears to me that they attempted to take the lesser of the two risks on the campaign. Is it "ethical" for the family to have a "shotgun wedding" to prevent a total loss for the republican party? They are two 17 year old children who in fact probably don't REALLY love each other to begin with, but are forced to be legally bound to make their family look "politically correct." I suppose if the teenage couple can at least hold out til after November it will make voters a little more content with the situation. But imagine what voters would think if the mother chose another route? It would be too damming for the campaign for Palin to even risk.

Ethical Politics

After reading yesterday about how the Repblican Vp nominee has a 17 year old daughter who is pregnant, I did not know how to react. On one end I want my politicians to  live up  moral and ethical ideals.  Yet on the other hand, this is a real problem in the country and it will be interesting to see how it is dealt with in a public forum. I am on the fence because as unfortunate as society's moral have become we still don't want to admit problems in public to show we have failed morally.

morally-ethically challenged or good campaigning

There is an important election in November, 08. Sift through the spin, imaginings, hypothetical lying, or just plain lying, and make an informed decision before you vote for the candidate of your choosing. Our politicians do not present anything in a straight forward manner. They often glorify or embellish facts so as to mask much of the harsh and probably painful truth. It is difficult to learn how much of the candidates words are imagination, hypothetical lying, or just plain lies. By the time this election takes place, there will have been approximately 1 billion dollars spent on the campaigns:(
Presidency for sale. "CHEAP"(!!)

First post!

Hey, good to see this up so quickly.  Please let me know if there are any amendments or additions to the instructions provided which you feel might be useful to pass on to others.

Also:  in joining the blog, I was asked to sign in using my Google Account.  My hope is that it only asked me this because I already have one.  Could you check in with your group members to see if it makes them create a Google Account?  If it does, then maybe we'll just have to use the Mail-to-Blogger address for postings, rather than having everybody sign up for Gmail.  This would necessitate allowing anonymous comment postings to allow you all to comment on each others' posts, but that's not a big deal.

Did that make sense?  LMK.  Kthxbai!