Ultimate College Bowl

The Ultimate College Bowl is a competition between colleges nation-wide. The competition sets out to see how many students each university can register to vote. The prize awarded to the college with the most students registered is a concert from my personal favorite band Death Cab for Cutie and the college with the highest percentage of their student body registered will win a concert from Colin Meloy of The Decemberist. The campus that won the visit from Ben Gibbard himself was the University of California Santa-Barbara registering a whooping 10,265 students. Santa-Barbara also had the highest percentage with 48.69%. Even though the leader boards were graced with bigger school, Suny New Paltz found its way on the leader board through the efforts of Gianna Cioffi. Cioffi registered 539 students by herself finishing sixth in the nation in the single student category. The Ultimate College Bowl was a great success in registration college students to vote along with getting them involved in the election; and hopefully their efforts will pay off on November 4th.

To Blog or Not to Blog

Have you ever felt you had something to say and no one would listen? Or, maybe someone would listen, but there was no way to get your voice heard? Did you ever feel that you had a pertinent contribution, but no platform to speak from? Have you ever felt that the mainstream media wasn't reporting the truth, the whole truth , and nothing but the truth? Well, that is what blogging is for.

First and foremost, let's recognize the fact that blogging is born of the old adage that the necessity is the mother of all invention. Blogging would not have arisen if not for the need for a platform from which the people could be heard. A safe place where the people can speak what is on their mind in a forum that is free of intimidation and socioeconomic elitism. What elitism? The one that pervades our culture and silently implies that unless you were born from wealthy stock and were afforded the opportunity to attend a college whose name matters more than your actual grades, then no...no one wants to hear from you. Oh, you can have your fifteen minutes if you are willing to parade your tragedy to the masses so that media conglomerates can inflate their ratings. Yet, I digress...the point is that blogging is for everyone and needed the most by the people, by the average person.

So, for the first time the other day, I was introduced to, and astounded by, the concept of "the gatekeepers of our society." The concept is that we the people should entrust that journalists, artists, politicians, musicians, etc. are going to translate the "truth" of current events. The concept exudes that the average person blogging about politics and currents events is actually "polluting" the news with uninformed and uneducated spew. This concept is relayed with just a touch, well a heaping really, of attitude. The privileged kind. The kind that comes with elitism.

I want to know, as uneducated or polluted or diluted and crass as it might be, the truth as the common man knows it. Sure some hillbilly redneck might "spew" some racial epithets that make me cringe. He isn't the first and won't be the last, so let's get over it. Fact is, as ugly as the blog might be...it is still someones truth, even if it is not our own. You don't educate the masses and inform them by spoon feeding only what the "gatekeepers" feel is acceptable or palatable. In a democracy, such as ours is supposed to be, you give the masses the unfiltered truth and allow them to consume it and absorb it and react to it. To have "gatekeepers" implies that we the people are not intelligent enough to analyze current events responsibly.

YOU know what I think, though? I think the "gatekeepers" are scared. I think they are afraid of the way the people will react? Afraid of what the people will deduce. Afraid the of who the people will look at and who the people will want to hold accountable. Afraid that the people will wake up and become aware that they are consistently lied to through today's media.

Secondly, lets not forget that it is the comman man's sons and daughters that enlist in the military and die for this country. So, before you, the people, the common man, willingly steps down and allows an elitist to be your gatekeeper, ask yourself if the gatekeepers are sending their children to die in useless wars, spun by the media for your entertainment and silent consent.

Third, and last, we, as Americans, are guaranteed our right to free speech under that thing we call Constitution. In today's political climate, you may only speak freely in free speech zones and beware what anti-government rhetoric you spew, because you will be accused of being a homegrown terrorist. Don't hand over one of the few last forums you have for free speech. Even if the speech is ugly it is still your right, gatekeepers be damned. So, blog on.

McCain, Obama to have final debate on Monday Night Football

John McCain and Barack Obama are apparently prepared to have final interviewa on Monday Night Football game, pitting my beloved Washington Redskins against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think this is a good move for both candidates. There will be alot of viewers on Monday Night Football, and the candidates will have a chance to reach alot of people. This can be a good oppurtunity to sway voters who have not made their decisions yet. But only in America will we squeeze something as important as potential Presidential candidates into a halftime show of a football game.

You Can Vote However You Like

Middle school students from Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy recently appeared on CNN to show off their creativity as they remixed T.I.'s hit single "Whatever You Like" into a non-partisan "get out and vote" anthem.



Lyrics:

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

(McCain supporters)
McCain is the man
Fought for us in Vietnam
You know if anyone can
Help our country he can
Taxes droppin low
Dont you know oils gonna flow
Drill it low
I'll show our economy will grow

McCain's the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They'll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might

(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama's new, he's younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He'll bring a change, he's got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq's a shame
Four more years would be insane

Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won't
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won't!
Have enough experience - you know that they don't
STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won't

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you're going to have some drama
We need it
HE'LL BRING IT
He'll be it
YOU'LL SEE IT
We'll do it
GET TO IT
Let's move it
DO IT!

Chorus

I'm talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice

But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN'T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Chorus

Funhouse

P!nk released her fifth studio album, ironically titled "Funhouse" on October 28. Funhouse is a collection of songs that chronicle her recent divorce from Carey Hart. I've always been a fan of P!nk's controversial attitude and her impressive voice. I enjoyed the reviews written at Slant and The Village Voice, as the Voice coined "Funhouse" as "the most energetic divorce record probably ever." The Voice went on to give her lead off single "So What" "the newest entry in the Fantastic Empowerment Anthems genre (sub-filed under Hits Engineered by Max Martin), joining "Since U Been Gone" and "I Kissed a Girl." I enjoy this album, however, it amazes me that this record is getting more media coverage than her 2006 release of "I'm Not Dead" which is one of my favorite albums and featured far better range from P!nk in my opinion.

Here's a recent performance of my favorite song on the album titled "Sober"


You can check out an online stream of "Funhouse" available here.



(image source: pinkspage.com)

Obamunism...really?!

Ever since Obama told Joe the Plumber that "No one likes taxes," and "Now is a time to spread the wealth around," I haven't been able to stop running across ads that compare the presidential hopeful to Karl Marx.

"Are they serious?" I keep asking myself. The guy wants to give tax cuts to 90% of American families, to hard working families struggling to make ends meet, and this alone is enough reason to call him a Marxist? Sure, some people might not agree with the idea of taxing the wealthy more, but last I checked that was called being a DEMOCRAT, not a communist, socialist, or marxist, all of which I have seen Obama been labeled over the past few weeks.

To me, it just seems like another scare tactic. First he's a muslim, then he's a terrorist, and now he's a communist. It's getting ridiculous. I can't believe what people will say to stop someone from getting elected, and neither can Joe Biden, as can be seen in this interview with an Orlando reporter:

movies/music

With a classic movie comes several other important components: the cinematography, the actors, the script. But there's also the soundtrack that affects the sequence of the movie, amongst other things. The specific selection of a song can make an impact for the opening scene of a particular movie, for instance.

This site lists a blogger's opinion on the "greatest" top 25 movie soundtracks of all time. The choices range from Trainspotting (including New Order, Iggy Pop) to Star Wars (well, of course, who doesn't like the original theme song) to Grease.

I don't know for anyone else, but I consider music one of the most important "artforms" out there, and with movies being a grand form of entertainment, they easily go hand in hand. It just makes me appreciate the creativity of things more.

Dreamy Edward Cullen Comes to Film

"Twilight" is a highly anticipated movie due to come out November 21. It has become a new epic novel that depicts the life of vampires. Move over Harry Potter, the dreamy Edward Cullen steps into the spotlight stealing hearts of teenage girls all over. Robert Pattinson who plays Edward Cullen also had a small part in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" film as Cedric Diggory. Robert Pattinson may be more anticipated in his looks and his role than the actual film itself. Along with Pattinson is Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan who falls in love with Edward even though he is vampire and she is human. The story of "Twilight," written by Stephenie Meyer continues on to three more novels, "New Moon," "Eclipse," and "Breaking Dawn." Nothing can come close to the superiority of Harry Potter but Edward Cullen makes for an interesting competitor. After reading the novels this past summer, I am intrigued to see how the director Catherine Hardwicke portrays her own vision of Bella and Edward.

College + Beer= Obesity?

In the website of USA Today I read an article about a study that was conducted at the University of Indiana and Tufts University. "Indiana researchers surveyed 272 female students and 149 men on the campus about their weight and living habits." In this research 67% of the women gained weight from the beginning of their freshman year to the beginning of the senior year, putting on an average of 10 pounds; 86% of men gained an average of 14 pounds.

Although the freshman 15 may not affect everyone, weight gain, beer and the crazy college life is still an issue with college students all around the U.S. It is something that should be taken into consideration since the U.S. is one of the places with the highest rates of obesity in the nation. Students should drink and eat with certain moderation so their health won't be at risk.

Snow Patrol's "A Hundred Million Suns"

Snow Patrol's new album came out Tuesday. After hearing their first single "Take Back the City" I thought that I actually might listen to the CD. The last thing I remember from them was "Chasing Cars" which I absolutely hated. Now they have a new sound which I like. Their new CD "A Hundred Million Suns" is actually a good mix of slower and faster songs. Sure, some of the songs are similar to "Chasing Cars" but overall I liked it.

Jennifer Hudson's Nephew Found

Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were recently found dead on Friday and her seven year old nephew was missing. Her nephew has now been found dead as well in the truck of Hudson's brother. Her nephew's stepfather is a "person of interest." The stepfather was on parole and has convictions for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking, and possession of a stolen vehicle. This is very unfortunate and sad for Hudson. I hope the police can find out who murdered them.

Tim McGraw's Moment on the Mound

Tim McGraw is known in country music for his chops and for his marriage with his wife Faith Hill. Although McGraw is famous in his own right, he is also the son of legendary Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw. Although they were estranged for many years, Tim has still paid salute to him, like in his song "Live Like You Were Dying" which wasn't written for Tug, but McGraw has said in past interviews how when singing the song he feels the connection with his father. It was also the winner for best country song at the 47th annual Grammy Awards.

Saturday night McGraw threw out the first pitch at the Phillies' game while throwing a little bit of his father's ashes into the ground for good luck. McGraw is known for his love of the Phillies, maybe him and his father are the best combination for the team to go all the way.

Maybe this is why Tim McGraw is able to keep coming back year after year: he has a love for baseball, he keeps putting out hit after hit, and he's got a beautiful superstar wife. Lucky man.

Photo courtesy of MLB.com

Iron Man 2?

I thought it was pretty apparent from the way they left off from the first "Iron Man" that there would be a sequel, and I was correct. Yahoo News reported that the next "Iron Man" will be out in 2010. Robert Downey Jr. also signed a contract for "The Avengers" which is due out in 2011 which will feature many other of Marvel's key comic book characters.

I fully enjoyed the first "Iron Man," and am pretty excited for the next one but I hope it doesn't turn out to be like so many other superhero flicks. Most of them turn out to be some bad romantic-action movie that has amazing special effects but a horrible plot to go with it.

Jon Favreau will be returning to direct "Iron Man 2" so hopefully that will help the movie to have the same kind of style as the first one and not be a let down.

According to EOnline Don Cheadle will be taking over the role of Col. James Rhodes though and I hate when sequels replace characters. Terrence Howard played the role previously and as much as I love Don Cheadle I wish they would just cut the character out of the movie if they have to replace the character with a different actor.

I don't know, I'm hoping that the sequel will turn out to be just as good as the first one, but I won't bet on it.

DJ Sarah Palin

If McCain doesn't win, will the parody's of Sarah Palin fade into the night, or will they keep coming? If he does win, will this become a yearly event? Time will tell.

Eminem's Back Again

Eminem's been out of the spotlight for three years but he's back with a memoir of his life. The book is entitled The Way I Am. It explores his life now with his daughters, his past, and the things he has to overcome to get to where he is now. Rock and Roll Daily offers a brief review and minor details of the book while Entertainment Weekly offers an actual excerpt from the book.

I've never been a huge fan of Eminem, I thought he got too much press coverage and he played up his "gangsta" image much too much. I did enjoy reading the excerpt from the book though. It read like he was actually having a conversation with you, not just writing a book. Which is something that I would expect from Eminem. Rock and Roll Daily says that he doesn't touch upon all aspects of his life that much, such as Kim and his mother. I understand why he wouldn't want to write about them, but those are subjects which I would think would be pretty pertinent to get to know him and his life. Those two people played such an important role in who he is that it would be interesting to read more about them.

All in all, I think it would make for a good read, I don't know if I'd go out and spend $27 on it, but it does seem like it would be interesting.

The Beatles Get an iPod...But With A Catch

As a sort of follow-up to last week's post, this week is another dose of Beatles in the news. Bloomingdale's, the popular NYC department store, has just released a Limited Edition Ultimate Collector's Beatles Box Set, containing every major studio album, an engraved guitar pick, a box designed by Robert Godley's Psycho Bunny, and, most notably, a 120 gig black iPod designed with a minimalist Beatles slant. At a modest $795.00, it's not exactly cheap. However, it is the closest we'll ever get to the often rumored thought of an official Apple-designed Beatles iPod, much in the vain of the U2 iPod of 2005. Would I buy it? Considering I have nearly every album listed here, as well as the generally more-superior iPod Touch, I'll pass. But, that box sure does look neat.

The Rays

It has been 11 years since the Tampa Bay Rays first joined Major League Baseball as an expansion team for the start of the 1998 season. Since then they have always finished at the bottom of the difficult American League East being overshadowed by the big market New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox; that was until the 2008 season began. The 2008 season sent the Rays in a complete 180. After they dropped the Devil from their name and are now known as the Rays, Tampa Bay finished a regular season record of 97 and 65 going on to win the American League East for the first time in franchise history. They were able to do so due to the heavy hitting of Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton along with the arms of Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza. The Rays clinched a playoff birth and faced off against the Chicago White Sox in the American League divisional series. The Rays steam rolled through the series defeating the White Sox in three games advancing to the American League Champion Series against the Boston Red Sox. After being up three games to one The Rays found themselves one win away from the World Series. After blowing a seven to one lead in game five the Red Sox won game six and sent the series into a pivotal game seven. The Rays, once again the underdogs, defeated the Red Sox three to one behind Matt Graza, who became the ALCS most valuable player, advancing to the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

get your BLOG on

Photo courtesy of: http://blog.blackboard.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/07/13/blog_pr_square_2.jpg

After reading an article from TheAtlantic.com about blogging which really opened my mind up to blogging, I was motivated to search for some blogs. I thought it would be cool to see what "local" people were blogging about but instead of going to my Facebook and checking out blogs there I went to The Poughkeepsie Journal's website and found some cool blogs.

The subjects of the blogs were arranged in these categories: Career/Business, Lifestyle, Health and Fitness, Arts and Literature, State and Dutchess County Politics, Ulster County Politics, Religion and Spirituality, and Sports. I thought that this was a good variety of subjects that could appeal to a mass audience. I started looking through them and thought that the one entitled Daddy Diary was very cute and silly. The Daddy Diary is written by Pete Caolaizzo the sports writer who talks about the "sometimes silly ups and downs of raising children from a dad's point of view." There were many other interesting blogs on this site, and I would encourage people to venture into the world of blogs.

Now that this post (on this blog) has become a post about blogging, I feel kind of silly, but I think that it is important to witness and be a part of the new phenomenon of BLOGGING. Whether you start your own or find blogs that meet your interests, its a good way to communicate with people and even publish your own ideas for the whole public to see. It kind of sounds scary and intimidating, but its cool to think that authors work so hard to publish their work in a book or something when an amateur and student like me could talk about blogging on a blog and so many people could see it.

Womens Volleyball Senior Night

Wednesday October 22nd marked the Senior Night for the New Paltz Women’s volleyball team. Senior libero, Nicole Mercandante along with team captain Sam Prudente were both honored in the celebration, which was capped off by a 3 to 1 win defeating Eastern Connecticut. Brittany Coyle, a junior middle hitter, said, "It was an emotional night honoring the seasons of two amazing teammates, but I am proud of how they performed once they stepped onto the court." In front of their home crowd the Hawks won the first two games, 25-8 and 25-17, before losing the third by a score of 22-25. However the team was able to bounce back defeating the Eastern Connecticut Warriors in the fourth game 25-13 clinching the match. The team is currently 22-6, 7-1 in Sunyacs, and are well on their way to a playoff bid. “It is great so far, but I am really looking foward to the moments that are still to come. There is still a lot more amazing things this team can accomplish.” stated Mercandante. In the beginning of the season the team set a goal, to get an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by winning Sunyacs. So far the team has done everything in their power to make their goal a reality and are on the fast track to doing so. Prudente describes, “It feels amzing that we are so close to achieving our goal. I couldn't have asked for a better senioe year and I completely confident that we are going to go further than we ever have before.”

Death in Jennifer Hudson's Family

Ms Hudson, a one-time reject from American Idol, became a national heroine in 2006 after winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in the musical blockbuster Dreamgirls. Last night she positively identified the body of her 7-year-old nephew, bringing a tragic end to a frantic three-day search in her hometown. A Chicago police spokeswoman, Monique Bond, confirmed that the boy, like his grandmother and uncle, had been shot.

It is very sad and unfortunate for this to happen to anyone's family. Especially if three members in your family tragically die with out any explanations. I hope the investigators find the person who is responsible for all the heartache that has been brought upon Jenifer Hudson and her family.

Mock Presidential Debate

Participants in the mock presidential debate represented the Democratic, Republican, Independent, Green and Libertarian nominees.  Photo by Doron Tyler Antrim.

The SUB Purple Lounge was the setting for the mock presidential debate in which participants representing the Green, Independent and Libertarian Party candidates spoke in addition to those sitting in as the Democratic and Republican nominees.

Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney was represented by Flushing, New York native Evergreen Chou, who is a member of the State Committee for the New York Green Party. Representing Independent candidate Ralph Nader was Matt Funicello, a small-business owner and like Evergreen Chou, a State Committee member.  Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, was represented by radio talk-show host Imre Beke, whose show "Right Time Radio" broadcasts on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. on WKNY 1490 AM in Kingston, New York.  Recent SUNY New Paltz graduate Igor Gembitsky represented Bob Barr, the nominee of the Libertarian Party.  Jeff Fonda, Vice-President of the Student Association, sat in as the Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama.

Moderated by Professor Joel Leftkowitz of the Political Science and International Relations department, the forum was a more inclusive take on its real life cousin.  

The topics covered included job creation, Supreme Court nominations, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, poverty, and government funding for AIDS and stem cell research.      

Chickens Are People, Too

In the New York Times Magazine article titled "The Barnyard Strategist," Maggie Jones reveals concerns for animal rights that have been brought into the limelight by the Humane Society's President Wayne Pacelle. The opening scene is of Pacelle at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company in Chino, California after it had been shut down as a result of his undercover investigation at the slaughterhouse. This research uncovered the cruel conditions under which animals were being treated and it led to the largest beef recall in U.S. History. After providing the specific details of that particular, and poignant, scene, she branches out into broader issues of animal cruelty and action being taken against it by discussing Proposition 2, a legislative ballot propositioned by Pacelle to improve animal welfare in California. The article also offers perspectives of opposition to Proposition 2--a political issue said to be as controversial as Barack Obama's campaign--arguing that such a large amount of food is produced through methods of caging that the legislation would put many industries out of business. Such opposition includes voices from Ryan Armstrong, an egg producer in Valley Center, California who states in the article, "Do we want chickens to flap their wings? Or do we want to eat?" Another extreme is presented in Alex Hershaft, the founder of the FARM (Farm Animal Rights Movement) organization who opposes Proposition 2 and argues that meat should be eliminated from the American diet altogether.

Through many different perspectives, this article captures the controversy that has been stirred through the motions taken toward animal welfare. Throughout the article, Pacelle is used as a heroic figure to the movement which allows for interesting, detailed scenes and great quotes to provide a compelling and reverberating ending. This article creates a sense of compassion toward mistreated and abused animals, but also deals with the reality of opposing forces against a movement toward a kinder, cleaner environment for farm animals.

Exercise Overrated?

Nobody can deny the fact that our society is obsessed with exercise; it's impossible to turn on the tv or flip through magazines without seeing an advertisement for one fitness program or another. It seems like whatever ailment you have, exercise is always portrayed as a viable cure. However, according to this article in the New York Times, exercise has pretty much been oversold. While exercise is good for you and can reduce the risks of developing certain diseases, it has not been shown to reduce blood pressure or have much of an effect on cholesterol levels, which is pretty surprising. Also, although it is often said to be able to prevent osteoporosis, this has not been proven through research; is has only been shown that people who have osteoporosis and exercise are less likely to fall and suffer a broken bone because exercise helps to maintain balance. However, this doesn't mean that couch potatoes don't have to worry about exercising anymore; it's still necessary to maintain good health.

Body found in Hudson Nephew Search

The body of Jennifer Hudson's nephew may of just been found according to ABC News. A young black boy was retrieved from a white SUV on Chicago's west side an FBI official told ABC news. Confirmation on the body is still pending. This is after an amber alert was issued for the young boy, Julian King, on Friday.

The search for the missing 7 year old started after Hudson's mother and brother were both found dead in their home. The young boy was home with them at the time of the murder, but was unable to be found after police arrived to the scene. Hudson announced late Sunday night that she was offering $100,000 for the boy's return.

Julia Hudson, the boys mother, held a news conference Saturday with a tearful beg to return her son home safely. Chicago police department say it seems to be some sort of domestic situation and claim to have an unknown suspect in custody already.

This tragic event happened right before Jennifer was scheduled to start her world tour to promote her self-titled debut album with its chart-topping single, "Spotlight." Hopefully the person behind these heinous crimes will be found and this can be put to an end. Hopes and prayers go out to the Hudson family.

For All The Coffee Enthusiasts

For many college students, coffee is a daily word in their vocabulary. I know that I cannot have a productive day without that steaming (or cold) beverage to jumpstart me. Coffee breaks me out of my haze, and helps me move along with my morning, or afternoon, or night.

This article, "Bean Town" published in the New York Times this week, talks about the growing number of speciality coffee shops, sprouting up all over the city. Although cups of coffee here are expensive, these coffee shops argue that the superior beans they use, lead to well-made, well-prepared coffee, which is worth the 4$ a cup that they go for. They maintain that good coffee is worth the price. Although some New Yorkers still complain about the gradual dissapearence of 35 cent "diner coffee", most are ponying up the money for that latte. Also interesting is the areas in which these speciality coffee shops are most popular. Not suprisingly, the neighborhoods welcoming these shops are the affluent ones, the West Village, Williamsburg, and Park Slope. To check out the rest of this interesting article, check out the link above!

Cola Freaks!

I went to see Denmark's Cola Freaks play at ABC No Rio on Saturday. They play a unique blend of punk, drawing on influences ranging from KBD-era bands such as The Lost Kids (who were also from Denmark and had a song named "Cola Freaks") to poppier '80s new wave bands.

The performance itself was great. The band played faster than their records, and provided a nice contrast to the heavier crust bands that had been playing before them. It was funny to see the enormous Scandinavian singer interacting with all the uptight punks in leather and studs. He seemed to thrive off of making people uncomfortable, poking them in the chest (really hard, he left a mark on me) and jamming the microphone in their faces even though no one knew any of the words.

So far, the Cola Freaks have released three 7"s- two on Denmark's Hjernespind label and their most recent one on Local Cross Records from Massachusetts. It's an impressive discography considering the band was founded in 2006 and went on their first U.S. tour in 2007. Hopefully they'll be coming over again, and hopefully word will have spread by then and the Cola Freaks will find a more receptive audience.

Proposition 8

Proposition 8 has been stirring up a lot of noise in California. The proposition which would ban the now legal same sex marriages in California has been causing a lot of controversy. A recent poll shows that 55 percent of voters are in support of the bill and 34 percent oppose it. An article by the New York Times reported that people from all over the country are getting involved to make sure it passes in California. The religious community is afraid that since California is a big trend setter amongst the country, if they legalize same sex marriage there will be no turning back. Charles W. Colson the founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries said about Proposition 8, "We lose this, we are going to lose in a lot of other ways, including freedom of religion.” Wouldn't passing Proposition 8 insure freedom of religion. There are many people out there who do not believe that same sex marriage goes against a supposed God or those that are gay are going to burn in hell. So passing the Proposition would insure them freedom of religion. If you do not believe in it let it alone. Weren't most of us taught if you don't have something nice to say don't say it? Everyone should enjoy the freedom of religion not just Christians. There have been many advertisements in support of the proposition in California that warn if it does not pass that churches will be brought up on charges if they do not recognize same sex marriages and ministers will be jailed if they preach against it, but those who oppose the proposition say that these are just scare tactics. People should not be scared into voting a certain way. Many national religious groups have poured a lot of money into the "Yes on 8" campaign. Have you ever had a family party at a Knights of Columbus Hall? Much of the money thrown into the campaign has come from them. With the numbers so close it should be interesting to see if it passes and how other states with marriage amendments will do at the polls next week.

Local meet and greet

This week 5.p.m. Oct. 30 at the Water Street Market people of New Paltz will be able to question candidates for the upcoming local elections. Candidates for the Ulster County executive, Ulster County comptroller and New Paltz town board will be in attendance. Gerald Benjamin, director of the Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach and associate vice president for regional engagement at SUNY New Paltz, will make opening remarks.

Will Strip For Sushi...

So this week I think we are supposed to be blogging about effective writing techniques in features that will help with our assignments. Well, I just read a very entertaining feature on Naked Sushi modeling, I believe called Nyotaimori, in Vanity Fair. The author, Melanie Berliet, took her investigation one step further and decided to experience the Japanese tradition herself. The whole feature is told in first person, present tense, as she lays completely motionless while men use chopsticks to pick sushi off of her naked body. This approach allows Berliet to almost have a conversation with her readers. It feels as if you're reading a story from your good friend who is recalling her wild adventure which kept me rather enthralled. There was a personal connection between reader and writer here, but it was also just comfortably humorous.
Just to comment on the tradition of Naked Sushi Modeling, at first I found this to be somewhat offensive, but then I found out that male models are also used and I thought that was fair.

Will This Blog Make Me Famous?

(Julia Allison with real celebrities. Pic: Wired Magazine)

It's amazing to think of the amount of celebrities we've created through the internet. There are many an ordinary person whose writing has captured the attention of millions through their blogs from Perez Hilton to a young lady by the name of Julia Allison. Allison has set the benchmark in self-promotion and with no real talent other than a little wittiness and way with the English language, she's managing to rub shoulders with real celebrities and make quite the name for herself.
This feature is a profile on Julia Allison and seems like a pretty apt addition given its our latest assignment to write a profile. It also goes to show that nowadays, an agent, a publicist and manager are no longer needed to help you rise to fame. Blogging is essentially DIY Celebrity....get writing.

AIG Employee Votes report

I interviewed 4 employee A.I.G auto insurance employees sector in Binghamton, NY to see how they've been effected, their thoughts on the government bailout plan,and if the current financial predicament of the United States has changed who they what to elect as president. I found that these sale executives have been trying to make ends meet for most of this year since with sales have been rapidly decreasing, the fear of layoffs is prevent in daily conversations among colleagues and their bosses. I also found that even though everyone is feeling the lost of bonuses checks, which was 30% of some paychecks, people have different opinions as to what they think about the bail out. I also found the employees voting opinion on which candidate was better for the job, wasn't changed due to the Bailout but justified. This was true no matter which side of the aisle ones party was on. The bailout made Democrats think even more like Democrats and made the Republicans think more like republican. There seemed to be no middle ground. The Democrats felt that this was the only was to support companies that are vial to the world's economy and Republican saw the bailout as a step toward socializing the banks and setting a bad president to those who make bad business choices.

Ashley Todd Made It Up!

Ashley Todd (who I wrote about below) is being charged with filing a false police report.  Looks like the reason she had yet to comment on the matter is because she was lying!  Police were suspicious about her claim from the start.  Todd confirmed their belief when she admitted to making the whole thing up.  She said that she now doesn't know why she did it.  Because police are concerned about her mental health, they are consulting with the Allegheny County DA before citing her and sending a summons.  The full article is here.

Campaigning For McCain Will Get You...Beat Up?

Picture courtesy of the Pittsburgh Channel

Ashley Todd of Texas was robbed at an ATM October 23.  Todd was near Pittsburgh campaigning for John McCain and Sara Palin.  The random robbery turned dangerous when her attacker spotted the McCain/Palin bumper sticker on her car.  After punching and kicking her, the attacker carved a "B" into her right cheek.  The Pittsburgh Channel has the full story.

PREPARE TO ANSWER TO THE CZAR!

I'm posting this because no one else has yet.

On October 13th, President George W. Bush signed into law a bill that will toughen policies concerning the pirating of all forms of "intellectual property," be it music, movies, computer programs, or what have you.

Under this bill, an Intellectual Property Czar - a cabinet level position - will be appointed, who will report directly to the president concerning counterfeiting, pirating, stealing  - whatever you want to call it.

Not surprisingly, this law is heavily backed by the RIAA and the MPAA, two big, vicious dogs in the anti-piracy movement.

White House officials are claiming that the bill will help in the fight against - brace yourself - TERRORISM.  Yes, they pulled that card.  According to officials, terrorist groups profit from counterfeit sales.

So shut down soulseek, LimeWire, or whatever other p2p client you're using - the penalties for piracy have been raised sky high (though, not as high as they were originally going to be.  Under the original bill, someone who downloaded each track of the Guns 'N' Roses album "Appetite For Destruction" could be fined a whopping $360 million).

The full text of the law can be found here.

(image courtesy mises.org)

Sir Paul McCartney's Head = £2,000

"Paul McCartney's (wax) head" (courtesy of BBC.co.uk)

In possibly the strangest articles I've encountered, NME.com has reported that a homeless man, Anthony Silva, has claimed a £2,000 reward for the return of the wax head of former Beatle Paul McCartney. The head was a piece of artwork of the musician created by Joby Carter, who planned to auction it off. However, it was left behind on a train en route to the auction. Silva had originally thought it was a mask, but upon hearing about the lost head, he returned it to the authorities.

A very quirky story. I would prefer to find a wax recreation of Ringo Starr's head, though. Sunglasses included would just do it for me!

The New York Times for U2

The New York Times, one of the most well-known and well respected newpapers in the world, has taken on U2 frontman Bono as an op-ed writer in 2009. He will write between 6 and 10 pieces for the Times, and he'll do it for free. How nice of him. Apparently he'll write about things like Africa and poverty. Great. Good for him. But when I first heard this news, the first thing that came to mind was this excerpt from Dave Chappelle's special "For What It's Worth:"



I don't really care what Bono thinks about these issues. I would like to hear what politicians and Presidential nominees are doing to combat these problems. So, thank you Bono, for your opinon on these issue, but I would like to see that space put to better use, by people who actually have the power to maybe make some serious changes.

"W." Not Forthcoming

Last Friday "W" was released. For those who don't know, "W" is the new film by director Oliver Stone about the George W. Bush presidency. It stars Josh Breslin (No Country for Old Men) as Bush and a plethura of other actors making their best attempts at imitating Bush's cabinet. The film has been received negatively by the vast majority of critics for the skin-deep story it tells and I have to agree. Besides the lead-up the Iraq war, of which the movie skims over, the film does not touch on any controversy surrounding George W. Bush. Not the Florida elections, his corporate ties, Alberto Gonzalez and the Justice Departmant, Jack Abramoff, Valerie Plame or Hurricane Katrina, to mention a few. To be honest, the Bush legacy isn't even complete yet and it would take numerous full length films to fully explain his presidency. Each of these controversies really need, and some have, their own documentary to delve into the issues surrounding them. Oliver Stone is a great director, but he should have left this one to PBS.

Despite this, I recommend you see the film purely from an entertainment standpoint. The flashbacks to Bush's younger years are intriguing and the some of the parts are done extremely well. Most notably is the work done by Richard Dreyfuss, Toby Jones, Thandie Newton and Jeffrey Wright as Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powel, respectively.

"Dolemite" Hip Hop Star Dies Sunday

On Sunday due to complications, Rudy Ray Moore died at age 81. He first began as a singer and then made his way to comedy. Moore was a blaxploitation film icon that starred in Dolemite (1975). His career consisted of 18 films and over 30 comedy albums. Moore was an inspiration to hip hop artists like Snoop Dogg and Big Daddy Kane and comics like Richard Pryor. He was best known for his role in Dolemite as a silver-tongued pimp with a sparkling language. Along with his silver-tongued character came the controversy of either selling or bagging his obscene albums. Moore's complications were due to diabetes and his survived by his daughter and believe it or not his 98 year old mother!

Casualties Play and I Get Kicked in the Face

The Casualties played at the Knitting Factory last friday, along with Pittsburgh's favorite hardcore band Caustic Christ and local favorites Absurd System and Guilt Trip. D.S.B, from Japan, was also scheduled to play but had to cancel as they were denied entry to the country.

Absurd System and Guilt Trip each played enthusiastic short sets to the lively, though somewhat small, crowd. When Caustic Christ began playing, the place went wild. A circle pit formed in the middle of the crowd, but broke down when people began rushing the stage and going around the circle in the wrong direction. So many people were stage diving that a bouncer came out just to keep the monitors from falling into the crowd.

After Caustic Christ finished, random sections of the audience would break out into chants, calling for The Casualties. They finally came out and started out with the crowd favorite "Riot," which sent most of the crowd into what can only be described as a frenzy. Some kid with foot-high liberty spikes was riding around on his friend's shoulders punching wildly at the air above him- there was no other way for him to exress his wild elation at that moment.

Beyonce is Back in More Ways Than One...

Beyonce Knowles' new album, I Am, is dropping November 18th and if that's not soon enough she also has two singles that have been dropped simultaneously on TRL and on radio stations. "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies" are two songs that couldn't be more different, but Ms. Knowles put out two beautiful videos that give women the empowerment that she has become known for. She will also be performing on TRL's final show on November 16th at 8pm, saying "I can remember being 16 or 17 when they asked us to be on the show, and it was our big moment."

If that's not enough, she will also be in the upcoming film "Cadillac Records" playing a 15 pound heavier Etta James. The film, dropping December 5th, shows the rise and fall of the Chicago based blues and R&B label Chess Records during the 1950's according to MTV.com. So just in case you've missed Beyonce over the passed two years since her B-Day album dropped, now you've got enough Beyonce to last at least until Christmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVTyLqkez6A

Watch the "If I Were a Boy" Video

" It's Not What You Brought to the Party, it's What You Left WIth."

               Over the past few decades, communication has been transformed drastically. From the creation of the internet to the mass popularity of cells phones, as a sort of necessity for the modern age, people no longer find writing letters or talking in person or on the phone the only way of useful communication. Texting, emailing,instant messaging, and other forms of less personal, and arguably impersonal, methods of communicating with people have become second nature. People meet and date each other over the internet, others break up via text message, and yet it seems most have become accustom to this form of interaction. Could it take away social anxiety? Yes, some say. But others believe that it is replacing physical human interaction, and fundamentally changing society on a global scale. Maybe our kids will be so comfortable with instant messaging that they actually would prefer it to hanging out with their friends in person. Maybe they will prefer to play video games with someone on the other side of the World, than to go play ball with the kids next door. Could this change human interaction so much that future generations will eventually be unable to read body language or nuances or implied meanings or anything like that which we use in addition to reading or hearing words? Could interaction become forced and impersonal, without color and personality, lacking in consciousness and innate understanding?

              Ok, so this is a little drastic, but really, think about how it was when our generation was growing up. When we had to call our parents, we used pay phones if we could find one; or we just planned really well and told our parents our plans way in advance. When we had to tell someone something, we either spoke to them in person, or called. Now we email or text; I mean, I've seen people sitting next to each other texting back and forth. While yes asking strangers questions (like for journalism) is a little less intimidating through email, people have come to fall back on this method and other similar ones, for sharing information they should probably share in person. For example, I was wandering around on the CNN website and found an article about sending e-cards to notify past sexual partners that they should get tested for std's.....What?!?!?!?

             While public health officials have declared this as better than nothing because letting the possibly infected person know trumps the impersonality of it, according to the article, it seems to me that that's the sort of news that should be heard in person; or at the very least with a phone call. I concede to the idea that it's better to let the person know regardless of how, but that very fact that people are too uncomfortable to tell a past partner in person, says so much about the type of interactions that have become so normal. 

             Think about it, would you rather get a card that says, " I got screwed while screwing, you might have too," or would you rather be notified in a way thats a little less informal. Oh, and the title is another line from a card. 

Like Woodstock, But For An Actual Cause!

On Saturday, November 22, The Chance Theatre in Poughkeepsie is hosting a night of music and comedy to benefit the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, which gives food/hygiene donations to those in need within the eight counties making up the Hudson Valley community. The Foodstock Benefit Concert runs at only $10 and tickets can be purchased at The Chance box office or http://www.ticketweb.com/. Comedian Paul Schembrie is set to host and the following bands are scheduled to play: Robbers On High Street, Perfect Thyroid, Kinney & Storms, Snaphammer, Subconscious Prophet, and Blue Soldier. Variety performer Sweetness Wha-Cha-Cha will entertain between sets. Doors open at 6:30 and directions can be found at http://www.thechancetheater.com/

High School Musical 3!!!!

Is anyone else excited about this Friday, October 24th? Well you should be because that is the day that High School Musical 3 is being released to theaters!!! Ok, so im a bit of a dork but i really did like these movies. The first one that came out in 2006 and was a huge hit amongst the youngsters. Disney then produced the second one in 2007 (which wasnt nearly as good as the first) and now in 2008 the third of the sequel is being released and from the previews it looks like its going to be a good one.
Satrring hottie Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale.
In HSM 3 , this is the last year of high school for the characters all HSM fans have grown to love. The students are coping with the fact that they will be going separate ways after high school and im sure the audience will be also dealing with the fact that there favorite new Disney crew could possibly be over.
For those of you who have not seen it, i think it is highly recommended. You have the next 3 days to catch up on the first two so you can celebrate the release along with all the other excited fans. Its just a feel good, fun musical type movie with catchy corny lyrics that get you singing along.

Republican Group Puts Obama on a Food Stamp

Even though Americans have gotten over their racist ideals enough to let a Black man run for president, we still have a long way to go. Recently, an Inland Republican women's group released a newsletter depicting Barack Obama on a food stamp. The newsletter stated:

"Obama talks about all those presidents that got their names on bills. If elected, what bill would he be on????? Food Stamps, what else!"

Here's an image of the "Obama food stamp":


The president of the group apologized, but there is no excuse for this. Her response to a flood of angry e-mails:

"I didn't see it the way that it's being taken. I never connected," she said. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."

"Just food"? How did it not mean anything to her? Those are clear and well-known stereotypes that she put on the food stamp. My feeling is that she knew what she was doing. It just disgusts me.

(Full article here).

Colin Powell and Obama

Recently on Fuax News, oops I mean Fox News...honest mistake...honest, anyway, there was footage being shown of McCain supporters decrying the fact that Barack Obama is oh-my-God African American. The footage was deplorable, but eye opening. I hadn't realize how many ignorant people were still hung up on skin color. You would think that Americans, all Americans, would see by now that being white was does not make you eminently qualified for the highest office in the land. (Just ask G.W.). So, I searched the recordonline.com and found blogs about Colin Powell backing Barack Obama. I was shocked to find that so many participants believed that Powell only backed Obama because he was also African American. I hadn't realized and I am extremely disappointed to find that certain people in the valley are still so narrow minded. Now, why is it that when a WHITE MAN endorses another WHITE MAN it isn't considered a race issue? Also, if Powell is only backing Obama because they are both African American, then what is Joe Biden's excuse?

The Biden Women

Amongst the superficial articles, "Damage Control, Fixing Fried Hair" and "Waist Management, Toning and Sclulpting Your Core," the cover of the November Issue of Vogue magazine has a surprising headline that seems to make a prediction in our government's political future. Set to be on newsstands by November and with the election being November fourth, Vogue skips a beat and names Senator Joe Biden as our Vice President. The headline reads, "4 Generations of Biden Beauties, All the Vice President's Women." Is this a bit of wishful thining or an astute Voguely intuition? Drawn to this, I flipped through the pages and found a brief exerpt on the Biden women. There isn't much content there, and not at all worthy of being promoted on the cover. What I did find interesting was the photograph of the truly beautiful and numerous women in the Biden family and the comment stating "If this is to be our Second Family, it will be the most female-oriented that I can recall." This kind of takes away from the novelty of Vice Presidential candidate Palin's femininity.

New York Democrats Under Suspicion of Voter Fraud

How far would you go to get your presidential candidate elected? According to this article in the New York Post, four New Yorkers went pretty far...literally. The article states that four New Yorkers along with nine other members from across the country are accused of setting up a temporary home in Ohio, which is a swing state, just so that their votes would be counted there. They rented a house in Columbus, waited 30 days, and then registered even though it is not their permanent address. Ron O'Brian, the prosecutor, states he launched an investigation after "the board of elections referred 13 suspicious registrations to us, all from people with out-of-state addresses, all of whom claim to be living in a three-bedroom house in Columbus." Voter fraud is a felony in Ohio, which can land a person up to a year in prison.

Palin Plays To Mixed Reviews

I'm sure as many of you know, Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin has recently been the butt of quite a few jokes on Saturday Night Live. Tina Fey's uncanny portrayal of Palin have had almost as many viewers than the presidential debates themselves. The real Sarah Palin made an appearance on SNL this weekend, to mix reviews. Palin danced along to a rap song which mocked both her campaign and Alaska, as well as poke fun at herself when Alec Baldwin mistakenly called her a "horrible woman", and "Caribou Barbie," thinking that she was Fey. Baldwin has been vocal about his dislike for Palin in real life, and has been strongly opposed to both her and McCain.

Some believe that her appearance may have helped her, "neutralizing the Tina Fey effect," said Robert Thompson, political expert from Syracuse University. They believe that by going on SNL, Palin was able to "damage control", and fix the impression that many people had about her credibility after watching the SNL skits. 

However others believe that her appearance did nothing but reinforce her negative reputation, criticizing the McCain campaign's judgment.  Many conservatives believe that by appearing on SNL, Palin has created an air of vulgarity around her, and question if John McCain did indeed make the right decision for a running mate.

Literature Via Ass

Thirst for knowledge and love for words need not be denied those living in a conflict environment, separated by miles from a catering library, thanks to the kindness of Luis Soriano and his two donkey's, Alfa and Beto. This feature from the Times investigates Soriano and his traveling "Biblioburro" as he delivers books to people throughout Columbia who would not have access to them otherwise. He risks robberies from bandits and a dwindling bank account for his family to do this good deed of spreading his wealth of literature to others who will hopefully appreciate it as much as he does. I particularly like the lede of this article because it really hooks the reader into continuing. The good writing throughout the piece enhances the compelling story being told. Enjoy!

P.S. Forgive my abrasive title.

'Best Week Ever' Change

"Best Week Ever With Paul F. Tompkins" is the new title of VH1's "Best Week Ever." Beginning Oct. 24 the show, which has many commentators, will use Tompkins as its host and the other comedians may make small, scripted appearances. The show as a whole will be more scripted. Tompkins describes the new version of the show as "snarky with a heart, snarky with a conscience."

Republicans Lose Majority in Dutchess County

In Dutchess County there are 379 more registered Democrats than Republicans. This is the first time in decades that Democrats have out registered Republicans in the county. Dutchess County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Jane Barber Smith says the county majority is usually Republican; Dutchess County residents didn't even vote for native Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Socialism in the Class Room

“Socialism isn’t bad”, my Professor explained in class Friday that the word Socialism has an incorrect negative connotation to it and is not relative to Communism as one is told.

This statement was presented to my peers and I by a well respected, well educated Professor (who is a very proud Democrat) in the middle of his/her lecture, not as a side bar or even afterwords for a discussion, but as part of the lecture on Language Usage. The topic of socialism was mentioned in the chapter that we were going over, but my professor went off from the textbook and used his/her own example.
This comment was presented without intent for a debate. It was instead presented as socialism being an obvious solution to our economic problems in a matter of fact sort of way. I feel that this was a very personal political opinion that should have been presented as such; I am in complete appreciation of encouraging discussions on ideas and having them shared in a comfortable forum. The topic matter was presented in such away that did not allow contrary argument(s).

I do recognize, along with my professor for different reasons, some college students don’t understand the fundamentals of political parties yet we all seem to be voting.
I am not saying that all students don't understand the fundamentals, I am just saying that those who don’t are not necessarily ignorant it’s just seems that they haven’t been taught. I personally and embarrassingly spent most of my high school Economics class watching and analyzing the movie “Gone with the Wind”. In U.S history I received an overall grade of a 93, and yet I still came out of high school knowing more Bushisms (from my teacher's desk calendar) than about the Political Parties in detail or about their voting history.

An example: I was watching the vice presidential debate with my roommate who is also liberal, and the topic of Gay Marriage came up and she turned to me and said that she feels that the decision should be left to the states. I told her that that Republican Party also want to leave Gay Marriage to the states and Democrats want to make it a federal decision.

I am not here to write about my personal opinion on socialism. I just don’t think that political opinions should be mixed in a lecture as irrefutable facts especially to an audience who lack the proper introduction of fundamentals that should have been taught in high school. Instead professors should teach their lectures first and then then share opinions after the facts have been given. I feel that educated banter back and forth should be encouraged for it helps us flex what we are learning. However, I don't think opinions or personal motives should be slipped into the lecture in class.

So if my professor is a Democrat and believes in Socialism, it brings to question; Is Socialism part of the Democratic fundamentals? The answer is Yes, keeping in mind of course that every party has their extremists.
The identifying shared ideals are mainly those of economic factors relating to “Common Wealth” or "Economic Justice". Some Democrat voters may not know the are currently voting for Socialism. When analogized, the Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama has been recognized as a “Stealth Socialist” (not because of the sound of his name, of the color of his skin, his height, his hair cut, his smile or his shoe size but because of what he says and his economic motives).

It’s scary knowing that we come out of high school of age to vote with out a clue as to what we are voting on. We know the issues (so we think) but we don’t understand the ramification of our vote or even how each party handles the issues.

My advice to you is to please get informed know what and who you are voting for.

Republicans for Obama, Nice

This election has proven to be one of the most important in our country's history; not only has a black man and a woman stepped up to the plate, but our economy is only worsening, and now republicans are favoring Obama. In an article that I read while perusing AOL is about Colin Powell, Bush's first secretary of state, has decided to endorse Obama. Powell believes that either candidate is qualified, yet Obama is more suited to handle the shape of the current economy and the can help improve its status in the world today. Powell also stated, "I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that's why I'm supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain." Some people are questioning his motives; does the fact that they are both black have anything to do with it? Powell said that this was not the deciding factor and that if it was then he would've done it a long time ago. Powell also showed disappointment in McCain and Palin's negatively toned campaign. They keep stressing the idea of Obama being a "washed-out terrorist." Powell also raised a question regarding McCain's judgment about his choice for Vice President.

Another very interesting site that I found is called Republicans for Obama. These quotes have been taken from their site:

"We need a leader who can lay the foundations of another American Century—someone who can get past our partisan and ideological divisions, as we strengthen our standing in the world and tackle the challenges we face at home."

"Senator Obama is the one candidate who can unite the American majority that wants to move forward and improve the long-term economic well-being and independence of our nation."

Same Sex Marriages

As of June 17, California became the second state to make marriage licenses available to same sex couples, Massachusettes being the first. The state supreme court ruled that their state constitution protects a fundamental right to marry that extends beyond a couple consisting of a man and wife The state has since seen a large increase in issuing marriage licenses. Since June they have issued 2,457 more licenses than they did for this time period last year. Many same sex couples have been flying from around the country to California to get married there even though, their union may not be recognized in their home state. Last week Connecticut became the third state to recognize same sex marriages. The issue of same sex marriage has gained a lot of momentum recently witht the election coming up and is on ballots in a couple of states. Even though California recognizes same sex marriages now after the election that could change. Proposition 8 would eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry. Living in such a liberal place like New Paltz, it is hard to understand why some people would not want couples of the same sex to be able to get married. Many of my friends are gay and I really hope I'll be dancing at their weddings. Four years ago Jason West married about 2 dozen same sex couples here at New Paltz I read an article that said he could have spent up to a year in prison if convicted of misdemeanor, for recognizing people in love? It seems a bit ridiculous.

Ralph Nader Press Conference

Ralph Nader, the Independent Party's nominee for president, at a press conference at the New Paltz Friends Meeting House on Thursday, October 16.  Photo courtesy of Doron Tyler Antrim.

Giving a press conference at the New Paltz Friends Meeting House on Thursday, October 16, Ralph Nader, the long-time consumer advocate and lawyer, and the Independent Party's nominee for President, blasted both the Democratic candidate, Senator Barack Obama, and the Republican candidate, Senator John McCain, calling both, "nothing but puppets of their corporate paymasters."

He argued that while Obama and McCain are emphasizing their differences and promising to bring change, they are the same type of candidate. 

This marks the fourth consecutive time Nader has sought the nation's highest office.  He reassured voters on Thursday that supporting the Independent ticket in November would not be a wasted vote.  The latest poll shows a 20 point lead for Senator Obama in New York.  Nader said, "That means the people of New York can vote their conscience.  They don't have to vote tactically."  

The Independent candidate called the passage of the $700 billion bailout a missed opportunity to rewrite the rules governing the financial industry.  He said the bill was rushed and that the American people weren't given time to suggest a different plan.

Nader proposed establishing a speculation tax that would tax stock transactions, like speculative derivatives.  He believes such a tax would reduce speculation and help stable the markets.  He said that trading in derivatives will reach $500 trillion this year, and with only a one tenth of one percent tax, the government could raise $500 billion.  This money he said could go to tax relief for middle-class families and such things as public works.   

He stated rhetorically, "If that was put up for referendum what percent of the American people do you think would favor that?"  He added that, "Congress turned their back on it.  They chickened out."  

Nader also talked about energy reform, a single-payer health care system, creation of a living wage, the war on drugs, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

To learn more about Ralph Nader, his positions on the issues, or to contribute to his campaign, visit votenader.org.

High School Students get Political

Pine Bush High School students held a mock election this past week in Mitch Silverberg's history class. They participated with posters, speeches, and commercials which all led to the final election for them. Voters were mostly students but some faculty. Voters ranged from three countries and seven towns. Students ranged in ages 14-18.

Students held debates and spoke about the issues each candidate stood behind. One student said that attacking the candidates doesn't even matter, its the issues that count. Factors such as race, religion, gender, or age apparently didn't matter to these High School students. They put all of that aside and voted on the important issues.

After all was said and done, Obama won their election 484-254.

I think this was a great idea for the students to get involved. Having our younger society understand politics at a much younger age is a benefit to all of us. When it is their time to vote they will know how to look into the issues as opposed to just looking at the candidates. I think every High School should do something like this. Get students active and interested in the world around them no matter what age they are.

Naurdwar

Having talked recently in class about interviewing techniques, I thought Naudrwar might be applicable to this whole mess. A.K.A. Naudrwar The Human Serviette, this guy is what some might refer to as a "guerrilla interviewer." Although his style his pretty unconventional, what I found impressive is the level of research that he puts into each interview, often surprising the interviewee with obscure information, memorabilia, and objects from their past. Although he focuses mainly on music, he has interviewed such famous politicians as Mikhail Gorbachev. While many hail from the school of interviewing thought which lets the interviewee talk about a particular subject until they see fit, I found Naurdwars style very interesting and engaging. Furthermore, whether you like his style or not, his amount of research has obviously lent him a certain noteriatry and respect, although definitely not with everyone. In any case, this interview with Afrika Bambaataa really caught my attention and made me rethink the importance of what I do when I interview.I thought Naurdwar was able to extract a lot of interesting information from Bambaataa and I especially liked the quote "If it's funky, I'll play it." It almost had an Hunter S. Thompson feel, in the sense that he became as much of an entity in the interview as the interviewee.

Living Green (in tiny ways)

I was shocked and intrigued when AOL News posted an interesting story about a growing trend of mini houses. Jay Shafer created the Tumbleweed Tiny House company in1999, creating houses that range anywhere from 65 to 774 square feet in size. Just to compare, 774 square feet is about half the size of an average ranch house. Sixty-five feet is the size of a small bedroom. The houses, which are fully furnished, offer stoves, refrigerators, closet space, full bathroom, and all the living necessities. The most innovative thing about this tiny human habitats is that they can be solar powered, are energy efficient, and they are wired to run electricity easily off of an AC outlet. Better yet, all the materials used in building these homes incorporate sustainable materials and reclaimed lumber. These mini homes are really great for the environment, not to mention that they come on wheels and can travel anywhere.

For a video tour of these tiny houses, and more interesting information (such as where to buy them!), check out the Tiny House Blog!

New Paltz Shuttle

This week I was reading the New Paltz Oracle and found an interesting article about a transport from the SUNY New Paltz campus to the Metro North Rail Road. This is a great idea since the train seems to be faster to me, also I have had some difficulty getting on the bus at rush hour since everyone is trying to get out too. The actual commute to the city can be long and troublesome during these hours. The cost for the ride will also be covered by the school, which is a plus for struggling students trying to make it home for whatever reason.

Personal Revelation = Interesting Feature Article

pic courtesy of: Plamen Petkov (GQ Magazine)

I found this article in this months GQ Magazine. I think it's a great example of what we've been speaking about in feature writing lately - in terms of writing a feature based on a personal experience. In this feature, writer Devin Friedman conducts his own little human experiment on Craig's List. Devin is searching for an African-American friend after concluding he really doesn't have any. So he places an add for an 'African-America Friend' in the activities section of Craig's List.

The story is great in terms of recounting his experience and the characters who respond to the ad. It also goes that one step further and analyses culutral trends surrounding men making new friends later in life. It's quite humorous and definitely a quirky idea for a story. It really made me think just how much our own personal experiences can translate into an interesting feature...

The demand for organic food is increasing in the South West. It is predicted by the Regional Development Agency and the Soil Association that the production of organic food is going to be doubled within the next four years. There are more farms in the region that are growing organic food then conventional grown crops. This increase in production is good because it will secure more jobs and will help the environment. The development agency is trying to get stores to get more organic foods and drinks to be sold.

I don't care if I lose my job, I want my facial!

I was surfing the New York Times website and I noticed that they had a guest blogger write about "what women want." My immediate thought was "uh oh." I clicked on the link and learned that my "uh oh" was right.

According to Bonnie Fuller, women want their facials. We want our spas. We want our botox. In Fuller's eyes, the economic crisis may be put our jobs in jeopardy, but dammit, we're going to look good! Because "the need to look good trumps the bank account."

In all fairness, she's specifically talking about New York City women, who admittedly are often concerned about image, but when I saw an article on "what women want," I had hoped it would paint women to be a little more than superficial snobs.

Recession be damned: the relationship between a woman and her hairstylist and colorist continues to be as tight as the one with her broker. "We were packed like a railway station last Saturday," says John Barrett, owner of the John Barrett Salon, where haircuts and color treatments cost up to $500 a pop. While Barrett has heard rumors that some retailers are experiencing heavy returns on clothing, he believes women feel they need to look pretty even as the world is going to hell in a handbasket.

According to Edward Tricomi, a co-owner of the Warren-Tricomi Salon, women will let their homes get shabby before they let their hair go: "If you're a professional businesswoman, you can't go to a meeting with your roots hanging out!"

Oh no, God forbid we have to be judged on anything aside from our hair! You know, like our intelligence, our skills, our capability. Visible roots trump all of those.

So far, the comments are less than favorable. It seems to me like Times readers are too smart for this crap.