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As I look back on it, it seems hard to believe that 40 years ago this nation became the one and only nation to put a man on the moon. It becomes even more impressive when you consider that almost everything had to be invented or perfected in less then 10 years. We have the technology to easily do it today, and yet we can't. With as advanced as the shuttle is, it seems very ironic that in order to get back to the moon, engineers have returned to a launch vehicle similar to the mighty Saturn 5 rocket which sent Apollo 11 to the moon. Even the space suits haven't changed THAT much since 1969.
I also wonder if a President made the same challenge today, as Kennedy did then, would we be able to pull it off just as successfully? They did it in 8 years! That is an incredible achievement. Any "major" change or challenge in today's world, we give a time line of 15 years PLUS. That is a great testament to the people behind the entire space program during the 50s and 60s. It's also an intense slap in the face to our generation. Sure we have greatly advanced society and technology since then, but not our focus, determination, and resolve.
For those who are convinced that it never happened, that it's a "conspiracy", I say you have the right to think it but don't insult the rest of us by talking about it. To say the whole thing was faked is an insult to the memories of every single person who lived and died to put us on the moon. Say that to the families of the three astronauts who were killed in Apollo 1. Tell Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong that they imagined everything. Explain where all the footage, all the pictures, all the ROCKS all came from, if not from the moon. Tell the family of Walter Cronkite that everything HE saw and HE reported that night was a lie.
Landing on the moon was not only one of America's greatest achievements, but also one of the greatest events in all of human history! I am in awe every time I see it replayed, and I can only hope that we as a nation and as the human race can come together and make another monumental achievement as those brave men did and soon!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Another sad attempt at "Immigration Reform"
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7101481
Congressman Chaffetz is apparently going to cosponsor a bill that would mandate that at least one parent be an American citizen in order for a newborn, born in the U.S. to be given automatic citizenship. Please Congressman, allow me to burst your bubble and bring you back to terra firma.
First, I would like to remind you of a simple set of documents that are merely over 200 years old. The Constitution of the United States of America states that: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside,” Amendment 14, Section 1. As you can plainly read, Sir, the very bill you are cosponsoring is unequivocally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! It is unconstitutional now, it will be tomorrow, and, if for some dumb ass reason it passes, it will be unconstitutional if it passes.
People seem to forget the idea that basically every single U.S. citizen is a descendant of an “illegal immigrant” and that this country would not have the diversity it does if it wasn’t for immigrants (legal or not). I mean, as far as I know, none of the Native Americans said “sure you can settle here.” Our forefathers simply showed up and said “this is our land now, you savages need to take your shit and go.”
The longer this debate on “illegal immigration” goes on, the more asinine it becomes! I mean how pathetic is it that there is so much concern and fear about immigrants from Central and South America, and yet there isn’t a single word about the fact that Cuban’s who make it to U.S. soil are basically given citizenship. A person who gets into the U.S. by land is a “potential danger to National Security” and yet someone who crosses 90 miles of ocean is a saint? Give me a break!
I’m starting to think that this whole debate has been created to be nothing more than a scapegoat. Immigrants are new and different so lets blame their asses for ALL of our problems rather than point the fingers where they really belong. We have screwed ourselves, no one else is to blame! Its OUR fault that we refuse to work certain jobs because they “don’t pay enough”, the jobs are “below us”, or the work is simply too damn hard. We create the job market and appeal to immigrants to come simply because we are too lazy or egotistical. It’s not the immigrants fault. In fact, if it wasn’t for all these people willing, and THANKFUL, to take the shitty jobs we won’t, our entire society would be different.
Also this whole idea that an “unsecured boarder” could lead to another terrible terrorist attack is WAY overblown, if not out right total horse shit. Cite September 11 all you want but don’t waste your breath because most, if not all, of the hijackers got into the U.S. by legal means (they didn’t jump a boarder fence, swim across the ocean, etc). In fact I would argue that it’s far EASIER for an American citizen to be a terrorist than it is for an “illegal.” The 1995 bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, Columbine HS, Virginia Tech, and many others were ALL the work of AMERICAN CITIZENS!
The 14th Amendment also states that: “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” By forcing “illegal immigrants” to hide and live in fear, we are ignoring the Constitution again. By living underground, these immigrants are often abused and taken advantage of because they don’t realize they have rights even though they aren’t citizens. They have the right to be treated fairly, paid fairly, safe work environments, and the same protection from law enforcement as normal citizens do.
I’ve bored you long enough so I will just say two things in closing. The first is that people such as Congressman Chaffetz need to seriously pull their heads from their asses and see the world as it really is. The second, and last thing, is that all of these elected officials truly need to read, reread, and reread the very documents that they have sworn to uphold and protect!
Congressman Chaffetz is apparently going to cosponsor a bill that would mandate that at least one parent be an American citizen in order for a newborn, born in the U.S. to be given automatic citizenship. Please Congressman, allow me to burst your bubble and bring you back to terra firma.
First, I would like to remind you of a simple set of documents that are merely over 200 years old. The Constitution of the United States of America states that: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside,” Amendment 14, Section 1. As you can plainly read, Sir, the very bill you are cosponsoring is unequivocally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! It is unconstitutional now, it will be tomorrow, and, if for some dumb ass reason it passes, it will be unconstitutional if it passes.
People seem to forget the idea that basically every single U.S. citizen is a descendant of an “illegal immigrant” and that this country would not have the diversity it does if it wasn’t for immigrants (legal or not). I mean, as far as I know, none of the Native Americans said “sure you can settle here.” Our forefathers simply showed up and said “this is our land now, you savages need to take your shit and go.”
The longer this debate on “illegal immigration” goes on, the more asinine it becomes! I mean how pathetic is it that there is so much concern and fear about immigrants from Central and South America, and yet there isn’t a single word about the fact that Cuban’s who make it to U.S. soil are basically given citizenship. A person who gets into the U.S. by land is a “potential danger to National Security” and yet someone who crosses 90 miles of ocean is a saint? Give me a break!
I’m starting to think that this whole debate has been created to be nothing more than a scapegoat. Immigrants are new and different so lets blame their asses for ALL of our problems rather than point the fingers where they really belong. We have screwed ourselves, no one else is to blame! Its OUR fault that we refuse to work certain jobs because they “don’t pay enough”, the jobs are “below us”, or the work is simply too damn hard. We create the job market and appeal to immigrants to come simply because we are too lazy or egotistical. It’s not the immigrants fault. In fact, if it wasn’t for all these people willing, and THANKFUL, to take the shitty jobs we won’t, our entire society would be different.
Also this whole idea that an “unsecured boarder” could lead to another terrible terrorist attack is WAY overblown, if not out right total horse shit. Cite September 11 all you want but don’t waste your breath because most, if not all, of the hijackers got into the U.S. by legal means (they didn’t jump a boarder fence, swim across the ocean, etc). In fact I would argue that it’s far EASIER for an American citizen to be a terrorist than it is for an “illegal.” The 1995 bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, 1996 Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, Columbine HS, Virginia Tech, and many others were ALL the work of AMERICAN CITIZENS!
The 14th Amendment also states that: “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” By forcing “illegal immigrants” to hide and live in fear, we are ignoring the Constitution again. By living underground, these immigrants are often abused and taken advantage of because they don’t realize they have rights even though they aren’t citizens. They have the right to be treated fairly, paid fairly, safe work environments, and the same protection from law enforcement as normal citizens do.
I’ve bored you long enough so I will just say two things in closing. The first is that people such as Congressman Chaffetz need to seriously pull their heads from their asses and see the world as it really is. The second, and last thing, is that all of these elected officials truly need to read, reread, and reread the very documents that they have sworn to uphold and protect!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Governor Mark Sandford
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_on_re_us/us_sc_governor
Ok, I just want to say that this guy was just a plain dumb ass. If you are coming back from a trip to see your "mistress" and are trying to be sneaky about it, DON'T FLY INTO A PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT!
Also, if this guy was a Democrat, how much do you want to bet that he would have been forced to resign his position already, especially if he did use state funds to visit her. Republicans are the party of "morals" so as long as they apologize its all ok. But if a Democrat (the liberal far left, communist, god hating, blah blah blah) does it, then he/she must resign immediately and barred from all other offices. GIVE ME A DAMN BREAK! Personally, I don't give a damn about what people do in private and their private lives, but when you use tax money wrongly to make it happen, then we have a problem.
The thing that really kills me is that apparently an interview of christian voters was done, and they said they would be willing to vote for him again ONLY if him and his wife stay married...WTF! Are they seriously more concerned over the "institution of marriage" that they don't give a damn he abused tax dollars? Not to mention they fact that a person's marital status should have NO BEARING on whether or not they are elected to office! Give me a single elected who never cheats over a married one who is doing it constantly anyday.
Not to mention the fact that, especially lately, more Republicans have "mistresses" than the Democrats have. Yes, I know that Democrats have "mistresses" too but they aren't the ones who have "I'm a Republican the only people with morals" tatooed to their foreheads!
Ok, I just want to say that this guy was just a plain dumb ass. If you are coming back from a trip to see your "mistress" and are trying to be sneaky about it, DON'T FLY INTO A PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT!
Also, if this guy was a Democrat, how much do you want to bet that he would have been forced to resign his position already, especially if he did use state funds to visit her. Republicans are the party of "morals" so as long as they apologize its all ok. But if a Democrat (the liberal far left, communist, god hating, blah blah blah) does it, then he/she must resign immediately and barred from all other offices. GIVE ME A DAMN BREAK! Personally, I don't give a damn about what people do in private and their private lives, but when you use tax money wrongly to make it happen, then we have a problem.
The thing that really kills me is that apparently an interview of christian voters was done, and they said they would be willing to vote for him again ONLY if him and his wife stay married...WTF! Are they seriously more concerned over the "institution of marriage" that they don't give a damn he abused tax dollars? Not to mention they fact that a person's marital status should have NO BEARING on whether or not they are elected to office! Give me a single elected who never cheats over a married one who is doing it constantly anyday.
Not to mention the fact that, especially lately, more Republicans have "mistresses" than the Democrats have. Yes, I know that Democrats have "mistresses" too but they aren't the ones who have "I'm a Republican the only people with morals" tatooed to their foreheads!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Iranian Election
So I have been watching the Iranian election the last few days, and also the reaction to it.
First off, to all of those people who say that the President must take a stronger stand on the whole thing, I say shut it. An election is an entirely internal matter for any country. How would we like it if during the 2000 or 2004 Presidential election, other countries tried to get involved? How would we have reacted if France, Italy, Russia, England, etc had come out and said “the election is a fraud” or something similar? I have a feeling it would not have gone over too well. Just because we consider ourselves the “beacon of freedom” doesn’t mean that we have to comment on every single election that any other country has.
I applaud the President’s restraint in his comments about getting involved with the Iranian election in any way. I think people often forget that our interference in Iran is a big reason that Ahmadinejad was even given the opportunity to get into power in the first place. Getting involved in other countries’ elections can lead to very bad things and honestly should rarely, if ever, happen.
What we are seeing in Iran right now, is part of the evolution of becoming a democracy. The people there have had enough, and are finally starting to realize the power that they have. This is how revolutions begin. People get tired of being constantly under the leash and this is the result. We went through the exact same thing, as well as every other democracy in the world. It’s a slow process, and one that isn’t always neat and clean, cut and dry.
The best thing to do is to wait and see. Getting involved will only add fuel to tensions that already existed, especially given past involvement.
First off, to all of those people who say that the President must take a stronger stand on the whole thing, I say shut it. An election is an entirely internal matter for any country. How would we like it if during the 2000 or 2004 Presidential election, other countries tried to get involved? How would we have reacted if France, Italy, Russia, England, etc had come out and said “the election is a fraud” or something similar? I have a feeling it would not have gone over too well. Just because we consider ourselves the “beacon of freedom” doesn’t mean that we have to comment on every single election that any other country has.
I applaud the President’s restraint in his comments about getting involved with the Iranian election in any way. I think people often forget that our interference in Iran is a big reason that Ahmadinejad was even given the opportunity to get into power in the first place. Getting involved in other countries’ elections can lead to very bad things and honestly should rarely, if ever, happen.
What we are seeing in Iran right now, is part of the evolution of becoming a democracy. The people there have had enough, and are finally starting to realize the power that they have. This is how revolutions begin. People get tired of being constantly under the leash and this is the result. We went through the exact same thing, as well as every other democracy in the world. It’s a slow process, and one that isn’t always neat and clean, cut and dry.
The best thing to do is to wait and see. Getting involved will only add fuel to tensions that already existed, especially given past involvement.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Absolutely Unacceptable!
Ok as most of you know, I'm very much for a woman's right to choose and for abortion to be a legal medical procedure. So call me biased if you want.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31029377/
This most recent murder of a doctor who performs abortions, is absolutely unacceptable! This is exactly the problem of constantly hammering the "abortion is murder" bull shit. Eventually some dumb ass is going to get it into his pea sized brain that "I'm going to do god's bidding and kill someone who does abortions and god will reward me for it."
I hope that when they catch the guy who did this they do the following: no plea deals, no insanity plea, and the death penalty. This is obviously premeditated murder and should be treated as such! If this guy gets off with just a life sentence it would be disgusting.
I have no problem with people feeling that abortion is wrong, but I do have a problem when you portray the person who does it, and the person who is getting the procedure, murderers. Its THEIR choice and THEY have to live with it, not you! For those who use the bible, and religion in general, as a platform to get abortion banned listen up. If god truly is the final judge in all matters then you have no reason to try and force people to not do something you don't agree with. If god is real, then we nonbelievers, sinners, blah blah blah, are screwed already so let us live our lives the way we want in peace and we will do the same for you. No one is grabbing your hands and forcing you into an abortion clinic, a bar, porn shop, or whatever so don't grab us and try to prevent us from going in.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31029377/
This most recent murder of a doctor who performs abortions, is absolutely unacceptable! This is exactly the problem of constantly hammering the "abortion is murder" bull shit. Eventually some dumb ass is going to get it into his pea sized brain that "I'm going to do god's bidding and kill someone who does abortions and god will reward me for it."
I hope that when they catch the guy who did this they do the following: no plea deals, no insanity plea, and the death penalty. This is obviously premeditated murder and should be treated as such! If this guy gets off with just a life sentence it would be disgusting.
I have no problem with people feeling that abortion is wrong, but I do have a problem when you portray the person who does it, and the person who is getting the procedure, murderers. Its THEIR choice and THEY have to live with it, not you! For those who use the bible, and religion in general, as a platform to get abortion banned listen up. If god truly is the final judge in all matters then you have no reason to try and force people to not do something you don't agree with. If god is real, then we nonbelievers, sinners, blah blah blah, are screwed already so let us live our lives the way we want in peace and we will do the same for you. No one is grabbing your hands and forcing you into an abortion clinic, a bar, porn shop, or whatever so don't grab us and try to prevent us from going in.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
2 Things
The first thing involves North Korea and the serious situation that is going on
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090528/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_nuclear
I hope that cooler heads will decrease the potency of this situation so that we don't find ourselves active in a third major war. If they don't however and we go to war (again) with South Korea, I hope that we do it right. Mobolize the entire country for a major conflict, tell the American people that this could get very bad and there will be sacrifices the country will HAVE to make in order to win. Wars are started with something as simple as a look or a word. Lets hope that things don't get that far.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6634282
This is just asinine people I'm sorry. Part of driving is learning how to deal with the consequences of our choices on the road. Speeding, aggressive driving, or whatever and getting a ticket from it is just part of the process. So what if it allows a parent to talk to the driver? A police car with flashing lights is more intimidating than a parent for a 16 year old. Not to mention the fact that by allowing parents to yell at their kids through this thing DISTRACTS their kids from driving! DUH!
If a kid is going to disobey the rules that are going to no matter what. Whats to stop them from smashing or taking the damn thing off to begin with? This is the REAL world people and in the REAL world no one is going to know anyother person EXACT movements or actions. If you don't trust your kid so much that you use this damn thing, then I have to seriously question your parenting up to that point. Besides if anything its called:
PULL THE KEYS, CAR, AND LICENSE DUMB ASS!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090528/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_nuclear
I hope that cooler heads will decrease the potency of this situation so that we don't find ourselves active in a third major war. If they don't however and we go to war (again) with South Korea, I hope that we do it right. Mobolize the entire country for a major conflict, tell the American people that this could get very bad and there will be sacrifices the country will HAVE to make in order to win. Wars are started with something as simple as a look or a word. Lets hope that things don't get that far.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6634282
This is just asinine people I'm sorry. Part of driving is learning how to deal with the consequences of our choices on the road. Speeding, aggressive driving, or whatever and getting a ticket from it is just part of the process. So what if it allows a parent to talk to the driver? A police car with flashing lights is more intimidating than a parent for a 16 year old. Not to mention the fact that by allowing parents to yell at their kids through this thing DISTRACTS their kids from driving! DUH!
If a kid is going to disobey the rules that are going to no matter what. Whats to stop them from smashing or taking the damn thing off to begin with? This is the REAL world people and in the REAL world no one is going to know anyother person EXACT movements or actions. If you don't trust your kid so much that you use this damn thing, then I have to seriously question your parenting up to that point. Besides if anything its called:
PULL THE KEYS, CAR, AND LICENSE DUMB ASS!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Abandoning religion
So I had a few friends at work ask me why I chose to be agnostic even though I was raised in a semireligious house. This was my response to them and figured I would post it for everyone else who wanted to know. I tried to make this easy to follow lol. This is mostly just the big reasons I chose to abandon religion and become agnostic.
Every religion is FULL of contradictions. For example, how is it that god can have so many human emotions, such as jealousy (one commandment states "have no other god before me" which I interpret as jealousy) and yet some of the very same emotions are "sinful" for humans to have? God can act human but humans can't act human? Makes no sense. Also how can god "love everyone" and yet turn around and condemn them to "hell" for "sinning"? Any parent (god is considered a parent in religion) worth an ounce would NEVER be able to condemn his/her child to pain and suffering. The bible also talks about stoning people who commit adultery, mostly women, and yet by supposedly impregnating Mary (a married woman) god is committing adultery AND rape since Mary was never asked by it. Not to mention if god is so apt at creating life then why does it need to use a human to have a supposed son? God can create life but not without a human? Or why is it "required" that we all have bunches of babies and yet god can't seem to have more than one? So wouldn't it reason that god should in turn be stoned, or punished in some way, as well?
Also with contradictions. How can religions claim to be tolerant of everyone and opposing views and yet turn around and try and convert people? The very act of trying to convert someone is an act of intolerance, because by telling people to convert to this religion or that religion, you are in effect telling those people that EVERYTHING that have believed in up to that point is wrong and they won't be "saved" unless they change their views. If religions truly were tolerant then they would never send missionaries and try to convert others.
Another big reason, is that religion has its hands soaked in blood of innocent people. From the Crusades and the Inquisition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, religions have been constantly fighting each other. How can a religion be pure and the followers of god when their hands are soaked in blood because they all think they are the one "true" religion. We are all supposed to love one another and yet if someone is the wrong religion that opposes us then we must destroy said "infidel"? Please.. To me if any god exists then it would be more impressed with the people who weren't religious because of all the war and bloodshed caused by religion killing in god's name.
Religions also DETEST people who question them. Questioning your religion seems to be the same as "sinning" to most religions. Any organization, religion, or whatever that refuses to be questioned by others and by its members is not worth belonging to in my mind. Questioning is part of life and there is nothing wrong with "I don't know answers" and yet religions refuse to say that. They would rather people be mindless and follow their religion with no ifs, ands, or buts rather than actually fully use their minds. If we are made by a god, then it would fit that we were given a brain to fully use and be independent thinkers, rather than mindless followers who never question.
Thats pretty much the biggest points as to why I'm agnostic. There are some others but they kinda fit into what I have already said. I figure if there is some sort of god that seems to have tons of time to watch every little move we make and made us all, then it can't complain and condemn me for who I am and what I think.
Every religion is FULL of contradictions. For example, how is it that god can have so many human emotions, such as jealousy (one commandment states "have no other god before me" which I interpret as jealousy) and yet some of the very same emotions are "sinful" for humans to have? God can act human but humans can't act human? Makes no sense. Also how can god "love everyone" and yet turn around and condemn them to "hell" for "sinning"? Any parent (god is considered a parent in religion) worth an ounce would NEVER be able to condemn his/her child to pain and suffering. The bible also talks about stoning people who commit adultery, mostly women, and yet by supposedly impregnating Mary (a married woman) god is committing adultery AND rape since Mary was never asked by it. Not to mention if god is so apt at creating life then why does it need to use a human to have a supposed son? God can create life but not without a human? Or why is it "required" that we all have bunches of babies and yet god can't seem to have more than one? So wouldn't it reason that god should in turn be stoned, or punished in some way, as well?
Also with contradictions. How can religions claim to be tolerant of everyone and opposing views and yet turn around and try and convert people? The very act of trying to convert someone is an act of intolerance, because by telling people to convert to this religion or that religion, you are in effect telling those people that EVERYTHING that have believed in up to that point is wrong and they won't be "saved" unless they change their views. If religions truly were tolerant then they would never send missionaries and try to convert others.
Another big reason, is that religion has its hands soaked in blood of innocent people. From the Crusades and the Inquisition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, religions have been constantly fighting each other. How can a religion be pure and the followers of god when their hands are soaked in blood because they all think they are the one "true" religion. We are all supposed to love one another and yet if someone is the wrong religion that opposes us then we must destroy said "infidel"? Please.. To me if any god exists then it would be more impressed with the people who weren't religious because of all the war and bloodshed caused by religion killing in god's name.
Religions also DETEST people who question them. Questioning your religion seems to be the same as "sinning" to most religions. Any organization, religion, or whatever that refuses to be questioned by others and by its members is not worth belonging to in my mind. Questioning is part of life and there is nothing wrong with "I don't know answers" and yet religions refuse to say that. They would rather people be mindless and follow their religion with no ifs, ands, or buts rather than actually fully use their minds. If we are made by a god, then it would fit that we were given a brain to fully use and be independent thinkers, rather than mindless followers who never question.
Thats pretty much the biggest points as to why I'm agnostic. There are some others but they kinda fit into what I have already said. I figure if there is some sort of god that seems to have tons of time to watch every little move we make and made us all, then it can't complain and condemn me for who I am and what I think.
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