I just got done watching Larry King Live tonight. His guests were the Dixie Chicks. I had to watch because I love their music. Now, I'm not much of a country music person, but their stuff I like.
Anyway, the focus of the interview was on the "incident" in 2003 when Natalie said that they were ashamed that Bush is from Texas. I still don't really understand why so many people got their knickers in a twist about that comment. Heck, I liked them even more after that was said. Of course, I'm typically anti-Bush about most everything, so I may be just a little bit biased.
This comment got way too blown out of proportion in my opinion. What happened to freedom of speech? I know that there are a lot of die-hard Republicans out there. The last presidential election confirmed that for me. But to take one tiny comment and blow it into saying the Dixie Chicks are unpatriotic and are on Saddam's side is ridiculous. Natalie even had a death threat made against her. I mean, I know there are closed-minded people out there (again, see the 2004 election), but to think out any sort of attack on someone, well, is exactly what is going on in Iraq, on both sides. The insurgents continue to plan attacks against Americans, and America is continuing to plan out attacks against the insurgents.
So, I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised by the outcry of this one little comment. That sounds a lot more cynical than I had intended this post to be. I guess I've lived enough in my 26 years on the planet to basically have no faith in the human population in general, especially considering all the psychotic things happening all over the place. I don't just mean the war in Iraq, but everywhere in general. It always seems like there's some crazy person that does completely horrid things to other people. I have one such story, but that will be saved for a different post.
Getting back to my main point, the whole backlash against the Dixie Chicks in incredibly uncalled for. I don't mind that people disagree with what they said. I think disagreement is essential in democracy (even in the state it's in in America at the moment). I just think that sending death threats and having what basically amounts to a party crushing the CDs they've made. I remember seeing that on the news when it first happened and being appalled, because they were bringing bulldozers to crush the CDs. That's just pathetic. I would have more respect for people if they said they didn't agree with what the Dixie Chicks said and that's why they wouldn't buy their music. That's completely fine. But the fact that they crushed CDs just out of spite is totally useless in the long run. I simply cannot understand the motive for these types of things. Well, besides the fact that most people are followers, so if they see one idiot doing something and they have any agreement whatsoever with that idiot, they'll join in. Again, I sound incredibly jaded, which is just sad because I'm only 26. I'm supposed to still be able to see the good in people and be optimistic about the general public. But when people are teaching their kids to hate (as was referenced on Larry King tonight) it's just mind-numbingly sad.
When I started this post I thought it was going to be venting anger at the general public. I really didn't mean for this to turn philosophical and cynical, but that's where I ended up.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Three Posts in One
Now that I've somewhat recovered from studying non-stop for at least three weeks, I have several things to write about.
1. Candidacy Exam Take 3
Yesterday was, what will definitely be, the last time I'll ever have to take the candidacy exam. I'm just so relieved that it's over. I was starting to crack under the pressure of it all. However, I actually think I did pretty well on it. Usually that would be a bad sign for me, because (especially in grad school) when I usually feel great coming out of test, I get it back to find out that I did horribly. Not this time, though. What really helped me out was going over the thermo class notes, and especially working through all the problem sets. The best thing was that one question on the candidacy exam was assigned on a problem set to undergrads this semester. And since I had worked through them, I knew that I could really nail that problem. That's the reason I'm content. It always helps when you see a question that you know you can do. So, the least I expect is to conditionally pass. At least, that's what had better happen. I've put in too much time here to be shoved out the door. And I know I'll have Ray in my corner, too, provided that he's actually around when the faculty meet to discuss the results.
All in all, I finally have some confidence that I will be able to continue on to get my PhD. And it's really nice to relax, finally, after being completely stressed out for the better part of the last month. I actually forgot what it feels like to not have stress, which is incredibly sad now that I think about it.
2. Immigration
Last night I was too exhausted to basically do anything, so I plopped on the couch and just laid there most of the night, flipping through channels until Grey's Anatomy came on. I ended up watching part of Bush's speech on immigration. The thing that really surprised me is that I agree that something should be done. It is very liberal of Bush to want to do something like this, since the Republican Party basically is for big business. I have a real problem with companies that bring in illegal aliens just to get some cheap labor. The same thing goes for factories that move operations to another country. All the upper echelon people in any company are looking for ways that they can line their pockets. I know that's jaded and cynical, but it's true for the most part.
Even though I agree with Bush that something should be done, I don't know if I agree with the way he's planning on going about it. First of all, he has a plan. Considering that he went to war with Iraq with basically no strategy nor plan to win the war, it surprises me that he carefully worked out a plan on this. I think it's a good thing, but he should have been doing something like this since before we went to war.
There are some steps in his plan that seem, at this point, like they'll be next to impossible to actually execute. He brought up having tamper-proof cards for immigrants that use fingerprints or retina scans or something of that nature. Now, I'm not sure if this is already being done in places, but it sounds like a lot of labor would need to be done just to implement this idea.
I also have a problem with this guest worker plan. I know he said it was not amnesty, but it really sounds like it to me.
One other thing that kind of pissed me off is that he wanted to uphold the ideals of America being a melting pot and that all people should be equal and blah blah blah. I may be paraphrasing a bit (or possibly putting words in his mouth). But that sentiment goes completely against one of his platforms. Basically he says that anyone can come into the country and have all the rights that Americans have, which I'm not saying is a bad thing. But, it does contradict his "moral issues" about gay marriage. So basically he's saying that anyone can become an American, but if one is gay they won't get the same rights that all other people do. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, and maybe I'm not. I just feel that Bush is creating a double standard here.
I do think that this whole issue needs to be resolved, and I know that this is basically a way to remind people that he's a good man so the red states will continue to support him and keep Congress in Republican hands.
3. Loan Consolidation Companies
This is just a rant about getting so many phone calls from companies wanting to save me money on my loans. That's all well and good, but it's gotten to the point where I screen my calls, for the most part. But, I usually figure that telemarketers (which is basically what they are) will not call after a certain time of night. For example, at about 8:50 my phone rings. Usually that would be Mom calling me, so I picked up. I knew I should have hung up when I heard the delay before someone started talking to me. However, I stayed on for too long and ended up having this guy trying to convince me to re-consolidate my loans. So, I basically cut him off by saying that I have already consolidated my loans. Of course, that doesn't stop him. He keeps going on as I'm saying, repetitively, that I'm not interested. I then told him that I'll be doing it through the company with whom I've already consolidated my loans and I wasn't interested. So as I'm continuously trying to shut him up, he goes on to say something to the effect of, "So you're just going to stick with what you know and not see what else is out there." So I said yes I am. Seriously, does he really think he's going to win any customers with that kind of attitude?
I just don't get it. How many damn student loan consolidation companies are there in the country. Considering I usually get a phone call from one every other day and they all seem to say that they're a different company. I'm tempted to start writing down names when I pick up just as a little experiment. This reason is why I'm very tempted to get caller ID on my land line. It's not like I get that many calls from non-telemarketers to begin with, but it would be a lot better than screening my calls.
The other thing I'm tempted to do is when I do happen to answer my phone when it's a telemarketer is after they ask if they can speak with me (and typically butcher my last name) I'll tell them that he just dropped dead. Or something to that effect. Maybe that would get them to stop calling me.
Anyway, those are the three things I've been wanting to post about, and now I'm done ranting, at least for now.
1. Candidacy Exam Take 3
Yesterday was, what will definitely be, the last time I'll ever have to take the candidacy exam. I'm just so relieved that it's over. I was starting to crack under the pressure of it all. However, I actually think I did pretty well on it. Usually that would be a bad sign for me, because (especially in grad school) when I usually feel great coming out of test, I get it back to find out that I did horribly. Not this time, though. What really helped me out was going over the thermo class notes, and especially working through all the problem sets. The best thing was that one question on the candidacy exam was assigned on a problem set to undergrads this semester. And since I had worked through them, I knew that I could really nail that problem. That's the reason I'm content. It always helps when you see a question that you know you can do. So, the least I expect is to conditionally pass. At least, that's what had better happen. I've put in too much time here to be shoved out the door. And I know I'll have Ray in my corner, too, provided that he's actually around when the faculty meet to discuss the results.
All in all, I finally have some confidence that I will be able to continue on to get my PhD. And it's really nice to relax, finally, after being completely stressed out for the better part of the last month. I actually forgot what it feels like to not have stress, which is incredibly sad now that I think about it.
2. Immigration
Last night I was too exhausted to basically do anything, so I plopped on the couch and just laid there most of the night, flipping through channels until Grey's Anatomy came on. I ended up watching part of Bush's speech on immigration. The thing that really surprised me is that I agree that something should be done. It is very liberal of Bush to want to do something like this, since the Republican Party basically is for big business. I have a real problem with companies that bring in illegal aliens just to get some cheap labor. The same thing goes for factories that move operations to another country. All the upper echelon people in any company are looking for ways that they can line their pockets. I know that's jaded and cynical, but it's true for the most part.
Even though I agree with Bush that something should be done, I don't know if I agree with the way he's planning on going about it. First of all, he has a plan. Considering that he went to war with Iraq with basically no strategy nor plan to win the war, it surprises me that he carefully worked out a plan on this. I think it's a good thing, but he should have been doing something like this since before we went to war.
There are some steps in his plan that seem, at this point, like they'll be next to impossible to actually execute. He brought up having tamper-proof cards for immigrants that use fingerprints or retina scans or something of that nature. Now, I'm not sure if this is already being done in places, but it sounds like a lot of labor would need to be done just to implement this idea.
I also have a problem with this guest worker plan. I know he said it was not amnesty, but it really sounds like it to me.
One other thing that kind of pissed me off is that he wanted to uphold the ideals of America being a melting pot and that all people should be equal and blah blah blah. I may be paraphrasing a bit (or possibly putting words in his mouth). But that sentiment goes completely against one of his platforms. Basically he says that anyone can come into the country and have all the rights that Americans have, which I'm not saying is a bad thing. But, it does contradict his "moral issues" about gay marriage. So basically he's saying that anyone can become an American, but if one is gay they won't get the same rights that all other people do. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, and maybe I'm not. I just feel that Bush is creating a double standard here.
I do think that this whole issue needs to be resolved, and I know that this is basically a way to remind people that he's a good man so the red states will continue to support him and keep Congress in Republican hands.
3. Loan Consolidation Companies
This is just a rant about getting so many phone calls from companies wanting to save me money on my loans. That's all well and good, but it's gotten to the point where I screen my calls, for the most part. But, I usually figure that telemarketers (which is basically what they are) will not call after a certain time of night. For example, at about 8:50 my phone rings. Usually that would be Mom calling me, so I picked up. I knew I should have hung up when I heard the delay before someone started talking to me. However, I stayed on for too long and ended up having this guy trying to convince me to re-consolidate my loans. So, I basically cut him off by saying that I have already consolidated my loans. Of course, that doesn't stop him. He keeps going on as I'm saying, repetitively, that I'm not interested. I then told him that I'll be doing it through the company with whom I've already consolidated my loans and I wasn't interested. So as I'm continuously trying to shut him up, he goes on to say something to the effect of, "So you're just going to stick with what you know and not see what else is out there." So I said yes I am. Seriously, does he really think he's going to win any customers with that kind of attitude?
I just don't get it. How many damn student loan consolidation companies are there in the country. Considering I usually get a phone call from one every other day and they all seem to say that they're a different company. I'm tempted to start writing down names when I pick up just as a little experiment. This reason is why I'm very tempted to get caller ID on my land line. It's not like I get that many calls from non-telemarketers to begin with, but it would be a lot better than screening my calls.
The other thing I'm tempted to do is when I do happen to answer my phone when it's a telemarketer is after they ask if they can speak with me (and typically butcher my last name) I'll tell them that he just dropped dead. Or something to that effect. Maybe that would get them to stop calling me.
Anyway, those are the three things I've been wanting to post about, and now I'm done ranting, at least for now.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Quote of the Day
I'm borrowing this type of entry from Karen. I actully went in to campus this morning, which is where this took place. Adam came in to talk to Tim, and then as he was leaving, this is the conversation that took place:
Adam: How's the studying going?
Me: (sullenly) OK.
Adam: That was a very Eeyore type response.
I had to laugh at that one because my favorite Pooh character is Eeyore. So, it was a very good description of me.
There is just one other thing I want to write about. I went to Target the other day and bought a pair of the Dr. Scholl gel insoles because the insoles that originally came with the shoe were getting quite worn. (There was even a hole that formed in one of them.) So, I put them in before I went on a hike on the trail behind my apartment, thinking that they would be great. It didn't work out quite that nicely. By the time I got back, I had a blister on the bottom of my right foot. So, I was not happy, and I couldn't understand how that could happen. It took me quite some time to actually size them for my shoe, and I figured I'd just need those without the original insoles. The originals, as I said, were very, very worn. Maybe I should have put them on top of the originals. Of course, it's too late for that now, since I threw the originals away.
My point is that the insoles didn't comfort my foot so I wasn't "gellin'." Perhaps I should have gotten the sport pair. I just don't know. The only thing I do know is that I wasted some money and I have to go buy a new pair of tennis shoes. Damn Dr. Scholl.
Alright, I suppose I should work up some ambition to actually study tonight. I'm feeling very sleepy right now, so maybe a nap is in order before that. We'll see.....
Adam: How's the studying going?
Me: (sullenly) OK.
Adam: That was a very Eeyore type response.
I had to laugh at that one because my favorite Pooh character is Eeyore. So, it was a very good description of me.
There is just one other thing I want to write about. I went to Target the other day and bought a pair of the Dr. Scholl gel insoles because the insoles that originally came with the shoe were getting quite worn. (There was even a hole that formed in one of them.) So, I put them in before I went on a hike on the trail behind my apartment, thinking that they would be great. It didn't work out quite that nicely. By the time I got back, I had a blister on the bottom of my right foot. So, I was not happy, and I couldn't understand how that could happen. It took me quite some time to actually size them for my shoe, and I figured I'd just need those without the original insoles. The originals, as I said, were very, very worn. Maybe I should have put them on top of the originals. Of course, it's too late for that now, since I threw the originals away.
My point is that the insoles didn't comfort my foot so I wasn't "gellin'." Perhaps I should have gotten the sport pair. I just don't know. The only thing I do know is that I wasted some money and I have to go buy a new pair of tennis shoes. Damn Dr. Scholl.
Alright, I suppose I should work up some ambition to actually study tonight. I'm feeling very sleepy right now, so maybe a nap is in order before that. We'll see.....
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Deal or No Deal
Last night, I put in one of my multitude of tapes I've recorded my soaps on, and I was flipping through channels to see what was on TV before I pushed play. I hadn't gotten very far before I came upon Deal or No Deal, the new game show with Howie Mandel hosting it. This isn't the first time I've watched it, but I'll get more into that later.
When I first heard about this game show where people pick cases and potential win a lot of money, I thought it was a stupid idea, because it took no skill whatsoever. When I watch a game show, I like some sort of thought that goes into winning money. Even Wheel of Fortune contestants need to know, well, the alphabet for starters, as well as filling in the blanks with words that make sense.
However, when I first saw Deal or No Deal a couple of weeks ago, I kept watching it for really no apparent reason. And this last time, I watched an entire episode. There's something strangely addicting about this particular game show. I haven't quite put my finger on it, though. I think part of it is just watching the adrenalin rush of the contestants. You wouldn't think that a show like this would be all that difficult, but it certainly seems like it is. Another part of the addicting nature of the show is that some people lose out on making a lot of money because they still have a chance to make even more, like the contestant last night. At one point she could have walked away with $299,000. But she got greedy and by the end, she only took home $25,000. I realize that $25,000 sounds like a lot, especially to a grad student on a stipend, but the fact that she could have walked away with ten times that amount and she turned it down is mind-boggling.
I think the show has an element of the "horrible car wreck" scenario to it. You know how you see a bad accident, cars totaled, windows broken, and maybe some blood, and as you're passing it, you don't want to look at it, but you still end up slowing down just to take a quick peek. This game show is kind of like that. Watching the woman on it last night was very similar. OK, not similar life-or-death-wise, but similar in that it's the same kind of feeling. You don't want to see her lose a lot of money, but you keep watching to see if she actually does.
Anyway, my point is that a game show with what sounds like a silly concept which needs no skill (beyond knowing numbers) seems like it shouldn't be all that exciting to watch. At least in theory, that is. I actually find it very fascinating, although I'd never want to be on the show myself. I don't think I could handle that type of pressure. (Sadly, it seems just as (or more) nerve-wracking as my masters defense.)
Has anyone out there watched it at all? If you have, do you find it as addicting as I do? I'm just putting out questions here to see if one of the few people that read my blog has any comments on this particular subject. Feel free to let me know. I always like seeing comments!
When I first heard about this game show where people pick cases and potential win a lot of money, I thought it was a stupid idea, because it took no skill whatsoever. When I watch a game show, I like some sort of thought that goes into winning money. Even Wheel of Fortune contestants need to know, well, the alphabet for starters, as well as filling in the blanks with words that make sense.
However, when I first saw Deal or No Deal a couple of weeks ago, I kept watching it for really no apparent reason. And this last time, I watched an entire episode. There's something strangely addicting about this particular game show. I haven't quite put my finger on it, though. I think part of it is just watching the adrenalin rush of the contestants. You wouldn't think that a show like this would be all that difficult, but it certainly seems like it is. Another part of the addicting nature of the show is that some people lose out on making a lot of money because they still have a chance to make even more, like the contestant last night. At one point she could have walked away with $299,000. But she got greedy and by the end, she only took home $25,000. I realize that $25,000 sounds like a lot, especially to a grad student on a stipend, but the fact that she could have walked away with ten times that amount and she turned it down is mind-boggling.
I think the show has an element of the "horrible car wreck" scenario to it. You know how you see a bad accident, cars totaled, windows broken, and maybe some blood, and as you're passing it, you don't want to look at it, but you still end up slowing down just to take a quick peek. This game show is kind of like that. Watching the woman on it last night was very similar. OK, not similar life-or-death-wise, but similar in that it's the same kind of feeling. You don't want to see her lose a lot of money, but you keep watching to see if she actually does.
Anyway, my point is that a game show with what sounds like a silly concept which needs no skill (beyond knowing numbers) seems like it shouldn't be all that exciting to watch. At least in theory, that is. I actually find it very fascinating, although I'd never want to be on the show myself. I don't think I could handle that type of pressure. (Sadly, it seems just as (or more) nerve-wracking as my masters defense.)
Has anyone out there watched it at all? If you have, do you find it as addicting as I do? I'm just putting out questions here to see if one of the few people that read my blog has any comments on this particular subject. Feel free to let me know. I always like seeing comments!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Cingular
I keep seeing these commercials on TV about how Cingular has the fewest dropped calls of any wireless carrier nationwide. I even got a little flyer about it in my mailbox today. I have a big problem with this group of people that did the research. I know they're supposed to be separate from Cingular itself, but I'm beginning to wonder about that.
My main problem with the whole idea that they have the fewest dropped calls is that I have a large number of dropped calls. One even happened tonight while I was talking to my mom. So, I'm thinking that either I'm an outlier in the population considered, or they're lying with their statistics. Yes, I live in a woodsy area, and it's kind of a crapshoot as to whether I get a decent signal or not. I still tend to lean that the sample of the populations considered probably avoids areas like central PA, for example.
Of course, I may be wrong. If anyone out there that lives in central PA and has Cingular as their wireless service (mainly Karen, but others are welcome as well) wants to comment on my thoughts, feel free. Comments are also welcome from people who have had Cingular in the past and may have switched to a competitor or have never had Cingular at all. I'm just trying to get my own sample, which obviously will be biased due to the region I'm looking at, but I'd like to see if Cingular is actually being honest with their "independent research".
My main problem with the whole idea that they have the fewest dropped calls is that I have a large number of dropped calls. One even happened tonight while I was talking to my mom. So, I'm thinking that either I'm an outlier in the population considered, or they're lying with their statistics. Yes, I live in a woodsy area, and it's kind of a crapshoot as to whether I get a decent signal or not. I still tend to lean that the sample of the populations considered probably avoids areas like central PA, for example.
Of course, I may be wrong. If anyone out there that lives in central PA and has Cingular as their wireless service (mainly Karen, but others are welcome as well) wants to comment on my thoughts, feel free. Comments are also welcome from people who have had Cingular in the past and may have switched to a competitor or have never had Cingular at all. I'm just trying to get my own sample, which obviously will be biased due to the region I'm looking at, but I'd like to see if Cingular is actually being honest with their "independent research".
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