Unoriginal_Name

Well, if I have never admitted it before on here, I'll admit it now: I'm a U2 fan. Have been for a while, ranking anywhere between 1 and 3 on my favorite music artists list. And even in my spiritual haze (agnostic doesn't completely say it, but it comes close), I have always appreciated the spiritual tones that come with some U2 songs. It does move me sometimes.

This, however, has me rubbed the wrong way. I understand churches are looking for new ways to bring people in, but this seems wrong to me. Talking with a friend of mine about it on IM, I think I came up with at least part of the reason why.

( Rambling on... )

David Beckham leaving Spain, joining the Los Angeles Galaxy this July.

As a football fan, Beckham is probably on the downside of his career. It doesn't overly surprise me that he would want something not as difficult to deal with the next few years (not to mention a 5 year deal for a 31 year old in football is impossible to get in Europe).

As an American soccer fan, I really hope this works. MLS has come a long way in 10 years, but this may end up being the move that makes or breaks it. If nothing else, we'll know a lot more about the future of the sport pretty quickly.

EDIT to add: And in reverse ocean jumping news, Clint Dempsey leaves MLS for English club Fulham. He is now the 13th American playing in the English Premier League, 3 on Fulham alone (with the club attempting to sign a 4th before the current transfer window closes in January.) Good for Dempsey, he's earned it.

I know that Time's Person of the Year is not a defining event it has been before. In an age where things seem to change faster than the time it takes to write these entries, it seems hard to pick just one person or one thing.

But this year, I think they have it nailed. Because this year was just as much defined by people looking out their own window, seeing or hearing or living something they think is interesting, and writing or posting a video. Getting together on any number of social networks and even making the news before the news knows it's news.

Time's selection for Person of the Year is You.

I really like this choice. It is amazing this year how the web has redefined itself as a vehicle for you, for me, for anybody to see the world as it happens; to share what is on your own mind and find others who are both with or against them; and to raise a voice for the wrongs we all see. Everybody is talking, and everybody is listening. Who knows where that can truly go?

Any thoughts?

What a world we live in.

House of Commons declares Quebecois "A nation within a united Canada".

Even the Canadians are trying to seperate themselves from the French Canadians.

Maybe this would work for Florida.

If I were king of the internet, I would make it mandatory that, before any person can forward an email of something someone heard, they would have to cross check it with Snopes first.

I'm really tired of some of the junk my family send me without bothering to see if it's real or not.

Like this one for the latest example.

Well, the Associated Press has just called the VA race for challenger Jim Webb. They have Webb leading by 7,200 votes, and with half of precincts canvassed the day after, there have been no major discrepencies reported. According to an Allen staffer, George Allen is "disinclined" to call for a recount unless the margin moves closer.

I have to say, unless the margin moves now, I wouldn't blame Allen for not calling a recount. Last year, there was a recount in the Attorney General race, which had the winner up by 330 votes pre-recount.

After recount, the difference was 300.

Votes just aren't missed here usually. And that margin looks safe.

EDIT to add...

OUTSIDE of that subject, I really hope there will be a move towards unity over the next couple of years. Will never happen, but oh well. 2008 has now begun.

The VA board of elections has 99 percent of precincts reporting, with George Allen leading Jim Webb by 1,800 votes. Out of 2.3 million votes cast (turnout is above 50 percent).

CNN, with 99 percent of precincts in, have it at WEBB ahead by 3,000. Their trend has been following the board trend; Webb drawing closer and closer.

It is amazing to think that this race, which 6 months ago was all but Allen's (up 30 points), will be the closest senate race in the US this year. It shows that anything is truly possible. In addition, thanks to Independent Green Gail Parker, neither party will win the majority.

I expect the next few days to be the most nail-biting in VA history. This will be a hard fight up and down the line.

Well, the vote counting is udnerway here in Virginia. So far, they haven't called the senate race between George Allen and Jim Webb. I really don't know how that one is going to go at all. It's going to be an interesting couple of hours (most figure we will know by 9PM).

However, on the same-sex marriage ban, CNN has already called it for passing. I voted no on this one, but I can't say I'm surprised by this result. Disappointed, but not surprised. I really thought this state could see through this amendment and see it's implications within it's wording. I guess not.

I know Goodlatte will win reelection here for the house. 2 independents are running against him, but no democrat and no chance against one of the more entrenched men in DC.

8PM update- CNN has 23 percent of precincts in, State board website has 27. But both say the same thing; Webb with a razor's edge lead right now. I had this pegged as being close, but not by this much.

9PM- 66% in, Allen is up at the moment. There seems to be a few noteworthy laggards in getting results in, mostly from the tidewater region (VA Beach, Norfolk, and such). That can truly break any number of ways. There is some lag in the Shenandoah Valley (good for Allen) and in Nothern VA (good for Webb), but not to that level.

9:45 PM- We're gonna need antacid. And alchohol. And a lot of temporary housing for the reporters and the lawyers. Send help!

Winner for the most confusing analogy attempt of the year: Rick Santorum, Republican senator of Pennsylvania.

Speaking to the Bucks County Courier Times in the midst of his reelection campaign, he talked of how the US has avoided terror attacks over the last 5 years because of Iraq. The quote:

"As the hobbits are going up Mount Doom, the Eye of Mordor is being drawn somewhere else," Santorum said. "It's being drawn to Iraq and it's not being drawn to the U.S. You know what? I want to keep it on Iraq. I don't want the Eye to come back here to the United States."

So, where is the one ring in that case?

Tried to watch the last Virginia Senatoral Debate tonight.

Got through all of 4 minutes. When both candidates couldn't get through there opening 2 minutes speeches without 3 slams at each other, I gave up.

I may have been better off. Caught some of the highlights on the late local news. The following is nearly word for word what occured:

Allen- "All you want to do is raise taxes."
Webb- "How are you going to pay for everything?"
Allen- "All you want to do is raise taxes."
Webb- "How are you going to pay for everything?"

This continued for 30 seconds. No attempt to refute, elaborate, explain, or anything. Nothing from Allen to answer Webb's question. Nothing from Webb to explain why he might believe that.

November 8th can't come soon enough.

There are times one can make jokes about a given thing. And then there are times where the jokes about something can just write themselves.

And then, there is this.

Terrell Owens has written a kids book. About sharing.

There is no joke I could make that would be funnier than the very fact that THIS EXISTS.

Currently watching the Australia Rules Football Grand Final. Or maybe more appropriately, watching the pre-game buildup.

The only thing I can gather from it is that Australians must have an affinity for 80's pop songs. Irene Cara sang "What a Feeling" while some group did a cover of Chicago's "You're the Inspiration."

Still find it funny that the Sydney Swans use the Notre Dame fight song as the background tune for their fight song.

I wonder how thalass is holding up at the moment. I know it's his Eagles playing tonight, so hopefully we have a great night in store.

And by the way, welcome Thalass to the Friends list at this establishment (note no use of the word fine). Welcome Thalass, and sorry I didn't see you sooner.

I know what today is, and while I understand people focusing there attention on it, I'm not going to be one of them. That is my own decision, not a statement on anybody else.

Instead, I've been drawn to a different subject: this week's TIME cover story, titled "Does God Want You to Be Rich?" (By the way, you can read the article free if you just sit through a quick 30 second ad. Any other way of seeing it I don't know about, but I'm sure is out there.) The support for such a notion has been around, probably most notablye, as said in the article, in the Pentecostal movement. But now, with almost 1 in 3 American Christians believing that if you give God money, he will bless you with more in return, it seems like there is a birth of a new notion: Capitalistic Evangelicals.

I'm usually not one to talk religion, but I'm going to here. More after the cut.

( Read more... )

(additional edit with an additional thought added at 5:30 PM)

Haven't updated in a while. I should rectify that I guess, though there is nothing new to truly report.

The job hunt has seen me change my mind several times on a direction, and its infuriating me. I haven't been able to say broadcasting or my degree for sure. I'm now leaning towards the degree, just because I'm not impressed with the field and the prospects in broadcasting. I hope to get something out late this week / early next.

I also have to admit, I've been trying to come to grips on the possibility of working for the US government. I'm not a big fan of the size of the current government, and think it can be reduced. But at the same time, if I got a job there, I certainly wouldn't want it to happen to me. There are certainly opportunites for work as an economist though.

Just got back from a family reunion. The main highlight was getting to see Niagra Falls and doing some of the touristy stuff that comes from it. It was... wet. Worth it, and I'll need to get back to Canada sometime (after job).

Also need to pick up Animaniacs on DVD. But that's for later.

Everyone doing ok out there?

I'm looking at getting a cell phone.

Yes, I currently don't have one, mostly becuase I have never wanted one or seen the need for it. And I still don't, but I've come to the reality that I probably need to get one. So, I need opinions: what do you all have, and do you like it or hate it? I'm currently figuring either Spring, Cingular, or Verizon, but I'm not sure which (they all seem the same to me). So, if you can help me out, just leave a comment. Thanks.

Ok, not really.

But, at 2:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time today, I turned in my third paper for Monetary Theory and Polciy. The completion of this paper represents my last piece of academic work in my college career. I have now completed my fourth, and final, year of time at Ithaca College.

And assuming no surprises, on May 14th, I will officially graduate with a major in Economics. I don't know what I'm doing yet. All I do know is that this is now over.

Its official: I am the only person on the planet without one.

Now, even the Pope has an iPod.

But if I may ask, WWJD? (What Would Jesus Download?)

You know, I can only hear the awards for now (BBC America is scheduled to show the awards on April 15th), but just based on the energy of the performances and the award celebrations, I have to say that if the Grammies were more like this, I'd be glued to the TV every year. Somebody needs to take this tape to the recording academy and say "it should be like this dolts."

Also, props to Jack Johnson. Winning a NAOMI (think British Music Razzies) award for Worst International Male Award, then following it up the next night with a Brit for Best International Breakthrough artist. And thus proving that divisions between music fans are truely universal. British fans also prove their better taste by giving worst awards to both Jessica Simpson AND Pussycat Dolls.

Is it sad for me to admit I find the British acts to be far better musically speaking? Maybe I do need to move countries or something.

(Addenum to say: Also love how much more honest people are being with this show. U-POP's commentator on Paris Hilton presenting Best Inrernational Album after it was won by Green Day for American Idiot: "How appropriate.")