Obama Needs All the Help He Can Get (and give)

I haven't written anything for quite some time due to the fact that I have been busy searching for a job and watching how things keep getting worse and worse. Now that my Unemployment (Extended) has run out, I will soon be among the homeless. Currently, I am living in a boarding house, which I'd love to stay at, and I might be able to eke out another month if I avoid paying bills.

On a positive note, this past Monday I received my Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the Boston Language Institute. I also got my passport last month when the money was still coming in. I had hoped on traveling to Southeast Asia, China or Madagascar, as that is where most of the succulent plants that intrigue me so much hail from.

On another positve note, I found an old friend, Steve, with whom I worked a few years back at Wentworth. I found him on LinkedIn. I wasn't sure if it was him, since thre were about 50 users with a similar name, but I figured he was in the Virginia/North Carolina region. I found him in Research Triangle Park. He made me aware of a career fair for the Wake County Public Schools, but since I don't have any practical experience teaching yet, I figure not to get any hopes up.

When you look at the constant drumbeat of bad news all around the world, its a wonder there isn't more general outrage against the CEOs and execs who we trusted to be smart enough to manage the economy. When people get jail time for smoking pot, but screwing up the economy and constantly laying off workers to pay for executive jaunts and conferences with tax payer money, why aren't they getting jail time?

I spend most of my time looking for work, either in any capacity in IT or as a way to get into Teaching ESL. I am also working on creating a very large Cactus and Succulent database that I have been working on for a few years now. The goal is to eliminate invalid species (over 2400) that would be 'verified' by the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. Someday, I'll get my hands on a digital camera, take a few hundred pictures, add growing instructions, get it self-published, and voila, instant book.

I spend most of my days now, using wifi at my friend Bruce's new business, "Let's Go Clay', a paint your own pottery (ceramics) business located at 699 Adams Street, Quincy, MA. Check out his website at letsgoclay.com I used to spend a lot of time at the Library, but their public wifi was often sporadic and I got hassled by the cops for no good, apparent reason.

On Election Day, here in the US, I had to actually get in line to vote. I don't ever recall that happening to me, other than being 2nd or 3rd in line. But this line was coming out the dor and it was mid-morning! I felt vindicated when I saw crowds in New York, Chicago and Boston, dancing and celebrating Obama's victory. This 8 year nightmare of a Presidency couldn't come to an end soon enough.

Another attempt to avoid the issues - with just 53 days to go...

This is how bad the US election has sunk. Barack Obama uses the phrase 'You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig!'. This is a phrase that is in common usage, in fact John McCain used the very same line concerning Hillary Clinton's Health Care plan.

But conservative bloggers are all over Obama viewing it as an attack on Sarah Palin. How ridiculous. They are claiming that it was a sexist statement because she used the word 'lipstick' in her acceptance speech at the RNC. If it weren't for Hillary running for President, Palin would never have been considered. Do women really know what they are getting with Sarah Palin? This is just a crass attempt to avid the real issue, like the loss of jobs, homes and the destruction of the middle class under 14 years of GOP rule.

Something you always knew... the National Park Service is in bed with the Oil Industry. NBC news reported yesterday that employees of the Department of Interior were not only having sex parties with the employees of the oil industry and their lobbyists, but with themselves - in other words some of them were DOI toys.

A lot of stuff needs to be cleaned up in DC, but McCain and Palin are not the ones to do it.

Democratic Cave-in on FISA

The other day, the FISA bill which would allow the US Government to open and read your email and monitor your overseas phone in the name of national security passed despite the so-called Democratic opposition. Bush and Co., essentially had gotten all that it asked for and Barack Obama allegedly supports this latest assault on our privacy. Phone and ISP providers have essentially been given a green light from immunity from future prosecution. This merging of corporate and government power united against us, amounts to nothing less than fascism.

But if the Democrats are going to act like Republicans why bother talking about 'Change'. Do Democrats have a plan and or a backbone?

Ted Koppel is doing an interesting series of reports on China as we approach the Olympics, called "The People's Republic of Capitalism". In espisode 2, they began the talk about politics in China and he interviewed a former Seattle art student who lived in Seattle and has since returned to his native Chonqing, China. When asked about China's crackdown on dissidents he answered: "I do not like my government, but I trust my government." Do you trust yours.

The Chinese government to its credit at least palns for the future. The series concerns Chonqing and China's plans on making it a high tech and business hub of the Southwest part of China. I wish the US government had the same commitment to the future of America's rusr belt areas and give residents in the Midwest and Northeast hope for their futures.

After the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, I'll ask the question again, "Do you trust your government?

Banks are at it again!

My bank is in the town over from me, so I usually take money out from an ATM at my supermarket. The ATM owner is Citizen's Bank and they have just raised their fees from $2.00 to $2.75. That's almost a 40% increase just to use their machine. While I won't argue that there is a cost incurred for them to fill the machine, this fare increase can't be justified. Don't blame it on the high cost of fuel, I know that's a tempting excuse for justifying any increase whatsoever. These fees are now equal what you would pay at a 'captive audience' site like an airport or a casino.

But you come right down to it, aren't the banks one of the prime culprits of America's credit meltdown? While conservatives like to blame individuals for taking on risky debt, it was the loan officer's responsibility to ensure that bad loans not get processed in the first place. Back in the 1980's the issue reason for the economic collapse was the same - banks being to greedy with mortgage interest rates. Now they want *US* to pay for their bad decision making.

Is it any wonder why the American consumer is in so much debt. Back when people had equity in their homes, banks encouraged people to take out home equity loans to pay off their debt to credit cards (also owned by banks), and Bush's response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, was to 'go out and spend more money'.

In view of the fact that America's credit meltdown is due in large part to the banking industry's call for gluttony, they should take the lead to get the country back on its feet, by not ripping us off when they WANT us to use their machines by putting them in places where people on tight budgets go to same some cash, their local supermarket instead of an expensive night out at a restaurant.

Citizen's Bank should change its name - they have nothing in common with the people they serve.


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Congratulations on the Boston Celtics upon winning their 17th Championship against their storied rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers! Paul Pierce and company did Red Auerbach proud!

Go Red Sox!

Go Bruins!

Go Patriots!

An Appeal to Hillary

To Hillary Clinton:

If you don't want the country to wake up to George Bush's third term, I would urge you to give up your egotistical pursuit for homage to you and get behind the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama.

Women are in charge of many aspects of American society, so you and your hippie feminist supporters should stop complaining about sexism. You blame the media and others for not defending you? Many did, most notably ABC and MSNBC. Where were you when Ann Coulter was calling John Edwards gay? Didn't see you fight the right when John Kerry was being attacked by the 'vast right wing conspiracy'.

Both you and Barack Obama hold the same views on many issues, so the best way to support the working people of America is to get out now, admit you did not win the nomination, and do what is best for the country. Not everything is about you.

You are not the first woman to run for President of the United States. You won't be the first woman to run a country, you won't be the first female vice presidential nominee, the first female, Senator, Governor or Secretary of State. Get over yourself.

I used to respect you and read your books, but if this country wakes up to a McCain Presidency, we'll have two people to vilify. Ralph Nader and you.

Grow up and get behind the grownup.

Sea Glass

Found a new hobby of sorts - looking for sea glass along the New England shoreline. A friend grew up in Hull and used to looked for sea glass as a kid. I lived near the coast, but not that near, so I was unfamiliar with the hobby. Most of the beaches we explore have been pretty much been swept clean, but I have found a few shards.

Sea glass, for those who don't know, is a piece of broken bottle, usually a beer bottle that has been discarded into the sea at least 50 years ago and has been worn down, rounded, and sometimes made opaque by the action of waves, salt and friction on the sand, by the rip tides.

I have found one piece of glass tht has the word 'Trade' on it and according to antique bottles.com, it may be from anywhere from 1870 to 1940.

I spend a lot of time at the Library, but I have only taken out 2 books so far and one was about sea glass. You knew, that glass would be so fascinating. Especially since glass is made from sand and find a glass shard on the beach is essentially, the glass coming home to roost.

I think we should return to the era of the glass bottle. They are re-cyclable and the Pacific ocean north of the Hawaiian Islands won't become an ever larger dump for plastic bottles that will never degrade, just harm sea life.

My day with Apple, Tibet and Earth Hour

Had my seminar with Apple. They had to break us up into 2 conference rooms -- there were 36 in all -- have about 16 in our group.

Movies about the history of Apple, its new commercial, etc. They have these seminars 4 times a day. They are looking for very enthusiastic individuals and they can afford to be picky. They claimed they have interviewed 1000 people so far.

Unlike Radio Shack, at least Apple didn't put the emphasis on selling. They also put us into teams and we had to present something to the group. A couple did commercials. We presented a concept -- how IWeb could be used to keep families in touch -- via photos (IPhoto) and Podcasts (GarageBand) and hosting blogs.

In my introduction, I pointed out how I had an Mac since 1984 -- have had mostly all Macs since then and that I am on my third Ipod -- and that I use it for more than music -- I listed in Podcasts including ABC News as well as various courses from Itunes U.

When they open the Boylston Street store, it will be the largest store in the world -- it will have 3 floors and they are keeping it mostly under wraps -- opens 'Mayish'. It will be a news worthy story I am sure -- so keep your eyes peeled for it.

They will notify via email, those who they want to come in for an interview.

At least Stacy, the manager, remembered me from 2 months ago. But I am still only 1 in 1000 so I am not counting any chickens just yet.

After my day with Apple, I went for Chinese food at PF Changs, as usual, it was a good meal and then I sauntered over to a Tibetan store on Newbury Street. I wanted to show my solidarity with the protests in Lhasa. While I would never consider myself anti-Chinese, the recent 'staged' 'newsconference' of foreign journalists backfired in Beijing's face. And George Bush has already said we will not boycott the Olympics and he is still planning to go to Beijing in August. I am not sure what should be done, but clearly Beijing holds all the cards, the US none.

I have been studying up on the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, a country I hope to visit someday and looked for a CD of Bhutanese music. While teh store only had items made in Tibet and Nepal, I opted for a CD of Tibetan music, since Bhutan is culturally and linguistically linked to Tibet. But I have to make space on my Ipod first in rder to load them up.

I took part in my own little version of 'Earth Hour', now in its second year. Boston did not take part, which is surprising, but many cities and towns acros the globe did take part from Sydney, where it all began last year to Bangkok, Phoenix and Atlanta. It is designed to call attention to the problems of the environment -- meanwhile a huge glacier, nine times the size of Manhattan has fallen off the continent of Antarctica. What is particularly disturbing is the fact that the Southern Hemisphere shas started Autumn, where temperatures there should be cooling, not warming up.