For the past week I have not read the news. I have not watched the news, read blogs, online journals, or periodicals. I have been effectively cut off from events in the world.
It was no fun.
I am habitually plugged into every source I can find. I read many US papers and news sites. I read the BBC, Al Jazeera, der Speigel, and NPR. I read Left leaning blogs, Right leaning blogs, radicals and reactionaries. This is my usual daily regiment of sources, but by no means am I limited to them. I regularly branch out in pursuit of information.
For the past week I have not had any news. It was weird. The first thing I noticed was a feeling of something missing. Not knowing what is going on is an interesting feeling, but I think that my opinion and view of the matter is bias. I did realize just how easy it is not to be informed. Staying away from the sites I habitually visit every day, I discovered that it is hard to find news in everyday sources and mundane browsing.
I realize how easy it is to live in ignorance of what is going on in the world, and I do mean ignorance. If you don't have the desire to know or find out, no one and no thing is pressing that information on you. In my view, it is very important to have some token understanding of world events, hell, even just national events. Its no wonder polls can say anything the pollsters want them to say.
If you are not looking in today's culture, you will be hard pressed to see what is right in front of you. Its sort of sad, but at the same time, millions of people can live happy lives without caring about all the misery, hurt, joy, and jubilation going on in the world.
Who am I, a political addict, to tell them to look around and disrupt their made up utopian world. I don't really know what else to say, other than it amazes me how much information is available. Information that is hidden from view unless you know where to look.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Uh Oh
Is there a blogger hell? One in which the persecuted are people who start a blog and then subsequently ignore it for months at a time? In this world of constant updates and 24/7 information about, well, anything; it would be entirely likely for a hell of non-updaters to exist. After all, we are reflections of what we create, therefore why have a medium with which to tell the world of your exploits when it sits on a server, collecting gremlins.
To this I answer thusly: I am slightly hungry and Oooo a shiny penny!
To this I answer thusly: I am slightly hungry and Oooo a shiny penny!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Oh yeah
I have a blog, I just remembered... Hello Blog, how have you been? I am pretty good. School is plodding along and I can't seem to find much motivation to do things outside of the required homeworky things required of me.
I was reading the news today and a few headlines caught my attention. The GOP wants to withdraw public funding of NPR. Their quartermaster Ailes called them, "The Left wing of the Nazi Party" (whatever that means in his universe). It is sort of funny to me because while the Right makes fun of NPR, their personalities, and their public and private funding, the NRO is begging for donations so they can stay in operation.
On the Left side of the News Grayson is going crazy because aparently being defeated in the election means no more boundaries. "5 Things the Rich can do with their Tax Cuts" really? Oh the defeated, how boisterous they can become.
Ooo the congress is all about saving money right? Lets stop making GIANT SIGNS THAT HAVE TWO WORDS ON THEM IN CAPITAL LETTERS! Yeah, that sounds good to me...
Sorry, got a little carried away there. The political climate has sort of soured for me of late. I am watching the Democrats sulk, even though they still have control of the Senate and the Presidency. The Republicans are having an identity crisis and absolutely nothing will come out of the House. They just suspended the rules today, making it necessary to get 2/3 of the vote in order to pass unemployment legislation. It failed with a vote of 258-154, yup no money for the unemployed. How about sticking to the rules? You know the ones, where you have to pass a measure by a majority... one more than 50%
Oh those were the days, simple majority votes, passing legislation in a representative republic, just like the CommieSocialistFascist founders intended.
I was reading the news today and a few headlines caught my attention. The GOP wants to withdraw public funding of NPR. Their quartermaster Ailes called them, "The Left wing of the Nazi Party" (whatever that means in his universe). It is sort of funny to me because while the Right makes fun of NPR, their personalities, and their public and private funding, the NRO is begging for donations so they can stay in operation.
On the Left side of the News Grayson is going crazy because aparently being defeated in the election means no more boundaries. "5 Things the Rich can do with their Tax Cuts" really? Oh the defeated, how boisterous they can become.
Ooo the congress is all about saving money right? Lets stop making GIANT SIGNS THAT HAVE TWO WORDS ON THEM IN CAPITAL LETTERS! Yeah, that sounds good to me...
Sorry, got a little carried away there. The political climate has sort of soured for me of late. I am watching the Democrats sulk, even though they still have control of the Senate and the Presidency. The Republicans are having an identity crisis and absolutely nothing will come out of the House. They just suspended the rules today, making it necessary to get 2/3 of the vote in order to pass unemployment legislation. It failed with a vote of 258-154, yup no money for the unemployed. How about sticking to the rules? You know the ones, where you have to pass a measure by a majority... one more than 50%
Oh those were the days, simple majority votes, passing legislation in a representative republic, just like the CommieSocialistFascist founders intended.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Gotta love it
School is great, I love going to school and learning things. That being said, it is awesome to get away from school once and a while and do something completely different. Last weekend I got to go up to the Sweetgrass Hills just North of Chester Montana. It was an awesome trip.
I started off the weekend Friday afternoon with a ride back to Great Falls with Nathanial, it was a nice drive, but I think the beetles have gotten much worse since coming over for school. we got in to Great Falls around 5:45 and I got a wonderful home cooked meal from my mother :). Left Great Falls about 6:30 and drove up to Chester, in the dark, on a highway that I had all to my self. I had to get out after I was past Chester, just had to, because it was so beautiful outside. I stopped, turned off my truck, and just looked up at the sky for a bit, it was glorious.
The hunting trip was great, but I wont detail it here, I was just thinking about how easy it is to travel in Montana. I traveled through so many geographical locations on the trip, it is a simple matter to go from mountains, to the Front, to rolling plains, to the highline. We have opportunities here that other people can only read about in books. That is why I love it in Montana, the diversity of the land.
I started off the weekend Friday afternoon with a ride back to Great Falls with Nathanial, it was a nice drive, but I think the beetles have gotten much worse since coming over for school. we got in to Great Falls around 5:45 and I got a wonderful home cooked meal from my mother :). Left Great Falls about 6:30 and drove up to Chester, in the dark, on a highway that I had all to my self. I had to get out after I was past Chester, just had to, because it was so beautiful outside. I stopped, turned off my truck, and just looked up at the sky for a bit, it was glorious.
The hunting trip was great, but I wont detail it here, I was just thinking about how easy it is to travel in Montana. I traveled through so many geographical locations on the trip, it is a simple matter to go from mountains, to the Front, to rolling plains, to the highline. We have opportunities here that other people can only read about in books. That is why I love it in Montana, the diversity of the land.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Week in Review
This week has been interesting. I have learned a few new things, and had different viewpoints presented to me concerning things I already know. Par for the course I guess. I think the main thing I took out of this week however is that it is no surprise to me why ignorance is bliss.
Knowledge is depressing, and education only heightens the awareness of faults all around you. It is no surprise to me that the majority of educated people are progressives.
Pat Williams presented to one of my classes this week, I have heard him before, but there is always something new. He gave this explanation showing the difference between western and eastern Montana. He said, someone growing up in small town Montana, without a working stoplight, has a hard time grasping the need for governments to have so many regulations. This really makes a lot of sense, Why would you think the government needs to be present in peoples lives when it has never been present in yours, yet you turned out just fine.
The problem today is that conservatives and progressives can't understand or even recognize where the other party is coming from, labeling their opponents the ever-ominous "Other." Ahh for the 1920s. Wait, I meant the 1940s. NONONO! the 1950s! yeah, thats the one. No, I am sure there was another one... ummm, ah yes, the mid 1700's! yeah damn British...
Does no one else look at the patterns of discrimination and misunderstandings so prevalent in our history? Also, the woes about the economy are horrible these days, but do these people understand the economy is like the ocean? The tides come in and out, but its always rolling, never static.
In my Econ class today we looked at Price Index and how it relates to basket markets and more importantly GDP. This is where the ignorance is bliss thing comes in again... when looking at the "fantastic growth" found under the Bush years, it looks like the GDP in plain dollars goes up by hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Looking at a price index however it is truly sad. 3 billion in growth between 2007 and 2008. This is because of inflation (duh) and plain price increases.
So why is it no surprise to me that society gets more progressives out of educational institutions? Because when you learn how the world actually works, how many pitfalls and flaws are present in everyday life, most reasonable people want to fix it. The only entity that has enough power to create change on that large of a scale is the government. I think, while a basic explanation, it strikes at the center of why the ignorant are in true bliss.
Knowledge is depressing, and education only heightens the awareness of faults all around you. It is no surprise to me that the majority of educated people are progressives.
Pat Williams presented to one of my classes this week, I have heard him before, but there is always something new. He gave this explanation showing the difference between western and eastern Montana. He said, someone growing up in small town Montana, without a working stoplight, has a hard time grasping the need for governments to have so many regulations. This really makes a lot of sense, Why would you think the government needs to be present in peoples lives when it has never been present in yours, yet you turned out just fine.
The problem today is that conservatives and progressives can't understand or even recognize where the other party is coming from, labeling their opponents the ever-ominous "Other." Ahh for the 1920s. Wait, I meant the 1940s. NONONO! the 1950s! yeah, thats the one. No, I am sure there was another one... ummm, ah yes, the mid 1700's! yeah damn British...
Does no one else look at the patterns of discrimination and misunderstandings so prevalent in our history? Also, the woes about the economy are horrible these days, but do these people understand the economy is like the ocean? The tides come in and out, but its always rolling, never static.
In my Econ class today we looked at Price Index and how it relates to basket markets and more importantly GDP. This is where the ignorance is bliss thing comes in again... when looking at the "fantastic growth" found under the Bush years, it looks like the GDP in plain dollars goes up by hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Looking at a price index however it is truly sad. 3 billion in growth between 2007 and 2008. This is because of inflation (duh) and plain price increases.
So why is it no surprise to me that society gets more progressives out of educational institutions? Because when you learn how the world actually works, how many pitfalls and flaws are present in everyday life, most reasonable people want to fix it. The only entity that has enough power to create change on that large of a scale is the government. I think, while a basic explanation, it strikes at the center of why the ignorant are in true bliss.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Episode IV
I don't believe in Twitter. Sharing one's innermost feelings 24/7 does not have any appeal in my head. I do believe in voicing my opinions, just not in a diluted and shortened fashion. I am not sure if I believe in blogging yet, but we will see if this becomes a reality or not.
I believe that imagination is the most valuable thing anyone can possess. Without imagination there is only blank paper and white noise. I believe imagination can usurp reality. I go to other worlds every single day.
I don't believe anyone in politics hates this country and is trying to destroy the United States. Republicans are good people, Democrats are good people. Libertarians can be blue (purple when angry) but they are still good people. I believe in America. As an idea, and as a wonderful country.
I don't like political correctness. It leads to tiptoeing around groups, ideas, and actions that should be talked about bluntly. I believe in laughter. I think hilarity exists everywhere, just waiting for the right moment to lighten a situation, which leads me to my next thought...
I believe there is a long covered up, cosmic battle between Dick Cheney and Pope Benedict, with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance.
I believe in a God. I don't believe in absolutism. I don't believe that there is any one correct answer to anything, including mathematics. (We all know math is made up anyway)
I just had a large smoothie, it was good. I am also listing to the Halo Reach soundtrack. The Halo games have always had a strong musical score to help drive the excellent narratives.
This blog is probably going to serve as a form of escape. Random thoughts, most likely a rant or two... I like a good rant.
I don't believe in spelling. I think this one is done.
I believe that imagination is the most valuable thing anyone can possess. Without imagination there is only blank paper and white noise. I believe imagination can usurp reality. I go to other worlds every single day.
I don't believe anyone in politics hates this country and is trying to destroy the United States. Republicans are good people, Democrats are good people. Libertarians can be blue (purple when angry) but they are still good people. I believe in America. As an idea, and as a wonderful country.
I don't like political correctness. It leads to tiptoeing around groups, ideas, and actions that should be talked about bluntly. I believe in laughter. I think hilarity exists everywhere, just waiting for the right moment to lighten a situation, which leads me to my next thought...
I believe there is a long covered up, cosmic battle between Dick Cheney and Pope Benedict, with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance.
I believe in a God. I don't believe in absolutism. I don't believe that there is any one correct answer to anything, including mathematics. (We all know math is made up anyway)
I just had a large smoothie, it was good. I am also listing to the Halo Reach soundtrack. The Halo games have always had a strong musical score to help drive the excellent narratives.
This blog is probably going to serve as a form of escape. Random thoughts, most likely a rant or two... I like a good rant.
I don't believe in spelling. I think this one is done.
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